The Ming High Command had previously determined that the first place to land in the Americas from Europe was Newfoundland. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 info This is a very suitable location in terms of location, not far from the core of the United States, and the area is large, suitable for the large-scale deployment of long-range bomber forces to bomb all the east coast along the east coast of the core of the United States.

In addition, because of the remoteness of the place, there are not many garrisons stationed here, which is very advantageous for landing operations. It's just that this direction of operation was directly vetoed by Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng rejected the plan for a landing operation on Newfoundland for a very simple reason, it was winter.

The island of Newfoundland, located close to the cold zone, is not only cold in winter, but also the harbour freezes. Isn't launching a landing operation under such circumstances a displeasure for yourself? Moreover, Zhang Cheng could not accept the suggestion of postponing the landing for a few months until the weather was right.

Zhang Cheng wanted to end the war before June. Where could he wait that long? A two-line attack, with simultaneous flowering on both sides, is now the main combat goal of the Ming army. Therefore, the Ming army had to re-choose its own target.

There is no need to think much about Canada in the north, it is all frozen for thousands of miles, and it is impossible to carry out large-scale landing operations anywhere. And in the south, close to the continental United States, it is not possible because there is too much concentration of American troops there.

The Ming army landed in California and fought in a hot and noisy manner, but even in this case, the Americans did not use the heavy troops deployed on the east coast to go to California to support. This is true both for the ground forces and for the aviation forces. In order to resist the Ming army's attack on its east coast.

Naval aviation raids can, and in the era when there is no satellite surveillance, the Ming aircraft carrier group can constantly attack the east coast of the United States. However, a large-scale landing is a different story.

Landing operations are aimed at concentrating a large number of troops in one place. Instead of being able to easily hit and run like an aircraft carrier formation. The concentration of formations also means that they will encounter intensive attacks, whether in the sky or on the ground, which will bring huge losses and setbacks to the Ming landing force.

The East Coast of the United States is not the West Coast, with protected terrain from the Rocky Mountains. It is almost always a flat plain, and the U.S. military also has a strong strength and a well-developed transportation system. They can mobilize large numbers of troops in the vicinity of the landing site in a very short time. The landing operation of the Ming army was extremely risky and would end in failure.

After looking around, Zhang Cheng finally chose the landing site on many islands in the Caribbean Sea.

Zhang Cheng knew very well what the main target he was going to attack here was.

In the case of a direct landing operation, the California side has actually opened up the distance, as long as it continues to increase troops and replenish supplies. There was no urgent request to land directly on the U.S. mainland on the East Coast. Their goal was to contain U.S. forces and provide a forward base for long-range aviation bomber units to destroy the Americans' industrial capabilities.

In this case, the Caribbean islands, close to the continental United States, are a very good choice. It is close enough to the mainland of the United States, and it is basically enough to cover most of the territory of the United States for the air fortresses of the Daming Army Aviation with a combat distance of more than 5,500 kilometers.

Moreover, the Ming Navy now has complete control of the sea, and they will encounter very little resistance when landing. Because even if the U.S. military wanted to support, it would not be able to cross the vast sea to the Caribbean islands. They can't swim through, can they? Even if it is a swim, how can equipment and military supplies pass? These things sink when they enter the sea.

Eventually, a large number of ships departed from ports all over Western Europe. Loaded with a large number of officers and soldiers and various supplies to the Caribbean. This time, the Ming army did not carry out tactical deception, but drove over with great fanfare. Because whether the US army is reinforced or not, no matter how much reinforcement there is, it cannot resist the offensive of the Ming army, but it is just a waste of troops.

January 23, 1944. Norfolk.

Norfolk is the largest military seaport in the U.S. military and is home to the largest base in the U.S. Navy. Originally, this place would be crowded with all kinds of warships in previous years, and it was a busy scene. But now, looking from the Navy Building towards the port berth area, there are only two or three kittens left, where is the shadow of the world's second fleet?

"How much is the loss?" In the Navy building on the shore of Norfolk, Nimitz, who was already about to become the commander of the light pole, frowned and did not look at the other commander of the light pole, Admiral Lambert, the commander of the Atlantic Fleet.

