After midnight, Zhang Hainuo tore off the useless page from the calendar with his own hands, marking the arrival of a new month.
"September 1st, Friday!" he whispered softly.
"Is there anything different today, General?" Colonel Lansdorff, clad in a navy blue naval uniform, tilted his hat, his cigar in his mouth as usual, a strand of black goatee looking neat and sharp under the dim light, giving him the appearance of a Caribbean pirate—the well-dressed kind.
"Your intuition is sharp, Colonel Lansdorff," Zhang Hainuo's gaze shifted from the calendar to the captain, "Even the British Prime Minister wouldn't believe his mediation could prevent the outbreak of war now!"
"Indeed," Lansdorff echoed, despite their ship, the "Graf Spee", sailing deep in the Atlantic at the moment, they could still intercept useful information through the airwaves. Germany had just issued a formal declaration to the Polish government a few hours ago, demanding the return of Danzig Corridor, the extradition of the perpetrator, among other things. In response, the Poles issued an equally aggressive statement, accusing Germany of deliberately provoking war to dominate Europe. In this situation, hopes for a peaceful resolution by Britain and France had already become a mirage. Italy was reluctant to be drawn into the conflict, but the Soviet Union's firm stance at this time only solidified Hitler's determination to act— the Supreme Soviet had finally approved the non-aggression pact with Germany, meaning if Germany engaged in war with Poland, the Soviets would not stand by the Poles.
Zhang Hainuo opened the door to the captain's cabin, calling out, "Sol, could you bring us some strong coffee, please?"
Sol, a brisk and agile steward, hadn't been with Zhang Hainuo for long, but his quick wit was endearing.
"Yes, General!" came a crisp voice from outside the door.
Zhang Hainuo closed the door, turning back. This was the most spacious room on the "Graf Spee" — the captain's cabin, located on the upper deck, with neat and bright furnishings, almost all of them made of steel, signifying maximum durability.
Due to the presence of Zhang Hainuo, the fleet commander, Lansdorff politely vacated the room for him, moving into the adjacent officer's quarters, slightly smaller but equally well-equipped. Typically, they only returned to their respective rooms during rest periods, spending most of their time on the bridge. With the warship navigating the unpredictable waters of the Atlantic, as its commanders, they couldn't afford even a moment's relaxation.
"Despite having dozens of divisions, Poland lacks those up to modern standards!" Zhang Hainuo walked toward his comfortable sofa, saying, "Their air force is no different, all show and no substance!"
"The Polish Navy is equally incapable!" Lansdorff spoke with a contemptuous tone, but there was a strange feeling in his heart at this moment. Initially, he didn't quite like this fleet commander, often due to his rapid promotions in recent years, his casual transfers between navy departments, and his extraordinary relationship with the Nazi high command. However, their interaction had erased those impressions. This commander's judgment of the situation was surprisingly accurate, he was well-versed in the navy's affairs, even British naval secrets couldn't escape his scrutiny. In terms of naval strategy and tactics, he was a rare top-notch player. With so many merits combined in one person, Lansdorff couldn't help but admire him, though there was a hint of envy.
"So, the German Navy should raise its standards: once Germany goes to war with Poland, not a single Polish ship should be allowed to escape, especially not to England!" What should have been said in a fierce tone turned into an elegant calmness in Zhang Hainuo's hands, as if everything was within his grasp.
"General, you're right. Once the war starts, we should sink all those Polish destroyers and gunboats, especially in their few ports!" Lansdorff wasn't the type to simply echo others, but he had to admit that the fleet commander's thoughts were more mature and comprehensive. On these issues, he mostly agreed and supplemented. Offer different insights? He didn't want to distort his own thoughts just to save face.
"Eastern wisdom says, 'The net of heaven is wide and vast, but it lets nothing through,'" Zhang Hainuo continued, "A net consisting of battleships, cruisers, destroyers, coastal submarines, and even carrier training ships and naval aviation has been cast. If, under these circumstances, the Poles can still escape to England with their ships, I can only marvel at their luck!"
