Chapter 24: Lost Battle Comrades

"Haiano, are you a master of divination?"

Zhang Hainuo was somewhat surprised by the question, but he quickly gave Hessen a composed expression.

"No, I can only make relatively accurate speculations about the future based on the current situation! Everything may seem like divination, but it's actually reasoned speculation! Although my speculations cannot guarantee one hundred percent accuracy, they also won't deviate too far from the general trend!"

At this moment, the two were standing on the high ground of Hessen Island, overlooking the camp and the sea. They would soon bid farewell to this place forever.

Hessen nodded, and after a moment, he asked, "So, how will the future of Germany be?"

"The future?" Zhang Hainuo hesitated for a moment, then said:

"The next decade or so will be the most difficult period for Germany, with turmoil in the situation and hardships in people's lives, until a strong figure emerges! Within 20 years, Germany will regroup and engage in another battle with Britain, France, and other countries, but the outcome..."

Hessen was obviously interested in this outcome and was about to ask, but Zhang Hainuo shook his head.

"The outcome is uncertain. What we need to do is to try to tip the scales in favor of Germany's victory as much as possible!"

Hessen pondered for a moment and said, "So that's why we need to go to America!"

"Yes!" Zhang Hainuo sat down, overlooking the camp and the sea from here. Under the moonlight, the sea surface shimmered like the scales of a silver fish, sparkling.

"I don't think all 72 crew members would necessarily be willing to follow us to distant America. Forcing them to stay would undoubtedly bring significant risks to the team, but letting them go would mean fulfilling our promise of distributing wealth as originally allocated!"

Hessen contemplated for a moment, "Let those who are unwilling to accompany us to America take their share of wealth back to Germany, but require them to swear never to reveal the secrets of U21 and U148. I think they would accept this request, otherwise, they will have trouble with the military police themselves!"

"The military police? The military police currently have neither the manpower nor the resources to pursue deserters. The German army on the front lines is simply dispersing in droves as the war nears its end! As long as they don't stand in the central square shouting that they are deserters, there won't be much trouble. I think those swaggering military police are probably worrying about their own livelihoods now!"

Zhang Hainuo picked up a small stone from the ground and unconsciously played with it in his hand, "I'm worried that this wealth might bring trouble to them! Being listed as missing persons from the navy, but returning as millionaires, how will they explain it to their families, neighbors, and the police? Faced with harsh interrogation, I don't think everyone will keep the secret!"

Hessen gazed into the distance for a while without speaking. Indeed, since the last time they left the naval base, these crew members have suffered a lot, but few have complained, which is already quite good! However, human nature tends to share hardships easily but share joy reluctantly. Whether to continue drifting with them on the sea or to take their share back to Germany and start a new life under assumed names in a distant land, apart from a few staunch supporters, most of the crew members are likely facing this choice.

"Hainuo, if we explain our ideas to everyone and communicate well, I think most people will still be willing to continue following us! As for those who really don't want to go to America, let them return to Germany immediately and take their families far away, living under new identities."

This is also a solution that Zhang Hainuo has considered. He didn't hesitate much, "There's no other way to do it now!"

"Given the current situation, it's no longer safe to stay on Hessen Island! If the British continue to set up surveillance around Antalya, it will be difficult for us to obtain diesel and food from the Turks. Moreover, without spare parts, U21 basically can't go anywhere!"

Hessen's words were addressed to the non-commissioned officers and above aboard the two submarines, who were the elite of this team and the backbone of all actions.

Having just recounted the encounter at the Antalya port and the recent frequent appearances of British ships near Hessen Island to these officers, Zhang Hainuo expressed his own views, and everyone immediately showed their approval through eye contact and facial expressions.

"In addition to the fuel in the fuel tanks of U21 and U148, we now only have 18 tons of diesel!"

Hessen calmly informed everyone of the current fuel situation. Concealing these facts might maintain morale to some extent, but what this team needs most now is the confidence and cohesion to endure hardships together.

Some officers remained silent, while others whispered among themselves. They all understood what 18 tons of diesel meant: unless they passed through the Suez Canal to the south, they wouldn't even be able to leave the Mediterranean Sea!

