20: Chapter 20 Initial Deterrence

Section 1

On the tenth day after the three Pre-dreadnoughts were commissioned, Li Ling decided to conduct a naval cruise to deter Japan and showcase his strength.

The cruise plan was simple: the three Pre-dreadnoughts would sail in a line, cruising along the coastline from north to south, covering two hundred nautical miles over three days.

Li Ling personally served as the cruise commander, stationed on the flagship, the "warship".

On the morning of the departure, the sea was calm, and the sunlight spilled over the shimmering surface, as beautiful as a painting.

The three warships slowly sailed out of the naval port, their massive hulls cutting through the waves, with white spray churning at the sterns.

Li Ling stood on the bridge, the sea breeze blowing against his face, carrying a salty, fishy scent.

"System, what do you think Japan's reaction will be when they see these three warships?" Li Ling asked.

"They'll be scared shitless," the System replied.

Li Ling laughed: "I think so too."

The captain of the "warship", Lin Yongsheng, walked over: "Young Master Li, a Japan reconnaissance ship has been spotted twenty nautical miles ahead."

"A reconnaissance ship?" Li Ling raised an eyebrow. "What are they doing here?"

"They are likely here to gather intelligence," Lin Yongsheng said. "Should we drive them away?"

"No need," Li Ling shook his head. "Let them see all they want."

He wanted Japan to see these three warships, to see their power, and to let Japan know that the Li family was not to be trifled with.

Section 2

The Japan reconnaissance ship indeed spotted the three Pre-dreadnoughts.

It was a small reconnaissance ship with a displacement of several hundred tons, carrying only a few dozen people and equipped with a few small cannons. When they saw the three massive warships approaching from a distance, the Japan soldiers on board were all stunned.

"W-what is that?" a soldier pointed into the distance, his voice trembling.

"Qingxia Kingdom's warships..." the captain held his binoculars, his face deathly pale. "Three of them... and they are all Pre-dreadnoughts!"

"Impossible!" the adjutant exclaimed. "How could Qingxia Kingdom have Pre-dreadnoughts?"

"I don't know either, but they are right there." The captain lowered his binoculars. "Quick, send a telegram to the headquarters!"

The telegram quickly reached the Japan Kwantung Army headquarters.

General Oyama Iwao saw the telegram, his face turning livid.

Three Pre-dreadnoughts, lined up, cruising along the coastline. This was clearly a show of force!

"Baka!" General Oyama Iwao slammed the table hard. "Where on earth did they get these warships!"

No one could answer him.

Li Ling's source of weaponry had always been a mystery. It wasn't bought from the great powers, as there were no sales records; it wasn't built by them, as Qingxia Kingdom lacked the capacity to build Pre-dreadnoughts. They just appeared out of thin air, like magic.

"General, should we send a fleet to intercept them?" the Chief of Staff asked.

"Intercept?" General Oyama Iwao sneered. "With what? Our main fleet is back in the homeland; we only have a few Cruisers in Northeast Asia. Can they defeat three Pre-dreadnoughts?"

The Chief of Staff fell silent.

"Pass down the order: no ships are to approach the Qingxia Kingdom coastline," General Oyama Iwao commanded. "Wait until the homeland fleet arrives."

"Yes!"

Section 3

During the three-day cruise, Li Ling's fleet traveled from north to south, covering two hundred nautical miles of coastline.

As they passed through towns and villages along the way, the common people flocked to the seaside, watching the three massive warships sail by, their cheers rising one after another.

"Those are our warships!"

"Young Hero Li's warships!"

"Wonderful! We have big gunships too!"

The cheers of the people reached Li Ling's ears, and a sense of pride welled up in his heart.

These people had been bullied by the great powers for too long, bullied by Japan for too long. They longed for a strong nation to protect them, longed for a powerful Army to back them up. Now, he had given them hope.

"System," Li Ling said.

"Hmm?"

"I feel like crying a little."

"Then cry," the System said. "No one will laugh at you."

Li Ling took a deep breath and held back his tears.

He was not a person who cried easily, but at this moment, he was truly moved.

