The Ryukyu Islands, also known as the Ryukyu Islands, are a series of islands in the western Pacific Ocean near the mainland. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoThe nearest thing is Songjiang Prefecture, but it is only more than 700 kilometers. The northern part is the Japanese island of Kyushu, and the southern part is Taiwan. Bay Island, with the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Asian continent to the west. The archipelago is the largest in the western Pacific Ocean.

There was once a Ryukyu kingdom in Ryukyu, that is, the Shang dynasty. The Shang dynasty has always been a respectful submission to the Ming Dynasty. And the Ming Dynasty still took good care of vassal states like Korea and Ryukyu, which were deeply influenced by the Han cultural circle. Because the Chinese people are better faced. Therefore, at least at the beginning of the Age of Discovery, they were not swallowed up.

It was not until the Japanese archipelago ended its internal conquest and began to attack the Ryukyu Kingdom. After receiving a plea for help from the Ryukyu Kingdom, the Ming Dynasty acted as an arbiter to stop the contention between the two sides.

At that time, the Ming Dynasty only sent a team of envoys to make the Japanese who had almost destroyed the Ryukyus leave obediently, and the strong strength of the Ming Dynasty left a very deep impact on the Ryukyu people.

After that, things were simple, feeling the strength of the Ming Dynasty and the ever-present threat of the Japanese. The Ryukyu Kingdom finally chose to ask the Ming to attach it. From then on, it became the heartland of the Ming Dynasty until the Japanese took the initiative to provoke this world war.

In the early days of the war, the Japanese quickly sent troops to land on this strategically important archipelago after destroying the Ming navy's vital force in the western Pacific through sneak attacks.

At that time, the garrison of the Ming Navy on the island was in a very low state because the Ryukyus were in the core security area all the year round, both the combat readiness level and the garrison force. Therefore, the Japanese easily took this geographically important archipelago and blocked the best passage from the Ming mainland into the Pacific Ocean.

What the Japanese never expected was that it was only a year later. When the regained Ming began to launch a counterattack, their end would come so quickly.

"The Navy has not yet unified its operational direction?" In the office of Zhang Cheng of the Supreme Command, Zhang Cheng put the teacup in his hand on the coffee table in front of Marshal Li Han, and asked with a chuckle.

"There are differences, but the general direction is the same." Looking at Zhang Cheng, who was sitting on the sofa opposite him with a leisurely demeanor and a relaxed and casual manner, Li Han's heart was full of emotion.

Once upon a time, this young man, who was favored by everyone, was still neither humble nor arrogant in front of him. At this time, he had already changed to report to him. There are talents in the country, but such amazing talents are really rare.

"As the commander of the navy, what is your mind?" Zhang Cheng has also heard of the heated debate within the navy. As a wartime commander-in-chief, how could he not care about the turmoil in the army?

"Whether it's attacking the Ryukyu Islands or attacking the Mariana Islands, it's something that has to be done." Li Han took a sip of the teacup and responded, "The difference is just who comes first and who comes last." ”

"Hmm." Zhang Cheng leaned back on the back of the sofa and asked with a relaxed expression, "Who comes first?" ”

"First of all, the Ryukyus." Li Han put down the teacup and said in a deep voice, "We must defeat Japan first, and the best way to defeat Japan is to trap them." After capturing the Ryukyus, they would be better able to launch large-scale air raids on the Tokyo area of Japan from the south, destroy their resistance, block their sea transportation, and cut off their lifeline. This was the best way to force the Japanese to surrender. ”

"Hmm." Zhang Cheng nodded and said, "You're right. The capture of the Ryukyus would not only blockade Japan, but also open the nearest route to Hawaii. The recent moves of the Americans have been significant, and they are clearly a prelude to preparing for a large-scale attack on Hawaii. We can't afford to lose Hawaii in any case, that was a critical juncture in the whole war. ”

"That's true." Li Han suddenly looked at Zhang Cheng. I was a little surprised that Zhang Cheng's gaze was so far away.

In fact, the only people on this planet who can really pose a threat to Daming are the Americans. None of the others, whether it was Germany, France, Russia, or Britain, could really threaten the hegemony of the Ming Dynasty over the whole world. As for Japan, it's just a clown.

The importance of the Hawaiian Islands cannot be overstated. Suffice it to say, whoever holds the Hawaiian Islands will be invincible in the Pacific theater. The strength of the Americans is indeed extremely strong, but because the Hawaiian Islands are in the hands of the Ming Dynasty, the powerful strength cannot be brought into play at all, and they can only passively deal with the Ming Pacific Fleet. It became very difficult to even provide assistance to the Japanese.

The Americans' aid route to Japan could only take the Aleutian Islands in the North Pacific. This route was harassed by the Ming submarine force and attack ships, and a large number of ships and cargo were sunk to the bottom of the sea. It is often unusable in bad weather conditions. Therefore, if the Pacific theater is the core point of the entire world war, then the Hawaiian Islands are the central point of the Pacific theater.

