Seeing He Yongxing light the third cigarette, Bai Zhizhan couldn't help but sigh.

In the previous ten minutes, that is, the time when he smoked two cigarettes in a row, He Yongxing revealed some extremely explosive news to Bai Zhizhan.

Yesterday's decisive battle of the fleet was both expected and the result of an accident.

Just after nine o'clock in the morning, when the 21st Squadron was sailing east in the Watchman Strait, or more precisely in the Northern Passage, the Imperial Navy Command gave the order to cease operations and sent a telegram to the flagship of the fleet. Next, it should be forwarded by the flagships of the fleet to the flagships of the respective detachments. It was at this juncture that there was an accident that was not an accident, the shortwave radio used by the flagship of the fleet.

This was a mistake that did not violate the communication regulations, but the impact was extremely huge.

At that time, if the 21st Squadron had not gone to the northern channel, but had continued to sail eastward in the labyrinthine channel, the distance from the fleet's flagship would have been within the working range of the shortwave radio station, and the telegram would have been received. Turning into the northern channel, the distance was widened a little, beyond the working range of the station.

In order to maintain concealment, and with a backup plan for a Guia assault from the Northern Passage, the 21st Squadron therefore did not report to the fleet flagship.

In addition, according to the records of the fleet flagships, when relaying the telegram orders of the naval headquarters, the communications staff officers did not dare to occupy the long-wave radio station for a long time because they were worried that there would be a new order or a change in the order, so they could only use the short-wave radio station to send reports to the flagships of the detachments.

This series of coincidences led to the situation getting completely out of control.

Crucially, after ten o'clock, after receiving the news that the 21st Squadron had entered the Guia Ocean as planned and engaged the 1st Battle Patrol Detachment, something happened that no one could have imagined and could not understand at all.

The commander of the home fleet committed suicide by swallowing a gun in the cabin.

This accident almost buried the 21st Squadron.

Since the command of the Navy had given the order to end the combat operation, and the flagship had forwarded the order, the other sub-fleets of the Home Fleet had every reason to withdraw to their home port without risking their lives for the sake of the 21st Fleet, let alone disobeying the orders to fight the enemy.

Fortunately, the commander of the 11th Squadron felt that the situation had changed and that the decision should be made by the naval command.

It was in this way that the home fleet did not withdraw, and after receiving a telegram from the naval command, it entered the Watchman Strait as originally planned.

The reason is also very simple, the Navy Command clearly mentioned in its reply to the 11th Fleet that He Yongxing would take over the post of commander of the Home Fleet.

This order was given to reassure the commanders of the other detachments and to motivate them to assist the 21st Squadron as best they could.

Escaping from the commander in battle is a felony of stealing one's family and exterminating one's family.

Even if the empire has long since abolished the joint sitting, betraying the commander and abandoning the battle is a capital crime with a thousand cuts.

Unfortunately, because the telecommunications center of the "Beihe" was destroyed, He Yongxing was still not able to receive this telegram in time.

It was already mentioned earlier that this telegram was received only after the battle with the 1st Battle Patrol detachment was over and transferred to the "Luhe".

In fact, this series of mistakes explained a question in Bai Zhizhan's heart.

In the Imperial Navy, where factions are clearly divided and hierarchical, the commanders of the detachment who are all entry-level in terms of seniority and rank, why should the three commanders of the main detachment who surpass themselves in status, prestige, and influence obey the order and control the entire native fleet like an arm?

In the afternoon, He Yongxing made a guarantee, and the other detachments would go all out to help the 21st Squadron break through.

Obviously, the key lies in this order.

According to the unwritten rules, no matter how hard you fight in peacetime, after going to the battlefield and engaging the enemy, you must unconditionally obey the command.

Whoever engages in factional warfare in battle is the Imperial Navy, the public enemy of the entire Empire!

It's just that there are new doubts about the White Stop.

"Commander He, why did the Navy Command cancel the combat operation?" Bai Zhizhan paused slightly, and then said boldly: "It's so sudden, there is no warning at all, let alone notice in advance." Otherwise, yesterday's decisive battle with the fleet could have been avoided altogether. ”

"Do you think that in order to fight the enemy, the naval command deliberately delayed the delivery of the report?"

Bai Zhizhan was silent, since he raised this question, it means that he has such suspicions.

"If it had been planned a long time ago, yesterday's decisive battle of the fleet would probably have been a different outcome." He Yongxing took out a folded piece of paper and threw it in front of Bai Zhizhan.

Bai Zhizhan was not mentally prepared, and he was startled after opening it.

A top-secret document, a handwritten, top-secret message to be exact.

It must have been a secondary encrypted message, which He Yongxing personally interpreted.

It was He Yongxing's handwriting, which Bai Zhizhan recognized, and it was still a special paper for copying messages.

This paper dissolves when exposed to water, and the handwriting on it dissipates in a matter of seconds.

By writing top-secret messages on such paper, you don't have to worry about putting them in a safe or having the top-secret messages that the commander has with you captured by the enemy after the battleship is sunk.

On the top of the paper, the word "top secret" is printed.

"Don't worry, maybe tomorrow, it's not a secret."

After He Yongxing said this, Bai Zhizhan picked up the message again.

Actually, it's mostly curiosity.

It's not much, just one sentence. Because they need to be interpreted separately by the commander who has the key, the content of such messages is generally not too large.

Wilder II secretly signed the edict of surrender, and the Empire was about to be defeated, and His Majesty had authorized the cabinet to prepare for an armistice.

The message was not signed, but the "Luhe" was able to receive it, and it must have come from the naval command.

Emperor Wilder II secretly signed the Edict of Surrender!?

Bai Zhizhan couldn't help but tremble.

Last year, after the defeat and surrender of the There Empire, if there was still a little hope, then after the defeat and surrender of the Terman Empire, there was no hope.

No matter how strong the Liangxia Empire is, no matter how strong it is, no matter how strong it is, it can't single-handedly challenge all the powers!

"This ...... It's ......"

"What happened in the early hours of yesterday morning."

The white paper let out a sigh and forcibly controlled the ups and downs of emotion. After putting down the message, he rubbed his face with his hands a few more times.

Now, it can be fully explained.

The counterattack of the home fleet was not alone, but the beginning of a full-fledged strategic counterattack.

It was not only the imperial navy and land forces that participated in this strategic counterattack, but also the Riman Empire, which straddled the huge land and western continents, with the aim of completely reversing the strategic situation, striving to defeat the Luosha Empire within a few months, and opening up the communication line from the Liangxia Empire to the Riman Empire.

After the exit of the Empire, does it still make sense to fight back?

Without the Riman Empire pinning down the enemy in the Western Continent, the Liangxia Empire might not be able to defeat the Luosha Empire in just a few months despite its best efforts.

Besides, what can you do if you defeat the Luosha Empire?

Among the many great powers, the Luosha Empire is only the weakest!

At this point, even if you don't want to admit it, you have to seriously consider an issue.

How can we end this war in a dignified way, or how can we minimize the impact of defeat?