Section 4

After the cruise ended, Li Ling returned to the military camp, and the System popped up a notification.

"Host detected successfully completing the naval cruise, forming a preliminary deterrence against Japan. Rated as a minor achievement."

"Lucky draw?"

"Lucky draw," the System said. "Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Naval Gunnery Training System (Upgraded Version). It can simulate live-fire shooting, increasing gunner training efficiency by three times."

Li Ling's eyes lit up: "Three times the efficiency? That's great!"

He had been worrying that naval gunner training was too slow. With this upgraded training system, the gunners would be able to master precision shooting techniques in a short time.

"System, how do I use this training system?"

"It's very simple," the System said. "Install the virtual shooting device on the warships. When gunners aim at targets, the system will automatically calculate the trajectory and hit rate, and provide feedback. You don't need live-fire shooting to achieve the training effects of live-fire shooting."

"That will save a lot of money," Li Ling was overjoyed.

Live-fire training was too expensive; a single 305mm shell cost hundreds of taels of silver, and firing a few dozen rounds was equivalent to the cost of building a small boat. With the virtual training system, he could train gunners without consuming live ammunition, which was both cost-effective and efficient.

"Don't be happy too soon," the System said. "The virtual training system can only improve theoretical levels. When it comes to real combat, live-fire training is still needed. However, with this foundation, the efficiency of live-fire training will also be greatly improved."

"That's enough," Li Ling said. "Theory first, then live fire, step by step."

Section 5

After the cruise, the deterrence effect of Li Ling's actions was immediate.

Japan temporarily ceased its provocative activities at the border, and the great powers also re-evaluated Li Ling's strength. The ministers of Britain and the United States visited Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan one after another, testing the possibility of the Li family cooperating with the great powers.

Li Ling let his father handle these ministers, while he hid behind the scenes, continuing to push for military expansion and industrial construction.

"System, do you think the great powers will unite to deal with me?" Li Ling asked.

"Not for now," the System said. "Your current strength is not enough to threaten the core interests of the great powers. At most, they will support Japan, letting you and Japan consume each other."

"Then we will deal with Japan first," Li Ling said. "Once Japan is beaten into submission, we will turn back to deal with the great powers."

"Quite ambitious," the System said.

"Of course," Li Ling laughed. "Without ambition, why would I have transmigrated here?"

Section 6

In the evening, Li Ling returned to the mansion, and Empress Su Wanqing was waiting for him.

"Brother Ling, did the cruise go smoothly today?" Empress Su Wanqing asked.

"Smoothly," Li Ling sat down and took a sip of tea. "The Japan reconnaissance ship saw our warships and was so scared it turned around and ran."

Empress Su Wanqing smiled: "Brother Ling is truly amazing."

"It's not me who's amazing, it's the System... it's those warships that are amazing." Li Ling almost let it slip.

Empress Su Wanqing did not press for details, just looked at him gently.

"Brother Ling, I heard you are going to do business with the German Empire?"

"Yes," Li Ling nodded. "Selling arms, making big money."

"Then are you going to the German Empire?"

"Not for now," Li Ling said. "Maybe later, once things are stable."

Empress Su Wanqing lowered her head, silent for a moment, then looked up and looked at Li Ling seriously: "Brother Ling, wherever you go, I will go."

Li Ling felt a warmth in his heart and held her hand: "Okay, we will go together."

The moonlight shone through the window, illuminating them both.

Li Ling looked at Empress Su Wanqing's face, a strong determination welling up in his heart.

He wanted this girl to live the best life, wanted this nation to become the most prosperous, and wanted the people on this land to no longer be bullied.

This was his mission, and also his promise.

Outside the window, the night deepened.

The early part of the first volume ended just like this, in busyness and fulfillment.

Li Ling's power was beginning to take shape: an Army of 300,000, a Navy with three Pre-dreadnoughts, and an industrial system starting to take off. Japan was temporarily deterred, and the great powers began to take notice but had not yet taken any actual action.

Greater challenges still lay ahead.

But Li Ling was not afraid.

Because he had the System, an Army, people who trusted him, and the person he loved.

That was enough.