Chapter 27: The Taobao Plan

After flexing its muscles outside the port of Valletta, U21 did not linger near Malta but, under Hessen's command, sailed far to the south of Italy, into the Ionian Sea. This was the territory of the Italian Navy, but their merchant ships usually lacked naval escorts, and the number of armed merchant vessels was limited. However, for Austro-Hungarian submarines with limited range, this rich hunting ground could only be observed from afar.

Here, Hessen once again showed Zhang Hainuo what sensible "madness" looked like through action.

"Retract the periscope! Surface the submarine and maintain full speed ahead. Once surfaced, the gun crew should quickly activate the deck gun and machine guns! Same as before, first warning shot. If they attempt to flee or resist, give them a good pounding!" 

As Hessen issued orders to the crew, he donned his black raincoat and took a cylindrical iron speaking tube from Ottis.

"Hainuo, do you speak Italian?" Hessen asked Zhang Hainuo, who was also putting on his raincoat.

"I neither speak nor understand it!" Zhang Hainuo replied honestly.

"What a pity..." Hessen muttered, "I only know a little bit myself! But that's okay. Cannons and torpedoes are universal around the world!"

Zhang Hainuo had to admit that although crude, Hessen's statement made sense. Subsequently, they stood one after the other in the passage leading to the conning tower, waiting for the submarine to surface.

"5 meters... 3 meters... 1 meter... Boss, we're clear to surface!"

First Mate Wolf shouted from the control room.

"Action!"

As soon as Hessen's command was given, he swiftly ascended the gangway and reached the hatch on the surface with a quick scramble. Zhang Hainuo followed suit, climbing halfway up the vertical gangway. Just as he did, icy seawater poured down from above, but without wiping the water from his face, he followed Hessen out of the watertight hatch.

The air on the surface was still remarkably fresh. Under the sunlight, a cargo ship flying the Italian flag was sailing on the submarine's port side, about 500 meters away. Even without binoculars, Zhang Hainuo could see the chaotic Italian sailors on board.

As the crew responsible for manning the deck gun climbed onto the deck, Hessen shouted across to the ship with his crude speaking tube. It was in Italian, and Zhang Hainuo couldn't understand a word, but he could guess the gist – to surrender, stop the ship, and immediately leave in small boats. For the sailors on the ship, faced with a submarine attack they couldn't escape, this was a bloodless and peaceful resolution. For the military men on the submarine, they could sink the ship at their leisure, even plundering it before doing so. It was a method both sides typically accepted.

The Italians soon raised a white flag, lowered lifeboats, and began leaving the cargo ship, all as if rehearsed. When the lifeboats were about fifty to sixty meters away from the cargo ship, Hessen gave the order to open fire.

The UBIII-type submarine was equipped with a 100mm deck gun, a giant among guns on submarines of that period. Although not suitable for confronting enemy warships, it was more than adequate for dealing with defenseless cargo ships. The gunners cheerfully loaded and fired the gun, their target so close that precise aiming was unnecessary. Each shot blew a hole near the waterline of the ship, making it seem as simple as shooting targets during practice.

Through the binoculars, Zhang Hainuo saw the Italians on the lifeboats looking at their ship being hit by shell after shell, displaying expressions of resignation, sadness, anger, or numbness. These Italian sailors would usually send distress signals from the ship's radio before abandoning it. However, how long it would take for rescue ships to arrive depended on luck – it could be an hour or two, a day or two, or even longer.

While the gunners gleefully "tortured" the defenseless cargo ship, Hessen was not idle. He took out a notebook and pen from his pocket, wrote down a set of coordinates, sketched the appearance and name of the cargo ship, and added some annotations. It seemed he liked to record every achievement, so Zhang Hainuo didn't pay much attention. 

After about twenty minutes, the cargo ship finally couldn't withstand the damage and began to list. When it capsized, Hessen ordered the submarine to turn away. When they were about two to three kilometers away from the Italian cargo ship, Zhang Hainuo saw it sink beneath the waves. The gunners fired a few more shots at the ship's hull, and before long, the ship, with a displacement of about 1,500 to 2,000 tons, sank completely, leaving only a few pieces of debris on the sea surface.

"Unfortunately, we're too close to the Italian coast here. Otherwise, we could go up and find some fresh vegetables and canned goods. If luck permits, we might even get some wine and valuable items. According to naval regulations, half of the valuable items seized from enemy ships are turned in, and the other half is distributed among the crew according to rank! Hainuo, if you become a captain in the future, you can let your crew members try their luck, but be sure to pay attention to the surrounding situation and don't risk your subordinates' lives for a few items!"

Hessen said to Zhang Hainuo in a tone of mentoring a junior.

"I'll remember that!"

"Have you ever thought about what to do after the war? Continuing to serve in the Navy, or returning to your estate in Oschersleben for a quiet life?" Hessen took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, gave one to Zhang Hainuo, and lit one for himself. Through their previous conversations, he had learned about Zhang Hainuo's "family," finding surprising similarities between their backgrounds.

"After the war?"

Zhang Hainuo shook his head. Since his plan had been rejected by the higher-ups, he realized that the tragic history after World War I would repeat itself. What could someone like him do? What could he change?

He hadn't completely figured out these questions yet, but at least one thing was clear – he didn't have the charisma and rhetoric of Hitler. While that could be cultivated to some extent with training, personal talent was still crucial. Moreover, he had no political experience or skills in that area.

In this situation, Zhang Hainuo felt it unwise to rashly enter the chaotic post-war German political arena. But where should he go?

Follow the "Führer"? Not to mention how to gain Hitler's trust, Zhang Hainuo couldn't even be sure he wouldn't become a sacrificial lamb like Rohm. Power struggles were terrifying; to survive, one had to be more cunning and ruthless than one's opponents, qualities Zhang Hainuo seemed to lack.

Regarding the "Führer," Zhang Hainuo had thought about it many times. Hitler undoubtedly led Germany to a rapid resurgence, but he also plunged it back into the depths of war. Furthermore, a series of his wrong commands led to the ultimate collapse of the Third Reich.

To support or oppose such a controversial figure, Zhang Hainuo felt

 it couldn't be a black-and-white decision, but he couldn't let him destroy the country either. In Zhang Hainuo's mind, these things were still tangled like a ball of yarn, far from being unraveled and straightened out!

"I have a plan. If you're interested, you can join in!" Hessen looked at Zhang Hainuo with sincerity.

"After the war, military personnel reduction is inevitable. We might still stay, but it's uncertain for Proell, Ottis, and other crew members. Many of them rely on the submarine allowance to support their families. So, I want to start a shipwreck salvage company after the war, buy a submarine and diving equipment, and let all the crew members of U21 participate. Those who want to invest can invest, and those who want to join me at sea can do so. We'll search for sunken ships and salvage valuable items together!"

"Well, that's indeed a great idea!" Zhang Hainuo nodded. As an experienced submarine commander, Hessen had a significant advantage in this regard.