On October 15, after rescuing the last soldier of the Sakomoto Naval Combined Fleet who had escaped from Jeju Island, the commander of the Combined Fleet, Heihachiro Togo, immediately ordered the entire fleet to return to the Sasebo Naval Base.

However, the reconnaissance planes of the Navy's Tsushima Navy suddenly reported the presence of the main force of the Imperial Chinese Pacific Fleet in the waterway between the East China Sea and the Tsushima Strait.

Togo Heihachiro suddenly guessed that this was a conspiracy, and the Chinese Empire deliberately let Samoto attack the German army on Jeju Island, and the real purpose was to lure the main force of Samoto Combined Fleet out of Sasebo Port, and then intended to encircle and annihilate it.

Heihachiro Togo immediately consulted with the staff officers at all levels of the fleet headquarters, and they all agreed that the combined fleet could not confront the main force of the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Empire head-on, and that there was no certainty or chance of victory in the decisive battle, at least until the completion of the Nagato-class battleships and Tango-class battlecruisers in the country could not have the strength to fight, and before that, the Morimoto Navy needed to avoid the main fleet of the Imperial Chinese Navy and avoid a decisive battle.

After listening to the opinions, Togo Heihachiro led the combined fleet of the Morimoto Navy to retreat southward, intending to make a detour from the Yakusui Waterway, 100 nautical miles southeast of Jeju Island, into the Pacific Ocean, and then turn back to Komoto Minami Kyushu.

On the morning of 16 July, a carrier-based reconnaissance plane of the Combined Fleet spotted the main force of the Imperial Chinese Pacific Fleet rushing to the Yaku Waterway about 70 nautical miles east of Jeju Island. According to the reconnaissance, Togo Heihachiro found that the capital ships of the Imperial Chinese Navy were very fast, which made him very nervous, so he immediately ordered the combined fleet to turn around and retreat south.

At this time, the Combined Fleet was organized into:

Battleship detachment:

First Detachment: Fuso, Yamashiro, Ise, and Sokai Second Detachment: Satsuma, Aki, Kawachi, Settsu Third Detachment: Katori, Kashima, Kashii Fourth Detachment: Fuji, Yashima (three days ago the war sank and not yet denaturalized), Shikishima, Asahaya, Hatsuse, Mikasa armored cruiser squadron:

Fifth Detachment: Kongo, Hiei, Haruna, Kirishima Sixth Detachment: Asama, Tokiwa, Izumo, Iwate, Yakumo, Azuma Cruiser Detachment:

Seventh Detachment: Kasaki, Chitose, Tsushima, Shin-Takao, Izumi, Takasago Eighth Detachment: Akashi, Tsushima, Otowaba, Aso, Soya, Tsuga, Destroyer Squadron: 20 Mine-class destroyersSubmarine: 20 Iroku-class submarinesDuring the retreat to the south, Heihachiro Togo received an order from the Admiralty of Akamoto, ordering him to bring the fleet to the Philippines, join up with the U.S. Asian Fleet, and hide at Subic Naval Base to wait for the United States to enter the war.

Seeing that the United States believed in the political confusion of the Chinese Empire and procrastinated and failed to decide to enter the war, the plan was to drag the United States into the water and order the Combined Fleet to go south and hide in the Philippines, so that once the Chinese Imperial Navy attacked the Chinese Navy, it would immediately trigger a Sino-US naval conflict, and the US Navy would have to enter the war.

The plan of this base camp is good, and it can be described as killing two birds with one stone. However, Heihachiro Togo was not optimistic, and the reconnaissance planes continued to report that the main force of the Pacific Fleet of the Imperial Chinese Navy was also rapidly moving south, and the average speed of the capital ships of the other side reached 23 knots, while the average speed of the capital ships of the Navy's capital ships was only 20 knots.

"If necessary, we need to leave a fleet behind to break the rear."

In the conference room, Heihachiro Togo said in a heavy tone. The officers looked at each other, not knowing to whom this "glorious" task would befall them.

After a long time, Rear Admiral Gengo Hayasaki, commander of the fourth detachment of the first fleet, stood up and said, "Leave it to our fourth detachment!" ”

The reason for this decision was made was that the six battleships of the Fourth Detachment, the Fuji, Yashima (sunk), Shikishima, Asasaya, Hatsuse, and Mikasa, were all old former Kamibow-type battleships of more than 10 years, with an average speed of only 15 knots, which seriously slowed down the overall speed of the Combined Fleet. In addition, the battleship Hachishima of the 4th detachment was sunk, and as the commander of the detachment, Rear Admiral Gengo Hayasaki felt very guilty, and he wanted to redeem his honor by fighting.

