Empire Conquest

Chapter 618 - 614: The Last Expedition Operation

The difficulty of the operation had decreased, but that did not mean it was completely absent.

Indeed, it was for this reason that Bai Zhizhan had entrusted Zhou Yongtao with the task of formulating a detailed combat plan for any potential scenarios that might arise.

Such an arrangement was not without reason.

After Bai Zhizhan was promoted to Fleet Commander, Zhou Yongtao did not take on the role of Chief of Staff for the 21st Special Mixed Fleet but was specifically appointed as the Combat Staff Advisor for the East Ocean Fleet.

Since there was no Chief of Staff appointed yet, the duties of the Chief of Staff were carried out by the Combat Staff Advisor.

According to Bai Zhizhan’s own words, what Zhou Yongtao lacked to become an outstanding Fleet Commander was the ability to oversee the whole situation.

Before this, Zhou Yongtao had always been an advisor crafting strategies but not a Commander who made decisions and took charge.

Of course, acquiring the ability to oversee the whole situation had to start with drafting combat plans.

Assigning the task of drafting combat plans to Zhou Yongtao was also because Bai Zhizhan was stretched thin, and needed to focus his attention on more crucial matters.

Simply put, it involved withstanding the pressure from the Imperial High Command and ensuring that the operational actions to advance into the Howay Islands progressed smoothly.

In the past few months, Bai Zhizhan had spent only one-third of his time with the Fleet, another third on the Empire’s mainland, and the remaining time traveling between the mainland and the Fleet. He would return to the Imperial Capital every few days to attend various meetings.

Moreover, among the Imperial High Command, there still existed serious divergences concerning the advance into the Southwest East Ocean and the assault on Aus.

It was not a lack of military strength or resources, but rather that the Army generals advocating for an advance into the Southwest East Ocean did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that taking over Southwest East Ocean and occupying Aus would definitely lead the Newland Federation to surrender and thus end the significant war.

Furthermore, after delaying until spring approached, the Army shifted its focus back to the Giant Continent battlefield.

It was the Imperial High Command’s approval of Bai Zhizhan’s submitted combat plans that was key in agreeing for the Navy to take the lead in launching an attack on the Howay Islands in April.

In the last high-level meeting, Xue Yuanzheng explicitly mentioned that the Army’s actions in Giant Continent and the Navy’s operations in Central East Ocean would determine the strategic offensive direction for the second half of the year, questioning whether to launch operations against Southwest East Ocean and Aus before advancing into Gu Continent.

As long as the Howay Islands could be smoothly seized, there would be no need to attack Aus.

If setbacks were experienced in the Howay Islands, proving that the Newland Army still possessed a staunch fighting will, and if troubles were met on the Giant Continent direction without defeating the Luosha Federation as planned, and thus the war could not end in the near term, only then would advancing into Aus be considered.

This was also the key reason behind Bai Zhizhan’s decision to prioritize a forceful assault.

To swiftly take down the Howay Islands, there couldn’t be too many tricks involved.

The critical point was that there was not much time to waste.

After the Fleet set sail, Bai Zhizhan convened a commanders’ conference aboard the "Qinling."

Actually, there wasn’t much to discuss.

In the past few months, Wei Jun and other Fleet Commanders not only directly participated in the drafting of the combat plans but also provided many valuable suggestions.

Moreover, Bai Zhizhan was still accompanying the Fleet on this occasion.

He had not yet informed Wei Jun and others that this was his last time accompanying the Fleet on an expedition.

According to the arrangements of the Navy Headquarter, once the Fleet Headquarter located at Nagiu Port was completed, Bai Zhizhan was to properly stay in the rear to oversee operations.

As Liu Changxun put it, Bai Zhizhan had already established a significant track record of military achievements, and it was time to leave the few remaining opportunities to others.

The so-called pre-war meeting was to let everyone know that the operation to expedition Howay Islands formally began from now.

