36: Chapter 36 The Third Medium-Scale Naval Battle

Undercurrents

After Emily arrived in China, Li Ling's days were both sweet and headache-inducing.

This young lady was very clingy, wishing to hang on him twenty-four hours a day.

However, Li Ling didn't have much time for romance, as Japan was making new moves.

After their crushing defeat in the Second Medium-Scale Naval Battle, Japan had been quiet for less than two months.

But this time, they had learned a lesson—instead of fighting alone, they had roped in the Great Powers as their backers.

Meijian Country provided three second-hand Protected Cruisers, the UK sent two Destroyers, and even France symbolically gave an ancient Torpedo boat.

Coupled with the remnants Japan scraped together, a "United Fleet" composed of twenty warships quietly took shape.

Even more troublesome, the Great Powers had sent a military advisory group.

Although these advisors didn't participate directly in the fighting, they provided advanced tactical guidance and intelligence analysis.

The command level of the Japan fleet had improved by a notch compared to the previous two times.

Late that night, Li Ling was studying naval charts in his study when the system suddenly popped up a warning:

"Host, Radar has detected a large-scale fleet approaching. Distance is 230 kilometers, heading southwest, quantity is twenty ships, including at least six Cruiser-class warships."

Li Ling's pupils constricted sharply.

Twenty ships? Six Cruisers? Japan had really emptied its coffers!

"Good fellow, this is a fight to the death," he sneered and stood up.

Empress Su Wanqing entered with a late-night snack. Seeing Li Ling's grave expression, she asked with concern, "Brother Ling, what's wrong?"

"Japan is here to deliver themselves to us again," Li Ling put on his coat, "Empress Su Wanqing, notify the fleet to enter combat status."

Empress Su Wanqing's hand shook, and the lotus seed soup almost spilled: "Again? Didn't we just drive them away last time?"

"Last time was last time, this time they found helpers," Li Ling patted her shoulder, "Don't worry, I have a plan."

He walked quickly out of the study, asking the system in his mind at the same time: Can the three Dreadnoughts participate?

"They still need half a month to be completed; there is a risk in forcing them into battle now. However... I can let the Production Base provide long-range fire support, using the main guns as shore batteries without exposing the ships themselves."

"Fine, let's do that," a cold light flashed in Li Ling's eyes, "Today I will let them know what it means to close the door and beat the dog."

The Fleet Sets Sail

At 3:00 AM, Li Ling's three Pre-dreadnoughts—the "Zhenhai", "Dinghai", and "Weihai"—slowly sailed out of the naval port.

Eight Torpedo boats cleared the way in front, and three special Torpedo boats were quietly hidden on the flanks.

This time, Li Ling personally sat in command on the "Zhenhai", with the adjutant, signalman, and lookout all at their posts.

Empress Su Wanqing insisted on following, and Li Ling could not refuse her, so he had to let her stay in the inner cabin of the bridge, warning her not to come out no matter what.

The sea was calm, but the air was filled with tension.

The system continuously updated the enemy fleet's position: 200 kilometers, 180 kilometers, 150 kilometers...

"Sir, the Radar shows the enemy fleet has suddenly accelerated, with their speed increasing to eighteen knots," the signalman reported.

Li Ling frowned. Eighteen knots, were they planning a night battle? No, there were still more than two hours until dawn; they wanted to launch a sneak attack on the port in the darkness before dawn.

"Pass the order down, the entire fleet is to slow down to twelve knots and maintain radio silence," Li Ling ordered, "The special Torpedo boats are to advance to twenty kilometers and be ready to raid at any time."

"Yes!"

Time passed second by second. The sky remained pitch black, and it was impossible to see one's fingers on the sea.

Li Ling stood on the bridge, looking at the darkness in the distance, silently calculating the distance between the two sides.

When the Radar showed the enemy fleet was only eighty kilometers away, he suddenly ordered: "Accelerate to eighteen knots, the Torpedo boat formation is to disperse, prepare for battle!"

The boilers of the three Pre-dreadnoughts burned at full capacity, the steam engines roared, pushing the tens of thousands of tons of steel behemoths to break through the waves.

