LRAB Chapter 89 The Submarine Force's First Major Enemy
Chapter 89 The Submarine Force's First Major Enemy
"Gentlemen!"
His voice, low and hoarse, echoed through every cabin via the ship's intercom: "That cowardly former commander, Satoda, was terrified by the loss of a few merchant ships, bringing unprecedented shame upon the Imperial Navy! He deserved to commit seppuku; he was utterly unworthy to be a child of Amaterasu!"
Yamaguchi Tamon abruptly drew his katana from his waist, its sharp blade gleaming coldly in the dim light, pointing directly westward.
"However, the dignity of the Empire must never be trampled upon! That Chinese warlord named Chen Zijun actually dared to attempt to blockade the invincible combined fleet of the Great Japanese Empire with a few dilapidated submarines? It's utterly ridiculous, like an ant trying to shake a tree!"
"Did he think that sinking two old destroyers, each a few hundred tons, gave him leverage to negotiate with the Empire?"
Yamaguchi Tamon's lips curled into a cruel, sinister smile. He swung his saber sharply and shouted, "Pass on my orders! The entire fleet is to enter Level One combat readiness! Remove the gun covers from the main guns of all ships and load high-explosive shells! Target: Wusongkou, Shanghai!"
"I want to turn the entire Huangpu River into a red sea!"
"This time, I will not accept any negotiations, nor any surrender! I will use the 356mm cannons of the Kongo to blast Chen's army's so-called permanent fortifications, along with all the coastal positions along Shanghai, into dust! I will let the blood of the Chinese stain the entire Huangpu River red!"
"Black Card Disaster, Banzai—!!"
"Banzai—!!!"
Inside the bridge, all the officers raised their right arms in unison and erupted in a frenzied roar.
In their view, this was not a war at all, but a one-sided massacre.
A battlecruiser with a displacement of 27,000 tons, coupled with the terrifying firepower of two heavy cruisers, could raze a fortified fortress to the ground with a single salvo. Chen Zijun's small army and a few clandestine submarines were as laughable as paper in the face of such absolute steel dominance. They were already fantasizing about the thrill of looting and burning after landing on Shanghai.
However, Yamaguchi Tamon and his fanatical subordinates could never have imagined this.
They were in the deep sea less than forty nautical miles directly in front of them.
An ultimate hunt targeting them has quietly begun, its jaws wide open.
……
The scene flips to the same time, on Longhua Road in Shanghai, at the Chen Family Army's Supreme Garrison Command.
Inside the underground core operations room, the lights were blazing. A huge nautical chart of the East China Sea was spread out on a long table, and dozens of red and blue models were being moved around nervously by the simulation staff. Countless telegrams were being passed between departments like snowflakes.
Chen Zijun, dressed in a crisp German-style general's uniform, the stars on his shoulders gleaming under the lights, stood with his hands behind his back before a massive sand table, his eyes cold and sharp as knives, staring intently at the huge red arrow on the nautical chart representing the Third Fleet of Japan.
Deep within his retina, a pale blue stream of data, visible only to him, was cascading down like a waterfall.
[Unlimited Pay-to-Win System]
[Host: Chen Zijun]
Current military rank: Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces of the Five Southeast Provinces (Marshal-level)
[Basic capital output: £1/second (fixed daily output of £8.64)]
[Currently available total funds: £68 (including protection fee balances and daily smuggling profits)]
[Current territory: Entire Shanghai, Entire Zhejiang, Entire Fujian and coastal bases, Southern Jiangsu, and parts of Southern Anhui]
[Overview of troops under command]:
- Army: The Central Reorganized 10th Army Division, also known as the 1st German-equipped Division (full strength); the Newly Reorganized 2nd Division of the National Defense Army, also known as the 2nd Newly Reorganized Army Division of Zhejiang Province (full strength); the Newly Reorganized Independent Armored Brigade of the National Defense Army; the German-equipped Heavy Artillery Brigade; the Tax Police Corps; the Shanghai Garrison Brigade (full strength); and the River Defense Artillery Brigade (German-equipped).
- Navy: Shanghai Tax Police Corps Maritime Anti-Smuggling Brigade (i.e., Shanghai Independent Fleet), "Deep Sea Ghost" First Special Submarine Brigade (13 U-93 type ocean-going submarines, with a full complement of 600 elite officers and soldiers)
- Air Force: Region template unlocked, available for redemption.
[Special Weapon Activated]: G7e Electric Trackless Torpedo (High-Tech Version)
Chen Zijun stared at the fluctuating numbers on the system panel, his heart unmoved. To him, money only had true value when it was transformed into shells and torpedoes capable of tearing apart the enemy.
Mo Huixin, dressed in a well-tailored black business dress and holding a thick document in her hand, walked lightly to Chen Zijun's side.
"Young Master," Mo Huixin lowered her head slightly, her voice soft yet absolutely capable, "the protection money we extorted from the French and British this month, plus the first batch of special smuggling cash from the Kurlag family in Europe, has all been deposited into the account. Previously, we spent £3.2 million to purchase thirteen U-boat production lines and recruit 600 submariners, and the funds are currently recovering rapidly at a rate of £100,000 per day."
Chen Zijun nodded slightly, his gaze never leaving the sand table.
"Well done, Huixin. As long as our military workshops and overseas smuggling lines continue to provide funding, my confidence will remain unbroken." Chen Zijun sneered. "The Japanese think they can strangle me by blocking the sea routes, but they have no idea that my money doesn't come from that!"
Of course, his money doesn't actually come from smuggling or protection money; his real money comes from the system!
Just then, Su Guiying, the head of the military intelligence department, strode into the basement, her high heels clicking crisply and rapidly on the concrete floor. She abruptly stood at attention and handed over a top-secret telegram.
"Reporting, Young Marshal! The submarine squadron's flagship, U-931, has sent a top-level coded telegram!"
"Instructor Heinrich reports that the Japanese Third Fleet's southward formation has plunged headlong into our pre-set U-shaped ambush zone! The enemy fleet is maintaining its speed at 22 knots and has not detected anything amiss!"
"Currently, all thirteen U-boats have submerged to periscope depth and formed an interception formation. All forward launch tubes on each boat are fully loaded with G7e electric torpedoes!"
"Instructor Heinrich requests the young marshal to issue the final order!"
Chen Zijun took the telegram, his gaze sweeping over the cold numbers, a chilling, ruthless smile slowly curving his lips.
"These Japanese dwarfs, do they really think they can swagger around on my doorstep just because they dragged out a dilapidated ship weighing over 20,000 tons?"
Chen Zijun turned around, slammed the telegram heavily on the table, his voice so cold it seemed like ice shards could fall from it: "Do they think this is the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895?! Do they think that superior ships and cannons can subdue the Chinese? Since they're so eager to come and die, then I'll grant their wish!"
"Send a power to Heinrich!"
Chen Zijun suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with murderous intent, and squeezed out four words through gritted teeth: "No, live, mouths!"
"If the battle situation is right, I'll send this entire fleet to the bottom of the sea to feed the turtles!"
"I want the whole world to know that from this day forward, who calls the shots in this part of the East China Sea!"