"Marshal Scheer is gone, he has watched the growth of the High Seas Fleet and the world he left after not being at its peak, he walked peacefully, without worry or sorrow." Looking at the senile Hipper, Raeder said cautiously, Scheer is gone. And Hipper, who succeeded him, was also in poor health, so he just missed his face at the funeral of his old boss and left, and when it came to Hipper's level, their physical health was no longer a personal problem. After the loss of Field Marshal Scheer, if the opponent finds that Hipper's physical condition is also unable to fight again, then the opponent will definitely make a small discount when assessing the combat effectiveness of the German Navy! The navy fights not only for equipment and national strength, but also for excellent commanders.

"No, he didn't walk peacefully, and he didn't feel at ease. He already saw the shadows hovering over the High Seas Fleet. Do you know what he was saying when I saw him at the sickbed for the last time? Hippel asked after a pause, taking a sip of black tea.

He kept repeating the word Persian...... I don't know what that means. Raeder was also present, watching the somewhat delirious old marshal muttering something incessantly. But because the distance is a bit far, it is not very clear to hear ..........

"I know! He meant to say not to let the German Navy cross Persia into South Asia! If this were the case, we would not have been able to avoid a direct confrontation with the Chinese people, who had tried many times in private to persuade the Kaiser to stop in Persia, but had been rejected, and it was not only because of the old marshal's health that I could take over the affairs of the navy. It's because the emperor is already disgusted with the old marshal and needs someone else to replace him! And now? I'm dying, so who's going to take my place? Hipperl said wistfully.

"Our future is not hopeless. China needs a lot of oil, and we are the only ones who can supply so much fuel at the moment, and we control the oil fields in the Middle East, Romania and the Transcaucasus. In the future, the oil fields of Libya will be added, and although the United States produces a lot of fuel oil, it has to supply the needs of the country and Britain and France, so it can no longer meet the needs of China. As long as we leave some benefits to Huaxia, they may not really meet us. Raeder on the side comforted.

"Really? I remember you once said in the naval salon. It is absurd that a country as vast as China does not have large oil fields, how can it change now? Hipper's smile tucked. You don't have to comfort me, there are some situations you should know, right? Huaxia imported a batch of deep well drilling equipment from the United States. Do you think they have the money and nowhere to spend it, or do you mean that Nanyang needs such equipment? ”。 …。

"In fact, even if these equipment are imported, it doesn't mean anything. Maybe in the end, the oil they found was too deep to be mined. Or is there no oil down there? And even if a large oil field is discovered. It will also take a long time to build the relevant infrastructure, as long as they have not finished our action in South Asia, and when Britain is completely defeated, the Americans have retreated to the Americas, and we have gained a firm foothold in South Asia, even if China wants to oppose us, who can he unite? Raeder said with a pretended lightheartedness.

"You're right, maybe it's just a false alarm. But what if it's true? Was the German High Seas Fleet ready for a full-scale war with China? Are you really so confident that the German fleet can confront the Chinese, British, and American fleets at the same time? Do not think that our victory at sea in the First World War was the work of the German High Seas Fleet, as I have said many times, without the support of the allies such as Italy, Austria and Hungary. We can't win, no matter how well we fight, we can't fight against the Grand Fleet! Have you all forgotten? Hipper, who was excited, coughed violently, but he finished his sentence anyway. And we will now lose an important ally, the Italians must have felt it, but they decided to fight us to the end! ”…………。

"Soon the Italian Navy will fall into our hands, and we have already begun to set it up in Spain. The Spaniards also expressed their readiness to cooperate with our actions. In another 3 months, a detachment will go to the Mediterranean. In this case, the Allied navy would have an advantage in the Mediterranean, and the air forces of General Richthofen and Austria-Hungary would also have an advantage. "If it is said that against the Entente and the Chinese Navy, Raeder does not dare to say anything. But if the Combined Fleet of the Central Powers is against the Italians, isn't it nine out of ten? It's a piece of cake for Zhang Fei to eat bean sprouts!

"The Entente and Huaxia have already begun to act. If Ribbentrop's intelligence is correct, there are many French and Americans entering Italy through customs, and some strange freighters in places like Tarant, which are worthy of our vigilance. Are we ready? Hipper asked rhetorically.

