As the night darkened, Kincaid became nervous. Night is not necessarily a good thing, at least the two Tang Empire reconnaissance planes that appeared near the fleet after dark are by no means a good sign.

Kincaid had no intention of catching up with Task Force 4, and if Task Force 4 was intent on escaping, he wouldn't be able to catch up. Halsey's order made Kincaid unable to carry it out, but Kincaid still didn't know how to fight. The fleet reached about 120 nautical miles south of Tagula Island at nine o'clock, still at a speed of 27 knots, and continued to sail northeast for another three hours, and the fleet could not leave the strike range of the Tang Empire's tactical bombers after dawn. What if at dawn the shore-based bombers of the Tang Empire arrived......

Thinking of this, Kincaid broke out in a cold sweat. He knew very well that Halsey would never bomb the airfield on Tagura Island first, but would first find the Fourth Task Force, kill the Fourth Task Force first, and then blow up the airfield on the island, but the problem was that if the Fourth Task Force retreated into the Solomon Sea in one go, then Halsey would not be able to catch up with the Fourth Task Force at all, and it would be even more difficult to find the Fourth Task Force, and at that time, the shore-based bombers of the Tang Empire would appear, and they would definitely bomb the 33rd Task Force immediately.

"The fleet is ready to turn around, call the nautical staff over."

When the nautical staff arrived, Kincaid immediately asked him to set a new course.

"About half past one to get to Tagula Island." The Navigation Staff quickly completed his work, "However, our mission is to pursue the Fourth Task Force. Why go to Tagoura Island? ”

"Will we still be able to catch up with Task Force 4?" Kincaid's answer was quick, "immediately turn around and prepare for an artillery battle." Fight for the shelling of Tagura Island at night. ”

The fleet immediately began to turn, and Kincaid made adjustments to the formation of the fleet.

Three battleships of the "South Dakota" class ("South Dakota". "Massachusetts", "Alabama") formed a column, and six destroyers accompanied it. Four battleships of the "Iowa" class ("Iowa", "New Jersey", "Missouri". "Wisconsin") formed another column, accompanied by six destroyers, and twelve cruisers formed a separate cruiser formation, following behind two columns of battleships.

Twenty minutes after the fleet turned, Kincaid sent out a new target. At this time, the 33rd Task Force had been discovered by the Tang Empire's ground reconnaissance planes, and the radio silence was meaningless, so it was possible to make the other fleets cooperate better, which was far better than maintaining radio silence.

It was not Halsey who first learned about the new movements of Task Force 33, but Chang Zhixin, the commander of Task Force 3. The two long-range reconnaissance planes that took off from Tagura Island after discovering Task Force 33. It has been hovering around the fleet, and has been reporting the whereabouts of Task Force 33 to the rear base every ten minutes. When Task Force 33 turned, reconnaissance planes immediately approached to reconnoitre. As soon as the new course of Task Force 33 was determined, the news was sent back to the island's air station, and the news was then transmitted to Task Force 3 (as well as Task Force 1 and Task Force 4).

"The fleet is ready to turn." Chang Jianxin made a judgment in the first time. "Kincaid, this old boy, actually gave up the Fourth Task Force and prepared to shell Tagura Island, it's really a shame that he thought of it."

"Do you want to send the news to General Tan?" Gu Zhenyun also rushed to the command cabin at this time, and he began to mobilize the officers and soldiers on the battleship below.

Chang Jianxin hesitated for a moment, and then said: "No, now Kincaid shouldn't know about our existence, so he killed directly at Tagura Island, not towards us, if we send a telegram, the whereabouts of the fleet will be exposed." General Tan Renhao knows what kind of tactical arrangements I will adopt. ”

Gu Zhenyun didn't say anything anymore, he was very clear about the relationship between Chang Jianxin and Tan Renhao, and Chang Jianxin was the commander of the fleet, and he was only the chief of staff of the fleet.

