74: Chapter 74 Internal Strife within the Combined Fleet

I. The Rift

Continuous supply line cuts, Torpedo boat night raids, and Submarine harassment made the United Fleet's morale hit rock bottom.

Soldiers were exhausted; many had not slept for days and were mentally dazed. The shortage of ammunition and fuel made matters worse; some ships dared not conduct live-fire training for fear of wasting precious shells.

But the most fatal issue was the rift among the command layer.

In the "Victory" operational conference room, the atmosphere was tense.

"General Fisher, I protest!" Meijian Country Navy Rear Admiral Dewey slammed the table. "Your tactics are a complete waste of our forces! Instead of being passively beaten here, we should concentrate all our strength and fight a decisive battle with Li Ling!"

"General Dewey, please calm down," Fisher said in a deep voice. "Li Ling is in the dark, and we are in the light. A rash decisive battle will only put us in a passive position. We need to find his main force first—"

"We have been looking for three days!" Dewey interrupted him. "Three days! Our reconnaissance planes and reconnaissance ships have found nothing! Li Ling is like a ghost; he hits when he wants and leaves when he wants. If this continues, we will collapse ourselves before he even makes a move!"

"Then what is your brilliant suggestion?" Fisher asked coldly.

"Retreat!" Dewey said without hesitation. "Retreat to Sasebo, replenish ammunition and fuel, reorganize the troops, and then come back."

"Retreat?" Japan Navy Vice Admiral Togo Heihachiro shook his head. "We cannot retreat! Once we retreat, Li Ling will pursue us, and we will suffer even greater losses!"

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"Decisive battle." Togo Heihachiro stood up. "The entire fleet will sortie and advance towards the coast of Qingxia. Doesn't Li Ling want to protect his ports? We will attack his ports and force him to come out for a decisive battle."

"That is gambling." Dewey sneered.

"War is gambling by nature." Togo Heihachiro did not back down.

The three argued without resolution, and the conference room was in chaos. The three parties—Meijian Country, the UK, and Japan—each had their own ideas, and no one was willing to concede.

Fisher rubbed his temples, his head throbbing with pain. He knew that if they could not reach a consensus, the end of the United Fleet would only be death.

"Enough!" He finally couldn't help but shout, "Everyone shut up!"

The conference room fell silent.

"I have decided." Fisher said, enunciating each word. "Continue searching for Li Ling's main force. If we can't find it within three days, we will retreat. During these three days, all ships will enter level-one combat readiness, ready to engage at any time."

"Three days?" Dewey frowned. "Our ammunition and fuel are only enough to last two days."

"Then two days it is." Fisher gritted his teeth. "Within two days, we must find Li Ling's main force."

The meeting broke up in discord.

II. Empress Su Wanqing's Prayer

A thousand miles away in Jiangning Prefecture, Empress Su Wanqing knelt in the Buddha hall, eyes closed, hands pressed together.

"Bodhisattva bless, let Brother Ling return safely..." she murmured, her voice trembling.

Since Li Ling went on the expedition, she had come to the Buddha hall to pray every day, kneeling for hours at a time. Her knees were bruised, but she didn't care. As long as she could ensure Li Ling's safety, she was willing to do anything.

"Sister Wanqing." Emily pushed the door open, and seeing her kneeling on the ground, she said with heartache, "You have been kneeling all morning, get up and rest for a while."

"No need." Empress Su Wanqing shook her head. "I must continue to pray."

Emily sighed and knelt beside her.

"I don't believe in Buddhism," Emily said, "but for Li Ling, I am also willing to pray."

The two women knelt side by side before the Buddha, praying silently.

After a while, the Princess also walked in. She didn't speak, just stood quietly behind them, looking at the Buddha statue.

"Your Highness, you have come too." Empress Su Wanqing turned to see her.

"This palace has come to pray for my husband." The Princess said softly, "Although I don't believe in these things, but... it is better than doing nothing."

The three stood silently for a while, and then the Princess knelt down as well.

Three women, three different identities, three different beliefs, but at this moment, their wish was the same—hoping that the man would return safely.

Outside the Buddha hall, the wind blew gently, carrying a few fallen leaves.

III. The Rift Deepens

At the United Fleet anchorage, on the "Victory", Fisher was reviewing the reconnaissance report.

Reconnaissance planes had searched the sea area within a hundred nautical miles for a whole day, and apart from a few fishing boats, they had found nothing. Li Ling's fleet seemed to have evaporated into thin air, leaving no trace.

"General, should we retreat?" The adjutant asked cautiously.

Fisher didn't speak. He stared at the nautical chart, brow furrowed.

Just then, an explosion was heard in the distance.

"What's going on?" Fisher rushed out of the cabin.

"General, the enemy's Submarine is here again!" An officer ran over to report. "Our transport fleet was attacked again, and two transport ships have sunk!"

Fisher's face turned livid.

"Send the Destroyer to chase! You must find those Submarines!"

But as before, when the Destroyers arrived at the scene, the Submarines had long since disappeared without a trace. Only burning wreckage and floating oil remained on the sea surface.

"General, our ammunition is only enough to last one more day." The logistics officer ran over to report. "The fuel is also only enough for two days. If we still can't find Li Ling's main force tomorrow, we must retreat."

Fisher closed his eyes.

He knew that retreat meant failure, meant Li Ling's victory, and meant that all the hard work of the United Fleet over these past few months would be in vain. But without retreating, the fleet, with no ammunition and no food, would be a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, without even the strength to resist.

"Issue the order." Fisher finally spoke. "Tomorrow morning, the entire fleet will advance towards the coast of Qingxia. Whether we find Li Ling's main force or not, we will fight. We will fight until we run out of ammunition and food."

"General..."

"Execute the order."

"Yes."

IV. Infighting Erupts

But Fisher's order was met with strong opposition from Dewey and Togo Heihachiro.

"This is suicide!" Dewey slammed the table. "Without supplies, what are we going to fight with? The soldiers' courage?"

"General Dewey, do you have any better suggestions?" Fisher asked coldly.

"I have already said it, retreat!"

"I have also said it, we cannot retreat!" Togo Heihachiro countered. "Once we retreat, Li Ling will catch up, and we will suffer even greater losses!"

"That's still better than sending us to our deaths!"

"You—"

"Enough!" Fisher shouted again. "I am the Commander-in-Chief, and I have the final say!"

"Your decision is wrong!" Dewey did not back down. "I represent the Meijian Country Navy and refuse to carry out your order!"

"This is insubordination!"

"Insubordination is better than being sent to our deaths!"

The two glared at each other, neither willing to give way.

Togo Heihachiro stood aside, watching coldly. He knew that no matter who won, the fate of the United Fleet was already sealed.

Just then, a staff officer ran in: "General! Enemy main fleet spotted! Southeast direction, distance about fifty nautical miles!"

The conference room fell silent instantly.

Fisher stood up abruptly: "Are you sure?"

"Sure! Reconnaissance planes spotted them, at least ten large warships, sailing in our direction!"

A cold glint flashed in Fisher's eyes.

"Pass the order, the whole fleet turns to the southeast, engage!"

Dewey opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but finally closed it. It was too late to say anything now; the enemy had already arrived.

"All ships enter combat status." Fisher's voice was chillingly calm. "Today, either Li Ling dies, or we perish."