Kure Harbor.

June 29, 1932, early morning.

Snow-white searchlights and screeching sirens shattered the tranquility of the Combined Fleet's home port, with countless trucks rushing between the docks and warehouses, sailors shouting one after another, cranes swinging back and forth, long oil pipes connected to the huge warships moored on the docks, and millions of gallons of fuel poured into the tanks above the warships.

The conference room of the battlecruiser "Akagi", the flagship of the Japanese Combined Fleet, was brightly lit, and the top brass of the Combined Fleet was gathered. The fleet has been ordered to attack, but the order of the Japanese Revolutionary Military Council does not specify where the fleet should attack, and this question can only be solved by the naval experts of the combined fleet.

However, for the current Japanese Combined Fleet, there is not enough strength to accomplish this task. Not to mention the full strength of the British Royal Navy, that is, their Far Eastern Fleet in the Far East plus the main fleet of the Chinese, is not something that the current Japanese Combined Fleet can deal with. For the Japanese Red Navy, which is determined to "liberate" the South Seas, these two enemies are like two mountains, which are overwhelming them, and with the strength of the Japanese Combined Fleet, they can deal with one of the mountains at most.

"There is nothing to say, no matter how strong the enemy is, the Red Navy has no reason to retreat!" Kantaro Suzuki, the commander of the Red Navy sitting in Kure Harbor, slammed the table and shouted, "The fate of the country falls on us navy soldiers. In 1923 we failed the people, and now is the time for us to make amends, if we do not win. Let us sleep at the bottom of the sea and die to repay the country! ”

"Your Excellency, Commander, does this sound like you are going to commit suicide in a so-so way? I guess things haven't come to this yet, right? The Chief of Staff of the Combined Fleet, Isoroku Yamamoto, glanced at Suzuki with a slight mockery, and said, "The war has just begun, and the Navy has not yet reached the time to launch a 'pig assault'!" ”

Kantaro Suzuki frowned and shook his head, "What if you don't 'Pig Assault'?" The enemy has made it clear that he is going to attack Okinawa and Jeju Island...... At this time, the Combined Fleet can't hide in Kure Harbor as a storage fleet, right? If both Jeju Island and Okinawa were lost, the war would probably be lost. Japan is also finished! Therefore, it is better to pull the main force of the combined fleet out and fight with the Sino-British combined fleet, and maybe there is still some chance of victory. Saying that, he nodded solemnly at Yamamoto Eisuke: "Yamamoto-kun, this commander has already decided." I will not wait on the shore for the good news of the Combined Fleet, and I am ready to attack with you, so give me the battleship 'Settsu' to ride!" ”

Looking at Kantaro Suzuki's generous expression of preparing to kill, Eisuke Yamamoto smiled bitterly. I just wanted to say a few words of comfort. Someone in the conference room suddenly coughed. He spoke, "Gentlemen, what's the matter? Confused by the Chinese and the British? ”

Everyone followed the prestige and saw that the person who spoke was Tetsutaro Sato, an adviser to the Navy Command, an old man who was a naval reserve officer and was once a well-known naval staff officer, and was called the two staff officers of the Combined Fleet along with Akiyama Shinyuki. After the Japanese Revolution, he was hired as an adviser to the Red Navy Command, which was actually just a paid pension. However, the old man's work enthusiasm is quite high, and he has been following Suzuki Kantaro Zuoyou for the past two years to give him advice. It seems to have become Suzuki's staff.

"What kind of country do you think the British Empire is? Is it the Soviet Union, Japan, Germany, or China, a country where the will of the party and the leader can be zuoyou? Britain is a constitutional monarchy, and the British government has no power to declare war on Japan without a parliament! Moreover, public opinion in Britain was not at all in favor of Britain's participation in any war. Not to mention initiating a war against Japan! Have you forgotten the alliance between Japan and the Soviet Union? A war with Japan was tantamount to a war with the Soviet Union, and how could the British cabinet do such a stupid thing? So the British Far Eastern Fleet is just bluffing, not attacking together with the main Chinese fleet! Our enemy is only the main Chinese fleet. ”

In fact, the senior Japanese naval generals present here are very familiar with the political systems of Britain and the United States, and they were also frightened and confused if they did not understand this before. Listening to Sato say that at this time, I calmed down and thought about it, and it was really like that. What is an undeclared war and a surprise attack can only be done by such a "de facto dictatorship" as China, the Soviet Union, Germany and Japan. How can a government in an old constitutional state like Britain do this? And the anti-war sentiment in Britain is still so high......

