When he walked out of the conference room, Yan Guozhong stopped Tan Renhao.

"Yan Shiqi, don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him, this person is unconvinced."

Yan Guozhong had long seen that Tan Renhao and Yan Shiqi were not compatible. "As the commander of the fleet, although Yan Shiqi's thinking is a bit conservative, and he is often arrogant, he knows the responsibility of being an imperial admiral, he will not mess around in major matters, and you don't take it to heart, anyway, your cooperation is only temporary."

"General Yan, I'm not the kind of stingy person, General Yan Shiqi's temper is a bit weird, but he is a good commander, and in terms of artillery battles, I don't even have the qualifications to compete with him." Tan Renhao laughed, "No problem, let's just do our own things." ”

"That's good, if you have any problems then, contact me directly, and I'll deal with it."

Tan Renhao didn't say anything wordy, and after saying goodbye to Yan Guozhong, he rushed to the parking lot, and he was in a hurry to return to the fleet. After arriving at the parking lot, he saw that Huang Xiaotian and the pilot he brought were waiting for him over there.

"Ready to go back?" When Huang Xiaotian walked over, he first saluted Tan Renhao.

"yes, it's time to go back, what about you?" Tan Renhao also returned a military salute.

"Let's go together, let's all go to the airport."

The pilot brought by Huang Xiaotian consciously ran to the two jeeps driven by Yang Qinkai in the back, and Huang Xiaotian first let Tan Renhao get into the car, and then sat in the driver's seat.

"How is the situation of the fleet, the cooperation with Jiang Zhongmin is going well, right?"

"Our problems are not big, after these months of fighting, the quality of officers and men has improved a lot, this time a group of pilots have joined, and now the aviation strike force of the fleet has increased a lot." Huang Xiaotian drove the car out of the parking lot, "Jiang Zhongmin is actually very level, and he has a lot of basic knowledge in navigation and aviation. I can't catch up with him in navigation, and his theory of aviation operations is not bad. I heard him say that when he was in school, he was second only to you as an aviation tactician. ”

Tan Renhao laughed. "Probably, although I have been a classmate with him for three years, I haven't had much contact, and you know the stereotypes in the navy. Familiar with him, it was still a few months ago in the Navy Command. Maybe I was prejudiced against Jiang Zhongmin before, and you know what happened to the First Task Force, but now I think that he is indeed a talent, and maybe it won't be long before he becomes the commander of the fleet. ”

"Talking about the general, the Navy is preparing to set up a new task force?" Huang Xiaotian glanced at Tan Renhao.

"I don't know, I'm not a jack of all trades, if there are more aircraft carriers, maybe there will be a new task force." Tan Renhao smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "It seems. You also have a good relationship. The relationship with the chief of staff is the most important, and your time in the fleet is not too short, and it should be understood how important the relationship between the commander and the chief of staff is. Of course. You should know who is the number one in the fleet and who is the deputy. ”

Huang Xiaotian said with a smile: "Well, we are very clear about this. Yan Shiqi may not understand this truth. ”

"Yan Shiqi?" Tan Renhao glanced at Huang Xiaotian, and now he understood, Huang Xiaotian stayed and waited for him, he must have talked about Yan Shiqi. "Don't worry about him, General Yan Guozhong has promised me that he will keep an eye on Yan Shiqidi, in fact, this battle. Task Force 3 is only a supporting role, an important supporting role. ”

"There is no need for us to put our hopes on the Third Task Force, I have seen the naval battle that Yan Shiqi commanded against the 'Z Fleet', and to be honest, Yan Shiqi's ability is not very good."

Tan Renhao smiled and shook his head. "We're not experts in artillery warfare, and if I were to command that kind of battle, I'm afraid the outcome would be different."

Huang Xiaotian also laughed, and even Tan Renhao, a general from the orthodox navy, admitted that he was inferior to Yan Shiqi in artillery warfare, and he, a general from aviation, was even less qualified.

