After the first task force was reorganized, Tan Renhao returned to the fleet, and at the same time, he also asked the chief of staff, Lei Shaoqing, to seize the time to organize the fleet for coordinated training. At that time, many of the personnel on the "Yangtze River" were actually the officers and men who had been rescued from the "Taizong," and the backbone of the newly commissioned cruisers and destroyers were all veterans of the past, and the aviation unit was even more so, and the backbone forces were all veterans of the Fifth Air Wing.

The pressure on the training work is not very great, and even the quality of the newly recruited officers and men is very good, especially the pilots, and General Liao Hanxiang will certainly not let them have a good life in the training camp. In the more than two months since the First Task Force was restored, more than 500 new officers have been promoted, most of whom are former non-commissioned officers, and even ordinary soldiers have been directly promoted to officers. More than 800 officers have been promoted. In addition to the need for officers in the fleet, this is also a direct reward for officers and men who have made meritorious contributions to the battle.

Tan Renhao, the young commander of the fleet, did not forget to review the fleet. The navy's review was different from that of the army, and Tan Renhao led the flagship "Li Jing" to anchor in the sea outside the harbor, and then the warships in the fleet sailed past the flagship one after another, and the main officers and men of the battleships stood on the deck, facing the flagship, and were inspected by the commander. Almost simultaneously, the fighters of the fleet aviation were divided into three large formations and flew over the fleet one after another.

The whole review lasted an hour and a half, and after the last destroyer passed, Tan Renhao returned to his command cabin. Originally, he wanted to transfer the headquarters to the "Taizu", but he was opposed by everyone, even Lei Shaoqing did not see it that way, and Lei Shaoqing also put forward a reason that Tan Renhao could not refute, that is, the "Li Jing" only had a perfect flagship command system, but the "Taizu" did not. Of course, the real reason Lei Shaoqing did not say, that is, the "Taizu" is an aircraft carrier, and the aircraft carrier is a "magnet" that attracts bombs. How can the commander of the fleet be allowed to go to the aircraft carrier and be bombed?

Just when he was talking to Lei Shaoqing about the training work of the fleet, a staff officer walked in. "General, the marshal asks you to go to the headquarters immediately, and I have something important to discuss with you."

"Okay, it's time for us to go back to Hong Kong." Tan Renhao nodded, and turned to Lei Shaoqing and said, "Continue to pay close attention to the training work, especially Deng Zichao." This. Qingdao sent a new torpedo and asked them to grasp the tactics of using the new torpedo as soon as possible. ”

"I know, I will arrange these, and with Dongjue staring, Deng Zichao and they don't want to be lazy."

Tan Renhao nodded, and then ordered the fleet to return. Immediately after going ashore, he went to the command of the Navy.

"Renhao, you came just in time." Gan Yongxing was also in Nie Renfeng's office. "How is the situation with the fleet. When can I go to sea? ”

"It's in very good condition and ready to go at any time." Tan Renhao smiled and greeted the general.

"I knew you were in a hurry to go to sea, and you held it back for more than two months. I'm afraid you've been on fire for a long time, aren't you? ”

Tan Renhao laughed a little embarrassed, this is a joke of the officers and men of the naval fleet, which means that the officers and men who are accustomed to living on the sea will lack water after they go ashore, and they will be on fire when they lack water.

"Alright, sit down." Nie Renfeng asked Tan Renhao to sit down, "I just received good news at the beginning, our landing force has recovered Ryukyu Island, and the last group of Japanese troops have surrendered. ”

Tan Renhao was stunned for a moment, and immediately said with a smile: "This is indeed good news, and it has been fought for more than two months." Finally brought down the Ryukyu Island. ”

"Although we suffered a lot of losses, more than 5,000 officers and soldiers were killed, but more than 50,000 Japanese troops stationed on the island were all annihilated, and more than 3,000 of them were taken prisoner. Gan Yongxing sighed, "However, the significance of recovering Ryukyu Island is very significant, even if you sacrifice 50,000 people, the price is worth it." ”

Tan Renhao nodded again and again. Ryukyu Island was the eastern gate of the Imperial Navy, and the recovery of Ryukyu Island meant that the Imperial Navy fleet had access to the Pacific Ocean, and at the same time, the Imperial Navy's counterattack also entered a climax.

