There was silence on the sea before dawn, the cool sea breeze gently fluttered the flag on the top of the warship's mast, several signal lights silently communicated signals, and soldiers with guns on their backs silently walked back and forth on the deck, everything was so quiet and harmonious.

At this time, the boiler room and engine room below the deck of the flagship "Wissenburg" were a different lively scene, and the stokers who had stayed up all night were exhausted, although these German warships were equipped with full heavy oil boilers, and the number of stokers needed on a ship was far less than when coal-fired boilers were used in the past, but this did not mean that the work of the stokers was much easier than before, and the 16 oil-fired boilers and 4 steam turbines needed to be checked all the time to ensure that the oil pump was oiled, the water pump was loaded, and the water was loaded. Boiler pressure and so on are normal, at the same time for the rotation, sliding, cam part lubricating oil, once a boiler or turbine failure, the stoker must also brave the high temperature as soon as possible to repair it, once the high temperature situation is too long, people are also prone to dehydration, fainting and even heat outburst, so the stoker is not an easy job.

Fortunately, the night had just passed peacefully, and there were no major failures in the boilers and engines on the ship, and when the other stokers came to change shifts, the previous people finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although they did not know the specific goals of the fleet's trip, they all knew that the fleet was sailing very close to the Japanese archipelago at this time, and it was very important to maintain the speed and endurance of the voyage in such a situation.

"Guys, the captain just said, everyone did very well last night, and each person will be rewarded with a bottle, beer and a can of beef!"

The words of the officer on duty made the stokers who were about to sleep well cheer excitedly, you must know that alcohol is usually not allowed in a state of combat readiness, and this state has lasted for more than half a year since the start of the war between Germany and Japan, except when they are on vacation in their home port, these stokers and other sailors and officers on the ship cannot even smell the smell of alcohol.

So, every shift stoker was smiling when he received the extra canned beer and beef, and one of them said to the officer on duty with a grin:

"Hey, I said ensign.

Is this bottle of beer a little missing, my belly is big, what do you think of sending me two bottles? ”

"No way!" The officer on duty seriously cut off the other party's attempt, "A bottle is already the captain taking extra care of everyone, I don't want everyone to be drunk after 16 hours!" ”

"Alright then!" The stoker shrugged helplessly just now, "But when we get back to Qingdao, you can send us extra beer, how about it?" ”

The officer on duty laughed but did not answer, because the fleet's trip was not the usual patrol and harassment. The next time I return to Qingdao, I don't know if it will be until the Year of the Monkey.

At the same time, in the mighty bridge above deck, most of the officers who had slept peacefully had washed up and came to replace the officers on duty who had stayed up all night, and it was the captain of the new battlecruiser, Commodore Peltz, who ordered a small reward for the stokers.

"Fleet course, speed?"

"Report to the General, the fleet is sailing 20 degrees east-north at a speed of 25.4 knots!"

"The speed continues to be maintained, and the course of each ship is changed to 25 degrees to the east of north!"

"Yes!"

After making sure that the fleet was heading north along the east coast of the Japanese archipelago as planned, Peltz left the nautical chart and walked to the porthole made of tempered glass. Half a month ago, he didn't dare to imagine that he would lead such a fleet to sail so close to the Japanese mainland. The Hipper fleet stationed in Qingdao had not gone north to reinforce the shipper's fleet stationed on Kuye Island since the beginning of the war, because the powerful Japanese 1st Fleet was holding the Tsushima Strait. For the fleet from Europe. To this day, the gloom of the 1905 annihilation of the Russian fleet still hangs over it. Even the best commanders of the German Navy were not sure to break through the Tsushima Strait to Kuya Island with a weaker force, as for bypassing the Japanese archipelago and entering the Soya Strait from the east. Not only would the voyage be much longer than the passage through the Tsushima Strait, but it would also give the Japanese fleet the opportunity to set up an ambush in the Soya Strait.

However, Brigadier General Peltz was full of confidence at this time, because he had just received news that the Japanese 1st Fleet stationed in Sasebo was still honestly staying in the harbor, not to mention that the ultimate goal of his fleet was not Kuye Island.