Kantaro Suzuki sighed softly, nodded and said, "Mr. Sato is reasonable, he was really confused just now...... Since there is only one enemy in China, then the Combined Fleet still has the strength to fight. ”

"Your Excellency Commander, do you think the main fleet of the Chinese Navy is easy to deal with?" The Chief of Staff of the Combined Fleet, Fifty-six Yamamoto, tilted the corners of his mouth and showed a bitter smile.

"It's better than the Sino-British combined fleet." Kantaro Suzuki smiled bitterly: "Yamamoto-kun, I also know the strength of the Chinese Navy, although they are not our opponents in fleet artillery battles, but they have more powerful carrier-based aircraft and powerful submarine forces...... Once a war with China breaks out, Japan is likely to fall into a bitter war and will not be able to get out, and Japan's plan to advance southward will have to come to naught! ”

Yamamoto Fifty-six's face was gloomy, and he sneered: "If you can't get the resources of the South Seas, the Japanese archipelago will be blocked by Chinese submarines again, and the army will be frustrated on the Korean Peninsula, and even North Korea will not be able to clean it up, let alone go north to seize the resources of Manchuria in China...... How can such a war be won? How long can we support it with domestic stockpiles of ores and resources? ”

"Yamamoto-kun!" Yamamoto Eisuke cut off the "nonsense" Yamamoto Fifty-six in a deep voice, he glanced at the chief of staff of the Combined Fleet who was frowning, and suddenly asked, "Then Yamamoto-kun, how are you going to fight?" ”

"Now, of course, it's only a gamble!"

"Bet on what?"

"Just bet that China is not willing to go to war with us immediately!" The corners of Yamamoto's mouth hooked, revealing a playful smile. It seems to be saying something very interesting. "Maybe it's not just the British ...... who are bluffing"

……

Seoul, Gangnam Airport.

In the gentle sea breeze, a Japanese Navy Ford transport plane slowly landed on the runway of the airport. The gangway is lowered. Isoroku Yamamoto, chief of staff of the Combined Fleet, got out of the engine room. He looked at the army planes hovering over the Jiangnan airport, as well as the anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns erected next to the runway of the airport, and grinned bitterly, it seems that the Korean Front and the chairman of Takeda were frightened by the bluff of the Chinese and British navies. Look at this posture, I am already ready to fight a battle to defend Seoul.

Walking down the gangway, Nagata Tetsuyama, who was dressed as a monk and Muto Nobuyoshi on the airport runway, was already waiting for Yamamoto. Looking at Muto, who was full of tiredness, and Nagata, who was expressionless, Yamamoto Isoroku waved and walked towards them.

"Your Excellency Muto. Nagata-kun. ”

"Yamamoto-kun, I've finally waited for you, when will the Combined Fleet be dispatched? Is the battle plan ready? Can you defeat the combined fleet of China and Britain? "Looking at Yamamoto Fifty-six, Muto Nobuyoshi is a series of questions. His tired face was full of anxious expressions that couldn't be concealed.

Yamamoto took out a leather bag and patted it. He said with a smile: "The battle plan is already in place, and the main force of the combined fleet has already left the port, and after this plan is approved, I will fly straight to Okinawa, where I will take a destroyer to meet the main force of the fleet." ”

"That's good, that's good." Hearing no assurance of victory from Yamamoto, Muto's face slid through a look of disappointment, but he smiled and let him into the car. Nagata on the side also followed without saying a word, waiting for the car door to close. Only then did he ask lightly: "Who is the United Fleet going to attack this time?" Is it the UK? ”

