Chapter 313: Any act that hinders the mission will be deemed a hostile action against Lanfang

"It's reality!" Jie Liko raised his voice, "Studi, you've commanded fleets, you know the current situation. We must simultaneously blockade Deguo, protect the shipping lanes, support Faguo, and also guard against Turkey and the Austro‑Hungarian Empire. The navy's strength has already been pushed to its limit, leaving no capacity to fight an unnecessary war in the Far East."

He walked back to the chart, tapping the Lanfang fleet's route with his finger: "Let them go. To Deguo to deliver. To Faguo to pick up people. And then? They still have to return. A 12,000‑nautical‑mile round trip, carrying tens of thousands of laborers, at an even slower speed and a larger target."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes: "By then the war may have turned. Or... we could use another method to make Chen Feng pay for today's arrogance."

Major General Huo Er understood: "You mean settling accounts after the harvest?"

"Correct," Jie Liko nodded, "Enduring now is to settle the final accounts later. Record every move of the Lanfang fleet, gather all intelligence. Once we finish dealing with Deguo..."

He didn't finish, but everyone understood.

"What about Faguo?" Studi asked, "Are the laborers at Calais really being taken by Lanfang?"

"That's the French's problem," Jie Liko said, "but I'll privately remind the French Navy Ministry—if Lanfang takes all 150,000 laborers, the western front's logistics will collapse. They should be more anxious than we are."

He sat down and began drafting orders: "Send a dispatch to the Malacca detachment: continue surveillance, keep Distance, avoid provocation. Send a dispatch to the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean fleets: the Lanfang fleet has right of passage, must not be intercepted, but must be closely monitored and all movements reported. Send a copy to the Foreign Ministry so they know the navy's decision."

The staff officer recorded quickly. Once the telegram was sent, the entire Royal Navy command chain would spring into action.

Jie Liko finished the last stroke, set down his pen, and rubbed his temples. He felt an unprecedented weariness—not physical, but mental. As the navy minister, he had to make these cold, dignity‑undermining decisions for the empire.

But that is the leader's responsibility. Between ideal and reality, between dignity and survival, choose the latter.

"One more thing," Major General Huo Er suddenly said, "According to intelligence, Lanfang is building four more battleships of the same class domestically. If we show weakness this time, they may intensify."

"Let them build," Jie Liko said, "Shipbuilding costs money, maintaining ships costs even more. When the war ends, Europe's reconstruction will need massive funds; if Lanfang continues to pour resources into armaments, its economy will inevitably collapse. By then..."

He glanced again at the Far East region on the chart, his gaze complicated.

"When that time comes, we'll see whether Chen Feng is a genius or a madman."

May 25, at the northern end of the Suez Canal, off Port Said.

The scorching sun hung overhead, the sea reflecting a blinding white glare. The fleet had been anchored here for twelve hours, awaiting permission to pass through the canal.

Li Te stood on the bridge of the cruiser Huaihe, his shirt soaked with sweat. The Red Sea temperature topped forty degrees, the deck hot enough to fry an egg. What made it worse was the waiting—the Suez Canal was under Yingguo control, and if the Yingguo deliberately delayed, they could be stuck here for days.

"Captain, the Port Authority has sent another notice," the communications officer said, wiping sweat, "they say 'channel scheduling is busy', and ask us to keep waiting."

"Which number is this?" Li Te asked.

"The third time. Every reply is the same."

Chen Shaoming walked over, lowering his voice: "The Yingguo are doing it on purpose. They're draining our time and patience."

Li Te nodded. He had anticipated it. The Yingguo dared not intercept directly, so they used bureaucratic delays. Each day of delay consumed a day of the fleet's supplies, and the laborers' situation in Faguo grew a day more perilous.

"Send a signal to the Port Authority," Li Te said, "inform them we have an urgent diplomatic mission and request priority passage. Also copy the Yingguo Governor‑General's Office in Egypt and the Naval Mediterranean Fleet Headquarters."

"Will they heed it?"

"They won't, but we must leave a record," Li Te said, "to prove we made the request and that the Yingguo are deliberately giving us a hard time."

The signal went out and, as expected, vanished without a trace.

Time ticked by second by second. At two p. m., the temperature peaked. Sailors on deck rotated shifts; each could stand watch only half an hour before needing to go down for water, or risk heatstroke.

"Captain, look," Chen Shaoming suddenly pointed toward the harbor.

A small motor launch was heading toward the Huaihe. The launch bore the Royal Navy flag.

"Prepare to receive them," Li Te tidied his uniform.

The launch pulled up the boarding ladder, and three Yingguo men boarded. Leading them was a about fifty‑year‑old Colonel, tall and thin, skin bronzed by the sun, the typical colonial officer look.

"I am the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet liaison officer, Colonel Phillips," he introduced himself, his tone fairly courteous, "ordered to confirm your fleet's navigation purpose and cargo nature."

Li Te shook his hand: "Lanfang Navy Special Expeditionary Fleet commander, Major General Li Te. Our navigation purpose and cargo manifest have already been reported to your government through diplomatic channels."

"Yes, but we still need on‑site verification," Phillips said, "after all, wartime conditions are special. Could you allow us to inspect the merchant ship's cargo holds?"

"Here we go," Li Te thought. The Yingguo were about to play the boarding‑inspection game.

"Sorry, Colonel," Li Te said calmly, "our vessels enjoy diplomatic immunity and will not submit to boarding inspection. However, I can present you with the official cargo documents."

He motioned for Chen Shaoming to bring the folder. Inside was a bilingual German‑Chinese cargo list: cannon parts, Shell, optical instruments, medical supplies… all legitimate German‑trade goods under international regulations.

Phillips skimmed it quickly, his expression unchanged: "The documents are complete. But as you know, documents can be forged. For safety, we still wish to conduct an on‑site inspection."

"I've said no," Li Te's tone hardened, "Colonel, this point is only five nautical miles from the canal entrance. My Main Gun's range is 35,000 meters. Do you think, if we truly had undisclosed intentions, we would submit to inspection here?"

That was a naked threat. Phillips's complexion shifted.

"Major General, are you threatening the Yingguo Royal Navy?"

"I am stating facts," Li Te said, "My mission is to deliver the cargo to Deguo, then bring our compatriots back from Faguo. Any action that obstructs this mission will be regarded as a hostile action against Lanfang."