"It's all ruined." Lambert, who looked sad, turned pale, the military discipline buttons on his military uniform were unfastened, and he sat on a chair with a dejected face and said, "All the ships in the Navy Yard have been blown up. The shipyard was also almost destroyed. Not to mention rushing to repair and continue construction, even wanting to repair the shipyard is an extravagant hope. ”

Lambert's words made many U.S. Navy bigwigs in the conference room look sad and helpless. Now the US Navy is really finished, although they are still the second in the world in terms of the number of ships and tonnage, and the ranking seems to have not changed. However, the large warships have already been lost at this moment, and all that remains are some old warships, coastal defense ships and minesweepers, transport ships and other ships that do not enter the stream.

Compared to the world's second-largest navy before the war began a few years ago, the current US Navy is completely empty shells. And the reason why they can still maintain the second position in the world is because the navies of other countries have been wiped out by the Ming Dynasty.

The tonnage and number of the world's largest navy have increased by a large margin, while the US navy, which is the second largest navy in the world, has no power to fight back.

In the early hours of yesterday morning, the troops of the Daming Naval Aviation attacked the naval shipyard and other important targets in New York, and blew up a number of ships under construction in the dock. Not only that, but Daming HNA even blew up the shipyard. Such an exterminating blow was simply unbearable for the U.S. Navy.

"What are we going to do now?" After taking a hard puff on his cigarette, Lambert looked at Nimitz, who was sitting across from him, and asked, "What else can the Navy do now?" ”

"The fleet is gone." Nimitz shook his head and said, "But we still have aviation and marines. The Air Force still has nearly 20,000 warplanes of all kinds, and the Marine Corps still has hundreds of thousands of troops. The Navy also has the ability and courage to continue fighting. We're going to keep it going! ”

"Keep going?" Lambert smiled bitterly, turned his gaze to the telegram on the table next to him, and muttered, "But the White House has sent us a telegram asking us to integrate all sailors into the Marine Corps and prepare for land warfare." The sailors went to fight on land, so are we still in the navy? ”

"There's no way around it." The corners of Nimitz's eyes twitched slightly, and he sighed and said, "After all, we don't have any warships anymore. ”

"No more battleships?" Lambert stood up and walked to the window to look at the few light ships in the distant fleet berths. There was a fleet destroyer that was not at all in the size of the U.S. Navy. If it had been a few years earlier, Lambert would not have even been able to remember the name of this ordinary fleet destroyer in the massive U.S. Navy.

But now, this originally ordinary destroyer is flying the fleet commander's flag at the moment!

That's right, the flagship of Admiral Lambert, commander of the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet, is a fleet destroyer with a displacement of no more than two thousand tons at the moment! In this respect, Nimitz is not wrong. The U.S. Navy really doesn't have warships anymore.

"Daming is about to land in the Caribbean, what should we do?" After a moment of silence, Lambert turned to Nimitz and asked.

"What else can I do?" Nimitz smiled bitterly and said, "Resist stubbornly, we have no other choice." ”

"Resistance?" Lambert came to sit down opposite Nimitz and said in a deep voice, "With our current strength, the Ming Dynasty, who is in full control of the sea, will eat all the defenders stationed on the islands. No matter how many people are sent, it's just for free. Are we just going to let the officers and soldiers go to their deaths? ”

"This is an order from the White House." Nimitz, whose face was unswerving, said in a deep voice, "We are soldiers and must obey orders!" ”

After a pause, Nimitz lowered his voice slightly, and said in a low voice, "As I said, the final decisive weapon is about to enter the final stage. So we have to stay the course no matter what, and buy time for the decisive weapon. ”

"Decisive weapon?" Lambert, with a puzzled face, asked aloud, "What is it?" ”

"I don't know." Nimitz shook his head and said, "This is the highest level of confidentiality. Even we can't touch it. However, I heard that it is a super weapon with unprecedented power, and once used, it can easily destroy hundreds of thousands of troops! ”

"What?!" Lambert, who originally had a nonchalant expression, was suddenly taken aback, and hurriedly asked, "How can there be such a weapon?" Could it be that we have the help of aliens? ”

"I don't know the specifics. However, this is a highly confidential matter, and you must keep in mind that it must not be leaked. Nimitz said to Lambert with a serious expression.

"I see." Lambert nodded vigorously, and a glimmer of glint reappeared in his originally desperate eyes.

"Woo~~~"

Just as the two were about to discuss the defensive battle plan on the Caribbean island, a piercing air defense siren suddenly sounded in Norfolk Harbor!

Nimitz and Lambert, whose expressions had changed drastically, hurried to the window, only to see a dense dark cloud appear in the sky in the direction of the distant Atlantic! (To be continued.) )