Chapter 559: Andaman Islands (2)

The bombardment lasted a full eight hours, from pre‑dawn until daybreak.

A pale dawn glimmered on the horizon, the first ray of sun pierced the clouds and fell upon the sea at Blaire Port; the harbor was already unrecognizable.

Shipwrecks, dead soldiers and scattered weapons littered everywhere, the sea was stained dark red by blood and fuel, thick smoke still rose slowly, and the air was filled with gunpowder, blood and fuel fumes, suffocating.

Jiang Zhiyuan ordered the bombardment halted; the cannons' roar gradually faded, the sea briefly calmed, leaving only the crackle of burning wreckage and occasional wails of Japanese Army wounded.

"Order Dingyuan to dispatch seaplanes to the skies over Blaire Port, scout the remaining Japanese Army forces and the island's situation, and be sure to locate Jingshang Zhongcun's remaining troops," Jiang Zhiyuan instructed the communications officer.

Soon, two seaplanes from the Dingyuan cruiser lifted slowly, their wings cutting the morning sky as they flew toward Blaire Port.

The reconnaissance crew aboard the aircraft held binoculars, carefully scanning every corner of the harbor, recording the Japanese Army's remnants and sending the data back to the fleet command cabin in real time.

At the same time, Jiang Zhiyuan ordered eight destroyers to immediately adjust formation, encircling the Zhenhai battleship and Dingyuan heavy cruiser, forming a tight anti‑air and anti‑submarine screen, vigilantly scanning the surrounding sea and sky.

"Everyone stay alert, guard strictly against a Japanese air counterattack; if any Japanese aircraft are spotted, open fire immediately—under no circumstances let them approach the fleet!" Jiang Zhiyuan's voice rang through the comms to every warship.

The crew sprang into action, completing all anti‑air gun installations, barrels aimed skyward, radars running at full power, closely monitoring the air.

The destroyers' anti‑submarine gear was also activated, vigilantly scanning for underwater anomalies to prevent Japanese submarines from sneaking in.

At this moment, Blaire Port was defended by 1,800 Japanese Army troops: 600 infantry and a Navy 12th Special Base Unit of 1,200 men.

After eight hours of bombardment, casualties were severe; the surviving soldiers huddled in the ruins, trembling, their former swagger gone.

Jingshang Zhongcun crouched behind a shattered shelter, watching the devastation, his heart filled with despair.

He knew Blaire Port had fallen completely; the Nankai Fleet's firepower was overwhelming, his troops could not resist, and a counter‑attack was as impossible as scaling the heavens.

He simply could not understand how this fleet had appeared in these waters.

Suddenly he recalled the recent defeat of Xiao Ze Zhi Sanlang's South‑Punishment fleet in the Myanmar Sea; Burmese propaganda claimed the Nankai Fleet had beaten Xiao Ze Zhi Sanlang.

Jingshang Zhongcun, still behind the ruined shelter, stared at the scene, his eyes no longer showing despair but a raging fury; he clenched his fists and snarled, "Baka! Baka yaru!"

His roar was filled with resentment and violence; the Nankai Fleet's bombardment not only destroyed his position but shattered his confidence in holding Blaire Port.

He knew staying in the harbor would mean total annihilation by the Nankai Fleet; only retreat could preserve the remaining forces and give a chance to fight again.

"Retreat! Everyone, fall back into the mountains immediately!"

Jingshang Zhongcun sprang to his feet, disregarding dust and wounds, and hysterically shouted at the remaining soldiers, his tone issuing an unquestionable command.

At this moment, the Japanese Army soldiers, already terror‑stricken by the artillery, seized the retreat order like a lifeline, unable to bother gathering weapons and gear.

Some didn't even have time to dress, barefoot and in rags they scrambled from the ruins, fleeing in panic toward the mountains surrounding Blaire Port, each looking disheveled, their former swagger gone, driven only by survival instinct.

Some soldiers lost their rifles in the chaos, others lost their shoes, and some even failed to wake injured comrades, caring only for their own escape; the once orderly garrison now shattered completely, like stray dogs, scrambling through smoke‑filled ruins.

Jingshang Zhongcun watched the fleeing troops, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes, but he could do nothing; he could only retreat with them toward the mountains.

Before leaving, he glanced back at the war‑ravaged Blaire Port, his eyes filled with venomous hatred, silently vowing to avenge the loss.

Meanwhile, offshore of Blaire Port.

Within the Zhenhai battleship's command cabin of the Nankai Fleet, Jiang Zhiyuan closely monitored the reconnaissance data sent back by the seaplanes; when he saw the Japanese remnants fleeing toward the mountains, his gaze sharpened, showing no relaxation.

"Everyone stay vigilant; the Japanese have not been completely annihilated—guard against a covert counterattack."

Jiang Zhiyuan spoke gravely into the communicator, then lifted the command microphone and issued new orders: "Binhai001, Binhai002, break from formation immediately, move close to Blaire Port's waters, conduct close‑range patrol reconnaissance, investigate remaining Japanese positions, and verify the harbor and its surroundings are secure."

"Received! Binhai001 understands!"

"Binhai002 received, executing at once!"

The captains of the two destroyers responded instantly; then the Binhai001 and Binhai002 destroyers slowly left the escort formation, accelerating toward Blaire Port.

The destroyers' hulls sliced swiftly across the sea, their radars running at full capacity, closely monitoring the harbor and its environs; the onboard guns stood ready to fire at any suspected Japanese target.

Upon reaching Blaire Port's waters, the two destroyers reduced speed, beginning a patrol along the harbor's coastline, their sailors holding binoculars and meticulously scanning every corner.

Destroyed barracks, sunken shipwrecks, scattered weapons and gear, and occasional wounded Japanese stirring in the ruins all came into view.

"Captain, we've spotted a possible concealed Japanese position behind the western side ruins of the harbor!" the scout on Binhai001 reported loudly.

"Aim at the target immediately, eliminate precisely!" the captain ordered gravely.

The ship's guns swiftly adjusted angle, targeting the suspected position, "Boom! Boom!"

Two shells fired with precision struck behind the ruins; the violent explosion shattered the debris, and the few Japanese soldiers hidden inside were wiped out before they could react.

Meanwhile, Binhai002 also located several suspected Japanese hideouts, firing swiftly to clear each, leaving the enemy no chance to ambush.

The patrol proceeded methodically, the two destroyers working in clear division—one left, one right—slowly advancing along Blaire Port's coastline, overlooking no suspicious corner.