"Say it, Colonel!" In Zhang Chi's headquarters, Halsey's first words were: "How do you need us to cooperate with you?" ”

Zhang Chi couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this.

Zhang Chi is not because the content of Halsey's words is accidental, but as the commander-in-chief of the Halsi Southwest Pacific Theater, he would say such a thing...... The meaning of these words is that the entire naval force, including Halsey, the commander-in-chief, is fighting on the island of Kuah, which is fully relaxed.

Isn't the commander-in-chief supposed to give orders about how you should do it? Now Halsey is the other way around.

However, this also shows that Halsey also sees that the Japanese are likely to shift the focus of the war to Kuah Island, especially the Kuah Island airport, rather than trying to control Kuah Island by destroying the US Navy as before.

Looking at Zhang Chi's expression, Halsey nodded as if he knew what Zhang Chi was thinking: "It's not difficult to guess, the Japanese used submarines to blockade Kuah Island, and then used iron barrels to transport supplies to Kuah Island, which shows that they will shift their focus to Kuah Island." In particular, the 'Cactus' air force on Kuah Island, they made the Japanese realize that even if they destroyed the entire US Navy, if the Kuah Island airfield was not in their hands for a day, they would never be able to get the sea and air supremacy of Kuah Island! ”

Zhang Chi nodded.

Halsey's analysis is correct, even without the US Navy, the "Cactus" air force can still control the surrounding sea and airspace with its fighter planes. Except, of course, at night.

The Japanese are not fools, this became clear after the appearance of the "Cactus" air force.

After thinking about it, Zhang Chi said: "General, I need your cooperation from two aspects. ”

"I'm listening!" Halsey nodded, "I'll do my best!" ”

"First of all, supplies!" Zhang Chi said: "I need to store food and ammunition for at least half a month, as well as medicines, materials and tools to build bunkers, etc., which are the basis of our survival and combat!" ”

"Hmm!" Halsey agreed without thinking about it: "Actually, that's exactly what I'm doing right now!" ”

"That's not enough!" "Because we don't know when the Japanese will attack, and we don't know how long their attack will last!" And I believe it. With the Wasp sunk and the Saratoga wounded and withdrawn from the battlefield, that moment will come sooner. ”

Clifton, who was next to him, couldn't help but look at Zhang Chi in surprise, he couldn't believe that Zhang Chi would talk to an American general in such a tone.

But what surprised Clifton even more was that Halsey not only did not feel a little displeased, but nodded and said, "I agree, I will increase the volume of transportation, both in the air and at sea!" ”

This is the way professional soldiers do things, at this time they have forgotten what their superiors and subordinates are, and at this time they only have in their minds the future war.

"Another thing." Zhang Chi continued: "Is it to withdraw the 'Cactus' air force at the right time? ”

Hearing this, Halsey couldn't help but be stunned. "Why?" he asked. I thought you would ask for a boost to the Cactus Air Force! ”

"General!" Zhang Chi said: "If you are a Japanese Yankee, if you want to shift the focus of your attack to Kuah Island, then what will you do? ”

"You mean......" Halsey thought for a moment and replied, "Blockade Kuah airport?" ”

"Yes!" Zhang Chi replied: "At that time, I don't think the Japanese would let us take off even one plane on Kuah Island, and even if we could take the risk of taking off a few planes, what would it do?" ”

"They have a lot of methods!" After a pause, Zhang Chi continued: "For example, they can start bombing the airport at night. As soon as the sky is dark, fighters can be sent from aircraft carriers to bomb again, and even the Japanese army on Kuah Island can bomb with artillery fire. Will our navy come for reinforcements? ”

"No, it won't!" Halsey replied.

Halsey, of course, would have replied, because what awaited the U.S. Navy in the waters off Kuah Island at that time would have been a trap. A trap consisting of Japanese aircraft carriers and submarines.

"So!" Zhang Chi said: "If the plane stays on Kuah Island, it will only become a pile of scrap iron, a pile of scrap iron that can't fly into the sky and is waiting to be destroyed by Japanese artillery fire!" ”

"So...... Why at the 'right time'? Halsey asked, "When is the 'right time'?" ”

"Because ......," Zhang Chi handed Halsey a cigarette and said, "The Japanese will focus on the island of Kuah." It was all because of the presence of the 'Cactus' air force on Kuah Island, which curbed all their movements and forced them to target Kuah Island. If we withdraw the 'Cactus' air fleet at an inopportune time......"

"Oh!" Halsey nodded: "Then it is possible for the Japanese to change their plans!" ”

"Yes!" Zhang Chi said: "The 'Cactus' air force is the guarantee of the US Navy. With it, the Japanese were not sure that they would otherwise destroy the US Navy in the event of an advantage over aircraft carriers. And once the Cactus Air Force withdraws from Kuah Island, they are sure that they can destroy the US Navy, so they will target the US Navy again! ”

Halsey wordlessly agreed.

Although he did not want to admit it, he had to admit that without Kuah Island, the two aircraft carrier battle groups of the US Navy would not have been able to survive the attack of the Japanese Navy's submarine torpedo nets and four or five aircraft carriers.

"When the time is right......" Zhang Chi thought for a while, and said: "Before the Japanese attack, we have to find a way to remove most of the planes of the 'Cactus' Air Force without the Japanese from discovering it, and only leave a few planes to patrol the vicinity of Kuah Island to continue to confuse the Japanese, making them think that the 'Cactus' Air Force is still on the island!" ”

"I agree!" "We arranged for the Cactus Air Force to withdraw at the right time," Halsey said. But ......"

Then Halsey looked at Zhang Chi and then at Clifton, and said, "Just these two requests?" Are you sure that this will be able to withstand the Japanese attack on the battlefield in the future? You know, it will be an all-round attack by the Japanese navy, army, and air forces, and we will most likely not be able to provide you with any support! ”

"General!" Clifton shrugged his shoulders and replied, "If it had been before, I might have said 'no,' but now, I believe we can!" ”

"Why?" Halsey asked.

"Because I believe in him." Clifton raised his head at Zhang Chi: "At the same time, I believe those Chinese soldiers, Stilwell is right, they are the best soldiers, if anyone can defeat those crazy Japanese, it is them!" ”

(To be continued.) )