Chapter 311: Suggest You Reassess the So‑Called 'Necessary Measures

Li Te took the two envelopes, feeling the weight in his hand. This is not an ordinary navigation mission; it is an armed demonstration, a diplomatic action that speaks with ship guns.

"President," he finally asked, "if... I mean if the Yingguo really spare no expense to block us, what do we do?"

Chen Feng looked westward, his gaze seeming to pierce the morning mist, seeing the European battlefield thousands of miles away.

"Then we fight," he said calmly, "once we finish, the Yingguo will understand two things: first, Lanfang's words are binding; second, for our compatriots, we will not shy away from a battle."

He turned back, looking at Li Te: "But I don't think it will come to that. The Yingguo's thoughts are now all on the Deguo high seas fleet; they dare not open a second front in the Far East. Your mission is to verify this assessment."

"Understood," Li Te straightened his back, "President, rest assured, we guarantee to complete the mission!"

Chen Feng nodded, then suddenly pulled a small box from his pocket: "This is for you."

Li Te opened the box; inside was a silver pocket watch. Inside the case lid was engraved a line: Time will prove where justice lies.

He helped Li Te slip the watch into his chest pocket: "Carry it, remember why you set sail. Not to flaunt force, but to give 150,000 people a choice—a chance to survive."

Li Te felt his eyes grow warm. He took a deep breath and saluted again: "We will not disappoint!"

The whistle sounded, long and resonant. It was time to set sail.

Chen Feng and others fell back behind the warning line. Li Te turned and walked up the gangway, steps firm. Behind him, over eight hundred sailors took their stations, the engines began to roar, and the smokestacks belched thick smoke.

"Weigh anchor!" the order rang through the ship via the speaking tube.

The massive rope was released and drawn back to the hull. The huge propeller began turning, churning the sea and forming a white wake.

"Huahe" led the slow departure from the dock, followed by "Zhujiang," and then six merchant vessels. The entire fleet formed two columns, sailing out of the harbor into the main channel.

Chen Feng stood on the pier, watching the fleet vanish into the morning mist.

"President, do you think it can succeed?" Wang Wenwu asked softly.

"I don't know," Chen Feng said honestly, "but some things are done not because we are confident, but because we must."

He turned toward the car: "Let's go back; there are many matters to handle. Li Te is charging ahead, we must hold the line behind. The Yingguo will soon come knocking."

As the car pulled away from the pier, the shadow of the last merchant ship just disappeared on the distant horizon.

The voyage began.

May 10, Strait of Malacca, evening.

The setting sun dyed the sea a golden red. The merchant convoy sailed steadily at an economic speed of twelve knots, with "Huahe" and "Zhujiang" escorting one ahead of the other, about five nautical miles from the merchants.

Li Te stood on the bridge of the "Huahe," holding a telescope, observing the sea ahead. The Strait of Malacca is one of the world's busiest sea lanes, but since this afternoon, the ships they encountered had noticeably decreased.

"Captain, radar report," the communications officer handed a slip, "Southwest, distance thirty-five nautical miles, three medium vessels detected, course intersecting ours, speed twenty knots."

Li Te took the slip and looked: "Identification signal?"

"No response to our query. But judging from the echo characteristics, they appear to be light cruiser class."

The Yingguo's surveillance arrived. Earlier than expected, but not surprising.

"Order the fleet to maintain heading and speed," Li Te said calmly, "keep the main gun turret in position, but set the barrel elevation to ten degrees. Let the brothers see our guns, but don't make them think we intend to fire."

"Yes!"

The order was relayed. Li Te could feel the bridge atmosphere tighten. The young operators involuntarily sat upright, eyes fixed on their instrument panels.

Twenty minutes later, three warships appeared in view. Indeed they were light cruisers of the Royal Navy—Kareier class, three thousand five hundred tons, equipped with six 152mm Main Gun. Behind the three cruisers were two destroyers.

"The other side sent a light signal," the signalman reported, "'This is the Royal Navy Far East Fleet, requesting you to state your identity and purpose of navigation.'"

Li Te glanced at the pocket watch—Chen Feng's gift. The hour hand pointed to five ten PM.

"Reply: Lanfang Republic Navy task force, conducting trade escort and humanitarian mission. Please keep a safe distance."

The signalman skillfully operated the signal lamp, one long and two short flashes, the light flickering in the dusk.

A few minutes later, the Yingguo's reply came: "According to wartime regulations, we have the right to board and inspect suspicious vessels. We demand you stop your ship for inspection."

All eyes on the bridge turned to Li Te.

Li Te stepped to the speaking tube, his voice steady: "Reply: Our vessel enjoys diplomatic immunity, we will not accept any form of boarding inspection. Repeating, please keep a safe distance."

This time, the reply came quickly, and the signal lamp flashed rather urgently: "Final warning: stop your ship for inspection, or we will take necessary measures."

The air seemed to solidify.

Li Te could hear his own heartbeat, thump thump, thump thump, steady and strong. He glanced at the chart—this was already international waters, but the Yingguo-controlled Singapore base was less than a hundred nautical miles away. If conflict erupted, the Yingguo could quickly mobilize more vessels.

But he recalled Chen Feng's words: the Yingguo dare not open a second front in the Far East.

"Signalman," Li Te began, "send a signal: 'Huahe' displacement forty-one thousand tons, main guns eight 380mm. Recommend you reassess the so‑called 'necessary measures'."

It was an almost provocative reply. The signalman hesitated briefly, but complied.

After the light signal was sent, the Yingguo fleet fell silent. The three cruisers and two destroyers continued on parallel courses, at a distance of about five nautical miles, right at the edge of the Main Gun Effective Range.

Night fell completely. The sea surface was left only with the warships' navigation lights and the shafts of searchlights.

"Captain, they're accelerating!" the radar officer reported suddenly, "course adjustment, closing in on us!"

Li Te walked to the observation window and indeed saw the Yingguo fleet's lights rapidly approaching. Distance four nautical miles, three nautical miles, two nautical miles...

"Main gun, aim!" he ordered, "Turrets 1 and 2 lock onto the flagship, turrets 3 and 4 lock onto the second ship. Load Shells, but do not fire unless I command."

The turrets began to turn, the massive barrels slowly lowering their elevation, pointing at the approaching Yingguo warships. Under the searchlight, the 380mm barrels' dark mouths looked especially fierce.

At a distance of one and a half nautical miles, the Yingguo fleet suddenly slowed, then turned, pulling back to a distance of five nautical miles.

"They've stopped," Deputy Captain Chen Shaoming exhaled in relief.

Li Te nodded, but his brows did not relax. He lifted the telescope, seeing on the Yingguo flagship's bridge several officers intensely discussing something.

"They're consulting their superiors," Li Te judged, "the commander here at Malacca has no authority to decide to fire; it must be reported to London."

Sure enough, ten minutes later, the Yingguo fleet sent a new signal: "You may continue sailing, but we will accompany you with surveillance throughout. Reminder again, any action threatening Yingguo interests will result in severe consequences."