Attacking the Ryukyus, opening the exit out of the Pacific Ocean, and then recovering the Mariana Islands, completely opening up the connection with the Hawaiian Islands, is far better than going around the south to attack the Mariana Islands and then turn around and seize the Ryukyus.

"I'll go back and arrange the battle." Li Han didn't have the idea of continuing to sit down after thinking about it, and quickly got up, picked up the military hat and put it on, and said in a deep voice, "The Ryukyu War will be implemented as soon as possible." ”

"Time is important to anyone." Zhang Cheng also stood up and said, "We must try our best to eliminate the hidden dangers around us before the Americans intervene on a large scale, and after that is the best time to fight a decisive battle with the Americans in the Pacific Ocean." ”

"Yes!" Li Han nodded vigorously, saluted and turned around to leave.

"Your Excellency, Marshal, please wait a moment." Li Han was about to leave Zhang Cheng's office when he was suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at Zhang Cheng, picked up a document from his desk and came to him, "This is information sent by Wang Yan of the Military Intelligence Bureau." Murong Chong, a traitor who had escaped from Northern Province, planned to flee to the United States by ship from Japan. I hope the Navy will make him disappear into the Pacific Ocean. ”

After the turmoil in the imperial capital at the beginning of the year, Murong Chong was the only one among all the family consortiums that rebelled and formed a scale and resisted to the beginning of spring. Moreover, he openly raised the banner and proclaimed himself emperor, which was something that the entire Ming Dynasty could not forgive.

After the beginning of spring, the army marched north and soon crushed the Great Yan Kingdom established by Murong Chong into powder. The power of the Murong family collapsed, and the originally huge family quickly disappeared. However, Murong Chong himself did not die, he chose to flee to Japan by plane before the defeat.

Wang Yan had already arranged a plan to intercept him before, but the cunning Murong Chong put Wang Yan along, and he threw out a stand-in to be a substitute for the dead ghost, but he fled to Japan on a submarine sent by the Japanese.

Murong Chong himself has worked hard in Daming for many years, and he is also one of the core figures of the leadership of the family consortium with great power.

At this time, not all the remnants of those family consortia in the Ming Dynasty have been wiped out, they just chose to lie dormant for the time being because they couldn't see the hope of success. People like Murong Chong are very useful signboards. Moreover, he has a lot of various information about the Ming Dynasty in his hands, and it is definitely a disaster to fall into the hands of hostile forces.

Murong Chong also knew that he had no way out, and his only hope could only be to take refuge in the enemies of the Ming Dynasty. The various confidential information in his hands is the basis for his life and treatment.

The strength of the Japanese is too weak, and even people like Murong Chong who are in distress can't look down on them. Naturally, they will not tell the Japanese about the cost of saving their lives.

When Murong Chong contacted the U.S. Consulate, the matter of transferring him to the United States was quickly put on the agenda.

Although the Japanese were helpless, they had no choice but to follow the arrangements of the Americans. Murong Chong is about to go to the United States, and the unwilling Japanese will naturally not take much care of him. The news about Murong Chong's imminent departure to the United States was naturally known by Daming's spies.

Wang Yan will definitely not let go of this kind of good opportunity. In many cases, traitors are even more hated than enemies, and they want to get rid of them sooner!

Another blockade against Murong Chong soon entered the preparatory stage. However, because the Americans guarded Murong Chong very strictly, the possibility of doing such a thing in Japan was extremely low, and Wang Yan would not let his intelligence officers take such a big risk. Naturally, this time the operation was sent to the hands of the Navy.

"This kind of traitor cannot continue to live in this world under any circumstances." Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes, a chill flashed in his eyes, and he said in a cold voice, "The navy wants to dispose of him." ”

Li Han's body paused slightly, and he nodded vigorously at random, "Yes!" ”

......

In mid-July, when another large-scale attack by the European coalition forces on the Russian battlefield was repulsed by the Ming heavy army group. In the western Pacific, the Ming gathered most of their mobile fleets and formed a large attack group towards the Ryukyu Islands. The Battle of the Ryukyus began in earnest.

The movements of the Ming Navy are so huge, it is naturally impossible to hide from those Japanese spies. After they transmitted various information back to the Japanese mainland, the Japanese Navy Ministry confirmed that the target of the Ming Navy was the Ryukyu Islands after careful analysis!

What it means to lose the Ryukyu Islands is clear to everyone. The Japanese, who had no way to retreat, could only gather all their forces and prepare for defensive operations. The Japanese Navy, which was still healing and stopping the bleeding, also had to go into battle again.

There's not much to say on the ground. Nearly 200,000 Japanese soldiers under the command of General Ushijima Mitsuru were scattered across the islands, preparing to respond to the attack of the Ming army. In fact, the main force of this battle is still the navies of both sides. (To be continued.) )