Chapter 331: Bring Back As Many As Possible

"So the Emperor's request is…" Xipeier's voice was a little hoarse, "We must both execute the bait‑and‑destroy plan and be ready at any moment to engage the British main force?"

"Exactly." She Er lit a fresh cigarette, "A contradictory order. But we must carry it out."

Franz von Xipeier, the German reconnaissance fleet commander, fifty‑four, renowned for his calm and caution. At this moment he stared at the sand table, his brows tightly knit.

"That will make my mission extremely dangerous," he said, "If I act as bait to lure Bei Di into pursuit, I must make him think there's an opportunity, yet I cannot actually be caught. Once combat starts, my fleet is likely to suffer losses."

"I understand," She Er said, "but this is the only plan the Emperor will approve. We must make the operation appear as a 'seeking decisive battle' attempt, while in reality our target is only Bei Di."

Xipeier was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Will Bei Di chase?"

"He certainly will," She Er said confidently, "David Bei Di is the British commander I've studied the most. He's combative, confident, and craves honor. If he sees your fleet attacking a British target, he'll charge like a bull seeing a red flag."

He walked to the opposite side of the sand table, pointing at the Norway coastline: "My idea is to have your fleet strike the merchant shipping lane in the Danish Strait. That is a key channel for Britain importing iron ore from Norway. As long as you cause enough commotion there, Bei Di will certainly sortie from Scapa Bay to intercept."

"Then I will fight and retreat, drawing you toward the main fleet's position," Xipeier continued his line of thought, "But the problem is, the British have more than Bei Di. Jeliko's main fleet is likely behind them. If the ambush area is too close to the British coast, we could be surrounded."

She Er nodded: "So the ambush point must be chosen carefully. It must be far enough that Jeliko cannot reinforce in time, yet close enough for Bei Di to feel the pursuit is safe."

His finger moved across the sand table, finally stopping at a spot in the middle of the North Sea.

"Southeast of Doge Beach, about 56° N latitude, 5° E longitude," he said, "This is roughly 200 nautical miles from the British coast and about 150 nautical miles from us. If Bei Di pursues here, Jeliko will need at least six hours to rush from Scapa Bay. Those six hours are our window."

Xipeier calculated distance and time: "My fleet's speed is 26 knots, Bei Di's is about the same. If I begin retreating from the Danish Strait, reaching the ambush point will take roughly four hours. During that time, Bei Di will keep firing from behind."

"So your fleet may be damaged," She Er said candidly, "but that's a necessary price. You must make him believe he can catch up and annihilate you immediately. Only then will he pursue recklessly."

Xipeier stared at the ambush point, rapidly running through possibilities in his mind. As reconnaissance fleet commander, he knew his fleet's strengths and weaknesses better than anyone.

German battleship cruisers—Feng De Tanen, Maoqi, Sedelitz, Deflinger, and the newly commissioned Lvzuofu—are fast, heavily armed, but relatively lightly armored. British battleship cruisers—Lion, Royal Princess, Mary Queen, Tiger, New Zealand, and Tireless—are likewise fast, heavily armed, and similarly lightly armored.

This is a glass‑cannon showdown. Whoever lands the first critical hit wins.

"I need more light cruisers and destroyers," Xipeier said, "not for combat, but to generate smoke and chaos. If fighting breaks out, I need smoke to cover the retreat and disrupt the British's aim."

"Agreed." She Er immediately concurred, "I'll give you the entire 4th Reconnaissance Brigade. Additionally, the submarine force will cooperate. We'll pre‑position submarines in the ambush area; if Bei Di truly pursues, the subs can give him a surprise."

"Submarines…" Xipeier mused, "If we set up a submarine ambush along the retreat route, we might weaken Bei Di's fleet in advance."

"But that might make him wary," She Er shook her head. "No, keep the subs for the critical moment. When Bei Di enters the ambush circle, thinking victory is near, the subs pop up—that's the most effective."

The two discussed for another half hour, filling in countless details—communication frequencies, identification signals, retreat routes, weather contingencies, casualty evacuation…

At one a. m., the plan was essentially formed.

She Er walked to the window and opened it. A cool sea breeze surged in, dispersing the room's smoke. In the night of William Port, the harbor lights twinkled—those were battleships anchored at the moorings.

"Franz," She Er suddenly said, "do you remember the scene of our first meeting?"

Xipeier froze for a moment, then smiled: "Of course. 1898, Kiel Naval Academy. You were the tactics instructor; I was a freshly graduated second lieutenant."

"Back then you weren't as cautious as now," She Er recalled. "During the graduation exercise you commanded a torpedo boat and single‑handedly 'sank' a cruiser. All the instructors said you were too reckless, but I said you had daring."

"Then you gave me an 'Excellent' rating," Xipeier said. "That was the first significant appraisal of my military career."

She Er turned to look at him: "Now I need you to display that daring again. But add the caution and experience accumulated over these eighteen years. This mission… is extremely difficult."

"I understand," Xipeier said calmly, "but this is my duty. If Germany needs a bait fleet, that fleet should be under my command."

She Er nodded. He walked to the liquor cabinet and poured two glasses of whisky. The spirit was Scottish—the last batch imported before the war broke out.

"To victory," She Er raised his glass.

"To Germany," Xipeier clinked glasses with him.

The two drank in one gulp. The strong liquor burned their throats, bringing a brief warmth.

"When do we set out?" Xipeier asked.

"At dawn the day after tomorrow," She Er said, "You depart first. I'll set out six hours later, maintaining radio silence. We'll rendezvous in the designated sea area."

"What about communications?"

"Complete silence. Unless an emergency arises, we won't use radio. The British have been monitoring our communication frequencies."

Xipeier nodded. He walked to the sand table and gave one last glance at the little flags.

Red British fleet, blue German fleet. In a few days they will become real warships, exchanging fire on the actual sea.

"I've been thinking of something," he suddenly said.

"What?"

"If… if we truly encounter Jeliko's main fleet, what then? According to the Emperor's order, we should seek a decisive battle."

She Er was silent for a long while. The sea breeze outside moved the curtains, producing a faint rustle.

"Then we fight," he finally said, "but the goal of the battle is not victory, but survival. Bringing back as many warships as possible is victory."