In the afternoon of the same day, Tan Renhao sent a telegram to the Second Task Force, and the next day, Tan Renhao received a phone call from Guam, in which Tan Renhao probably mentioned the possibility of Chang Jianxin being promoted and being promoted to the rank of commander of the fleet. Subsequently, Chang Jianxin went to catch a plane.

After lunch, when Tan Renhao was thinking about how to talk to Chang Jianxin about the Third Task Force, Nie Renfeng's adjutant rushed over, and then Tan Renhao went to the principal's office.

Nie Renfeng's face was a little pale, and his expression was not very energetic. Overall, it gives people the feeling of recovering from a serious illness. It seems that the principal's wind damage is quite serious, otherwise with the principal's temper, he would not have gone to the hospital to lie down for a few days.

"Sit down, yesterday the chief of staff talked to you about the selection of the third task force?"

Tan Renhao didn't let the principal do it, he went to make a cup of tea, Gan Yongxing didn't come over, in the past few days when the principal was recuperating, most of the things were handled by Gan Yongxing, and he was probably too busy.

"Back then, Chang Jianxin was a very unobtrusive student when he was in the military academy, and to be honest, I didn't have much impression of him." Nie Renfeng smiled and shook his head, "The overall quality of the students in his class is very good, among the top ten, all of them are now high-ranking officers, there are four generals, and two of them are still holding important positions in the South Atlantic." If he hadn't been transferred to the Fifth Fleet and met Liao Hanxiang, he might not even have a chance to get ahead. Of course, this is also inseparable from his own diligence and hard work. You should be one of the people who know him best, do you think this arrangement is appropriate for him to be the commander of Task Force 3? ”

"Principal, the chief of staff has already talked to me yesterday, and I also talked to Chang Jianxin on the phone, and the problem on his side shouldn't be big." Tan Renhao quickly searched for the right words, "If there is no better candidate, I think he has the ability to command the operations of the Third Task Force, at least it will not disappoint." ”

Nie Renfeng nodded slightly. "Then when he returns, you can talk about it. I'll call you over this time. There's one more thing. ”

Tan Renhao saw that the principal went to get a very thick document.

"This is the battle report I received from the army a few days ago, and I only read it briefly." Nie Renfeng gave the document to Tan Renhao, "Although the progress on the northwest battlefield is not very fast, it is still smooth. Now the German side has also revised its strategic plan, deciding to stabilize the western front first and increase investment on the eastern front. The Persian Empire is also adjusting its troop deployment, and all three of us will focus on the war against Russia in the second half of 25 years. Together, the three countries have committed at least 550 divisions to reach Moscow before winter begins. And then at the end of the year to end the war against Russia. ”

Tan Renhao had already opened the document, and in the principal's slow explanation, he quickly found the key point in the document.

In other words, next year, the army will be able to draw the main force to launch an attack on the Australian continent. Behind the document is our shipbuilding plans for the year. Nie Renfeng reminded Tan Renhao, "In addition to continuing to ensure the construction of the main battleship, we are already expanding the scale of the construction of landing ships. In addition, a large number of merchant ships have been requisitioned and converted into troop carriers, and the entire preparation work is expected to be completed by March next year. ”

"We're going to land on the Australian continent after March next year?" Tan Renhao glanced up at the principal.

Nie Renfeng nodded slightly. "I had a phone call with Marshal Yan Dingyu yesterday. The army will ensure that at least 50 divisions will be ready by March next year. Among them were two tank divisions, and three motorized infantry divisions were deployed on the battlefield to attack the Australian mainland. And we will provide logistics for these troops, and the marines will go ashore first. Seize the landing ground, and we should be able to prepare 15 divisions of marines by then. The army will then be brought ashore, and the fleet will be responsible for providing offshore support for the rest of the battle, while the naval and army aviation will provide stronger support to the attacking forces once the airfields on the shore are built. This is only a preliminary plan, and the specific strategic offensive plan will be drawn up around the end of the year, of course, most of it is only a preliminary idea, and how to fight it when the time comes, this will have to be decided according to the situation. ”

Tan Renhao thought for a while. "So, we have to complete the sweep of the outlying islands by March next year?" ”

"To be precise, it should be before the end of this year, not before March next year, and the preparation for landing in Australia will take months, right?"

