While figuring out why Germany was in a hurry to launch unrestricted submarine warfare, Tan Renhao also understood another question. Now the empire's vacillation on the focus of the war is still in fact the result of a dispute between the army and the navy.

In the early days of the war, the navy was the protagonist on the battlefield, from the outbreak of the war to the strategic counterattack, and then to the bombing of Japan, these heavy tasks were borne by the navy, and in the first two years of the war, the navy received more than sixty percent of the empire's total military expenditure, and even heavy bombers were given priority to equip the navy's strategic strike force, rather than army aviation. In the entire Western Pacific theater, the Army also has a huge investment, but the Army is only a supporting role, or a supporting role that does not perform so well. Obviously, this situation is extremely unfavorable for the army. If the navy were to dominate the war, the army would not only have to play a supporting role, but its position would certainly plummet, and it would never be able to surpass the navy, or even have the opportunity to be on an equal footing with the navy.

In order to salvage the situation, the only way for the army to save the situation is to increase its investment in the northwest battlefield. Marshal Yan Dingyu did exactly that. After the battle on the Korean battlefield ended, the army's plan to land in Japan was rejected, and Yan Dingyu immediately proposed to launch a strategic offensive in the northwest theater. After Prime Minister Xue Xiyue returned to power, this plan was immediately approved, and when the cabinet determined the military expenditure for 24 years, the army received more military spending than the navy, and a large amount of the increased military expenditure was used in the northwest battlefield.

Clearly, the Army has become the protagonist, and the Navy's task is to protect the westward merchant fleet and strengthen its presence in the South Atlantic (which will soon be proven). Eighty percent of the Navy's newly commissioned warships were assigned to the South Atlantic theater of operations), while being combat-ready in the Pacific.

This is a change that no Navy officer or sailor wants to see. In the first two years of the war, the Navy performed much better than the Army, but what could not be changed was that the Navy's ground warships could not be used in the Northwest Theater, just as the Army's tanks could not charge in the western Pacific.

It's not too late for Tan Renhao to realize this. It was also at the beginning of October, when Gan Yongxing came up with a complete set of predetermined battle plans. Nie Renfeng left the Navy Headquarters and returned to the capital to work with the Imperial Prime Minister and Field Marshal to determine the next strategic plan of the Empire. This time, Nie Renfeng did not go alone, he left Gan Yongxing behind, and let the chief of staff continue to be in charge of the complicated affairs of the navy. At the same time, he brought Tan Renhao with him, and let this rear admiral, who was a little idle in the naval headquarters and had nothing to do, and read the newspaper every day (newspapers are another source of information) went to the capital with him.

"Listen to the chief of staff, you have been paying attention to the situation on the German side all this time?"

The plane jolted slightly, and Tan Renhao grabbed the handrail next to him.

"It's a good thing that you're able to figure out some questions." Nie Renfeng pretended not to notice Tan Renhao's nervous appearance, "There are many things that we can't change, just like when I recruited you back." I don't believe in fate. But we are not fully in control of our own destiny. The war has come to this point, and we have created too many miracles. Now, we need more opportunities, don't we? ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, and then let go of his sweaty wet hand. "Headmaster, we're not working miracles. The United States is not the same as Japan. If we could not have seized the initiative at the beginning of the war. Then there's a good chance we'll ......."

"Don't talk about failure lightly, even in the most dangerous situation, the emperor will not talk about defeat lightly, this is also the key to the empire's ability to defeat the enemy, and we haven't reached that point yet, right?" Nie Renfeng laughed, "This is also the meaning of your existence. To be honest, I didn't expect you to come back to the Navy when I first brought you back. We were able to get this far. At least I didn't expect to gain the initiative in the Western Pacific this year. Knocked Japan down. ”

"In fact, this is all the support of the principal, as well as the bloody battles of many imperial naval officers, and if you change someone else, it will also be a result!" Tan Renhao smiled modestly, beside Nie Renfeng, he can always find confidence.

