Liao Hanxiang returned to Zhoushan on 6 December, and before that, Tan Renhao seized the time to read the battle report on the Central Pacific Theater and gained a certain understanding of the situation in the Central Pacific Theater. And when Liao Hanxiang returned to Zhoushan, he went to the airport to greet his father-in-law.

In the more than two months since the Fifth Fleet was eliminated, there has been no calm in the Central Pacific.

Liao Hanxiang did not stop the pace of attacking, but at the same time, the US army did not stop resisting. Although the scale of the battle was not very large, it was extremely fierce and the battle was very fierce.

In the Central Pacific, neither side has a main fleet. It can be said that this is a very special period. At that time, the Imperial Navy was stepping up its attack on the New Hebrides, and Yan Guozhong's marines had already reached Port Vila at the end of November, and by the end of December, although the American troops in Port Vila were still resisting, Yan Guozhong was already planning an attack on New Caledonia.

Because of this, Task Force 4 has been operating in the Southwest Pacific, and Task Force 2, which is the first to regain combat effectiveness, will also be sent to the Southwest Pacific. In addition, the 1st and 3rd task forces were in the process of being restored, so the Imperial Navy sent a small fleet with cruisers as the main force in the Central Pacific, and it was directly subordinate to the Theater Command, not an official task force.

It is precisely because of this that the power of the two sides in the Central Pacific is relatively balanced. The ships that had fled back from the Fifth Fleet had been active since early November. And the battle on this side is not dominated by fleets, but by shore-based aviation on both sides, as well as marines.

The Marines commanded by Han Shaofeng after capturing Gardner Island. It took a great deal of effort to restore the airport on Gardner Island. And the U.S. military has not stopped bombing the airfield on the island. In order to stop the engineering units of the Imperial Marine Corps, the U.S. military even dispatched a large number of heavy bombers, bombing Gardner Island more than twice a day. As if the bomb didn't cost money, tons of bombs were dropped on the island, which was not very large. Until the end of November.

The airfield on the island was only beginning to be used, and with the arrival of a large number of fighter jets of the HNA Army, the actions of the US heavy bombers were much more restrained. By the beginning of December, HNA had basically mastered air supremacy around Gardner Island, and it was at this time that the tide of the war had fundamentally changed.

Back in early November. Liao Hanxiang began to actively prepare for the combat operation of capturing Laisang Island.

This is also an unplanned action. According to the basic idea of the "island hopping attack" tactic, after capturing Gardner Island, there is no need to capture Lysan Island, but should advance further eastward, capture Necke Island, Nihua Island and other islands, and finally enter the eastern part of the Hawaiian Islands. However, at that time, the Imperial Navy had no plan to attack the Hawaiian Islands, and it was later determined that it would attack Australia at the same time. Destroy the U.S. defense base on the Hawaiian Islands. To do this, a large number of heavy bombers must be deployed on the western islands of the Hawaiian Islands, as well as fighters capable of providing cover for these bombers. Midway is more than 2,000 kilometers from Pearl Harbor. This exceeded the strike radius of a heavy bomber. Gardner Island is less than 1,500 kilometers from Pearl Harbor, just enough to deploy bombers. The problem is that Gardner Island is too small to accommodate many bombers. And if we want to attack the Hawaiian Islands in the future. A large number of Marines would have to be stationed, so it would be necessary to capture another island in addition to Gardner. Lysan Island is the best choice.

The biggest advantage of capturing Lysan Island was that it could be used as a forward base for the Marines, and at that time Lysan Island was completely besieged, and the American troops on the island could not receive outside assistance. This is also the main reason why Liao Hanxiang decided to attack Laisang Island. After determining the approximate number of U.S. troops on the island, Liao Hanxiang asked Han Shaofeng to command the campaign. The landing on Lysan Island began on 24 November, and by mid-December, all the American forces on the island had been annihilated, and the encirclement and suppression work continued until the end of the month.

