The content of the telegram was not extensive. He Yongxing, carrying a cipher book, completed the decoding within a few minutes and then tore up the original telegram.
After searching the nautical chart for a while, He Yongxing gestured for Bai Zhizhan to come over.
"Commander He, do you want me to get Colonel Gui Boyong and his men..."
"Let them fill their bellies first. There won't be much peace to come." He Yongxing handed the decoded telegram to Bai Zhizhan. "The Navy headquarter dispatched this message two hours ago. Unfortunately, we received it two hours late. That's a full two hours!"
After reading the telegram, Bai Zhizhan glanced at the points He Yongxing had marked on the nautical chart and then looked up at him.
In Bai Zhizhan's eyes, there was only shock and disbelief.
The content of the telegram was minimal, composed of several sets of digits for times and map coordinates, along with alphanumeric codes representing the warships.
However, the content was rich and striking.
In essence, there were three main points.
First, at nine-thirty in the morning, the Main Force Squad of the Domestic Fleet made a turn in the central sea area of Watcher Strait and did not proceed into East Ocean as planned. However, the Main Force Squad would hold the strait until dawn, so the 21st Sub-fleet must return before then.
Second, the "Seahorse" submarine entering East Ocean, south of Nagiu Port, encountered a fleet traveling at high speed, including four large Battleships. Given the fleet's speed of over twenty-five knots, it was almost certain that it was the Second Battle Patrol Squad, previously operative outside Nagiu Port.
Third, the 33rd Sub-fleet, entering East Ocean through the South Channel, passed by the eastern exit of the Maze Channel around ten in the morning and did not detect the Fast Battle Squad or any other main forces of the Joint Fleet. It was clear the Fast Battle Squad had already moved prior to this.
Fortunately, the telegram provided precise times and coordinates.
From this, it could be roughly deduced that the Joint Fleet had received intelligence early on, knew about the 21st Sub-fleet's entry into East Ocean, and had crushed the First Battle Patrol Squad. Since the Main Force Squad of the Domestic Fleet had not been spotted entering Watcher Strait, the Joint Fleet dispatched the Second Battle Patrol Squad and Fast Battle Squad to encircle and attack the 21st Sub-fleet. They must have also mobilized a large number of cruisers to conduct a dragnet search east of the strait.
It was only a matter of time before the 21st Sub-fleet was located!
What should be done?
"Do you know why the First Battle Patrol Squad and Fast Battle Squad appeared near the strait but did not heighten their vigilance, and how we managed to enter East Ocean through the North Channel without incident? After which, we encountered the First Battle Patrol Squad east of the strait and defeated them within an hour?"
Bai Zhizhan didn't catch on immediately. When he realized what that implied, he was stunned.
It wasn't shock—it was fear!
The implications of He Yongxing's rhetorical question were terrifying.
The Imperial Navy intentionally leaked information, luring the enemy in, to engage in a decisive battle, thereby achieving the strategic objective of severely damaging the enemy.
In fact, this also answered a question.
After Bai Zhizhan boldly speculated an encounter with the First Battle Patrol Squad, although He Yongxing did not heed the warning, he didn't adjust the course.
He Yongxing's current rhetorical question clarified that it wasn't that he didn't believe Bai Zhizhan; he couldn't show it.
Of course, He Yongxing wasn't guessing, nor did he have the power of foresight.
He had known about this all along!
Regrettably, man's calculations fell short of Heaven's.
Firstly, the Fast Battle Squad, commanded by Betty, did not show up.
Secondly, He Yongxing had seized the opportunity not only to cripple the First Battle Patrol Squad but also nearly annihilated them. However, he couldn't have anticipated that the Main Force Sub-fleet did not take the opportunity to enter East Ocean. Perhaps they hadn't found a favorable opportunity, which left the 21st Sub-fleet with only half a day to breakout.
How could they breakout?
The Second Battle Patrol Squad was currently speeding south from the east of the Northern Sado Islands. They would definitely have numerous cruisers with them, ready to deploy and search.
"The 'Jingang' class had a speed of over twenty-seven knots, while the two 'Ji River' class could only reach twenty-seven knots.
Leaning over the nautical chart table, Bai Zhizhan did a quick calculation and abandoned the idea of a northern breakout.
Not to mention that he could not abandon his friendly ships, even if he could, after breaking away from the second Battle Patrol Squad, he would likely not have enough fuel to return to the Empire's domestic military port.
To the south was the Fast Battle Squad.
Upon learning that the first Battle Patrol Squad had been crushed, with three ships sunk and three heavily damaged, Betty would not let the 21st Sub-fleet slip by.
If he really had to choose, he would rather head north and face the second Battle Patrol Squad in battle than provoke the five fast battleships.
Thus, heading south was out of the question too.
The only way out was the one mentioned in the telegram: Break through to the southwest, reach the east of Watcher Strait before dark, and then return to the Xu Sea through the Maze Channel under the cover of the Main Force Squad's artillery fire, leveraging the camouflage of night. Although the hope was slim, it was better than no hope at all.
What's the key?
Speed!
Bai Zhizhan didn't dare to delay; he immediately set about calculating the course and speed, marking the results on the chart as he went.
In fact, he was drawing a navigation route, marking all the turning points, the speed to be achieved on each leg of the journey, and the time to reach each turning point.
Upon completing the last step in his calculations, Bai Zhizhan let out a long sigh of relief.
When he looked up, he found that Gui Boyong and other staff officers had returned and were all gathered around him.
After staring at the navigation route on the chart for a while, He Yongxing's mouth twisted into a slight smile.
"Haven't eaten yet, right?" Gui Boyong came over and handed a lunch box to Bai Zhizhan. "It's still hot; eat up. You need to be full to fight a battle.
Bai Zhizhan needed an excuse; he quickly took the lunch box and wolfed down the food.
In truth, he had been hungry for a while.
"Gui Boyong, gather everyone, I have an announcement to make," said He Yongxing without wasting any time; time was of the utmost value now.
Gui Boyong just nodded; he had read the telegram.
Even without explanation, the information marked on the chart clearly reflected Bai Zhizhan's tactical intent, and he needed not to explain any further.
Just then, the lights on the bridge went out.
Even though it was broad daylight, the shadowless lamp above the chart table in the center of the bridge had always been on, so that the staff could see the chart clearly.
Normally, nobody would turn that light off.
Then, the red lights came on.
Before everyone could react, the alarm sounded.
One long and one short!
An urgent alarm sound.
Gui Boyong was the first to react; he rushed over and grabbed the telephone handset.
At that moment, Bai Zhizhan also reacted, although only a few seconds had passed.
One long tone and one short—that was the alarm for a torpedo attack!
If a lookout had spotted the torpedo and sounded the alarm, it meant the torpedo was close, possibly just a few hundred meters away. If several torpedoes were incoming at sufficiently short intervals, the 'Lu River,' with its speed of only twelve knots, could not possibly dodge all the torpedoes!"