180: Chapter 90 Rapid Deportation

Ling Naval Base, 2:40 AM.

In the command center hall, a huge electronic screen displayed real-time tactical footage transmitted back by Vessel.

On the screen, the Japan "Chidori" reconnaissance Warship Zhuifeng was cutting in from the front right at about twenty knots.

The distance between the two sides had shrunk to less than twenty nautical miles, and that light spot on the Radar screen was becoming clearer and clearer, with every scan becoming brighter.

Although the night vision footage could only capture the blurred outline and wake of that Warship Zhuifeng, and the infrared imaging could only see the faint heat signals from its chimneys and engine areas, everyone could feel the tension approaching, like a taut string about to snap.

The air in the hall seemed to have frozen; only the low hum of electronic equipment echoed, along with the occasional sound of operators tapping on keyboards, like some kind of calm countdown.

Li Ling stood in front of the command desk in the center of the hall, his hands pressed against the surface, his knuckles slightly white from the force, and the veins on the back of his hands faintly visible.

His gaze was fixed on the screen like a hawk, the tactical situation constantly changing reflected in his pupils, and each rotation of the Radar scan line left a fleeting afterimage in his eyes.

He was wearing a dark gray military uniform, without a military cap, his hair a bit messy, clearly having been woken up urgently from his sleep, and he hadn't even had time to button his jacket properly.

But at this moment, there was no trace of sleepiness in his eyes, only a calmness bordering on cold focus, as if he had transformed into a precision-running war machine, every nerve ending processing information at high speed, ready to make decisions at any moment.

Behind him, several duty staff officers were rapidly recording data, and the sound of keyboard tapping was exceptionally clear in the silent hall, like some kind of tense countdown.

"System," he murmured in his heart, his gaze sweeping across the key data points on the screen at the same time, quickly calculating the relative speed and distance in his mind.

"With Vessel's speed and maneuverability, can it safely disengage when Chidori enters the five-nautical-mile range? I need an accurate time window."

He was also calculating the relative speed and distance between the two sides, various tactical options racing through his mind, his fingers unconsciously drawing flight paths on the desktop.

[Based on the current speed, course, and sea conditions of both sides, Vessel's acceleration performance is about forty percent higher than Chidori's, and it has a smaller turning radius and faster acceleration response.

Theoretically, even if Chidori suddenly accelerates beyond fifteen nautical miles, Vessel has enough time to complete tactical evasion.

But the premise is—Chidori does not initiate an attack first.

If the opponent launches torpedoes within five nautical miles, Vessel's reaction time will be less than two minutes, and then it would be hard to say.

In addition, the system has detected that Chidori's communication channel is frequently transmitting encrypted signals, which is likely them reporting the situation to the rear command.

Based on signal strength and direction analysis, they should have already reported the existence of Vessel to the Sasebo naval base.

Additionally, there are light swells on the sea, with a wave height of about one meter, which may affect the heading stability of torpedoes, which is advantageous for the defender.]

The system replied, its voice carrying its usual calmness, each piece of data sounding like it was reading a standard report.

"Five nautical miles..." Li Ling's eyes narrowed slightly.

He quickly calculated the relative position and reaction time in his mind, his fingers drawing three possible interception routes on the desktop, and then decisively ordered: "System, immediately synchronize Vessel's latest speed and course data to Powang and Warship Zhuifeng.

Let them start their steam turbines in advance, but maintain radio silence; do not expose their positions.

I want them to cut in from the southeast at maximum speed, forming a pincer movement to cut off Chidori's retreat.

This time, I'm not just going to expel them; I'm going to make them remember this lesson—let them know what the price of provoking Tang Country is."

[Transmitting data... Powang and Warship Zhuifeng have received the order.

The steam turbines are preheating, and they are expected to reach full power standby status in fifteen minutes.

Host, are you sure you want to deploy the Longxun-class?

They haven't been officially commissioned yet; if there are any technical failures or operational errors...]

The system confirmed, its voice carrying a trace of caution.

"I am sure. Let them go; it happens to be a live-fire test.

If there are any problems, they can be discovered in advance; it's better than having a breakdown during wartime."

Li Ling's voice was unquestionable, each word sounding like it had been hammered out.

Fifteen minutes.

Li Ling silently calculated the passage of time in his heart.

His hands unconsciously gripped the edge of the command console.

The cold touch from his fingertips made him exceptionally clear-headed.

That chill spread from his fingertips to his wrists, making his whole body tense up.