"Major General, I don't think so. Just 4 years ago, you were an ensign officer, who would have thought that you would now be a rear admiral in the Imperial Navy? Nie Renfeng handed a box of cigarettes to Tan Renhao, signaling that Tan Renhao did not need to be restrained. If I were the Prime Minister of the Reich, I would trust your judgment and take the initiative to attack in the Pacific Theater, striving to gain absolute superiority in the Pacific Theater within a year, or at most two years. But I'm not the prime minister, and it's very costly for us to do so. From the standpoint of the Navy, I have opposed the Prime Minister's decision-making, after all, the United States is our worst enemy, and now the Navy is placed in an insignificant position. However, from the standpoint of the emperor, I fully support the Prime Minister's decision-making, which is related to the success or failure of the empire, and even more to the future of the empire! ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, he had also figured out this problem these days. Although the contradictions between the army and navy are deep-rooted, in this war, the empire cannot lack either side, and only when the army and navy fight hand in hand can the empire achieve the final victory. If there is still something to divide you and me at this time, and engage in internal struggle, then there will be no hope for the empire at all. This is also where Nie Renfeng is most praised. Unlike any previous naval marshal, Nie Renfeng rarely considered problems from the standpoint of the navy, but from the standpoint of the empire. Judging from Nie Renfeng's policies after he became the commander of the navy, as well as the several battles he planned, Nie Renfeng never squeezed out the army, and could even sacrifice the interests of the navy for the sake of the empire. These are also the places where Tan Renhao needs to learn, and they are the places that Tan Renhao must understand.

"After twenty years as a principal, I think the biggest gain is that you excellent naval officers. Gan Yongxing, along with you, has always been my proudest student. Nie Renfeng seemed to be able to see through Tan Renhao's thoughts, "I have been the principal for twenty years." It also allowed me to judge a person's ability and understand a truth at the same time. ”

"What's the truth?" Tan Renhao was a little curious, in his heart, the principal was the kind of person who could do anything.

"A very simple truth." Nie Renfeng paused slightly, "It's man-made!" ”

Tan Renhao didn't understand it at first, but he immediately figured it out.

"Two years ago, no one believed it. We can complete the great counteroffensive in 23 years and take the fate of Japan into our hands. Two years ago. Nor will anyone believe that we can surpass the pre-war level in 23 with such a powerful fleet. Two years ago, no one could have imagined that so many young admirals would emerge in the Imperial Navy, and that it was their outstanding contribution that would turn the tide in the end. One miracle after another has been written. Nie Renfeng took the teacup handed by the adjutant next to him, "All this comes from down-to-earth actions, not empty talk." This is the result of the bloody struggle of the entire Imperial Navy, and it is the fruit of your unremitting efforts. This is enough to prove that we need to act, not words, and we must put our plans into action in order to achieve the final victory! ”

"Headmaster. I understand this, and I have always believed that the Empire will be the final victor! ”

"Yes, every one of us believes this, every loyal soldier of the Empire, every common man believes in this. The road to victory has not been smooth. Nie Renfeng looked directly into Tan Renhao's eyes, "Bloodshed and sacrifice cannot be avoided, we can only win the victory after overcoming all difficulties and defeating all enemies." On the road to victory, many Imperial soldiers will fall, but many more Imperial subjects will put on their military uniforms and take up steel guns. We don't retreat, we move forward. However, we have to choose a shortcut, the easiest path to victory. And not an opportunistic path! ”

Tan Renhao took a long breath. What he lacks is Nie Renfeng's long-term vision.

"Rear Admiral, I heard that you have always wanted to return to the fleet?" Nie Renfeng put down the teacup.

Tan Renhao hesitated slightly. He didn't react immediately.