"The problem is more obvious, though." Nie Renfeng continued, "Japan's two 'Xianghe'-class aircraft carriers completed the final perching work five days ago and are now undergoing sea trials. One of our submarines spotted one of them outside Tokyo Bay, but missed the opportunity to attack. In addition, the Japanese battleship "Yamato" has also completed its perching and is now undergoing sea trials, presumably, commissioned within a month. ”

Tan Renhao immediately said: "The Japanese Navy is ready to launch an attack on us? ”

Nie Renfeng nodded. "This is certain, the importance of Ryukyu Island, and the Japanese are well aware that even if Japan does not have much to do to capture Ryukyu Island again, they will at least make it impossible for us to deploy bombers on Ryukyu Island, and make Ryukyu Island useless. Therefore, the Japanese Navy will definitely act, and on a large scale. It was heard that Yamamoto 65 was preparing to return to the Japanese mainland and personally plan an attack on the Ryukyu Islands. ”

Tan Renhao frowned slightly, not understanding what Nie Renfeng meant.

Nie Renfeng glanced at Gan Yongxing. Gan Yongxing immediately said: "After capturing Ryukyu Island, our troops found the Japanese Navy's cipher machine on a Japanese cruiser that was sunk, but later the Japanese Navy changed the cipher to a new one. Our luck is not bad, the day before yesterday, one of our destroyers sank a Japanese submarine in the waters near Ryukyu Island, the depth of the water where the submarine sank was only more than 50 meters, this morning, our divers entered the inside of the submarine and found another Japanese Navy cipher machine, and now it has been confirmed that the Japanese Navy did not immediately change the cipher. ”

Tan Renhao still didn't understand.

"The Imperial Naval Intelligence has a secret team called the 'Camera Obscura', which is staffed by the best mathematicians in the Empire," Gan Yongxing went on to explain, "The task of this group is to decipher the code of the enemy, and now the focus is on deciphering the code of Japanese military communications. With two Japanese Navy cipher machines, even if Japan changes the cipher again, our mathematicians will gain something. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, his math score was not bad, and he understood this truth. But what does this have to do with Yamamoto Sixty-Five? Of course, Tan Renhao didn't think of it, it doesn't mean that others didn't think of it.

"Sixty-five Yamamoto is the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, and now the de facto supreme commander of the Japanese Navy." Nie Renfeng's words were very calm, and he couldn't hear any mood fluctuations. "The sneak attack on Naha Port, and indeed the entire Imperial Navy, was planned by Yamamoto Sixty-Five, and it was a battle order issued by him. Therefore, we have been trying to find a way to take out this enemy chieftain. Prime Minister Xue Xiyue was also very concerned about this matter, and secretly issued an order to kill Yamamoto Sixty-Five at all costs whenever possible. Until then, Yamamoto Sixty-Five had been staying at Truk Naval Base. Our bombers could not fly there even the farthest of their voyages, and of course, bombing was not safe. This time, Yamamoto was supposed to fly home, probably landing at an airport in Guam or the United States of America in Saipan on the way. So, this is our best chance. ”

Tan Renhao was taken aback, and now he understood. "Headmaster, are we going to intercept Yamamoto Sixty-Five's landline?"

Nie Renfeng nodded very affirmatively. "This is just an idea, but the 'dark box' team has not yet fully deciphered the Japanese naval code. The only thing that is known now is that Yamamoto Sixty-Five will return to the Japanese mainland from Truk. As for the specific timing. We don't know anything about the route arrangement. But we need to be ready. If Yamamoto Sixty-Five is going to return to Japan. Then we need to seize this opportunity. ”

"But ......" Tan Renhao hesitated for a moment and said: "If the naval aircraft carrier aircraft is used to complete the interception, then we must go out to the control of the Japanese Navy, the fleet's target is too big to complete the task at all." ”

"yes, so we're looking at something else now. As for the specific method, we don't know yet. Gan Yongxing smiled awkwardly, and then said, "The specific matter is now planned by General Liao Hanxiang. He will give us a reply very quickly. And the tasks of the fleet are also important. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, the fleet must have a mission, otherwise what would he do if he was called?