According to the current relative speed, Chidori and Vessel would approach visual range in about twenty minutes, fifty nautical miles away.

By then, if Chidori made any radical moves, Powang and Warship Zhuifeng would have enough time to reach the battlefield and complete the interception, provided they started sailing at high speed now.

His gaze swept across the Radar echo on the screen, confirming the positional relationship between the enemy and himself—Vessel was in the southwest, Chidori was in the northeast, and the two Longxun-class Warship Zhuifengs were rushing from the southeast, forming a perfect pincer offensive.

"Order Powang and Warship Zhuifeng," Li Ling's voice sounded in the hall, clear and decisive, every word carrying unquestionable weight, "Depart the port immediately and advance to the predetermined interception sea area at maximum combat speed.

Pay attention to maintaining stealth and do not expose the Warship Zhuifeng's hull signal.

After arriving at the designated area, immediately deploy in a combat formation, with main guns pointing at the target route, but do not lock on—what I want is deterrence, not firing.

If I misjudge and let them fire, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Yes!" The technician at the communication console immediately conveyed the order to the two Longxun-class Warship Zhuifengs through an encrypted channel.

When he pressed the send button, his fingers trembled slightly—that was excitement, not nervousness, because it meant he was participating in a historic operation, an operation that might be written into naval war history.

Three minutes later, a deep and dense vibration sound came from the depths of the naval port—that was the low-frequency vibration generated when the steam turbines were running at full power.

It could be felt across several kilometers of sea, and even the floor of the command hall was trembling slightly.

The two huge silhouettes were slowly sailing out of the dock.

Their brand-new hulls shone with a dark metallic luster in the night, and the black smoke from the chimneys was quickly blown away by the night wind, leaving almost no trace, like ghosts appearing out of thin air from the darkness.

On Vessel's Radar screen, they were initially just two blurry echoes, but soon, those two echoes increased at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the speed markers climbed continuously—twenty knots, twenty-five knots, thirty knots... finally stabilizing at a staggering speed of thirty-five knots.

The waves split by the bow shone with white foam in the darkness, like two bolts of lightning speeding across the sea, breaking the silence of the night.

Meanwhile, on the sea fifty nautical miles away, the atmosphere inside Vessel's bridge had reached its peak tension.

The swells on the sea were becoming more rapid, and the hull rose and fell in the surges, making a dull metallic groaning sound, like a tired giant beast panting.

"Report, Captain," the Radar operator's voice was a bit tight.

On the screen in front of him, Chidori's light spot was making increasingly obvious aggressive maneuvers.

Its track formed an irregular zigzag shape.

"Chidori has just accelerated again, and now the speed is about twenty-two knots, approaching in a serpentine maneuver.

It may have discovered the Radar antenna we are carrying.

Judging from its track, it seems to want to cut off our retreat toward the open sea.

Its bow direction is adjusting, suspected to be preparing to launch torpedoes.

The direction of the torpedo tubes is already pointing at us, and the angle is constantly being corrected.

If it launches within five nautical miles, we will have less than two minutes of reaction time."

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Zhao Haitao's forehead, but he took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the tension that surged up in an instant.

The heartbeat in his chest was exceptionally clear at that moment.

His hands remained steadily on the navigation console, his fingertips without a trace of trembling, as if using willpower to fix his body in place.

He knew he couldn't panic.

The two huge Warship Zhuifengs rushing over behind him were his greatest confidence, and before that, he had to ensure he wasn't forced into a desperate situation by the opponent.

"Maintain course, continue to execute the established reconnaissance route."

Zhao Haitao's voice was terrifyingly calm, like a piece of cold ice burning.

"Keep the electronic reconnaissance equipment running at full power, focusing on recording Chidori's Radar signal characteristics and communication frequency.

At the same time, prepare to activate the backup communication channel.

Once the opponent has any aggressive actions, immediately send an emergency signal to Powang.

In addition, the torpedo defense system enters standby status.

Once a torpedo is detected entering the water, immediately release decoys and perform evasive maneuvers."

"Understood!" The Radar operator's voice stabilized again, his fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard, and the data stream on the screen refreshed constantly.

On Vessel's deck, several sailors were nervously checking life-saving equipment, but after seeing the captain's calm expression, they gradually calmed down, returned to their posts, and gripped the tools and ropes in their hands.

In the black sea, the speed and positional relationship of the three Warship Zhuifengs were changing rapidly.

Chidori formed an arc-shaped pincer trajectory in the northeast, its wake drawing a curved arc on the sea, like a poisonous snake quietly approaching its prey.

