Regional fleets were trapped by centralized control

Several regional admirals retained naval forces, but panic and premature scuttling destroyed ships, stores, weapons, and local charts before those forces could unite. Central orders arrived slowly and even directed Yi to combine with formations that no longer existed. Objective-based command gives subordinates authority to pursue a clear mission when communications are slow, the opposite of this rigid central control. Yi and trusted colleagues cooperated creatively, but the political system's distrust of successful officers made such initiative exceptional.