Such a situation made Koga Mine embarrassed.

Since the third day of the bombing by the US military, he has received an intelligence...... The U.S. Navy has 20 aircraft carriers.

"How is that possible? 20 aircraft carriers ?! This information almost frightened Koga Fengichi: "Not long ago, the American ghost beasts didn't even have aircraft carriers available, where did these 20 aircraft carriers come from?" ”

"It's true! Your Excellency, General! Staff Officer Ito replied: "Our submarine forces and seaplanes even took pictures of some of these aircraft carriers......"

As he spoke, Staff Officer Ito handed the photos and materials to Koga Mine.

Koga Feng flipped through the photos casually, then sat down on the chair, and was stunned for a long time before he said: "Is this what Yamamoto said about the industrial capacity of American ghost animals?" It's amazing! ”

Before he was killed, Yamamoto had reminded the Japanese generals several times that they should push the Americans to the negotiating table as soon as possible, otherwise the longer it dragged on, the more beneficial it would be to the United States, because the United States has a strong industrial capacity, and this ability has been developed, and it is almost impossible to defeat it.

The Japanese generals were still dismissive of this before, but at this time, Koga Mine faced the 20 aircraft carriers of the US army, and only then did he know that what Yamamoto Isoroku said was true, and at the same time understood why Yamamoto Isoroku was always so anxious to lead the Japanese Combined Fleet to a decisive battle with the US Navy.

Of course, the Japanese at this time did not know that 8 of the 20 aircraft carriers in the US Navy were escort carriers, but even so...... Even the sudden appearance of 12 aircraft carriers on the battlefield is surprising enough.

"Your Excellency General, now ......" Staff Officer Ito hesitated, then said: "I think the fleet should withdraw to its own country to rest and have a chance to fight again!" ”

Of course, what Ito said is reasonable, three aircraft carriers against the enemy's 20 aircraft carriers, and more than 90 carrier-based aircraft against the enemy's more than 900 carrier-based aircraft, no matter how they fight, there will be no chance of victory, and even the Japanese Combined Fleet is in danger of being completely annihilated.

Of course, Koga Mineichi knew this, and he sighed, and his body, which had just stood up, softened like a wilted cabbage.

"Ito-kun!" Koga said slowly: "The most important thing now is not the United Fleet, but the problem of the Great Japanese Empire!" ”

Staff Officer Ito understood the meaning of Kogamine's words, the US Navy was able to suddenly have these 20 more aircraft carriers, and on the other hand, this aircraft carrier could not be built in a day or two, in other words, there may be many aircraft carriers under construction and in service at this time.

So......

Even if Japan crushes these US aircraft carriers in front of it, and even sinks all 20 of them, will the US Navy build more aircraft carriers and go to war? When is this going to be the first time for Japan?!

If Japan does not see the end, then there is only one outcome, and that is the fall of the Japanese Empire.

At this time, Koga Mineichi suddenly felt that it was not the "spirit of bushido" that would determine the outcome of the war, nor strategy or tactics, but the industrial capacity of a country...... And Japan's industrial capacity lagged far behind that of the United States, which doomed Japan to defeat in this war. (Note: To be precise, it is the comprehensive national strength that determines the war, but Koga Mineichi has not yet understood this.)

"Your Excellency, General!" Ito continued to persuade: "Because of this, we must save the Japanese Combined Fleet, otherwise we will no longer have the capital to fight against the American ghost beasts!" ”

After thinking about it, Koga Feng shook his head and said, "No, we can't just withdraw to the country!" ”

"Your Excellency ...... General"

"Ito-kun!" Koga Mine interrupted Staff Officer Ito's words and said, "What do you think will happen if our soldiers know that the American ghost beast has 20 aircraft carriers?" ”

Staff Officer Ito couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this, and after thinking about it, he replied, "Their morale will be greatly hit!" ”

That's for sure, just like Koga Mineichi's reaction after learning this information, the Japanese are not fools, after they know that the U.S. Navy has become so strong and may be stronger in the future, of course, they also know that Japan will only fail, so it is easy to breed the idea of breaking the can...... If Japan is going to lose in the end, what is the point of paying with your life for this war?

"Hmm!" Koga Feng nodded and said, "Therefore, this information must not be revealed." And we can't go like this, if we go like this, on the one hand, it will make people laugh and think that we have been scared away by American ghost animals; On the other hand, it will further deepen the gap between the navy and the army, because this is a death or death! ”

Staff Officer Ito felt that what Koga Fengichi said was also reasonable, but he was soon embarrassed again: "Your Excellency, are we just sending the Japanese Combined Fleet up to fight the American ghosts?!" ”

"Of course not!" Koga Mine shook his head: "But we must have at least one battle, and this battle will be successful or lost...... We all have an excuse to withdraw, understand? ”

"I see!" Ito couldn't help but suddenly realize.

But the next second, he was secretly shaking his head again, because this meant that there would be another senseless sacrifice of Japanese pilots.

After several days of preparation, the Japanese Combined Fleet finally launched an attack on the seventh day of the American bombing.

It should be said that Koga Mine planned this attack very carefully, and he ordered the Japanese Combined Fleet to attack at night...... The US Navy and Navy have always been not good at fighting night battles, and at the same time, even if they are discovered by the US Navy at night, they will not be besieged by carrier-based aircraft on the 20 aircraft carriers of the US Navy.

Moreover, the target of the Japanese Combined Fleet is not the first aircraft carrier group of the US Navy, which is the closest to the Marshall Islands, and is responsible for intercepting the Japanese Marshall Islands.

Because Koga knew that this aircraft carrier group had long been ready to face the battle, their vigilance must be the highest, and a sneak attack on this aircraft carrier group would not have great results.

The Japanese Combined Fleet then bypassed the 1st Aircraft Carrier Group and moved some distance in the direction of Tarawa, and then sent a total of 50 torpedo planes and bombers in the dark of night, aiming at the 3rd Carrier Group of the US Navy, which was responsible for seizing air supremacy over Tarawa.

At this time, the US Navy's Third Aircraft Carrier Group was not at all defenseless.

The reason for this is that the tasks of the 3rd Aircraft Carrier Group are too easy...... Tarawa simply did not have any Japanese fighters that needed to be shot down, so almost as soon as the 3rd Carrier Group arrived near Tarawa, the 3rd Carrier Group completed its mission.

At this time, they just sent fighter planes to bomb Tarawa in waves as if they were training.

(To be continued.) )