"Task Force 3 may not be able to beat the opponent. But according to Yan Shiqi's characteristics, he should still be sure of saving his life, and his task is to block the south of Kuah Island and hold back the pace of the US military. ”

Tan Renhao leaned back in his seat, "The battle on his side will directly affect Halsey's command of the aircraft carrier task force. If Yan Shiqi and the others dragged out the battle until around dawn, Halsey would have no choice. And if Task Force 3 loses too quickly, I am afraid that the situation will be extremely unfavorable to us, and we may have to consider making other arrangements. ”

"General Tan, when do you think the battle will start?"

"Start?" Tan Renhao glanced at Huang Xiaotian, "According to the information we have now, the US fleet will be able to reach the battlefield before March 30, and if Halsey commands the aircraft carrier task force, then the battle will start within three days, that is, the first three days of April will decide the outcome of the battle." ”

"Then we won't have a few days to prepare, and if Task Force 2 arrives now, we might be able to help a little."

"This is not much hope, after all, we still have to defend in the direction of Wake Island, who can guarantee that Nimitz will not give us a 'surprise' and send three aircraft carriers to the Central Pacific, if they take Wake Island, I'm afraid our attack on the interior of Kuah Island will also stop."

Huang Xiaotian nodded slightly, then sighed. "Today is already the 27th, and even if the Second Task Force moves south at full speed, if we can't determine the specific movements of the US fleet tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, I'm afraid we will have to face Halsey, who has five aircraft carriers in hand."

"We also have three aircraft carriers, and we don't lose more than the number of bombers."

Tan Renhao wasn't too worried.

The three "Lake" class aircraft carriers have 6 bomber squadrons, a total of 216 bombers, and if you count 3 reconnaissance aircraft squadrons, it is 252 bombers. The standard number of aircraft carriers of the American "Essex" class is 96, but it is very likely to carry 120 fighters, or 168 bombers according to the standards of the Tang Empire. The three Independence-class carriers will generally carry 24 fighters and 21 bombers, so Halsey has only 216 bombers at most. Of course, this does not rule out the possibility of Halci bringing more bombers and less fighters, but at most about 250 of them. Both sides are about the same in terms of the number of carrier-based bombers they have. are capable enough to inflict a fatal blow on the other side.

"The main problem now is that we don't know what Halsey is going to do at all!" Huang Xiao and Tian shook their heads, "As far as I know, although Halsey is more than brave. And lack of caution, but he is by no means the kind of general who is brute, which is not the same as his nickname. If Nimitz handed over the old book in his hand to him, he would definitely tell him again and again. Halsey is likely to adopt a more cautious approach. ”

"I'm pretty sure Halsey will be to our southeast, or to the east." Tan Renhao sighed, "I've also studied Halsey, if Spruance is the kind of imminent order. If you are a general who is capable of turning the tide, then Halsey is the kind of general who takes advantage of the victory and pursues and continues to expand the results of the battle. Halsey is characterized by his swift attack, decisive attack, and never easily disturbed by other factors, never easily retreating. Judging from the current situation, if Halsey were to attack, his only option would be to deploy the aircraft carrier to the northeast of the Solomon Islands and wait for an opportunity, rather than stay in the Coral Sea. ”

Huang Xiaotian was silent for a while. "Then why can't we take advantage of this characteristic of Halsey?" ”

"I'm thinking about it too. I just haven't thought of a good way for the time being. Tan Renhao sighed, then shook his head.

"I've got a solution." Huang Xiaotian quickly glanced at Tan Renhao, "Since Halsey is going to attack." Then we'll give him a chance to attack, let him attack, and then take him out in one fell swoop. ”

Tan Renhao frowned slightly. "The praying mantis catches the cicada, and the yellow finch is behind?"

Huang Xiaotian smiled and nodded. "Let Task Force 4 press to the front, with Task Force 1 on standby, preferably a little to the northeast, about 100 nautical miles away from Task Force 4. As soon as we find Halsey, while Halsey is attacking us with all his might, Task Force 1 will attack and kill them. ”

"An aircraft carrier can't do it. To make a decoy, it is also up to Task Force 1 to do it. ”

"But Halsey won't use all his strength for an aircraft carrier. Spruance has already suffered in this regard, and Halsey should know their tactics very well, as long as he does not find the fourth task force, he will not attack with all his strength, and when the time comes, we will still be in danger. ”

Huang Xiaotian's opinion is also reasonable, Halsey is not short of brains, if only one aircraft carrier is discovered, he will not easily possess power.