Afterward, Wei Jun and the others returned to their respective flagships.

The ability to come and go freely was thanks to a new type of aircraft.

A helicopter developed and produced by Westco Group.

Helicopters, which achieve vertical takeoff and landing through the lift generated by rotors, were initially developed in response to the needs of the Land Air Force. However, as soon as they were successfully developed, they first caught the attention of the Navy. While the Land Air Force was still hesitating, the Navy Air Force had already placed an order.

As a result, the Navy was the first to equip with helicopters.

Compared to traditional aircraft like ship-borne aircraft and seaplanes, the most significant advantage of helicopters is their ability to take off and land on the limited space of a deck.

That is why helicopters were first equipped on dedicated flagships and large battleships of special mixed fleets.

The primary use of helicopters, as of now, is to transport personnel.

Normally, they service commanders and captains, facilitating travel among the various battleships, and in wartime, they mainly transport the wounded.

Of course, if needed, they can also be used to transport some less heavy equipment.

As for other uses, that is a matter for the future.

Just like usual, Li Mingbo was left till last.

In fact, he didn’t need to hurry back to the "Pu" number.

"Qinling" was part of the Twenty-first Special Mixed Fleet and moved with the Twenty-first Special Mixed Fleet, while the "Pu" was only tens of kilometers away.

Because the other special mixed fleets needed to accelerate their withdrawal, it was necessary for Wei Jun and the others to quickly return to their own flagships.

"No matter what, at least it has started."

"Last time I returned to the Imperial Capital, I heard Zheng Jiangming say that Lian Xusheng had made a military pledge to ensure that this year we would take down the Luosha Federation and end the Giant Continent war."

Li Mingbo was surprised because the last time Bai Zhizhan returned to the Imperial Capital was half a month ago, and he had not mentioned Lian Xusheng before.

"The problem is, whether we can take down the Luosha Federation not only depends on Lian Xusheng but also on the Tiaoman Army."

"The Tiaoman Empire should want to defeat the Luosha Federation even more, right?"

Bai Zhizhan glanced at Li Mingbo before saying, "What do you think the Tiaoman High Command thinks about the military operations to invade the Gu Continent and attack the Newland Federation?"

Li Mingbo pouted and didn’t say any more nonsense.

"At the Imperial High Command, many people consider the campaigns to invade Gu Continent and attack Newland Federation arduous and unrewarding tasks, and in the Tiaoman Empire, there will definitely be more."

"So are you saying that the Tiaoman authorities do not want to defeat the Luosha Federation this year?"

Bai Zhizhan did not answer the question but instead turned his gaze to the distance.

The sun had already set near the horizon, and night was quickly approaching.

Li Mingbo did not ask further, as he had long understood the underlying power dynamics.

The key point is actually just one.

After defeating the Locke Third Empire, Emperor William’s coronation at the Palace of Versailles, and the transformation of the Tiaoman Kingdom into the Tiaoman Empire, the ultimate goal was only to dominate the West Continent or at most to dominate the West, replacing old empires like the Bulan Kingdom to become the premier power of the Western world.

As for global domination, it was not a goal pursued by the Tiaoman Empire.

Especially after the rise of the Liangxia Empire, even Vilhelm II, who had lofty ambitions, had abandoned the dream of domination and chosen more realistic goals.

This was also the fundamental condition for the alliance between the Tiaoman Empire and the Liangxia Empire.

So, having already defeated the Locke Republic, crippled the Bulan Kingdom, and about to defeat the Luosha Federation, why would the Tiaoman Empire have any reason to help the Liangxia Empire dominate the world, dispatch troops to the remote Gu Continent, and gather millions of troops to attack the Newland Federation?

Moreover, after defeating the Newland Federation, what could the Tiaoman Empire gain?

Clearly, that is the crux of the matter.

As Li Mingbo was pondering this issue, the Communication Advisor hurried over, still holding a telegram with the ink not yet dry.