"Judging by the weather forecast we are getting now, maybe the weather will improve a little bit in late March."

Zheng Guanhua has been in charge of specific affairs, and he is very active. "According to the weather conditions of the past ten years, the weather on the South Atlantic side will start to improve in late April every year, and by early May at the latest, there will be basically no storms, which is more suitable for aircraft carrier operations. If the weather improves in late March, then we can delay the decisive battle until late March. ”

Tan Renhao listened carefully, he arranged these details to Zheng Guanhua to do, first, he could exercise Zheng Guanhua's ability, and second, he was also used to Hao Dongjue to deal with these problems in the past, so it can be said that he has become lazy.

"General Tan, I have already drawn up the relevant aviation combat plan." Zheng Guanhua also knew that Tan Renhao had been giving him the opportunity to exercise, so he was very serious about his work. "We will probably be able to reach the southern tip of Africa by the end of the month, and if we have two days of good weather, then with fleet aviation we can destroy the enemy's fleet and blockade the port of Cape Town......"

"Unless the British give us this chance." Tan Renhao took over the aviation battle plan in Zheng Guanhua's hand. "Have you read the operational report of Task Force 5?"

Zheng Guanhua nodded, a little panicked, as if he had done something wrong.

"Sit down, don't be so nervous, we're partners." Tan Renhao sat Zheng Guanhua down, "Judging from the combat report of the Fifth Task Force, from the very beginning, the British Expeditionary Fleet knew that our aviation strike capability would determine the outcome of the battle, so the British shrewdly chose to launch an attack when our aircraft carriers could not fight. Moreover, it sent the fastest warships to intercept the Fifth Task Force, and even sent a number of ocean-going submarines over. These arrangements are enough to show that the British will not fight aircraft carriers with us. ”

"But there's no way they're going to give up Cape Town, are they?"

"Yes. We've always thought so, but on the battlefield. Won't the adversary guess what we think? Tan Renhao smiled and shook his head, "The actions of the British also show that before they went south, they had obtained a lot of intelligence from the US Navy and conducted in-depth research on the combat methods of the Imperial Navy. Otherwise, they will not give priority to avoiding our aviation strikes. At the same time, this also illustrates the fact that the commander of the British expeditionary fleet also had an understanding of the methods of our commanders. ”

"If this is the case, then the British will definitely study the operational characteristics of General Tan."

Tan Renhao laughed.

"It's not a good compliment."

Zheng Guanhua was annoyed, his ability to pat on the back is not enough.

"Well, that's not a compliment, though. The news of the arrival of the 1st Task Force in the Indian Ocean cannot be kept secret, and sooner or later the British will know our whereabouts. Tan Renhao sighed, "If the commander of the British Expeditionary Fleet really had some ability, he would definitely think that we would take the initiative to kill Cape Town." ”

"We've thought about that before. Even if the British thought of this problem, they would not have a good solution unless the British Expeditionary Fleet was sure enough to defeat Task Force 3. It would also make the weather even worse, making it impossible for Task Force 1 to take part in combat operations.

What's more, now they still have to settle the French expeditionary fleet, otherwise. They had no choice but to abandon the port of Cape Town. ”

"Here's the problem......

Before Tan Renhao's words could be spoken, the communications staff officer ran over. "General, General Jiang Zhongmin sent a telegram that the Marines have captured Moroni."

Tan Renhao was startled, and immediately took the telegram, it was indeed from Jiang Zhongmin, and the content of the telegram was very clear, the marines had captured Moroni. But according to the plan, the landing fleet led by Jiang Zhongmin only arrived in Moroni this morning, could it be that this fortress was laid down in a few hours?

