Two days later, the first phase of the combat mission to the 6 Ryukyu Islands was completed. After consolidating the beachhead, the 6th Sentai and 6th Corps laid siege to Kadena Airport and began to build an airstrip on the beach, so that war supplies could be airlifted by the transport planes of the 6th Fleet. In addition, 5ooo officers and men of the 6th Sentai also captured the Kerama Islands within two days, seized the airfields on the islands, and provided a take-off and landing ground for the fighters of the 6th Air Force and the HNA Airlines.

Although the Deng-6 operation was entering the most critical stage, the Japanese Navy had lost the ability to threaten the Deng-6 operation, and with more and more fighters of the 6th and HNA stationed on the island, air supremacy over the island had been in the hands of the Tang Empire. Therefore, now the naval fleet no longer needs to go to support the Deng-6 operation. Moreover, the first task force was left with only one frame, and there was no way to go to sea to fight until there were enough warships.

On this day, Tan Renhao and they all came to the Imperial Navy Military Cemetery north of Hangzhou. It was one of the three major military cemeteries of the Empire, and only those who died in the war or served in the navy and made great contributions are eligible to be buried here. The cemetery was originally a private estate of Imperial Navy Marshal Yuan Chenhao, and after the marshal's death, he left a will to convert the estate into a military cemetery. From then on, the soldiers of the Imperial Navy had a resting place.

Many people came to attend the funeral, and the funeral activities were entrusted by Marshal Nie Renfeng to General Gan Yongxing, General Liao Hanxiang, General Wu Xianyu, and those comrades-in-arms who came to the navy with Ji Xiaobin back then. Xue Xiyue, the minister of the Imperial Cabinet, also sent a representative. In addition, at the funeral, Marshal Nie Renfeng wore an imperial royal medal on the chest of Ji Pinghai, the son of General Ji Xiaobin, who was only eight years old.

All the admirals who came to the funeral wore black dresses, which were new to the Imperial Navy. Marshal Nie Renfeng's dress had a circle of gold thread on the cuffs and neckline. On the general's dress, there is a purple line, and Tan Renhao, and the school officers have a white line. This is also the best sign to distinguish the rank of a naval officer. The funeral was solemn, and General Ji Xiaobin's coffin was carried by four rear admirals. At the time of the burial, 24 colonel officers of the 6 squad fired their guns together. All wore a small white flower on their chests. Tan Renhao didn't stand at the front, he was a little afraid to face General Ji Xiaobin's family. But in the end, he still had to face General Ji Xiaobin's wife and son.

Tan Renhao put the white flower in his hand in front of the tombstone, his eyes stayed on the photo of the tombstone for a few seconds, and then he turned his head to look at Ji Xiaobin's wife Zhang Meihua, who was standing on the side. and the only son of General Ji Xiaobin. Tan Renhao's lips trembled a few times, he wanted to say something, but he couldn't open his mouth. In the end, he bent down to General Ji Xiaobin's wife and expressed his apologies to the general's relatives in the most primitive way.

"Renhao. You shouldn't blame yourself! Lei Shaoqing knew very well what Ren Hao thought: "It was General Ji Xiaobin who made this decision at the beginning, maybe he had already thought of the later result." The general doesn't want to see you the way you are. ”

Tan Renhao nodded and walked to the back of the crowd. When assigning fleet tasks, the result of the discussion between Tan Renhao and Ji Xiaobin was that Tan Renhao stayed behind to command the aircraft carrier formation. At the beginning, Tan Renhao didn't expect that Ji Xiaobin would never go back, otherwise he would never let Ji Xiaobin take the risk.

At this time, Liao Hanxiang and Wu Xianyu also came over. Both of them saw that Tan Renhao was blaming himself, and Wu Xianyu looked at Liao Hanxiang as obviously. Liao Hanxiang knows how to comfort Tan Renhao.

"Ren Hao will walk with me!" Liao Hanxiang patted Tan Renhao's shoulder, and then said to Wu Xianyu: "You take them to Defu Building, and I will invite everyone to dinner today." We'll come back later. ”

Wu Xianyu hurriedly nodded and called Lei Shaoqing. Hao Dongjue and a few new people are often recommended.

