130: Chapter 40 Radar and Torpedoes

When news of the great victory in the second naval battle reached the country, Li Ling was in the naval port inspecting the repair progress of damaged vessels.

Workers on the docks were working in three shifts, and the sparks from electric welding flickered in the night sky like stars that had fallen to the ground.

In the massive dry dock, a heavily damaged Cruiser was undergoing emergency repairs; the enormous gash in the hull torn open by shells had already been patched with steel plates, and workers were welding the final seams.

"My Lord, the battle report has spread across the entire country," the Chief of Staff walked over quickly, his face full of undisguisable excitement. "The people are all celebrating, saying you are a god descended to earth, capable of defeating any enemy."

Li Ling put down the maintenance report in his hand and looked up at the setting sun sinking over the distant sea.

"A god descended to earth?" He smiled. "If I were a god, there would be no need for so many of my brothers to bleed and sacrifice themselves."

His gaze swept over the scarred warships in the naval port and rested on the transport ships at the dock that were loading ammunition and supplies.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over everything, dyeing both the steel and the sea a golden red.

"Is there any news from General MacArthur?"

"According to satellite reconnaissance, he has retreated with the remnants of his fleet to the ports of Japan and is currently resting and replenishing supplies," the Chief of Staff said. "The reinforcement fleets from Meijian Country and Britain and France are still on the way and are expected to arrive in half a month."

"Half a month." Li Ling pondered for a moment. "That is enough."

He turned around and strode towards the command center.

The setting sun cast a long shadow behind him, and his military boots made crisp echoes on the concrete floor.

Inside the command center, the massive electronic screen wall displayed the latest satellite reconnaissance photos and Radar data.

Li Ling stood before the screen, looking at the light points and routes marking the enemy's movements, and remained silent for a long time.

"System." He recited silently in his heart.

"Hm?"

"Tell me, how should we fight the next naval battle?"

The System's voice paused for a moment before saying, "Host, your current advantages are Radar and torpedoes. Although the coalition fleet is large in number, their Radar technology is far behind yours; they are practically blind during night battles and in bad weather. And your torpedoes, with their long range, high speed, and great power, are the sharpest weapons for striking large vessels."

"So, I should fight a night battle?"

"Yes. Choose a dark, windy night, use your Radar advantage to discover the enemy fleet's position, and then dispatch Torpedo boats and Destroyers to launch a surprise attack. Before the enemy can react, take out their capital ships first."

Li Ling nodded, walked back to the table, picked up a pen, and marked several possible ambush locations on the map.

"Pass the order: all Torpedo boats are to enter the highest state of combat readiness and replenish torpedoes and fuel. The Destroyer fleet should also be prepared to sortie at any time."

The order was issued that evening.

The atmosphere in the naval port immediately became tense.

Sailors on the Torpedo boats began checking torpedo tubes and engines, gunners on the Destroyers calibrated fire control systems, and signalmen hoisted various flags on the masts.

The entire naval port was like a precision machine accelerating its operation, with every gear meshing and every part running.

Li Ling personally boarded a Torpedo boat and stood on the narrow bridge, where the sea breeze carrying a salty, fishy scent rushed into his face.

The Torpedo boat was much smaller than a Battleship and tossed violently in the waves, but he stood very steadily.

"My Lord, are you really going to participate in the night raid yourself?" The captain was a man in his thirties with dark, tanned skin and firm eyes; there was a hint of worry in his voice.

"I won't be at ease unless I see the enemy sink with my own eyes." Li Ling patted the captain's shoulder. "Besides, for those who fight wars, what kind of logic is there in just sitting in a command post and looking at a map?"

The captain wanted to say something more, but Li Ling had already turned to look at the point where the sea met the sky in the distance.

Night was falling, a dark blue sheen spread across the sea surface, and distant fishing lights flickered in the darkness.

"Depart." He ordered briefly.

The Torpedo boat fleet sailed out of the naval port in the night, forming a skirmish line, carving white wakes across the sea, and then quickly disappearing into the darkness.

Li Ling stood at the bow, the sea breeze blowing his clothes and hair, but he remained motionless, like a stone statue standing on the prow.

On the Radar screen, the signals of the enemy fleet became clearer and clearer.