"Actually, I personally think that it would be a very foolish move for China to declare war with the Entente and to compete with us in Italy...... With Italy too close to us, and the entire Mediterranean exit under our control, could it be that China and the Entente were confident enough to force their fleets through the Strait of Gibraltar and then compete with our Mediterranean Fleet and land-based aviation? Are they crazy?! Moreover, from the perspective of national strength, the outbreak of a large-scale war at this time was a difficult price for the three Entente countries to bear. Raeder felt that what Hipper said today was getting more and more incredible, and even some of his words violated the most basic logic! …。

In the face of absolute strength, any scheme is powerless. Even the most lame officer could see the outcome of this confrontation, and Raeder really couldn't figure out what Hipper had to worry about. Is it because of the fear of excessive losses in the fleet? Or will the Italians destroy the shipyards and facilities before they fail? Thinking of the latter point, Ryder understood a little bit.

"Sooner or later, Italy will fall into our hands. Both China and the Entente understood this very well, and even Tycho would understand it, so they acted, not to prevent us from acquiring this country, but to find ways to empty this country! Some consortia in southern Italy have been investing in China for years. Various equipment and technicians also went quite a bit. It is said that the Italians can account for about 2% of the shipyards in Longtai, Huaxia! If the Italian Navy slips away again, what else will we get? Italian Army? Or is it the Italian aviation industry, which can't even build engines? If that's the case, who will be the winner in this game? Is it us? Or an opponent? Hipper asked.

"So I hope that our actions against Italy can be advanced, China and the Entente have already made their position clear with their actions, although they will not fight for Italy and us, but they will definitely turn Italy into a quagmire! Unfortunately, this time I didn't have a chance to fight with a senior from Tycho or Huaxia. So I want you to take command of the Mediterranean detachment instead of me, and I will equip you with the best ships to help the Austro-Hungarian Navy hold off the opponent and then force the Italians to surrender! "Hipper had already gained insight into the intentions of China and the Entente in Italy. But alas, this time is already a little late, and he himself is unlikely to go into battle again, the German Navy has risen too fast, in addition to equipment, the successor is weak, and there are too few people who can take on heavy responsibilities, after the death of Scheer and the serious illness of Hipper, it is difficult to find someone who can carry the burden in a short time..........

In fact, not only Hippert was aware of this, but the German top brass also found something from this series of abnormal actions in Italy. The other party will definitely take action, but they don't know exactly when and how to do it. Immediately after the conclusion of his meeting with Raeder, Hipper, in his report to the Kaiser, mentioned the need to intensify the operational arrangements for the "L Plan". (Plan L was specific to Italy, while Plan K was for Persia in the future.) And Raeder was advised to be the commander of the Mediterranean detachment of the German High Seas Fleet. …。

But it's a pity that this time Hipper's proposal was not fully adopted, because it was too late, Germany had just announced its withdrawal from the treaty, two new aircraft carriers were under construction, according to Germany's original plan, it was planned to wait until at least one aircraft carrier and one reserve aircraft carrier were completed before acting, and if according to Hipper's new timetable, I am afraid that at most one reserve aircraft carrier could be completed, and two armored aircraft carriers could be launched!

"Then first concentrate resources and manpower to directly convert the two reserve aircraft carriers into aircraft carriers...... Put the rest first, and the weapons that can be used are good weapons! Hipper, who was very angry when he learned the news, ordered the merchant ships Bremen and Europa to be taken back directly, and then accelerated to be converted into aircraft carriers. Raeder couldn't wait, and two months later, the German Mediterranean fleet was formed and left Wilhelmshaven for Crete ......... in the Mediterranean.

Hipper was still very interesting to Raeder. His fleet consisted of the new armored aircraft carrier Moltke, the battleship Bavaria, which had been improved to its high speed, and the aviation cruiser Emden, plus two heavy cruisers and 14 destroyers. Together with the Austro-Hungarian fleet, they were to deal with the Italian Navy. The Allies sensed the other side's disposition and began to accelerate their own actions. And De'ao did the same to stimulate his opponents. The three fleets of the North Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea began to be reorganized, and then the first transoceanic expedition of the Chinese Navy will be completed.

Thanks to the book friend zhouyu1976, hukaikaka for the reward ~~~, as well as the book friend old students, r1 monthly pass support ~~~. (To be continued).