Two hours later, before the flotilla had dinner, Jiang Zhongmin took General Liao Hanxiang's reply to Admiral Guo Xianyu, chief of staff of the Navy, and left the fleet on the plane that had sent him. Tan Renhao was also called to the conference room by Ji Xiaobin.

"This is information sent by the command of the Navy." Wu Xianyu put a document in front of Tan Renhao, "The Japanese Southwest Fleet passed through the waters near Iwo Jima last night, and one of our submarines discovered this fleet, and now they are still sailing eastward, rushing to the exercise area. In addition, Japan's home fleet has already reached the scheduled exercise area less than 200 nautical miles from Midway, and the Southern Fleet departing from the Truk Naval Base in the south and the Toyo Combined Fleet from the naval base in Hokkaido are rushing to the scheduled exercise area at full speed. ”

"The Japanese have concentrated almost all of their main fleet, more than eighty percent of their main warships, in this sea area, what are they going to do?" Tan Renhao frowned.

"That's what we're trying to figure out, and we're looking for you to give us a different opinion." Liao Hanxiang handed over a cigarette, which can be regarded as a special reward.

Tan Renhao hesitated for a moment and asked, "So, how is the fleet of the United States of America reacting now?" ”

"We have only two pieces of intelligence on the activities of the fleet of the United States of America. The Pacific Fleet stationed on Oahu left port two days ago, and another fleet based in San Diego left port yesterday. Wu Xianyu answered Tan Renhao's question.

Tan Renhao nodded slightly and said: "The strength of the US Pacific Fleet is not below the First Fleet of the Empire, but Japan has concentrated almost all the main warships, and if it really fights, the Pacific Fleet will not be able to take advantage of it." However, considering the U.S. air power deployed on Midway and the Hawaiian Islands, the Japanese Navy could not easily defeat the Pacific Fleet, and even if it did, it would be a crushing victory. ”

"What do you mean......"

Tan Renhao shrugged his shoulders. "Commander, I think the Japanese are just putting on a show, perhaps to give an account to their own people, or to increase the navy's military budget. As long as the Japanese naval fleet does not pose a threat to us and the United States of America, and as long as the exhilarating effect of the exercises is positive, the Japanese Government will certainly take this opportunity to increase military spending. Of course, this is also the best way to get the Japanese people to accept and support the expansion of the navy. ”

"If that's the case, then we have nothing to worry about." Ji Xiaobin said as he glanced at General Liao Hanxiang.

Liao Hanxiang lit a cigarette in slow motion. "If Japan didn't want to go to war, then the current conflict would be only political, and the time when the Empire sent us to Japan was too coincidental, right?"

Tan Renhao's heart trembled slightly, and his expression immediately became solemn.

"Major, don't you think the article here is too big?" Wu Xianyu also reacted, "If you want to demonstrate to Japan, then it will definitely be better to send the First Fleet." Moreover, now that the Southwest Combined Fleet is not in Nagasaki, we are going to visit Nagasaki, which is obviously aimed at preventing Japan from stepping down. ”

"Perhaps, this is to put diplomatic pressure on Japan to make decisive concessions on the Iki negotiations." Ji Xiaobin followed beside him.

"Major, what is your opinion?" Liao Hanxiang directly asked Tan Renhao a question.

"General, I think it's strange too." Tan Renhao smiled bitterly, "If diplomatic pressure is exerted, then the First Fleet can have a very obvious effect, at least, those more than ten capital ships will make all the Japanese fearful." However, the Empire sent us to visit Japan, perhaps because it did not want to create such fears, so as to gain more weight for the next step of negotiations. ”

"Well, the fleet will meet the supply fleet in three days, and then we will go to Nagasaki, so let's also go around the ports of Japan and see how they react."

After leaving the conference room, Tan Renhao breathed a sigh of relief, but he always felt that there was something wrong with Japan's successive moves, and this was not a normal demonstration or diplomatic activity.

"Major, do you still think there's a problem?" Ji Xiaobin and Tan Renhao came out together.

Tan Renhao nodded slowly. "I always felt that something was wrong. Judging by this series of moves by Japan. They first put pressure on the Kingdom of Korea on Ikki Island, forcing us to intervene, and mobilized four main fleets, and the Imperial Navy was fully combat-ready. Then, the Japanese suddenly pointed their fingers at the United States of America, causing the people of the United States of America to panic and be at a loss. Don't you think there's a problem here? ”

Ji Xiaobin smiled a little reluctantly, he did feel the same way.

"If Japan is a samurai, he must be testing something by swinging these swords." Tan Renhao shook his head, always feeling that there was a problem, but he couldn't grasp the crux of the problem, "Maybe it's testing our reaction, or testing the confidence of the United States of America?" ”

"You mean, Japan has made so many famous names, just to test whether we are determined to fight him?"

Tan Renhao nodded. "The Matsue Treaty expired at the beginning of this year, and now countries are busy building up their armaments, and Japan has already started building several large warships this year. In addition, coupled with the reaction of the other powers, even if we avoid war this time, I am afraid that peace will not last long. If Japan had been bent on provoking a war, they would have done something. Could this be a temptation for Japan to provoke a war before it is determined? ”

At this moment, Tan Renhao grasped the crux of the problem, and then he looked at Ji Xiaobin in surprise, as if he didn't believe the analysis he had made at the beginning.

Ji Xiaobin's expression was not much better. "If that's the case, then Japan will definitely make a big move in the short term."

Both took a deep breath, and that "big move" meant war.

"Major, you don't have a clear duty right now, you can dig into this issue." Ji Xiaobin patted Tan Renhao on the shoulder, "Suppose Japan wants to go to war against us, then what will they do first, and in what form will the war break out." It's not something that our fleet staff should do, but it's better than not knowing anything. ”

Tan Renhao nodded immediately, and he was also preparing to study it.

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