At the same time, the eight Torpedo boats split into four formations and flanked from both sides.

The three special Torpedo boats made a wide circle and quietly moved toward the rear of the enemy fleet.

The battle was imminent.

Fierce Exchange

At 5:40 AM, the sky was slightly bright.

The two fleets met in the sea area sixty kilometers from the port.

"Fire!"

Following Li Ling's order, the main guns of the three Pre-dreadnoughts roared simultaneously.

Half-ton shells tore through the dawn and smashed into the core of the Japan fleet.

In the first volley, a Japan Destroyer was hit, its ammunition depot exploded, and it instantly turned into a fireball.

"Well done!" the adjutant punched the air excitedly.

But the Japan fleet was not panicked this time.

Under the command of the Great Powers' advisors, they quickly deployed a counter-attack formation.

Six Cruisers concentrated their fire and bombarded the "Zhenhai".

Shells fell around the "Zhenhai" like raindrops, kicking up huge water columns.

Li Ling staggered from the shock and grabbed the railing to stand steady.

"The 'Zhenhai' has been hit on the port side! The armor is penetrated, and the second boiler room is flooding!"

Li Ling gritted his teeth: "Damage control team, plug the leaks! Don't panic, continue firing!"

After the artillery battle lasted for half an hour, the Torpedo boat formation charged in from the flanks.

The eight Torpedo boats fired more than thirty torpedoes at the enemy fleet, forcing the Japan fleet to turn and evade.

But this time, Japan was well prepared.

Their anti-Torpedo boat formation intercepted immediately, and both sides launched a thrilling chase on the sea.

"Sir, the 'Haixing' Torpedo boat has been hit and sunk!" "The 'Haima' has lost power!" "The 'Haitun' has been hit and is on fire!"

Bad news came one after another, and Li Ling's face grew darker.

Just then, the special Torpedo boats sent a signal: "Arrived at the designated position, requesting to attack!"

Li Ling took a deep breath: "Attack! Aim at the enemy flagship!"

Hidden Power

The three special Torpedo boats rushed out from the rear of the enemy fleet like ghosts, their speed of thirty-five knots leaving the Japan ships with no time to react.

Six electric torpedoes sped out, heading straight for the Japan flagship, a "Naniwa"-class Cruiser.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three torpedoes hit the target, and amidst the violent explosions, the enemy flagship's hull broke and sank rapidly.

The commander was killed on the spot.

"Beautifully done!" Li Ling patted the railing excitedly.

But the joy hadn't lasted a minute when the system suddenly warned:

"Host, a new threat detected! Three unidentified warships appeared in the southeast, twenty-five kilometers away, approaching at high speed!"

Li Ling was stunned and quickly picked up his binoculars to look to the southeast.

On the horizon, three black dots were rapidly enlarging.

"They are the Great Powers' warships!" the adjutant exclaimed, "They are flying the Meijian Country flag!"

Li Ling's pupils constricted.

Meijian Country participated directly? No, they must be using the guise of "escort" to fish in troubled waters.

"System, what is the level of those three Meijian Country warships?"

"Two Protected Cruisers, one Destroyer, all are old ships, but their firepower should not be underestimated."

Li Ling gritted his teeth.

The three Pre-dreadnoughts were already entangled by the Japan fleet, the Torpedo boats had suffered heavy losses, and the special Torpedo boats were out of torpedoes.

If the Meijian Country warships joined the battle, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"There's no other way." He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were full of determination, "System, let the Production Base fire!"

"Are you sure? This might expose the existence of the Dreadnoughts."

"Can't worry about that much, fire!"

Shore Battery Support

In the Production Base, the three unfinished Dreadnoughts slowly rotated their turrets.

Although they could not go to sea to fight, their 305mm main guns could be used as shore batteries.

Under the precise guidance of the system, the thirty-six main guns of the three Dreadnoughts aimed in the direction of the Meijian Country warships.

"Fire!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amidst the earth-shattering artillery fire, thirty-six giant shells roared out, drawing arcs in the air and smashing accurately into the Meijian Country warships.

