Tan Renhao spent the whole night waiting for the battle report from the front. Every half an hour, the "Qin Qiong" would return to the battle situation. Because the distance was too far, it could not be transmitted by voice, only telegram. Through the words on the telegram, Tan Renhao could almost feel how tragic the battle ahead was. Lei Shaoqing also stayed in the command cabin, accompanied by Tan Renhao's side, and felt the fierce battle ahead.

The "Summer Solstice" sank at 11:25 a.m., and the loss of officers and men is not clear. At 12:25 a.m., the "Great Heat" withdrew from the battle and returned home alone. At 12:54 a.m., the "Duan Zhixuan" was hit by a huge shell, and its turret C was completely blown up, but it still insisted on fighting. At 1:33 a.m., the "Xiaoxia" was hit by a huge bullet, and the ammunition depot sank within three minutes, and no more than 50 officers and men escaped. Fortunately, after the armor-piercing shell penetrated the weak armor of the ship, it exploded under the sea outside the ship, only damaging the two propellers on the left side and did not cause fatal injuries, and the "Wei Chigong" was also forcibly ordered to withdraw from the battle at this time. At one minute after three o'clock, the "Mangzhong" had to withdraw from the battle because the main engine compartment was hit by two shells. By half past three, only the three cruisers "Qin Qiong", "Duan Zhixuan" and "Liqiu" were still fighting, and the four destroyers had all sunk during the two counter-charges.

Each telegram left a wound in Tan Renhao's heart. He knew that Luo Zhongyong was already desperate, and there was no mention of the damage to the "Qin Qiong" in all the telegrams. So many battleships were shot, could it be that the battleship "Qin Qiong" was so lucky to have dodged all the shells? This is obviously impossible. Luo Zhongyong was an excellent naval officer and an experienced captain, but he could never guarantee that his warship would not be damaged in any way on the battlefield where bullets were raining.

When the navigation clock pointed to four o'clock, Tan Renhao looked at the communications staff officer. Will there be new losses when the new telegram is about to be delivered again? Or will there be news of the "Qin Qiong". Tan Renhao no longer had any hope for the artillery formation, and after half an hour, the fleet aviation would be ready, and the bomber group would take off at five o'clock and arrive at the battlefield of the naval battle at about half past six, and the artillery formation would be able to hold out until half past six? A full two and a half hours to go!

The radio didn't make a sound. The communications staff debugged several times but was not able to receive a signal. Suddenly, a radio station went off. A staff officer immediately turned up the volume and onto the loudspeaker.

"...... the 'Qin Qiong' was shot on the bridge, and now the 'Duan Zhixuan' continues to command the battle. Repeat: 'Qin Qiong' was shot on the bridge and now ......"

Hao Dongjue, who had just walked into the command cabin, stood by the door in a daze. Tan Renhao closed his eyes in pain, "Qin Qiong" still did not escape the catastrophe, and the bridge was shot, which meant that the people inside were finished. Those who can survive are certainly in the minority. And Luo Zhongyong must have been there to direct the battle.

"Ren Hao......" Lei Shaoqing walked over.

"Are the pilots all assembled?" Tan Renhao let out a sigh and looked at Hao Dongjue.

Hao Dongjue nodded. "The pilots are all ready, and they are waiting for the order to attack."

"Let them go to breakfast first. The fleet still took off at five o'clock as planned. Tan Renhao gritted his teeth: "Let the ships accept the broadcast, and I want to speak to all the officers and men of the fleet." ”

"Renhao's words to break the radio silence at this time......"

"Afraid of what? Now even if the Japanese Combined Fleet retreats immediately, they will not be able to escape! Tan Renhao stood up: "Go and prepare for the broadcast, and ten minutes later, I will speak to all the officers and soldiers." ”

When the radio sounded, the pilots who were eating breakfast in the dining room were the officers and men of the fleet at their posts. As well as the officers and men resting in the cabin, they heard the fierce artillery battle with a rustling sound. At this time, the distance between the fleet and the shelling formation was about 240 nautical miles, which was exactly within the limit of the high-power radio station. The sound coming from the loudspeaker was noisy, and in addition to the sound of artillery, there was also the shouting of the communications officer in the front artillery formation.