During this period, the HNA also concentrated its efforts on bombing the US airfields on Necke Island and Nihua Island, and gradually seized air supremacy over the western part of the Hawaiian Islands. And from late December, the bombing of a large US airfield on Kauai began. In addition, several night battles broke out between the small fleets of both sides, especially the one on the night of December 12. At that time, the U.S. military was preparing to send a batch of troops and supplies to Laisan Island, and after receiving the information, Liao Hanxiang immediately ordered the fleet to intercept it. The two sides fought for more than four hours in the waters near Gardner Island, and finally the American troops fled back before dawn, giving up the operation to support Lysan Island, and a few days later, the American troops on Lysan Island surrendered.

By the time Liao Hanxiang returned to the Naval Headquarters, the Imperial Navy had already gained a firm foothold in the western part of the Hawaiian Islands, and the bombers of the Navy's Strategic Strike Force were also moving to Gardner Island and Leysan Island, while Han Shaofeng temporarily replaced Liao Hanxiang and was responsible for command in the Central Pacific Theater. Judging by the current deployment of the Navy, the attack on the core islands in the eastern part of the Hawaiian Islands will definitely be after March, and may even drag on until the middle of 26. In the months leading up to that, large-scale bombing was the most effective way to break down the U.S. military's defensive base. During this period, in order to gain more advantages, Liao Hanxiang and Han Shaofeng must be considering whether to advance a few more steps to the east, capture Necke Island and Nihua Island, and push the battle line to the gate of the US army, which will be of greater help to future combat operations. Of course, these are all combat operations within the scope of the theater of operations, and the decision is made directly by Liao Hanxiang, without the approval of the Navy Command.

"This is the approximate plan we have now, I heard that the Marine Corps will be expanded by at least thirty divisions, and the marshal plans to devote most of the expanded troops to the Central Pacific theater?"

"The specific arrangements have not yet been decided, and the outcome may have to be decided by the army's input." Tan Renhao asked his father-in-law to get into the car first, and then followed in. "These 30 Marine Divisions were originally prepared for the Australian theater, and if the Army can provide more ground troops, then some of them can be allocated to the Central Pacific theater. At the same time as attacking the Australian mainland, it is necessary to launch a combat operation to attack the Hawaiian Islands, so that the US forces can be dispersed and contained to the greatest extent. But. The Navy's overall strategy is not to change until Australia is conquered. The Southwest Pacific is the main theater of operations, while the Central Pacific theater must have received quite limited support. ”

"And what is the attitude of the Army now?" Liao Hanxiang took out a cigarette.

"The army has already provided fifty divisions of combat troops, and I talked to Gu Xunlei that it is best for us not to have too much hope for the army." Tan Renhao smiled and shook his head, "The army also has its own suffering. The fighting on the mainland battlefield has not yet ended, and it is impossible for the army to send the main force to the Pacific theater, and this time the army provided almost all second-line troops, as well as quite a few reserve troops. ”

Liao Hanxiang frowned slightly. "In other words, the Marines have to take on the main ground combat mission?"

"Maybe, but we have a plan."

"What's the plan?"

Tan Renhao hesitated for a moment and said: "As long as we open up the situation on the Australian battlefield and see the hope of victory, then the army will not stand idly by, after all, the results here are too tempting." When the time comes. As long as the Army is willing to put in more combat units, then we can draw the Marine Corps out and devote it to the Central Pacific theater. A full-scale offensive in the Hawaiian Islands. ”

Liao Hanxiang pondered for a while, then laughed. "This should be a good way, as far as I know, Yan Dingyu will not miss this kind of good opportunity to make meritorious contributions."

"That's what the principal thinks the same way. As long as our victory is in sight, then the army will definitely increase its investment, so that it can share more credit. If the Army misses this opportunity, then if they want to play the main role in the Pacific direction, I am afraid they will have to wait until we attack the continental United States. Tan Renhao also laughed, "I'm also trying to find a way to get more information, and I've been in touch with Gu Xunlei, if the army has any moves, we will soon know." Therefore, the chief of staff did not rush to determine the deployment of the Marine Corps. ”

"Then there is still a lot of hope for more Marines to be put in on my side." Liao Hanxiang's expression also stretched a lot, "By the way, I heard that the marshal is going to transfer you out of the First Task Force?" ”

"This ......"