Their positions, headings, and speeds were all completely exposed, yet they themselves were completely unaware of the impending danger.

The port was brightly lit, soldiers were moving supplies on the docks, and some were even smoking and chatting on the decks, completely unaware that the Grim Reaper was approaching in the dark night.

"My Lord, distance is forty nautical miles," the Radar operator reported, his voice kept very low, as if afraid of being heard by the enemy.

"Slow down, maintain radio silence," Li Ling ordered. "All Torpedo boats are to split into three formations and launch attacks simultaneously from three directions. The targets are the enemy Battleships and Cruisers; take out their capital ships, and the rest will be nothing to fear."

"Yes!"

The Torpedo boat fleet dispersed on the sea, splitting into three directions, and silently approached the enemy fleet.

The formation Li Ling was in was responsible for attacking the enemy flagship—a large Battleship; judging from the satellite photos, its armor and firepower were the strongest in the entire fleet.

The distance grew closer and closer.

Thirty nautical miles, twenty nautical miles, fifteen nautical miles...

"My Lord, distance is ten nautical miles," there was a hint of tension in the Radar operator's voice.

Li Ling took a deep breath and gripped the railing tightly.

"Fire."

The moment the order was given, dozens of Torpedo boats from the three formations fired their torpedoes simultaneously.

The torpedoes rushed towards their targets silently beneath the sea, dragging faint white wakes that were almost invisible in the night.

The coalition lookouts did not discover the torpedoes until they were less than two nautical miles from the flagship.

Alarm sirens rang out in the night sky, and searchlights swept frantically across the sea, but it was all too late.

More than a dozen torpedoes struck the flagship simultaneously, the violent explosions tearing a huge hole in the hull, and seawater rushed in madly.

Immediately afterward, the ammunition magazine was detonated, and the entire Battleship broke in two amidst the flames and sank rapidly to the seabed.

"Well done!" Li Ling clenched his fists, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

The attacks from other directions also achieved astonishing results.

Three Cruisers and two Destroyers were hit by torpedoes; some caught fire, some had their hulls broken, and some capsized directly.

The entire coalition fleet fell into chaos, with each vessel fighting on its own, even colliding with one another, completely unable to organize an effective counterattack.

"Retreat!" Li Ling ordered. "All Torpedo boats are to retreat at full speed!"

The Torpedo boat fleet carved arcs across the sea, withdrawing toward the high seas at maximum speed.

Behind them, the enemy fleet was still struggling amidst the flames and explosions; a few surviving Destroyers attempted to pursue, but they were too slow and soon lost their targets.

When Li Ling returned to the naval port, the sky was already faintly bright.

He jumped off the Torpedo boat and stood on the dock, watching the streak of morning light gradually turning red where the sea met the sky.

"My Lord, the battle results are in!" The Chief of Staff walked over quickly, his voice filled with irrepressible excitement. "We sank one enemy flagship, three Cruisers, and two Destroyers, heavily damaged six enemy ships, and eliminated over two thousand of the enemy!"

Li Ling nodded, his face showing little expression, but a flash of light passed through his eyes.

He looked up at the sky; the morning light was dispelling the darkness, dyeing the entire sea and sky a warm golden color.

"System." He recited silently in his heart.

"Hm?"

"Tell me, what is General MacArthur thinking right now?"

The System's voice carried a rare hint of amusement: "He is probably wondering whether this Li Ling is even human. Or perhaps, he is currently racking his brains to figure out how to keep up with your pace. However, Host, I am afraid he will never be able to keep up."

Li Ling smiled and turned to walk towards the command post.

In the naval port behind him, soldiers were celebrating the victory, with cheers and applause rising one after another.

But he did not stop his pace, because his mind was already calculating how to fight the next battle.

Inside the command post, the small flags on the sand table had been rearranged.

Li Ling stood before the sea chart, looking at the markers indicating enemy movements, a subtle, imperceptible arc curling at the corner of his mouth.

"The next battle," he said softly, "I want to make them completely abandon even the thought of landing."

Outside the window, the morning sun leapt out of the sea, dyeing the whole world a warm golden color; a new day had begun.

A greater storm was only just beginning to brew.