Chapter 512 Infernal Fury, Hegemony Changes Hands

The smoke from the first wave of airstrikes had not yet dissipated, and the sea surface was a scene of utter devastation.

Burning warships were like giant torches, sending black, thick smoke and a pungent, charred smell into the sky. On the sea, countless wooden planks, broken masts, and sailors struggling and calling for help in the cold seawater floated about. The Sun Never Sets Empire's "Invincible Armada" looked more like a group of seals that had just been hunted by a shark pack, miserable and disheveled.

On the "Yinglong", the aircraft from the first attack wave were landing one by one.

A "Thor" aircraft's tailhook precisely caught the second arresting wire, and with a tremendous screech of friction, the plane came to a stop within just fifty meters. Flight Commander Zhou Xun opened the cockpit canopy, took off his helmet, and greedily breathed in the salty sea breeze. His face still held the flush from extreme maneuvering, but his eyes were startlingly bright.

"Well done!" The ground crew on the deck gave him a thumbs-up.

"I have good news for you!" Flight Commander Zhou Xun jumped off the plane and announced loudly, "I saw with my own eyes that the chimney of the 'Monarch' was cut in half by the bomb I dropped! Those Westerners probably can't even find their direction now!"

A burst of cheerful laughter erupted on the deck. For these young pilots, what they had just experienced was not a bloody battle, but a hearty "target practice" session.

The joy of victory quickly spread on the aircraft carrier, but the atmosphere inside the command tower remained calm.

"Have the damage statistics for each aircraft been compiled?" the aircraft carrier captain asked in a deep voice.

"Report, Captain! Thirty-two aircraft launched, thirty-two returned! No losses! Only two 'Lightnings' were hit by shell fragments on their wings; it doesn't affect flight, minor repairs will suffice!"

"Very good." The captain nodded, then picked up the handset and connected to the main fleet's channel, "Calling 'ironclad warship', this is 'Yinglong'. The first phase of Operation 'Fishing' is complete. The school of fish has basically lost its ability to resist. Please advise on the next step."

Soon, the cold voice of Minister of Military Affairs Li Chengfeng came from the speaker: " 'Yinglong' has done well. Prepare the second attack wave as planned. The main fleet is about to enter to 'close the net'."

Putting down the handset, the captain issued a new order: "Order the second attack wave to load high-explosive bombs and incendiary bombs, targeting the remaining enemy cruisers and frigates. His Majesty wants them all—not a single one should escape!"

On the other side, the Sun Never Sets Empire fleet, stunned by the airstrikes, was trying to regroup amidst Nelson's roars.

Although the "Monarch" was battered beyond recognition, its main turret destroyed and one of its chimneys broken, its tenacious Steam Engine was still running. Nelson, like a gambler who had lost all his chips, his eyes bloodshot, gathered all the ships that could still move—three scarred battleships and seven or eight cruisers—around him, forming a messy circular formation, preparing for a final cornered beast's fight.

He did not know where the enemy's main force was, but he knew that those "iron birds" had flown in from the southwest. He wanted to charge over, even if it meant mutual destruction, to make the enemy pay the price.

"All fleet, speed eight knots, assault to the southwest!" Nelson issued the last attack order of his life.

However, his "suicide squad" made up of the remnants had barely sailed ten nautical miles.

The scene that appeared on the horizon ahead plunged him into complete despair.

Where the sea met the sky, a line of neat black silhouettes broke through the morning mist and slowly appeared. It was a massive, orderly, and oppressive steel fleet.

At the lead were two Ironclad Warships even larger than the "Monarch", their turrets flashing with cold metallic luster, their long hulls cutting two straight white waves on the sea. Behind them were more ironclad warships and cruisers, arranged in a perfect battle formation, like a moving wall made of steel and artillery fire, pressing forward.

The Great Han Empire main fleet had arrived.

On the bridge of the flagship "ironclad warship", Minister of Military Affairs Li Chengfeng looked at the crooked, black-smoke-belching enemy fleet in the distance through binoculars, a trace of disdain curling the corners of his mouth.

"Is this the so-called 'Invincible Armada'? It looks like a pile of scrap metal just fished out of a junkyard." He lowered the binoculars and said in a flat tone.

