Afternoon of January 1, 1915, Luzon, Subic Bay.

Faced with an empty bay, Vice Admiral Bernie on the "Malaya" was not discouraged.

The enemy has fled, and it is good, then let's bombard the beachhead and let the yellow monkey soldiers on the shore taste the taste of abandonment.

Bernie was about to give the order when a flurry of reports swooped in:

"The U.S. Asian Fleet has called and asked us to pick them up after we have completed our assault on Subic Bay."

"The 'Danton' sent a signal, and General Desai asked to meet with you."

"The 'Java' sent a signal and General Rupert asked to meet with you......"

Bernie waved his hand in exasperation: "Tell General Desai and General Rupert to carry out my order first - shelling the beachhead." ”

"How do you reply to the Americans?"

"Tell them, wait for our news."

Before the sun fell below the antenna of the western sea, the joint fleet of the Far East of the three countries fired thousands of shells into the dense forest behind the beach of Subic Bay.

No sooner had the shelling ended, two deputy commanders of the Joint Command, Vice Admiral Desai of the French Navy and Vice Admiral Rupert of the Dutch Navy, could not wait to board the Malaya.

Bernie greeted him with courtesy: "Gentlemen, what can I do for you?" How about having dinner together? ”

Desai tilted his neck and nodded, "Thank you, in fact, we want to know your next move." ”

"Come and sit." Bernie gestured to the fully stocked cutlery and champagne bottles reclining in the pretty little basket on the table.

Desai glanced at the red-nosed Dutch general and sat down happily.

Bernie gestured to the orderlies to serve the food and go open the champagne himself: "Gentlemen, I know what you think, the beginning is not very smooth, and it is not what we thought. But we achieved at least one goal, the enemy's landing fleet fled, their landing force may or may not starve to death, but at least for a while it will not be possible to advance inland, and the Americans can buy a little more time to organize their defenses - how? Rejoice, gentlemen, we have two more targets to go, where perhaps we will have surprises. ”

Desai shook his head: "Do you know what I think?" The enemy knows where we are going and what we are doing, everything is under their control! There are no secrets to our actions! ”

Bernie nodded disapprenousively: "It's understandable, enemy submarines, sir, submarines can detect our whereabouts." ”

"We have to do something, we can't let each other lead us by the nose." Desai raised his voice.

"Yes, do something." Bernie looked at Lieutenant General Rupert, "What do you think?" Baron? ”

The Dutchman tied up his napkin: "I agree with Mr. Desai's suggestion, do something." ”

Bernie spread his hands: "Okay, Mr. Desai, what do you want to do?" ”

Desai was confident: "If you don't go to Lingayen Bay, the fleet will break into Manila Bay at night to rescue the American Asian fleet, and then go straight to Halong Bay, destroy the landing fleet there, and buy a little time for us French." ”

"Why don't you go to Lingayen Bay? Even if we go to Manila Bay first to save the Americans, we will be able to rush to Lingayen Bay tomorrow morning, and after we have done our business there, it will not be too late to go to Halong Bay. ”

"I don't think there's anything we want, like Subic Bay. And according to the information from the Hanoi side three hours ago, Halong Bay was crowded with ships, the ships were full of supplies, and two enemy divisions had already landed there, ready to attack Hanoi directly! ”

"It's not yet certain whether the fleet in Lingayen Bay has been evacuated, so we can drop by and confirm."

"You don't need the entire fleet to go over and confirm." Desai was stubborn, "It can be done, send a few fast cruisers to Lingayen Bay now, the main force should go to Manila Bay first, and when the Americans rescue them, the reconnaissance force should also have news." ”

"That's a good idea." The Dutch helped.

Bernie muttered: "But if the landing fleet is still in Lingayen Bay, the enemy's convoy must also be there, and our reconnaissance force will be destroyed......"

Desai shrugged: "If the reconnaissance force is blocked by an superior enemy in Lingayen Bay, it means that there must be important targets in the bay that are worth protecting." Didn't I say clearly enough that the reconnaissance force did not have to rush into the bay to confirm the presence of the landing flotilla so that it could avoid being destroyed? ”

"And I remember that there were several cruisers in your fleet that ran very fast." Rupert interjected again.

Bernie finally uncorked the bottle.

"I love French wine...... Well, that's it, two hours ago the U.S. Asian Fleet sent a telegram asking us to rescue them first, and it seems that they can't hold it anymore, so let's do what they ask us to do something good that the Yankees will be grateful for. While we are on our way to Manila Bay, the two fastest cruisers in the fleet will go to Lingayen Bay to require, God bless them. ”

"If the landing fleets in Lingayen Bay and Halong Bay escape before we get there, won't we be busy in vain?" Rupert asked uneasily.

"No, in that case, we will win, at least the two Governors of Hanoi and Manila will be able to breathe a sigh of relief, their armies will have a few days to strengthen their defenses, and we will have rescued an American fleet...... Enough is enough, isn't it? No, not enough, if the choice of those yellow monkeys is to escape, then we will chase them and fight along the northern coast of Gulf of Tonkin (Beibu Gulf), shelling their cities and harbors all the way, destroying every ship we can see, disgrace and humiliating them...... I'm going to see how long they can endure! Bernie looked like he was in a win, and with an elegant smile he began to pour drinks for the guests.

Desai picked up the goblet between his fingers: "That's how you expect to fight them?" ”

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"Perhaps, we'll suffer losses — I mean, if the losses are too great, we'll be powerless for a short time once the enemy's main forces in Hawaii are reinforced."

"If there is no decisive battle, after the enemy's main force rushes back, their strength will be stronger, and we will have no chance! Gentlemen, we must believe in our ships, the enemy we are about to encounter will not be able to defeat us, their ships are obsolete - if we cannot even beat the outdated rags of the other side, then there will be nothing left to keep the Far Eastern territories of our Europeans. ”

"I'm sure we're going to win, the Netherlands needs those islands." Rupert held up his glass.

Desai followed suit: "France needs its overseas empire even more, for the sake of victory—"

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I solemnly recommend the new work of the Divine Wise Wolf "The Coming of Heaven", which is hot on the list, and the ISBN is 174446.