In the brightly lit dining hall, people were still enjoying the rare delicacies to their heart's content. Laughter and chatter filled the air, and at this moment, the clamor and confusion of war were all but forgotten. Despite the scarcity of supplies, people had prepared various gifts: hand-knitted hats, scarves, gloves, homemade cards, handicrafts, and even just a small balloon.
Taking advantage of the distraction, a young couple slipped out of the hall hand in hand. Bathed in the clear and charming moonlight, they made their way to the nearby beach, strolling casually along the winding coastline.
"Your scarf is really warm!" said a loving tenor.
"Your bacon and wine were also great; everyone was so happy!" replied a gentle voice filled with beauty.
"Uh, I'm sorry I didn't manage to get you a gift!" the tenor said apologetically.
"Don't be silly; you being here is the best gift for me!" the woman replied, not minding at all and exuding a strong sense of happiness.
Pausing for a moment, the tenor asked seriously, "Anna, do you believe me?"
"Of course, why do you ask?" she responded.
"I just want you to know that the next year will be the most difficult of the war, but also its last year! Trust me, but it's best not to mention these words to others!" he cautioned.
There was a moment of hesitation in her voice. "I understand, Hainuo! When the war really ends, we'll never be apart again, okay?"
Stopping in his tracks, Zhang Hainuo looked earnestly at the delicate face in front of him. If it were up to him, he would never be separated from her again starting from today, but both publicly and privately, that was unrealistic.
"Anna, I must tell you that the end of this war will be a disaster for Germany. Chaos will spread throughout the country, transportation may be paralyzed, cities will become extremely unsafe, violence and bloodshed will abound, and hunger will plague the entire nation! If we lose contact with each other, go to the Fink Manor in the suburbs of Oschersleben to find me. My steward's name is Hastin, and I'll inform him about you in advance!"
Anna's face showed deep surprise, but her azure eyes showed no disbelief.
"That's terrible, Hainuo! If that really happens, will you come here to get me?"
That was something Zhang Hainuo deeply wished to do, but he knew there were more important things he had to attend to, integral parts of his plan.
"The Imperial Navy will be the first place to experience unrest. This isn't a prophecy; you can already see it from many subtle signs! I'll try my best to escape, but if I haven't come after the unrest begins, and if it's safe here, stay; if it's not safe, go directly to my Fink Manor, or you can go home first to get your family before going there. Don't worry about food; I've instructed my steward to stockpile as much as possible!"
After saying these words, Zhang Hainuo didn't see disappointment in those clear eyes, only concern, concern from a lover.
"Don't let me lose you!"
This time, Anna clasped Zhang Hainuo's waist tightly, fearing that letting go would mean someone would take him away.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine!" Zhang Hainuo gently stroked her shoulder.
Anna remained silent for a while before lifting her head and asking, "Hainuo, my father won't encounter any trouble, will he?"
Zhang Hainuo shook his head calmly. Anna's father might retire like most German soldiers, or he might continue to stay with the "Hundred Thousand Army," or perhaps join the Free Corps. There were too many possibilities, even Zhang Hainuo himself couldn't be sure. But Anna had just lost a loved one, and she couldn't bear any more pain, so he kindly told a lie:
"Don't worry, your father will be fine. The situation in the army is much better than in the navy! They'll safely retreat from the battlefield back to the country!"
Anna felt a little relieved. She buried herself in Zhang Hainuo's embrace once again.
"What about you? What will you do then?"
"No one dares to harm such an ace boat commander like me!" Zhang Hainuo deliberately spoke with pride. "But I'll need some time to take care of my subordinates! Once I've settled down, I'll send a telegram or write a letter to the Fink Manor. So, even if I haven't returned by then, you can wait there for my message! Hastin is a good man; he'll take care of you and your family!"
Anna didn't say anything more but nestled tightly in Zhang Hainuo's embrace, silently feeling the warmth emanating from his body.
In the next few days, Zhang Hainuo, a handsome naval lieutenant, became Anna's faithful little helper in the hospital, helping her carry medicine trays, assisting wounded soldiers with bandage changes, and even hanging out bed sheets. The doctors and nurses in the hospital were not polite; they would ask for Anna's help whenever there was any physical work to be done. Zhang Hainuo didn't mind at all; on the contrary, he enjoyed playing the role of a humble handyman. The tension from the consecutive sorties in the English Channel was greatly relieved here, and he felt that this trip to the sanatorium was indeed the right choice. If the situation wasn't so grim, he would even want to get injured on the battlefield again, just enough to send him here.
During his time at the sanatorium, Zhang Hainuo also heard about the various performances of the German Navy in the Battle of the Moon Strait from some wounded officers who came to recuperate. Although it was called the "Strait Battle," it actually involved a series of landing and anti-landing, blockade and anti-blockade operations around several islands at the exit of the Gulf of Finland, during the period of turmoil in Russia (between the February Revolution and the October Revolution). It did not have a significant impact on the overall situation and progress of the war, unlike battles such as the Battle of Dogger Bank, the Battle of Jutland, and the Gallipoli Campaign, which are well-known to people. However, as the last military operation of the German Navy in World War I, it laid the groundwork for the Kiel Sailors' Uprising a year later.
(PS: Gallipoli Campaign, a amphibious landing campaign launched by Britain and France in 1915 to capture the Turkish Dardanelles and Constantinople and open up the Russian sea lines of communication. The campaign ended with the withdrawal of the Anglo-French forces, with each side suffering approximately 250,000 casualties)
As the holiday approached its end, on that day, Anna still accompanied him to the town's train station. However, this time, the affection between them was no longer as restrained as before. They shared a long-lasting kiss on the platform, enviable to onlookers, until the train slowly departed. Zhang Hainuo waved vigorously as he reluctantly boarded the train, and this scene would remain unforgettable in both of their minds...