The Meijian Country commander clearly did not expect such fierce artillery fire; the three warships turned in a panic, but it was too late.

One Protected Cruiser was hit by multiple shells, its hull broke, and it sank within five minutes.

Another Cruiser was heavily damaged, caught fire, and began to tilt.

The Destroyer narrowly escaped, but it was also battered and fled in a panic.

In just ten minutes, the three Meijian Country warships were one sunk, one damaged, and one fled.

Li Ling breathed a sigh of relief: "Alright, stop shelling."

"A part of the firepower has been exposed, but no one should be able to guess that it is a Dreadnought. They will only think you have hidden heavy shore batteries."

"That's good."

After dealing with the Meijian Country warships, Li Ling concentrated all his strength to deal with the remaining Japan fleet.

Having lost their flagship and commander, and seeing their allies driven away, the morale of the Japan fleet completely collapsed.

"Pursue! Annihilate them all!"

The three Pre-dreadnoughts fired at full capacity, and the Torpedo boats chased them frantically.

Gunfire filled the sea, and explosions followed one after another.

When the battle ended at nine in the morning, of the twenty Japan warships, only five heavily damaged warships successfully escaped back home.

Pyrrhic Victory and Injury

"Sir, the battle results have been tallied." The adjutant handed over the report, his voice trembling slightly, "Sunk nine enemy ships, heavily damaged six, damaged three, two escaped. Our losses..."

Li Ling took the report, his hands shaking slightly.

Losses: Two Torpedo boats sunk, three heavily damaged; one special Torpedo boat slightly damaged; the "Weihai" Pre-dreadnought heavily damaged, hull flooded by twenty degrees, nearly sank; the "Dinghai" slightly damaged; the "Zhenhai"...

The "Zhenhai" was hit by twelve shells, the bridge was hit, and Li Ling was scratched on his left arm by shrapnel.

"Sir, you are injured!" the adjutant exclaimed.

Li Ling looked down and saw his left arm sleeve soaked in blood, and the sharp pain finally spread through his whole body.

He gritted his teeth: "It's nothing, just a flesh wound."

Empress Su Wanqing rushed out from the inner cabin, and seeing him covered in blood, her tears fell instantly: "Brother Ling! You... you are injured!"

"Minor injury, it doesn't matter," Li Ling forced a smile, "Empress Su Wanqing, help me bandage it."

Empress Su Wanqing scrambled to find the first aid kit, crying while bandaging him.

Li Ling grimaced in pain, but he didn't make a sound.

"Host, there is a piece of shrapnel embedded in your left arm, which requires surgery. I am using system energy to help you stop the bleeding and reduce inflammation, but it is best to deal with it immediately after returning."

"Got it." Li Ling replied in his mind, then ordered the adjutant, "Return to base, treat the wounded, and count the list of the fallen."

"Yes!"

On the way back, Li Ling stood on the bridge, looking at the wreckage and corpses floating on the sea, silent.

In this battle, he had lost another five Torpedo boats and over a hundred soldiers.

"Japan..." he muttered to himself, cold light flashing in his eyes, "I will remember this debt."

Empress Su Wanqing stood beside him, gently holding his uninjured right hand: "Brother Ling, you have already done very well."

Li Ling shook his head and said nothing.

"Host, don't blame yourself too much. War is like this, a life-and-death struggle. You have already saved many more people."

"I know," Li Ling took a deep breath, "But I still feel that the death of even one brother is too many."

"... You, your heart is too soft."

"It's not softness," Li Ling looked into the distance, "It's cherishing. Everyone is born of parents, and everyone has family waiting for them to return. As a commander, I have a responsibility to bring them back alive."

"Host, a commander like you is worth the soldiers risking their lives for you."

"Risking their lives?" Li Ling smiled bitterly, "I don't want them to risk their lives for me, I just want them to fight this war with me, survive, and then go home."

The sea breeze blew, bringing a salty and fishy smell.

Li Ling's wound ached, but he did not frown.

This war was not over yet.

Japan would not give up, and the Great Powers would not sit idly by.

But no matter how many enemies came, he would beat them all back one by one.

Because he had no way out.