Chapter 151: Devastating the Vajra Vessel!

As the artillery of the No. 2 Battery roared once again, the little Japanese appeared utterly stunned.

They looked in horror at the continuously firing No. 2 Battery. Vice Admiral Koike furrowed his brow, and with burning rage, questioned, "Good god! Why are these Chengyun troops so audacious? Have they all been brainwashed? There is simply no reasoning with them!"

His voice betrayed deep bewilderment and anger. With a sharp and resolute gaze, he issued an order: "Order the fleet to fire with full force! Destroy that battery at all costs!"

Following the directive, eight capital warships of the little Japanese navy concentrated their firepower to bombard the No. 2 Battery.

At that moment, the area surrounding the battery was shrouded in thick smoke. Even from several kilometers away, the violent shockwave could still be felt.

This round of strikes dealt unprecedented, heavy damage to the No. 2 Battery.

While the No. 2 Battery was being subjected to the frantic bombardment of the little Japanese warships, the officers and men of the other batteries were utterly infuriated.

An artilleryman said through clenched teeth, "Look at them, deliberately picking the soft persimmons to squeeze!"

Another immediately shouted back, "Hurry up, bring the shells! Today we'll make them drink seawater for sure!"

Determined expressions hung on their faces, and sparks of vengeance flashed in their eyes. As they operated the artillery, they shouted excitedly, "Let them see that we artillerymen are not pushovers!"

"If we don't teach them a lesson today, my surname is not Wang!"

With the combat orders issued, the firing rates of all batteries increased.

Then, a massive explosion erupted. The main gun of the No. 2 Battery was swallowed by a dazzling flash of light.

The surrounding twenty-meter radius was completely flattened, and even the large machinery inside the battery was exposed.

A dead silence fell over the battlefield.

Looking at the twisted gun barrels and the scorched fragments scattered everywhere, Deng Fei, commander of the Fortress Heavy Artillery Brigade, turned pale. His throat felt choked, and his heart was filled with sorrow and a sense of helplessness.

He knew clearly that this massive explosion occurred because the ammunition depot of the No. 2 Battery had taken a direct hit. In an explosion of this magnitude, the artillerymen had virtually no hope of survival.

His eyes involuntarily grew moist. Facing this situation, he felt profound helplessness and grief.

Seeing the billowing smoke and fire, a satisfied smile appeared on Vice Admiral Koike's face, and a gleam of triumph flashed in his eyes: "Splendid! The first battery has finally been taken!"

His voice was filled with encouragement. "I hope everyone will continue to work hard and destroy all their batteries as soon as possible! That way, we can carry out a comprehensive, dominant bombardment against them!"

Following this victory, Vice Admiral Koike's chest swelled with immense pride. It seemed to him that the combat capability of the little Japanese navy had been proven in a very short span of time.

However, what he did not anticipate was that just ten minutes later, three 365-millimeter heavy artillery shells struck the bow of the battleship Kongō directly.

The forward armor of the Kongō was only 230 millimeters thick, making it appear almost like paper in the face of the 365-millimeter heavy artillery.

Following a deafening roar, successive explosions from two heavy armor-piercing shells created a massive breach nearly six meters wide in the forward section of the battleship Kongō.

Crucially, this large hole was located right near the ship's waterline, causing seawater to rush in massively.

The captain of the battleship Kongō wore an expression of shock and terror, his anxious eyes sweeping across everyone on the bridge.

"Damn it, why is the accuracy of these Chengyun troops' artillery so high!" he said through clenched teeth.

"Reporting to Lord Captain, the Chengyun troops' shells have scored a direct hit on our bow!"

Instantly, he issued rapid directives, his voice carrying undisguised panic: "What are you still waiting for? Go and control the damage! We must block this hole! Otherwise, we are all finished!"

The Kongō weighed 35,000 tons. Despite its massive displacement, once too much water entered, sinking was inevitable.

For him as the captain, this likely meant no chance of survival.

Even if he miraculously survived, he might still face a court-martial.

His second-in-command hurriedly grabbed the microphone and reported with a trembling voice, "Reporting to the General, the bow of the Kongō has been struck and is currently undergoing damage control."

The tension on the bridge was almost palpable.

"What! The Kongō has actually been hit?"

This news struck like a bolt from the blue, filling everyone in the little Japanese command headquarters with unprecedented pressure and unease.

When the news arrived, Vice Admiral Koike's expression instantly turned tense, the pleasure from just moments before vanishing without a trace.

Although the strategic importance of the Kongō had gradually diminished with the addition of the Fusō, it remained a heavyweight battleship exceeding 20,000 tons.

In the distant Chengyun region where no other powerful navies were present, the mere existence of the Kongō was enough to deter neighboring dynasties.

When coordinated with other battleships and cruisers, its combat capability could still not be underestimated.

Upon receiving the report, he said anxiously, "Reporting to the General, a large hole was blown into the bow of the Kongō, resulting in severe flooding. Following emergency damage control, the hull has settled by two meters, but the ship has stabilized."

Hearing the news that the Kongō could still potentially be saved, Vice Admiral Koike breathed a sigh of relief. A look of liberation washed over his face, and his tense expression eased: "Order the Kongō to retreat and return to the homeland for repairs!"

"Hai!"

Although the combat effectiveness of the Kongō was unaffected, he deemed it unnecessary to risk the Kongō to further attacks by continuing the fight.

Even though the current firepower of the Third Fleet was sufficient to carry out the mission, if the Kongō were to continue fighting while damaged and ultimately sink, the victory—even if won—would be imperfect.

Considering the little Japanese shipbuilding standards, rebuilding an outdated Kongō would be no easy task.

If it could be repaired, it would still remain a formidable naval force.

With Vice Admiral Koike's order given, the Kongō withdrew from the battlefield escorted by two cruisers.

This action elicited thunderous cheers from the officers and men of the Fortress Heavy Artillery Brigade.

Even though they had only damaged the little Japanese battleship, this was already a major breakthrough, especially as they realized the enemy's battleships were not indestructible.

When the officers and men of the Fortress Heavy Artillery Brigade witnessed the little Japanese warships retreating, they burst into enthusiastic cheers.

Though they had only inflicted damage upon the opposing battleship, this was already a momentous victory.

The gunners realized that the little Japanese warships were not unassailable, and their confidence surged significantly as a result.

The artillerymen firmly believed that as long as they struck vital points accurately, they could similarly cripple or even sink the little Japanese warships!

This steadfast conviction inspired high morale among the officers and men, even increasing the firing rate of the batteries.

Upon learning the news that the officers and men of the No. 3 Battery had been promoted by one rank due to their precise shooting, the personnel of the other batteries were equally spirited. Their faces beamed with competitive excitement as they stepped up their firepower output, hoping to become the next promotees.

Faced with the suddenly intensified fortress firepower, Commander Mushihara Itaku of the First Battleship Division wore a bewildered and anxious expression. He frowned and muttered incomprehensibly, "Nani? What is going on here?"