And Vessel always maintained a subtle spiral, wandering between the open sea and near-shore waters, neither giving the opponent a chance to cut off its retreat nor actively showing weakness.

Time passed minute by minute, and the wind and waves on the sea became larger and larger.

The wave crests slapped against the hull, making a dull sound.

Chidori's gray Warship Zhuifeng silhouette became clearer and clearer on the horizon.

One could even see figures running on its deck, like a nest of disturbed ants.

The muzzle of that 76mm gun was slowly turning, and the sound of metal friction was vaguely audible in the wind.

At 3:12 AM, a tense report suddenly sounded in Vessel's bridge: "Radar confirms that Chidori has entered the twenty-five-nautical-mile range, and the weapon system on its deck seems to have released the fixing bolts.

The gun turret in the bow direction is turning!

The muzzle is pointing at us, distance is about twelve nautical miles, it has already entered its effective range!"

The Radar operator's voice was almost shouted; his originally stable fingers were trembling at this moment.

The pointing marker of that gun on the screen was like an arrow released from a string, slowly aiming at Vessel's heading.

Zhao Haitao's pupils shrank suddenly, but he reacted almost at the same instant: "Immediately activate the backup channel and send an emergency signal to Powang!

The whole Warship Zhuifeng prepare to take evasive actions!

Hard right rudder, accelerate to maximum speed!

Sonar team, listen for underwater movements!"

His order cut through the tense air of the bridge like a blade, every word clear and powerful, as if splitting a crack in the air.

And almost at the same instant, a low and powerful voice came from the encrypted communication channel, a voice carrying an unquestionable certainty and the composure of being in control of everything: "This is Powang, we have arrived at the interception position, distance is about thirty nautical miles, we are approaching you at full speed.

Do not panic, and do not fire.

Next, just leave it to us.

Opponent captain, you have done well; now it is our turn.

Maintain course, do not change it, leave the rest to us."

The voice was as steady as a mountain, carrying the momentum of controlling the overall situation, like an echo from the deep sea.

Zhao Haitao's breathing stopped for half a second, and then he let out a long breath.

That breath condensed into a ball of white mist in the cold air, slowly dissipating in the lights of the bridge: "Vessel received.

We will continue to maintain the existing course and wait for support."

He unclenched his tightly clenched fists; his palms were already soaked with sweat, shimmering in the light.

He felt his heartbeat slowly calming down, and the sense of relaxation after surviving a disaster made his legs a little weak.

Inside the bridge of the Chidori, Major Yamada Masao's expression shifted rapidly, as if he had been suddenly doused with a bucket of ice water.

He had originally thought the Vessel was merely a lone reconnaissance Warship Zhuifeng that could be easily approached, photographed for evidence, and used to create friction.

But as the Vessel began to evade his approach with highly maneuverable, curved trajectories, he realized that the Warship Zhuifeng's handling and electronic warfare capabilities far exceeded his expectations; its agile movements easily neutralized every one of his approaches.

More crucially, just moments ago, the Radar on his Warship Zhuifeng had captured two massive echoes approaching from the southeast at an astonishing speed—at least thirty knots or more. This meant they were not ordinary Cruisers, but some kind of new, high-speed warship he had never seen before. The speed reading made his heart feel as if it were being gripped by something.

"Major, two unidentified large targets are approaching rapidly! They are about thirty nautical miles away and moving at extreme speeds! Estimated displacement is over ten thousand tons! They are closing in at thirty-five knots!" The Radar operator's voice carried a distinct tremor. The blips on the screen in front of him were expanding at a terrifying rate. The speed markers were so high he could hardly believe his eyes; the two blips looked like falling meteors.

Major Yamada Masao rushed to the Radar screen. Watching the two rapidly approaching blips, his face turned deathly pale in an instant, and the old scar on his face looked particularly hideous under the lights: "Quick... turn around! Retreat at full speed! Send a signal indicating we have no intention of engaging! Hurry!"

His voice was almost distorted at that moment, as if something were clutching his throat, hoarse and broken. His right hand slipped from the hilt of his saber and hung limply at his side; the sword he had held so tightly had lost all meaning in this instant.

Just as his orders were issued, a new warning signal popped up on the Radar screen—the fire-control Radar of the two high-speed approaching giant Warship Zhuifengs had locked onto him.

The alarm sound transmitted by the electronic warfare system echoed inside the bridge like the death knell of the Grim Reaper, sharp and piercing. The frequency penetrated his eardrums, reaching deep into his brain. It was a Radar signal he had never heard before—extremely high frequency, continuous, and steady, like the lock-on sound emitted by some kind of precision instrument, carrying a cold sense of certainty.

