On the morning of November 25, 1941, the wharf of the port of Tokyo, the capital of Japan, was as noisy as ever, but there was a bit of solemnity in the hustle and bustle.

The military police of the Japanese Navy imposed martial law on the wharf and strictly forbade all idlers to enter.

The Japanese Navy military band, German nationals holding German flags, and members of the German Embassy in Japan stood solemnly on the pier, and the stars surrounded the senior Japanese naval officers headed by Isoroku Yamamoto like a moon.

Yamamoto Isoroku looked at the two battleships slowly approaching on the sea, and kept talking to Nagumo Tadaichi and others beside him, assessing the combat performance of the Bismarck battleship.

The two warships slowly docked at the pier, the military band played a melodious welcome song, and the German expatriates waved their flags and shouted, and the noise on the pier was deafening and deafening.

The hull of the battleship Bismarck brought a great shock to the crowd at the docks, but Yamamoto Fifty-six did not include it.

"Our battleship Yamato will officially enter the navy service next month, and no matter how strong the Bismarck's combat effectiveness is, it will not be the opponent of the Yamato, so you must have self-confidence."

After Yamamoto Fifty-six finished speaking, he took the lead and walked to the gangway of the Bismarck, and shook hands with Chen Dao, who was the first to walk down the gangway.

Chen Dao was dressed in a crisp dark blue admiral uniform, covered with a long coat of the same color, and the Knight's Iron Cross with oak leaves on the neckline shone brightly.

Yamamoto took the opportunity of shaking hands to take a closer look at Chen Dao.

Sure enough, he was young, and at the age of less than thirty, he actually had the rank of admiral, and he also held such an important position as the governor of Poland.

With the rigorous attitude of the Germans, even if he has a deep background, if he does not have extraordinary ability, he will definitely not be able to sit in the current position.

According to the information sent by the Japanese ambassador to Germany, Hiroshi Oshima, this Admiral Rosen was a loyal friend of the Reich, and if this friend's ability was really as outstanding as the German propaganda, it would be a great help to both the Japanese Navy and Japan.

Make sure he's really as powerful as the legend says?

If he is really as powerful as the legend suggests, be sure to take advantage of this exchange. Dig out valuable combat experience from him.

Yamamoto instantly set two ultimate goals for this reception.

Chen Dao shook hands with Yamamoto, Nagumo and other senior Japanese naval generals one by one, and silently recorded the names and military ranks of the translators in their hearts at the same time.

After shaking hands with all the Japanese admirals who received him, Chen Dao walked up to Yamamoto Fifty-six and asked casually, "General Nagumo once conveyed to me General Yamamoto and your country's land minister. Oh no, it's an invitation from the Prime Minister of your country, General Hideki Tojo. Today, I led my subordinates across the ocean to reach your country, why did I only see General Yamamoto. Didn't see General Tojo? Could it be that after he became Prime Minister, he no longer regarded me as a friend who could get along with me as an equal? ”

Hearing the questioning from the interpreter, Yamamoto Fifty-six and Nagumo Tadaichi behind him changed color slightly.

Sure enough, it was the style of a young soldier, who was decisive and direct, not like a politician, and Chen Dao's sharp questions left a deep first impression on Yamamoto.

Without waiting for Yamamoto Fifty-six to answer, Chen Dao threw out a second sharp question.

"Mr. Prime Minister has just taken office and is busy with government affairs, so I deeply understand that he did not come to greet me. However, he did not even send a representative, and I can only regret that I cannot understand this behavior. Or rather, intolerable. ”

Yamamoto Isoroku defended Hideki Tojo by saying, "On behalf of Japan, I welcome Your Excellency, and of course on behalf of Mr. Prime Minister, please do not think that it is a faux pas on the part of Mr. Prime Minister. ”

Chen Dao said: "I really can't understand that General Tojo, in his capacity as the land minister of your country, sent an invitation on behalf of your army, and instead did not even send a single army general to my arrival, but instead entrusted you, General Yamamoto, the commander of the Combined Fleet, as a representative.

But that's fine, I decided to visit Japan out of the comradeship of General Nagumo and the powerful Japanese Navy, a senior general of your army. It doesn't matter to me whether Tojo Shogun comes or not, and it's okay if they're not there, so as not to affect the harmonious atmosphere between us. ”

The Governor-General's Excellency really has a big opinion about the Army, as Nagumo has described.

Hear Chen Dao's words. Yamamoto Fifty-six immediately matched Chen Dao in front of him with Chen Dao in his heart.

