The Pacific Theater campaign against Wake Island ended on August 8, with the 6th Squadron capturing the important island at the cost of more than 12oo casualties. More than 18oo American troops were killed, and the rest were taken prisoner (about 12oo of them were wounded). On the day that the dragon flag of the Tang Empire was raised on Wake Island, the 1st Task Force returned to the Bismarck Sea for the fourth time, which was the third time that the 1st Task Force entered the theater to provide support for the 6th Brigade after the 6th Squadron successfully boarded the 6th.

"Yan Shiqi sent a telegram that the Third Task Force and the supply fleet were missed in the waters of the Samar Islands, and their replenishment time will be at least 12 hours longer than expected, maybe an extra day." Hao Dongjue has gradually relaxed in the past few days, "It seems that we have one more day to stay." ”

"Then use the backup plan, at least for now, Team 6 won't be in a hurry to ask for our fire support." Tan Renhao took the message, glanced at it and put it in his hand.

Now the 6th team has sent more than 5oo guns to the beach, and the dock of Finch Port has also been expanded, and the transport ships with a displacement of less than 5ooo tons can directly dock and unload the materials, without relying on the transport boats to carry the materials, which greatly improves the delivery of materials and ensures the combat needs of the 6th team. Because of this, the 6th Squadron's demand for the fleet has also decreased a lot, unless the US military counterattacks on a large scale, the 6th Squadron generally will no longer ask for the fleet's fire support, and can basically deal with the battle independently.

"It looks like by the end of the month, we should be able to take Lae." Hao Dongjue leaned against the table, "We can also end this drudgery, if we can, it's best to never work for Team 6 again in the future!" ”

"That's what you think, unless you become the commander of the war zone, you still have to obey orders." Tan Renhao's heart is not a taste. But he will endure it, "Okay, let's go and do things, the third task force can't come up in the past two days, so it's all up to us." ”

The fleet is still sailing south, and it is still not bold enough to enter the Solomon Sea. While the battle for Lae was in full swing, the U.S. military was also strengthening the defenses of the Solomon Islands. Prior to this, the US military had only about 5oo fighters deployed on several islands in the Solomon Islands. In just a few days, it has increased to more than 8oo, and the number continues to increase. In addition, the US-Australia-Germany joint fleet has also entered the Solomon Sea and has been operating under the cover of air forces. Tan Renhao wanted to take out this fleet of dozens of light warships several times, but he never found a chance, and the task of the first task force was to assist the 6th team to take Lae, so he had no way to be distracted.

The fleet arrived at the operational zone at noon and then sent out a bomber group. Now the fleet will continue to carry out bombing missions, regardless of whether the 6 Sentai requests it or not. The task of most bombers was to hang bombs and move behind the forward positions. As soon as the target of the US military is visible, the bomb will be dropped immediately. And some of the fighters are also on free hunt missions. It's just that it's not airplanes that are hunted, but tanks and combat vehicles on the ground. artillery, vehicles, etc.

Tan Renhao and Hao Dongjue have been on duty in shifts, and the officers of the staff are also on duty in rotation, and the bombing mission seems to have become a routine matter, and the pressure is not great. However, in the evening of the same day, when Tan Renhao came to replace Hao Dongjue again, a piece of news surprised him.

"This is a telegram from General Yan Guozhong?"

Hao Dongjue nodded. "I've checked, it's indeed Admiral Yan Guozhong's coming, and it's a telegram to you. The location is not Manila, but Port Finche. ”

"What is he doing?" Tan Renhao let out a sigh. "In the past, when I was commanding the 6th team, I often rushed to the front line, and the principal said that he had done it many times. Now that he is the commander of the theater of operations, why is he still rushing to the front line like a soldier? ”

"Who cares?" Hao Dongjue shrugged his shoulders, "He is the commander of the theater of operations, and according to the current command system, even if he picks up a rifle and charges, as long as he can complete the task and achieve the purpose of the campaign, then no one can interfere with him." I'm afraid, even if the marshal personally gives the order, he can ignore it! ”

"It's just nonsense!" Tan Renhao sighed, "Forget it, it looks like I have to go too, help me prepare the plane, you guard the fleet, if there is anything, contact me immediately." ”

"It looks like Yan Guozhong is going to drag a fleet commander into the water!"