Zheng Guanhua also quickly read the telegram, and then said: "It seems that the British and French expeditionary forces do not have many troops over there, otherwise, General Jiang Zhongmin would not have been able to defeat Moroni so quickly." ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, this was the only suitable explanation. Even if Moroni had no defensive foundation, as long as the British and French expeditionary forces deployed a few hundred officers and soldiers there, it would be enough to hold Jiang Zhongmin for a day or two. And so far, Jiang Zhongmin has only taken a few hours at most to defeat Moroni, not to mention the battle, even if it takes several hours to get the marines ashore and search the entire fortress. In other words, Moroni did not have British and French troops at all, and before Jiang Zhongmin and them arrived, the British and French troops withdrew.

Thinking of this, Tan Renhao felt that something was wrong. Moroni really didn't have much defensive value, but the importance of this fortress was obvious, even if the British and French expeditionary forces were at odds, unless the British wanted to retreat, otherwise, they had no reason to give up Moroni completely, even if it was a symbolic stay of a few hundred people. Then why did the Anglo-French expeditionary force completely abandon Moroni?

Tan Renhao's speculation was confirmed half an hour later, and the second telegram sent by Jiang Zhongmin clearly mentioned that when they arrived, there was no trace of the enemy in Moroni, and the local residents also confirmed that the British and French expeditionary force had left Moroni three days earlier. When these troops withdrew, they did not destroy Moroni's infrastructure or harm the inhabitants, they simply withdrew. In addition, Jiang Zhongmin and the others also found some evidence of the withdrawal of the British and French troops, and some of the equipment and materials of the British and French troops were left in Moroni at that time, and it seems that they retreated in a hurry, and they did not have time to take them away at all.

"Talking about the general, I think it's a bit strange!" This time, even Zheng Guanhua felt that something was wrong.

Tan Renhao nodded slightly. "It's a bit weird indeed. If the British and French troops had withdrawn in a hurry, they should have at least destroyed some of the military infrastructure so that it would not be used by us. If they were retreating in an orderly manner, then why were there supplies left? ”

"It seems that they arranged it on purpose?"

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't." Tan Renhao sat down, "The issue between Britain and France is too complicated. Judging by the current situation. Perhaps the British were in a hurry to catch up with the French fleet, so they had no choice but to abandon Moroni. The British Expeditionary Force did not want to abandon the expedition, and thought that we would not immediately go south. So there was no destruction of Moroni's infrastructure, presumably after the British wanted to solve the French problem. Immediately head north, and at that time, we were still in Colombo. Of course, this is just one case. There are many other possibilities. For example, Britain has decided to abandon the expedition. And they are about to leave Cape Town and return to the North Atlantic, and the destruction of Port Moroni does not make much sense, or it is too fast to go too fast, and it is not even enough to take away the supplies completely, etc. ”

"But ......"

Tan Renhao looked at Zheng Guanhua. "But what?"

"But I don't think it makes sense." Zheng Guanhua hesitated for a moment, and then said, "If the former is the case, then it is more logical that Britain should leave a group of troops in Moroni, right?" If Britain had abandoned the expedition. Then they should destroy the infrastructure of Moronidi, which can cause us some trouble, and they should not leave the infrastructure to us. It's impossible to leave supplies, and it's not a waste to use some explosives, right? ”

Tan Renhao laughed. "And what do you think is possible?"

"Talking about generals, I always feel a little strange." Zheng Guanhua pondered for a while, or hesitated for a while. Then he said, "Perhaps, this is a trap set for us by the British and French." ”

Tan Renhao nodded, he thought so too.

"Judging by the whole operation, the French withdrew too quickly, and the British acted too recklessly.

Even if the British feared that the French fleet would fall into our hands, they should have acted more cautiously. The South Atlantic was so far from the British mainland, and the French navy had already been struck by surprise, that the French expeditionary fleet would not be unguarded against the British. If the British and French fleets had fought first, even if the British fleet had won, it would have paid a heavy price. And on this side, the damaged battleship cannot be repaired immediately, which will inevitably lead to a great loss of strength of the British expeditionary fleet, what good is it for Britain? "From all angles, the British should have acted more cautiously and carefully, and should have gone all out to try for a peaceful solution rather than resort to force." Judging from the information we have now received, from the very beginning, the British Expeditionary Fleet was aggressive and did not think at all about solving the problem by peaceful means, which is indeed illogical, let alone in the fundamental interests of Britain. ”

"But there is a question in the middle, if this is really a trap, then is the layout of the Anglo-French expeditionary force on Moroni's side too explicit?"

