Empire Conquest

Chapter 457 - 453: Intrigue and Infighting

On board the "Radiant."

It wasn’t the battle report of that submarine that woke Cunningham up, but a telegram from the "Fenjin."

To be precise, it was a Bulan destroyer that was incorporated into the 61st Special Mixed Fleet that sent the message.

Because the 61st Special Mixed Fleet was to operate clandestinely, Cunningham had dispatched a destroyer to join them after they had rendezvoused in the South Sunset Ocean.

According to the agreement, before commencement of hostilities, this destroyer would relay the telegrams.

This arrangement involved military codes.

Since a Joint Headquarter had not yet been established, both parties were reticent about military codes, or rather, neither wished to be disadvantaged.

Sending the destroyer meant there was no need to hand over the codebook to the Newland Fleet.

The content was extensive, and as Cunningham returned to his command post, the Communication Advisor was still busy.

The critical point was this one.

The 61st Special Mixed Fleet planned to launch a full-speed assault to the northeast during the night, penetrate deep into the Fan Flame Ocean, and dispatch reconnaissance aircraft before dawn in search of the definitely active Liangxia Fleet in the Southwest Fan Flame Ocean, hoping to initiate an attack after daylight with the Expeditionary Fleet providing cover and cooperation.

The key point was that Spur hadn’t asked Cunningham for combat support.

Spur had also sent detailed information, including the current position of the 61st Special Mixed Fleet, its nighttime course, and speed, among other things.

In short, he had told Cunningham everything without reservation.

What exactly was that guy up to?

Cunningham didn’t ask, partly because no one could answer that question, and partly because it wasn’t necessary.

In fact, upon learning of Spur’s all-in gamble, Cunningham immediately thought that this usually amiable Major General of the Newland Navy was a ruthless character.

The critical point was that this move was directly targeting Cunningham, or perhaps the Bulan Kingdom.

If the Joint Fleet could achieve a complete victory in tomorrow’s battle, then all would be well, and at most, the main credit would be given to Spur and the 61st Special Mixed Fleet.

To this, Cunningham was indifferent.

It wasn’t that he didn’t care, but in his eyes, as long as the strategic advantage in the Fan Flame Ocean could be maintained, especially retaining control over the Fanluo area, which was of significant strategic value to the Bulan Kingdom, giving away the credit was utterly worth it. After all, Cunningham was an officer of the Royal Navy, and everything he did was in the national interest. As for personal wins, losses, honor, or disgrace, Cunningham had always dismissed them from his mind.

But the question remained, could they be sure of a complete victory tomorrow?

To put it more bluntly, if there was certain victory, would Spur need to risk it all?

Evidently, the chances of complete victory were nearly nonexistent, while the likelihood of a disastrous defeat was very possible.

Herein lay the problem.

If Spur took the lead, even putting himself in the front line, then in the event of a dreadful defeat, absolutely no one would hold him responsible.

Instead, the blame would surely fall on Cunningham.

To put it another way, advancing into the Fan Flame Ocean was a matter for the Bulan Kingdom, spearheaded by the Bulan Royal Navy, and Cunningham was the Joint Fleet Commander, while Spur was only in charge of commanding the 61st Special Mixed Fleet and was under Cunningham’s command for operations in the Fan Flame Ocean.

Unquestionably, Cunningham was the primary person responsible for this battle.

Of course, Cunningham represented the Bulan Royal Navy and the Bulan Kingdom.

From this perspective, Spur was using this tactic to force Cunningham to lead the Expeditionary Fleet deep into the Fan Flame Ocean with him, to actively seek out a decisive battle with the Liangxia Fleet.

However, this was precisely the outcome Cunningham had been trying to avoid.

This was the impact of the fall of Lion Spring City.

On the 26th, upon receiving the news of the surrender of the Lion Spring City garrison, Cunningham’s first order was to slow down the Fleet, and his second order was to change course.

With Lion Spring City lost, was there still a need to engage in a decisive battle with the Liangxia Fleet?

Of course, the Liangxia Fleet might not come for a decisive battle at all.