Togo Heihachiro had already selected the fourth detachment in his heart, and at this time, seeing that Major General Hayasaki Gengo took the initiative, he nodded with satisfaction and said, "Very good, but your detachment should do this." However, it's not time to lose the car and save the handsome, so you can sit down first. ”

Vice Admiral Uemura Yanzhicheng, commander of the second detachment, frowned and said, "After using the fourth detachment to break off, is this price too great?" After all, those were five battleships! ”

"Do you think I want that?" Heihachiro Togo sighed and said: "Although these five battleships of the Fourth Detachment have been in service for more than ten years, and they are far behind the mainstream battleships in the world, their speed is too slow, and at this speed, we will not be able to reach the Philippines at all, and we will be caught up by the main force of the Chinese Imperial Navy before this." ”

Uemura Yan Zhicheng said: "It is precisely because the speed of the fourth detachment is too slow, once they are caught up by the Chinese Imperial Navy, they have no chance of surviving at all. Let's let our second squadron serve as the queen, how can our Kongo-class battlecruisers delay for a few hours, and in addition, if we can't beat the other side, we can escape with high speed. ”

Uemura Yan Zhicheng's words were agreed by many officers, but Togo Heihachiro shook his head and said, "You can't send out a battle patrol detachment." ”

"Why?" Seeing that Heihachiro Togo immediately vetoed it, Uemura Yan Zhicheng and others immediately asked.

Heihachiro Togo explained, "Did you know that there was a special rule for battlecruisers within the Imperial Chinese Navy? ”

Uemura Yan Zhicheng thought for a while and said, "Are you saying that they don't allow battle cruisers to participate in the decisive battle of the capital ship?" ”

"That's right! That's it! Heihachiro Togo explained: "This rule is not a naval regulation of the Chinese Empire, but no one dares to disobey it, because it is a holy decree issued directly from the Forbidden City. ”

Lieutenant General Sotaro Misu suddenly asked, "Then what does this have to do with us?" ”

Heihachiro Togo explained, "I had to compliment our enemies for a moment. After my in-depth analysis of this inverted decree of the Emperor of the Chinese Empire, I found that this decree was not an indiscriminate command of the navy, but a very insightful point out the biggest weakness of the battlecruiser, that is, it was vulnerable to battleships of the same class. ”

Uemura Yan Zhicheng asked rhetorically: "We all know this, our battlecruisers can avoid engaging the battleships of the Chinese Empire with their speed, and as long as they harass their other ships, they can complete the task of delaying the enemy." ”

"That's what I think too." Heihachiro Togo smiled bitterly: "But soon I will know why the emperor of the Chinese Empire issued this holy decree, because the speed of the main battleships of the Chinese Empire is not as we imagined, and there is a big gap with the battlecruisers. According to our reliable intelligence, the Chinese Empire has reached a speed of 24 knots since the Han Wudi-class battleships (only 21 knots are claimed to be secret), which is only 3.5 knots less than our King Kong-class battlecruisers, and our battlecruisers no longer have a speed advantage. And by the time it comes to the Don-class battleships, it has already reached 27 knots, so our battlecruisers must not go on blocking missions. ”

Everyone suddenly gasped, and Uemura Yan Zhicheng was stunned for a long time before he said: "If this is true, then the actual combat effectiveness of the Chinese Imperial Navy is much stronger than we estimated." ”

Heihachiro Togo smiled bitterly: "So we can only break the wrist of a strong man!" ”

There was a moment of silence.

Just as the Combined Fleet fled south, the Pacific Fleet of the Imperial Chinese Navy was also rapidly pursuing the fleet.

