When he saw Nie Renfeng walking towards him, Tan Renhao sighed secretly, he definitely couldn't go back to sleep now. Gan Yongxing also noticed Nie Renfeng's slightly angry expression, and he immediately flashed to the side and let Nie Renfeng into his office.

"Renhao, come in too!"

Nie Renfeng said as he unbuttoned the top button of the military uniform, "This is torture, when has this happened, and a bureaucrat is here, he just wants the life of our navy!" ”

Tan Renhao walked into the chief of staff's office again, and Gan Yongxing went to pour a cup of tea and delivered it to Nie Renfeng.

After taking two sips, Nie Renfeng let out a sigh. "The prime minister must have a big opinion of us this time, but who brought Jiang Zhongmin and Fan Peikun in the first place? However, it's useless to say all this, Renhao, when did you arrive? ”

"Not long after I came back, I started talking to the chief of staff for a while." … Ａp．

Tan Renhao sat down, there must be many things he didn't know, and he wasn't qualified to know that much.

"It's all clear, right?"

Nie Renfeng glanced at Tan Renhao, "The time of the battle has been determined from the end of the year to the beginning of next year. The batch of spare parts used to repair the 'Yangtze River' has been loaded and left the port of Dalian this morning, and will arrive in Guangzhou in three days. This aircraft carrier must be regrouped into the fleet before the 25th, no matter how difficult it is, it must be overcome, and if there is any need, you can contact me directly. ”

"I know, we'll do our best."

Tan Renhao took out the cigarette case, only to find that the cigarette case was empty.

"Recently we will have a meeting at the level of foreign ministers with other allies, and the foreign minister has already traveled to Tehran."

Nie Renfeng took out a pack of cigarettes, he didn't smoke, but almost everyone around him smoked, so he would often bring a pack or two of cigarettes. "The main content of the meeting has been decided, and this time the focus will be on the obligations of the major countries in the war, as well as the main theaters of war. The Pacific theater of operations is our independent theater of operations, and only the Persian Empire will provide some negligible assistance. The Empire's responsibility is to ensure superiority in the Pacific theater while continuing to strengthen its commitment to the continental theater. The official meeting will be held early next year. It's probably mid-January, and before that, there will be a couple of meetings between the two sides. The Prime Minister needs the Navy to show that we have the ability to control the situation in the Pacific theater, and to put it into practice, it is necessary to achieve a victory before the conference, a victory that is significant enough. ”

Now, Tan Renhao completely understood. The prime minister exerted such tremendous pressure on the navy for political purposes. At the same time, it coincides with military objectives. As long as the U.S. Pacific Fleet can be defeated, then the empire will gain the initiative in the Pacific. In this way, the Imperial Foreign Minister could prove the strength of the Tang Empire at the Allied Foreign Ministers' Conference, boost the morale of the other allies, and perhaps use this victory to put pressure on Germany and Persia to put more forces on the battlefield to relieve the pressure on the Tang Empire.

"This is what the Cabinet Commissioner brought?"

Gan Yongxing also lit a cigarette.

Nie Renfeng nodded slightly. "Don't worry about Zhao Renli, he is just a bureaucrat, and he has no right to intervene in the combat operations of the navy. I will greet him personally. He will not be allowed to interfere with you. ”

Gan Yongxing smiled and shook his head. The Prime Minister sent a commissioner at this time, which is simply an insult to the Navy.

"The most important thing is the attitude of the prime minister."

Nie Renfeng crossed his hands, "I've been chatting with Zhao Renli for so long. It's kind of a little bit of a mouth. The prime minister is already very dissatisfied with the navy and army. The reform of the army and the ground has not yet been completed, and the newly formed armored group army has not yet been deployed in place, which is already 10 days later than the time guaranteed by Yan Dingyu. After the heavy damage of Task Force 1, the Prime Minister's attitude towards us has changed a lot. Judging from Zhao Renli's words, the prime minister is already considering the establishment of an organization similar to the military department, and perhaps the most department-level unit will not be a department, but only a department-level unit. But this is a clear signal, a signal that the prime minister is ready to take back military power. ”

"Didn't the Prime Minister take into account the opinion of both the navy and the army?"

