Munitions Empire

"Hello? Hello! Explain clearly, what do you mean you've seen jet aircraft flying along the coastline! Where did the jet aircraft come from?" A Qin Air Force officer, holding the phone, continuously confirmed the situation over there.

"The observation post says they've seen some never-before-seen jet aircraft flying near the coastline!" He covered the phone and spoke to his superior nearby.

"Are you saying the Great Tang Empire's naval aircraft carriers can launch jet aircraft?" The Qin Air Force Major General was clearly unwilling to believe such a thing.

"What a joke, if the Tang Army's carrier could launch jet carrier-based aircraft, wouldn't the Joint Fleet be doomed?"

"Still can't reach the port command... It's said there was an explosion over there due to an attack. The 1195th Division stationed outside the port was also attacked, but contact has been made. The commander of the 1195th Division said he has already dispatched a company of troops into the city to confirm the circumstances at the command post."

"Reports have been made to the anti-aircraft units, saying they've seen enemy forces initiating a landing..." More absurd intelligence was delivered to the Air Force Command, leaving everyone stunned upon hearing the news.

"Landing? The enemy has started a landing?" A female secretary turned pale; she definitely didn't want her stationed place to become a main battlefield.

"What should we do? Have the Tang People landed? Where did they land?" Another officer, equally startled by the news, anxiously asked.

The Air Force Major General slammed the table, bringing quiet to the command room: "Calm down! Do we have any reports from the planes sent out earlier to locate the Joint Fleet?"

The staff officer shook his head and replied, "No, our communication has been severely jammed, and we have been unable to make contact."

This Qin Army Major General, somewhat experienced, immediately ordered, "Prepare the 17 bombers for immediate takeoff! Fly along the coastline! Their radio power is somewhat stronger, they should be able to transmit some messages back near the coast!"

He wanted to obtain more intelligence, accurate intelligence, "They don't need to do anything else! Investigate the Tang Army landing situation for me! If they find landing ships, landing crafts, or enemy fleets, send the information back immediately!"

"Additionally! Dispatch 15 fighter jets! Patrol over Qingluan Port! If enemy aircraft appear, find a way to..." He eventually didn't speak the words of intercepting the opponent, as if the opponent was indeed a jet fighter, how could his propeller planes possibly defeat them?

The 183 fighter jets were their last trump card, not easily dispatched. It was known that these things often malfunctioned, their participation rate was inherently low, and they wouldn't be deployed until a critical moment.

Sun Guang had asked for two to be deployed this morning, and they hadn't heard from them since, causing a headache for the Air Force Command.

"Don't engage with them, lower the altitude, and come back! But make sure to confirm, confirm if they really are jet aircraft!" He finally gave the fighter pilots going to "protect Qingluan Port" a relatively simple task.

"Send the potential enemy landing news to the army! Let them confirm the situation!" Finally, to ensure there were no mistakes, the Air Force Major General added this line.

The Qin Army was already in chaos, first being that several key command centers were attacked and unable to perform their command duties for a while, and secondly was poor communication, leading directly to overreaction.

Under the principle of considering the broadest possible threats, everyone could only use the most cautious approach. Yet this operation made the situation even more chaotic.

The army units that received the notification didn't dare slack off, immediately starting to ask the coastal deployed alert posts if they had found the enemy.

This questioning wasn't a problem until they realized a big issue: several posts couldn't be contacted, which instantly frightened the army commanders.

The 1195th Division immediately dispatched two vehicle companies, heading to support the lost contact posts. Subsequently, infantry were pulled out of the barracks, rushing towards the beach like headless chickens.

At Qingluan Port, the port garrison finally received a warning from the Air Force, saying there might be an enemy landing.

Like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow, the port artillery mistook several fishing boats for Tang Army landing ships. Several 305mm caliber heavy guns fired in turn, sinking several of their own Qin fishing boats.

Meanwhile, today's Joint Fleet became the biggest casualty: a destroyer was mistaken for a Tang warship, floating on the sea waiting for rescue, or struggling to swim to shore. The Joint Fleet sailors were mistaken for Tang landing troops...

They were not only attacked by the army's artillery, but even the 17 bombers dropped bombs on the places they tried to land...

When everything was finally clarified, more than a hundred Navy members were killed by their own troops. The sailors who managed to survive the Tang attack and swim several kilometers in the water finally fell under friendly fire.

However, these lucky sailors also finally brought back definite news of the Joint Fleet: they were officers and men from the Qin Navy's Iron Gallant Cruiser, sunk less than 3 kilometers from the beach.

The reason they sank here was that they indeed tried to approach the shore, so that even if they were sunk, they could still swim ashore. Sadly, they hadn't imagined they would be attacked by friendly forces, losing over a hundred men after coming ashore out of three to four hundred.

"Are you fucking shooting your own people?" A drenched man glared, his voice sharp, questioning the embarrassed army soldier in front of him.

They hurried over, seeing the beach full of people, and fired without a second thought. After a while of firing, only when the other side kept surrendering with almost no resistance did they stop.

"Misunderstanding! All a misunderstanding!" The company commander, knowing he might be held accountable, couldn't help but explain, crying and laughing: "Someone reported seeing an enemy landing..."

"..." The third officer from the Iron Gallant Cruiser, having been pursued all day and night and then attacked by friendly troops, didn't even want to speak. After a moment of silence, he finally remembered the task of reporting the casualties.

"Quick! Quick! Disseminate the message quickly! The Joint Fleet is gone! All gone!" This Qin Navy officer grabbed the other's arm, shouting with all his strength: "Hurry! Hurry!"

"The Joint Fleet is gone? How is that possible?" This voice echoed in the infantry company commander's ears, leaving him standing there in shock, unsure of what to do.

He had seen that fleet while resupplying in the port, it stretched as far as the eye could see with warships. Such a large naval fleet, gone?