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[268] Maritime supremacy

Commander Su really wanted to kick the unreasonable guy named Robert in front of him, but thinking about the strength of the US Navy, thinking about the hundreds of warships that the US Navy had mothballed, thinking about the countries that are currently in ruins and waiting to be rebuilt, and the Taiwan Strait, which has heavy transportation tasks, he had to hold back.

"Our government will not interfere with the legal evacuation of overseas Chinese by the United States, but except for the Americans, none of the rest of the people can be taken away, these people are not within the scope of the evacuation, they want to go to the United States, then follow the normal immigration departure procedures, because the United States has not yet recognized China, therefore, in the future, after completing the legal immigration procedures, they can only transfer to the United States from a third country, and it is impossible to hand them over to the United States warships to take away, we allow the United States to use warships instead of civilian ships to enter the port directly, which is already a great concession. It fully shows our sincerity, please don't get an inch! ”

Robert Strong keenly felt that Commander Su Yu in front of him was still very tolerant of him.

"Yes, China is still afraid of us, and the strength of the United States is beyond doubt."

Thinking of this, Robert decided to further test the bottom line of the Chinese.

"Mr. Su, if you can't decide, you can ask your government, but the U.S. warships must enter the port now to protect our nationals, otherwise, once our nationals are violated by any life or property, our US government may take all necessary actions."

These words almost blew up Commander Su's lungs, and he said in his heart that I met you directly when I first arrived in Taipei, and I already attach great importance to you, and you still have to kick your nose and face.

"Mr. Robert, you can go back, and I will convey your president's words to the central government." Commander Su stopped being verbose and directly issued an order to expel the guests.

Robert Strong said, "Okay, please convey the request of the U.S. government as soon as possible, zaijian, Commander Su." With that, Robert Strong turned and walked away.

Back at the consulate, Robert Strong began to report to Washington, continuing his observations, this time about what he had seen after he walked out of the consulate for the first time after the liberation of Taiwan:

“…… These supply party troops have very sophisticated army equipment, with advanced light weapons, these weapons and equipment seem to have been installed on a large scale, at least in their soldiers who landed in Taiwan, have completely unified soldier clothing and individual equipment, their infantry carry a well-made marching backpack, that backpack is obviously at least 70 pounds, can carry a lot of food and ammunition, I looked closely, the Chinese backpack seems to be made of a very strong canvas, I didn't find any tear in the soldiers' backpacks like the ones that American soldiers often have...... I saw at the Presidential Palace in Taipei, this place is now called the Taiwan Provincial People's Government Building, and I saw a huge heavy tank parked outside, and since Chinese only accepted me to negotiate alone, Ted was not with me, and I couldn't tell what kind of level it was, but my instincts told me that it was a terrible steel monster, and his length, width, and barrel diameter were amazing...... The Chinese army is also equipped with a kind of truck, which is obviously four-wheel drive, and that truck does not look inferior to the American goods, the all-steel body, I have not seen Chinese nail even a single piece of wood on it, even if it is the rear cargo box, it is also an all-steel rolled corrugated plate, such a level of steel processing, by the standards of my bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Baltimore, is quite modern, there is no doubt that the Russian forging equipment has achieved universal application, and their jishu level has improved rapidly...... General Su Yu of China seems to be taking me seriously, and he did not pay attention to my advance, but rejected my initial proposal under the pretext of legitimacy, and I am now waiting for a response from their central government......"

When Robert Strong's lengthy telegram, like Marco Polo's travels in the East, was forwarded to Washington via Tokyo, Truman was even more determined not to intervene in Taiwan by force. You must know that all military operations are decided by the army, and if the army is really as well-equipped as Robert Strong said, then it will be a costly war. And the Russians behind the Chinese must be eager to see the United States continue to shed blood and consume on the wrong enemy.

At the same time, however, Truman was convinced that superiority at sea would add a lucrative bargaining chip to his negotiating table, and that if China wanted the United States to make concessions, it would have to compensate and back down on America's current overwhelming maritime superiority.

As a result, the Seventh Fleet, which had worked hard all night without finding anything, received the latest instructions in the early morning of the next day: "Cross the Taiwan Strait and go to the waters off Hong Kong to pick up the aircraft carrier Valley Fuge, and then begin a cruise mission around the island of Taiwan."

………………

The commander of the Seventh Fleet, Rear Admiral Walter Boone, was now extremely agitated, and the continuous search throughout the night kept him awake until dawn, and the exhausted fleet had searched the nearby 25 nautical miles of water, not to mention submarines, not even small sampans.

Walter Boone really felt very shameless this time, but he had only just taken office in April, replacing Vice Admiral Russell Burkey as commander of the Seventh Fleet, and such a mistake in judgment was a big setback for him to establish his prestige. But it also sparked his great curiosity, how did the Chinese get the precise positioning of the Seventh Fleet? Boone was puzzled by this.

