World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Li Te took the two envelopes, feeling their weight in his hands. This was no ordinary voyage; it was an armed demonstration, a diplomatic move that spoke through naval gunfire.

"Sir," he finally asked, "what if... I mean, what if the British really are determined to stop us at all costs?"

Chen Feng looked westward, his gaze seemingly piercing through the morning mist, reaching the European battlefield thousands of miles away.

"Then let's fight." He said calmly. "After the fight, the British will understand two things: first, Lanfang keeps his word; second, we are willing to fight for our compatriots."

He turned back to look at Little: "But I don't think it will come to that. The British are focused entirely on the German High Seas Fleet right now; they dare not open a second front in the Far East. Your task is to verify this assessment."

"Understood." Li Te straightened his back. "Please rest assured, Commander-in-Chief, I guarantee the mission will be completed!"

Chen Feng nodded, then suddenly pulled a small box from his pocket: "This is for you."

Li Te opened the box; inside was a silver pocket watch. Engraved on the inside of the watch facet was the inscription: "Time will tell where justice lies."

He helped Li Te put the pocket watch into his breast pocket: "Take this with you, and remember why you set sail. Not to show off your strength, but to give 150,000 people a choice—a choice to survive."

Li Te felt his eyes welling up. He took a deep breath and saluted again: "I will never let you down!"

The ship's horn sounded, long and resonant. It was time to set sail.

Chen Feng and the others retreated to the outside of the cordon. Li Te turned and walked up the gangway with firm steps. Behind him, more than 800 sailors took their positions, the engines roared, and thick smoke billowed from the chimneys.

"Untie the moorings!" The order was relayed throughout the ship via megaphone.

The thick mooring ropes were untied and pulled back to the ship's side. The enormous propeller began to spin, churning the seawater and creating a white wake.

The "Huaihe" ship was the first to slowly depart from the dock, followed by the "Zhujiang" ship, and then six merchant ships. The entire fleet formed two columns, sailed out of the port area, and entered the main channel.

Chen Feng stood on the dock, watching the fleet disappear into the morning mist.

"Commander-in-Chief, do you think it can succeed?" Wang Wenwu asked softly.

"I don't know," Chen Feng said honestly. "But some things we do not do because we are confident, but because we must do them."

He turned and walked toward the car: "Let's go back. There's still a lot to take care of. Little is leading the charge, and we need to hold the line behind. The British will be here soon."

As the car drove away from the dock, the shadow of the last merchant ship had just disappeared on the distant horizon.

The voyage has begun.

May 10th, Strait of Malacca, evening.

The setting sun painted the sea a golden-red hue. The merchant fleet sailed steadily at an economical speed of twelve knots, with the "Huaihe" and "Zhujiang" escorting it one after the other, about five nautical miles away.

Li Te stood on the bridge of the "Huaihe" ship, holding binoculars and observing the sea conditions ahead. The Strait of Malacca is one of the busiest sea lanes in the world, but since this afternoon, they had encountered significantly fewer ships.

"Captain, radar room report." The communications officer handed over a note: "Three medium-sized ships spotted to the southwest, 35 nautical miles away, heading in the same direction as our ships, speed 20 knots."

Li Te took the note and looked at it: "Where's the identification signal?"

"There was no response to our inquiries. But judging from the feedback characteristics, it should be a light cruiser-class vessel."

The British surveillance had begun. Earlier than expected, but not unexpected.

"Order the fleet to maintain course and speed," Litt said calmly. "Main gun turrets remain in place, but adjust the gun elevation to ten degrees. Let the brothers see our guns, but don't let them think we're about to fire."

"yes!"

The order was relayed. Li Te could feel the tension rising in the bridge. The young operators involuntarily sat up straight, their eyes fixed on their respective instrument panels.

Twenty minutes later, three warships came into view. They were indeed Carlisle-class light cruisers of the Royal Navy, displacing 3,500 tons and armed with six 152mm main guns. Behind the three cruisers were two destroyers.

"The other side has sent a light signal," the signalman reported. "'This is the British Royal Navy Far East Fleet, requesting your identification and purpose of navigation.'"

Li Te glanced at the pocket watch—the one Chen Feng had given him. The hour hand pointed to 5:10 PM.

"Reply: The Lanfang Republic Naval Task Force is conducting trade escort and humanitarian missions. Please maintain a safe distance."

The signalman skillfully operated the signal lights, one long and two short, the lights flashing in the twilight.

A few minutes later, the British replied: "According to wartime regulations, we have the right to board and inspect suspicious vessels. We request that you stop your ship for inspection."

All eyes in the bridge were on Li Te.

Li Te walked to the microphone and said in a calm voice, "Reply: Our vessels enjoy diplomatic immunity and will not accept any form of boarding inspection. Repeat, please maintain a safe distance."

This time, the response came quickly, and the signal lights flashed somewhat urgently: "Final warning: Stop the ship for inspection, or we will take necessary measures."

The air seemed to freeze.

Li Te could hear his own heartbeat, steady and strong. He glanced at the nautical chart—this was already international waters, but less than a hundred nautical miles from the British-controlled Singapore base. In the event of a conflict, the British could quickly mobilize more ships.

But he remembered Chen Feng's words: The British dare not open a second front in the Far East.

"Signalman," Li Te began, "Signal: The 'Huaihe' has a displacement of 41,000 tons and eight 380mm main guns. We suggest that you reassess the so-called 'necessary measures'."

This was an almost provocative reply. The signalman hesitated for a moment, but did as he was told.

After the light signal was sent, the British fleet remained silent. The three cruisers and two destroyers continued to sail parallel to each other, about five nautical miles apart, just at the edge of their main guns' effective range.

Night had completely fallen. Only the beams of navigation lights and searchlights from the warships remained on the sea.

"Captain, they've accelerated!" the radar officer suddenly reported. "They've changed course and are closing in on us!"

Li Te walked to the observation window and, sure enough, saw the lights of the British fleet rapidly approaching. Four nautical miles, three nautical miles, two nautical miles…

"Aim the main guns!" he ordered. "Turrets one and two lock onto the leader, turrets three and four lock onto the second ship. Load shells, but do not fire unless I give the order."

The turret began to rotate, and the massive gun barrel slowly lowered its elevation, pointing towards the approaching British warship. Under the searchlight, the dark muzzle of the 380mm gun barrel looked particularly menacing.

When they were one and a half nautical miles away, the British fleet suddenly slowed down, then turned and pulled back to a distance of five nautical miles.

"They've stopped." Vice Captain Chen Shaoming breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Te nodded, but his brow remained furrowed. He picked up his binoculars and saw several officers on the bridge of the British flagship engaged in a heated discussion.

"They are consulting their superiors," Li Te judged. "The commander here in Malacca doesn't have the authority to decide whether to open fire; he must report to London."

Sure enough, ten minutes later, the British fleet sent a new signal: "You may continue your voyage, but we will accompany and monitor you throughout. We reiterate that any actions that threaten British interests will have serious consequences."