While the work of sweat, blood, life, honor, courage, sacrifice, etc., was still being written on Midway, on the sea west of Midway, the order for combat readiness in Task Force 2 had already been issued.

Before the early morning of the 8th, the Second Task Force maneuvered to the sea about 550 nautical miles north of Wake Island. This is the mobile sea area redetermined by Lei Shaoqing. Long-range patrol aircraft on Wake Island can help the fleet monitor the sea about 150 nautical miles to the north and 300 nautical miles to the east. The reconnaissance planes in the fleet mainly searched the north and northeast sides of the fleet. In this way, if Spruance wanted to sneak attack Task Force 2, he would have to enter the patrol range of shore-based reconnaissance aircraft, and Task Force 2 would have extremely valuable early warning time.

After dawn, Zheng Guanhua arranged for carrier-based reconnaissance planes to take off one after another, and there were three aircraft carrier battle groups in the fleet at that time, consisting of two fleet aircraft carriers and two small aircraft carriers. The fleet aircraft carrier has a reconnaissance aircraft squadron with 12 "Shooting Birds" reconnaissance aircraft, while the number of aircraft carried by each small aircraft carrier is sixty (fifteen more than the American "Independence" class), one squadron of "Shooting Birds" (or "Sea Eagle" bombers), and two squads of "Falcon" fighters. And six of the "waterfowl" bombers of each squadron are equipped according to the standards of reconnaissance aircraft and can perform reconnaissance missions. At that time, both small aircraft carriers were equipped with squadrons of "waterfowl" bombers, so the fleet had a total of 36 reconnaissance aircraft.

In addition to these 36 reconnaissance planes, Zheng Guanhua also arranged for a squadron of "waterfowl" bombers to carry out reconnaissance missions (one squadron each from the two fleet aircraft carriers, and half a squadron from each of the two small aircraft carriers). Seaplanes on escort cruisers were also assigned tasks. Other words. At that time, Zheng Guanhua sent more than 100 reconnaissance planes in one go. These reconnaissance aircraft have three main reconnaissance directions, one is to the east of the fleet, and the other is to the northeast. The third is the north side. In addition, a dozen reconnaissance aircraft will carry out reconnaissance patrol missions in the northwestern direction of the fleet. Shore-based reconnaissance aircraft dispatched by Shanghai Airlines. At that time, at least more than 200 reconnaissance aircraft flew in the sky around Task Force 2. This density is a little frightening, and it is impossible for the American fleet to sneak up on Task Force 2.

Of course, Zheng Guanhua did not relax in the slightest, although he judged that Spruance should not launch a sneak attack until about ten days, but who can guarantee that the US commander will not attack in advance? Therefore. After arranging for the reconnaissance planes to take off, he had a squadron of ground fighters on the task of air defense of the fleet immediately take to the air. There is also a squadron of fighters parked on the flight decks of four aircraft carriers, ready to take off. In the end, Zheng Guanhua made the bomber ready to take off at any time.

At that time, he had nearly three squadrons of "water birds" and two squadrons of "sea eagles", which were enough to form two waves of bombers.

As the minutes ticked by, the atmosphere in the fleet became tense. Lei Shaoqing handed over the normal work of the fleet to Zheng Guanhua to be responsible, and he has been thinking about what the US fleet is doing now.

Lei Shaoqing didn't dare to underestimate Spruance at all, and fought Spruance twice. Especially in the "Second Battle of the Marianas", Spruance almost beat Lei Shaoqing to pieces with a heavy punch. Moreover, in the "Second Battle of Wake Island", if it weren't for the fast running of the "Bell Lake" aircraft carrier at that time, I am afraid that the Second Task Force would have to lie on its stomach, if it were not for Tan Renhao's timely and decisive decision to let the Second Task Force return to the battlefield. Then all four American aircraft carriers will escape. Anyway, Lei Shaoqing has already suffered a big loss at the hands of Spruance twice, and this time, he doesn't dare to be careless, let alone underestimate this powerful opponent.