"They've locked onto us!" the Radar operator was almost screaming. His fingers were frantically tapping on the console, trying to break the lock, but to no avail. "Fire-control Radar lock confirmed! Their main guns are turning!"

Major Yamada Masao's lips trembled. The last shred of wishful thinking collapsed completely: "Stop advancing! Send a signal indicating we have no hostile intent! Raise the white flag! Hurry!"

His voice was hoarse, as if something were stuck in his throat, and every word carried a stinging pain like metal grinding against metal. He slumped into his command chair, his entire body feeling as if all strength had been drained away, and the string that had been pulled taut finally snapped in an instant. The morning light from outside the window surged up from the horizon, illuminating his face, which was twisted with fear, making him look like a lifeless wax figure.

On the bridge of the Powang, Captain Chen Haisheng watched coldly as the small gray Warship Zhuifeng silhouette on the horizon ahead frantically turned to retreat, and he lowered the binoculars in his hand.

The morning light was surging from the eastern horizon, dyeing the junction of sea and sky a milky white. That white was spreading rapidly, as if the entire ocean were waking from a deep slumber. The tactical screen in front of him showed the Chidori slowing down at a speed visible to the naked eye and beginning to flash signal lights—this was the standard "we have no intention of engaging" flag signal. The white light flickered in the morning glow, urgent and panicked, like some kind of signal of surrender.

"Captain," the adjutant beside him asked, his finger still hovering over the main gun firing button, clenching and unclenching in frustration. "They are retreating. Should we continue the pursuit? The Chidori's speed is only twelve knots; we can catch up and intercept it within thirty minutes. It is within our range, and a single salvo could end the battle."

Chen Haisheng remained silent for two seconds, his gaze lingering for a moment on the small Warship Zhuifeng fleeing in such a sorry state. He saw people on the Warship Zhuifeng's deck running in panic, some lowering the Radar radome, and others waving a white flag; the white flag snapped in the morning breeze.

"No. The Li Ling's orders to us were to expel, scout, and intercept, not to pursue and sink. They have confirmed their withdrawal from the navigation range of our Vessel, so the mission is complete. Signal the Vessel to resume normal cruising status; we will be responsible for escorting it until dawn. In addition, save all the Radar lock records and intercepted communication data from just now, and transmit them back to headquarters via an encrypted channel for archiving. This record will become ironclad evidence; whether in an international court or in future diplomatic negotiations, it will be a card in our hand." His voice was as calm as ever, but a cold glint flashed deep in his eyes—the coldness of a hunter letting go of its prey.

The two Longxun-class Warship Zhuifengs slowly reduced speed, dropping from their high-speed cruise of thirty-five knots to an economical speed of twenty knots. The hulls vibrated slightly during deceleration, and the stirred-up waves gradually calmed, carving an elegant arc in the night, finally stopping at a position about five nautical miles from the Vessel, forming an invisible protective barrier.

The two rugged giant Warship Zhuifengs were sharply outlined in the morning light, and the white smoke drifting from their funnels was drawn into a thin straight line in the breeze, like some kind of silent declaration—or rather, a manifesto carved onto the sea: from this moment on, this sea area had a new master.

The 380mm main guns turned slowly, their muzzles watching the small Warship Zhuifeng disappear into the morning mist, as if to say: if you come back next time, it won't be this simple.

On the Chidori, Major Yamada Masao slumped in the bridge chair, cold sweat soaking his uniform. The sea breeze poured in through the broken windows, chilling him to the bone; the cold seemed to seep out from the gaps in his very bones.

He looked up at the two entities in the distance that resembled steel beasts, his lips moving, but in the end, he said nothing. His fingers were trembling. He recalled the words of the Meijian Country advisor before departure: "One brave reconnaissance mission is worth more than ten exercises." Now he knew, it was a "deadly" reconnaissance. The silhouettes of those two giant Warship Zhuifengs would become an indelible nightmare for the rest of his life; whenever the night was deep and quiet, that speed of thirty-five knots and the 380mm main guns would reappear in his mind.

When the sky was fully bright, the sea surface had returned to calm. The Chidori sailed toward the northeast at twelve knots with its tail between its legs, maintaining a clear distance from the Longxun-class fleet at all times, not daring to deviate even slightly from its course, like a hare driven out of its territory by a hound.

