This time, Tan Renhao and the others did not return to Hangzhou, but directly boarded a naval torpedo boat in Beilun Port in Ningbo, and then went to Zhoushan. When passing through Ningbo, Tan Renhao had already seen that the expressions of the people on the street were different from those of the previous days. The shouting newsboys, the hurried passers-by, and the old people and women who were whispering on the side of the road to discuss someone, etc., all gave Tan Renhao a sense of foreboding.

As soon as they boarded the dock of Zhoushan Port, several jeeps drove over, and Marshal Nie Renfeng's adjutant came to greet them. Tan Renhao also saw a familiar figure in the crowd at the dock.

"General, Marshal, please go to the headquarters immediately!"

Tan Renhao nodded and said, "I'll go right away, and help me send a few of them back first." ”

The marshal's adjutant nodded, and took Lei Shaoqing and the others to the headquarters dormitory first. Liao Hanxiang and Liao Yingyu talked about Renhao when they were in Ningbo, and they did not come to Zhoushan.

At this time, Tan Renhao walked in front of Du Xing and patted Du Xing's shoulder with a smile. "How's the school life going to be a second lieutenant, isn't it?"

Du Xing smiled a little shyly, and at the same time took the travel bag in Tan Renhao's hand that was not too heavy. "General, you're laughing at me, but school life is really not ordinary."

"Let's get in the car first." Tan Renhao got into the car first, and he was a little surprised to see Duchenne here.

When he was promoted to colonel and served as the operational staff officer of the colonel of the Fifth Fleet, Tan Renhao recommended Duchenne to go to the Imperial Naval Academy (not a naval officer academy, but an academy for advanced officers) to go to further study. This can also be regarded as a little influence used by Ren Hao. After two years at the school, Duchenne was able to return to the Fifth Fleet as a naval officer as a second lieutenant. However, he only stayed in school for more than half a year, probably because of the lack of junior officers in the navy due to the outbreak of the war, so he graduated early.

"General. Actually, I don't even know how to thank you if it weren't for your help......"

"Duchen, don't say these kind words, what are your plans for the future?" Tan Renhao lit a cigarette.

"Let's be your adjutant, in fact, I'm used to this position."

Tan Renhao nodded with a smile and said, "It's okay, then you are still my adjutant." You should be well aware that the possibility of promotion in this position is very small. ”

Du Xing also laughed, Marshal Nie Renfeng's adjutant was now just a captain officer. However, he knows better, even if he is only a captain officer, he can be neither humble nor arrogant in front of the general, which is one of the advantages of being an adjutant.

In a short time, Duchenne parked the jeep in front of the naval headquarters. When Tan Renhao walked into the door, the two guards by the door immediately stood up and saluted, and their attitudes seemed much more respectful. And when the officers in the headquarters saw Tan Renhao wearing a general's uniform, they were even more busy and took the initiative to salute. At the same time, he looked surprised.

"Report ......" Tan Renhao hesitated. I feel that it is a bit incorrect to shout "report" now.

"General, you came back in time." Nie Renfeng looked Tan Renhao up and down, and he also looked a little surprised.

Tan Renhao noticed the sets of generals' uniforms placed on the sand. Immediately smiled and said, "The principal borrowed it from General Wu Xianyu and wore it temporarily. ”

Nie Renfeng then understood, then nodded with a smile and said, "Sit down, what do you want to drink?" ”

"You're welcome, headmaster." Tan Renhao took off his hat and sat down.

"Did you hear the news on the road?" Nie Renfeng poured a cup of tea for Tan Renhao, and there was a big teapot in his office. After Nie Renfeng quit smoking, drinking tea became his only hobby. "The Russian Empire has already declared war on us this morning, but this is only one of the major events of the last few days."

Tan Renhao frowned slightly, he already knew when those newsboys were selling "off".