After a knock on the door, Sol entered with an exquisite coffee pot and cups. Zhang Hainuo invited him to sit down, and the three of them drank coffee while chatting about their hometowns. Sol was initially a bit awkward, but gradually relaxed. His hometown was in beautiful Baden, from the same region as Otto von Gröbenkau. Regarding the Gröbenkau family, he had an impression of an impressive aristocratic family; his grandfather had even worked as a stable boy for the family. At this point, young Sol felt a bit inferior, but Zhang Hainuo encouraged him with a smile:
"As far as I know, there's no rule in the German Navy that stable boys' descendants can't become heroes in battle! As long as you keep working hard, accumulate enough merits, you will eventually bring honor to your family! I guarantee it!"
"Merits?" Solo, with a hint of innocence still on his face, widened his eyes. "Are we going to war?"
"Unless something unexpected happens..." Zhang Hainuo glanced at Lansdorf. "It's imminent! It should be soon!"
At 1 a.m., the communication department on board received a telegraph from the Kiel Naval Radio Station: "The Baltic Sea will be calm tomorrow, with high temperatures. Be cautious of heatstroke!"
While seemingly ordinary, the phrase "Be cautious of heatstroke" was a code only known to senior naval commanders. Zhang Hainuo immediately ordered the warship's alert level to be raised from level three to level two, indicating that in the event of any abnormality at sea, the Graf Spee Admiral Graf Spee would be ready for combat within a short period.
With radar fully operational and lookouts on duty, Lansdorf volunteered to go to the command tower to oversee the alert, while Zhang Hainuo stayed in his room reading - the Chinese version of "The Art of War". As he read, he drifted off to sleep on the sofa until he was awakened by his steward, Solo.
"What time is it?" Zhang Hainuo asked, still groggy.
"It's 5:03 a.m., General! Colonel Lansdorf requests your presence on the bridge!"
"Oh, I see!" Zhang Hainuo splashed his face with cold water in the washroom, quickly rinsed his mouth, and hurried to the upper command tower. There, Lansdorf, excited yet as composed as possible, said, "General, Eagle!"
"Eagle!" Zhang Hainuo's eyes lit up. It was the code from naval headquarters notifying the overseas raiding ships and submarine units that war had begun. In fact, it had been nearly 20 minutes since the German training ship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish fortress at the Port of Danzig. After intense artillery preparation, the army's steel torrent and infantry had crossed the border and were advancing toward their respective targets.
"Should we announce this news to the crew immediately?" Lansdorf inquired.
"Of course!" Zhang Hainuo went to the microphone for the ship's internal broadcast, pausing for a moment to gather his emotions.
"Officers, soldiers, I am Vice Admiral von Falkenstein, commander of the Deutschland-Class battleship Admiral Graf Spee. I have an extremely important announcement to make to you!"
After allowing a brief moment for those already asleep to awaken, Zhang Hainuo continued, "At this moment, our troops have crossed the border and are advancing into the heartland of Poland!"
Though unclear about the reaction of the crew inside the ship, it was evident from the command tower that the officers responded positively to the news - some with clenched fists, others with radiant expressions. Of course, there were a few who appeared worried, seemingly concerned about the reactions of England and France.
"We have not yet received a formal declaration of war, but the war has begun. Goodnight, boys, and sleep well!"
In reality, after this broadcast, no one on board could sleep.
Before the telegram announcing the declaration of war arrived, Zhang Hainuo had remained on the bridge with Lansdorf. The Graf Spee was still two days away from its designated area, but it didn't matter much because there were few Polish ships sailing in the Atlantic, and the German Navy couldn't attack those flying the British flag - Germany had only declared war on Poland that day, while England and France had not yet become involved. However, it was only a matter of time.
At dawn, the powerful raiding ship entered its first designated supply area on its long journey. The Graf Spee's radar quickly spotted its supply ship, and both vessels increased speed to rendezvous. As they drew closer, the waves kicked up by their passage merged into a torrential flow. Despite this, the ships maintained their steady course, a testament to their skilled helmsmen.