At this time, the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Chinese Navy (composed of the Pacific Fleet, the Atlantic Fleet, the Indian Ocean Fleet, the Mediterranean Fleet and other capital ships) was specifically organized into:

First Squadron: Fleet Flagship Tang Taizong Li Shimin [BB-47]

First Team: Tang Gaozong Li Zhi [BB-48], Empress Wu Zetian [BB-49], Tang Xuanzong Li Longji [BB-50]

Second Team: Song Yingzong Zhao Shu [BB-55], Song Shenzong Zhao Xuan [BB-56], Song Zhezong Zhao Xu [BB-57], Song Zhengzong Zhao Ji [BB-58]

Third Team: Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin [BB-51], Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi [BB-52], Song Zhenzong Zhao Huan [BB-53], Song Renzong Zhao Zhen [BB-54]

Fourth Sentai Team: Genghis Khan [BB-59], Kublai Khan [BB-60], Temur [BB-61], Haishan [BB-62]

Second Squadron: Flagship: Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty [BB-45]

Fifth Team: Emperor Zhao of Han [BB-46], Yingzheng [BB-42], Huhai [BB-43], Ziying [BB-44]

Team 6: Shangjing King [BB-38], Shangtang King [BB-39], Shangjing King [BB-40], Shangwen Wang [BB-41]

Third Squadron: Flagship: HMS Revelation [BB-29]

Seventh Sentai Team: Taikang [BB-30], Zhongkang [BB-31], Emperor Xiang [BB-32], Emperor Shu [BB-33]

Eighth Team: Emperor Huai [BB-34], Emperor Mang [BB-35], Emperor Gao [BB-36], Yinjia [BB-37]

Fourth Squadron: Flagship: Sui Wendi Yang Jian [BBC-13]

Team 9: Emperor Yang Guang of Sui [BBC-14], Emperor Wu of Jin [BBC-11], Emperor Hui of Jin [BBC-12]

Team 10: Zhou Wuwang [BBC-1], Zhou Chengwang [BBC-2], Zhou Kangwang [BBC-3]

Fifth Squadron: Flagship: King Zhou Lie [BBC-10]

Team 11: Zhou Zhaowang [BBC-4], Zhou Muwang [BBC-5], Zhou Yiwang [BBC-6]

Squad 12: Zhou Xiaowang [BBC-7], Zhou Li Wang [BBC-8], Zhou Xuanwang [BBC-9]

Sixth Detachment (Aircraft Carrier Fleet):

Thirteenth Team: Huangshan [CV-6], Lushan [CV-7], Fubo Mountain [CV-2], Elephant Trunk Mountain [CV-3], Caidieshan [CV-4], Danxia Mountain [CV-5]

Fourteenth Squadron: Yaoshan [CV-8], Tortoiseshell Mountain [CV-9], Daiyunshan [CV-10], Funiushan [CV-11], Helan Mountain [CV-12], Huijishan [CV-13], Jinping Mountain [CV-14]

The 15th team: Jinggangshan [CV-15], Jiulianshan [CV-16], Laoshan [CV-17], Ligangshan [CV-18], Lianhuashan [CV-19], Lipanshan [CV-20], Longmenshan [CV-21]

Sixteenth Sentai Team: Maoshan [CV-22], Nushan [CV-23], Wushan [CV-24], Yanshan [CV-25], Mengshan [CV-26], Yishan [CV-27]

Seventh Fleet: Flagship Catcher CA-1

Seventeenth Sentai Team: CA-2, CA-3, CA-4, CA-5

Eighteenth Sentai Team: Chasing the Wind [CA-6], Riding the Wind [CA-7], Hunter [CA-8], Brave [CA-9]

Eighth Squadron: Flagship Haiqi [CA-10]

Nineteenth Sentai Team: Hairong [CA-11], Hai Chip [CA-12], Haichen [CA-13], Haixi [CA-14]

20th Sentai Team: Haili [CA-15], Haibin [CA-16], Haiyang [CA-17], Haigu [CA-18]

Ninth Squadron: (omitted) [Fengxian-class light cruisers]: 30 ships [CL-1~CL-30]

【Storm Class BattleDestroyers】20 Ships【DDB-1~DDB-20】

【Rainstorm Class Hunting Destroyer】50 ships【DD-233~DD-282】

【Osprey-class Safari Destroyer】30 ships【DD-203~DD-232】

The 10th Fleet: (omitted) [Tang-class submarines] 50 ships [SS-130~SS-179]

【Advance Submarine】60 [SS-109~SS-129] [SS-180~SS-209]

The fleet's flagship Li Shimin, over the huge ship island, the dragon flag of the Chinese Empire fluttered in the wind.

In the conference room of the fleet headquarters, Admiral Lin Jianzhang, commander of the fleet, was presiding over the meeting. The main topic of the meeting was how to prevent the Combined Fleet from escaping back to the Legion, or from taking refuge in a third country, and eventually destroying it.

