February 13 at 2 p.m.

In the northwestern Indian Ocean, in the Gulf of Aden, between the Arabian Peninsula in Asia and the Somali Peninsula in Africa, the destroyer USS Jarvis of the Royal Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet is on a maritime patrol.

The captain, Major McCall, was as relaxed as ever about the patrol, and this was the twelfth time he had led his men on a combat patrol since the Mediterranean Fleet was renamed the Indian Ocean Fleet.

As a veteran "maritime patrolman", Major McCall knew that his most important task was to prevent German or Italian naval submarines from smuggling through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to India to attack British sea convoys.

Major McCall stood on the bridge with his coffee cup and looked out at the rough seas. Years of life at sea have cultivated a sharp gaze that seems to be able to penetrate the barrier of the sea water to the bottom of the sea, and catch the enemy submarine hiding in a dark corner.

In this kind of weather, the German submarines should not risk smuggling, and night is the best choice for them www.quledu.com the novel "No > Fault".

The results of the patrol were exactly as Captain McCall had expected, and until sunset, the destroyer's sonar found no trace of the submarine, not even a suspected target.

The biggest takeaway from the destroyer USS Jarvis was the discovery of a giant whale shark.

Major McCall watched as the big gray-brown guy with yellow spots and vertical stripes surfaced on the starboard side of the USS Jarvis, swam side by side with the USS Jarvis for more than 100 meters, and then rolled over and plunged to the bottom of the sea.

The orange sun was setting on the horizon, and the sky was getting darker.

By radio, Major McCall learned that the Orion, which had taken over the destroyer USS Jarvis for night patrol, was approaching. It's less than forty nautical miles away.

Major McCall commanded. The Jarvis gracefully circled the water. The bow of the ship turned from due south to northwest, and the target was directly aimed at the port of Aden.

No sooner had the Jarvis completed its turn than Major McCall received a report.

An unidentified fleet was spotted in the southeast, at a distance of 10 nautical miles, on a course of 275 degrees, at a speed of 15 knots.

McCall quickly recalled the information stored in his mind, no British convoy would pass by at this time, and the other party must have a foreign fleet.

McCall quickly alerted the entire ship. Then ask the other party for their identity in clear code.

"We are the Imperial Japanese Navy, and we are going to enter the Red Sea."

The Japanese Navy's answer was simple and straightforward, and McCall quickly sent the Japanese Navy's movements back to the fleet command, and then directed the Jarvis to avoid the Japanese fleet's course.

The sailors of the destroyer USS Jarvis immediately got busy, and they controlled the ships to follow the Japanese fleet closely.

The two officers took out their cameras to take pictures, and McCall himself took out a copy of Jane's Ship Almanac for comparison.

two aircraft carriers, which should be Akagi and Kaga; The two battleships have a long bow and tall masts in the British style, and they should be two of the King Kong-class battleships built by the British; There were about five or six cruisers, at least sixteen destroyers, and various logistical vessels.

Not waiting for Major McCall to recognize the models of other cruisers and destroyers. The darkness of night casts a camouflage net over them, making it impossible for Major McCall to tell who they really are.

Don't hesitate to give up tracking. Major McCall immediately sent the information back to the Indian Ocean Fleet Command and then led his men back to the ship.

10 Downing Street, London, United Kingdom.

Churchill leaned back in his office chair, his right hand covering his heart, and a tired look on his face.

Aiden, an old friend, looked at Churchill with concern, and his heart couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

It's late, but it's still coming.

This afternoon, the long-patient House of Commons finally challenged Churchill, accusing him of losing Iraq by his poor command, and the prestige of the British Empire in the Arab countries of the Middle East was dealt an unprecedented blow.

Fortunately, his old friend Churchill had taken precautions and chose to respond to the parliamentarians who were eyeing him with a tragic offensive of retreat.

Instead of impassioned speeches and irresponsible exculpation, Churchill simply said that he was incompetent and no longer fit to be prime minister in the wartime cabinet, and strongly recommended that the House of Commons hold a vote of no confidence and then elect another capable person for the post of prime minister.

Churchill's tactics had a very significant effect, with the exception of Churchill's nemesis, Congressman Wardlow, who satirized Churchill in a strange way, and most of the parliamentarians tried to keep Churchill.