The generals beside him all laughed, the atmosphere so relaxed it was as if they were not on a battlefield, but on a sea sightseeing tour.

"Commander-in-Chief, give the order! The brothers' gun barrels are already burning hot!" The deputy general, who came from an artillery background, rubbed his hands, unable to wait any longer.

Minister of Military Affairs Li Chengfeng glanced at the reading on the rangefinder.

"Distance, twelve thousand meters."

He did not order fire immediately but picked up the radio handset and issued the order to the entire fleet in a steady tone.

"Attention all ships, this is the flagship. Now, the final pre-battle address."

His voice, through the radio, was clearly transmitted to the broadcasts of every Han warship.

"Soldiers, opposite you is the once-proclaimed 'Sun Never Sets Empire' Invincible Armada. They have run rampant on the seas for centuries, using artillery to enslave countless nations. Today, they have come to our doorstep, attempting to impose the same fate upon us."

"However, times have changed!" Minister of Military Affairs Li Chengfeng's voice rose sharply, "We are fortunate to be born in this great era, fortunate to follow His Majesty's footsteps, holding the most powerful weapons in the world. Today, right here, we will use the cannons in our hands to end an old era and open a brand new ocean era that belongs to our Great Han nation!"

"Now, I order!"

Minister of Military Affairs Li Chengfeng's voice was like thunder from the nine heavens.

"All fleet, seize the T-crossing position! Target, enemy flagship 'Monarch'! Three rounds of salvo, send them to meet the Sea God!"

"Fire—!"

Following his order, all the warships of the Great Han fleet turned hard right at almost the same time. The massive steel fleet drew a magnificent arc on the sea, like the Grim Reaper's scythe, lying across the front of the Sun Never Sets Empire fleet.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom—!"

Dozens of warships, hundreds of large-caliber main and secondary guns, roared simultaneously at this moment. Countless shells, carrying shrill whistles, like a dense meteor shower, tore through the sky and covered the entire sea area where Nelson's fleet was located!

Nelson stood on the rickety bridge of the "Monarch", blankly watching the rain of shells falling from the sky. He saw the perfect battle line of the Han fleet, saw the continuous, seemingly endless muzzle flashes erupting from their broadsides.

He finally understood.

He was facing an opponent that had completely surpassed him in tactics, technology, and even war philosophy. The airstrikes were just an appetizer. This massive Ironclad Warship fleet before his eyes was the real main course.

He had lost, lost without any suspense.

The next second, countless water columns shot up around the Sun Never Sets Empire fleet. Immediately after, armor-piercing shells and high-explosive shells landed precisely on those already battered ships.

The "Monarch" was hit by seven shells in the first salvo. One 300mm armor-piercing shell directly penetrated its only remaining command tower. Nelson and his officers, without even time to let out a scream, were turned into dust in the violent explosion.

This once invincible naval commander, in the end, did not even get to see what the enemy looked like before he and his flagship headed towards annihilation.

The subsequent battle could no longer be called a battle, but a one-sided execution.

Under the precise and fierce artillery fire of the Han fleet, the remnants of the Sun Never Sets Empire fleet, like eggs beaten by a hammer, were destroyed, dismantled, and swallowed one by one.

When the second wave of airstrikes' "Thor" and "Lightning" aircraft arrived over the battlefield, the pilots were surprised to find that there were not many targets left for them to deal with. They could only pour bombs and torpedoes onto the enemy ships that were trying to escape or had already lost power, accelerating their demise.

The sun finally rose high into the sky. Golden sunlight spilled over the sea surface that had just experienced the baptism of blood and fire.

On the sea, not a single complete warship flying the Sun Never Sets Empire flag could be seen. Only countless burning wrecks and patches of huge oil slicks slowly spread on the sea surface.

A maritime hegemony of an era, along with the annihilation of this fleet, was completely buried in the depths of the South China Sea.

Minister of Military Affairs Li Chengfeng stood on the bridge of the "ironclad warship", looking at the magnificent yet cruel scene before him, his expression calm.

He picked up the handset and sent the victory report to the imperial palace in the Imperial Capital.

The content of the telegram was only eight characters:

"Enemy completely annihilated, raising our national prestige."