You Xuekai then said: "I think we should let the Fourth Fleet fight, and with the speed of the Sui-class battlecruisers, we can catch up in one day." ”

Lin Fan said: "But the problem is that our battle patrol detachment is not allowed to participate in the decisive battle of the capital ships, do you want to resist the order?" ”

Wang Shouchang immediately said: "Resisting the decree is naturally not allowed!" However, we can let the battle patrol detachment follow on the periphery, waiting for an opportunity to attack the battle patrol detachment or cruiser detachment of the Saiben Navy, and avoid engaging the main battleships of the Saiben Navy, which is always possible! ”

You Xuekai explained: "Actually, the armor protection of our Sui-class battlecruisers is quite good, although it does not reach the protection level of battleships, and it is naturally dangerous to fight with the Fusang-class battleships of the Yuben Navy, but most of the capital ships of the Sui-class battlecruisers of the Yuben Navy cannot withstand the attack of the Sui-class battlecruisers, I think there is nothing wrong with it." As long as we don't let the battlecruisers take the initiative to attack the battleships of the super god bow type, it will not be considered resistance. ”

Zhao Sheng, a staff officer of the fleet, said: "In fact, what is in front of us is that the combined fleet has 12 maritime reconnaissance planes, and no matter how we pursue, they will always choose a route that we ignore to escape. ”

Li Ding, chief of staff of the fleet, immediately nodded in agreement when he said this: "This is the most urgent problem, and the only way to do this is to destroy the reconnaissance planes of the Navy, so that the Navy will be blind and will not know our location." ”

Listening to the debate between the officers and staff officers, the final commander Lin Jianzhang said: "That's it! I asked the Admiralty that it would be good if we were allowed to send out a detachment of battlecruisers to fight. If not, don't get into the nitty-gritty of the issue. As for the destruction of the reconnaissance plane of the Navy, I think this is the first priority. In this way, Chief of Staff, you should hang up the phone at the White Beach Naval Base and ask the aircraft carrier fleet to dispatch carrier-based fighters to take out the reconnaissance planes of the Navy. ”

"Okay!" Li Dingxin received the order, and then said: "Do you want the aircraft carrier fleet to also fight?" Ye Zugui has already asked for battle many times. You have also seen the effect of the air raid on Jeju Island, and if we send aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft to attack the combined fleet, maybe it will work! ”

Lin Jianzhang still didn't like the aircraft carrier fleet, so he said: "The aircraft carrier must be assigned to the frigate, and once the attack is launched, before the carrier-based aircraft flies back, the aircraft carrier must wait on a fixed route, which is easy for the enemy to lock on to the target, an aircraft carrier of tens of thousands of tons, even if it encounters a cruiser of the enemy, it will not escape the doom of being sunk." Let's put it there for now. ”

Li Dingxin knew that this was just an excuse made by Lin Jianzhang, but he did not insist, so he only allowed Ye Zugui's aircraft carrier fleet to dispatch carrier-based fighters to intercept the reconnaissance planes of the Yueben Navy.

Subsequently, Lin Jianzhang and others studied the possible escape routes of the combined fleet, and finally judged according to the results of the reconnaissance plane's report that the navy might have to flee to the Philippines.

Yanjing, Admiralty of the Chinese Empire. The three naval giants, Deng Shichang, Minister of the Navy, Liu Buyun, Minister of Military Orders, and Lin Taizeng, Minister of Political and Education, all received Lin Jianzhang's call for help, so they sat down together to discuss.

"Dismissed!" Deng Shichang said directly: "Your Majesty's holy decree also dares to change? I think Lin Jianzhang has eaten leopard gall! ”

Lin Tai once said: "Isn't this to catch up with the main force of the Navy? ”

Deng Shichang snorted coldly: "The average speed of our fleet is far higher than the average speed of the Navy, and it is a matter of time before we catch up with them. I think Lin Jianzhang is very curious, and he is trying in every possible way to use actual combat to confirm whether His Majesty's holy judgment is correct, and I still know his little cleverness very well. ”

Liu Buyun said with a smile: "I think this kid is too, he doesn't go to the house for three days, and his idea is not a day or two." ”

Lin Taizeng suddenly smiled bitterly and said: "It seems that there is no discussion, then I will call him back and let him die as soon as possible." ”

The triumvirate looked at each other and laughed a few times, then called back to the fleet command.

