It was not until early June, when the battle in Port Moresby had reached a critical stage, that Tan received a piece of information that would allow him to make a judgment: Halsey had returned to the Southwest Pacific Theater and immediately mobilized the Third Fleet, which had returned to Port Vila, and two days later, the airfield on Tagura's Island was bombed by American carrier-based bombers. Yan Guozhong urgently ordered a fleet of ships that was rushing to Port Moresby to turn around and return to the sea, and sent a telegram back on the same day, asking the naval command to immediately send a fleet reinforcement.

"That's all we have now." When Gan Yongxing walked out of the operations center of the Navy Headquarters, his steps were very hurried. "Our reconnaissance planes should have spotted the US fleet before dawn, but they were not able to send out the news in time, and now the airfield has been paralyzed, Yan Guozhong is trying to find a way to arrange for reconnaissance planes on two nearby field airfields to find the US fleet, and the HNA is also making preparations."

"Now what fleet do we have sent to the Southwest Pacific theater of operations?" Tan Renhao rushed over as soon as he received the news.

"No, except for the small fleet commanded by Yan Guozhong himself, we don't have a fleet operating in the Southwest Pacific Theater now." Gan Yongxing stopped, "Preliminary judgment, the Third Fleet is now operating in the northwestern waters of the Coral Sea, and it should have left the strike range of our shore-based air forces. ”

"What is the purpose of Halsey's sortie?"

"Preventing us from sending war supplies to Port Moresby looks like the U.S. military is going to launch a large-scale counterattack in Port Moresby." Gan Yongxing sighed and glanced towards the door of the principal's office, "Yan Guozhong has already sent three telegrams back.

Asked for immediate fleet support, but now we can't send a fleet at all. ”

Tan Renhao also sighed secretly, the First Task Force does not even have an aircraft carrier now. The same is true of Task Force 2, both aircraft carriers are undergoing overhaul at the shipyard. The Fourth Task Force has only one aircraft carrier, but the problem is that the "Xuanzong" has already returned to the shipyard and is ready for a comprehensive overhaul, and the plan is to be used as a training aircraft carrier and no longer participate in front-line combat operations. The two battleships of the 3rd Task Force were still lying on the slipway of the shipyard. And the first batch of modified small aircraft carriers will not be able to enter service as soon as the middle of this month. Now all of them are training, and most of the recruits are not yet fully familiar with aircraft carriers. In other words, the Navy now has no capital ships other than cruisers and destroyers that can be sent to the Southwest Pacific theater.

"Let's go inside, the headmaster is worried about this."

The two entered Nie Renfeng's office, and Nie Renfeng was answering the phone. He beckoned to Gan Yongxing and Tan Renhao, motioned for them to greet him, and then said a few more words on the phone before putting down the phone.

"I just asked, and the repair work of the three aircraft carriers will be completed by the end of the month at the earliest." Nie Renfeng walked over. "In addition, Yan Guozhong sent another telegram back, and the US military has begun to storm the airfield controlled by the Marine Corps."

"How's the situation over there now?" Gan Yongxing followed and asked.

"It's not too bad. Yan Guozhong had already deployed four Marine Divisions on the periphery of Port Moresby, and had transported more than 100 artillery pieces over the previous times, and the ammunition was also sufficient, although the offensive was weak. But there is still no problem with defense. Nie Renfeng sat down, "I have already called Yan Guozhong back, asking him to be prepared to defend for a month, or even two months, without the support of the fleet." The key now is that next month, the US Navy will be back in combat, and their strategic counterattack will begin soon, and we have not yet determined the direction of the US military's counterattack, let alone be able to make a good deployment in advance. Is there any progress in your work? ”

Tan Renhao glanced at Gan Yongxing and said to the principal: "It is generally certain that the US military will attack in a primary and secondary way, contain at least one of our task forces in the secondary direction, and then gain superiority in strength in the main direction, so that they can have more certainty of victory." ”

"So, what about the judgment of the primary and secondary directions?"

Tan Renhao shrugged his shoulders and didn't speak.

