"General, the chief of staff sent a telegram that the operation was successful."

Tan Renhao was stunned for a moment, and immediately turned his head.

"During the operation, five enemies were killed, two spy personnel were captured, and a radio station was seized. Now the two enemy spies have been brought under control and are being interrogated by the Marines. ”

"Very good, immediately inform Jiang Zhongmin and the new general Chang Recommend, and let them come over immediately."

Tan Renhao said as he walked towards the outside of the command cabin, "Help me prepare the fireboat, let's go to the shore and have a look." ”

Soon, Tan Renhao and the others arrived at the place where the spy was interrogated. Zheng Guanhua did not participate in the interrogation, which was the responsibility of the Marine Corps officers. Zheng Guanhua first told Tan Renhao about the general experience. The plan was a complete success, the operation went smoothly, and during the capture operation, the cipher system of the enemy spy was also seized.

"Did this work?"

Zheng Guanhua shook his head. "The password used by the spy system is different from the password used by the fleet, and we definitely don't need it now. However, it will certainly help us to decipher the Anglo-French spy network. ”

"Then arrange a plane as soon as possible, send the cipher machine and cipher documents to Colombo, and hand them over to the intelligence agencies." Tan Renhao is also very aware of the importance of passwords, "Let them immediately deploy operations, which will definitely be very helpful in eradicating the enemy's spy network!" ”

"I've already arranged for someone to do this, and I can send the cipher machine back in the afternoon."

Tan Renhao nodded, and then glanced at the interrogation room, the interrogation work was not over yet, maybe those Marine Corps officers still had to spend some effort on those two spy officers.

Tan Renhao and Zheng Guanhua didn't know that it was the cipher machine they sent back, as well as the cipher file. In the end, the intelligence agencies of the empire cracked several large-scale spy networks, and there were dozens of British and French spies who were caught in Colombo alone, and a group of British and French spies were also dug up in the empire itself.

Other than that. After mastering the password of the British and French spy network, the local intelligence agencies of the Tang Empire also created a lot of false information. And a lot of intelligence was intercepted. In the long run, this was much more significant than the victory over the Anglo-French expeditionary fleet at that time!

In the evening, Chang Jianxin and Jiang Zhongmin also rushed over. The interrogation was still ongoing, the two spies were quite firm, and several Marine officers in charge of interrogation used many methods. None of them were able to get them to cooperate. Tan Renhao also went to inquire a few times before Chang recommended the new ones to come, and the reply was that these two people were professionally trained spy personnel, and it was difficult for them to speak. During the interrogation, a group of Marine officers and men also went to collect other clues, mainly to find some things related to the two spy officers, and obtained some basic information.

"Both men were local residents, but they had been to England before the war." Tan Renhao asked Chang Jianxin to sit down with Jiang Zhongmin. "Plus, they all have a quarter of British ancestry. His maternal grandfather and grandfather were supposed to be British. Before the war, they had spent more than two years in England. Perhaps, it was at this time that he was trained as a spy officer. ”

"So. Have they been to other parts of the Empire? ”

"I don't know this very well, but from the reports of nearby neighbors, they all make a living from fishing and often go to sea. I've already arranged for someone to search their fishing boat. But there is nothing to gain. Tan Renhao sighed, "Obviously, they are professionally trained spy personnel, but judging from the current situation, it is difficult for us to get more information from the mouths of these two people." ”

"Aren't they afraid of death?" Chang Jianxin gritted his teeth.

"Maybe they're hoping for an end to their suffering sooner rather than later."

"The interrogation takes time, and when the intelligence agents arrive, they are handed over to the intelligence services for interrogation, and they have a better way to get the two spies to speak. The problem is that we can't get more news from them in the next few days. ”

Jiang Zhongmin also sighed. "Well, we'll have to figure it out on our own."

Tan Renhao nodded slightly. "It can be roughly judged that the message sent by these two spies is related to the actions of the fleet. But again, Cunningham must have doubts! ”

"In other words, Cunningham will definitely send a message to the spy people here, and if they don't reply, then Cunningham will know that something has happened to the spy people."