After a few tests, the sound of rustling electricity disappeared, and then Tan Renhao's voice came: "I am Fleet Commander Tan Renhao." Officers and men of the Imperial Navy, brothers of the First Task Force, what you have heard before is the scene of a fierce battle between the artillery formation led by Lieutenant Commander Luo Zhongyong and the Japanese Combined Fleet. It's unfortunate. Lieutenant Colonel Luo Zhongyong's battleship began to be hit by enemy shells, and now his fate is uncertain. And just a few hours before that, several battleships in the shelling formation were not sunk and damaged, and now only two battleships remain. Why should they insist? Because they're creating an opportunity, creating an opportunity where we can write history. Our brothers are fighting desperately with the Japanese devils in front, and are shedding blood and sacrifices for the Empire, for the Imperial Navy, for the First Task Force. Will we be able to spare the Japs? No, never! Now, in my capacity as Commander of the Fleet, I ask you to prepare for battle as quickly as possible, to hang bombs on our bombers, to fill them with fuel, to avenge our brothers who have died, to fight back with bombs and torpedoes, to fire back at the Japanese devils, and to tell the enemy with the most powerful force that the blood of the officers and men of the shelling formation has not been shed in vain, and we will fly over the sea red with their blood and send the Japanese Combined Fleet to the bottom of the sea! Brothers, let's embrace victory at dawn! ”

The fleet immediately boiled over, and all the aviation crews who had been busy all night consciously stayed behind and continued to help the orderlies who came to change the guard inspect the planes and hang bombs to refuel the fighters. The pilots quickly ate breakfast and then went to listen to the pre-war report to receive their targets.

After putting down the microphone, Tan Renhao sat down and was silent for a while before he said to Hao Dongjue: "Go and assign the target, carry out the bombing mission according to the plan." In addition, immediately after the bombers are out, one squadron of air defense fighters is lifted into the air, and the air defense fighters of another squadron are on deck ready for takeoff. ”

At 4:45, Zhang Naiding and Deng Zi respectively boarded the landline with their pilots. All the pilots looked excited, and after listening to the speech of the fleet commander, the pilots' fighting spirit had been mobilized. In order to gain the opportunity to bomb. The officers and men of the artillery formation fought to the death, and now I am afraid that they are all about to end. As the most powerful striking force in the fleet, these bomber pilots will use bombs and torpedoes to "repay" the Japanese battleships and pay tribute to those comrades who sacrificed their lives with the blood of the Japanese!

At five o'clock the first "Vulture" fighter took to the skies. This is a fighter on escort duty. At 5:08 a.m., the first "Kingfisher" took off, and all the "Kingfishers" on the four aircraft carriers completed their takeoff within 15 minutes. At 5:24 a.m., the first "Osprey" took off. By 5:35 a.m., all the planes that had taken part in the bombing of the Japanese Combined Fleet had lifted into the air. The navigation lights on the fighters flickered like stars on the ground at night, and it was exactly 5:38 a.m. when the group left the sky over the fleet.

Tan Renhao watched the group leave, and he glanced at the time indicated on the navigation clock. The radio station had fallen silent, and the "Duan Zhixuan" stopped broadcasting half an hour ago, probably because the communication capsule had been destroyed. The communications staff made great efforts to contact the artillery fleet ahead, but not a single battleship answered. The air in the command cabin seemed to be frozen, only the cigarette butt that Tan Renhao held on his finger was still smoking.

Suddenly, there was a sound of electricity. Then a hoarse voice sounded: "...... The Japanese fleet was retreating. report that the Japanese fleet is retreating......"

"It's the heavy cruiser 'Liqiu'." Lei Shaoqing immediately went to find out the battleship that returned the signal.

"Can you contact the 'Liqiu'?" Tan Renhao walked quickly to the side of the communications staff officer.

"Sir, we're already calling. However, the 'Liqiu' did not seem to receive our signal, and it is likely that their radio receiver was damaged. ”

"Continue to call, and give the situation to Zhang Naiding and Deng Zi, and let them pay attention to the whereabouts of the Japanese fleet." Tan Renhao gritted his teeth, at least there was still a warship moving ahead.