Tan Renhao immediately raised the question, the establishment of the military department is by no means a trivial matter. After World War I, all three of the Empire's prime ministers wanted to create a replacement for the Admiralty and the War Department. The Cabinet Department, which is mainly filled by civilian officials, weakens the influence of the commanders of the Navy and Army in the Cabinet, strengthens the power of civilian officials in the Cabinet, and completely controls the military in the hands of the Prime Minister. As a result, the efforts of all three prime ministers failed, including Xue Xiyue's efforts during his first term. Now that Prime Minister Xue Xiyue has regained this idea, he is obviously extremely dissatisfied with the performance of the navy and army.

"Even if we're dissatisfied, what can we do?"

Nie Renfeng smiled and shook his head, "Can we still overthrow the prime minister?" Imperial soldiers swore allegiance to the Empire. And now the Prime Minister is the supreme commander of the Imperial Army, if we rebel, then the Empire will lose this war, we will become the sinners of the nation, who can afford this infamy that will be remembered for a thousand years? That's why the prime minister has this idea. At least, it's still an idea, and that idea will depend on whether it will become a reality based on the recent performance of the army and navy. Let's put it this way, even if the prime minister were to make it a reality, it would not be possible to use all civilian officials during the war, and civilian officials are not the protagonists in this arena now. If we can do well, then the Navy will dominate this new division, won't it? ”

Hearing Nie Renfeng's explanation, Tan Renhao and Gan Yongxing both laughed. The prime minister has the prime minister's abacus, and the navy also has a naval abacus. Perhaps this department, which unifies the command of the navy and the army, will eventually replace the Admiralty and the War Department, but in fact, this will still be an institution dominated by military personnel, especially during wartime, the status of military personnel cannot be replaced by civilian officials, and if the navy wants to gain the dominant power, it must come up with some practical action.

"Could this be a hint from the Prime Minister?"

Gan Yongxing raised a new question.

"If it was, it couldn't be better."

Nie Renfeng sighed, "Now Yan Dingyu is still busy with the reform of the army, although Wei Boyu is no longer the main obstacle to reform, but the traditional thinking of the army for so many years, and the people in power are some old stubborns who are similar to Yan Dingyu, and it will definitely not be so easy for a few young generals to subvert the traditional thinking of the army." Comparatively speaking, we have much less trouble. Our chances are also much greater. The key now is whether we can come up with a satisfactory result in the next battle, at least to the satisfaction of the Prime Minister! ”

"It depends on whether the U.S. Navy is willing to cooperate."

Tan Renhao interjected next to him.

"That's not a problem."

Gan Yongxing glanced at Nie Renfeng, and then said, "I have already talked to you before, and the US Navy also has a relevant offensive plan, and it will definitely be implemented soon. Now the American side believes that we have lost two aircraft carriers. The power of the fleet has been greatly reduced, and the Pacific Fleet has gained the upper hand. The deployment of US forces in the Mariana Islands has been strengthened, and a few days ago, our fighter planes and US fighter planes engaged in a skirmish in the waters near South Iwo Jima, and neither side took much advantage. The United States will definitely attack, and we will attack. Now, it's up to anyone who can have the last laugh. ”

"The U.S. fleet doesn't need to worry too much about local affairs, and when new information is available, it will be distributed to the fleets immediately. We are bound to win this battle. There must be no room for error. ”

Nie Renfeng's gaze fell on Tan Renhao. "All three fleets of the Imperial Navy in the western Pacific will take part in combat operations. We will concentrate all our forces to win the battle, and as long as Task Force 1 is successfully restored, our chances of victory will be far superior to that of the enemy. When the time comes. Even if the U.S. fleet avoids the battle, we can launch an attack on the Mariana Islands and force the U.S. fleet to fight. Otherwise, they will lose this extremely important archipelago, and the situation in the entire Pacific theater will become very unfavorable to the Americans, and we will henceforth have the initiative in the Pacific. ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, and the chief of staff and the principal were repeatedly emphasizing one point, that is, whether the First Task Force can successfully participate in the battle will be the key to the entire campaign, and this responsibility lies on him.