"Yes, so Cunningham won't trust the information here." Tan Renhao picked up the teacup, "Originally, I also planned to use this method to lure Cunningham into being fooled, so that he could lead the fleet over and enter our ambush circle, but now, if Cunningham can't receive a call back, he will definitely not be fooled." ”

"Didn't we seize the radio station, and the cipher machine?" Chang Jiexin frowned slightly.

"Spy agents have code words, it's useless to have a password alone, if we don't know this codename, then we can't send a telegram at all, and even if it does, it can only make Cunningham more sure that his spy has been caught." Jiang Zhongmin replied to Chang Jianxin's question, "Moreover, this will also attract the attention of the British and French intelligence agencies, if they change the password, then the password we have is useless." ”

Chang Jianxin sighed secretly, he had known that there was such a thing, and he should have brought a few intelligence officers to participate in combat operations.

"Zhong Min's analysis is not wrong, I have asked Zheng Guanhua to prepare the radio station, if Cunningham sends a telegram, we can receive it, but we can't send a return call yet." Tan Renhao glanced at the two of them, "The most difficult problem now is that the content of the telegram sent by the two spy agents cannot judge what kind of action Cunningham will take." Moreover, before we arrested the spy agent, did Cunningham send a telegram, and did the spy send a second telegram to Cunningham in return? Also, whether Cunningham will send a telegram or not. We don't know any of this! ”

Chang Jianxin and Jiang Zhongmin were silent, the problem is here, to put it bluntly, it is impossible to judge the actions of the Anglo-French joint expeditionary fleet from the current situation. And it is difficult to determine the actions of the fleet until it is impossible to judge the specific actions of the enemy fleet.

"It looks like we're going to have to redeploy seaplanes on the island of Madagascar."

"This should be arranged as soon as possible. If Cunningham decides to go north, he will most likely go north directly from the Mozambique Channel. Tan Renhao went and brought a chart, "Judging from the previous situation." After the 3rd Task Force had routed the British supply fleet, it was likely that the Anglo-French expeditionary fleet had moved south from the middle of the Channel. And in order to avoid being intercepted by Task Force 3. It was certainly the fastest way to sail south that night. We began our operation three days later, and if Cunningham was on his way back to Cape Town in the meantime, we can be roughly certain that the Anglo-French expeditionary fleet had reached the waters near Durban. ”

"Maybe. He had no idea of returning to Cape Town immediately. After all, at that time the Anglo-French joint expeditionary fleet had already completed its refueling. "Chang Jie Xin raised another situation.

"It's also possible, but since Cunningham didn't fight you, it proves one thing, he always believed that Task Force 1 was near Task Force 3, and he chose to flee for his life at night for fear of being bombed by Task Force 1." Tan Renhao circled another sea area on the chart, "And if you want to avoid the attack of the First Task Force, the British and French joint expeditionary fleet must at least enter the storm zone, and be in the storm zone." It is very difficult for our reconnaissance aircraft to detect the fleet, and the strike capabilities of the bombers are much reduced. And to ensure that it is not detected, the Anglo-French joint expeditionary fleet will have to go deep into the storm zone. In this way, it was possible to completely avoid the reconnaissance planes sent by the First Task Force.

If that is the case, then we left Moroni yesterday, when the first telegram was sent by the enemy spy agents. Cunningham should be east of Durban, or northeast, about Y00 to 750 nautical miles from the southern end of the Mozambique Channel. ”

This time, neither Chang Jianxin nor Jiang Zhongmin raised objections.

In a single day, Cunningham sailed 500 nautical miles north at most, and at full speed in the storm zone. That is, now, at most, his fleet appears at the southern end of the Mozambique Strait. ”

"He had to make up his mind and think that the first telegram was completely correct."