Tan Renhao nodded. "Well, it looks like I'm going to have to get ready to go back to the fleet."

"There's no need to rush this, it's not too late for you to leave in a few days." Nie Renfeng laughed, "Yan Guozhong sent a telegram back in the morning. He has already returned the Southwest Task Force to you, although there are a few fewer warships, but it can be regarded as a 'complete return to Zhao'. Hao Dongjue is dealing with the problem of fleet formation, and there are still some warships that need to be repaired. Now the US military also needs time to adjust its deployment, and there will be no major battles for the time being. So you don't have to rush back. ”

Tan Renhao didn't know what to say, the principal seemed to have everything in his hands, so he had no way to slip away.

"According to the plan, we should also land on the Australian continent in 26." Nie Renfeng stood up, and Tan Renhao wanted to help him, but was refused. "I'm not old enough to need help. What hope do you think we have for landing in Australia? ”

"If we can take the Solomon Islands and capture the New Hebrides by the end of the year, then the success rate of landing in Australia will be very high." Tan Renhao followed the principal to the window, "In fact, the main problem is the speed of the Marine Corps' attack, and the US Navy will recover its strength by the end of the year, if we lose sea supremacy, then it will be difficult to achieve this goal." ”

"The U.S. Navy will definitely be back in strength by the end of the year, and our previous intelligence has been confirmed." Nie Renfeng's expression darkened, "At the end of June this year, at least four 'Essex'-class aircraft carriers will be in service, and by December, there will be another four 'Essex'-class aircraft carriers in service, and another six 'Independence'-class small aircraft carriers will also be commissioned before October." Although we will also get six 'Lake' class aircraft carriers by the end of the year, and the first four of the third batch are likely to be commissioned by the end of the year, the first two small aircraft carriers of the modified site will also be commissioned in the middle of the year and at the end of the year.

But in reality, our superiority is not strong enough to launch a strategic offensive. ”

Tan Renhao's expression also dimmed. As a front-line commander, he was always looking for results that would inflict heavy losses on the enemy and suffer little losses on his own. But the problem is that every time there is a fight with the American army, both sides have heavy losses, and this loss is very close, which makes it impossible for the Imperial Navy to quickly gain a strength advantage and then launch a large-scale strategic offensive. It takes a lot of time to accumulate big wins with each small victory, and it is possible to lose all the previous victories in a certain battle. In other words. Now the empire is fighting a war of attrition with the United States, not a one-sided war.

"If we can't change this stalemate through one or two battles, then we can only find a way to contain the U.S. Navy." Nie Renfeng turned around, "I probably read your report to Gan Yongxing, the result of this battle is indeed not so ideal, but you have done your best." The problem now is that if the U.S. military continues to invest troops in the southwest Pacific, it will be difficult for the Marines under the command of Yan Guozhong to capture the New Hebrides before the end of the year, and it will even become difficult to sweep the Solomon Islands. ”

"Headmaster, that's what I've thought of too. But the problem is. If the campaign in the Southwest Pacific is tight, then the U.S. military will not hesitate to put their new warships into this battlefield. Tan Renhao frowned and thought for a while, "If there is another large-scale naval battle with the US military in a few months." I am afraid that General Yan Guozhong will have to postpone the offensive operation. ”

"That's the key." Nie Renfeng returned to the sofa, "I have asked Yan Guozhong to try to capture the Solomon Islands in July, that is, before the US aircraft carrier can reach the Southwest Pacific Theater at the earliest. There are still nearly three months to go, and we will try our best to meet Yan Guozhong's request, including transferring the Second Task Force to the Southwest Pacific Theater to support the Marine Corps' offensive. But this is not going to achieve our ultimate goal. ”

"Then we can only open up a new battlefield." Tan Renhao immediately thought of this, "A battlefield that focuses on fleet operations and does not require too many marines. ”

"Yes, and it's a place that the U.S. Navy has to defend."