At this time, the first batch of fighters to carry out air defense missions rose into the air from the aircraft carriers "Yangtze River", "Yellow River" and "Xuanzong". All three aircraft carriers landed bombers took part in the bombing operations, and only the fighters remained. Responsible for fleet air defense. In order not to speed up the takeoff, each squadron of fighters on the three aircraft carriers released a squadron of fighters, and the fighters of the other squadron were on standby on deck, ready to take off to meet the enemy.

After the fighters were all in the air, Tan Renhao's gaze returned to the communications staff officer. The staff officers were also trying to contact the warships in the shelling formation. The lights on the radio flashed, and the staff officer tried the channels, hoping to get a little signal.

“…… Here is the 'Duan Zhixuan', here is the 'Duan Zhixuan', the enemy fleet is retreating to the northwest. Degree about 22 knots...... Damn, I can't hear the Fleet Commander, get the radio ready......"

Tan Renhao was stunned for a moment, and immediately laughed, it must have been the communication officer on the large cruiser "Duan Zhixuan" who reprimanded the communication officer.

"Can you contact the 'Duan Zhixuan'?" Lei Shaoqing rushed to the front and asked.

"Sir, I'm trying to hope their radio receiver isn't broken!" The communications staff officer quickly adjusted the channel: "This is the flagship, this is the flagship, can the 'Duan Zhixuan' receive the news?" ”

There was a rustle from the speakers. “…… The flagship is the 'Duan Zhixuan', we can hear it. The Japanese fleet is retreating, heading 3o degrees 22, we have disengaged from the enemy, we are trying to catch up with the enemy......"

"Let them stop, their mission is done. Tell them that the bomber swarm is on the road *** can't run away. Tan Renhao immediately said beside him: "Report the losses of the shelling formation as soon as possible, and rescue the officers and soldiers who have fallen into the water if you have the ability." And also...... and so on to provide guidance for the bomber group. ”

The communications staff officer immediately conveyed Tan Renhao's order.

"It looks like the shelling formation is not completely finished!" Lei Shaoqing laughed first: "They will rescue the officers and soldiers who fell into the water, we don't need to worry." ”

"It's time for us to let *** get beaten!" Tan Renhao took out a cigarette, his hands trembling slightly, "Mother, Lao Tzu endured for a night, this time, if you let *** run away again, will Lao Tzu still have the face to go back to see the principal?" ”

Lei Shaoqing was stunned for a moment, and immediately smiled bitterly, it seemed that Tan Renhao also had something wrong, why was he "Lao Tzu" as soon as he opened his mouth, but it was not like this before.

"Help me connect to Deng Zi and Zhang Naiding's channel, and I want to give them direct orders!" Not long after Tan Renhao sat down, a communications officer helped him contact the two captains who were killing the Japanese fleet. "I'm Tan Renhao, Deng Zi, Zhang Naiding, you two don't disgrace the First Task Force, the First Air Company, and the Imperial Navy, help Lao Tzu beat the *** fleet to death, don't show me mercy. If you can't be beaten to death, you just wait for a forced landing on the sea, and Lao Tzu won't leave you a flight deck. When the time comes, Lao Tzu will let the seaplanes hang bombs to carry out bombing missions, if you can afford to lose this face, let *** run away! ”

"Commander, did you eat gunpowder?" Deng Zi also laughed.

Lei Shaoqing laughed beside him, Deng Zi's courage was really not small, and he actually joked with the commander.

"Sir, don't worry, I won't come back if I can't kill the *** 'Yamato'!" Zhang Naiding was much more serious.

"Okay, I won't interfere with your actions, I hope the next time I hear your words!" Tan Renhao turned off the microphone, and then glanced at Lei Shaoqing: "Damn, this time, unless Yamamoto Sixty-Five becomes a fish, don't want to slip away from me!" ”

"Renhao, you're so excited."

Tan Renhao was stunned for a moment and immediately laughed. "Aren't you excited to be pressed and beaten all night? I can't see it, my chief of staff has become so calm, it seems that you were the first to impulse in the previous fights, right? ”

Lei Shaoqing also laughed, and kept shaking his head. Is this war comparable to fighting?

Forward, keep going, flicker, not falling, still fighting!