"In order to force Yamamoto Sixty-Five to return home early, we need a combat operation." Gan Yongxing gave a document to Tan Renhao, "Our engineering troops have been rushing to repair Naha Port, and it will probably be possible to restore Naha Port to normal use in five days." The fleet arrived in Naha five days later, and the Japanese Combined Fleet would certainly come out in search of fighters. The task of Task Force 1 was to look for an opportunity in the sea east of the Ryukyu Islands to take out the Japanese Combined Fleet. ”

Tan Renhao immediately opened the document, which contained the current intelligence of the Japanese Combined Fleet. The main thing is the strength situation. The Japanese Combined Fleet now had three aircraft carriers, six battleships (one of which was under repair), several heavy cruisers, and was not at all below the size of the First Task Force. This battle will definitely not be easy to fight, and if you want to annihilate the Japanese Combined Fleet, in addition to luck, I am afraid that luck is more important.

"Renhao, how sure are you?"

Tan Renhao glanced at the chief of staff of the Navy and said, "I can't grasp it, but we will seize the opportunity." As long as the Japanese combined fleet comes out, we have a chance. ”

"That's what we're thinking, too." Nie Renfeng smiled and nodded, "Now you are the one who can grasp the fighter the most in the navy, and you are very familiar with aviation combat." The Japanese have known your prestige for a long time, and Yamamoto Sixty-Five must want to get rid of you as well. Therefore, as long as the first task force leaves the port, the Japanese side will definitely receive the news. When the time comes, Yamamoto Sixty-Five will definitely let the Combined Fleet come out to look for you. So, we create opportunities too. ”

"And when are we leaving?"

"Three days later, we are now delivering fuel and other supplies to Ryukyu Island, and it will take about three days to prepare for the First Task Force." Gan Yongxing answered Tan Renhao's question, "Therefore, the fleet will set off in three days, replenish fuel after arriving at Naha Port, and then go out of the Pacific Ocean to look for fighters. We'll keep in touch with you and send the information to the fleet. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, he knew very well that the most important thing in the current naval battle was intelligence, and with the correct intelligence, then there would be more than half of the victory.

"Don't worry, the 'dark box' team has promised to understand the Japanese naval code within a few days." Nie Renfeng let out a sigh, "The key now is to take out the Japanese Combined Fleet and complete the Imperial Navy's counterattack." As long as the Japanese Combined Fleet is destroyed, Japan will be doomed sooner or later. ”

"Headmaster, I understand this, I will work hard!"

Any officer of the Imperial Navy already knew in school that the best way to seize sea supremacy was to take out the enemy's fleet, or to block the enemy's fleet in the harbor. In the past, when the planes did not appear, the best way to block the enemy's ports was to avoid a decisive battle of the fleet, so as to maintain its own maritime superiority and reduce war casualties. However, after the advent of the planes, the blockade of the port had become very unrealistic, at least at the time. Therefore, the best thing to do is to annihilate the enemy's fleet and deprive the enemy of the ability to fight for sea supremacy. This choice is cruel, but it is necessary in order to seize sea supremacy, to defeat Japan (for island nations, sea supremacy is everything).

"Then, you go and prepare now, the replenishment of the fleet does not need to be carried out in a hurry, the main thing now is to put the fleet into combat condition, and let the new officers and men get acquainted with the situation of the fleet." Gan Yongxing stood up, which meant sending off guests. "Of course, keeping the fleet in good shape is the most important thing."

Tan Renhao immediately resigned, he didn't want to be kicked out by the principal. After coming outside, Tan Renhao breathed a sigh of relief. However, thinking that he was going to sea again, Tan Renhao felt a little nervous. In the intervening months, Task Force 1 recovered, but so did the Japanese Navy. If you fight for strength, then the difference between the two sides is not very big, but naval battles are not fought for strength in many cases, especially in tactics, strength is often not the most important factor.

"General, where are you going now?" Duchenne waited outside.

"Let's go back to the fleet, starting today, we should live on the battleship." Tan Renhao lit a cigarette and suddenly remembered something, "Don't worry, go back to the dormitory first." ”

Du Xing glanced at Tan Renhao and knew what Tan Renhao was going to do. The fleet commander must have been worried about his fiancée.