When Washington's instructions arrived through the U.S. Far East Command in Tokyo, Walter Boone quickly ordered the Seventh Fleet to form battle formations and pass through the Taiwan Strait!

At the same time, Walter Boone reminded the mysterious commander on the public channel of marine radio:

"The U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet reminds the Chinese Navy that the U.S. Navy will pass harmlessly through the Taiwan Strait to Hong Kong, and if the Chinese Navy wishes to send an observation ship, ask the commander who spoke with Rear Admiral Walter Boone, commander of the Seventh Fleet, last night, to bring his warship to watch."

Walter Boone was very satisfied with his remarks, which were polite and courteous, could not be refused, and were full of the liliang and self-confidence of the United States as the hegemon of the sea. In Boone's opinion, since the other party can find his own position, then there is no need to dwell on the jishu question of how the other party did it for the time being, the navy has to rely on naval guns and planes to speak after all, then Lao Tzu will let you poor ghosts open your eyes and take a look at it to the fullest, what is the fleet of the shijie hegemon, and what is the invincible supremacy at sea.

Commander Deng Zhaoxiang first felt humiliation and anger when he received this tough reminder or invitation from Walter Boone, and the other side did not care at all whether the Chinese Navy agreed or not, and this was not at all the proper attitude and etiquette of seeking the consent of a sovereign state and passing through the territorial waters of the other side in a harmless manner.

Commander Deng Zhaoxiang felt that the matter was very important, and immediately asked the naval headquarters in the northern capital for instructions.

Soon, a reply came: "In extraordinary times, we need to be cautious and cautious, tolerate for the time being, do not take the initiative to start a war, if the United States provokes an attack and resolutely retaliates, our side will send an observation ship to the American fleet to follow the whole process." ”

After receiving instructions from the Central Committee, Commander Deng Zhaoxiang immediately ordered:

"I command! The whole fleet entered a combat state, with the 108 Xining and the 511 Nantong serving as observation ships, and the 10 6625 torpedo boats of the 1st Torpedo Boat Group following the actions of our observation ships; once the other side provoked and led to a war, and our 108 ships were damaged and lost their command capability, the flagship was to be held by the 134 ship Zunyi, and Ye Yuhe, the captain of the Zunyi, took over as the commander of the fleet. ”

Political Commissar Chen Haitao's two thick eyebrows as thick as heavy charcoal were tightly locked in the center of his eyebrows: "Old Deng! Are you really going to go in person? ”

Commander Deng straightened up his newly issued Type 07 Navy camouflage military cap, but smiled lightly: "Lao Chen, I'm not afraid of Americans, you won't be afraid, right?" ”

Political Commissar Chen said angrily: "I'm afraid of a bird!" I can't wait to beat them up now! In my life, I have fought more than 100 battles, flying guns on my head, grenades running in my crotch, I have never seen any battles, and how many bird boats will I be afraid of? I'm worried that the Yankees are playing tricks, if something happens to you, what will our big fleet do! ”

Commander Deng Zhaoxiang comforted: "Ye Yuhe used to be the commander of the Jiangfang fleet, and it should not be too difficult for him to command the fleet to fight. Besides, it is an international practice to send observation ships, and the Americans do not bother to engage in such a trick as sneak attacks on observation ships. Lao Chen, don't you see, the Yankees just want us to see his tendons and meat, this is to intimidate us! You inform all our officers and men to put the military in order, and let the Americans see our prestige, so that they don't weaken themselves. ”

Political Commissar Chen Haitao understood when he heard this, and scolded with a smile: "Grandma's, Lao Tzu has scars all over his body, shrapnel on his back, and bullets in his leg bones, which is not a hundred times more majestic than his bullshit tendons!" took off his clothes and compared them, and scared these foreign mules to death. ”

After all, Political Commissar Chen immediately arranged for it, and all the officers and sailors changed into brand-new Type 07 marine digital camouflage.

As a result, the 108 ship Xining and the 511 ship Nantong broke away from the fleet and headed head-on in the direction of the Seventh Fleet on the radar. The North Sea Fleet, on the other hand, sailed into the waters between Penghu and Taiwan Island to stand by in order to be able to attack and retreat.

The Chicago finally spotted the Xining and Nantong approaching rapidly on the radar, and at the same time received an answer from Commander Deng Zhaoxiang:

"Attention to the US Seventh Fleet, this is the destroyer Xining of the Chinese Navy! I observe that there are two destroyers and 10 torpedo boats in the formation, and I ask you to keep a safe speed and distance and pass through the Taiwan Strait without harm. ”

Looking at the green flashing bright spots approaching at high speed on the circular radar screen, Walter Boone said in surprise:

"They're fast! Give me an immediate calculation of their speed! ”

"Report sir, about 26 knots!"

"Oh, the Russian warships are about the same speed, tell them that the ten torpedo boats must be three nautical miles away from us, destroyers............ Whatever. ”