"A telegram from the Marines." Zheng Guanhua is not only responsible for the aviation mission of the fleet, "Han Shaofeng They have already advanced 100 meters in the morning, and they are still expanding the offensive, I heard that General Han Shaofeng has arrived at the front line, and the Marine Corps plans to advance 300 meters before dark." ”

Lei Shaoqing was taken aback. "300 meters?"

Zheng Guanhua nodded. That's what the telegram said, Han Shaofeng was already desperate.

If the Marines advance 300 meters today, they will switch to the defensive tomorrow and wait for reinforcements to arrive on the 10th before launching a final general attack. ”

"What is the depth of the U.S. military's defense zone?"

"The narrowest point is probably only 500 meters, and it's in the middle of the defensive line." Zheng Guanhua immediately pulled out a map of Midway Island, on which the staff officer had already marked the front line of the Marine Corps. "Here, the Marines advanced 100 meters in the morning, and they were the focus of the attack on the entire front."

"Han Shaofeng wants to cut the U.S. military into two parts?" Although Lei Shaoqing is not very proficient in land warfare, he can still see this simple tactic at a glance.

"It was not mentioned in the telegram, and there was no need for General Han Shaofeng to mention it to us."

Zheng Guanhua shrugged his shoulders, "Judging from the current offensive arrangement of the Marine Corps, he must first complete the interspersed division, and then first kill the smaller US troops in the northeast of the island, and then concentrate on capturing the US troops in the southeast of the island and entrenched around the airport." ”

Lei Shaoqing nodded slightly, thought quickly for a while, and said, "That is to say, the US troops on Midway Island have fallen into a desperate situation. ”

"General Lei, you mean, they're going to ask for reinforcements?"

"Definitely, and will!" Lei Shaoqing smashed his fist on the chart table, "In the past few days, it was difficult for the Marine Corps to advance 100 meters within 24 hours, but this morning it advanced 100 meters, if Han Shaofeng can really advance 300 meters before dark, and continue to attack at night, then the US army will definitely need reinforcements." ”

Zheng Guanhua also nodded.

"Well, the only thing that can reinforce the American forces on Midway now is Spruance's fleet."

"If the U.S. military sends a convoy over now, it will arrive at the 11th at the earliest, and according to previous intelligence, the U.S. convoy will also arrive at Midway Island on the 10th." Lei Shaoqing took out a cigarette, "And before that, Han Shaofeng is likely to complete the interspersed division." At that time, even if the reinforcements of the US army arrived, it would be difficult to quickly turn the situation around. At the very least, Han Shaofeng will also get reinforcements on the 10th. And holding Midway is the only way for the U.S. military to hold on. They won't give up easily. ”

"There's a good chance that Spruance has already received orders, and there's a good chance that his fleet will be supporting Midway tomorrow."

Lei Shaoqing smiled and nodded. "Well, then, the Spruance Ground Fleet will have to maneuver in place this evening. It is a maximum of 250 nautical miles from Midway, perhaps only 150 nautical miles. ”

Zheng Guanhua immediately turned out the nautical chart of the theater of operations, and quickly circled a circular sea area with a radius of 250 nautical miles on the chart at the location of Midway Island on the chart.

"Before. We judged Spruance to be aiming to kill us first. Lei Shaoqing nodded on this sea area, "Then, there are only two directions he may enter, one is north of Midway, and the other is south of Midway." ”

"Our reconnaissance planes have been operating on the south side of Midway, and this side is too close to Wake Island, and there are not many sea areas for the fleet to maneuver." Zheng Guanhua also thought quickly, "In the last naval battle, Spruance retreated from this side, so General Tan Renhao was not able to catch him. This. There is a good chance that he will not choose this route. Especially when he has several fleet aircraft carriers in his hands, he should choose a wider area of sea for the fleet to maneuver. ”

"That's the sea north of Midway." Lei Shaoqing lit a cigarette and then gave the match to Zheng Guanhua. "If Spruance wants to sneak up on us around the tenth. And before that, in order to avoid detection by our long-range reconnaissance aircraft, he will definitely operate in the waters of the earth 700 nautical miles away from Midway, the question is. Where will he be? ”

"If the Fifth Fleet is leaving port with the main fleet heading south, then it is very likely that the Fifth Fleet will make a detour from the east of the Hawaiian Islands to the north, so as to avoid our submarines as much as possible." Zheng Guanhua drew an approximate route on the chart and lit a cigarette. "In that way, Spruance should now have a good chance of being somewhere north of Lysan Island, and is sailing westward, ready to intercept us the day after tomorrow."