Tan Renhao glared at his partner, and then walked out of the command cabin. The telegram was to ask Tan Renhao to go to Finsh Harbor, Yan Guozhong had already rushed over in advance, it seemed that this brave 6th Squad General had already set up his headquarters in Finsh Harbor, maybe he had already booked a certain room in Lae, and was ready to go to Lae to command the war zone battle in the near future. Tan Renhao is not used to Yan Guozhong's style of often fighting on the front line of the 6th team general, and he can only admire Yan Guozhong's courage and courage, this may be the difference between old-fashioned generals and new-style generals like Tan Renhao.

Tan Renhao transferred to a cruiser, then boarded a seaplane, and arrived at the airstrip west of Finsh Harbor by the evening of the same day, and was then taken to the front headquarters by a major officer of the 6th Squad sent by Yan Guozhong. Just like Tan Renhao's guess, Yan Guozhong really transferred his headquarters here, and dozens of his staff officers rushed over, and these staff officers were all living in tents for the time being, and none of them were built with bricks and tiles.

"General Tan, we met again, and the journey went well, right?" Although Yan Guozhong is already in his fifties, he is still so enthusiastic and unrestrained, which makes Tan Renhao feel a little embarrassed.

"It's okay, at least it's not a big deal now." As Tan Renhao spoke, he took off his military hat and hung it on the coat rack by the door.

"Now it's a big deal." Yan Guozhong asked Tan Renhao to sit down, "I just received the news, General Liao Hanxiang and they have already conquered Wake Island, you should also receive the news, right?" ”

Tan Renhao nodded and declined the cigarette handed by Yan Guozhong. "I received it in the morning, and I fought for more than ten days, which was about the same as planned, the loss was not too great, and the second task force was also safe and sound, which is a good thing."

"Yes, General Liao Hanxiang and they have completed their mission and are continuing to plan a new attack."

"Xindi attack?" Tan Renhao glanced at Yan Guozhong in surprise. He hadn't received any news about it, it was supposed to be information exchanged between war zones, and there was no need to send it to their sub-commanders.

"In Liao Hanxiang's first plan, the idea of continuing to attack Midway Island after Wake Island was mentioned, but the Navy Command did not approve it." Yan Guozhong handed the telegram to Tan Renhao, "Now, Liao Hanxiang has only used half of the time originally planned. and the completion of the combat operation to capture Wake Island with less than half of the input. The performance of the Second Task Force was indispensable, and the Marshal had decided to commend the Second Task Force. ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, he had already guessed this when he received the good news from Wake Island, maybe Lei Shaoqing and Chang Jianxin would not be rewarded, but the second task force would definitely receive a collective commendation.

"Now, there is still enough strength in the Pacific theater, and we don't need reinforcements for the time being, at least, I still have two divisions of reserves in my hands that have not been transferred. There are three more divisions in the back that can participate in the battle at any time. You guys. and Yan Shiqi's performance is enough for us to capture Lae and the subsequent combat operations. Yan Guozhong lit a cigarette, "Now." Liao Hanxiang is planning the next phase of combat operations. ”

"Attack Midway?" Tan Renhao put down the message.

"No, the capture of Midway is of little significance, and it is not easy, at least until we decide that we want to attack the Hawaiian Islands, there is not much need to capture Midway." Yan Guozhong laughed, "Now, our side is still the main battlefield, and in order to cooperate with our combat operations, Liao Hanxiang and them naturally have to work harder." The focus of the U.S. military has shifted if we are to continue sweeping the islands of the Southwest Pacific. The most critical thing is our flanks. ”

Tan Renhao hesitated slightly, and said, "You mean, General Liao Hanxiang plans to capture the Marshall Islands and the Gilbert Islands?" ”