"Yes, Cunningham must have been suspicious after receiving the second telegram, but if he was determined to take out Task Force 1 first, he wouldn't have given up this opportunity." Tan Renhao looked at the two of them, "Judging from the maximum speed of the Anglo-French joint expeditionary fleet, they will be able to reach the vicinity of Moroni tomorrow night." At the same time, Cunningham could have sent a telegram at any time during this period to confirm his suspicions. Therefore, whether the Anglo-French joint expeditionary fleet will come to attack Moroni or not, I am not sure at all! ”

"But I have to guard against it." Jiang Zhongmin sighed, "Tomorrow morning, they should have reached the northern waters of the strait, this is our chance." ”

"Yes, this is our best chance, even if we don't know if Cunningham will go north, we have to guard against it."

Tan Renhao laughed, his thoughts were the same as Jiang Zhongmin and Chang Jianxin. To put it bluntly, even if Cunningham led the fleet north may be very small, it cannot be guarded against. Tan Renhao had always believed that Cunningham would not take another blind adventure, as can be seen from his actions when encountering Task Force 3. Cunningham's adventure was aimed at maximizing victory, not pyrrhic victory, and if he headed north now, the chances of a complete victory were quite slim.

"Then we'll set off with the fleet in the evening." Seeing that Tan Renhao didn't speak, Chang Jianxin first said his thoughts, "The third task force is in front, and the first task force is left behind." Strive to intercept the joint Anglo-French expeditionary fleet tomorrow morning. Perhaps the battle will break out during the night, but if we can drag it out until tomorrow morning, we will be able to annihilate the Anglo-French expeditionary fleet. At that time, even if there were losses in the 3rd Task Force, it would not be very large, and the bombers of the 1st Task Force would completely settle the battle. ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, and then looked at Jiang Zhongmin.

"Tonight I will send some of the returning seaplanes to the seaplane base on the island of Madagascar, so that tomorrow I can assist the fleet in searching for the enemy fleet."

"Then decide so." Tan Renhao made the final decision, "Before ten o'clock, we will lead the fleet to set off. Zhongmin, I'll leave this matter to you, try to get those two spies to cooperate with us, but don't kill them. Contact us as soon as you have any news. The fleet will remain radio-silent after departure, and strive to find the Anglo-French joint expeditionary fleet tomorrow morning! ”

Subsequently, the three of them discussed some details of cooperation, and after determining the general battle plan, Tan Renhao went to Zheng Guanhua and asked Zheng Guanhua to return to the fleet immediately after handing over the work to Jiang Zhongmin's people. Chang Jiexin also immediately returned to the third task force.

Just after nine o'clock in the evening, the 3rd Task Force was the first to leave the anchorage, and half an hour later, the 1st Task Force ships also set sail.

When the battleship completed its formation and began to sail south, Tan Renhao told Zheng Guanhua about the arrangements for this operation, and asked Zheng Guanhua to be responsible for arranging the reconnaissance operation of the fleet tomorrow. At this point, Tan Renhao pinned his hopes on the British and French combined fleet heading north.

Judging from the situation at that time, Tan Renhao did not have much hope for this operation. The Third Task Force had already had an encounter with the Anglo-French Combined Expeditionary Fleet, and judging from the actions of the Anglo-French Combined Expeditionary Fleet, Tan Renhao discovered that Cunningham was actually a very cautious, to be precise, a very sober-minded fleet commander, and Cunningham was not the kind of adventurous person, and his actions were always very cautious.

Another important judgment is that the Anglo-French joint expeditionary fleet may not have aircraft carriers in it. At present, Tan Renhao has not received accurate information from Cape Town, so he does not know that the three British aircraft carriers are undergoing emergency repairs in Cape Town. He only made this inference from the fact that Task Force 3 had not been bombed on the morning of the 2nd day. Even if Cunningham was on the run, if he had those three carriers, he would have bombed Task Force 3. Of course, this is only speculation, and perhaps Cunningham kept the bombers on those three carriers for use against Task Force 1. Or, the three aircraft carriers had already moved south ahead of schedule and entered the storm zone.

Through these inferences, Tan Renhao believed that it was quite unlikely that Cunningham would go north after receiving information from the spies, but he could not rule out this possibility, so he could only organize this operation.