Chapter 243: Eastern Navy

In the East Sea, a massive steel fleet was cutting through the waves, sailing at high speed toward Shen City.

The core of the fleet was the pride of the Eastern Empire Navy and one of the world's most powerful battleships at the time— the Nagato. Its towering seven‑story bridge rose like a castle, and its eight massive 410‑mm main gun barrels angled toward the sky, flashing with cold metallic sheen and exuding unrivaled authority.

The huge hull plowed through white spray, its smokestacks belching thick black smoke, like a steel leviathan from the deep sea.

Around the Nagato were two older Fusang‑class battleships; though somewhat dated, their 356‑mm main guns remained astonishingly powerful.

In addition, four cutting‑edge Myoko‑class heavy cruisers and eight Fubuki‑class special‑type destroyers formed a fire‑powerful, peak‑strength mixed fleet. This force could roam the Far East seas unchecked, crushing any opponent daring to challenge the Empire Navy's authority.

Inside the Nagato's spacious bridge.

The fleet commander, Shankou Duowen, a lieutenant general, was holding a cup of coffee, looking out over the endless sea. He was not tall, but his eyes were sharp, his face bearing the confidence of many battles and a barely perceptible arrogance.

Several senior staff officers and ship captains gathered around him, the atmosphere relaxed, even with a hint of vacation‑like ease.

"Supreme Commander, at our current speed we expect to reach the waters off Shen City by the evening of the day after tomorrow," a combat staff officer reported, his tone casual. "Then those arrogant Chinans will see what true sea power really is!"

"Hmph," sneered a nearby ship captain, Colonel Xiao Ze Zhisanlang, who commanded a Fusang‑class battleship. "That army foot‑soldier Lin Yu probably can't even imagine how big our battleship is. When he sees the Nagato's gun barrels, he'll be terrified enough to kneel and beg for mercy!"

"Hahaha, Xiao Ze is right!" another Myoko‑class heavy cruiser captain agreed. "I heard he has some skill on land, beating those army losers. But at sea, what does he have? A few busted fishing boats? Hahaha!"

A burst of raucous laughter rang through the bridge, full of extreme contempt for Lin Yu and the Great Dry Navy. To these officers, raised on naval‑supremacy doctrine and having witnessed the Empire Navy's glorious victories, the army was already inferior, and the weak Great Dry was a target easily manipulated.

As for Lin Yu, he was merely a slightly sturdier grasshopper that leapt out of a backward nation, utterly no match before the elephant.

Shankou Duowen set down his coffee cup, a slight smile appearing on his face. "Gentlemen, do not be careless, but there is no need for excessive anxiety. Our mission is simple: sail to the waters off Shen City and let Lin Yu see the Empire's resolve. I believe any rational person, upon seeing our fleet, will make a wise choice."

He paused, his tone imbued with unquestionable confidence. "He has no choice but to kneel and accept the Empire's terms. Otherwise, the Nagato's shells will make him understand what despair is."

"I have already informed the chief cook," Shankou Duowen turned to his adjutant, a relaxed smile on his face. "When Lin Yu sends a representative aboard to surrender, we'll prepare a lavish celebration. We'll be on the Nagato's deck, enjoying Shen City's night view while celebrating another great Imperial victory!"

"Hai! Supreme Commander, you are wise!" the crowd echoed in unison, their faces showing eager anticipation.

In their view, the southward move to Shen City was merely an armed cruise, a relaxed and pleasant demonstration of "gunboat diplomacy."

Lin Yu's capitulation was inevitable; the victory champagne could already be uncorked early.

The fleet, bearing the Empire's pride and arrogance, continued sailing south.

As the fleet drew nearer to Shen City, the relaxed—almost lax—atmosphere began to spread across the ships.

The ordinary sailors on the lower decks, after finishing routine cleaning and maintenance, gathered in small groups on deck corners or in cabins to chat. They talked about where they could go "play it cool" after reaching Shen City, imagined the "Chinese women" in cheongsams, or schemed about making some extra "side money."

In their eyes, this mission was no different from previous gunboat diplomacy trips: sail over, intimidate, watch the other side submit, then hop ashore for a few carefree days.

"Did you hear? That Lin guy beat those army idiots so badly they were drenched in sweat and urine!" a young sailor said with a mischievous grin.

"Ha! It's only natural that the army's trash can't beat us," the older sailor spat disdainfully. "When the Navy steps in, a few salvos and whether it's Lin Yu or Li Yu, they'll all kneel obediently!"

"Exactly! Our Nagato is the world's best! When its shells fire, Shen City will tremble three times!"

"Then we'll make that Lin guy come aboard to bow and apologize!"

"Maybe we can even land to 'maintain order'! Shen City has plenty of good stuff…"

Such contemptuous remarks were even more blatant and arrogant among the officers.

After night fell, a small banquet was underway in the Nagato's spacious, bright officers' dining hall.

Shankou Duowen and several core ship captains and staff officers sat together, enjoying fine Western cuisine and sipping sake imported from the homeland.

"Supreme Commander, are the 'terms' we prepared for Lin Yu too cheap for him?" Colonel Xiao Ze Zhisanlang took a sip of whisky, a hint of dissatisfaction on his face. "In my view, he should hand over full control of Shen City to be governed directly by the Empire!"

"Xiao Ze, you must eat your food bite by bite," Shankou Duowen swirled his glass, speaking leisurely. "First have him hand over the perpetrators, compensate the losses, dismantle the defenses, and accept the Empire's advisory team. Once we fully control Shen City's lifeline, what more can he possibly stir up?"

"That's true," another heavy cruiser captain laughed. "But thinking of bombarding Shen City ourselves, making that arrogant fellow tremble under our guns, is truly exciting! The disgrace of the 9th Division should be washed away by our Navy!"

"The 9th Division's failure is an army matter, unrelated to our Navy," Shankou Duowen said lightly, his tone laced with contempt for the army. "They can't even maintain basic vigilance, being defeated by a local warlord—an imperial disgrace! Yet this gives our Navy a perfect chance to showcase our strength."

"When Lin Yu yields, the tax revenue and port authority of Shen City will be a bigger slice for our Navy!" a staff officer suggested with a greedy grin. "It's a juicy, greasy piece of meat!"

"Hahaha, of course!" Shankou Duowen raised his glass. "To the Empire's glory, to our Navy's benefit—cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The dining hall rang with laughter and clinking glasses, the officers' toasts intertwining as if the celebration had already begun. They discussed how to humiliate Lin Yu, how to maximize profit, and how to let the Empire Navy's reputation once again strike fear in the Far East. To them, Lin Yu was merely fish meat on a cutting board, ready to be sliced.

No one expected any mishap. In their eyes, possessing the Nagato—a sea‑borne behemoth—and the entire powerful fleet, against an army warlord lacking even a decent navy, victory was a foregone conclusion, even a certainty.

This top‑down collective overconfidence and arrogance caused them to completely overlook the lurking danger.

They were like hunters about to step into a trap, unaware, immersed in the fantasy of prey within easy reach, marching step by step toward the death feast Lin Yu had meticulously prepared for them.