"Yes, if we are going to continue the attack on the Solomon Islands after we have swept the Bismarck Islands and New Guinea, then we must ensure the security of the flanks." Yan Guozhong stood up and walked to the theater map hanging on a huge stand, "If the fleet has been operating in the Bismarck Sea, it will be greatly restricted. In the future, we will definitely attack the Solomon Islands, open access to the Coral Sea, and lay the groundwork for the eventual blockade of Australia. You are the commander of the fleet, where do you think it would be better for the fleet to operate if it is to be wielded at the strength of the fleet? ”

Tan Renhao looked at the map for a while and said: "Then it must be transferred to the north and northeast of the Solomon Islands, and then the shore-based fighters of the HNA will cooperate to flank the Solomon Islands left and right, and assist the 6th team to complete the sweeping work!" ”

"Yes, that's exactly what the Navy Command was thinking about. Chief of Staff Gan Yongxing sent me a telegram suggesting that we should sweep the island of New Britain as soon as we have completed the operation to capture Lae, and that we should temporarily abandon the combat operation against Port Moresby and focus on the Solomon Islands. Yan Guozhong picked up the wooden stick and pointed a few times on the map, "The completion of the capture of Lae and the combat operation of New Britain Island will continue at least until the end of the year, and by this time the US Navy should have recovered its strength, and they will definitely have four aircraft carriers, which is a great threat to us." The key to conquering the Solomon Islands is at sea, and we must control the sea before we can move south to the Solomon Islands. Therefore, in the meantime, if Liao Hanxiang and they can capture the Marshall Islands, the Gilbert Islands, and even the Samoa Islands further south, then we can force the U.S. Navy to make a detour to the south, enter the Coral Sea, and press the U.S. fleet south of the Solomon Islands, and we can't go north, and we can attack the Solomon Islands. ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, he was not very familiar with this kind of deployment in the general strategic direction, but he could see at a glance the importance of capturing the Marshall Islands and the Gilbert Islands. This was in effect a fence on the flank of the Southwest Pacific Theater so that the U.S. Navy could not attack it directly, and the Imperial fleet could move freely in the waters north and northeast of the Solomon Islands without fear of a surprise attack from the enemy. This is of great significance for the attack on the Solomon Islands.

"Now, Liao Hanxiang is dispatching troops, and they will launch a new attack around the 15th, when the second task force will move to the waters south of Wake Island." Yan Guozhong turned his head to look at Tan Renhao, "With the strength of the Second Task Force alone, it is relatively difficult to seize air supremacy in the Marshall Islands, and from the information we have obtained, the fighters deployed by the US military in Kwajalein Atoll and Majuro Atoll are probably as good as the Second Task Force that can only deal with US forces in one location at most, and cannot completely seize air supremacy......

"You mean, let's go north now and cooperate with Task Force 2?" Without waiting for Yan Guozhong to finish speaking, Tan Renhao understood what he meant.

"Yes, this is the request put forward by General Liao Hanxiang, and now the HNA has deployed more than 200 fighters to our side, which is enough to support the offensive operations of the 6th Squadron, plus the assistance of the third task force, we are sure enough to take Lae." Yan Guozhong sat back in his chair, "The Navy Command also means this, the Second Task Force will be responsible for bombing the US airfield on Kwajalein Atoll, and the First Task Force will bomb the US airfield on Majuro Atoll at the same time, and the two fleets will jointly seize sea and air supremacy and assist the 6th Squadron to board the 6th." The 6th Sentai first captured Kwajalein Atoll, then swept Majuro Atoll, and after gaining the airfield, you can withdraw and then take part in the battle against New Britain. ”

Tan Renhao nodded. "Okay, then I'll go back and prepare, when will the fleet come out?"

"The sooner the better, as you know, before the 6th Sentai can go ashore, the fleet will have to prepare for several days of firepower." Yan Guozhong sent Tan Renhao to the door of the tent, "The specific battle plan, the supply location on the way, as well as the relevant information, and the new communication code will be sent to the fleet tomorrow, during the operation, you will directly obey the command of General Liao Hanxiang, and after you return here, I will take over." ”

"General Yan, then I won't delay, and strive to come back as soon as possible!"

"I'm not far away, I'll wait for your good news!"

After leaving Yan Guozhong's temporary headquarters, Tan Renhao sighed, it seemed that the First Task Force was going to do a chore again.