"At present, we have not yet reached a unanimous conclusion that the main fleet of the US military may appear in both the Central Pacific and the Southwest Pacific." Gan Yongxing answered the principal's question, "Now, we need more information, but if we don't have more information, we can't make more judgments." ”

Nie Renfeng nodded slightly. "Rush the MIA and get them to move quickly."

Gan Yongxing nodded, he had urged the military intelligence bureau several times, but each time the result was to make him continue to wait.

"Ren Hao, if you go to the Jiangnan Shipyard in a few days, the two aircraft carriers of the First Task Force will be put into service." Nie Renfeng stood up, "By the way, go and call Hao Dongjue, his training class is almost over." Together, you go to receive the two aircraft carriers, as well as a few battleships built at the Jiangnan shipyard, and then return to Zhoushan. If all goes well, Task Force 1 is expected to be back in combat by 20 June. ”

"Do you need us to rush to the Southwest Pacific theater?" Tan Renhao also stood up, and there was finally good news.

"No, there is no need to reinforce the Southwest Pacific Theater for the time being, Yan Guozhong's side should be able to hold it, and the battle that decides the outcome is at sea, not on land." Nie Renfeng sent Tan Renhao to the door, "Before leaving, try to finish what you are doing, you first contact Jiangnan Shipyard to determine the schedule." ”

Tan Renhao nodded and immediately left.

The U.S. military's aggressive campaign on the Coral Sea, the bombing of Tagula Island, and the reinforcement of Port Moresby were all counterattacks and campaign counterattacks by the U.S. military. Obviously, this is directly related to the next strategic arrangement of the US military, but the question is, what is the purpose of the US military launching a counterattack at this time?

Tan Renhao has a hunch that the US military's counterattack this time has another meaning, but the question is, what does this mean? According to the current situation of the US military, it is indeed important to consolidate the defense of Port Moresby, but is it too hasty to launch a counterattack with only three small aircraft carriers? Now Task Force 1 is about to be formed. If the First Task Force, which has three fleet carriers, goes south, then the three small aircraft carriers in Halsey's hands will definitely lose their lives.

Thinking of this, Tan Renhao suddenly understood. He didn't go back to his office. Instead, he waited outside Gan Yongxing's office, more than half an hour later. Gan Yongxing came out of Nie Renfeng's office at this time.

"Well, did you think of anything?"

Tan Renhao nodded, not in a hurry to say it.

Gan Yongxing glanced at him, and then pushed open the door of the office floor. "Have you contacted the Jiangnan Shipyard?"

"No, I'll get in touch later. Chief of Staff – I suddenly had one thing in mind. ”

Tan Renhao immediately followed, "It has something to do with the U.S. military's counterattack this time, and I always feel that something is wrong." ”

Gan Yongxing first invited Tan Renhao to sit down. "Well, what's wrong?"

"Why is the U.S. military fighting back now?" Tan Renhao hesitated for a moment and said, "Judging from the deployment of our forces in Port Moresby, even if the Third Fleet seizes sea supremacy, it is impossible for the US military to defeat us before the end of the month, the Battle of Port Moresby will definitely drag on for a long time, and the First Task Force will definitely be able to reach the Southwest Pacific Theater at the end of the month." At that time, the three small aircraft carriers in Halsey's hands will definitely not be the opponent of the First Task Force, and the US counterattack will not have any effect. ”

Gan Yongxing nodded slightly. "You mean. What is the greater intention of this counterattack by the US military? ”

"Yes, if the U.S. military knows that Task Force 1 is about to return to combat effectiveness, then there is no reason for their counterattack this time." Tan Renhao suddenly laughed. "Chief of Staff, if the U.S. counterattack this time is not to lift the siege of Port Moresby. So what will be their purpose? ”

Gan Yongxing looked at Tan Renhao with a little surprise.

"It must be to contain the First Task Force in the southwest Pacific." Tan Renhao slapped the armrest of the sofa violently, "The order in which our four fleets will return to combat effectiveness has been determined, and it is very likely that the relevant intelligence has already been obtained by the US intelligence agencies." The purpose of Halsey's purpose was not to let MacArthur's ground forces complete the battle at Port Moresby as soon as possible, but to drag the First Task Force in the Coral Sea so that the First Task Force could not go to other theaters. By July, Nimitz would be able to command a large fleet to attack Wake Island and even the Mariana Islands.

