Chapter 344: Beidi Takes a Gamble

Beidi pursued at 22 knots, and in an hour would arrive… at about 56°30′ N, 4° E.

That position is less than thirty nautical miles from the Deguo rendezvous point.

What does thirty nautical miles mean at sea? In good visibility, a battleship's Main Gun can fire from twenty‑thousand yards. Thirty nautical miles is about fifty‑five thousand yards—far too distant. Yet in thick fog, no one knows what will happen. The fleets might simply pass each other, or they could suddenly collide in the fog, close enough to see the flags on the opposing bridge.

"Send an emergency telegram to Beidi," Jielike's voice remained calm but much faster, "We have detected that the Deguo main fleet may be lying in ambush to your southeast. Strongly recommend turning immediately to 080°, closing in on the main fleet. Repeat, strongly recommend turning immediately."

This time, he used "strongly recommend" instead of merely "recommend."

The difference is obvious.

The communications officer sprinted off. Jielike turned to face all the staff: "Order the entire fleet to adjust course to 085°, increase speed to 18 knots. Objective: establish a barrier between Beidi and the Deguo main fleet."

"General," a staff officer objected, "If the Deguo main fleet truly is at that position, adjusting our course will increase the Distance from Beidi. If they suddenly turn to attack Beidi, we may not be able to support in time."

"I understand," Jielike said, "but if we don't adjust, the Deguo may complete their gathering at the rendezvous point and meet us in full formation. That would be worse."

He walked to the loudspeaker and opened the broadcast to the whole ship.

"All hands, this is Fleet Commander Jielike. We are now sailing toward the designated combat area. In the coming hours we may encounter the Deguo open‑sea fleet. I want everyone to hold their stations and stay alert. Remember, you are the Royal Navy; your ancestors achieved glory at Trafalgar, on the Nile, against the Invincible Fleet. Today, it is your turn."

His voice rang through the loudspeakers to every corner of the Tie Gongjue, and over the radio to the other warships of the fleet.

"May God bless the Royal Navy."

The broadcast ended. The bridge fell silent.

At the same time, Beidi's fleet flagship, Shi,.

Dai Wei·Beidi stood on the bridge, holding the two telegrams he had just received. One was Jielike's first "recommendation," the other the second "strongly recommend." The contents were similar, but the tone was worlds apart.

"The Deguo main fleet may be lying in ambush to your southeast…" he read the telegram softly, a faint smile curling his lips.

"Major General," Chief of Staff Cha Te Fei Er De, Colonel, said anxiously, "General Jielike's warning is clear. We should consider turning, closing in on the main fleet."

Beidi set the telegram down and walked to the port window. Outside the fog was just as thick, but occasionally the silhouette of our own warship could be seen cutting through, like a silent giant.

"Cha Te Fei Er De," he said without turning, "Why do you think Xi Pe Er keeps a fifteen‑nautical‑mile distance? Why does he neither accelerate to break away nor slow to engage?"

Cha Te Fei Er De thought for a few seconds: "He is luring us."

"Right," Beidi turned, excitement flashing in his eyes, "He is luring us. But the question is, where is he leading us? Toward what?"

He walked to the chart table, his finger tracing the pursuit route: "From the Denmark Strait, Xi Pe Er has been retreating southeast. If he merely wanted to flee back to Port William, he would head due east or northeast. He did not. He is heading southeast, toward Doge Beach."

"The Deguo main fleet could be there," Cha Te Fei Er De said.

"Possible," Beidi nodded, "but it's also possible that Xi Pe Er is merely bluffing. He wants us to think there's an ambush, to make us hesitate. That way he can retreat safely and write in his report: 'Successfully induced the Yingguo fleet to cease pursuit.'"

He paused: "If it were you, Cha Te Fei Er De, what would you do? Trust the intelligence speculation, cease pursuit and let Xi Pe Er go? Or keep chasing, gamble?"

Cha Te Fei Er De fell silent. As Chief of Staff he leaned toward caution. Yet as a soldier he understood Beidi's yearning—this was the first chance since the battleship‑cruiser fleet was formed to engage an equal‑rank opponent.

"Major General," he finally said, "If there truly is an ambush, we could suffer heavy losses. The battleship‑cruiser's armor…"

"I know!" Beidi cut him off, his voice suddenly rising, "I know the battleship‑cruiser's armor is weak, that they're called 'glass cannons.' But I also know their design philosophy is speed plus firepower! They aren't meant to slug it out with battleships; they're meant to hunt cruisers, chase down remnants, conduct vanguard reconnaissance!"

He moved to the chart, his finger stabbing hard at the spot representing Xi Pe Er's fleet: "Now, before us are five Deguo battleship‑cruisers. A perfect target! If we can sink two, three, or even all of them, it will be the Royal Navy's greatest victory since the war began."

"But General Jielike's order…"

"Jielike's recommendation is to turn," Beidi corrected, "He gave no order. Moreover, he is a hundred nautical miles away; I am on the battlefield. I can see Xi Pe Er's smoke plumes, hear their radio signals, feel their movements."

He stared at Cha Te Fei Er De: "I trust my judgment. Xi Pe Er is bluffing. Even if an ambush exists, we have a speed advantage. At 22 knots we can run and fight. Moreover, Jielike's main fleet is to the west; if things go awry we can retreat west."

Cha Te Fei Er De was about to speak, but Beidi had already turned and ordered the communications officer:

"Reply to General Jielike: warning received, we will remain vigilant. However, based on battlefield assessment, the pursuit should continue. I will adjust course to 105°, veering slightly south, maintaining contact while avoiding a direct charge into a possible ambush point."

The reply was clever—neither outright defying Jielike's warning nor abandoning the chase.

"Additionally," Beidi added, "order the entire fleet into Condition One readiness. Load the Main Gun with armor‑piercing shells, keep boiler pressure at maximum, all personnel to stations. We must be ready to fight at a moment's notice."

"Yes, Major General!"

The order was passed down. On Shi's bridge, the atmosphere suddenly tightened. Officers rushed to their stations, messengers darted through narrow passages, and the engine room emitted the hiss of boilers pressurizing.

Beidi walked onto the open bridge, inhaling a deep breath of moist sea air. The thick fog clung to his face, delivering a chilling touch.

"Dai Wei," Cha Te Fei Er De said beside him, voice low, "What if… what if we're wrong?"

Beidi gazed at the faint outline of Huangjia Gongzhu in the fog—his second battleship‑cruiser and the flagship of one of his best friends, Major General Pa Gen Han Mu.

"If we're wrong," he said slowly, "then we will fight. Fight in the battleship‑cruiser manner—fast, ferocious, giving the enemy no breathing room."

He turned to Cha Te Fei Er De: "But trust me, we won't be wrong. I can feel Xi Pe Er is afraid. He fears us catching up, fears us driving him into a corner. So he stalls, lures, praying we won't pursue."

His eyes burned with battle fire: "And I will make his prayer fail."

From afar a faint whistle sounded. In the fog, the Yingguo fleet's silhouettes emerged one by one, then vanished.

Like a pack of predators awaiting prey, they slipped silently through the morning mist.