Chapter 179: How Many Troops Are Needed?

"Captain," said the newly assigned anti‑aircraft gun commander Chen Xiaohu, a twenty‑two‑year‑old Lieutenant, "If… I mean if we actually encounter hostile action, what are our rules of engagement?"

All eyes once again focused on Lin Haisheng.

Lin Haisheng was silent for three seconds, and those three seconds felt especially long in the quiet conference room.

"If we encounter an unprovoked attack," he said word for word, "I authorize each of you, before reporting to me, to act in self‑defense and counter‑attack. But remember—our primary mission is to complete the visit, then return safely. Not to play heroes, not to seek victory, but to stay alive, bring the ship back, and bring the brothers home. Understand?"

"Understood!" more than twenty people answered in unison.

"Adjourn. Department heads stay, we will discuss the specific deployment details."

The officers left one by one, leaving only the department supervisors. Lin Haisheng had the duty officer close the door, and the atmosphere in the conference room grew even more solemn.

"No outsiders are present now," Lin Haisheng's voice lowered, "I can tell everyone some… more realistic information."

Everyone held their breath.

"According to the Naval Intelligence Department's analysis, Japan is likely planning a military action against us," Lin Haisheng said, his words like a stone dropped into a calm lake. "And our trip to Qingdao this time is both a probe and preparation. To probe the Japanese resolve, to prepare… for a possible conflict."

Chief Engineer Liu Ming de clenched his hand: "So a third‑level alert is still far from enough?"

"Insufficient," Lin Haisheng shook his head. "Therefore I need you to ensure: Main Gun ammunition must not only be loaded, but also have the first batch of propellant charges ready in the barrel. The secondary gun shells should be piled beside the gun positions, not in the magazine. All watertight doors must be kept ready to close at any moment, and the damage control team's equipment must be placed where it can be accessed most easily."

He looked at Gun Director Wang Zhen guo: "Gun Director Wang, how are your gunners performing in live‑fire training?"

"The whole ship's main gun crew averaged excellent scores," Wang Zhen guo puffed out his chest. "The best turret No. 3, at a Distance of 15,000 meters, its five‑round salvo dispersion does not exceed 300 meters."

"Very good. Starting this afternoon, increase night firing training. Not real firing, but simulation, to the point where you can complete loading, aiming, and firing with your eyes closed."

"Yes!"

"Engine Department," Lin Haisheng turned to Liu Ming de, "I need Revival, at critical moments, to exceed its design limit speed—not 32 knots, but 33 knots, even 34 knots. Can you achieve that?"

Liu Ming de gritted his teeth: "If we force over‑pressurization… it's possible, but the boiler and engine wear will be severe, and it can only be sustained for at most two hours."

"Two hours is enough," Lin Haisheng nodded. "When the moment truly demands that speed, every minute is life or death."

The meeting continued for another hour, covering every detail from ammunition ratios to medical supply reserves, from fresh‑water provisioning to the troops' psychological state. When Lin Haisheng announced its end, it was already 12:30 PM.

Zhao Wenyuan was the last to leave, stopping at the doorway: "Captain, you just said in the meeting 'stay alive and bring the ship back,' but you yourself… how are you preparing?"

Lin Haisheng was gathering documents; hearing the words, he lifted his head and gave a weary yet resolute smile: "Director Zhao, I have served on this ship for four years. I know every Rivet, every pipe. If the worst case ever comes…"

He did not finish, but Zhao Wenyuan understood.

"We will bring the ship back together," the Political Department Director whispered, then pushed the door open and left.

Lin Haisheng stood alone in the conference room, looking through the port window toward the dock. In the distance, several trucks were heading toward Revival, carrying supplies delivered by the Logistics Department. Farther away, the port's crane was hoisting wooden crates onto another ship.

Everything was orderly, everything was being prepared for the possible incoming storm.

Tokyo time, 9 AM that same day.

On the third floor of the Naval Province Building, smoke curled in the Operations Department Chief's office. Admiral Ba Dai Liu Lang sat in the main seat, opposite the Joint Fleet Commander Major General Kato Tomosaburo, with seven or eight senior officers from the Operations, Intelligence, and Command Departments seated on either side.

On the table's center lay a huge East Sea chart, covered with arrows and symbols drawn in various colored markers.

"…so, the intelligence is basically confirmed."

Speaking was Intelligence Department Chief Shan Ben Ying Ji, a lean middle‑aged man, his finger pointing at a spot on the chart: "The Lanfang Navy's Revival battlecruiser abruptly canceled its voyage to Singapore yesterday, switching to Qingdao. Their Foreign Ministry has issued an official notice, expecting departure from Kundian in three days."

"In three days…" Kato Tomosaburo leaned forward, studying the chart, his finger tracing from Kundian to Qingdao and back, "the voyage takes about six to seven days. That means, ten days from now, Revival will be sailing alone on the East Sea."

He said the word "alone" with great emphasis.

"Kato, what do you think?" Ba Dai Liu Lang took off his glasses, wiping the lenses with a cloth—a habit he has when pondering.

Kato Tomosaburo sat up straight, both hands braced on the table edge: "This is a once‑in‑a‑millennium opportunity, Minister. Revival is one of Lanfang Navy's two Hud‑class battlecruisers, displacing 38,000 tons and armed with eight 381 mm main guns. If we can sink it, the Lanfang Navy's strength will be reduced by a third directly."

"But it's also a hard nut," Colonel Dao Tian Fan Tai Lang, Operations Section Chief of the Command Department, cautioned, "The Hud class's protection is quite excellent; our 356 mm guns may not reliably penetrate its main Armour Belt at normal engagement ranges."

"So we cannot engage head‑on," Kato Tomosaburo, clearly having thought for a long time, "What we need is surprise, numerical superiority, and to deliver a lethal strike before it can react."

He picked up a red pencil and drew a circle on the chart.

"Here, in the central East Sea, near 125° E, 28° N. The water depth is suitable, away from main shipping lanes, and often shrouded in sea fog. If we set an ambush here…"

"Will Revival pass here?" Ba Dai Liu Lang asked.

"Highly likely," Intelligence Chief Shan Ben replied, "From Kundian to Qingdao, the shortest route is through the Taiwan Strait, then north along the Chinese coast. But the Taiwan Strait is too narrow, easy to expose, and the Yingguo have patrol ships there. So the more probable route is slightly eastward, heading north east of Taiwan, then turning northwest into the East Sea. Our ambush position happens to lie on its course."

The conference room fell silent, only the whir of the electric fan audible.

"Then," Ba Dai Liu Lang put his glasses back on, "how many troops are needed?"