On the evening of November 1, the waters of the Qianyu Islands in the western part of the Axu Sea.

The archipelago is just east of the empire, outside the mouth of the Nanjiang River, and consists of hundreds of islands and reefs, large and small, which have been the empire's defense against foreign invasions for thousands of years.

More than two years ago, after the fall of the Sadou Islands in the north and south, the Imperial Navy transferred its home fleet to the island for security reasons, using the mast port on the island as its home port, and set up three lines of defense around the island, and laid tens of thousands of mines alone.

Under the protection of minefields, enemy submarines are inaccessible, and the internal waters of the archipelago are relatively safe.

However, these lines also turned the Kurtau Islands into a cage for the home fleet, making it more dependent on the protection provided by mines and shore artillery.

For the Imperial Navy, which pursued the doctrine of attack, it was a great shame to be cowered in the harbor.

After enduring more than two years of criticism and humiliation, yesterday the Home Fleet finally proved with its actions that the Imperial Navy was by no means a turtle with a shrunken head.

From the encounter between the 21st Fleet and the 1st Battle Patrol Detachment, which lasted 12 hours, from 9:55 a.m. to the last salvo of the six battleships of the 11th Fleet, which withdrew into the Watchman Strait at 10:05 p.m.

Counting the 13th Squadron, which did not participate in the battle, the Imperial Navy dispatched eighteen battleships, six battle cruisers, twelve armored cruisers and eighteen light cruisers, in addition to six light cruisers, more than twenty destroyers and more than a dozen auxiliary ships to meet the Asahi. If you count all of this, the Imperial Navy dispatched more than a hundred ships with a total tonnage of more than 700,000 tons.

On the side of the Combined Fleet.

Counting the 4th and 5th Main Detachments, which arrived after the battle, and the 2nd Battlecruiser, which had been wandering around and engaged only a few armored cruisers, there were 22 battleships, 5 fast battleships, 10 battlecruisers, 16 armored cruisers and 20 light cruisers, and dozens of destroyers and auxiliary vessels, with a total tonnage of nearly one million tons.

In the end, the Imperial Navy lost two battle cruisers, six armored cruisers and four light cruisers, with a total tonnage of 110,000 tons of sunk battleships, more than 4,000 officers and men killed and missing, and more than 6,000 wounded, of which only seven of the more than 2,000 officers and men on the two battlecruisers sunk survived.

The Combined Fleet had three battle cruisers, five armored cruisers, and seven light cruisers sunk in battle, with a total tonnage of more than 150,000 tons, more than 6,000 officers and men killed or missing, and more than 10,000 disabled, of which more than 5,000 officers and men were killed or wounded on the six battle cruisers of the First Battle Patrol Detachment alone.

From a tactical point of view, that is, looking at losses and casualties, the Imperial Navy undoubtedly emerged victorious.

Do not forget that three more battle cruisers of the 1st Battle Cruiser were also heavily damaged. The Prestige and Counter Strike remained in the dockyard for several years before returning to service in the Royal Navy. After several years of delay, the Tiger was so badly damaged that the Royal Navy had to reluctantly cut its love, and was eventually sold as scrap steel to a shipbreaking yard, with only the ship's bell remaining.

The "Beihe" and "Nanjiang" also lay in the dock for several years, but both the "Luhe" and "Yuejiang" were completely restored within a few months and returned to the battle sequence of the home fleet. All four battleships were later completely remodeled and upgraded to fast battleships, where they continued to shine and heat in the Imperial Navy, and in the early days of the next Great War, became the mainstay of the Imperial Navy.

As for the strategic victory or defeat, then each has its own opinion.

In fact, after the battle, the officers and men of the 21st Squadron did not think about the long term at all, even the staff officers of the headquarters.

After the changing of the guard in the early morning, Bai Zhizhan returned to the cabin and fell asleep.

By the time I woke up, it was already afternoon.

When he went to the officer's cafeteria to eat, Bai Zhizhan met Gui Boyong, and Gui Boyong told him to go to He Yongxing after eating.

Although he had doubts, Bai Zhizhan did not dare to delay.

Before the change of guard in the early morning, Bai Zhizhan heard from the communications staff officer that the naval command had sent a telegram ordering He Yongxing to be appointed as the interim commander of the home fleet.

Because it was too sensitive, the communications staff officer was very quiet when talking about it.

If so, this personnel change is so unusual.

Do not forget that the 21st Squadron has not yet returned to its home port. Even if He Yongxing had a meritorious command, and the commander of the home fleet was to take responsibility for his mistakes, there was no reason to make personnel adjustments before the 21st Squadron returned to its home port, not to mention that He Yongxing might not be able to convince the commanders of other squadrons.

In terms of qualifications, He Yongxing is the most tender among the commanders of the main detachment.

He was only 39 years old when he came to the Home Fleet more than two years ago as commander of the 21st Squadron.

As a result, He Yongxing became the first rear admiral under the age of 40 in the Imperial Navy in 30 years.

Although he was born in the He family, one of the two great families of the Imperial Navy, for He Yongxing, who is only 41 years old, family prestige cannot replace personal ability. With his current achievements, it is obviously a little worse to be on the throne of the commander of the home fleet, which is equivalent to half the commander-in-chief of the navy.

In terms of seniority, the commanders of the three main fleets were all in front of He Yongxing.

It's just that after this battle, I'm afraid no one will dare to doubt He Yongxing's ability.

After waking up, he calmed down and thought about it seriously, Bai Zhizhan was also secretly happy, because he followed the right person, and because he was valued and appreciated by He Yongxing.

The 21st Squadron was able to escape, even if the White Stop War was not a great achievement, but it was also a great contribution.

When breaking through to the labyrinthine channel, almost all staff officers, including Gui Boyong, suggested that they rush directly and break through the enemy's blockade and interception by speed. Only Bai Zhizhan offered to contact the main detachment and take the opportunity to fight the combined fleet to the death outside the exit of the channel.

It is precisely in this way that yesterday's decisive battle of the fleet took place.

Judging from the course of the engagement, if He Yongxing had adopted the advice of other staff officers, the 21st Squadron would inevitably have been intercepted outside the labyrinth channel, and might even be flanked. Because the main detachment did not come out to respond, the 21st detachment could not fight its way out of the encirclement anyway.

In fact, Bai Zhizhan is very self-aware.

He Yongxing had already made a decision, and Bai Zhizhan only said He Yongxing's decision at the right time and in the right way.

Even if Bai Zhizhan did not make a suggestion, He Yongxing would not adopt the methods proposed by other staff officers.

As far as the war is concerned, it is also calling on other staff officers, thus saving a lot of unnecessary trouble, so as not to cause extraneous problems before the war.

Of course, this does not prevent Bai Zhizhan from becoming a big celebrity in front of He Yongxing, nor does it prevent He Yongxing from continuing to write the undefeated myth that has lasted for more than two years.

After eating, Bai Zhizhan went to the commander's bridge first, and found that He Yongxing was not there, so he went to the commander's cabin.

The battle is over, and it will certainly be rewarded for merit, and there is no need to do it after returning to the home port.