The reason was simple: with Lion Spring City captured and Throat Strait under control, the Liangxia Navy could enter the Fan Flame Ocean and directly invade Boss Bay.

They were originally headed for Boss Bay; what other reason could there be to waste troops elsewhere?

In short, Cunningham had already decided to retreat.

It was exactly for this reason that he felt Spur must have guessed this, yet he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to annihilate the Liangxia Fleet and defeat Bai Zhizhan, which is why he chose a desperate gamble.

Since the 61st Special Mixed Fleet had only one carrier, Spur needed to bring along the Expeditionary Fleet.

Was he going to make a companion of the 61st Special Mixed Fleet in death?

What puzzled Cunningham was why Spur believed that after he charged forward, the Bulan Royal Navy’s Expeditionary Fleet would definitely follow?

Traditionally, the Fan Flame Ocean had always been the Bulan Royal Navy’s battlefield, having little to do with the Newland Navy.

If Spur wanted to court death, Cunningham could simply watch from the sidelines.

As long as he could stabilize the situation, no one could accuse Cunningham of standing by without lending aid.

If he should turn defeat into victory in the end, Cunningham would become the hero of the entire Western world, while a rashly self-sacrificing Spur would be seen as the epitome of bravery without wisdom.

As Cunningham pondered this issue, his Communication Advisor brought him a newly deciphered message.

However, it didn’t come from the 61st Special Mixed Fleet but from the Royal Navy headquarter.

Yes, it was about that Newland submarine sinking the Liangxia Navy Fleet oiler.

The message was delayed because it needed to be relayed several times.

After reading it, Cunningham had a clearer picture.

Clearly, Spur’s abnormal actions were related to this!

After the submarine’s surprise attack on their oiler, the existence of the 61st Special Mixed Fleet was no longer a secret and thus had undoubtedly become the target of the Liangxia Fleet.

It was obvious Spur didn’t want to die alone.

Moreover, Spur made no mention of the submarine in the telegram, making it clear he didn’t want Cunningham to know.

This move was actually a ploy to get the Expeditionary Fleet to join in the funeral!

Having read the telegram, Cunningham walked to the map table and stared at the chart for a good while, then smiled, feeling even more certain.

To put it bluntly, Spur was indeed a rare pure soldier without much scheming.

He wanted to use the Expeditionary Fleet, but his main goal was indeed to take out the Liangxia special mixed fleet, without doing anything that would harm others and not benefit himself.

The key point was that the 61st Special Mixed Fleet was at the forefront.

If the Liangxia Fleet was in the Southwest Fan Flame Ocean, it would most certainly be in the northeast direction; hence, the first to engage them tomorrow morning would inevitably be the 61st Special Mixed Fleet.

Spur’s telegram was actually hoping that Cunningham wouldn’t miss the opportunity to be the fisherman who benefits!

So, how could this opportunity be seized?

The 61st Special Mixed Fleet was originally on the left rear side of the Expeditionary Fleet, that is, in the northwest direction, maintaining a distance of about 400 kilometers.

Now, as Spur full-speed charges in the northeast direction, his distance from the Expeditionary Fleet will not rapidly close.

Should the Expeditionary Fleet turn directly north?

Or should they head to the northeast, just with a more northerly course, thus gradually shortening the distance to the 61st Special Mixed Fleet?

The crucial question is, where will the Liangxia Fleet go?

Before the Fleet oilers were attacked, since there was suspicion that the Joint Fleet might head north to the Magas Strait, they would definitely closely monitor the coastal sea lanes near the Xuan Continent.

But after their oilers were attacked, they would make adjustments.

Whether for their own safety or suspecting the Newland Fleet might be heading towards Aus, Bai Zhizhan would strengthen his commitment in the distant sea.

By tomorrow morning, the likelihood of the Liangxia Fleet appearing to the northeast of the 61st Special Mixed Fleet is the greatest!

That would be almost to the north of the Expeditionary Fleet!

Considering this, Cunningham felt even more confident in his heart.