Liao Hanxiang and Tan Renhao walked towards the center of the military cemetery. Finally, Liao Hanxiang stopped at the tomb of Marshal Yuan Chenhao. "Ren Hao, do you know why Marshal Yuan Chenhao built this Imperial Navy Military Cemetery back then?"

Tan Renhao glanced at Liao Hanxiang, of course he knew the history of this cemetery, but he didn't know why Liao Hanxiang asked such a question.

"Do you know how many imperial naval officers and soldiers Marshal Yuan Chenhao personally sent away for the empire's conquest of the north and south? A whole 150,000 Imperial Navy officers and men fell on the journey. Perhaps the marshal had already thought of these soldiers at that time, and if they could not return to their hometowns after death, then they would become lonely ghosts scattered overseas. Therefore, the marshal later built this cemetery, so that all the sailors who gave their lives for the empire could rest here. Liao Hanxiang turned around and pointed towards the ever-bright lighthouse at the gate of the cemetery, "Do you know why the lighthouse is erected at the gate?" Because there are so many soldiers who have died in battle, they can't be sure that they have nothing left, and they can't enter the cemetery at all. Therefore, we left this lighthouse at the gate, thinking of the lighthouse of Hangzhou Bay, which is to show the way for the souls of those imperial soldiers, so that they can return here and their motherland! ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, these are the basic knowledge that you should know as a soldier of the Imperial Navy.

"Maybe no one wants to die, everyone wants to live, but this cemetery tells us. In the history of the empire, there have been countless emperors who have sacrificed their lives for their country and their hometown. Liao Hanxiang turned to look at the sunset in the west, "I believe that every imperial soldier who has sacrificed for hundreds of years has been smiling at Jiuquan, because their sacrifice has defended the motherland and defended the motherland." Ji Xiaobin is the same, he is a soldier, and he has done what a soldier should do. Now we should laugh, we should laugh at having such a soldier. Because if there is a day, then we will be as brave as Ji Xiaobin in the face of the enemy's shells and bravely embark on the road to Huangquan, what we are doing is what these fallen soldiers have not done! ”

Tan Renhao was slightly startled, he suddenly understood the meaning of Liao Hanxiang's words, and now he needs to be sad. But he needed more courage and the courage to defeat the enemy.

Hangzhou was one of the largest cities in the southern part of the empire, with a population of more than a million. A few decades ago, the city was congested, with all roads only a few metres wide. However, now that cars have become widespread, the former roads have become wide concrete roads. Vehicles come and go on the road. Figures accompany them. As night falls, the neon lights come on, and the effects of the war are not yet visible, but the tall buildings that line the road are visible. Vehicles and hurried traffic on the side of the road.

Hangzhou's most famous and well-known place is naturally West Lake. "Defu Building" is a large restaurant located on the shore of West Lake. Liao Hanxiang had booked a private room on the third floor in advance, where he could see the West Lake under the moonlight. Saw that the mine-peak tower was being repaired on the opposite side.

When Liao Hanxiang walked into the restaurant with Tan Renhao, a middle-aged man took the initiative to greet him. What surprised Tan Renhao was that it was not the guy from the restaurant who came to receive them. It's the boss. This can be seen from the clothes worn by middle-aged people, and no guy in a restaurant will wear a set of Tang costumes made of silk fabrics.

"Two generals, please come inside, please!" The owner seemed polite.

Tan Renhao was even more puzzled. Before the outbreak of the war, although the status of soldiers in society was not low, they were not hospitalized. And now the boss's attitude is a bit too polite.

Liao Hanxiang didn't care about this, or didn't notice it, and followed the boss upstairs.

"Come in, please. The food and drinks will be delivered immediately, so please sit down for a while! ”

Tan Renhao followed Liao Hanxiang into the private room, Wu Xianyu had already arrived first, and ordered the wine and food.

"Renhao, do you see it?" Hao Dongjue took the initiative to run to Tan Renhao and sat down.

