After making a big circle at sea, the fleet arrived in the waters near Durban on the morning of 26 July, and two days ago, Weng Yiming sent to the fleet the relevant arrangements for replenishing the combat planes of the First Task Force, and the fleet will reach the sea area about 360 nautical miles northeast of Durban and rendezvous with the planes that have come to replenish there. And Tan Renhao also arranged all the relevant plans on the 25th, and let Zheng Guanhua be fully responsible for the replenishment of new fighters in the fleet. On the morning of the 26th, Tan Renhao arrived at the flagship of the Third Task Force. The 3rd Task Force will go directly to Durban, where it will receive ammunition and other supplies from the supply fleet, and Tan Renhao and Chang Jianxin will also go to Weng Yiming at this time to discuss the attack on Cape Town.

"I've read the relevant materials in Cape Town in detail in the past few days." On the way to Weng Yiming's headquarters, Tan Renhao decided to talk to Chang Jianxin about his views on the attack on Cape Town.

"Relatively speaking, the geography of Cape Town is quite unfavorable for the defending side, especially in the absence of fleet cover, it is difficult for ground forces to hold Cape Town. As long as the fleet destroys shore fire positions, the Marines can land on any beach in either Table Bay or False Bay, or in both directions. When the time comes, the defending forces will be attacked from behind, there will be little way to block the attack, and it will be almost impossible to hold Cape Town. ”１６Ｋ…

"I've studied it carefully, too." Chang Jianxin did not waste these few days, "There are bays in the north and south of Cape Town, and the fleet's artillery fire can directly cover all the important strongholds in the vicinity, including the two airfields, all within the range of naval artillery. Not to mention the bombers of Task Force 1. As long as we enter at night, the artillery fire of Task Force 3 will be able to destroy the enemy's defensive base. There are even more beaches for marines to go ashore, and the direction in which the defending side needs to organize is quite long. But the depth of defense is very shallow, and it is impossible to organize it for a long time. Resist effectively. Controlling the sea is equivalent to capturing Cape Town. ”

Both sighed, and although they were talking about the reconquest of Cape Town now, they both remembered that a few months earlier, the Imperial Marines defending Cape Town had been quickly defeated by the British and French expeditionary forces without the support of the fleet. The whereabouts of many Imperial Marines are still unknown. Some of them fled inland and continued to resist the British and French expeditionary forces with the help of the indigenous population, while others were probably imprisoned in British prisoner-of-war camps long ago.

At the time of the Anglo-French expeditionary force attacking Cape Town, there were about 25,000 Imperial Marines stationed in Cape Town, and the ground force in Cape Town was about 30,000 men, including some of the sailors who had been transferred from the fleet to the shore at that time. But the problem is that, judging from the information that Tan Renhao has obtained now, the strength of the British and French expeditionary force attacking Cape Town at that time was not 30,000, but more than 50,000. Even if this force advantage is still not obvious. However, the Anglo-French expeditionary force had the strong support of the French expeditionary fleet, while the defending Imperial Marines lost almost all their heavy firepower, and the battle was almost one-sided.

But it is in this kind of battle that there is almost no suspense. The officers and men of the Imperial Marines performed a miracle.

After the South Atlantic Fleet was annihilated and Task Force 5 fled back to Colombo, the officers and men of the Imperial Marines held out for more than half a month in Cape Town, a city with almost no defensive base.

During the most difficult 17 days, at least 20,000 Imperial Marines were martyred. However, they held back a formidable fleet and annihilated at least 25,000 enemies in battle. Even if the results of the battle are not taken into account, it is a great miracle that the officers and men of the Marine Corps were able to hold out for 17 days under the condition of absolute disadvantage, and in the end nearly 5,000 men were evacuated inland.

Tan Renhao and Chang Jianxin both read the combat records at that time, in the 17 days of fighting, the Marine Corps officers who commanded the operation were replaced by 24 people, one major general, two brigadier generals, and more than a dozen colonels fell on the battlefield, the courage of the imperial soldiers in these 17 days was vividly embodied, if it was not for the final ammunition and food, and the enemy had already controlled most of the city, and was about to cut off the passage to the interior, the officers and men of the Marine Corps might still be able to hold out for a while. And the evacuated Marine officers and soldiers did not give up the battle, and still operated near Cape Town, constantly harassing the enemy, and even without weapons and ammunition, they seized weapons and ammunition from the enemy and continued to fight the enemy!