After daybreak, Peltz ordered the escort aircraft carrier "Andhar" to continue to send fighter jets to harass the Japanese coast, in fact, the 11,000-ton aircraft carrier carried only 25 fighters, its weak armor could not withstand a single torpedo or more than 203 mm caliber shells, but its greatest advantage was a top speed of 29 knots and a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles.

In this fleet. The top speed and endurance of the flagship "Wisenberg" are 34 knots and 8,000 nautical miles, respectively, and the light cruisers "Reeser" and "Melburn" are 33 knots, 32 knots, and 6,400 nautical miles and 6,100 nautical miles, which is enough for them to circle the Japanese archipelago and return to Qingdao.

Amid the smoke and the roar of the engines, 10 fighters took off one after another and flew in two formations of five planes in different directions, and it was not long before the Japanese emperor and his military headquarters received reports of small-scale air raids on two ports.

Yes. Peltz's fleet was like the Mongol rangers at this time, from time to time approaching the opposing camp and placing a few arrows, the opposing infantry alone could not deal with these fast-moving rangers, while the opposing cavalry was firmly attracted in the other direction and could not be separated!

At this moment, the Japanese base camp finally realized the bitter fruit of throwing most of its fighters into the battle of Kuyo Island - the huge Honshu at this time had only one aviation group composed of old biplane fighters, and many important cities, although there were many anti-aircraft guns, could not deal with the enemy operating along the coast.

Tateyama was attacked by German planes!

A German ship was spotted 220 nautical miles east of Tateyama!

Lightning Strike Fleet Strikes!

The lightning strike fleet loses its target!

Mito was attacked by German planes!

Spotted a German ship 180 nautical miles east of Mito!

Lightning Strike Fleet Strikes!

The lightning strike fleet loses its target!

Iwaki was attacked by German planes!

Spotted a German ship 280 nautical miles east of Iwaki!

Lightning Strike Fleet Strikes!

The 33rd Teaching Flying Squadron is on the offensive!

The lightning strike fleet loses its target!

The 33rd Teaching Squadron was blocked by enemy fighters!

The 33rd Teaching Flying Squadron suffered heavy losses! - The command of the Japanese Navy and Army was very busy, and all General Peltz needed to do was to constantly order his fleet to turn and turn again.

Irregular routes are the most difficult to track, not to mention the fact that the lightning strike fleet of Japanese-made torpedo boats is not very dominant in speed!

After carefully studying the curve formed by the location of the German fleet, the Japanese generals finally discovered an important information - the German fleet was constantly moving north!

As a result, the Boron Squadron, which was supporting the landing force in Ani Bay in the Soya Strait, soon received an order, and its capital ships immediately set off for the sea area east of the Soya Strait, and as long as the German fleet continued to move north, the 3rd Fleet, which had a relative advantage, would give the opposing side a head-on attack with the advantage of waiting for work.

July 31. Mitsu, in the northernmost part of Honshu, and Hakodate, in the southernmost part of Hokkaido, were attacked by German fighters within an hour, and although this attack caused only a few people and a few houses, it sent an important signal to the Japanese that the German fleet had moved north to the waters of Hokkaido!

After receiving another telegram from the Navy Headquarters, the commander of the Japanese Third Fleet, Heigo Teraoka, finally personally led the super battleship "Owari", the battlecruiser "Hiei", the heavy aircraft carrier "Iyu", and the escort aircraft carrier "Nisshin" and "Kamui" to the southern Kuril Islands to the island of Zeto, ready to intercept the German fleet, which, according to the previous speed of the German fleet, could reach the waters near the island in one day.

With the departure of the capital ships, there were only battleships "Aki" and "Hanoi" in the Soya Strait at this time, two escort aircraft carriers converted from merchant ships, a few light cruisers, destroyers, and a large number of transport ships, while the German fleet occupying the northern part of the Kuril Islands had quietly increased its strength to one battleship, the Graff-class "Graf", and one battlecruiser, the Brandenburg-class "Brandenburg". There are 3 heavy cruisers, namely the Scharnhorst-class "Lewald", the Andhar-class "Andhar", and the Anderhall-class "Schönin", and the 3 medium-sized aircraft carriers, namely the Zeppelin-class "Tirpitz", the European-class "Moritz", and the European-class "Ferdinand", plus 7 light cruisers, 20 destroyers, and a large number of land-based aviation units.

