On November 8, 1921, ten days had passed since the Sino-Japanese naval battle off Vladivostok. During this period, China and Japan actively prepared for war. The most tense of these is naturally the navies of the two countries. China has not only announced a huge shipbuilding plan, but has also continuously adjusted its existing four blue sea fleets in an effort to better meet the requirements of its strength in the war against Japan. At the same time, China is also negotiating arms purchases with Britain, France and the United States. The purchase of warships decommissioned ahead of schedule from the three countries to supplement the shortcomings of existing warships. China is already doing everything it can to prepare for war.

Japan has not only announced a new shipbuilding plan in a-for-tat manner, but has also continuously expanded the scope of activities of the Combined Fleet and constantly provoked the bottom line of the Chinese Navy. On several occasions, warships of both sides even opened fire on enemy merchant ships, sinking seven or eight merchant ships. This has made the entire western Pacific coast unstable. The number of merchant ships flying the flags of China and Japan has been greatly reduced. Western countries, on the other hand, have increased the number and number of merchant ships.

On November 11, the Third Fleet of Japan's Combined Fleet, as it is known internally, left Taipei, Taiwan, and headed for Fuzhou, China.

When crossing the Taiwan Strait, it was discovered by a Chinese merchant ship and reported to the Fujian Coastal Defense Bureau as soon as possible. Soon the Chinese fleet on the southeast coast received this news, and for a time the East China Sea Fleet stationed in Shanghai and some warships of the South China Sea Fleet stationed in Fuzhou began to go to sea to meet the battle. Fujian's air force units are also ready to take to the skies at any time.

Warships of both sides encountered in the Taiwan Strait. Although the main force of the Japanese Third Fleet did not have battleships, it had four battlecruisers with a displacement of more than 15,000 tons. All of them are new models that have been in service for the past two years, with fast speed and advanced performance. In addition, there are three heavy cruisers of 8,000 tons and six light destroyers of 4,000 tons. Eight destroyers. There are also four 10,000-ton supply ships and four troop carriers. Japan's Taiwan Strait Fleet is carrying out Yamaguchi Aritomo's "drawing wages from the bottom of the kettle" combat plan. The plan was very good, the work of secrecy in advance was also very good, and the beginning went smoothly, except that the heavens were not on the side of the Japanese, and their actions were discovered by passing Chinese merchant ships. It was reported to China's Fujian Coastal Defense Bureau by this merchant ship, which completely bankrupted Japan's sneak attack plan.

Beijing, Young Marshal's Mansion.

"The little devil seems to have been fooled by us. If I'm not mistaken, their plan this time is most likely to attack the Fuzhou Ship Bureau. Destroy our shipbuilding industry base in order to delay the construction of our "Zhonghua-class" battleships. Has the deputy commander-in-chief ever been to Shanghai? Feng Yong asked in a deep voice.

"The deputy commander-in-chief has secretly arrived in Shanghai this morning. The East China Sea Fleet has also set sail to meet the Japanese Taiwan Strait Fleet as planned. The main force of the South China Sea Fleet has also set sail in Guangzhou according to the scheduled plan. The target is set in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. This time, Li Zongren's starting unit, the 88th Army of the National Defense Army, was dispatched with the ship, and Li Zongren had already returned to the 88th Army half a month ago. Li Yang said in a deep voice.

"Good. The little devils are going to sneak up on our shipbuilding base. We're going to follow their back. It's time for Taiwan to take it back! Feng Yong said in a deep voice. This is the follow-up plan for him to throw a smoke bomb. Feng Yong's goal was never to win or lose a decisive battle at sea, but to scoop down the island of Taiwan. Cutting off Japan's influence in the South China Sea. At the same time, it can also rely on the unsinkable aircraft carrier of Taiwan Island to influence Japan's trade routes and cut off Japan's maritime lifeline as much as possible. Judging from the current situation, Japan has completely proceeded in accordance with the strategic plan agreed upon by Feng Yong and others. From this point of view, Japan really lacks military talent with strategic vision.

"Send electricity to the deputy commander-in-chief. The East China Sea Fleet is paying close attention to the movements of the main forces of the Japanese Combined Fleet in addition to operations, and it is impossible for them to rely on the Taiwan Strait Fleet alone, and it will inevitably have a rear hand. Also, telegraphed Li Zongren. This operation is about the completion of the national territory, and it is necessary to occupy a bridgehead on Taiwanese soil at all costs. The following armies will arrive in a steady stream. Feng Yong said in a deep voice. …,

"Yes!"

The outbreak of the Sino-Japanese war in the Taiwan Strait was immediately transmitted to all countries in the world through telegrams. The nations of the world know it. The countdown to the outbreak of a full-scale war between China and Japan has begun. Moreover, the victory of this naval battle has a direct impact on China's subsequent combat plans. After all, naval warfare has always been China's weak point. Although the results of the previous large-scale naval battles were remarkable, the element of luck was too great. A real large-scale naval battle. Western countries still value Japan more.

Attitudes to the situation in the Far East are mixed, but the arms market is not as hot as expected. Both China and Japan have their own complete military industrial systems, and the supply of weapons can be completely solved by domestic factories. For foreign weapons, the demand is minimal. On the issue of weapons, China and Japan seem to have a tacit understanding for a long time, and both rely on their own weapons, and even if their own weapons are not as advanced as those of the West in terms of performance, they have never intended to equip foreign weapons on a large scale. All of this is related to the thinking of China and Japan. The Republic of China naturally has always implemented the path of Feng Yong's independent development, and foreign advanced technology can be used for reference, but it must not be relied on. The core high technology must be in their own hands. It is precisely by virtue of this almost demanding requirement that China's national defense science and technology has made tremendous progress in just a few years. It can be said that these achievements were all forced out by Feng Yong with a hard policy. China's annual investment in scientific research is huge. Of course, in order not to irritate other countries, these inputs are basically allocated in the form of secret funds.

Faced with this situation, the arms dealers of various Western countries found that there was still room for the Sino-Japanese war, and naturally there was no need to buy foreign weapons. As a result, arms dealers in Western countries began to manipulate their own parliaments and governments, trying to pull the Sino-Japanese war in the direction of a balanced and protracted war. After all, the two major powers are in a protracted war, and no matter how well prepared their countries are, they can't bear the long-term attrition. After all, the defeat of the Chinese navy indicates that the Japanese navy will completely dominate East Asia, and it will be difficult for a more comprehensive and protracted war to break out between China and Japan, and there will be little incentive for the world to eat up arms. In addition, at this time, China began to make frequent contacts with Western countries, wanting to purchase warships whose performance was not weaker than Japan's. Western countries have resold to China some warships that have not yet reached the end of their retirement service years in the form of decommissioning.

Even Li Lin didn't expect it. The war in the Taiwan Strait, which he led single-handedly, would even bring such benefits. A large number of relatively advanced Western warships were sold to China. According to later statistics, during the period when the war broke out in the Taiwan Strait, China signed contracts for the purchase of as many as 28 warships, including four battleships, eight battlecruisers, and the rest were cruisers of several thousand tons, involving tens of millions of dollars. Such a huge military purchase was almost the largest military order before World War II. (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to (.) to vote for recommendation, monthly pass, your support is my biggest motivation. )