At most, we can only deploy the second, third, and fourth task forces in the Pacific theater, and the US military's superiority in strength is extremely obvious. ”

Gan Yongxing's face pondered solemnly, and after a while, he said: "It's completely possible, but now your main problem is to immediately take over the new warship." I will discuss with the principal, and if it is determined that this is the deployment of the US military, then I will take the corresponding deployment. ”

"Then I'll contact Jiangnan Shipyard now." Tan Renhao also immediately got up and said goodbye, "If there is news, we will contact again, and I will try to rush back as soon as possible." ”

On the same day, Tan Renhao contacted Jiangnan Shipyard and agreed on a time to receive the battleship. Subsequently, he got in touch with Hao Dongjue, who was in the training class in Songjiang. Naturally, Hao Dongjue's homecoming was in vain, and he had to graduate from the training class ahead of schedule.

Three days later, on June 11, Tan Renhao took Duchenne to the airport early in the morning, and the plane prepared for him was ready to take off and was warming up the engine.

"Have you brought all your luggage?" Tan Renhao glanced at the adjutant.

"It's all ready, I'll send it on the plane first." Duchenne was also very knowledgeable, and immediately found an excuse to slip away.

Tan Renhao walked to his wife's side. "What, don't you want me to leave?"

"Don't be stinky, remember to give those things to Qinglian, and when you arrive in Songjiang, remember to call home." Liao Yingyu's stomach was already slightly bulging, "You also have to pay attention to your body, I have already greeted Du Xing." ”

"Don't worry, I'll take care of myself, and so will you." Tan Renhao hugged his wife, "You still have to take care of our children, you can't be picky when you eat, you know?" ”

After the two of them talked sweetly for a while, Tan Renhao boarded the plane.

From Zhoushan to Songjiang, it is only about an hour's voyage. On the way, Tan Renhao's mood couldn't calm down for a long time, not because he left home, but because he was about to see a brand new fleet.

When he arrived at the Songjiang Naval Air Station, Hao Dongjue had already rushed over in a car. Tan Renhao did not let Du Xing follow, but asked the adjutant to send the things brought by the family to the place where Hao Dongjue and Tan Qinglian lived, and then left the airport with Hao Dongjue.

"I went to the shipyard yesterday to see that the two aircraft carriers, as well as the three new air defense cruisers, have been loaded." Hao Dongjue drove his own car, he didn't bring his adjutant over, "I have drawn up a plan for the adjustment of the officers and men of the fleet, and some of the veterans will be promoted to non-commissioned officers, so that they can serve on the new battleship, and the old and new can be combined, so that the combat effectiveness can be formed as soon as possible." ”

"You can look at these things, you have a lot of experience." Tan Renhao's mood was not here, "The U.S. military launched a large-scale counterattack in Port Moresby, and it seems that this time our trouble is about to come." ”

"I also received information that it was the Third Fleet commanded by Halsey that was assisting the US ground forces in the operation." Hao Dongjue smiled and shook his head, "Did the marshal let us rush to the Southwest Pacific Theater immediately?" ”

"No, we have to go back to Zhoushan first, wait for the other warships to arrive one after another, do you understand the things in the training class?"

"It's already arranged, I'll go get my certificate of completion early tomorrow morning."

"Your return to your hometown has to be postponed, in fact, ......"

"It's okay, I don't want to go back, it's not good to be treated as a living treasure."

Hao Dongjue glanced at his partner with a smile, "Okay, I'll invite you to dinner in the evening, Huang Xiaotian is also here, let's have a good chat." ”

"Huang Xiaotian didn't return to the fleet?"

"No, he still has to stay for a few more days, and now Jiang Zhongmin is in charge of it." Hao Dongjue drove the car into the city, "He felt that the counterattack of the US troops in Port Moresby was very problematic, and he chatted with me for a night the day before yesterday, but he didn't want to leave, and was bombed away by me." ”

Tan Renhao immediately laughed. "So, the two of you have already discussed something."

Hao Dongjue smiled and shook his head, it seemed that they were not sure.