While the Japanese Navy Headquarters was keeping its eyes firmly on the main forces of the Hipper Fleet operating in the waters of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea and the harassment fleet that suddenly moved northward, the main force of the German Navy's No. 1 Moth Group, the former Pacific No. 1 Inkstone, which had been operating in the Central Pacific Sea, suddenly exerted its strength, and the powerful fleet passed through the waters between the Ryukyu Islands and Kyushu Island all night into the East China Sea, and quickly joined up with the 1st Hipperdi Battle Group, the former German Pacific No. 1 Inkstone, before the Japanese army had time to make the next deployment, and the strength of the new fleet was instantly expanded to 8 battleships. With dozens of 4 battle cruisers, 4 heavy aircraft carriers, 4 medium aircraft carriers and light ships, the Japanese 1st Fleet, which had always been in the upper hand, found itself "shorter" than the other side overnight!

On the same day, when having dinner with the generals of the Supreme Command, Chen Tian toasted with great ambition:

"May our Grey Forest operation go smoothly!"

The generals of the army, navy and air force present here also vented all the frustration in the recent period in a timely manner:

"At the current level. The Japanese Navy has no chance of turning the tables! ”

"Even if you can't completely annihilate the main Japanese fleet. Let the situation in the Far East be reversed as well! ”

"Without maritime superiority, the Japanese Kwantung Army, known as the elite division, will enter the grave of running out of ammunition and food!"

"Kuye Island, the Kuril Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, and the Korean Peninsula, our bombers will be flooding into the Japanese mainland from all directions. Our earth bombs will raze that despicable island nation! ”

After a tinkling of wine glasses, everyone drank the red wine in the glass, which was very enjoyable!

Usually, Chen Tian has always given people the feeling that he is more than calm and domineering, but at this time, he still shows his arrogant side:

"If nothing else, the Battle of the Chosen Island will start in a few hours, and if the Japanese still have some self-knowledge, their main naval force may be able to breathe for a few more days, otherwise it will be ......."

Chentian's voice just fell. There was another wave of excitement below.

"Annihilate the Japanese fleet!"

"Long live victory!"

"Long live the Empire!"

"Long live the Emperor!"

Chen Tian put down the wine glass with satisfaction, and the wish of many years finally came to the moment when it was about to be realized, and the depression in his chest was eager to vent all at this moment, which was not only for himself, but also for the thousands of compatriots in the past and present lives to make a righteous move.

At this moment, Chentian thought of Rainey, of the lifelong hope of this loyal big man; I thought of Lisa, and remembered the touching scene of this kind woman in Lushun; I think of the thousands of innocent people who suffered from the atrocities of the Japanese army, and I think of the scenes of righteous indignation that I have seen in photos and films in the past.

Now. The time for punishment has finally arrived.

However, the war is far from over, the "Grey Forest" has only just begun, and the drama is yet to come, so today's celebration is limited to a glass of wine!

"When the war is over, let's all have a drink together!"

After saying this, Chen Tian took the lead and began to enjoy dinner, and the generals also turned their attention to the sumptuous table, the enticing aroma of freshly baked bread in the bread basket, the fine quality butter sparkling in the light on the small silver plate, and then the well-roasted steak, slightly charred lamb chops, golden roast chicken, and fresh mushroom clam soup, all of which whetted the appetite of the generals after a hard day's work.

The atmosphere that had been very warm just now quickly quieted down, and everyone including Chentian was trying to eliminate the contents of their plates, and it seemed that everyone understood that only when they were full could they devote their energy to their respective work.

The night in Berlin was the dawn of the Far East, and under the dark darkness of the night, the huge attack fleet was heading towards its intended goal. On the battleships heading for the battlefield, the officers and men on duty on rotation stuck to their respective positions without any recklessness, the officers and sailors who had just come off their posts seized the time to eat and rest, and many more were accumulating their energy in a deep sleep.

Dawn, early in the morning, time flies by, and under the sun, the black vulture crusade banner and the sixteen sunburst flags are about to stage a collision of blood and fire.