Another World: Naval Storm

"General, why don't we have the destroyer fleet launch a surprise attack at night?" Chief of Staff Hinata suggested.

"It's no use. We've proven from the past few days that the Rakshasas don't want to come out at all. They're hiding in their tortoise shells, making it impossible to attack them." Dongping Xia Saburo had no idea what to do.

"The news just came back from Tarun that the Russian fleet coming from the Black Sea and the Sarmatian Sea for support has already set sail and will arrive at the Yellow Sea in four months!"

"We must quickly eliminate the Rakshasa Pacific Fleet hiding in Mashijin Harbor, or else when their reinforcements arrive, our situation will be very bad!"

Tohei Shimosaburo, who was pacing back and forth in the command room, suddenly said, "Since the Rakshasa people won't come out, then they should never come out!"

Tohei Shimosaburo decided to use transport ships to completely block the entrance and exit of Mashijin and blockade the Rakshasa fleet.

On July 7, Tohei Shimosaburo personally gave a speech to the 20 suicide squad members who were carrying out the operation to block the Haikou.

"You are all loyal soldiers of the empire! It is your honor to sacrifice your lives for the empire!" Dongping Xia Saburo poured wine for each member of the suicide squad. "Remember, you must be quick. Don't worry about the artillery fire. Sink the ship immediately when you reach the location!"

The five ships, escorted by other warships, approached Mashikjin Harbor and launched an attack under the cover of heavy artillery fire from the Combined Fleet.

"Counterattack! Counterattack!" the Rakshasa officer on the artillery position screamed loudly.

"Sir, look!" Following the soldier's direction, the officer saw five ships rushing left and right under the gunfire. Although he didn't understand why the Japanese ships were seeking death, he still mobilized some artillery to attack these ships first.

"Avoid the mines on the left!" A Japanese lieutenant commanded the blocking fleet to avoid the mines.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" The five ships were getting closer and closer to the target while shouting.

"Report, the Starfish and Uroyu Maru have been sunk!"

"Don't worry about anything else, we can only die on the way to charge!" The lieutenant shouted at the top of his lungs while steering the rudder.

The Russians’ coastal defense firepower was too strong, and the combined fleet could only provide artillery cover from outside the range. In the end, no ship completed the mission.

"Cease fire, there is no need for cover anymore!" Tohei Shimosaburo watched the last ship sink.

"Hey! What a pity for those ships!" Hinata punched the instrument.

"Send another blocking fleet at night. After what happened during the day, the Luosha people might let down their guard."

"Well, it's a pity about those ships, they would be very useful to the Empire!"

"Don't worry about those things. The empire will gain more benefits from victory!" Tohei Shimosaburo comforted.

They were wrong. Vice Admiral Stark, who was under arrest, ordered strict night defense. He didn't want any more trouble. Searchlights patrolled the sea, and destroyers and patrol boats patrolled back and forth. This time they were discovered earlier, and another five transport ships sank.

On August 8, Vice Admiral Makarov, whom the Pacific Fleet had been looking forward to, finally arrived in Mashijin.

"Welcome, General Makarov. I can finally return to St. Petersburg. I wonder how His Majesty will punish me." Lieutenant General Stark looked exhausted.

"Don't worry, His Majesty will forgive you. No one would have thought that the Japanese are so shameless!"

"No need to comfort me, the conference room is now handed over to you. It belongs to you from now on!" Lieutenant General Stark handed over the power and boarded the train back north.

"His Majesty is very angry, and you all know the consequences, so cheer up and kill those Japanese!" The consecutive defeats have greatly affected morale, which can be seen from the expressions of everyone in the meeting room.

"Why are you so dejected? Let me tell you some good news. The reinforcements sent by the Empire are on the way. As long as we hold on until the reinforcements arrive, victory will belong to us!"

Makarov began to encourage everyone, "I know that Ma Shijin has stored enough supplies for several years. Take out all the good things in the warehouse and let the officers and soldiers have enough to eat! Let the soldiers have a good rest. It's not enough to just take the beating. We must fight back appropriately!"

On August 8, Makarov ordered two destroyer formations to conduct reconnaissance on the Japanese destroyers that came to harass. In the waters south of Laotie Mountain, two Russian destroyers discovered and defeated four Japanese destroyers. In the waters of Changshan Islands, another two Russian destroyers were damaged by Japanese warships, and one of them sank after being damaged.

"This stalemate is not good for us. Only the coordinated operations of the army and navy can take down Ma Shijin faster. Where is the army?" asked Tohei Shimosaburo.

"The Army God General Nogi Maresuke is preparing to land on the Liaodong Peninsula and encircle the Mashijin naval base from behind, and he wants us to cooperate!" Hinata replied.

"Then let's take action. I hope he can bring us good luck!"

On the 17th, Tohei Shimosaburo sent two battleships to circle around the southwest of the Liaodong Peninsula and successfully avoided the direct attack of the Russian coastal defense artillery. The artillery fire destroyed some shore facilities. By the time the Russian coastal defense artillery wanted to turn its guns around and fire back, the Japanese warships had already run out of range.

"Sir, the 3rd Army has landed and will soon complete the encirclement of Ma Shijin!"

"This is good news, but Ma Shijin, which has been operated by the Russians for a long time, is not easy to take over!" Dongping Xia Saburo said worriedly.

"General Nogi Maresuke will definitely bring victory to the empire. It was he who conquered the Mashijin Fortress of the Xunyang people last time. He will definitely succeed this time!" Hinata's idea was the same as Emperor Kikuchi's. He hoped that Nogi Maresuke could replicate the miracle of ten years ago.

"We can't let the army underestimate us. Order the blocking fleet to continue the assault on Mashijin Port!"

In the early morning of the 20th, the Russians discovered the fleet and immediately launched artillery and torpedo attacks. A few hours later, two Japanese ships were sunk.

"Send destroyers to blockade with mines!" In response to the commotion, Tohei Shimosaburo sent out a minelayer fleet consisting of minelayers and 12 destroyers to lay mines outside Mashijin.

It was a quiet night, and the Japanese minelaying fleet, which was under blackout conditions, was laying mines.

"A Rakshasa destroyer has been spotted!" The sentry discovered the patrolling destroyer in advance. After all, it was the only one flashing brightly at night.

"Let them come over, and fight them from close range!" The Japanese commander would certainly not miss the opportunity to gain military merit.

As the Rakshasa warship approached, the artillery on the Japanese destroyer was aimed, "Fire!" In an instant, the destroyer was covered by shells and was sunk by the Japanese ship in a short while.

The soldiers on duty at the coastal artillery were attracted by the artillery fire and did not react at first. By the time they reacted and fired to cover their own warships, the Japanese had already finished their work and escaped.

The Japanese fleet completed the task of laying mines in the waterway of Mashijin port, and Japan completely surrounded Mashijin from land and sea.