"Yesterday, our 6th Sentai deployed on Jeju Island and the 6th Corps deployed near Pusan clashed with two Japanese armies and captured a few prisoners. This is information obtained from the interrogation of prisoners. Nie Renfeng put a document in front of Tan Renhao, "They are all reconnaissance troops of the Osaka Division of the Japanese 6th Army, and now the Osaka Division is deployed near Maguan and is the main force of the Japanese Deng6 Korea." And both units are on reconnaissance missions in the early stage. ”

Tan Renhao was slightly startled and quickly skimmed through the two interrogation confessions.

"In other words, it is very likely that Japan will launch combat operations on the Korean Peninsula in the next few days." Nie Renfeng handed over a box of cigarettes: "Our intelligence system is working hard to collect the specific details of Japan's Deng-6 operation, but there is not much to gain yet." In addition, the Sixth Army has also ordered all garrisons on Jeju Island in the northeastern part of the Korean Peninsula to be in the highest state of combat readiness, and all officers and men in the barracks have entered defensive positions, and the Sixth Navigation has also stepped up patrols in the Korean Strait. Now that the Russian Empire has declared war on us, this is actually a signal that Japan is about to land on the Korean Peninsula. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, and was about to say something when the door was pushed open.

Gan Yongxing walked in briskly, and without even taking off his hat, he said, "The principal just received the news...... Renhao, you're back too? ”

Tan Renhao immediately stood up and greeted Gan Yongxing.

Gan Yongxing sat down before taking off his hat. "I just received the news that an hour ago, Japanese troops landed on Tsushima Island, the Korean Peninsula, northeast of Busan, and the Changji Peninsula north of Ulsan.6

Tan Renhao immediately looked at Gan Yongxing in surprise, and the news came very suddenly.

"It's time to come." Nie Renfeng seemed very calm: "How many people are in the 6th Army, what news is there from the 6th Army now?" ”

"The exact number is not clear, but the intelligence from the 6th Army shows that the Japanese army Deng 6 has at least three divisions, of which the 6 in Tsushima should be a brigade. There are also a large number of troops coming ashore in a steady stream, and according to the information we have now, Japan has deployed at least 30,000 to 50,000 troops in the southwest of its homeland, and the number of Deng-6 troops they have invested will not be less than 200,000. ”

The room suddenly fell silent, 2o thousand, which is about equivalent to 15 divisions of the Imperial 6th Army, although the Imperial 6th Army has 25 divisions deployed on the Korean Peninsula, but there are only about 1o to 15 divisions on the front line, this battle is not easy to fight!

pondered for a while. Nie Renfeng said: "Yongxing: If the 6th Army puts forward any requirements, we will support them as much as we can." Now is not the time to talk to the 6th Army about the prejudices of the Gate, if there is any danger on the Korean Peninsula, the important industrial towns in the northeast of the empire will be threatened, so we must stop Japan in the south of the Korean Peninsula at all costs, and it is better to drive the Japanese 6th Army into the sea. ”

Tan Renhao suddenly thought of something. However, seeing that Marshal Nie Renfeng's attitude was so resolute, it was not easy for him to say his idea that seemed a little deviant.

"Then I'll go back to the staff immediately, and I'll come back if there's more news." Gan Yongxing stood up as he spoke.

After Nie Renfeng sent Gan Yongxing away, he closed the door, and then said to Tan Renhao: "Sooner or later, there will be such a day, but the current situation may not be too bad for us." At least the Russian Empire declared war in advance, which gives us a good alarm. ”

"Marshal. Perhaps it was the Russian Empire that forced Japan to ascend 6. ”

Nie Renfeng nodded. "Over there in Europe. The German Empire's troops advanced to Minsk last autumn for a winter, and both sides fought over the city. And the army of the Persian Empire has captured Tbilisi. Advances are now underway towards Makhachkala, in preparation for cutting off Baku's access to the interior of the Russian Empire from the north. The Russian Empire was likewise faced with the problem of fighting on two fronts. Now they thought that they had blocked the army of the German Empire in Minsk, and they looked down on the combat effectiveness of the 6th Army of the Persian State and thought that it was time to declare war on us. Of course, as for why the Russian Empire was engaged in a three-front war at this time, I am afraid we cannot guess at all. ”

Tan Renhao thought for a moment and said, "Is there any hope for Marshal 6th Army to repel the Japanese 6th Army on the Korean Peninsula?" ”

"I don't dare to guarantee anything for Yan Dingyu. The 6th Army should not have much problem holding the three lines of defense on the Korean Peninsula. ”

Seeing Nie Renfeng laughing, Tan Renhao also smiled reluctantly, and then said: "I have an idea, maybe it's a bit ridiculous, but it's actually ......."