In the conference room of the bridge of the fleet's flagship Li Shimin, Lin Jianzhang and others were waiting for a reply.

"Report! The Admiralty calls back! ”

"Read!"

"Yes!" The communications staff officer opened the telegram folder and was stunned when he saw the return call on it.

"What's wrong?" Lin Jianzhang and the others who were waiting were eager to learn the content of the Admiralty's callback.

"My lord, do you really want to read it? Let's take a look! The communications staff officer seemed a little hesitant.

"What a rambling thing!" Lin Jianzhang was suddenly unhappy, and the chief of staff, Li Dingxin, nodded at the communications staff officer, signaling him to read it out.

"Yes!" The communications staff officer then took a breath, and then mustered up the courage to read aloud: "The military command department called back, 'Bastard! 'Report is complete!' ”

"Bastard!" Lin Jianzhang was suddenly furious, and he hadn't reacted yet, thinking that the communications staff officer was disrespectful.

Everyone was stunned, and they didn't understand for a while.

The communications staff officer suddenly said with a bitter face: "Don't worry about me!" That's what it says on the telegram of the Military Command! Then he muttered dissatisfiedly: "Don't you say don't read it, you have to let me read it!" ”

Chief of Staff Li Dingxin seemed to understand, and immediately took the telegram and looked at it fixedly. But no, the word "bastard" was written on the telegram.

Li Dingxin suddenly smiled bitterly, shook his head helplessly, handed the telegram to Lin Jianzhang, and said, "Take a look!" The three old chiefs replied with two words, but this time they were scolded. ”

Lin Jianzhang took the telegram, and his expression of disbelief was suddenly unbelievable, and finally he smiled bitterly. Then it was passed on to the other officers and staff officers, and when everyone had seen it, everyone had a helpless and bitter smile on their faces.

Li Dingxin said: "I was scolded, this time everyone is dead!" ”

After a long while, Lin Jianzhang said: "Who dares to mention this matter in the future, don't blame me for being in a hurry with him." ”

A cadre of officers and staff officers, you look at me, I look at you, all of them are full of helplessness, after this time, they dare not mention that the battle cruiser will participate in the main decisive battle.

After a while, Lin Jianzhang said: "Order, the fourth and fifth battle cruiser squadrons continue to be on guard on the perimeter, and the main fleet continues to pursue. Ye Zugui was ordered to immediately dispatch carrier-based fighters to intercept the reconnaissance planes of the Navy, and all of them must be destroyed. Alright, let's adjourn! ”

After being scolded, Lin Jianzhang was not in the mood to hold another meeting, so he quickly assigned the task and then dismissed the meeting.

At 12:17 p.m. on the 15th, at the Baitan Naval Base in the Ryukyu Islands, the bridge tower of the Huangshan, the flagship of the aircraft carrier fleet of the Chinese Imperial Navy, officials of the aircraft carrier fleet headquarters gathered here.

"Everyone!" Vice Admiral Ye Zugui, commander of the aircraft carrier fleet, said at an emergency meeting: "We have just received an order from the fleet headquarters, which has asked us to dispatch carrier-based fighters to intercept the reconnaissance planes of the Yoben Combined Fleet heading south from Jeju Island, and to destroy all the reconnaissance planes. ”

Wang Kengcheng, the captain of the Huangshan, immediately asked: "Let us carry out the Huangshan!" Guarantee to kill all the naval reconnaissance planes within two hours. ”

Chen Xianwu then said: "This kind of small thing does not need to bother the Huangshan to dispatch. Kill chickens with a knife, let's let the Fubo Mountain do it! ”

"Let's finish it with the Rainbow Mountain!"

"Leave it to us Helan Mountain!"

"Our Jiulian Mountain is guaranteed to be able to complete the mission!"

"And our Jinggangshan!"

…… The captains of the 27 aircraft carriers asked for help one after another, and they all wanted to participate in the first battle and make meritorious contributions.

Ye Zugui couldn't help but smile bitterly, the Imperial Navy built and modified so many aircraft carriers in one go, but in the end they only let them be stationed in the base and only participated in the task of destroying the enemy fleet's reconnaissance planes, which really made Ye Zugui and the officers of the aircraft carrier fleet unhappy.

Despite the repeated references to the future role of aircraft carriers, Admiralty officials still valued the cannons of giant ships and despised them.