"Old Gu, it looks like we're going to have a break with Kincaid tonight." Chang Jianxin walked to the chart table, "Judging from the reconnaissance aircraft report, the speed of the 33rd task force is still 27 knots, and it is expected to reach the sea near Tagura Island at about half past one. We'll get in from the east, and we'll be able to stop in front of Task Force 33 at about half-past eleven, and then we'll immediately give Kincaid a taste of the power of our new cannon. ”

"What if Task Force 33 turns halfway through?"

"Now we are less than 100 nautical miles apart, and we have reconnaissance aircraft monitoring the movements of Task Force 33, Kincaid turns, we also turn, and we have a speed advantage of 4 knots." Chang Jianxin glanced at Gu Zhenyun, and his gaze returned to the chart, "No matter how Kincaid turns, it is impossible for the disappearance to pass us and catch up with the Fourth Task Force." Now the situation on the island of Tagura is more complicated, if he shells the airfield on the island, then we will have 200 less combat aircraft.

As long as Kincaid can be kept out of Tagura, as soon as the morning dawns, HNA bombers will definitely bomb Task Force 33 first, and then Kincaid will be completely finished! ”

"And Halsey."

"If Halsey dares to bomb Tagula Island at dawn, then his fleet will definitely be exposed, and General Tan Renhao will seize the opportunity at that time." Chang Jianxin was transferred from the post of chief of staff of the Second Task Force and is also very familiar with aviation operations. "Unless Halsey is confident that he can find our two carrier task forces in the first place, he will lose this time!"

Gu Zhenyun nodded slightly, he was very clear about the gap between himself and Chang Xin.

"Well, as soon as the fleet turns, the order for combat readiness is given, and all the officers and men enter their positions." Chang Jianxin raised his head and laughed, "Today we let Kincaid have no return!" ”

When Chang Jianxin received the news from Tagula Island, Tan Renhao and Hao Dongjue also received the same telegram, and the two of them read the telegram as soon as they read it.

They all immediately laughed.

"Damn, this Kincaid is a bit of a brain, and he actually knows how to bomb Tagura Island first."

"How's the preparation on the HNA side?" Tan Renhao quickly regained his composure.

"They were ready for the bomber to take off at half past five. If Kincaid doesn't turn around before eleven o'clock. Then, at dawn tomorrow, the HNA will first bomb the 33rd Task Force. Hao Dongjue took out a cigarette. Now, Halsey must be thinking about whether to bomb Tagura Island in advance. ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, and then walked slowly.

In the evening, he arranged for a seaplane to go to Tagula Island, so that the shore troops of the sea and sea there were ready to leave before dawn. If Task Force 33 is within its strike range at dawn, then immediately bomb Task Force 33, and if not, beware of a sudden bombardment by US troops and prepare for the transfer to Lennell Island. As things stand, Task Force 33 had abandoned the pursuit of the faster Fourth Task Force and instead rushed to Tagura, preparing to shell Tagura.

Tan Renhao's first thought was that this was Halsey's deliberate arrangement, ostensibly to make the opponent think that the 33rd Task Force was trying to catch up with the Fourth Task Force at night, and then kill halfway to Tagura Island. Fight for the shelling of Tagura's island at night. But the problem is that if Halsey's target is really Tagura, then Task Force 33 could have advanced directly to Tagura's Island in the afternoon. Before dark, there must be US ground fighters operating over the fleet, and the Imperial Navy tactical bombers deployed on Tagura Island will not pose a great threat to Task Force 33. In this way, Task Force 33 could reach the vicinity of Tagura Island before twelve o'clock. So why waste more than an hour?

If this was indeed arranged by Halsidi, then Task Force 33 must have been the bait, and Task Forces 31 and Task Force 32 must have been operating somewhere nearby. If the airfield on Tagura Island was destroyed, Task Force 4 would certainly bomb Task Force 33 first, and Halsey would have found an opportunity to deal with Task Force 4. Conversely, if the shelling of Tagura Island was unsuccessful, Halsey would have to bomb Tagura Island first to ensure that Task Force 33 was not attacked by shore-based bombers.

