The tide of battle always changes faster than the battle plan. When Tan Renhao had just drawn up a detailed battle plan, Ryukyu Island was lost. When he heard the news, he rushed to General Liao Hanxiang as quickly as possible. Liao Hanxiang was even more nervous than Tan Renhao, for the empire, the loss of Ryukyu Island meant that the empire's doors were open to the enemy.

The Ryukyu Islands were originally an independent kingdom. And it is one of the vassal states of the Tang Empire, and has always been the most important vassal state of the Tang Empire. Until the outbreak of the "Hundred Years' War" between the Tang Empire and Japan, the Ryukyu Kingdom maintained its independent status. During this war between the two countries, which lasted for hundreds of years, the Tang Empire recognized the importance of the sea, as well as the importance of the Ryukyu Kingdom as the eastern gate of the Tang Empire. Later, Japan occupied the Ryukyu Kingdom, and the king of the Ryukyu Kingdom fled to the Tang Empire, asking the Tang Empire to help him restore the country. The Tang Empire agreed to this request, and then, after several years of repeated struggles, finally expelled the Japanese army that occupied the Ryukyu Islands, and the Ryukyu king also expressed his attachment at this time, giving up the status of an independent kingdom, and the entire Ryukyu Kingdom was incorporated into the Tang Empire. Since then, the Ryukyu Islands have become an inalienable territory of the Tang Empire.

In the first global war, the Tang Empire adopted a war strategy of near and then far, and the Ryukyu Islands were the most important military base of the Tang Empire, and became an important starting point for the attack on Japan. The First Fleet, which had been transferred to the port of Naha at the time, was the main force blockading Japan, and later defeated the Japanese Combined Fleet in the Battle of Hachisajima, and then the fleet entered Tokyo Bay, forcing Japan to surrender. During the war, the Imperial Army also seized Yakushima Island and Tanegashima Island (which historically belonged to Japan and not to the Ryukyu Kingdom) and forced them to be included in the Ryukyu Autonomous Province. After the war, the Tang Empire signed an armistice agreement with Japan, and the two islands, as well as a series of surrounding small islands, were determined to be the territory of the Tang Empire by way of a peace treaty.

Geographically, the Ryukyu Islands were a natural barrier to the east of the Tang Empire. The Imperial fleet and troops stationed in the Ryukyu Islands were the best line of defense against the invasion of the enemy from the east. Most importantly, the Ryukyu Islands established the position of the Imperial Navy in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea, turning these two seas into the "inner lake" of the Imperial Navy, where the training of the fleet in peacetime and the assembly of the fleet in wartime could be carried out without being attacked by the enemy. In addition, the important sea lanes along the eastern coast of the empire were located in these two seas. To put it simply, as long as the Ryukyu Islands are held, then the eastern industrial towns and military fortresses of the empire are best protected.

"You know the importance of the Ryukyu Islands." General Liao Hanxiang's expression can be described as painful, "Just two hours ago, the last telegram came from the defending troops that the Kadena airport had fallen. Now, more than 2,000 officers and men have entered the mountains, but they can no longer pose much of a threat to the Japanese army. In other words, the island of Ryukyu has fallen. ”

Tan Renhao hid the shock in his heart, he seemed very calm, and just clenched his fists.

"None of the Marines, nor the Army officers and men surrendered, and the last unit detonated the ammunition depot at the airfield after sending the telegram, and they perished along with the attacking Japanese troops." Liao Hanxiang touched his forehead, and then wiped it on his face with his hand, "The defenders are all good, they have disgraced the empire, they have not disgraced the imperial soldiers, but we can't do anything, watching them die." ”

"General, what we are doing now is to make their sacrifice worthwhile." Tan Renhao said calmly, in just a few days, more than 50,000 imperial soldiers have been sacrificed, and many more imperial soldiers have shed blood.

"yes, I know, I just wanted to vent." Liao Hanxiang smiled bitterly, and then lit a cigarette, "Recently, Prime Minister Xue Xiyue will carry out a small reshuffle of the cabinet, the War Department and the Navy Department will be merged into the Imperial Military Department, and the Military Department will command the combat operations of the Army and Navy in a unified manner, and the Chief Minister of the Military Department will be selected among the two marshals Sajiting and Yan Dingyu. To tell you the truth, I have no prejudices against Marshal Yan Dingyu, but all the officers and men of the Navy want Marshal Saditin to be the Minister of War. ”

Xue Xiyue's intention to reorganize the two military departments of the cabinet at this time was very obvious, and the army and navy of the empire must fight together, and they could no longer engage in fighting. However, there are very big problems in this reorganization, and whether it is Sajiting or Yan Dingyu as minister of the military department, it will lead to the dissatisfaction of the other faction, which will actually not help much in uniting the army and navy, and may deepen the contradictions between the two armies. However, since Xue Xiyue wants to do this, then the navy will naturally strive to make Marshal Sajiting the Minister of War.

"You've definitely heard the rumors that have surfaced lately." Liao Hanxiang's expression returned to normal, "Even if we don't fight for the position of Minister of the Imperial Military Department for Marshal Sajiting, we should take some actions in the near future." This is not just helping Marshal Saditin, but helping ourselves. If Marshal Saditin is forced to resign, then the most likely replacement for him is General Jiang Bangguo, who has just been promoted to general. ”

"Jiang Bangguo!?" Tan Renhao was startled, and his expression immediately became nervous.

"You should know what Jiang Bangguo's attitude is towards the Fifth Fleet." Liao Hanxiang smiled bitterly, "This time, he brought back the three capital ships, so he was assessed for meritorious service, and the black cauldron was carried by General Guo Xianzhong, so he picked a cheap one." If Marshal Saditin could not prove that the reforms he had carried out in the navy were correct, then Jiang Bangguo would be the new commander of the navy. Whether it is qualifications, background, or accumulated military exploits, no one can compete with him among the admirals. In other words, if Jiang Bangguo becomes the commander of the navy, then we are very likely to lose this war. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, he didn't know what Prime Minister Xue Xiyue thought, but he was sure that if Marshal Sajiting really fell, then Jiang Bangguo would definitely bring ruin to the Imperial Navy.

"So you have to hurry." Liao Hanxiang hesitated for a moment, "Marshal Sajiting didn't put pressure on you because he believed that what you are doing now is the hope of the Imperial Navy, and I will not put pressure on you, and I also know that you will not let us down." ”

Tan Renhao nodded, he didn't answer in words, he had to prove it with actions.