It took Tan Renhao nearly a month to understand the situation in the United States, which was much longer than the time Nie Renfeng gave him.

As early as the end of the last war, the Tang Empire listed the United States as the first imaginary enemy. If it weren't for the intervention of the United States, the Tang Empire would have solved all the problems twenty years ago, instead of dragging on for twenty years, allowing those stubborn enemies to arm themselves again and challenge the hegemony of the Tang Empire again. Of course, this is only a delay, and the war will never stop when the contradictions between the old and new powers are not resolved, and there is no division between the great powers.

In the eyes of all the people of the Tang Empire, the United States was an upstart. The Tang Empire's ability to become a global hegemon was based on its accumulation of thousands of years (in fact, the history of the modern Tang Empire should be counted from Prime Minister Zhang Shaoting). The United States, on the other hand, is a country with a history of just over 200 years, a country founded by robbers, bandits, islands, murderers, political prisoners, and profiteers. The country was based on expansion from the day it was founded and did not have its own culture. For anyone in the Tang Empire, the appearance of such a country is a very strange thing in itself, and it is difficult for anyone to imagine that a country without a cultural foundation and a national foundation can develop and grow. In fact, the United States did it, and it was on this basis that the United States completed the feat that took the Tang Empire thousands of years (at least more than 400 years) to accomplish in just over 200 years, becoming one of the most powerful countries in the world, with national potential close to that of the Tang Empire, and capable of challenging the Tang Empire. The strength to become the new hegemon of the world.

If the United States is listed as the first enemy of the Tang Empire, then the first global war is actually a war to strengthen the United States and weaken the Tang Empire. In the year before the First Global War, the strength of the Tang Empire was one and a half times that of the United States, and the combat effectiveness of its resources, population, and army far surpassed that of the United States. And in the last war. The Tang Empire was traumatized by the war and its national strength was greatly reduced. On the contrary, the United States made a huge war windfall, amassed all the wealth of Western countries, and narrowed the gap with the Tang Empire. Had it not been for the unwise reform policies adopted by the United States after the economic crisis of 11 years (1929 AD), the United States would have surpassed the Tang Empire as the world's number one power before the outbreak of World War II. In the year before the outbreak of World War II (20 years. A.D. 1938), the United States is more than eighty-five of the Tang Empire, the military strength is seventy percent of the Tang Empire, the population is sixty percent of the Tang Empire, and the war resources (referring to material resources, non-human resources) are second only to the Tang Empire, and it is recognized as the world's second most powerful country.

If the Tang Empire refuses to give up the throne of the world's number one power, and the United States refuses to withdraw from the competition. Then the war between the Don Empire and the United States could not be avoided, and it was definitely a contest of life and death, the winner got everything, and there was never a second place on the battlefield.

This is also a new idea formed by Tan Renhao in the past month or so. Now, the United States has not entered the war, and the U.S. government and Congress have not even agreed on the question of where to mobilize for the war. There is still a debate over whether war resources should be exported to other powers. It is undeniable that the United States is already preparing for war, or at least, the President of the United States has made military deployments and transfers within his purview to prepare for the imminent outbreak of war.

Numerous pieces of intelligence have proved this, and the United States will not sit idly by, especially after the end of Japan and the Tang Empire's absolute hegemony in the western Pacific, the United States can no longer stay out of it. In terms of the current situation of the local war, if Japan is at the end of 23. Or defeat in 24 years. And if the United States stays out of the way, then no country or group of countries will be able to stop the Tang Empire (Persian Empire. German Empire) won the final victory. If the Tang Empire unites the German Empire and the Persian Empire to win, then the Tang Empire will return to its peak state and become the only hegemonic country in the world, and the United States, which is partial to peace, will be completely defended, and will forever lose the opportunity to challenge the Tang Empire, and can only serve as a second-rate country or even a third-rate country forever.