"This ......" Yamamoto Fifty-six glanced at Muto Nobuyoshi, and saw that the other party nodded slightly, before he said: "Nagata-kun, naval battles are not as good as land battles, there are too many uncertain factors, and the element of luck is also greater, so there is no way to make too specific plans, you can only take one step at a time." ”

"Really?" Nagata smiled, "This is a gamble for the whole country, Japan won't bet so casually, right?" ”

At this time, Muto Nobuyoshi had already taken out the battle plan sent by the Combined Fleet from the leather bag brought by Yamamoto, and looked through it carefully, and the more he looked at it, the tighter his brows tightened. "The Combined Fleet is preparing to lurk in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Okinawa in search of fighters? And to practice radio silence? Why does it look like you're going to sneak up on someone? ”

"Of course it's going to be a sneak attack, otherwise with the strength of our Japanese Red Navy, how can we beat the Sino-British combined fleet?" Yamamoto Fifty-six said with a smile.

"But what about the defense of Jeju Island and the west coast of North Korea?" Muto asked.

Yamamoto Fifty-six shrugged his shoulders and showed a helpless expression: "This ...... The Combined Fleet couldn't help it. The real combat power of the Combined Fleet is only three cutting-edge capital ships, and there are no reliable carrier-based aircraft, so if it is put on a naval battle with the Sino-British Combined Fleet, I am afraid that there will be no chance of victory. Therefore, it can only be placed in the deep sea of the Pacific Ocean, looking for opportunities to fight at night. The issue of coastal defense on Jeju Island and the west coast of Korea can only be left to the Army. By the way, what can the Army do to deal with it? ”

Muto Nobuyoshi sighed and said with a wry smile: "What can the army do?" The fierce battle north of the 38th parallel continues! Now there are no Russian advisers...... Moreover, it was said that the Soviet Union was not ready for war, that Soviet submarines had not yet entered positions in the North Atlantic, and that the Soviet Army could not launch an offensive before the end of September, because they still had to add armor to the T28 tanks. In addition, the Soviet advisers also advised us to abandon the Korean Campaign, turn the whole army into the defensive, and at the same time send a combined fleet to fight a decisive battle with the Chinese and British navies, and strive to keep the enemy out of the country......"

"How so?" A hint of anger flashed across Yamamoto's face.

Nagata smiled and took the question: "I'm afraid that the Soviets are looking forward to this situation, right?" China and Britain are ready to settle the Japanese ...... first In this way, British sea power and Chinese land power will be concentrated on us, and Trotsky will be able to attack the Middle East, India, and the Balkans with confidence! ”

"So...... The Korean campaign has already been defeated? Yamamoto Fifty-six took a breath, this news was a bit unexpected by him, although the Chinese and British fleets had been dispatched, but they would not be able to land on Jeju Island or the west coast of Korea immediately, at least there would be no large-scale landing until the main force of the Japanese combined fleet was resolved.

"That's pretty much it, the Korean Front has given the order to break out of the encircled mecha army. Instructions were given to the Eastern Route Army to meet the breakthrough of the mecha army...... After the mecha army breaks through the siege, the offensive on the Chinese and western roads will also stop, and the whole army will turn to the defensive. This time, the army was defeated by the Koreans. What a shame......"

Without waiting for Yamamoto Fifty-six to speak, Nagata Kiyoshinsai laughed: "What is there to be ashamed of, since you have attracted both the Chinese and the British, the mission of the Korean campaign will be completed...... If you are afraid, China and Britain will be a false shot, so that Chairman Takeda and Blyuhel advisers will be ashamed and embarrassed. ”

Yamamoto Fifty-six was stunned for a moment, and looked up at Nagata. He said in a deep voice: "Nagata-kun thinks that China and Britain are bluffing? ”

Nagata smiled coldly: "There must be an element of bluffing, but there is no less element of acting at the opportunity!" I can't guess what will happen to the British, but I'm sure. The Chinese prime minister must have given the order to his fleet commander to attack. If you show any flaws and let the Chinese carrier-based aircraft find an opportunity, they will definitely not let it go! ”

When Yamamoto heard this, his face couldn't help but become solemn. Previously, he estimated that the Chinese were likely also bluffing. The aim was to push back the Japanese forces attacking North Korea. But he did not expect that the Chinese were very likely to be prepared with both hands, and it seems that this attack must be extremely careful!