At Churchill's insistence, a vote on the motion of no confidence began, and the result was that Churchill received as many as 71 percent of the votes cast to remain prime minister.

The reason is simple, no one wants to step up and take over this mess at this time.

Aiden looked at the exhausted Churchill, and his heart couldn't help but feel a sourness.

Since Churchill needs to stay in office, what are those parliamentarians still tossing? Is it in this way to show off the power in their hands?

What is the use of repeated questioning and accusations other than exhausting old friends and making Germans and Italians watch the excitement?

"Don't be discouraged, Winston, you can see from the results of the vote that the House of Commons is still in favor of you in general." Aiden couldn't help but comfort Churchill.

"I'm not discouraged, I'm just wondering what the House of Commons should do if I come to the Commons again."

Churchill sat up straight, his eyes staring blankly at Aiden.

"Do you have any good ideas?" Aiden asked.

"Nope. No, let's talk about the situation. There was a tug-of-war in East Africa, the Germans gave the Italians a lot of Matilda II and B1 tanks, and the Eighth Army could no longer destroy the Italians as easily as before. Ochinleke sent a telegram that they need more powerful anti-tank weapons against Matilda and B1 tanks, what good can you do? Churchill asked.

"Accelerate the development of the six-pound gun, and then put it into production as soon as possible. Until the six-pound gun is ready, we can only send General Ochinleck more Matilda II tanks and anti-tank grenades, and there is nothing good to do. Aiden said.

A sneer appeared at the corner of Churchill's mouth, originally hoping that the Eighth Army could take Addis Ababa as soon as possible to save some face for himself, but who knew that it was such a result.

The General Montgomery, who had high hopes for himself, was nothing more than that, he could only win the battle with superior equipment, the equipment of the Italians had just been upgraded, and the Eighth Army under his command had lost its past demeanor, and the army of the British Empire still had generals who could win the battle?

There was a knock on the door, and Churchill and Aiden looked up at the door.

Pushing the door in was Churchill's secretary Peck.

Peck sent a telegram to Churchill

"A telegram just passed from the Admiralty." Peck finished and exited the office.

Churchill's eyes kept rolling, and he quickly read the telegram and handed it to Aiden.

"The Japanese Navy is coming, two aircraft carriers and two battleships, and so many light ships, what do they want to do?" Aiden said with a frown.

There is no need to think about it, this telegram was obviously bad news for Britain at this time.

Churchill picked up the bottle with a trembling right hand and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

"They want to get a closer look at the situation in Europe, and if we can't hold on, they will pounce on us like a wolf and bite us and snatch the spoils that belong to them."

"Should we consider a truce? If the Japanese really decided to get involved in the European theater, we would have no chance of winning this war. Aiden hesitated for a long time before he mustered up the courage to speak up.

"In this situation, we have no way out but to fight to the end. It is too late to talk about peace. Churchill grimaced and drained half a glass of whiskey in one go.

Churchill put down his glass and said: "Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock in the morning to discuss the question of dealing with Japan's entry into the war, you remember to attend on time." ”

Seeing that Churchill had given a vague order to evict the guests, Aiden had no choice but to leave.

Churchill sent Aiden away, and then called his secretary, Peck.

"Two things, first, inform the members of the Cabinet that the meeting will start tomorrow at nine o'clock in the morning; Second, tomorrow is Valentine's Day, remember to remind me to buy roses for my wife. ”

Sending Peck away, Churchill drank the remaining half of whiskey.

"Can't there be a good thing?"

At 9 a.m. on 14 February, the conference room at 10 Downing Street was packed with cabinet members ready for a meeting.

"A fleet of the Japanese Navy has entered the Red Sea and is heading for the Mediterranean, and it is clear that their arrival is ill-intentioned, we"

"Bang bang" A sharp knock on the door interrupted Churchill's words.

Peck pushed the door and walked into the conference room, and said hurriedly: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called, and the Spanish ambassador handed us a letter of war. They decided to join the Axis bloc and declared war on us. ”

The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly condensed, and every participant was speechless as if a noose was tied around their necks.

In the oppressive atmosphere, it was Churchill who finally took the lead in stepping down from the "gallows".

"Well, gentlemen, we have one more item to discuss today" (to be continued......