At 9:10 a.m. on May 15, the warm sun shone over the Apennine Peninsula, so much so that people's hearts were warm.

On the wharf of the Taranto military port, a 54-member Italian Navy military band stood in a row, and a variety of musical instruments played a cheerful Japanese military song, "March of the Warships," according to the gestures of the conductor.

On the edge of the starboard deck of the USS Akagi, the crew in all-white or dark blue uniforms stood in a line, striding with their hands behind their waists.

The pilot of the Type 97 carrier-based attack plane, Lieutenant Idegi Sugi, who has the reputation of being the first beautiful man of the Akagi, hummed softly to the rhythm of the music.

"Offensive and defensive, gray-black copper walls and steel walls

It is a reliable steel fortress on the water

A fortified fortress on the plains of the Japanese Empire

Guarding the imperial kingdom in all directions, invincible

Steel warship of the Japanese Invincible Combined Fleet

Invincible when attacking the enemy, invincible in battle"

Izuki hummed as he looked down condescendingly at the pier.

Outside the cordon, more than two Japanese expatriates waved the German, Italian, and Japanese flags in their hands, and desperately jumped to shout at the battleships neatly parked by the dock.

Reporters from Germany, Italy and Japan walked around the wharf, recording the lively scene of the wharf with their cameras.

A row of twelve shiny sedans pulled into the dock and stopped in front of the marching band.

The door opened, and a group of men in crisp suits or well-tailored general's uniforms jumped out of the car.

Morini, who was the leader, stood up straight, rounded, fastened a black beret to his bald head, and took the lead towards the long-awaited Japanese naval officer.

Nagumo Tadaichi walked towards Morini head-on. After a military salute, he shook hands with Morini. Reporters immediately captured the historic moment with their cameras.

Merini did not hesitate to say hot kind words to Nagumo Tadaichi: "General Nagumo." The task force you led has won the Italian Navy and my respect with your military prowess, and you are a group of excellent professional soldiers, and I am confident that you will soon prove your excellence to the world. ”

Nagumo quietly listened to the interpreter, and then said with a smile: "Your Excellency, your navy has also won the respect of the Japanese navy with their victory. It is also the object of our practice, and I look forward to the day when I will fight side by side with your navy. ”

"I believe that day will come soon." Molini said.

After Molini and Nagumo exchanged pleasantries, Marshal Badogrio, senior admirals of the Italian Navy, and the Japanese ambassador to Italy stepped forward one after another to shake hands with Nagumo and others to say goodbye.

After Lu Teyans, Chen Dao shook Nanyun's hand.

"Admiral Rosen, Yamamoto Go** will entrust me to send you an invitation, and if you have the right time, please come to Japan as a guest, and the Japanese Combined Fleet will welcome you with the most solemn courtesy.

General Hideki Tojo of the Ministry of War has similarly entrusted me with inviting you to visit the Japanese Army. Nagumo said.

Chen Dao clasped Nan Yun's hand and shook it a few times. With a smile, he said, "If it was General Yamamoto's invitation, I would feel impatient." If there are no surprises, I will probably visit Japan at the end of this year, or early next year. I look forward to working with General Yamamoto and you to explore the direction of future naval warfare. ”

Nagumo said happily, "General Yamamoto and I will be waiting for your arrival. ”

Nanyun wanted to pull out his right hand that was clenched by Chen Dao, but was held tightly by Chen Dao.

Chen Dao first raised his eyes to look at the sky, then shook his head slightly, and said to Nanyun with a disgusted expression: "For General Tojo's invitation, I can only regret to say to him, get out, I don't deal with birds ~ beasts." ”

The face of the interpreter beside Chen Dao changed greatly, and he looked at Chen Dao in embarrassment.

"Don't be afraid, translate truthfully." Chen Dao said to the translator.

After a few seconds, Nanyun swept the joy on his face, stretched his face and said in a deep voice, "General Rosen, do you know what you're talking about?" You have to give me a reasonable explanation. ”

Chen Dao was unmoved, his face was still full of hatred.

"Please convey to General Tojo, there is an old Chinese saying that if you want to know something, you can't do it unless you don't do it. Don't think I don't know about the bestiality that the Japanese Army is doing on the battlefields of China. In my eyes, the Japanese Army is a group of birds ~ beasts without any sense of military honor, and as the Minister of War, he is also a bird ~ beast among birds ~ beasts, and he must be responsible for the bestiality of the Japanese Army.

Many of the bestiality of the Japanese Army have been in your country's newspapers, don't you know? ”

A flush flashed on Nangumo's fat-headed and big-eared face, and he couldn't help but be embarrassed.

The army group of humanoid animals was thrown into Europe in disgrace.

Nagumo was well aware of some of the Army's actions on the battlefields of China, which had been widely publicized in the newspapers to stir up the people's enthusiasm for war and were promoted as the spirit of bushido.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Nagumo decided to give up his defense, this kind of thing can only be described more and more black, and maybe it will make the other party mistakenly believe that the Japanese Navy and the Japanese Army are the same dog.

The Navy is not obligated to defend the sins of the Army's own making.

Nanyun pondered for a while, and said unjustifiably: "General Rosen, I think you must have misunderstood, the Japanese army, at least the Japanese navy, has not done what you said bestiality, I assure you with my personality." ”

Chen Dao's face changed like a chameleon in an instant, and he said to Nanyun with a smile: "General Nanyun, you don't need to make a guarantee, I still have confidence in the integrity of your country's navy, otherwise I won't be here at all today." Please greet General Isoroku Yamamoto on my behalf, and I look forward to the day when I meet him. ”

On the edge of the deck of the Akagi, Hideaki Sugi squinted at Nagumo Nakaichi on the dock and whispered, "Who is that tall German general?" How did General Nagumo shake hands with him for so long? ”

On his left-hand side, the tail machine gunner, the sharp-beaked monkey-cheeked Bone Kawa said, "It seems to be the German general surnamed Rosen?" ”

"It turned out to be General Rosen, he is a popular figure in the army, and I heard that he has also appeared on the cover of Time magazine in the United States." Izuki said in surprise.

"Izuki Shirt-kun, is this General Lawson very famous?" On the right hand side of the wooden shirt, the co-pilot Nobi Nobita said with a confused expression.

"Nobi-kun, you should care more about current affairs and don't spend your free time every day thinking about Shizuka. This Admiral Rosen was the genius who predicted the demise of France in eight weeks, and I have heard that the victory of the Germans and Italians some time ago in the Atlantic was achieved by adopting his battle plan, and that he was a man of the hour in our navy and in the army. Izuki kindly explained to his comrade-in-arms and neighbor.

The crew of the ship's attack machine was chatting in a whisper, when a shout suddenly came from behind: "Everyone, stand upright and turn back." ”

The group hurriedly turned behind them, facing the shouting military Cao, the tall and mighty Takeshi Gangda.

"Everyone, return to their respective cabins and get ready." Takeshi Gonda shouted.

When the crew returned to the cabin, Nagumo Nakuichi had already boarded the Akagi.

Amid the sound of a loud whistle, the Japanese Navy's European Task Force pulled anchor and set sail to the bright rhythm of the "March of the Warships".

Standing side by side on the dock, looking at the departing warships, Lütjans said, "Will what you say to General Nagumo be excessive?" ”

"You don't know what the Japanese Army has done, if you do, you will definitely think that what I did just now is too clear, and in a few months, I will give you some information so that you can understand the true face of our Japanese friends." Chen Dao said.

The next day, the major Italian and German newspapers carried a common news on the front page.

The European Task Force of the Japanese Navy completed its goodwill visit to Italy and departed for China yesterday (to be continued......