"That's it! Don't fight! Ye Zugui immediately stopped everyone and said: "The navy has a total of more than a dozen reconnaissance planes, and we can call out an aircraft carrier at random to destroy them." However, after all, it was the first time that our aircraft carrier fleet had gone on a mission, and Xu Sheng could not afford to be defeated, so for the sake of safety, this operation was carried out by the Huangshan and Lushan. ”

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!" Wang Kengcheng, the captain of the Huangshan, and Liu Shiguan, the captain of the Lushan, suddenly stood up, their faces full of joy.

Ye Zugui motioned for them to sit down, and at this time Chen Xianwu said dissatisfiedly: "Lord Ye, why are so many of our aircraft carriers idle in the naval base?" The Imperial Navy has built and modified so many aircraft carriers in one go, and it can't stay in the base every day and get paid and chat and fart all day long, right? ”

"That's it!" Bai Ruiliu also said at this time: "My relatives all say that I am from the logistics department, and I am embarrassed to say that we are from the combat unit. ”

"Didn't Your Majesty say that for a considerable period of time in the future, our aircraft carrier fleet will be the main force of the navy? Why do we have nothing to do every day now! ”

"This is called having policies and countermeasures, and our aircraft carrier fleet is raised by the mother, and it is naturally incomparable with other people's giant ships and artillery fleets."

"That's it! Don't get nervous! Ye Zugui suddenly stopped.

At this time, Rear Admiral Feng Luxin, chief of staff of the fleet, suddenly said: "Old Ye, it seems that the order given to us by the fleet headquarters does not stipulate how many aircraft carriers we should send to attack the carrier-based reconnaissance planes of the Navy, right?" ”

Ye Zugui knew what the chief of staff meant, and said with a smile: "But we are not allowed to participate in the decisive battle of the capital ship!" ”

Feng Luxin asked rhetorically: "Then it won't affect us to attack the combined fleet by the way!" ”

Ye Zugui asked, "What do you mean?" ”

Feng Luxin pointed to the officers in the excitement of the crowd and said, "Look at them, they all want to fight." I finally waited for an opportunity, our aircraft carrier fleet has been hidden for many years, and everyone is about to go crazy. Besides, the emperor supports us, as long as we fight a beautiful battle and let the bigwigs of the Admiralty see the power of our aircraft carrier fleet, won't they have the right to speak in the future? ”

"yes!" Bai Ruiliu echoed at this time: "The bombing of Jeju Island a few days ago made the Air Force more prestigious. Although we are a navy, the tactics we use are air force tactics, and if we drop the bombs on Jeju Island on the combined fleet, even if we can't sink the opponent's super god bow battleship, can we deal with other capital ships with weak armor protection? ”

Wang Jiancheng also hurriedly persuaded: "We have been practicing for many years, and we are completely sure how many target ships have been sunk." ”

Ye Zugui was hesitating, and Chen Xianwu encouraged him again: "Lord Ye, don't miss the opportunity!" If we keep lurking, we won't be able to get out of the Year of the Monkey. If this attack is successful, it will be a long face for our aircraft carrier fleet. Even if the fleet command blames it, we can at most make up for it, and besides, if we bomb the fleet under the pretext of attacking the reconnaissance plane, it is reasonable, right? ”

Ye Zugui looked at everyone, all of them had an eager expression, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Since the adults have made up their minds, it will be a little unkind for me to stop it." ”

Then Ye Zugui stood up suddenly and shouted, "I order!" ”

With a bang, a large platoon of officers on either side of the long table immediately stood up, took a straight posture, and waited for orders.

Ye Zugui looked at everyone, and finally ordered: "The target is the United Fleet, action!" ”

"Yes!" Everyone shouted in unison, and their morale was like a rainbow.

After the order was issued, the 27 aircraft carriers located at the Baitan Naval Base were immediately refueled, and all carrier-based fighters and bombers were successively hoisted from the warehouses of the military wharf to the aircraft carrier platform.

As the two largest aircraft carriers, the Huangshan and Lushan can each carry 120 Cat Demon carrier-based fighters, because it is the only aircraft carrier platform that can take off and land H1N1 bombers, so in order to complete the bombing mission, 15 H1N1 bombers were quickly replaced. Since the wings of the bombers could not be folded, they could not be put in the hangar, so only the 30 Cat Demon carrier-based fighters that were usually placed on the open parking deck were replaced with 15 bombers, and the 90 Cat Demon ship battles in the hangar remained the same. After the ammunition depot was filled with all kinds of aerial bombs and torpedoes, the Huangshan and Lushan were the first to leave the port.

