“Send a telegram to the Taixi Autonomous Territory. The invading enemy has been completely annihilated. Our ships are about to dock.”
Under the setting sun, Chu Qing returned to the open navigation bridge, looking at the Taixi Archipelago, whose outline was already visible in the distant, colorful evening clouds. He had a somewhat surreal feeling.
Just a few days ago, he thought he would spend his life drifting at sea, but he actually got a cheat and returned with a dreadnought.
Soon after the telegram was sent, the distant lighthouse lit up, emitting a bright beam of light, like a guide welcoming a wanderer home.
Many of the sailors on deck had red eyes. They were all Taixi People, and many of their fathers and brothers had sacrificed themselves in the previous battles with East Sakura. Now, having personally avenged them and returned to their homeland, how could they not be emotional?
“Full lights, prepare for a salute.”
Chu Qing looked through his high-powered binoculars at the coastal defenses, which had been bombarded into ruins by large-caliber naval guns, and the charred beachhead, feeling a surge of emotion.
Due to the Qiancang Central Government's control measures on large-caliber artillery and high-grade cement, the coastal defenses of the various autonomous territories were designed to withstand only artillery fire below 10 inches. They were still insufficient against 12-inch class battleship artillery.
The former Garrison Commander, Chu Xiong, had ordered the armed forces, including the coastal artillery, to withdraw and preserve their strength when he led the fleet out to sea. However, they, along with the Taixi Autonomous Territory's Marine Corps brigade, chose to defend their homeland, buying time for the transfer of civilians and supplies. Chu Qing respected them for this.
By the time the fleet approached, the sun had already set, and the masts and the outer silhouettes of the warships were adorned with colorful lights.
“Whoosh-----------------”
Each ship sounded its whistle, followed by a 17-gun salute, paying tribute to the soldiers who defended their homeland.
After the remaining coastal artillery finished returning the salute, the coastal artillery, the Marine Corps, and some civilians who voluntarily stayed behind also gathered around.
Li He commanded the fleet to dock smoothly. The Cangdong Sea Area had well-developed shipping, with frequent calls from ten-thousand-ton freighters. Therefore, the Taixi Autonomous Territory alone had two deep-water berths that could accommodate Dreadnought-class ships.
The gangway was lowered, and Chu Qing was the first to descend, followed closely by Li He and Liu Feng.
As he stepped onto the land of the Taixi Archipelago, a strange emotion inexplicably welled up in Chu Qing's heart. Logically, as a transmigrator, he shouldn't have such a reaction. He only learned from the smart brain that this was influenced by the memories of the body's original owner.
“Zhang Fengyang, Commander of the Taixi Autonomous Territory Coastal Artillery Brigade, respectfully welcomes the Garrison Commander on his victorious return!”
“Zhao Jianye, Commander of the Taixi Autonomous Territory Marine Corps Brigade, respectfully welcomes the Garrison Commander on his victorious return!”
Two soldiers in black military uniforms, wearing colonel's insignia on their shoulders, stood at attention and saluted.
Chu Qing returned their salutes one by one, and then learned about Taixi's current situation.
“Five of the 45-caliber 203mm coastal defense guns were destroyed, and only six of the 18 152mm rapid-fire guns remain.”
“The Coastal Artillery Brigade still has over 800 brothers, but the Marine Corps Brigade is fully intact.”
“Over 60 large and small passenger and cargo ships from the shipping company have already been transferred. Among the civilians, over 8,000 men and over 8,000 elderly and infirm voluntarily stayed behind.”
“The East Sakura People did not manage to land, so the Taixi coal mines and other mineral resources and infrastructure did not suffer any damage and are largely intact. Only two merchant ship docks were affected and damaged by the shelling.”
“Fortunately, my cheat awakened early, so I didn't take over a mess.”
Chu Qing breathed a sigh of relief. The Taixi Archipelago was Chu Xiong's Headquarters, which he had managed for decades. It had a population of 320,000, energy minerals, its own maritime academy, and even a newly established weapon design, research, and manufacturing institution. Though small, it was complete, making it a very suitable starting point for his career.
“One protected cruiser, two armored cruisers, and one pre-dreadnought battleship provided me with 25,000 temporal points. After expenses, I still have over 22,000 remaining, which is enough to do some things.”
...............
Li He went to supervise the interrogation of Kawara Youichi, while Chu Qing strolled along the coast for a while before returning to the dock where the fleet was moored. He saw the coastal artillery helping the sailors move ammunition and supplies onto the warships.
As expected, a large crowd of curious soldiers and civilians stood around the Taixi, pointing and exclaiming in wonder at the large ship. Among these people, a thin figure wrapped in a naval overcoat particularly caught Chu Qing's eye.
Noticing Chu Qing approaching, the onlookers dispersed, and the Marine Corps consciously formed a cordon, surrounding the two Garrison Commanders.
“If Liu Jinglue is really envious of the Taixi,” Chu Qing joked cheerfully, “he can come under my command as a deputy, and then this Taixi will be under Liu Jinglue's command.”
The old man turned around, forcing a dry smile. “Your irreverent personality is really just like your father’s…”
Then he turned back, looking at the steel hull of the Taixi. “Gao Youzhi just reported that he intercepted the telegram sent by the East Sakura Fleet before its destruction.”
“Kawara Youichi used an open code when reporting our position, meaning that the fact that Taixi possesses a dreadnought has been widely publicized.”
“An innocent man is guilty because of his treasure…”
He sighed. The threat of the East Sakura task force had been completely eliminated, but the situation in the Cangdong Sea Area showed a trend of becoming even more chaotic.
A Dreadnought-class level of power was not something an autonomous territory could easily control. Not to mention the covetous glances of other great powers and the impending retaliation from the East Sakura Navy, even the Qiancang Central Government's attitude towards such a powerful force, unrestrained by them, needed to be considered.
Without the logistical support of a national-level power, such a massive war machine would be difficult to maintain and service, and within a few years, it would become a large and useless white elephant.
Of course, Chu Qing knew what he meant. If this Dreadnought-class ship was truly picked up from the Miracle Storm, it would indeed be difficult to keep. But he possessed the smart brain and the accompanying temporal mall, so ammunition, supplies, mechanical maintenance, and other aspects were not an issue at all.
Whoever wanted to snatch food from his mouth could certainly try!
“However, I think Chu Xiong must have left you many hidden cards. Among other things, those few long-range bombardments could not have been done through ordinary means, right?”
Liu Feng suddenly changed the subject, staring intently at Chu Qing. “Don't worry, no matter how the situation changes, Yanling will always be the Taixi Autonomous Territory's most loyal ally.”