"Then they'll be north of Midway tomorrow, and northwest at most."

"Maybe it's the northeast sea."

The two looked at each other, then laughed.

"If Spruance is here, we'll have to go north right now." Lei Shaoqing took a long breath, "Seize the opportunity to find them tomorrow morning, and then immediately dispatch a bomber group, taking advantage of the opportunity of Spruance to send bombers to support the defenders on Midway, and annihilate the Fifth Fleet in one fell swoop." ”

"General Lei, there is one more thing we must consider." Zheng Guanhua is not so sure, "Spruance must also have small aircraft carriers, and it is very likely that he will organize fleet aircraft carriers and small aircraft carriers in different task forces." If he needed to support the defenders of Midway, he would use small carriers instead of fleet carriers. ”

Lei Shaoqing frowned and motioned for Zheng Guanhua to continue.

"He will definitely use the small carrier as a decoy and send the bombers on the small carrier to support the defenders on Midway, while the fleet carrier is ambushed nearby." Zheng Guanhua thought about it and said, "When we bomb their small aircraft carrier formation, Spruance can roughly judge our location, and then send reconnaissance planes to find us, and the bombers in his hands are enough to kill us." ”

"It's very likely that this is the case, so what do you think should be done? Waiting for the landing team to be bombed? ”

"No, we're going to take the initiative!" Zheng Guanhua hesitated for a moment, "When bombing the small aircraft carrier formation of the US army, continue to send reconnaissance planes to find the US fleet aircraft carrier, and launch an attack before Spruance, at least before the bombers sent by Spruance arrive." Even with the removal of reconnaissance aircraft, our bombers will be enough to form two bomber groups. ”

"But the problem is that Spruance's main fleet may be behind the decoy."

"Then he doesn't want to attack us, at least our bombers are a little farther in range than the American ones."

Lei Shaoqing pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile. "Spruance should have known this, then he would have let the two fleets go in parallel, perhaps, in different directions. Anyway, if Spruance wants to attack us, he has to get into the range of our bombers! ”

Zheng Guanhua threw away the cigarette butt.

"Then, we have to find them as soon as possible, and if we can take out two American fleets at the same time, then we will make a lot of money."

"The fleet is ready to turn." Lei Shaoqing also immediately issued an order, "Arrange a batch of reconnaissance planes in the afternoon, in addition, pay attention to the attack of the marines in the afternoon and night, if the pressure exerted by Han Shaofeng is not enough, then we will have to turn around and escape." ”

After sending a reconnaissance plane to Wake Island to get the news out, the fleet turned to the north, and the speed was increased to 24 knots.

Lei Shaoqing only went to bed in the evening, and he was still a little excited. Since leaving Tan Renhao and commanding the Second Task Force alone, Lei Shaoqing has been working hard to become an excellent fleet commander and lead the Second Task Force to victory in every battle. However, it is not easy, even extremely difficult, to become a good fleet commander, which requires not only professional knowledge, but in many cases, sharp intuition, decisive decisions, accurate judgment, and perseverance.

Lei Shaoqing has suffered a lot of defeats, and the time he was attacked by Halsey may not be his responsibility. But in the later battles, except for the extremely beautiful battle of killing Fletcher, Lei Shaoqing was not able to achieve a complete victory at other times. This is what Lei Shaoqing does not want to see, and those few victories were all won by Tan Renhao, not by himself. What he needed was an important victory, and he wanted to get such a victory, and every fleet commander was the same as him.

After learning that the Second Task Force had already taken action and that the Marine Corps' offensive was directly related to the success or failure of the fleet's operation, that night, the officers and men of the Marine Corps under the command of Han Shaofeng did not turn to the defensive, but continued to attack, attacking fiercely towards the weakest point of the US defensive line.

Fierce fighting at Midway continued throughout the night, and dozens of Task Force 2 ships sailed quickly through the sea west of Midway. And the other side of the battlefield is also planning new combat operations.