Empire Conquest

Chapter 472 - 468: Early Preparations

Bai Zhizhan did not look for Li Yunxiang, and Li Yunxiang was not in the Imperial Capital at the time.

In the following days, Bai Zhizhan gathered officers like Zhou Yongtao to form the staff of the headquarters and began drafting battle plans.

There was no doubt that what they lacked most were people.

Although Zhou Yongtao had always performed excellently and had already been promoted to Navy Colonel, he was still too young and lacking in the qualifications to rise further.

According to unwritten rules, Zhou Yongtao shouldn’t dream of becoming a General until he was 40.

One must not forget, Bai Zhizhan himself was only promoted to Navy Brigadier General at the age of 42. No matter how well Zhou performed, he was still a subordinate of Bai Zhizhan.

It wasn’t about deliberately suppressing the youth, but what command could a twenty-something officer have?

On his third day back in the Imperial Capital, Bai Zhizhan sent a telegram to Li Jie, who was still in Lion Spring City busy with setting up the Joint Fleet, telling him to leave the affairs to Jin Hong, who stayed with the "Flame Sea" carrier, and to return to the Imperial Capital as soon as possible for a debriefing at the Navy Headquarters.

Bringing back Li Jie was because he was deemed stable enough.

According to Liu Changxun’s wishes, whether heading south to Aus or attacking the Howay Islands, the Navy would operate independently without hoping for the Army’s support.

This would definitely include the Marine Corps and shore-based air force.

Speaking of which, this was what gave Bai Zhizhan the most headache.

In commanding Fleet operations, Bai Zhizhan recognized himself as second to none.

However, having spent over 20 years in the military, Bai Zhizhan had never commanded ground combat; even in pre-war exercises, it wasn’t much related to him.

Moreover, commanding the shore-based air force was also not Bai Zhizhan’s forte.

Of course, with Shen Pu and Zhu Huasheng soon transferring to a command position, the issue of air force operations wasn’t much of Bai Zhizhan’s concern.

What really consumed Bai Zhizhan’s attention was amphibious warfare.

Clearly, this was also the key reason Bai Zhizhan first thought of Li Jie.

Among the few confidants he trusted most, only Li Jie had participated in amphibious operations, serving as the commander of the Landing Fleet.

Indeed, it was the assault on Lion Spring City.

Although Li Jie had not directly commanded the amphibious operations, and it was only after the Bulan Army surrendered that he followed the main forces to Lion Spring City, he remained on the frontlines throughout, together with the Marine Corps, entirely in charge of providing cover and support for the landing forces.

To use Bai Zhizhan’s words, though he hadn’t eaten pork, he had at least seen pigs run.

On February 14, Li Jie returned to the Imperial Capital.

On this same day, good news came from Sai Island.

After more than ten days of continuous fierce attacks, the 9th Marine Division finally captured the peak of Congress Hill, wiping out the last of the enemies.

This battle could be described as stirring.

More aptly, it was full of twists and turns.

To put it simply, it was a delayed victory.

Even according to the news released by the Imperial Authority, during the three-month long fierce battle, the Imperial Navy and Army, at the heavy cost of tens of thousands of dead and disabled officers and soldiers, managed to capture Sai Island, defended by more than 20,000 Newland and Saiyi soldiers, with the total casualties surpassing that of the enemy.

The loss of equipment was also immense.

Also using data released by the Imperial Authority, during the attack on Sai Island, the Imperial Navy and Army lost a total of more than 1,400 combat aircraft and nearly a hundred ships.

Just the sunk transport ships alone exceeded 60.

Fortunately, the fierce battle finally ended.

As for whether to attack Guan Island, it was already clear at a glance.

The next day, the Sixth Bureau provided a piece of intelligence.

Even by the most conservative estimates, the total military strength stationed on Guan Island exceeded 30,000, with the main force being the nearly 20,000-strong First Marine Division.

Critically, by staunchly defending Sai Island, the Newland Army made a maximum effort to strengthen the defensive deployments of Guan Island.

According to reliable intelligence, the amount of cement transported to Guan Island alone exceeded 200,000 tons.

