After nightfall, Mast Harbor.
Although this harbor is now the home port of the Domestic Fleet, just over two years ago, it was merely a natural deep-water bay where fishing boats sought refuge from the wind.
Whenever a typhoon arrived, nearby fishing boats would gather here for shelter. Looking out, the bay was filled with masts standing tall.
The name "Mast Harbor" originated from this sight.
After more than two years of construction, the harbor's infrastructure had begun to take shape, yet signs of the fishing harbor and villages were still visible everywhere.
Not to mention, most of the workers involved in the construction were local villagers, many of whom were fishermen who had come ashore.
When the "North River" entered the port, the open deck in the middle of the battleship was less than half a meter above the sea surface, and the entire stern was submerged.
It was conservatively estimated that about 10,000 tons of water had entered the ship!
The situation of the "Nanjiang" was even worse, its bow had been blown off, and the hull was completely submerged, with only the superstructure above the water.
After berthing, the "Nanjiang" immediately sank to the bottom.
During the return journey, the crews of these two battleships had been actively trying to save themselves, with the accompanying cruiser providing strong support, otherwise, they wouldn't have made it back to the home port.
Due to too many large-sized holes in the hulls, which couldn't be plugged by ordinary means, water had to be pumped out to expel the seawater that had flooded into the ships.
Therefore, upon returning to Mast Harbor, the first task was to repair the hulls.
Since the damage to the "North River" was relatively lighter, it was repaired first. This essentially involved plugging the leaks in the hull, pumping out some of the seawater, and conducting a simple overhaul of the propulsion system to ensure it could make its own way to the Navy Shipyard in Puzhou.
Even by the most optimistic estimates, this battleship would have to stay in the dock for a good half a year.
The situation of the "Nanjiang" was even worse, possibly requiring a year's repair at Cizhou Navy Shipyard.
Regardless, both battlecruisers had returned to their home port.
After these two battleships were properly settled, the "Lu River" and "Yuejiang" entered Mast Harbor, led by a tugboat toward the deep water pier.
Bai Zhizhan had packed up his personal belongings, and as soon as the "Lu River" docked, he immediately disembarked.
He didn't say goodbye to Gui Boyong and the others.
It wasn't that he was unfeeling, but rather that he didn't know how to say farewell.
The only person who received the transfer order was him; the rest of the officers and crew of the Sub-fleet Headquarter would have to remain on the "Lu River," facing the imminent storm. Bai Zhizhan felt that his abrupt departure was akin to evasion; in the eyes of others, he was a deserter!
Although Bai Zhizhan never cared how others perceived him, he also didn't want to explain himself, especially when there was no way to explain.
Could he tell Gui Boyong that the Empire was about to be defeated?
Or that Commander He favored a young staff officer barely in his twenties more than an old subordinate who had followed him for many years?
The more he tried to explain, the more muddled it became.
"Lieutenant Bai, you forgot something!"
Just as Bai Zhizhan stepped onto the pier, someone called out to him.
Indeed, it was Gui Boyong.
Since he had been seen, Bai Zhizhan did not avoid him.
"Commander He asked for my opinion, and I think you're the best fit," Gui Boyong came forward, handing over a badge from the "Lu River" to Bai Zhizhan. "I don't have anything good to give you, just take this as a keepsake, who knows when we'll meet again."
"Colonel Gui..."
Bai Zhizhan didn't know what to say, and after listening to Gui Boyong, he had read the telegram and knew that the Tiaoman Empire was about to be defeated.
"Do well," as Bai Zhizhan took the insignia, Gui Boyong gave him a few hard pats on the shoulder. "Who knows, when we next follow the fleet into battle, I might be the one following your command. I hope by then, we can achieve even greater victories!"
After hugging Bai Zhizhan, Gui Boyong turned and walked towards the gangway.
Watching Gui Boyong's retreating figure, Bai Zhizhan couldn't help but sigh to himself.
Perhaps Gui Boyong would not be a commander like He Yongxing, who could lead tens of thousands of troops to numerous victories, but he was certainly an excellent strategist.
In the distance, the sound of a steam whistle was heard.
Pushed by barges, the "Yuejiang" was slowly approaching.
Outside the dock, a convoy was approaching.
In a while, the dock would be swarming with people.
Bai Zhizhan didn't delay any longer and turned to walk away from the dock.
At that moment, at the Navy Commander's residence in the suburbs of the Imperial Capital.
The secretary came to report that all the main ships of the Domestic Fleet had returned to their home port. Zhou Kuande had already donned his coat and was arranging the documents he needed to bring.
Because in the afternoon, the Domestic Fleet had sent a message that all related work had been arranged, Zhou Kuande didn't issue further orders, just instructed the secretary to send a telegram to inform He Yongxing that after making the arrangements, he should return to the Navy headquarter to report and accept his promotion and appointment formally.
Zhou Kuande didn't care much about the outcome of the Battle at Watcher Strait.
If this naval battle had occurred a year earlier, even if the losses had been greater, Zhou Kuande would have been overjoyed and regarded it as a decisive victory.
But now, there was no longer any need for that.
In the morning, Zhou Kuande had received news that the intelligence agency had confirmed that Wild II had signed the capitulation decree, and the Tiaoman Empire had been defeated.
As expected, within a month, the Tiaoman troops would surrender to the Alliance Group.
What can be done in a month?
Let alone that both the Imperial Navy and Imperial Army were already battered and bruised, from the commanders to the ordinary soldiers, all were weary and lacked the zealous ambition they had at the onset of war. Even if they all had this, and even if reinstating a "War God" like Chen Bingxun, it could not change the inevitable outcome of defeat.
What needed to be considered now was how to minimize the impact of the Tiaoman Empire's defeat!
Due to the lessons from last year, when the Ter Empire was defeated and the Imperial Authority had locked down the news, after the spread of news, the situation utterly spiraled out of control, causing major unrest across the nation; hence, the Cabinet Ministers believed they should proactively release the news, actively guiding public opinion.
Naturally, the impact of the Tiaoman Empire's defeat was not only on public opinion.
In the afternoon's meeting, the Grand Secretary first proposed seriously considering the possibility and feasibility of a ceasefire and started to prepare accordingly.
Perhaps not wanting to pressure the other ministers too much, the Grand Secretary used the term "ceasefire," not the more straightforward "surrender."
However, no matter the choice of words, it did not change the facts.
Whether a ceasefire or a surrender, it would mean that for the first time in over seventy years since the battle at Nanjiang Port, the Empire would be ending a war without victory. If it was a defeat followed by signing a treaty, it would also become the first shameful surrender treaty in the Empire's history.
The person who signed the treaty would certainly be nailed to the pillar of shame, becoming an eternal criminal.
Who would want to be eternally nailed to the pillar of historical shame?
Who would want to be the sinner of their nation and people?
Who would dare to speak lightly of surrender?
Thinking of these matters, Zhou Kuande lamented that he was born twenty years too early. If he were twenty years younger, even if he couldn't change the destiny of the state, he could have died for his country on the battlefield.
For a veteran who had devoted his entire life to the Imperial Navy, he would rather die than endure the disgrace of surrender!