Empire Conquest

Chapter 634 - 630: Honor

Aboard the "Qinling."

After receiving the message that the seaplane carrying Spur had departed, Bai Zhizhan returned to his living quarters.

Although going to accept the surrender of the Newland 5th Fleet as a victor, Bai Zhizhan felt that he should change into a formal ceremonial dress.

After all, Spur was a worthy opponent.

In fact, he was the toughest opponent Bai Zhizhan had ever faced.

In their first engagement, if it weren’t for Hal and Frey dragging their feet, especially Hal not withstanding the attack launched by Liu Xiangzhen and then mistaking the direction of the reprisal, coupled with a bit of bad luck, Spur might have defeated Bai Zhizhan in the Northwest East Ocean.

Under those circumstances, at least it wouldn’t have been such a disastrous defeat.

If the Newland Navy hadn’t lost the Northwest East Ocean Battle, the situation in the East Ocean battlefield, and indeed the entire war, could have developed in another direction.

Moreover, in the Southwest East Ocean naval battle, having Spur as commander rather than letting Cunningham take command, might have led to a different outcome.

Actually, Bai Zhizhan’s nerves finally relaxed when he received the news yesterday that Spur had accepted the orders from Nizi.

But it was only a slight relaxation.

Had Spur refused to accept the surrender orders, what would have awaited the three Special Mixed Fleets and their tens of thousands of officers and soldiers was an immensely challenging naval-air battle.

It was after receiving this message that Zheng Jiangming went to Treasure Harbor as an imperial envoy.

As planned, he would discuss the surrender of the Newland East Ocean Fleet with Nizi.

As for the government level, the negotiations with the Wallace authorities had nothing directly to do with Zheng Jiangming; they were managed by special envoys sent from the homeland.

Only when the reconnaissance aircraft reported that all battleships of the Newland 5th Fleet were non-combatant as previously agreed, did Bai Zhizhan truly believe that Spur was not playing tricks and had indeed listened to and carried out the surrender orders issued by Nizi.

In fact, Bai Zhizhan had made several preparations.

Just as Spur had guessed, besides dispatching an assault team made up of 6 fast battleships, Bai Zhizhan had also organized attack aircraft groups.

Not one, but three.

According to Bai Zhizhan’s plan, any small disturbance would trigger an immediate attack by these three groups, each with hundreds of ship-borne aircraft.

It was naturally good if the 5th Fleet could surrender.

If not, there was no need to force them.

In Bai Zhizhan’s words, if a choice had to be made between dozens of battleships and thousands of officers and sailors, he would undoubtedly choose the latter without hesitation.

Besides, these were dozens of Newland Navy battleships.

Moreover, launching an attack did not mean sinking them.

Inflicting heavy damage on the enemy ships would be enough.

Next, the assault team would naturally take care of the aftermath.

Fortunately, there was no disturbance.

When the assault team arrived and controlled the situation, the three attack aircraft groups then turned around to return to the Special Mixed Fleet; they would be back soon.

These matters didn’t have much to do with Bai Zhizhan.

What he needed to do was meet with Spur to accept his surrender.

Afterward, he would escort Spur back to Treasure Harbor and then wait with the fleet outside Treasure Harbor for new instructions from the Grand Secretary or the Navy Commander.

If all went well, perhaps in a few days the "Qinling" would enter Treasure Harbor as the flagship of the Imperial Navy East Ocean Fleet.

Actually, this had already been agreed upon.

Yesterday, Liu Changxun sent a telegram instructing Bai Zhizhan to prepare as the full representative of the Imperial Navy Commander-in-chief, to go to Treasure Harbor to accept the surrender of the Newland Navy East Ocean Fleet.

For this purpose, Liu Changxun also specifically reminded Bai Zhizhan to prepare a suit of ceremonial attire.

Of course, Liu Changxun arranged this to give the highest honor to Bai Zhizhan, to prove that Bai Zhizhan was the foremost hero of the Imperial Navy.

Liu Changxun also hinted at this in his telegram.

After receiving the highest honor, he would need to return to the Empire’s homeland.

It wasn’t that Liu Changxun had grown old, but after defeating the last formidable enemy, there was no longer need for Bai Zhizhan to continue leading charges at the front.

Without Spur, who else could lead the Fleet and challenge the Imperial Navy?

Don’t mention Bai Zhizhan and Liu Xiangzhen, letting Wei Jun and Zhou Yongtao, these Young Turks who had emerged in the great war, take charge would also allow them to sweep through the East Ocean!

In Liu Changxun’s own words, he was merely acting as Navy Commander for Bai Zhizhan for a few years.

Even during Zhu Shijian’s era, it was decided that Bai Zhizhan was the ideal candidate for Imperial Navy Commander, it was only that Bai Zhizhan was too young at the time.

Furthermore, during the great war, it was more necessary for Bai Zhizhan to command the Fleet at the front.

At this moment, on an incoming seaplane.

Though aware that he was going to surrender, Spur did not think much about it.

When Nizi issued the order, he made it clear that Spur was to represent him in the surrender, so there was no need to sign a surrender agreement with the Liangxia Fleet Commander.

Impliedly, Spur didn’t need to worry about being infamous for signing the surrender agreement.

In fact, after boarding the "Nanzhu Sea," Spur had laid down all his burdens.

For him, for the thousands of officers and soldiers of the 5th Fleet, and for the million soldiers of the Howay Islands, surrender was not only a relief but also a salvation.

When Rofuss died, Hal betrayed, and Wallace went into exile, the Newland Federation had already been defeated.

To continue fighting would not only be hopeless, but it would also cost thousands of lives for a purpose that didn’t exist.

To put it frankly, the Liangxia Empire didn’t even need to launch a fierce attack, merely blockading the Howay Islands would be enough to make millions of military and civilians suffer terribly!

Fighting for an illegitimate government would be less than being cannon fodder!

Three days ago, Spur even conducted a simple war-gaming simulation with Tanimoto regarding this matter.

The conclusion was that if Nizi refused to surrender, the Liangxia Navy would leave a few Special Mixed Fleets with smaller carriers to blockade the Howay Islands, then send other Special Mixed Fleets to the Wangxi Canal, while also ordering the Sunset Ocean Fleet to move towards the Caribbean Sea.

Destroying the locks of the Wangxi Canal would leave the 5th Fleet entering from the East Ocean with no way out.

Don’t forget, on the west coast, there are no large shipyards capable of providing repair and maintenance services for carriers and battleships, and are further lacking upstream factories.

Some large equipment, unable to be transported by rail, must go by sea.

Perhaps the best outcome would be to scuttle in Treasure Harbor!

"We’re almost there!"

After hearing the pilot’s reminder, Spur came back to his senses.

Ahead, dozens of ship-borne aircraft hovered at low altitude, lining up to land on that imposing carrier.

Mainly bombers and attack aircraft, and the fighters at the back were also loaded with rockets and other ammunition.

Spur was somewhat speechless, but he quickly realized that Bai Zhizhan had not been careless or underestimated the enemy.

In fact, throughout the entire war, Bai Zhizhan had never underestimated his opponents.

Perhaps that was the most terrifying thing about him.

A general who had never tasted defeat, yet never became arrogant or complacent despite his unbroken string of victories!

The seaplane did not fly towards the carrier, but flew past it and continued forward.

A few minutes later, that flagship, which seemed out of place compared to the surrounding battleships, came into view.

Apparently wanting Spur to see it more clearly, the seaplane circled around the "Qinling" before landing on the nearby sea.