To accelerate the construction speed, the Newland Army expanded the waterworks on Guan Island and strictly prohibited the use of seawater for mixing concrete.

There was ample reason to believe that the new defensive fortifications on Guan Island were built to standards that could withstand large caliber shells.

Even if they couldn’t withstand the main gun shells fired by battleships, they would certainly hold against 200mm shells.

Based on this, the Sixth Bureau estimated that it would take about half a year to conquer Guan Island, requiring at least 50,000 troops and prepared to sacrifice 30,000 soldiers.

Moreover, it would be necessary to dispatch the Special Mixed Fleet.

All in all, attacking Guan Island was a thankless task.

From a strategic perspective, if they didn’t go to the Southwest East Ocean, there was absolutely no need to attack Guan Island.

On this day, Liu Changxun held a meeting at the Navy headquarters to solicit opinions on the next phase of combat operations, essentially setting the strategic guidelines.

Since no one could guarantee that Guan Island could be captured in the first half of the year, after some discussion, Liu Changxun officially appointed Bai Zhizhan as the commander-in-chief for combat operations in the Middle East Ocean direction, responsible for drafting and perfecting the battle plan to be submitted to the Navy headquarters by the end of the month.

Additionally, Liu Changxun appointed Liu Xiangdong as the commander-in-chief of the Fan Flame Ocean Fleet and Liu Xiangzhen as the commander-in-chief of the Joint Fleet.

With this, the debates on the strategic offensive direction essentially came to a close.

However, Liu Changxun did not order the recall of the Eleventh Special Mixed Fleet or make any decisions about whether to launch a strong attack on Jibu Fortress.

In the circumstances of that time, Liu Changxun perhaps just hoped that his two nephews had something to do in the Fan Flame Ocean.

According to the arrangements of the Navy headquarters, focusing on the East Ocean would definitely require prioritizing Bai Zhizhan’s needs first, followed by considerations for the Fan Flame Ocean.

If Guan Island were abandoned and a direct assault on the Howay Islands launched, four large carriers might not suffice!

In fact, in all the previously drafted battle plans targeting the Howay Islands, it was explicitly mentioned that at least three Special Mixed Fleets were necessary.

It must be said, Liu Changxun was somewhat confused about this matter.

On February 20, Liu Xiangzhen went to Lion Spring City.

On the same day, Lian Xusheng received an extraordinary promotion, personally conferred the rank of Army General by Xue Yuanzheng, and took up the post of commander-in-chief of the Northwest War Zone.

Additionally, Lian Xusheng also received the title of "Iron Cavalry Protector of the Nation."

Long ago, twenty years earlier, Lian Xusheng was a direct subordinate of the Holy Emperor within the Imperial Guard Army, which greatly contributed to his being favored for these roles.

During those tumultuous years, Lian Xusheng lived, ate, and even faced life and death alongside the Holy Emperor, who was then the Crown Prince.

Such friendship formed on the battlefield, forged through bloodshed, would not easily fade.

It could be said that this title was slightly overdue.

In the words of Peng Huaisong, had Lian Xusheng not gone to the Fan Flame Ocean but stayed continuously in the Northwest, he might have been promoted before the end of the year.

Although these words might seem biased, they struck at the key point.

The Army’s main battlefield had always been in the Northwest. The Southwest, in fact, was dominated by the Navy, so Lian Xusheng’s move to the Fan Flame Ocean was mainly out of courtesy to Bai Zhizhan.

Of course, no matter how you put it, Lian Xusheng’s extraordinary promotion and his becoming an Imperial Duke definitely called for a grand celebration.

Probably having received the news in advance, Li Yunxiang rushed back the previous evening.

In the afternoon, Li Yunxiang went to find Bai Zhizhan, bringing along some fine wine he claimed to have brought from the Southwest, to celebrate with Lian Xusheng.

Of course, it was also a send-off for Lian Xusheng.

According to the schedule, Lian Xusheng was to set off for the Northwest frontline the next day.

In Li Yunxiang’s words, once he left, who knew when he would be able to return.