Yamamoto, who had always been at odds with the Army and Hideki Tojo, was secretly happy in his heart when he heard Chen Dao's derogatory treatment of the Japanese Army, and then diverted the topic with the idea that the ugliness of his family should not be publicized: "We have prepared a luncheon for Your Excellency, please move." ”

The long motorcade rushed out of the pier and headed straight for the Tokyo State Guesthouse.

In the reserved room in the State Guesthouse, Chen Dao washed up. Come to the banquet hall.

There was not a single Japanese army officer among the Japanese naval officers who were still greeted at the dock.

It was just right that they did not come, and without the presence of Japanese army officers, the power of the Great Splitting Technique could increase the power by 30 percent.

Chen Dao sneered in his heart and sat on the right hand side of Chief Yamamoto Fifty-six, and took the lead in making suggestions.

"I am visiting Japan on behalf of the German Navy, not on behalf of the German Foreign Office, and there is no need to hold boring etiquette in diplomatic occasions, such as time-wasting speeches before the banquet begins. We finished our lunch as soon as we could, and then, well, I have a request, and I ask General Yamamoto to grant it. ”

Yamamoto saw that Chen Dao lowered his voice, his face was full of mystery, and he was secretly wary in his heart, but there was no moving expression on his face.

"Your Excellency, please speak."

Chen Dao said with a smile: "I heard that the battleship Yamato under construction in your country is about to be put into service, I want to visit this afternoon, I wonder if General Yamamoto can meet my little request." Of course, if for the sake of secrecy, we can go with fewer people, and I can be alone. During the visit, we can exchange experiences in the current naval warfare and the development direction of future naval construction. ”

Yamamoto's heart sank, how did he know that the battleship Yamato was going to be serviced?

Construction of the battleship Yamato began on November 4, 1937 at the Kure Naval Yard in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture.

In order to maintain secrecy, the battleship Yamato under construction added hoardings to all areas around the shipyard that overlooked the shipyard, and the shipyard itself enforced strict secrecy control.

In order to maintain secrecy, the launching ceremony of the Yamato on August 8, 1940 was not announced to the outside world, but only filled the dock where Yamato was located.

How exactly did the Germans know, could it be that there were traitors bought by the Germans in the shipyards?

For the sake of secrecy, Yamamoto Fifty-six had the intention to refuse, but today was the first day that the German friend arrived in Japan. Moreover, it is an open request for a visit, and if you do not agree, it will inevitably discourage the enthusiasm of your allies.

On the one hand, it is for secrecy, and on the other hand, it is necessary to take care of the emotions of allies. Yamamoto Fifty-six was in a dilemma, and suddenly remembered Chen Dao's last sentence.

Exchange experience in naval warfare and discuss the direction of future naval warfare development.

Yamamoto Fifty-six had a strong curiosity in his heart, and this might be a good opportunity to test the young governor's roots.

"Your Excellency the Governor, you and your men have made the long journey to Japan. The most important thing now is to take a break. It is a long way from Tokyo to the shipyard where the Yamato was built, and I have to ask the Admiralty for instructions, which will take time, so I ask you to take a break and wait for my notice. ”

Chen Dao smiled and said, "Please forgive General Yamamoto, I'm too anxious." ”

The banquet began immediately, but at Chen Dao's insistence, Chen Dao only drank three glasses of wine.

The first glass of wine Chen Dao and all the guests collectively toasted, the second cup was to clink glasses with Yamamoto alone, and the third cup was to drink with his old comrade-in-arms Nan Yunzhong.

After three glasses of wine. Ignoring the persuasion of Yamamoto and others, Chen Dao turned the wine glass upside down on the table, replaced it with a teacup, and clinked glasses with Yamamoto and others with tea.

Although Chen Dao's control of drinking made the banquet a little regrettable, the banquet still ended successfully in a warm atmosphere.

After the dinner, Yamamoto and the others saw another scene that surprised him, Chen Dao and the captain of the battleship Bismarck, Colonel Lindemann and others, refused their retention, and insisted on returning to the port to rest on the battleship, on the grounds that unless there was force majeure or a holiday, the captain and fleet commander must be with their own warships and men. Always in combat readiness.

Yamamoto and the others saw that they couldn't keep it, so they had to personally send Chen Dao and the others to the car.

As the convoy went away, Yamamoto Fifty-six said to Nagumo beside him: "This General Lawson has strong self-control and doesn't like cumbersome social etiquette. He is full of enthusiasm and is really an excellent young man, no wonder you think so highly of him. There is also the spirit of those German officers who are always ready to fight, which is also one of the prerequisites for the German Navy to defeat the British Royal Navy with weak forces, which is worth learning from every emperor. ”

Nagumo Chungyi kept nodding his head, deeply impressed by Yamamoto Fifty-Six's comment.

