Empire Conquest

Chapter 589 - 585: Foothold

The fierce battle continued until January 11 of the New Calendar year 103, when the last remnants of the stubborn Bulan forces were finally annihilated.

During this period, the Bulan Army organized several reprisal attacks, even deploying torpedo boats to sneak attack the Special Mixed Fleet during their resupply missions at night.

Unfortunately, all these reprisal operations ended in failure.

The most threatening reprisal operation took place on the afternoon of January 10, launched by the Bulan Royal Air Force and the Newland Army Air Force.

More than 200 heavy bombers took off from Malta, focusing their attack on the 12th Special Mixed Fleet, which was situated north of Alexandria Port, more to the west.

Within just over an hour, these heavy bombers launched attacks in four batches.

The battle concluded as night fell.

Although several dozen bombers managed to breach the interception of the anti-aircraft fighters and dropped bombs over the 12th Special Mixed Fleet, due to the high altitude of the heavy bombers, over 5000 meters, and their dispersed approach, not a single bomb hit the carrier.

The Bulan Royal Air Force and Newland Army Air Force launched the reprisal not to crush the Imperial Fleet.

At the same time, a fuel-laden C-47 transport aircraft took off from Alexandria Port, carrying the Bulan Royal Army’s General Montgomery.

The bombing of the 12th Special Mixed Fleet was actually a diversion to draw away the Imperial Fleet’s fighters.

Key to this was the fact that, in the days prior, ship-borne fighters had been hovering over Alexandria Port, even during the night.

Although ship-borne fighters do not have the capability for nocturnal operations, the Bulan forces certainly weren’t aware of the situation.

As for deploying the shore-based air force and dispatching the Army Air Force to battle, due to the rapid advancement, they had not had time to construct field airports.

Since the enemy’s air forces had been crushed earlier, there was no immediate need to deploy more air power.

The result was that the Bulan forces mistakenly believed that the Imperial Navy was targeting Montgomery.

And in fact, they were not wrong.

After the attack commenced, Bai Zhizhan frequently communicated with Lian Xusheng and Rommel, with Rommel emphasizing each time that Montgomery must not be allowed to escape.

It is said that after Montgomery fled from Alexandria Port on the afternoon of the 10th, the Bulan forces completely collapsed.

That night, and during the battles in the following day, the resistance of the Bulan forces significantly weakened, with many isolated troops even surrendering voluntarily.

It was thus that the occupation of Alexandria Port was completed on the night of the 11th.

If it must be said, the battle had actually ended that afternoon.

However, to accommodate Lian Xusheng and also to save face for the Imperial Army, at the last moment, Rommel issued an order to stop the attack, leaving the opportunity to launch the final assault to the Imperial Army, signifying a start and an end, thus allowing Lian Xusheng to claim full credit.

This also indicated that Rommel cared greatly about honor and could be seen as a very traditional military man.

In his words, it was the Liangxia Army that captured Alexandria Port, not the Tiaoman forces, a distinction that belonged to the soldiers of the Liangxia Empire.

It was this very night that Lian Xusheng departed from the front lines aboard a transport aircraft.

Although Bai Zhizhan had made arrangements to hold a victory banquet the next day, the 12th, Lian Xusheng clearly felt no need for this meal.

The key concern was that the battle in the Boi Country had reached a crucial stage.

Two days earlier, the Navy Headquarter had sent a message.

With the assistance of Ter forces, the Imperial Army had advanced to the outskirts of the Boi Capital and had encircled this ancient city through airborne operations.

Although the assault was not particularly difficult, Ter’s leaders requested preserving this historic and cultural ancient city.

More than 2000 years ago, this had been the capital of the Persian Empire!

This was why Lian Xusheng needed to return quickly.

The logic was simple, Lian Xusheng was a War God of the Empire’s Army, and just his name alone was enough to calm down those Boi Country generals who had previously been shouting about defending the Capital to the death.

Of course, this couldn’t be blamed on Lian Xusheng.

If anything, it was the Alliance Group’s doing.

After the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom’s defeat, especially once the Luosha Federation had joined the fight, the Alliance Group consistently portrayed Lian Xusheng as a war demon.

At that time, the propaganda from the Alliance Group claimed that Liangxia Empire had two bone-crunching demons.

That’s right, they were Lian Xusheng and Bai Zhizhan.

Among them, Lian Xusheng was portrayed as the Bimong beast, while Bai Zhizhan was the sea monster Leviathan.

Later, they even added Li Yunxiang who was vilified as Schezar.

In essence, in the propaganda of the Alliance Group, these generals of the Liangxia Empire were depicted as coming from hell, serving the Grim Reaper and acting as lackeys to the god of destruction.

Furthermore, a year earlier, the Luosha Federation unilaterally declared that Lian Xusheng had committed war crimes against humanity and even held a formal trial assembly, announcing Lian Xusheng’s sentence to be executed by hanging. Perhaps feeling too ashamed, even the Bulan Kingdom didn’t report this incident.

Because it was just to boost morale, or rather, to incite the military and civilians’ hatred against Liangxia Empire, the Luosha Federation didn’t promote this widely.

As a result, in the Alliance Group, Lian Xusheng was portrayed everywhere as a demon who spread death and destruction.

Using him to frighten children almost achieved the effect of stopping their crying.

This propaganda had a very clear side effect.

That’s right, it cloaked Lian Xusheng and Bai Zhizhan, these Imperial generals, in an aura of invincibility.

Before even engaging in battle, the opponents were psychologically defeated.

Before initiating this propaganda, the bureaucrats of the Alliance Group had evidently not considered this issue.

Of course, the banquet would have taken place without Lian Xusheng too.

On the 12th during the day, Tiaoman troops and the Imperial Army took over the defense at Alexandria, then retreated orderly to the outside of the port.

According to the agreement, Alexandria, as well as the sea routes to the canal, were to be managed by the Imperial Navy.

The Marine Corps was responsible for the occupation of Alexandria, not the Fleet.

Since the battle had ended and Alexandria was purely a Military Port with no civilians, the task of occupation was relatively easy by comparison.

That evening, a banquet was held on board the "Min."

Choosing the flagship of the Twelfth Special Mixed Fleet was to give Liu Xiangzhen face.

After all, throughout the operation to advance into the Land Heart Sea, Liu Xiangzhen had been very active and had made significant contributions.

Moreover, he had recognized through action, that is, under the complete command of Bai Zhizhan, that Bai Zhizhan was indeed the leading general of the Imperial Navy.

Those attending the banquet included Rommel and several other Tiaoman generals who had traveled from afar, including Bai Zhizhan’s old friend, Dunz, the Commander-in-chief of Tiaoman’s submarine fleet.

He was now a Navy Marshal, whereas, at their last meeting, he had been just a Navy Brigadier General.

Like Rommel, he too had recently received a promotion bypassing ranks, moving directly from Admiral to Marshal.

In front of Bai Zhizhan, Dunz remained as humble as ever, not allowing his rank of Marshal to make him look down on Bai Zhizhan, who was still only a Vice Admiral.

In Dunz’s words, he would always be a fan of Bai Zhizhan.

Additionally, several Air Force generals had also arrived.

Most importantly, these Tiaoman generals didn’t just come to attend the celebration banquet but also brought good news, some of which were related to the Navy.

The key was all this news was brand new even to Bai Zhizhan!