In the Pacific Theater, the officers and men of the Imperial Marines had shown remarkable courage and will, and in Cape Town, the soldiers of the Imperial Marines had once again proved to the world that they were not only the best soldiers of the Empire, but also the best soldiers in the world. They may not be victorious soldiers, but even in the face of adversity, the courage of the soldiers of the Imperial Marines on the battlefield still deserves the respect and admiration of any opponent.

"If it goes well, we can probably try to get Cape Town in early May." Chang Jianxin pulled his thinking back, "The team will probably be ready on the 28th, the first task force will be responsible for bombing key targets, and the third task force will be responsible for close shelling, and it will only take three days at most to prepare for firepower this time, and then let the marines land." ”

"Weng Yiming's side should also be ready, and when the time comes, the landing fleet should be able to set off with us, and if it goes well, the firepower preparation can be reduced to two days, or even one day. This is determined by the specific situation, and we will not make a final conclusion for the time being. Tan Renhao's thinking was also pulled back, "The main problem now is that we don't have enough understanding of the current situation in Cape Town, especially the current situation of the British and French expeditionary forces, which will have to take us some time to reconnoitre. ”

"Perhaps, Weng Yiming has been making preparations for this for a long time, and maybe he has also contacted the marines who are operating outside Cape Town."

"I hope so." Tan Renhao sighed, "When did Jiang Zhongmin leave?" ”

Chang Jianxin frowned slightly. "Anyway, it was a few days ago, I don't remember, what are you asking for?"

"Nothing, just asking." Tan Renhao didn't say much.

"Renhao, I didn't say you. Now is not the time for distraction, and by the time we get Cape Town, you'll have nothing to worry about. ”

Tan Renhao nodded. That's what he thought, too, but the problem was. Will the headmaster let him go back to the Pacific then? Perhaps, Jiang Zhongmin will already lead the Fifth Task Force to fight in the Pacific Ocean by then, and according to the principal's arrangement, I am afraid that Tan Renhao will have to be arranged to continue to expand the results of the battle here!

Before arriving at Weng Yiming's headquarters, the two did not say anything more. In fact, the mood of the two is the same, now that the Anglo-French joint expeditionary fleet is finished, the Indian Ocean is safe, and there is no danger in the South Atlantic. But the problem is that no one can guarantee whether the headmaster will let Task Force 1 and Task Force 3 return to the Pacific Theater.

Perhaps, Tan Renhao thought a little more, if the battle in the Pacific theater went well, the principal would have enough reasons to let the two main fleets continue to expand the results in the Atlantic, and even let Tan Renhao and them go north. Hit the Gold Coast and kill the North Atlantic. If the battle in the Pacific doesn't go well, then Task Force 1 will have to go back to put out the fire. But in Tan Renhao's view. Whether he stays here or goes back to fight the fire, he feels a little like he is making wedding clothes for Jiang Zhongmin, and he himself is thankless.

Chang recommended new thinking is more realistic. There is hope for the 1st Task Force to return to the Pacific Theater, but the hope for the 3rd Task Force is very slim. The US Navy is already left without battleships, and it is unlikely that its new battleships will enter service in 26 years. In addition, the Marine Corps was already equipped with a large number of fireboats, and even several fireboats with the huge cannons used in battleships. Therefore, Task Force 3 is of little significance in the Pacific. But the British Navy still has more than a dozen battleships, even if they are all old-fashioned battleships, they all have good combat effectiveness. When the time comes, it is very likely that the Third Task Force will remain in the South Atlantic, and at most it will add a few small aircraft carriers.

To put it bluntly, the two of them are very dissatisfied with the principal's arrangement this time, but they are dissatisfied, and neither of them will say it directly, after all, the principal is their benefactor and has the grace of cultivation for them, without the principal, they are nothing!