"Renhao, your idea seems a bit ridiculous to many people, but I think as long as it's an idea. You can say it, and let's discuss it together. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, thought for a while, and said, "Actually, why did we drive away the Japanese Deng 6 troops?" In the eyes of others, the Korean Peninsula will be a quagmire of the Imperial Sixth Army, so why not think about it the other way around, the Korean Peninsula is also a quagmire of the Japanese Sixth Army and even the entire Japanese land. As long as there is any hope for Japan to invade the Korean Peninsula and threaten the empire itself, then they will continue to send troops into this quagmire. All we have to do is give the Japanese hope and launch a strategic counterattack in the Pacific while Japan is entangled in the Korean Peninsula. ”

Nie Renfeng hesitated slightly, and then laughed. "Your idea is a bit outrageous, but it's very creative. Previously, we had treated North Korea as an imperial territory, and no one could interfere. However, I will consider it, and I will also help you convey this suggestion to Marshal Yan Dingyu, and I believe that the 6th Army will also consider it. ”

Tan Renhao smiled awkwardly, this was just an idea that he had started to have suddenly.

"Of course, you actually mean to drag Japan down by fighting a protracted war with Japan in Korea, but the other thing is perhaps much more important than the Russian Empire's declaration of war on us and Japan's landing on the Korean Peninsula." Nie Renfeng's expression became serious, and he picked up a top-secret document. "A few days ago, we received information that the President of the United States of America had met with several important members of both Houses in succession within a few days and had secretly submitted a bill that would be discussed publicly in the next few days, and which would directly determine the attitude and position of the United States of America in this war."

Tan Renhao's gaze fell on the top-secret document.

"Now we're calling it the 'Lend-Lease Act' for the time being." Nie Renfeng gave the document to Tan Renhao: "If the bill is passed by Congress, the war resources of the United States of America will flow directly into the hands of Japan, the British Empire, the Kingdom of France, and the Russian Empire. And these countries no longer need to use hard currency to buy arms and other war materials from the United States, but through lend-lease and credit purchases. ”

"It's the same as the last time it was in the Great War!" Tan Renhao immediately realized the seriousness of the problem.

"In the case of the last war, the United States of America also used this method to force us to sit down and negotiate when we were finally able to win." Nie Renfeng sighed, "But the problem now is far from that simple. The United States of America is practically on a par with us, and now our adversaries are strong enough, and if the war power of the United States of America is harnessed by the Japanese and British Empires, then we will most likely end the war again without victory, or even with defeat. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, and Japan alone would bring so much trouble to the empire, and Japan, which had the full support of the United States of America, would bring even more trouble to the empire.

"Now the Prime Minister is already preparing for negotiations with the United States of America. But don't get your hopes up, we must be ready for war with the United States of America at the same time. Nie Renfeng's gaze fell on Tan Renhao, "But before that, we have to kill Japan first." Prime Minister Xue Xi and Yue have already given the order, and the war with Japan will be dominated by the Imperial Navy, and we still have a year to go. In other words, we must defeat Japan in this year, at least so that Japan loses most of its war strength and cannot pose a threat to us. ”

"Marshal, what should I do?" Tan Renhao asked very directly.

Nie Renfeng laughed and said, "Within a year, the Imperial Navy will basically recover. Now Task Force 1 does not yet have the ability to go to sea. The battle to capture Ryukyu Island will not be completed until at least the middle of next month, when the 1st Task Force will basically regain its combat effectiveness. Therefore, what you have to do now is to help the Imperial Navy formulate a plan to attack Japan and destroy Japan, and use the most direct and effective means to take out Japan. ”

Of course, Tan Renhao would not refuse this task, but he also knew that this task was not easy to complete.