"General, the Japanese destroyers are retreating! They must have given up," Rear Admiral Mao said with a smile. The tension that had weighed heavily on his heart was finally lifted.
When the Japanese Navy's destroyers launched their furious torpedo attacks, they undeniably posed a significant threat to the German Expeditionary Fleet. The 450mm medium torpedoes could prove fatal to each of their battlecruisers. Yet, fortunately, they had managed to evade the deadly salvo. Only the Moltke battlecruiser was slightly damaged, and the wounds were minor. Such losses were well within acceptable limits.
In retaliation, the German fleet inflicted massive losses on the Japanese destroyer formations, sinking more than twenty of their ships. This forced the Japanese Navy to abandon any further torpedo assaults.
"I almost wish they would continue their torpedo attacks. That way, we could wipe out their entire destroyer fleet. Once those destroyers are gone, we can attack the remaining Japanese warships without worry. Otherwise, we will always have to be on guard against their destroyers exploiting the chaos," Vice Admiral Spee remarked.
"Indeed, General. However, the Japanese are not fools. They know their torpedoes are ineffective now, so they had no choice but to give up," Rear Admiral Mao replied.
"General, the Japanese Navy is retreating!" a staff officer suddenly reported.
Vice Admiral Spee and Rear Admiral Mao immediately grabbed their binoculars. It was clear that the Japanese Navy was withdrawing.
"The Japanese commander is quite decisive! Knowing they are outmatched, he retreats immediately—cleanly and without hesitation," Vice Admiral Spee observed.
"Yes, General. Such a commander is certainly competent. But unfortunately for them, we will not allow them to escape. They still have 14 capital ships left, including three advanced battlecruisers. These still pose a threat to our expeditionary fleet. Therefore, we cannot let them go. We must destroy them all to ensure our safety. Only then can we proceed without reservation in our subsequent operations," Rear Admiral Mao stated.
Vice Admiral Spee nodded. This mission was not merely to defeat the Japanese Navy; the ultimate goal was to force Japan to surrender and withdraw from its occupied colonies. Without achieving this objective, the expeditionary fleet's mission would remain unfulfilled. Therefore, the Japanese Navy could not be allowed to escape. The fleet had to be eliminated, especially the three Kongō-class battlecruisers, which had to be sunk without exception.
"Order the fleet to pursue immediately! Prioritize the destruction of the Japanese Kongō-class battlecruisers, then focus on the remaining capital ships. As for the light cruisers and destroyers, if we can eliminate them all, so much the better," Vice Admiral Spee commanded.
"Yes, General. I will relay your orders to all ships, ensuring none of the Japanese vessels escape!" Rear Admiral Mao conveyed the orders to the fleet, raising the stakes even further.
Vice Admiral Spee smiled at the response and said nothing more. If they could eliminate the entire Japanese Combined Fleet, it would be the most advantageous outcome for the Expeditionary Fleet's next actions.
The German Expeditionary Fleet immediately increased its speed to pursue the retreating Japanese fleet. Each of their battlecruisers raised their speed to 25 knots, nearly ten knots faster than the Japanese fleet. After all, the aging warships of the Japanese fleet, some more than a decade old, severely hampered the speed of their retreat.
At this pace, the German fleet would close the gap in less than an hour and would be ready to attack.
"Commander, the Germans are catching up. They have won, yet they still refuse to let us go—they mean to wipe us out completely!" Rear Admiral Yamashita Gentarō exclaimed with burning eyes, his fury palpable.
"It was inevitable," General Ijūin Gorō said with a bitter smile. "The Germans, having gained the upper hand, are naturally intent on maximizing that advantage. Were I in their position, I too would not let this opportunity slip."
"Commander, perhaps we should increase the speed of the Kongō-class battlecruisers and escape first? I will stay behind to lead the remaining ships in a defense, buying you time," Rear Admiral Yamashita suggested through gritted teeth.
General Ijūin shook his head. "No, that won't do. If anyone is to stay behind, it should be me. After all, I am as good as dead now."
"Commander, if I lead the Kongō-class battlecruisers back, can I survive?" Rear Admiral Yamashita asked.
General Ijūin fell silent. He knew that if he, the commander, were killed and Rear Admiral Yamashita managed to escape, he would be branded a coward. The only option left for him would likely be to commit seppuku.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The German battlecruisers opened fire. Although the distance was still considerable, they had entered the effective range of the German 380mm main guns, which could now begin to attack the Japanese fleet.
Heavy shells struck the sea, sending massive plumes of water into the air.
The Japanese fleet, like a cornered animal, fled desperately, hoping to reach the safety of Tokyo Bay. But the German Expeditionary Fleet was not about to let them escape. They relentlessly continued their pursuit.
To deal with the Japanese Kongō-class battlecruisers, the German fleet had concentrated all their battlecruisers to focus their fire on these three ships. The three Mackensen-class battlecruisers surrounded the Kongō, while three Derfflinger-class battlecruisers targeted the Hiei. The remaining two Moltke-class battlecruisers engaged the Kirishima, hoping to sink or heavily damage the three remaining Kongō-class battlecruisers in a short time.