Tan Renhao glanced at the principal. "Midway?"

"The Hawaiian Islands, to be exact. And we're going to hit Midway! Nie Renfeng laughed, "We don't have the strength to capture Midway Island now, Gan Yongxing simply calculated, just to destroy the airfield on Midway Island, we will have to use at least three aircraft carriers, and it is a tough battle, we can't sneak attack Midway Island like a sneak attack on Tarawa Island." As a result, the attack on Midway could only be postponed until June. ”

Tan Renhao pondered and didn't interrupt the principal's words.

"When the time comes. We will have six new fleet carriers, six small ones. The 1st Task Force will be restored to a three-aircraft carrier structure, while the 2nd Task Force and the 4th Task Force will remain in a two-aircraft carrier configuration, and the 'Xuanzong' will be withdrawn and used as a training aircraft carrier. Of the six small carriers, three remained to form a new task force. What do you think of the arrangement of the extra fleet carriers, as well as three smaller aircraft carriers, to be sent to the South Atlantic theater of operations? ”

"Perhaps, there is no good arrangement!" Of course, Tan Renhao would not object, and the principal obviously put the first task force in the first place.

"Liao Hanxiang also said that there is no problem, and the capture of Midway Island requires a maximum of two divisions of marines, and Liao Hanxiang now has six divisions in his hands, and he has arranged for Han Shaofeng to prepare." Nie Renfeng crossed his hands, "When the time comes, you will have a new mission location, before that, your task is to go to Yan Guozhong's side, assist General Yan Guozhong in capturing Kuah Island, and strive to let Yan Guozhong drive the US troops out of the Solomon Islands before you return to the naval headquarters." ”

"Headmaster, when am I going back?" Tan Renhao also knew that time was pressing, maybe it would take two or three months to attack Kuah Island, and to control the Solomon Islands, it would take at least Rennell Island, which would also take a lot of time.

"In a few days, after Chang Zhuxin comes back tomorrow, you will first go to the chief of staff to complete the formalities of the ** transfer. Come to me in the afternoon, I'll have a new arrangement. Nie Renfeng stood up, "In addition, pay more attention to the situation at home, I heard that you are going to be a father?" ”

Tan Renhao immediately smiled and nodded, and every time he thought that he was going to be a father, he felt very excited.

"Have you decided on the name of the child?" Nie Renfeng accompanied Tan Renhao to the door.

"Headmaster, I would like to ask you to choose a name for your child."

"This ......" Nie Renfeng pondered for a moment, "Okay, I'll tell you in two days."

You called Guam today, right? Why don't you contact your wife? ”

"This ......" Tan Renhao's expression immediately became embarrassed, he really forgot to contact his wife.

"Go quickly, go directly to General Liao Hanxiang." Nie Renfeng smiled and patted the student's shoulder, "However, don't talk too long, this is a military line." ”

After Tan Renhao returned to his office, he immediately got in touch with Guam, and the operator on the Guam side immediately took the call to the war zone hospital after knowing that it was General Tan Renhao's call, and five minutes later, Liao Yingyu appeared on the other end of the phone. The young couple were very excited, of course, most of the chatting was about work, and finally, Tan Renhao asked about his wife's physical condition and the situation of the child in his belly.

"Okay, Yingyu, when will you come back, I'll pick you up at the airport?" Tan Renhao looked at his watch, and he had been chatting for fifteen minutes, "Okay, I'll make a note of it, and I'll drive to the airport myself when the time comes." ”

After putting down the phone, Tan Renhao did not calm down, his wife will be back in two days, and she will come back with her father-in-law. After a few minutes in the office, he couldn't concentrate and went home early. When they arrived at home, Tan Renhao immediately told his parents the news, and Tan Jingkang and Gu Xiujuan immediately went to Zhang Luo to prepare the meal, until Tan Renhao reminded them, they remembered that their daughter-in-law and in-laws would not come back until two days later, and now there was no need to rush to prepare anything. The atmosphere at home was also lively, and at the dinner table that night, the three of them discussed the matter of the unborn child.