However, on the way back to the port of Tokyo. Chen Dao said to Major Bach, who was curious to ask: "You ask me why I don't stay overnight at the State Guesthouse?" Why not drink? You don't know, if we stay there, they're likely to send us a couple of Japanese women to warm our beds. You are all family men, and I don't want you to make a mistake of principle when you get drunk, so I have to take you back to live on the ship. ”

It turns out that this is the case, the Japanese would arrange women for visiting foreign officials, which is really an uncivilized custom.

Under Chen Dao's choreography, Major Bach's bad impression of Japan deepened a little.

The Japanese navy was very efficient, and that night, Chen Dao received a reply that permission to visit the Yamato.

At 10:40 a.m. the next day, Chen Dao, accompanied by Isoroku Yamamoto, flew to Hiroshima and walked up to the foredeck of the battleship Yamato and stood in front of the two triple main guns.

The Yamato was actually equipped with a 460 mm 45 times diameter super-large caliber cannon, which was dwarfed by the 406 mm cannon of the battleship Hindenburg under construction, not to mention the Bismarck's 380 mm main gun.

Colonel Lindemann, who was not mentally prepared, was instantly shocked by this data.

Chen Dao sensed the shock in Colonel Lindeman's heart, and said to Yamamoto Fifty-six unhurriedly: "General Yamamoto, how many Yamato-class battleships are your country going to build?" Two ships? Three? Or four? The tonnage of the Yamato-class battleships is 60,000 to 70,000 tons, and if too much steel is built and too much steel is consumed, can your army and Prime Minister Tojo agree? ”

Yamamoto was waiting for Chen Dao's praise of the battleship Yamato, but he didn't expect to hear such a strange question, so he had to say vaguely: "The construction of the Japanese Navy does not need the army to guide. ”

Chen Dao glanced at Yamamoto Fifty-six and continued to perform the long-planned Great Splitting Technique, killing the Japanese Navy and the Japanese Army with a stick, and severing the relationship between the Japanese Navy and the Army.

"Japan is an island nation, and if it wants to maintain a large area of occupation overseas, it is essential to have a strong navy, and the army can only be a vassal of the navy. Just as Germany is a land power country, the limited resources should give priority to the development of the army, and the navy will never be as important as the army.

Sure enough, the hero saw the same thing, and this young man could see with a sharp point that the Japanese Navy was the foundation of Japan, and it was completely different from those short-sighted, short-sighted, and resource-grabbing guys in the army.

Yamamoto and Nanyun and the others behind him suddenly had a feeling of finding a confidant for Chen Dao.

Yamamoto was old and serious, and his heart blossomed, but he diverted the topic verbally: "Your Excellency, can you make some suggestions on the construction of the Yamato and the Japanese Navy?" ”

Chen Dao raised his right hand, made a V-shaped gesture, and then said with a smile: "Although I don't know many of the performance parameters of the Yamato, I can still give two suggestions. First, I did not see a radar on the battleship Yamato, and I recommend installing it as soon as possible; Secondly, no matter how many anti-aircraft guns were on the battleship Yamato now, I propose to increase the number as much as possible, and at the same time improve the performance, and also install fire control radars for the anti-aircraft guns. ”

The adjutant behind the mountain itself worked hard to write down Chen Dao's suggestions.

Yamamoto and Nagumo Tadaichi exchanged a look, and Nagumo preemptively asked, "I have used the radar that your country gave to my country, so I understand your first suggestion very well. But what do you mean by your second suggestion? Your Excellency did not know the intensity of the Yamato's anti-aircraft firepower, but you strongly demanded that the Yamato strengthen its anti-aircraft firepower. ”

"General Nagumo is right, my confirmation is that the battleship Yamato is difficult to meet opponents among battleships, at least for now, the Yamato can be called the world's number one battleship, and there is no need to worry about being sunk by battleships, unless it is besieged by an enemy with a superior number.

As for why I propose to install anti-aircraft guns, it's a long story, and this involves the question of the idea of army building. There is a philosophical saying in ancient China called the Great Dao to Simplicity. General Yamamoto, General Nagumo, can you describe your thinking on army building in the shortest sentence? Shorter is better? ”

The eyes of Yamamoto and Nagumo and the others lit up, and the young governor in front of him was finally about to show his talents, and he must answer with his spirits, and he couldn't let this young guest who came from afar underestimate himself. (To be continued.) )