African Entrepreneurship Record-Chapter 582 - 260: Insubordination

"Report to the General, ahead is Miyako Island. We’ve spotted a large number of vessels wandering here; they should be the Japanese ’pirate ships’!"

The Japanese referred to them as fishing boats, so the enemies from East Africa naturally defined them as pirate ships roaming the seas of the southern Ryukyu archipelago. This way, if fighting broke out, it would be more convincing. Both sides had impure intentions, but both liked to feign righteousness.

"Fire a warning shot, start driving them away," Gleiss ordered.

Not engaging directly was East Africa’s sign of respect towards Japan’s strength. After all, East Africa was a guest from afar and hadn’t become arrogant enough to be domineering in the Far East region.

Subsequently, the sailors in the main gun room of East Africa’s "Zhegu" began adjusting the artillery angle, firing three shells in succession towards the sky above the Miyako Island waters.

"Boom..."

The shells followed a parabolic trajectory, falling into the sea, exploding and stirring up enormous waves that swept and surged the seawater in all directions.

The landing point of the shells from the "Zhegu" ironclad ship was less than eight hundred meters from the two Japanese "pirate ships." A smaller fishing boat was almost capsized by the incoming seawater, with its hull tipping nearly ninety degrees. The six sailors on board worked hard to stabilize it, preventing the boat from overturning.

Gleiss, with a telescope in hand, naturally saw this scene. "It seems they are not ordinary people; they are very likely Japanese navy disguised as fishermen!"

"Why does the General say so?"

Gleiss explained, "The explosion was so close, yet the people on that small boat remained unflustered, worked cooperatively, and handled it very appropriately, stabilizing the hull in an extremely short time under extreme conditions. It’s not something ordinary fishermen can do."

"Does the General mean these fishermen are Japanese soldiers in disguise?"

"Pretty close, but regardless if they are Japanese soldiers or not, if they don’t have the sense to leave voluntarily, then we’ll just send them all to the bottom of the sea!" Gleiss ordered.

At this moment, those Japanese soldiers praised by Gleiss for being "unflustered in danger" were far from calm in their hearts. When the shell exploded, they were drenched in cold sweat, their faces pale. Fortunately, their past training kicked in, preventing them from losing their composure, thus saving their lives.

"This is excessive, East Africa has gone too far!" The highest Japanese commander, Xiao Zezheng’Er, cursed angrily.

In fact, when the East African fleet appeared, the Japanese had naturally noticed it, especially the vibrant flag of East Africa that was easily recognized by them.

However, the ironclad ship from East Africa showed no respect for martial virtues, firing when still far from the Japanese fleet. This had Xiao Zezheng’Er’s heart hanging, fearing they might aim for his command ship, which could spell the end. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Xiao Zezheng’Er’s command ship was just a sailing ship with a displacement of over five hundred tons, incapable of withstanding a strike from East Africa’s main ironclad ship.

Fortunately, East Africa did not wish to engage in conflict from the outset, merely employing artillery as a threat, although this exerted tremendous pressure on the Japanese fleet.

"Commander, the arriving party is likely the East African navy. Now the enemy is strong, and they have already fired warning shots. They probably want us to leave voluntarily. What should we do?"

"The East Africans are unprincipled! We are just fishing boats, yet they sent a naval fleet to meddle in the affairs of the Senkaku Islands. The actions of the great powers are indeed overbearing." Xiao Zezheng’Er expressed his dissatisfaction.

At this time, East Africa was unfamiliar to Japan, but Japan instinctively classified East Africa among the great powers. Although East Africa hid its true strength, its naval prowess was undeniable. As a naval powerhouse, East Africa enjoyed the treatment it deserved in the Far East, especially after Grand Duke Ferdinand led a complete East African navy visit to the region. Many Asian countries were aware of the strength of the East African navy.

Of course, the East African navy never intended to hide its presence. Its principal mission was deterrence, to ward off overseas ambitions towards East Africa. If East Africa’s navy were not strong enough, wouldn’t its coasts become a playground for the great powers? Coming and going at will?

Thus, Xiao Zezheng’Er couldn’t underestimate the East African navy. He gritted his teeth and said, "A conflict with the East African navy now would be like hitting a stone with an egg. Though we are willing to sacrifice for the Empire, the disparity in strength is too large, and it is not easy for the Empire to cultivate its navy. We cannot let our fine sons of the Great Wa Nation waste away here!"

"Commander...are you willing to accept this?"

"Damn it, we should have seized the islands when East Africa hadn’t established its footing; otherwise, we wouldn’t be in trouble today!" Xiao Zezheng’Er expressed frustration.

"This isn’t your fault, but a misjudgment by the military. After all, no one expected East Africa to dispatch an entire fleet for islands thousands of miles away!"

The southern Ryukyu archipelago is indeed dispensable for East Africa, yet dispatching a fleet incurs significant costs, unlikely to be recovered in decades. Moreover, with stationed troops, it becomes a bottomless pit, mostly outflow with little return. However, from a strategic standpoint, East Africa hasn’t necessarily lost out, having a foothold in the Western Pacific allowing better intervention and safeguarding its interests in the Far East.

"Commander, now is not the time to discuss right or wrong. We should quickly transmit information back to the homeland and then make plans. Even if we retreat now, the military won’t pursue us, given the vast disparity in strength."

"Very well, order a retreat!"

Subsequently, the Japanese command ship issued directives to the Japanese fishing boats present, using flag signals and commands, ordering them to withdraw from the waters of the southern Ryukyu archipelago and return to Naha City.

These Japanese fishermen were originally in disguise, so upon receiving orders, they began an orderly withdrawal. But was it really that smooth?

"I told you, these so-called fishermen are Japanese professional soldiers in disguise. You see, they can even receive orders and retreat with coordination, something an average fishing fleet can’t achieve!" Gleiss said happily after seeing the Japanese retreat.

"General, I’m afraid not. Look at their left wing; are they making a small move!"

Gleiss looked towards where his subordinate pointed and indeed saw a Japanese unit not acting according to Xiao Zezheng’Er’s orders, but doing the exact opposite.

Xiao Zezheng’Er also noticed the anomaly among his ranks: "The left is Takahashi Morita’s men, right? What’s happening with them? Hurry and call them back! Orders can’t be misheard!"

"Commander, Takahashi Morita has always been blindly arrogant, often superficially agreeing but covertly opposing your words. I fear he doesn’t wish to follow your orders. Mistaking bugle calls is one thing, but surely he can’t misinterpret flag signals!"

"Damn it, if his uncle hadn’t shoved him into my ranks, I wouldn’t even regard him highly. This time he’s blatantly defying military orders. If it leads to irreparable damage, I won’t forgive him."

"Commander, should we intervene, as he’s one of ours?"

"Hmph, for the sake of the Uninstructed Empire’s interests, anyone disobeying orders is to be ignored. Also, order his men to retreat without heeding Takahashi Morita’s commands."

With Xiao Zezheng’Er’s direct order, indeed a portion of Takahashi Morita’s men eventually chose to retreat, leaving over twenty ships still under his command.

Xiao Zezheng’Er had roughly guessed what that fool, Takahashi Morita, intended. However, being at sea now, if Takahashi Morita insisted on his folly, then let this second-generation ancestor perish.