"Nagatajun, Yamamoto-kun, do you think that both China and Britain are bluffing?" Muto Nobuyoshi suddenly asked. "If that's the case, I have to hurry up and tell Takeda Heng not to give up the Korean campaign for the time being......"

"The Korean campaign was abandoned. Trotsky didn't hold out any hope, so what are we doing with all this energy? Nagata Kiyosin touched his bare head. He smiled: "Your Excellency Muto, do you think that Trotsky will not be able to figure out the ideas of China and Britain? As he spoke, he nodded solemnly at Yamamoto: "Yamamoto-kun, now it's up to you to see if your combined fleet can win back a game for Japan!" ”

……

"Takeda gave up so quickly?"

This was Chang Ruiqing's first sentence after receiving the news that the Japanese mecha army had begun to break through, and now the British Far East Fleet was still in the South China Sea, and China's main fleet had just left the Taiwan Strait and was wandering at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

Bai Chongxi didn't expect this trick to besiege Wei and save Zhao so effectively, but he was still very happy that the Korean battle could be won, he smiled and said: "No matter so much, North Korea is considered to have won the first battle, a good sign!" Yaoru, you have been staying in the Ministry of Defense these days, and you are tired enough, why don't you go home tonight and have a good rest, and accompany a few younger brothers and sisters by the way. ”

"It's not the time to send gas yet, this war has just begun!" Chang Ruiqing shook his head, "Go and invite Commander-in-Chief Chen of the Navy over, I want to discuss with him the next move of the main fleet." ”

Bai Chongxi nodded, beckoned over a naval staff officer and instructed him to call Chen Shaokuan. Then he and Chang Ruiqing walked in front of a chart of the Pacific region that had just been hung.

"By the way, Yaoru, since the Japanese are ready to withdraw from the army. Is it still necessary for us to break through the main fleet into the Pacific Ocean? It's better to let them return to Zhanjiang Port. ”

"Back to Zhanjiang?" Chang Ruiqing shook his head and said, "Brother Jiansheng, the navy is an offensive service!" The main fleet we have spent so much money to build is also to be used for attack, not for them to be stored in the lair of Guangzhou Bay! And to attack, the main fleet must break through to the Pacific Ocean and become the Pacific Fleet! ”

"But...... We don't even have a base in the Pacific Ocean, and the main fleet can't get a foothold when it goes. ”

"They'll have a base!" Chang Ruiqing's gaze slowly swept over the Pacific chart. "Do you remember the information that Tianyan sent us? The task of Japan's cannon fodder is not only to contain our army, but also to attract the navy of the British Empire! At that time, the British must be crying and shouting for our naval fleet to help in the war, and they will be reluctant to take out a mere port? ”

When Chang Ruiqing said this, Chen Shaokuan's report had already come, and Chang Ruiqing turned his head to see the commander-in-chief of the navy standing behind him in his uniform neatly. "Houfu, come over and study together, if the British are willing to get us a port in the Pacific Ocean, where do you want?"

Chen Shaokuan was stunned when he heard this, and hurriedly asked, "Prime Minister, what you said is true?" ”

Chang Ruiqing smiled and said, "It's not true yet, but as long as the Japanese attack the British, this thing can be successful." Houfu, have you figured out where you want it? ”

Chen Shaokuan nodded suspiciously, stretched out his finger and pointed to a port in southern British New Guinea on the chart, and said: "This is it, Port Moresby, if we have any choice, it must be the best here." ”

Chang Ruiqing nodded, "Well, I think the same as me, okay, just Port Moresby." He paused and said, "The main fleet is going into the Pacific tonight, isn't it?" ”

"Yes, Prime Minister, do you have any other instructions?"

"Then let them go to Port Moresby first, by the way, how many ships do we have in the ports on the east coast of the United States?"

"There are a dozen, and twenty more are rushing there."

"Okay, let's use them to transport the aircraft, take the South Pacific route, transport them to Port Moresby first, and then escort them home by the main fleet...... Our main fleet first went to Port Moresby under this name. ”