Half an hour later, the other 25 aircraft carriers had finished loading carrier-based fighters, so the fuel was filled, the ammunition depot was also filled, and they followed the flagship to leave the port one after another. At the same time, 15 Phoenix-class light cruisers and 12 Rainstorm-class hunting ships also followed the aircraft carrier fleet as an aircraft carrier escort formation.

In this way, the first powerful aircraft carrier battle group in the history of mankind was formed and participated in actual combat for the first time.

At 1:45 p.m., 27 aircraft carriers of the four aircraft carrier squadrons of the Sixth Fleet of the Pacific Fleet left the White Beach Naval Base, and according to the location of the combined fleet provided by the fleet headquarters, Ye Zugui led the aircraft carrier battle group to sail out of Jinmu Bay, quickly bypassing Naha, and entering the East China Sea from the Pacific Ocean, preparing to carry out an ambush in the waters southwest of Kume Island.

On the bridge of the Huangshan ship, Chief of Staff Feng Luxin reported to Ye Zugui the situation of the aircraft carried by each aircraft carrier and the number of aerial bombs and torpedoes.

"Our 27 aircraft carriers carry a total of 360 Cat Demon carrier-based fighters, 140 Jian-3 carrier-based fighters, 280 Jian-5 carrier-based fighters, 30 H1N1 bombers, 120 reconnaissance aircraft, 12,500 tons of aerial bombs, 1,600 torpedoes, and sufficient fuel and food reserves, which can be used by our aircraft carrier battle group for three months of continuous combat."

"Good!" Ye Zugui shouted, and he felt very confident when he heard this result.

He continued: "Although there is an escort fleet, we must not be careless, and we must keep a distance of 60 nautical miles from the combined fleet so that we can safely recover all the fighters participating in the attack." ”

"It's nature!" Feng Luxin nodded and said: "We have released 20 reconnaissance planes and 100 fighters, they will soon find the Yueben Combined Fleet and report their location, our fighters will destroy the carrier-based reconnaissance planes of the Yueben Navy, and prevent the Yueben Army from discovering the location of our aircraft carrier battle group." ”

Ye Zugui nodded, although theoretically his aircraft carrier battle group was not afraid of the attack of the Yueben Combined Fleet at all, but after all, it was the first real actual battle, and the attack was on the enemy's main fleet group, which was much more complicated than bombing a remote-controlled target ship on the shooting range during the Pingyueli exercise. He couldn't help but feel nervous.

"That's right!" Ye Zugui suddenly asked, "Is there a submarine following the Combined Fleet of the Navy?" ”

Feng Luxin replied: "No! In order to avoid the attack of our main fleet, the navy chose to flee south. Because the submarine was too slow to keep up with the fleet's movements, it was already separated when it was on Jeju Island. Our anti-submarine hunting ship detected that the submarine fleet of Saymoto returned to the Sasebo Naval Base, so you don't have to worry about Saymoto's submarines. ”

"That's good!" Ye Zugui breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Don't say it, it's the first time I've been so nervous." ”

Feng Luxin also smiled and said, "Yes! What's no wonder you're not nervous? After all, it is the first time that we have taken an aircraft carrier battle group operation, and we have taken advantage of the loopholes of the fleet command's orders, and we may not be praised if we have fought the top well. But if we don't fight well, we won't be able to eat and walk around. ”

Ye Zugui suddenly smiled bitterly.

At 2:24 p.m., a reconnaissance plane released from the aircraft carrier Maoshan spotted the combined fleet in the central part of the East China Sea, 90 nautical miles northwest of Kume Island.

The airborne radio was quickly transmitted back to the Huangshan, the flagship of the aircraft carrier battle group, through a relay (the airborne radio communication distance is limited), and was quickly reported to Ye Zugui.

At the same time, 100 Cat Demon fighters also began to close their routes (which had previously played the role of reconnaissance aircraft) and sailed northwest to the combined fleet.

At 2:48 p.m., the first batch of 30 Cat Demon carrier-based fighters discovered the main force of the combined fleet and immediately began to circle in the surrounding airspace to search for the carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft.

At 2:52 a.m., the 4th Squadron of the 3rd Aircraft Carrier Wing of the Naval Air Force spotted two water reconnaissance planes on their way back from the northeast and immediately launched an attack.

(To be continued)