"Well, it's not too early. Let's all go and rest. ”

Nie Renfeng stood up, "Early tomorrow morning, Lei Shaoqing and Yan Shiqi will arrive." Ren Hao, if you have time, you go pick up Lei Shaoqing, you haven't seen each other for a long time, right? ”

Tan Renhao smiled and nodded. "Then I'll go to the airport early tomorrow morning and wait, I hope I don't miss his plane."

When Tan Renhao returned home, it was already more than two o'clock in the morning, and he only slept for more than four hours, and he was quarreled by the phone before dawn. I didn't even eat breakfast and went out. By the time he arrived at the Zhoushan Naval Air Station, it was already 7:20 a.m., but as a result, he was still one step late, and Lei Shaoqing's plane landed at the airport at 7:15 a.m.

"Shaoqing, you kid is a lot darker!"

Tan Renhao grabbed Lei Shaoqing's thick big hand, "Is it okay to lie on the flight deck and bask in the sun?" ”

"You can figure it out, unless I want to be hit by a plane!"

Lei Shaoqing hugged Tan Renhao vigorously, "How is it, how do you feel about returning to the fleet?" I knew that I would definitely send you back to the First Task Force this time, this is our hometown! ”

"Yes, but it's the hometown that was visited by robbers."

Tan Renhao let Lei Shaoqing get into the car first, "Speaking of feelings, there is only one word to describe it, and that is 'heartbreak'." However, everything is getting better now, and I won't let Task Force 1 fall at my hands. ”

"So, we'll be able to work together soon?"

Lei Shaoqing took out a cigarette.

"I hope so, I'll try not to miss the next chance to get on stage anyway."

Tan Renhao took the cigarette he lit, and the jeep drove out of the airport and drove in the direction of the headquarters. "What is the situation on your side, and how serious is the loss of the 'Pearl River'?"

"It's not a big deal, it will be fixed in about 20 days."

Lei Shaoqing leaned back on the seat, "Fortunately, there is a section of the bow in Dalian, which is just used to replace it, otherwise, I'm afraid this maintenance work will drag on for a month or two." What is the situation with the Yangtze River? ”

"Oops, I'm having a headache right now."

Tan Renhao shook his head, "The shipyard replied that the maintenance period is three months, and we estimate that it will take at least two months. However, now the principal has given me only ten days. ”

"Ten days?"

Lei Shaoqing glanced at Tan Renhao in surprise, "The principal wants the First Task Force to restore the combat effectiveness of the two aircraft carrier formations?" ”

"Yes, otherwise, it doesn't make much sense for the First Task Force to participate in the war, does it?"

Tan Renhao sighed, "I'll rush back tonight, I don't have time to accompany you for a few days." How's it going? ”

"He stayed in Naha and supervised the maintenance of the Pearl River. I heard that his wife gave birth last month and added a son. I really wanted to go back and have a look, but I never had time. ”

Lei Shaoqing patted Tan Renhao's shoulder, "I didn't come to your wedding, but I won't miss my nephew's full moon wine, is there any plan to create a person?" ”

"The plan to create a man?"

Tan Renhao immediately laughed, "After I got married, I stayed at home for no more than ten nights, and I went back in the middle of the night every day. Yingyu is going back to school today, and I haven't sent her yet. ”

Lei Shaoqing knew that he had said the wrong thing, and Tan Renhao definitely wanted to send his wife, but now that he has so many things, he will definitely not be able to separate.

"How's your development with that freckled girl?"

Tan Renhao also opened the topic, when he went out, his wife hadn't gotten up yet.

"No contact."

Lei Shaoqing shook his head and flicked the cigarette butt out, "You also know that it is very inconvenient to send letters in the fleet, and there are things to do all day long, how can you have the energy to write letters." However, this is good, at least it will not delay the happiness of others. ”

Tan Renhao smiled and shook his head, he knew that Lei Shaoqing was the kind of person who could afford to let go, and he didn't dump his girlfriend when he was in the academy. "Is there a new plan for that?"

"The new plan is to win the next battle."

Both laughed, and the jeep quickly drove into the headquarters compound. When the two jumped out of the car, a major general about ten years older than them was walking up the steps outside the building. Lei Shaoqing smiled at the man and nodded, and then immediately called Tan Renhao to chase after him.