Zhang Hainuo's plan originally aimed to stockpile 200 tons of fuel, with 110 tons stored in the fuel chamber of U148, 75 tons in that of U21, and the remaining 15 tons to be optimally utilized within the submarines' internal space – storage compartments, living quarters, toilets, and even a portion of the freshwater chambers. He remembered from the early days of World War II that German U-boats with smaller displacement had to sacrifice some space for freshwater and food to increase the oil-carrying capacity when heading to the Atlantic for combat. This reflected the helplessness of the German submarine force in equipment at that time, as they had to bridge the "technological gap" between the two world wars. This was Zhang Hainuo's inner voice, but since the failure of the Wolfpack experiment, he no longer held any hope for the conservative leaders of the German Navy unless Rader became the head of the Navy Department.

"Let's hear everyone's thoughts," Hessen proposed as usual, and all the officers turned their gaze to Zhang Hainuo in the end. In their eyes, this young commander was not only bold but also possessed an uncanny "predictive ability." Since the abdication of the German Emperor, the surrender of Germany, and the salvage of the invaluable jewels from the sea while aboard U21, everyone held him in great respect.

Zhang Hainuo didn't evade, calmly stating, "I believe there are two viable paths currently. The first is to abandon both U21 and U148 and return to Germany by land. The wealth salvaged will be distributed among us according to the predetermined allocation ratio. The second option is to abandon U21, head to Istanbul, purchase an ocean-going freighter, complete the shipping procedures, purchase diesel and supplies under the cover of ocean shipping, and proceed to the Americas along with U148."

Most of the people present here heard these two alternative routes for the first time. Before this, the core circle of this team - Hessen, Wolf, Zhang Hainuo, Otto, and Edwin had already discussed, and the five of them were inclined towards the latter route. However, they still decided to bring both options to the officer's meeting for discussion and decision-making.

"Captain, I'd like to ask, for the latter option, what about U21? Will it be towed by the freighter?" asked Pröll, the chief engineer on U21, echoing the sentiment shared by all U21 officers present.

Zhang Hainuo glanced at Hessen. This captain, emotionally speaking, should be the one least willing to give up this submarine among all the crew of U21, but he accepted this option. Zhang Hainuo greatly admired his resolute determination.

"Unfortunately, no one wants to give up their most loyal combat partner. But under the current circumstances, we have no choice but to temporarily abandon it. I'm sorry," Zhang Hainuo said, and the officers of U21 were all stunned. They began discussing eagerly, then turned to Hessen with looks of confusion and seeking help. However, seeing their captain's resolute expression, they knew this path was closed.

Pröll, a young lieutenant who had a good relationship with Zhang Hainuo during their time on U21, almost pleaded with a voice tinged with sadness, "Captain, isn't there any other way to not abandon it?"

Zhang Hainuo looked at him with deep sympathy and sighed, "U21 was also the first submarine I served on. I also don't want to see it separated from our team. But if we forcefully take it on this path, it will only ruin our plans and harm all of us."

"Captain..." Tears were already shimmering in Pröll's eyes, and at this moment, the eyes of the other officers on U21 were also filled with pleading.

Zhang Hainuo lowered his eyes. He dared not meet those eyes filled with sorrow and entreaty.

"Men, pull yourselves together! Abandonment does not mean the end. As long as our spirit remains, there will eventually be another U21 fighting alongside us!" Hessen suddenly shouted, and as everyone looked at him, they noticed a glimmer of tears in the resolute captain's eyes as well.

At this moment, Zhang Hainuo recalled a proverb from his hometown: As long as there are green hills, there will be no shortage of firewood!

Two days later, under everyone's watchful eyes, U21 slowly submerged about 1 nautical mile east of Hessen Island. The crew had previously surveyed the area, where the water depth was only forty meters, just within the limits of U21's hull. At this point, only three volunteers remained on board to operate the submarine. A few minutes later, U21 safely sank to the seabed. These crew members, assisted by external divers, would leave the submarine through the torpedo tubes. Except for the torpedo compartment at the stern, all other compartments on the submarine were sealed, allowing the submarine to be relatively well preserved underwater for a long time. When the opportunity arose, they would secretly return here to salvage U21 again. Even though this UBIII-class submarine was no longer suitable for naval combat more than twenty years later, it still served as a spiritual symbol and the best proof of this memory.

Before this, the crew had dismantled some parts of U21 that could be used interchangeably with U148. With the completion of this work, this frontline combat submarine of the Imperial German Navy had completed its mission.

It was a silent funeral. Under Hessen's leadership, the crew of U21 bid farewell to their combat partner with an extraordinary resilience. Meanwhile, Zhang Hainuo and his crew stood in formation on the deck of U148, paying their respects...