Meanwhile, under the protection of the two battlecruisers, the Vessel began round after round of electromagnetic signal collection of the surrounding waters, recording all surrounding radio spectrum characteristics and sonar signals. On the sea, only a few seagulls circled in the morning light, emitting clear cries, as if announcing that a new day had begun, and also as if drawing a period to this confrontation without smoke; the wings of those seagulls swept across the sea in the sunlight, leaving behind fleeting shadows.

That afternoon, Li Ling sat in the Imperial Study, looking at the full set of combat records sent back by Zhao Haitao—including Radar data, intercepted communications, and video footage—and the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.

When he saw the signal record of the Chidori's final, pathetic retreat, he finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. The laughter echoed in the empty Imperial Study, startling a sparrow in the tree outside the window.

"System, you see, my policy was correct, wasn't it?" He leaned back in his chair, his fingers gently tapping on the table, his gaze falling on the calm sea outside the window, which was shimmering in the afternoon sunlight. "The best defense is not to be passively beaten, but to let them know that as long as they dare to act, I have the ability to make them suffer the consequences. Although the Powang and the Warship Zhuifeng have not yet been officially commissioned, this combat 'debut' has already proven their value—the thirty-five-knot speed, the 380mm main guns, and that fire-control Radar that makes the enemy tremble with fear; everything has operated perfectly."

[Host, congratulations on successfully completing a textbook-level maritime deterrence operation. The Vessel recorded all electronic signals throughout the process, with solid evidence that can be submitted to international arbitration at any time, confirming the conclusion that Japan provoked first but failed. In addition, the engines and weapon systems of the Powang and the Warship Zhuifeng performed stably during continuous high-speed navigation, without any design defects. The system assesses the combat reliability of these two Warship Zhuifengs at over ninety-eight percent. However, it is recommended that the host conduct a comprehensive inspection of the steam turbine bearings, as there may be slight wear and tear after high-speed navigation. Furthermore, according to the analysis of the intercepted content, the Chidori has been reporting the situation to the Sasebo base in plain language on its return journey; judging from their tone, this experience has already made them realize the true strength of the Tang Country Navy.] The system's voice was as calm as ever, but its words carried approval.

"Arbitration? I don't care for that." Li Ling pushed the record file aside and pulled over the nautical chart next to him. His gaze swept over it and finally landed on the waters off Hokkaido. His finger pressed heavily on that sea area, the thumbtack pressing a shallow dent into the paper. "I just want them to know that those ragtag reconnaissance Warship Zhuifengs can't even handle my Vessel-class reconnaissance Warship Zhuifeng, let alone face the true main force of the fleet. If they don't learn their lesson, the next time, it won't be two Longxun-class Warship Zhuifengs, but the entire First Fleet. I will turn their ports into scorched earth, turn their shipyards into ruins, and make their Naval Minister come to me personally to beg for forgiveness."

The sunlight outside the window spilled onto the desk, illuminating the nautical chart with its still-wet ink in exquisite detail. On the chart, the newly marked patrol route already extended from Jinling to the vast waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, like a net slowly closing, with every node serving as a silent declaration. Deep in the naval port's shipyard, the third Longxun-class Warship Zhuifeng, the "Liefeng," had just completed its main hull welding. Welding sparks bloomed like Spring Festival fireworks within the massive cabin, illuminating the dust-covered faces of the workers. The giant Warship Zhuifeng, named after an ancient sea beast, was growing and taking shape inch by inch at a speed that surpassed all understanding of this era. On its deck, the massive turret base had been installed, and the barrels of the four 380mm main guns were quietly waiting for final calibration. One day soon, they would point toward the distance of this ocean, toward those enemies who still refused to admit defeat.

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away, in the conference room of the Japan Naval Ministry, Major Yamada Masao was kneeling on the floor. In front of him was a torn-up nautical chart, the paper scraps scattered on the tatami mats like autumn leaves, each piece retaining the course lines drawn by his fingertips. The generals in front of him had faces ashen with rage; no one spoke, only the second hand of the wall clock ticking away, as if counting down for an empire that had once been arrogant and unyielding. Outside the window, the snow in Hokkaido began to fall again. The white blanket landed on the ruins of the port and on the two not-yet-dissipated wakes on the sea, like a silent shroud, covering an old dream that was fading away.

Back in Jinling, Li Ling had already picked up another file and began planning the next operation. The smile at the corner of his mouth had not yet faded, but there was already a hint of cold sharpness in his eyes, because at the end of that sea mist, a new storm was quietly taking shape.