"So. Let's not take the bait. Tan Renhao pondered for a while, "The two fleets are advancing side by side, trying to find Halsey first, and then concentrate on launching a preemptive strike. ”

"It's a half-to-half chance, and Halsey also knows that we'll be in the northwest direction, and he will definitely send all the reconnaissance planes to search for this direction." Huang Xiaotian sighed, at this time the jeep drove into the airport, he parked the car next to the runway, but did not rush to get out of the car, "Unless we can break away from the previous tactical arrangement and transfer the fleet to a direction that Halsey can't think of, so that his reconnaissance planes are all in the air, in this way, we have a greater chance." ”

Tan Renhao got out of the car and said: "I will consider this problem, but the battle plan will not be adjusted for the time being, and after the fleet meets, I will decide how to fight!" ”

"Okay, then we'll discuss it then, maybe General Hao Dongjue will have a good proposal."

Huang Xiaotian also got out of the car, "General Tan, your plane is coming, you should go first." ”

Tan Renhao glanced at the "Shooting Waterfowl" bomber that was towed over, asked Yang Qinkai to inspect the plane first, and then said to Huang Xiaotian: "I will discuss with Hao Dongjue, we will probably meet the day after tomorrow, and you will take care all the way!" ”

After saying goodbye to Huang Xiaotian, Tan Renhao first went to change into a flight suit, and then followed Yang Qinkai to board the bomber.

After the plane left the airport, Tan Renhao had been considering Huang Xiaotian's proposal. In fact, the biggest trouble in this battle is what Huang Xiaotian mentioned, if you want to take care of the southern battle, then the chances of both sides discovering each other first are half to half.

Tan Renhao knows very well that Halsey is the most offensive of the US Navy's aircraft carrier commanders, and he is not as steady as Spruance, but he is definitely more courageous, more decisive, and sharper in offensive operations, which can be seen from the command of Halsey's heavy damage to the second task force at the beginning, as long as there is an opportunity to attack, even a little opportunity, he will not let go.

Similarly, Tan Renhao was the most offensive aircraft carrier commander in the Tang Empire's navy, and like Halsey, he would seize the slimest opportunity to launch an attack and then turn it into victory. This was evident in the several naval battles that Tan Renhao had commanded before, and all his victories had been achieved by attack, not defense.

Both of them seem to be extremely sharp swords, both of them can give their opponents a fatal blow, and the key is to see who stabs the other party first, this opportunity is equal for the two, whoever is exposed first will be finished first, and it is very likely that there will be no chance to fight back. Thinking of this, Tan Renhao had a headache.

In the face of Spruance's delicate generals, Tan Renhao can first figure out the opponent's mentality and the opponent's deployment, and then make-for-tat arrangements, and try to find loopholes in the opponent's deployment. But the problem is that Halsey doesn't care about these at all, and it is clear that he is here to fight to the death.

Tan Renhao can easily judge the opponent's punching routine, but he doesn't know how to defend for a while. It's like seeing the sword that the opponent is stabbing, but this sword is fast and powerful, and there is no way to avoid it, either you will die with the enemy or you will die on your own.

The plane was still jolting, but Tan Renhao felt a mess in his head. The more he thought about it, the more upset he felt. Facing an opponent like Halsey, who is very similar to him, he doesn't know how to fight.

According to Tan Renhao's current deployment, he is half as sure that he will kill Halsey, which is much greater than the certainty of any previous battle, but he is not at all sure that he will kill the opponent without losing his own troops. And Tan Renhao knows very well that if this naval battle is still a lose-lose situation, it will not be of much help to the empire in the long run.

Later, Tan Renhao didn't think much about it, and went back to discuss it with Hao Dongjue, maybe Hao Dongjue could find a solution to the problem, at least Hao Dongjue was a little similar to Huang Xiaotian, he often made some strange moves, but he was able to get good results, perhaps, this time Hao Dongjue could also think of a good way.