Along the way, both of them were thinking about what was in their hearts, and when they arrived at Weng Yiming's headquarters, the two of them were awakened by the atmosphere inside, and then they found that the staff officers of the headquarters were very excited.

"General Tan, General Chang, it's so nice to see you." Weng Yiming hurriedly greeted him, and enthusiastically took the initiative to talk to Renhao, often recommending a new handshake.

Tan Renhao immediately noticed that Weng Yiming had an extra scar on his face, which must have been left from the last battle.

"General Weng, have you received any good news?" Chang Jianxin asked directly.

"Yes, I just received a piece of good news, the best news." Weng Yiming made a gesture of please and brought the two into his office, "We have contacted the Marine Corps operating outside Cape Town, about 4,000 people have withdrawn, but they have been divided into dozens of small units, and now we have contacted a part, there are about 2,000 people, and there are a lot of wounded, and I am trying to bring the wounded back." ”

"That's good news, so what can we do to get the wounded back?" Tan Renhao sat down, and it was a miracle that the Marines held out for months without any assistance.

"Work is being arranged, but that's not the best news." Weng Yiming first asked Chang Jianxin to sit down, and then he said, "The commander of that group of marines also provided an extremely important piece of information, the British and French expeditionary forces in Cape Town are retreating, and they are retreating by land!" ”

"Retreat?" Tan Renhao and Chang Jianxin were both shocked, and they couldn't believe their ears.

"Yes, they must be retreating this time, the news has been confirmed, several hidden marines have spotted the British and French expeditionary force retreating north along the coastline, and there are probably few enemies left on the Cape Town side now." Weng Yiming nodded, then took out a cigarette, and he lit a new one for Chang Jianxin first, "I have already sent more than a dozen reconnaissance troops, and in about these two days, I will be able to send back a specific reconnaissance report before the fleet completes its supply." ”

"Then we need to get to Cape Town as soon as possible!"

Weng Yiming laughed. "I'm already mobilizing the marines, but the fleet is still the most important thing, and it's much easier to move by sea than by land."

Tan Renhao glanced at Chang Jianxin, and then said: "Then let's go back to the fleet immediately, let the fleet get ready to leave as soon as possible, and strive to set off within two days!" ”

Weng Yiming didn't keep much, now the military situation is important, and other things have to be put aside first. After repeatedly thanking Tan Renhao and Chang Jianxin, Weng Yiming arranged for his adjutant to send the two back to the fleet.

Two days later, that is, on the morning of the 28th, after the replenishment of the First Task Force was completed, the scouts sent by Weng Yiming sent accurate information that the British and French Expeditionary Force had left Cape Town, and they chased more than 50 kilometers north of Cape Town, and found the materials and damaged vehicles abandoned by the British and French Expeditionary Force along the way, but they were not able to catch up with the British and French Expeditionary Force. In addition, several Marines entered Cape Town, and it was confirmed that the British and French Expeditionary Force was no longer in the port of Cape Town and the city of Cape Town, and the local residents warmly welcomed the returning Imperial Marines.

In the afternoon, the two task forces left their anchorage in Durban, followed by the landing fleet carrying the main forces of the landing team. Along the way, the fleet headed for Cape Town at the fastest cruising speed. On the 29th, reconnaissance planes taking off from Task Force 1 searched an area within 100 kilometers of Cape Town, and found no signs of enemy activity except for a large number of damaged vehicles abandoned by the British and French expeditionary forces near the coast.

In the early morning of 1 May, the 3rd Task Force sailed into Cape Town Harbor, while the 1st Task Force remained outside the harbor and was responsible for arranging reconnaissance planes to monitor the surrounding situation and avoid accidents. On 3 May, the landing fleet arrived, and the main forces of the Marine Corps landed in Cape Town on the same day, completing the task of recovering Cape Town. Without firing a single shot, the Marines recaptured Cape Town, and Weng Yiming re-hung his flag on the flagpole outside the South Atlantic Theater Command north of Cape Town Harbor!

This result was something that Tan Renhao and Chang Jianxin did not expect, but what they didn't expect was that in three days and nights, a telegram was sent, which was an urgent telegram from the Imperial Navy Command!