"General Tan, if there is no loophole in this trap, then we will definitely be more cautious, and the British and French expeditionary forces deliberately showed some flaws, so that we suspect that this is their trap, but if we can't get it right, then we will be more likely to be fooled."

Tan Renhao was stunned for a moment, Zheng Guanhua's analysis made sense. A trap that is too perfect is not the best trap, and to make people feel that there is something wrong within the British and French expeditionary forces, it has to show some flaws.

Just like now, if there is no reminder from Zheng Guanhua, Tan Renhao will suspect that this is a trap, but he is absolutely not sure that this is a trap, so he will hesitate, and this may be the ultimate goal of the British and French alliance.

Zheng Guanhua did not continue, as the chief of staff of the fleet, he has the right to make suggestions, but before the commander of the fleet leaves his post, he has no decision-making power. Now, Zheng Guanhua has used his right to suggest, and the opinion has been put in place, and the power to make decisions is in the hands of Tan Renhao.

"Where's Task Force 3 now?" Tan Renhao said as he walked to the chart table.

Zheng Guanhua immediately marked the location of the Third Task Force on the chart. "About 70 nautical miles southwest of us, we are scheduled to be contacted by water plane every half hour before entering the high-sea seas."

"When's the next contact?"

"In ten minutes, we should send a seaplane over."

Tan Renhao looked up at the navigation clock, and at this time, Zheng Guanhua also clearly marked the location, course, speed and other important parameters of the two fleets at this time on the route of the chart.

"Looks like we're going to have to keep a hand." Tan Renhao said to himself, and then said to Zheng Guanhua, "We have to re-plan the route." If this is indeed a trap, then we must be prepared not to be caught off guard by the British. Wait a minute, go and ask the new general to come over. ”

Zheng Guanhua immediately wrote down the order, and then called the staff officer in charge of the fleet's communications.

"We haven't reached the waters near Madagascar yet, but the British are certainly preparing to meet us, and if they do surprise us, then we should be ready to give them a gift." Tan Renhao sneered, "Xiao Zheng, you reformulate the aviation battle plan according to the standard of attacking the British Expeditionary Fleet and the French Expeditionary Fleet at the same time, and strive to come up with it tonight, is there a problem?" ”

"No problem at all, I'll get ready right away."

"It's not early, you're ready, send me to my cabin in the evening." Tan Renhao raised his head, "After the new general arrives, let him come directly to my cabin." ”

Zheng Guanhua nodded and wrote down these orders. Tan Renhao left the command cabin at this time. Zheng Guanhua reminded him, and at the same time, Tan Renhao felt that danger was approaching.

If the British really wanted to come looking for trouble, then Task Force 1 had to be prepared.

After returning to the cabin, he first called Du Xing over and asked Du Xing to inform the restaurant and prepare a few more dishes for him in the evening, Chang Jianxin would definitely arrive before dinner, so he also had to prepare to entertain Chang Jianxin for dinner, but this didn't need to be paid by Ren Hao himself.

Before Chang recommended the new arrival, Tan Renhao had been thinking about what might happen. His thinking was rather confused, mainly because he met a strange opponent this time, not only did he not know much about the British Navy, but also did he not know much about the British Admiral who led the LinkedIn expeditionary fleet this time. This is a big question, after all, knowing your opponent is the first step to defeating your opponent.

It is precisely because Tan Renhao does not know his opponent very well that it is difficult to make bold guesses and judgments, which greatly limits his hands and feet, making him feel a little helpless many times. Of course, these problems must also be overcome!