"I've just heard it mentioned, and that's supposed to be a good thing."

"But I don't want to leave Task Force 1 just yet." Tan Renhao sighed secretly, then shook his head.

"Why? Reluctant to leave the fleet? Liao Hanxiang looked at his son-in-law, "Actually, I can understand your thoughts, after all, the first task force was established by you, but the problem is that in the position of fleet commander, your room for play is limited." And if you want to go to the next level, then you have to leave the fleet. ”

"I know, and there is a good chance that the Chief of Staff will arrange for me to be the commander-in-chief of the fleet in the theater of operations."

Liao Hanxiang nodded slightly. "I've heard of it, too, but it's a small possibility."

"Why?" Tan Renhao looked at his father-in-law.

"Because there's someone better suited for the position than you." Liao Hanxiang smiled, "Lei Shaoqing is definitely more suitable to be the commander-in-chief of the theater fleet, and he is the commander-in-chief who is directly responsible to the theater commander."

Therefore, it is unlikely that Gan Yongxing will let you sit in this position. ”

"But ......"

"I've been thinking about this, Lei Shaoqing's situation is much better, right? I heard that he will be discharged from the hospital next month, and if that is the case, then I'm sure he will be sent to the Southwest Pacific Theater first, where he will be responsible for coordinating the command relationship between the theater and the fleet. ”

"But the Chief of Staff has put me in charge of the fleet operations for the Australian campaign.

"It's just a temporary arrangement." Liao Hanxiang put his son-in-law's shoulder, "I have a little advice, I don't know if you want to listen to it or not." ”

"Dad, I've been learning from you."

Liao Hanxiang laughed. "If I were you, I wouldn't be in a hurry to leave the fleet now."

"Why?" Now Tan Renhao was even more puzzled, at first Liao Hanxiang was still suggesting that he leave the fleet, but now he let him continue to stay in the fleet.

"I'm talking about not leaving the fleet in a hurry, not not leaving the fleet." Liao Hanxiang patted his son-in-law on the shoulder, "The commander-in-chief of the theater fleet is actually a position that does not have much real power, and it is difficult to establish outstanding merits in this position. Gan Yongxing may train Lei Shaoqing as a successor, but are you willing to compete with Lei Shaoqing for a job? ”

"This ......," Tan Renhao frowned.

"You certainly don't want to, and besides, you're not the kind of material to be the chief of staff." Liao Hanxiang took out another cigarette, "Your position should be higher, and if you want to climb up, then you have to stay in the fleet for as long as possible, do you understand what I mean?" ”

Tan Renhao nodded, Liao Hanxiang said this very vaguely, but the meaning was very clear.

The Fleet Commander is a position of real power, and the fleet is the best place to train talents, and it is the best place to build your own ape network. Not to mention anything else, there are now several senior generals who have come out of the First Task Force, and all of them are in important positions, and these people are all directly related to Tan Renhao, either friends or old superiors and subordinates. And when Tan Renhao left the fleet, there was a strong network of relationships behind him, which was the foundation of his navy.

"Actually, there is another advantage to staying in the fleet, that is, to keep a low profile!" Liao Hanxiang said another benefit, "The position of the commander of the fleet is not very high, and it is not eye-catching, if you rise to a high position too quickly without a strong foundation, you will face a lot of problems that you can't solve at all, and you will be criticized by more people." This is even more important, and if you want to climb to the top, then you have to have a solid foundation. It's like building a building, how deep the foundation is, how high the building is, if your foundation is not strong enough, then you don't want to climb to the top, you know what I mean? ”

Tan Renhao sighed secretly, and then nodded. This is already an internal competition in the Navy, one might even say an internal struggle. He had thought about this before, but he had never thought about these deep-seated issues.

Liao Hanxiang looked at his son-in-law and laughed too. In his eyes, Tan Renhao was no longer the ensign officer he was when he first arrived at the Fifth Fleet, and he believed that he was not wrong!