A cry of surprise startled everyone on the ship, but Deputy Commander Hao Youcai gave a serious order: "No one should act rashly. Combatants should take their positions, and non-combatants should take shelter in the cabin. Start the artillery system and adjust it to the firing state as soon as possible. Experts should be ready for battle so that they can fight at any time. Check the power status of the ship and be ready to burst out 160% power at any time! Signalman, prepare to contact."
After Hao Youcai gave a series of orders, the naval officers and soldiers immediately became busy and orderly. There were even special soldiers who took the merchants and people from Wu and Yue to a safe place.
Yue Ming, the crown prince of Yue State, was still a little confused, a little panicked, and expectant: "Is a war going to happen?"
However, the Yue navy commander Yu Aixian's eyes lit up: "Not necessarily. This is most likely a standard combat procedure, a commendable combat procedure. We must remember the reaction of the Anyang army."
Gou Yuanli, the Prime Minister of Yue, also nodded solemnly: "This kind of military accomplishment is worth learning from. After sailing back and forth for more than two months, the first thing they did when they returned home was not to be complacent, but to be alert and prepare for war. This is very correct in military terms."
However, Hao Youcai said that if a 10,000-ton steel warship was found at sea, it could basically be determined that it was from Anyang; but caution was still required.
The two parties communicated, strictly verified passwords, and confirmed identities. When everything was complete and correct, cheers really broke out!
"We are home!" All the sailors and merchants on the ship cheered. The hardship of this 160,000-mile round trip and more than two months of drifting was beyond words. But no matter how much hardship there was, it turned into cheers at this moment.
The two fleets approached each other quickly, and soon they could see the faces of each other's soldiers.
"Welcome home!" Cheers came from another ship, and hundreds of soldiers lined up on the side of the ship and saluted this side.
"Salute!" Hao Youcai gave the order, and all the soldiers who came with nothing stood on the deck and saluted from a distance. Even many merchants and sailors from Anyang lined up and saluted spontaneously.
Later, after seeing this, the people from Wu and Yue looked at each other and saw shock and horror in each other's eyes.
What was shocking was the quality displayed by the Anyang soldiers; what was horrifying was that the five rapidly advancing steel warships in front seemed to be even better - at least faster.
The two fleets crossed each other, one heading south, the other heading north, both flying the same flag. The waves stirred up by the fleets blended with each other, as if conveying each other's care and greetings.
Half an hour later, when the fleets had become somewhat blurred with each other, Hao Youcai gave the order and two planes were launched from the warships. The planes first flew to Anyang to inform King Xian and related personnel of the news.
…
The other fleet, that is, the fleet that Hao Youcai encountered, was naturally the fleet that escorted Gongsun Wushang back to the State of Liu.
The person in charge of the fleet was Gao Shirong, the second deputy commander of the navy, who was slightly lower than Hao Youcai.
Gongsun Wushang and Liu State's Prime Minister Han Yuanchang, who were on the deck, naturally also saw the five warships.
"Is that an ocean exploration fleet?" Han Yuanchang asked Gongsun Wushang beside him.