Translator: ryangohsff Editor: Nora
Chapter 1105 – Breaking a Hand to Survive
Juedai Fenghua’s worry came true in the end.
9th month, 15th day, the Handan Squadron 1st and 2nd divisions were escorting millions of gold worth of weapons and secretly heading for the Jin Country. When they were passing by the east Japanese sea, they were stopped by the Great Xia navy.
Great Xia Binhai Squadron made it really clear that because it was during a drill period, they needed to check all the passing boats. If they did not carry any prohibited items, they would be released immediately.
If they did not cooperate, for the safety of the drill, they could only forcefully search.
Although the Handan Navy Fleet Admiral was furious, he did not dare take things into his own hand. Instead, sought advice from the Imperial Court. Both sides were at a standstill on the ocean.
Six Great Xia navy divisions surrounded the two divisions of the Handan Squadron.
When Di Chen received the emergency report, his face sunk. He could not help but scold out, “Dog sh*t! What drill? They are purposely finding problem with us.”
Juedai Fenghua frowned. After thinking about it, she finally said, “Something is wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” Di Chen asked.
“The timing is simply too coincidental. Yhey stopped the Handan Squadron too accurately. When things are too coincidental, they are often not a coincidence.”
“You’re saying?” Di Chen had a really solemn expression.
“I’m worried that Great Xia has investigated the fact that the merchants were shipping some items. Only then could it be understandable why they were able to intercept us so accurately.”
“That’s not possible right?” Di Chen had his doubts, “This batch of equipment is secretly sent through merchants and is totally a secret. Even in the Qing Dynasty, only a few people know about it, so how would Great Xia know about it?”
Fenghua Juedai shook her head, “Do not doubt their investigative ability. During these days, their Shanhai Guards are getting stronger and stronger. Difeng has traded blows with them many times and did not get the upper hand.”
“….”
Di Chen’s face was really ugly.
In that sense, there was nothing they could take out to compete with Great Xia.
“If the old fox really found out about this batch of goods, all the more we cannot let them search us.” Di Chen got up and paced around the room as his face finally regained its calm.
Great Zhou, Great Qing, and Jin Country forming an alliance was one matter. Joining in the war between Great Xia and Jin Country was another.
Just like how Great Qin, Great Han, and Great Tang were allies with Great Xia but did not stop trading with Great Zhou. Allying brought the two sides closer to one another like cooperation in real life.
“Now that the Handan Squadron is surrounded, if they reject the searched, I am worried that a conflict might start.” Juedai Fenghua was still a little worried. With her understanding of Great Xia, the moment they acted, they would not return empty-handed.
Di Chen stood still, and his eyes were determined, “We cannot let them search. At most, we will sink the merchant ships. When they sink to the bottom, all evidence is lost. What can they do then?”
“That’s a way, but the cost is a little too high.”
Juedai Fenghua felt like it was a waste. Millions of gold worth of equipment, if they lost it, they had to compensate the Qing Dynasty. Furthermore, sinking their own merchant ships would cause a lot of negative impacts.
“Currently, we can only abandon the chariot to protect the commander!” Di Chen was really decisive, “As for the compensation, we can discuss with Qing Dynasty. We are helping them transport the equipment, so we should share the risks.”
As expected from an expert. Di Chen was able to think of a way to stop the losses right away.
“I agree.”
Fenghua Juedai was also a really rational person and knew when to let go.
…
Japanese sea region.
The Great Xia navy and the Handan Squadron had been in a standstill for a morning. As time went on, the smell of gunpowder grew stronger and stronger. Cannons had been stretched out of their cabins, and a fight was imminent.
At 2 PM, after receiving a reply from the king, the Handan Squadron Fleet Admiral ordered the warships to aim right at their own merchants.
Although this order confused all of them, it was a military order, and they could only execute it.
When the people on the merchant ships following behind the Handan Squadron saw that the warships were aiming right at them, they were also astonished, and their eyes were opened wide, “What is this, are they trying to silence us?”
Due to the need for secrecy, the merchants that Di Chen found were mostly imperial chambers of commerce.
To be more specific, they were the personal merchants from Chun Shenjun and the core merchant force of Great Zhou.
Seeing that, they were stunned.
“Fire!”
The Fleet Admiral only needed to execute orders and did not need to worry about anything else. The thing he cared about now was after destroying the evidence, how would they break out of the Great Xia Squadron lock and return to their base?
The Stone, deck.
Binhai Squadron Fleet Admiral Qin Jiguang saw everything the Handan City Squadron was doing through his telescope. Immediately, he understood and ordered solemnly, “The enemy is trying to destroy the evidence. Stop them, all fire!”
“Yes general!”
Qin Jiguang was a really decisive person. After getting the orders from the king, he knew that this mission was not easy. As this would be a tough naval battle, he had to adapt.
As expected, the situation had changed.
As long as Handan Squadron fired, Qin Jiguang had the courage to fire back.
One could say that Handan Squadron was aiming at their own merchants and not initiating a naval fight. However, under such circumstances, who would be telling the truth?
After the battle, Qin Jiguang could blame the first shots on the Handan Squadron.
‘Hong! Hong! Hong!’
Along with a series of cannon shots, the east Japanese sea was not so calm anymore.
The situation of the naval fight was a little weird. The Handan Squadron tried their best to fire at their own merchants whilst the Great Xia Squadron tried to stop them to protect the merchants.
All of a sudden, the Handan Squadron that was surrounded by the Great Xia was in bad shape.
When he saw that the enemy fire power was too strong, and their squadron suffering heavy casualties, the Handan Squadron Fleet Admiral’s heart felt really pained. He ordered them to continue shooting at the merchant ships whilst trying to break out through the southwest direction.
“Go toward Kyushu. I do not believe that the enemy dares to go onto the island!”
Amongst the cannon fire, the Handan Squadron did not bother about sacrifices as they went all out to break free from the encirclement. The Great Xia navy chased, and many Handan Squadron warships were sunk.
This chase and surround battle lasted for an entire afternoon and did not stop.
Close to nighttime, along with the orange red dusk, the remaining half of the surviving Handan Squadron forces finally entered Kyushu island. The four divisions came over to assist them, smoothly bringing them into the port, letting them escape.
The Great Xia Squadron followed closely, sailing around the port.
Looking at the situation, this battle was far from over. When they started the battle during the afternoon, Qin Jiguang had already sent a battle report to the Xia palace. He was awaiting further instructions from the king.
Northern ocean region, a fluctuating situation.