Suddenly, a shot rang out from the brass breech gun on the approaching ship, and a cable flew across to the battleship. As young sailors rushed to grab and secure the first cable brought on board, cheers erupted all around. The rest of the cables were quickly secured, and the crew began the task of transferring fuel and supplies. Everything was carried out with such efficiency and organization.
As the replenishment progressed, Zhang Hainuo could already see the ship operating independently at sea for at least four weeks after this supply. Another such replenishment, and they should be ready to attack the Anglo-French sea routes. However, this depended largely on Berlin's strategy. Germany was still trying to avoid direct conflict with England before the end of the Polish campaign. Only when England and France were determined to continue the war would the naval warfare truly begin. The efficiency of naval operations depended largely on the intelligence departments' collection of information on land.
The American intelligence network, originally organized by Pazixi, had set up observation points in major ports in the Americas. Whenever a merchant ship or convoy left port, they would send timely intelligence. With control over the movements of these ships, the raiding ships could conduct more effective attacks. This was what Zhang Hainuo had been waiting for all along.
As the crew continued their busy work on deck, Zhang Hainuo descended the gangway. Every sailor who passed by would slow down to salute him, their faces radiating youth and optimism. The past summer had left a healthy glow on their skin.
"General!"
"General!"
The officers who were spectating near the scene were the first to notice the commanding officer of the formation. They quickly assumed the position of attention, most of them giving the traditional naval salute, but a few opting for the Nazi salute - a gesture neither explicitly prohibited nor actively promoted in the navy, largely depending on individual political leanings.
Zhang Hainuo gestured for them to stand at ease and walked over to the group of sailors. One of them, who happened to be facing him, stood up abruptly, spilling the dried fruits in his arms onto the deck in order to free his hands to salute.
"Hank, you clumsy oaf!" another sailor, crouching at his feet, grumbled discontentedly.
"Attention, everyone!"
Before the nearby officer could loudly command, Zhang Hainuo had attempted to stop him, but he was a step too late. As expected, the dried fruits scattered all over the floor.
"Um... Private, could you give me some raisins?" Zhang Hainuo looked at the young sailor to his right, actually just suddenly interested in these small items that could be used to move his jaw and pass the time.
The young sailor hesitated for a moment before grabbing a handful of raisins, mixed with other dried fruits, and handing them to Zhang Hainuo.
"Here you go, General!"
"Thank you!" Zhang Hainuo stuffed the complex mix of raisins into his pocket and then smiled, asking, "Private, do you smoke?"
The young sailor hesitated again, then nodded nervously.
"As a token of appreciation, this is for you!" Zhang Hainuo took out a pack of cigarettes from another pocket, saluted, and then turned his head, leaving.
The young sailor stood there with the cigarette pack in his hand, stunned for a while, somewhat disbelieving of what he held. It was indeed a pack of premium cigarettes that would cost 10 marks in Germany.
"What a strange general!" someone muttered nearby after a while.
At this point, the officer who had just given the order came out and said, "Alright, everyone, quickly gather up the dried goods, and then return to your workstations! Um... Private! You can handle the cigarettes the General gave you yourself!"
"Yes, Sergeant!" The young sailor still scratched his head somewhat puzzled, but it was foreseeable that he would be the most popular person in his cabin tonight - cigarettes, and endless topics.
As the German ships Deutschland and Admiral Graf Spee continued their journey to the Atlantic, the land-based warfare was rapidly developing. Tactical thinking remained rooted in the previous World War, where the Poles were no match for the German mechanized forces and formidable air power. With just one concentrated air and ground assault, the defenders were overwhelmed. The Polish ground forces, terrified by German fighters, bombers, and the screeching Stuka dive bombers, were quickly dispersed by the 1.5 million-strong German army supported by tanks and armored vehicles. The Blitzkrieg not only terrified the victims but also struck fear into foreign observers, as it signaled a turning point in the art of war. By the morning of September 5th, the Polish Air Force had been annihilated, and the battle for the corridor had ended. Two days later, most of the 35 Polish divisions were either annihilated or encircled.