So, where is Halsey now?

Tan Renhao looked at the chart for a long time, and finally took into account two results.

The first outcome is that if Halsey is convinced that Task Force 33 can destroy the airfield on Tagura, or if Halsey is determined to use Task Force 33 as a victim, then Halsey must be somewhere southwest of Tagura, and is heading east or northeast at full speed, hoping to catch up with Task Force 4 at dawn and then send bombers to take out Task Force 4. At that time, if the airfield on Tagura Island is not destroyed, Halsey can have the two carrier task forces retreat to the east, and at the same time send bombers to attack the airfield on Tagura.

Another possibility is that Halsey knows that Task Force 3 has rushed forward, so that Task Force 33 is unable to destroy the airfield on Tagura, or Halsey does not want to give up Task Force 33, so he has to leave an aircraft carrier task force in the southwest waters of Tagura, bombing the airfield on Taguraa Island at dawn, while his other carrier task force is likely to continue to move westward and send reconnaissance planes to find Task Force 4 at dawn.

Thinking of this, Tan Renhao also knew it in his heart. He was more inclined to Halsey to choose the first option, and the most likely thing was that Halsey would sacrifice the 33rd Task Force to buy time for him to destroy the Tang Empire's aircraft carrier task force. Halsey, then, would definitely have his two carrier task forces sail northeast.

While considering these questions, Tan Renhao marked several routes on the chart, and when his thoughts gradually became clear, he smiled.

"Are we going to turn?"

"What is the patrol radius of those fighters of the US military?"

"About 500 nautical miles, that's the farthest."

"So, let's get moving." Tan Renhao threw away his pencil, "Since Halsey is determined to launch a sea battle, then we will accompany him to the end and let him be completely finished!" ”

When he noticed Tan Renhao's confident look, Hao Dongjue also laughed, tomorrow will definitely be the most exciting day.

At this time, Halsey, who was far away on the good aircraft carrier "Lexington", also received a telegram from Kincaid. When he learned that the 33rd Task Force had been discovered by the night reconnaissance planes of the Tang Empire, and that the 33rd Task Force was also approaching Tagura Island, giving up the pursuit of the 4th Task Force, Halsey suddenly realized that he had made a serious mistake, he did not take into account the threat of the Tang Empire's shore-based bombers on Tagura!

Now the situation is already obvious, the Tang Empire's shore-based bombers on Tagura Island have a huge threat, whether Halsey wants to or not, he must first ensure that these shore-based bombers cannot fly. Kincaid made the right choice, as long as Task Force 33 shelled Tagura Island at night, then he could safely pursue Task Force 4. But at the same time, Halsey was still a little worried, he was not worried about the Third Task Force that had already appeared in the Coral Sea, he didn't even know that the Third Task Force was rushing to intercept the 33rd Task Force, he was worried about the First Task Force!

At seven o'clock, Halsey received a telegram from the Theater Command, a telegram from Task Force 1, and these telegrams were sent before the withdrawal of Task Force 4, apparently the 4th Task Force withdrew immediately after receiving the warning. But the problem is that the 1st Task Force has not sent another telegram after the evening, and no one knows where the 1st Task Force is now!

It was also the actions of Task Force 1 that Halsey feared most. In his opinion, this is the biggest variable on the battlefield. If he could not determine the actions of Task Force 1, he would not be able to attack Task Force 4 with confidence. And Halsey knew one thing very well, that is, as long as they were found by Task Force 1, the more than 200 bombers in Task Force 1 could destroy all nine of his aircraft carriers!

What to do? Halsey spent half an hour looking for a way to deal with it, and at around nine o'clock, Halsey made a decision to make a new adjustment to the actions of the two aircraft carrier task forces, and he had to find a way to find the first task force first, or even strike the first task force first!