"See what?" Tan Renhao frowned slightly.

"The gaze of those people. And the attitude of the hotel owner. As soon as we came in, the boss called us generals. I thought he couldn't see the difference between an officer and a general! ”

The others laughed, and it was clear that they had noticed that too.

"Actually, there is nothing surprising about this. The navy has won several successive battles in the past few months, and with the propaganda in the newspapers, the people of the empire now know more about the navy and admire it more. Wu Xianyu's words were very calm: "Of course, soldiers are already the most popular people in society. If you don't believe it, you will know tomorrow when you go to Fuchun Road. ”

Fuchun Road is the most prosperous commercial street in Hangzhou and the center of Hangzhou.

Soon the boss brought in the food and drinks with two men. However, Wu Xianyu had a problem, there were a few dishes that they didn't order at all, and the two bottles of Moutai were not on the wine list.

"Everyone, please use it slowly, please use it slowly."

"Boss, we don't want these dishes and wine!" Lei Shaoqing asked before Wu Xianyu.

"It's okay, it's okay, these drinks and dishes are all gifts from our store, and you don't have to pay for this meal tonight, which is considered a treat from our store."

Wu Xianyu frowned slightly and said, "Boss, we are not here to eat the overlord's meal, and the emperor ** team has rules and cannot oppress the people, we ......"

"General, you're laughing, this is what I'm asking you to do, what kind of oppression is the people. If it weren't for your navy, maybe the Japanese devils would have hit Hangzhou, and we, the little people, would all rely on the protection of the emperor's ** people, so what is it to invite you to have a meal? The boss's words hit the point: "You guys use it slowly, I won't bother, if there is anything else you need, just say hello at any time." ”

Tan Renhao also understood now, the imperial navy has won several big victories, coupled with the propaganda of the national propaganda machine, I am afraid that the people of the empire have long regarded the emperor ** as their protector. It's no wonder that when he was on the road, he stared so much at him and Liao Hanxiang, the two people in navy uniforms.

"Actually, this is also a manifestation of the empire entering a state of war." Liao Hanxiang picked up the chopsticks as he spoke, and when he saw that everyone was waiting for him, he laughed. "Why are you still stunned, let's do it quickly, the boss has a treat, we can't be polite. I'm so hungry that I'm going to fill my stomach and drink until later! ”

Everyone laughed and picked up their chopsticks.

"Before the outbreak of the war, the social status of the emperor was not very high, and we all know this." Liao Hanxiang's words were mainly said to Tan Renhao, but several other people were listening. "One of the main reasons is that we really didn't do well in the last war and made a lot of mistakes. As a result, many people believe that the empire was not able to achieve complete victory in the last war because the army was ineffective in fighting, so the empire lost a large number of overseas territories, and even argued that the final armistice treaty was a humiliating surrender treaty. ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, which was also an important reason why the empire fell into turmoil in the post-war years.

"In this war, we are actually in a very passive situation, but the empire's propaganda work is very good, demonizing Japan, the British Empire, the Kingdom of France, the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Italy, and so on. Although we suffered a lot of losses in the early days of the war, our morale did not drop much. Now that the navy has fought several turnaround battles, the people naturally love the soldiers, support the soldiers, and respect the soldiers. ”

"General, if we lose the battle, will the people hit us with rotten eggs?" Hao Dongjue asked a very idiotic question.

Everyone laughed, and Lei Shaoqing, who was next to Hao Dongjue, immediately knocked on his head.

"Well, I'm not sure. But I can tell you unambiguously that as long as the Imperial Navy performs well, then the people will support us and respect us. Liao Hanxiang picked up the wine bottle, "Of course, we don't want to lose the battle, but as long as we do our best, even if we lose the battle, I believe the people will continue to support us and help us win the final victory!" ”

Wu Xianyu was the first to raise his glass. "Then let's toast to the final victory!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone drank it. In fact, for the emperors, what are they fighting desperately on the front line for? There may be many reasons, but the support and love of the imperial people behind him is also the motivation for the emperor to fight bravely, and it is one of the biggest motivations!