In fact, the United States has no choice between fighting or not fighting. As long as the Tang Empire freed up its hands, within three years, it could level the European battlefield (including Russia), defeat the British, French, Italian, Western and other powers, and assist the German Empire and the Persian Empire to gain hegemony in Europe and Africa. And when the time comes, the Tang Empire can find an excuse to deal with the United States, such as the United States encroaching on the territory of Mexico, at least, the Tang Empire will never let tens of millions of descendants of the Tang Yin (Di'an) live in the shadow of the Westerners if it has enough strength. Comparatively speaking, it was much more advantageous for the United States to join forces with other countries against the Tang Empire than to face the Tang Empire (even the German and Persian empires) alone.

The only choice for the United States was when to declare war on the Tang Empire and when to participate in the war. In fact, the United States also has no choice in this matter. At a time when Japan is about to collapse, if the United States does nothing, then it will take on all the pressure on the Navy of the Tang Empire!

"Are you saying that the United States will enter the war before Japan announces its surrender or is completely defeated by us?" Gan Yongxing read the report submitted by Tan Renhao very carefully.

"Let's put it this way, the fact that Japan has been able to delay until now is actually that they have a hope, and this hope is that the United States can enter the war in time." Tan Renhao nodded and removed his hand from under his chin, "I have read the bombing reports during this period of time, and the effect of the bombing has been reflected, and now the interception of our bombers in the skies over Japan is very weak, and the Japanese fighters don't even have fuel to take off." In addition, Japan's ground anti-aircraft fire is actually much weaker, probably they don't have many shells. Under such circumstances, why should Japan continue to fight? If there was no hope for Japan, it should have surrendered now, why didn't they surrender? The reason is simple, Japan believes that the United States will enter the war, or that the United States has hinted to Japan that they will soon join the war. This can be seen from the mobilization of US troops. Now, the U.S. Navy's center of gravity has shifted to the Pacific Ocean, and it is putting pressure on the western Pacific side. In addition, Japan believes that as long as the United States enters the war, we will have to shift our focus. Japan would then take this opportunity to recover its strength and avoid defeat. ”

"It's just wishful thinking!" Gan Yongxing gritted his teeth. "The acting prime minister has given direct instructions that as long as Japan does not surrender, our bombing will continue until Japan surrenders. In addition, the Imperial Army also came up with a plan that if Japan did not surrender by the end of the year, then the Imperial Army would mobilize at least 50 divisions to land on the Japanese mainland. Fight until the Japanese surrender! ”

"Chief of Staff, this doesn't actually matter!" Tan Renhao smiled, "With the current situation in Japan, by the end of the year, even if we don't continue to bomb and only maintain a complete blockade of Japan, a great famine will break out in Japan, and then come." More than half of the Japanese would have to starve to death, and Japan would be doomed. ”

"Yes, that's not the point." Gan Yongxing also laughed, "Everyone wants to see Japan finish as soon as possible, and this time we can't let Japan go." So the question now is, when will the United States enter the war? ”

Tan Renhao shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not a prophet. I can only roughly judge that the United States will enter the war before Japan surrenders, and as for the specific time, maybe at the end of the year, or the beginning of next year. ”

Gan Yongxing frowned slightly, waiting for Tan Renhao to continue.

"Actually, I'm also guessing based on some phenomena." Tan Renhao coughed dryly, and quickly sorted out his thoughts, "Actually, we all know it. The United States will not fight a war that is uncertain. Otherwise, this duel would have been at least twenty years in advance. In fact, the United States has not fought an uncertain war since independence. And almost every time, he took advantage of the weakest time of the empire's strength to pull the corners of the empire, including the independence of the United States. ”

"And on what basis did you make this judgment?" Gan Yongxing didn't want to bypass the topic, so he asked directly.

"Movements and Deployments of U.S. Troops." Tan Renhao lit a cigarette, "Judging from the information we have gathered now, the United States has sent at least 50,000 additional troops to the western Pacific and Australia within half a year, and the scope of its Pacific Fleet has also shifted to the Hawaiian Islands, but this is still far from enough. If this war breaks out first between us and the United States, the United States can control the initiative on the battlefield with its strong naval forces, plus the Australian army and the Japanese army, perhaps, the United States will be able to rely on the troops now deployed to complete the offensive operations in the early stages of the war. But not now. The United States has only three aircraft carriers, eight battleships in the Pacific Ocean, and how many do we have? We now have six aircraft carriers, six battleships, far surpassing the United States in all other respects, and within a year, the Empire has more new aircraft carriers in service than the United States. It is impossible for the United States to use this power to start a war! ”

Gan Yongxing nodded slightly, still waiting for Tan Renhao to continue.

