After receiving the telegram, Li Mingbo immediately called Bai Zhizhan.
By the time Bai Zhizhan arrived at the Command Bridge, a second telegram had been received stating that the "Zehu" was also attacked. Because it was slightly farther away, and after observing the explosion caused by the torpedo hitting the "Honghu," it immediately executed an emergency turn to avoid further attacks.
Fearing another attack, the "Zehu" did not slow down or return after evading two heavy torpedoes.
According to the report sent by the captain of the "Zehu," the "Honghu" disappeared from the surface shortly after the attack, precisely after a massive explosion, and there were very few survivors. The "Zehu" would turn around after dawn to search for and rescue the overboard officers and soldiers.
It was the fierce explosion and the rapid sinking of the "Honghu" that led the captain of the "Zehu" to determine immediately that they were attacked by an enemy submarine.