"I listened to the chief of staff." Nie Renfeng crossed his hands and leaned back in his chair at the same time, "I heard that since you came back, you have been trying to find a way to return to the fleet. Do you think that in the position of fleet commander, you can better use your abilities? ”

"Headmaster, I've always thought so!" Tan Renhao kept up with Nie Renfeng's thinking, "Perhaps, I can also make some achievements in the position of staff officer, but I think it is best to be able to return to the fleet, and when I get to the battleship, I have a down-to-earth feeling!" ”

Nie Renfeng laughed, the real naval officers and sailors have always regarded boarding the battleship as "down-to-earth".

"And ......"

"I'll consider that." Nie Renfeng pressed his hand, "Actually, you still don't fully understand why you want to return to the fleet. ”

Tan Renhao looked at Nie Renfeng in surprise.

"Let's put it this way, I know you better than you do." Nie Renfeng said bluntly, "In the past year or so, your performance has been very good, even if some people don't admit it, but you are the undisputed best young general in the Imperial Navy. Theoretically, tactically, practically, etc., you are very good. Now, do you know what you're most lacking? ”

Tan Renhao shook his head, the first thing he thought of was self-confidence.

"The last time I talked to you about this, I said you lack self-confidence, and now, I don't think you lack self-confidence." Nie Renfeng knew even more about his students than he knew about his own son. "What you lack is experience, the experience you need to be a good general. It's not just experience on the battlefield, it's experience off the battlefield, and experience when you're faced with some non-combat situations. I'm not wrong, am I? ”

Tan Renhao smiled and nodded, and after being nodded by Nie Renfeng, he immediately understood.

"The real meaning of your return to the fleet is here." Nie Renfeng took out a match and helped Tan Renhao light the cigarette, "As a staff officer, your performance is actually better than that of a commander, but in the position of a staff officer, you will never have room to play freely, and you will be influenced by others, and you will not be able to give full play to your potential." Perhaps, staying in the Naval Staff, you can quickly acquire some knowledge, common sense, and master the ability of strategic planning. However, there is no shortage of such talents in the Imperial Navy, what the Imperial Navy lacks is a real fleet commander, the kind of commander who can make decisions on the spot and lead the fleet to victory. You're the best of the best, and you may not be completely satisfied, but you're the best of all the young generals. ”

"Headmaster, do I have a chance to go back?" Tan Renhao immediately saw hope.

"Of course, am I telling you that you can't go back to the fleet?" Nie Renfeng laughed, "I also know that you have been preparing for this. Gan Yongxing has also been helping you, and he has kept you, in fact, so that you can be the first to seize the opportunity. Of course, there are many things that even I can't decide, you have to understand this. ”

Tan Renhao sighed secretly, it was not Nie Renfeng's decision that the combination of Jiang Zhongmin and Fan Peikun entered the first task force.

"Be patient, young man!" Nie Renfeng let go of his hands, "It's also important to learn to be patient, you young people lack enough patience, so how can it be a big deal?" ”

"Headmaster, I know, I'll be patient!" Tan Renhao let out a sigh, and he also felt that his temper was a little impatient.

"Take my word for it, one day you will fully understand the truth of what I started saying, and you will be the greatest admiral in the history of the Imperial Navy." Nie Renfeng took a document from the adjutant's hand, "I have always believed in my own vision, and I have never doubted it until now." Now, you take a look at this document first and get ready to go to the capital. ”

Tan Renhao hesitated for a moment, and then took the document, he didn't rush to open it, but looked at Nie Renfeng.

"This is the next stage of the strategic plan proposed by the Navy, Gan Yongxing gave it to me yesterday, I believe you haven't seen it yet, right?" Nie Renfeng motioned for Tan Renhao to open the document, and then continued, "This time, both the army and navy will come up with their own long-term war plans, and our focus is on guarding against the United States, which is obvious in the entire plan. I will try to convince Prime Minister Xue Xiyue to get the Prime Minister to approve our plan. Of course, you have to help a little bit as well, and I'm afraid it's hard for me to convince the Prime Minister alone, because what the Prime Minister needs is a more detailed argument, and that's where you excel. ”

At this time, Tan Renhao understood why the principal took him to the capital with him.