"Now the United States has seven fleet aircraft carriers, of which the USS Raider has been working in training and does not participate in combat operations, therefore, the United States also has six aircraft carriers. On the surface, the United States has as many aircraft carriers as we do, but in reality they are different. Tan Renhao handed a document to Gan Yongxing, "The 'Lexington' and the 'Saratoga' are the two most powerful aircraft carriers, but they are now being renovated and will probably be completed by the end of the year." The Yorktown operates in the Atlantic Ocean and will not move to the Pacific Ocean until October at the earliest. The Enterprise is undergoing a major overhaul and will not be completed until the beginning of next year, and if it progresses quickly, it may be completed by the end of the year. The Hornet is in its final perch, and it will be commissioned at least until the end of the year. At present, the United States can actually mobilize only one aircraft carrier, the USS Wasp, while the other two aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor are under repair. ”

"Perhaps, they will speed up the repair process."

"Yes, that's for sure, Japan won't last long, and the United States will step up preparations for war." Tan Renhao nodded, "However, even if the United States now has three aircraft carriers that can carry out combat missions, they are not very sure about dealing with our two task forces. At the end of the year, or early next year, the six aircraft carriers of the United States will be concentrated in the Pacific Ocean, and at that time, the United States will have the same aircraft carrier strength as us, and this is the best time for the United States to enter the battlefield! ”

"What if the United States chooses to sneak attack?" Gan Yongxing frowned slightly.

"Sneak attack is such a thing, it's okay to do it once, but the second time it's definitely a failure, is the Imperial Navy still the same as it was before the war? If we want to talk about sneak attacks, we should do it. ”

Gan Yongxing laughed. "So, the United States has no chance of starting a war before the end of the year?"

"I'm 80% sure unless Japan lasts less than 24 years." Tan Renhao nodded affirmatively, "Of course, by the end of the year, we will also have enough strength to face the United States." By the middle of next year, our third type of aircraft carrier will be commissioned. At present, the American 'Essex' class is still being designed. As long as our new aircraft carrier is commissioned, the United States does not have much chance of winning. ”

"Looks like you've convinced me." Gan Yongxing stood up with a smile, "We can spend a few months recovering the officers and men of the fleet. Task Force 1 will return to port this month and then head south again in early November to assist the Army in sweeping the South Seas. The Second Task Force will depart in October to coordinate with the Third Task Force to attack the coastal areas of Japan, and it is believed that Japan will have no fighters to take off by then. As long as we take out Japan first, even if the United States enters the war, we will be more than half sure of victory. ”

Tan Renhao hesitated for a moment and asked, "Chief of Staff, how is the situation of the First Task Force?" ”

Gan Yongxing laughed. "You're still concerned about Task Force One. There are no major problems, it can be said that it is decent, Brigadier General Jiang Zhongmin's ability is still good, but Colonel Fan Peikun is not very satisfactory. Of course, compared to the pair of you and Lei Shaoqing, they are still far behind. Don't worry, if I have the chance, I will help you get back to the fleet. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, this is his greatest hope, return to the fleet and continue to be his fleet commander, as for what others say, it is someone else's business, he only thinks that in the fleet, he can exert his greatest strength, instead of watching the excitement on the shore.

"By the way, the results of the investigation are in." Gan Yongxing stopped Tan Renhao, who had just walked to the door, "You are not responsible for the bombing of Kyoto, this is our mistake when drawing up the bombing list." The acting prime minister has decided not to pursue the matter. ”

Tan Renhao was stunned for a moment, and immediately nodded gratefully at Gan Yongxing. To put it bluntly, it was Gan Yongxing who helped him carry the black cauldron.