In the afternoon, in the waters east of Malaita Island, the flagship of the Solomon Mobile Force of the East Asian Army "Jinpeng".

"The fourth group of reconnaissance planes still hasn't found anything."

On the bridge, the commander of the mobile force, General Dongfang High School, nodded helplessly and mechanically at the base camp commissioner who had just entered the gate.

Pan Guochen bowed politely, raised his head and asked, "The effect of the air raid of the Sixth Air War still cannot be confirmed?" ”

"Well, it's not that fast," Dongfang Gao took out his pocket watch and glanced at it, "The group won't be able to land at the Munda base until at least 2:40 p.m., and it will take another time to develop and judge the photos, if nothing else, the report should be issued before midnight." ”

"How was that reconnaissance plane just now? Was a telegram sent before the shootdown? ”

Ten minutes ago, at 12:50 p.m. theater time, Pan Guochen witnessed through his telescope a huge and clumsy four-engine enemy plane being turned into a big fireball by two carrier-based fighters of our army.

Dongfang Gao tilted his head: "According to the results of interception, the length of the message sent is enough to accommodate our basic information. ”

After a pause, he added, word for word: "Our current position is 100 nautical miles south-southeast of Atoifa on Malaita Island, and 240 nautical miles northeast of Kirakira on San Cristobal Island. ”

"Understood, Xie Luxie." Pan Guochen didn't urge the other party to make a decision, but just took out the notebook in his bag and quickly recorded it.

Dongfang Gao turned back with a cold expression and discussed with the staff officers for a few minutes, then put his hands behind his back and began to order:

"First, stop sending out the fifth batch of reconnaissance planes, and after recovering the fourth batch of reconnaissance planes, all the mobile units will turn due north with the flagship, and the speed will be second, and the first will be notified to the main force and the Rabaul Command. Complete. ”

After checking the staff officer's records, Dongfang Gao turned to Pan Guochen: "The enemy's situation is unknown, we will temporarily reverse to the north, and then go south at full speed after dark, and send the first attack wave to sweep the Kirakira airfield in the early morning of tomorrow, and at the same time search the waters around the Holy Island with a strong reconnaissance force, and destroy it with all our strength once the enemy mobile force is found." If they did not encounter the enemy's mobile forces, after completing two waves of air raids, they would again reverse to the north and join up with the main force, and then shell the airfield according to the situation after nightfall. ”

Pan Guochen listened and took notes, but did not express his opinion, but a noun jumped in his mind...... "Midway"?

In the Battle of Midway, which is known as a turning point in the Pacific Theater of World War II, the Japanese Navy's mobile unit was ambushed by the US task force when it confidently "swept" the Midway airfield, and all four main aircraft carriers were sunk, thus losing the initiative in the Pacific Theater.

No, the situation is completely different.

This time it was nothing more than a repetition of the one-sided "Singapore Air Battle" at the beginning of the war, in which our mobile units inflicted heavy losses on the enemy's base aviation units - this is common sense!

Although the conditions for a surprise attack have been lost, our army has never been suppressed by the enemy's base aviation, whether it is a surprise attack or a strong attack.

Even if there is an ambush of the enemy's mobile forces in the sea near the target, it is really unwanted!

In the Battle of the Bay of Bengal last September, our army completely annihilated all four main aircraft carriers of the British mobile forces, and it is absolutely impossible for the British to rebuild and deploy a new mobile unit that is not inferior to the previous one in just nine months, and if the strength of the new mobile force sent to this sea area is less than half of the original, it will be tantamount to sending food to our army.

With the advanced performance of our carrier-based aircraft, the high average quality of the pilots, and the skillful use of tactics by the commanders, there should be no suspense about beating the enemy's base aviation with his left hand and destroying the enemy's mobile unit in an instant with his right hand.

The crux of the matter is......

Pan Guochen looked down at the record book, and what caught his eyelids was the beginning of Dongfang Gao's words - "The enemy situation is unknown".

Unclear hostile situation?

The enemy situation is unknown!

……

Jingshi, Xinhua Palace, the queen's bedroom.

"Smack".

With a resounding slap, the red five palm prints instantly bloomed on the face of the man in front of Liu Qianhua who was covered with a black blindfold on his left eye.

The other party didn't seem to feel any pain, just tilted his head slightly, still smiling.

"Sister, I'm back."

In the next second, Her Majesty opened her arms, took this wayward guy into her arms, and buried her deep in the soft valley on her chest.

"It's good to be back."

The warm whisper was a little excessive, but it didn't stop His Royal Highness the Crown Prince from quickly breaking free from the shackles of Liu Qianhua's white arms exposed outside the long nightdress, and hurriedly took two steps back, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head to confess.

Perhaps realizing something, Liu Qianhua blinked and quickly changed into a cold and majestic mask.

"Hurry up."

"Brother obeys."

"Give a seat."

The female officer brought a heavy mahogany seat, and before Liu Ping could get up, a notice suddenly came from outside the hall: "Her Royal Highness the princess asks to see you." ”

Liu Qianhua hurriedly instructed the female official: "Pass it quickly." ”

Before the female official stepped out of the threshold, a swaddling lady had rushed in despite the obstruction of the guards, and when she saw Liu Ping's flowered face, she knelt on her knees and choked silently, and the baby in her arms was frightened by this, and she cried hysterically.

Liu Qianhua hurriedly ordered the guards to retreat, and while turning around and walking towards the inner hall, he instructed Liu Ping: "Go and see your little princess, it's been three months, and when the moon is full, I have given the name Liu Chengxin, the inheritance of the constitution, and the heart of sincerity; Titled Qiping, I hope to open the door to your safe return......"

"Thank you, Emperor Longen." Liu Ping half-knelt and bowed his head deeply, and quickly got up and ran to the place where his wife and daughter were in front of the palace.

Lifting the bead curtain and entering the inner hall, Liu Qianhua raised her hand and touched her eyelids, dry.

"That's fine...... I'm just ...... anyway."

Unable to feel the mood of Her Majesty the Empress, Ye Jingying, the female official who followed closely, came to report again: "Your Majesty, the several pilots who desperately rescued His Highness are still waiting outside the palace. ”

"I want to be alone for a while."

The cold, almost heartless response made Ye Jingying shudder.

"Yes...... I'll go and inform the Imperial Household Agency and summon ...... another day."

Without waiting for Ye Jingying to turn around, Liu Qianhua suddenly grabbed her slender shoulders, completely unexpectedly turned her light body around, and hugged her tightly.

"Your Majesty, ...... you are"

Ye Jingying was at a loss for a while, so she could only let it be disposed of.

"Mirror, tell me that no matter what happens, you will stand with me."

"And ......"

Biting the root of Ye Jingying's ear and whispering a few words, Liu Qianhua quickly let go of her.

Ye Jingying's face was almost gone.

"Your Majesty, I don't understand, you are in the prime of spring and autumn, how can you ......"

Liu Qianhua smiled indifferently: "If you understand too much, you will have more troubles, I don't want you to live so tired." Mirror, you just have to trust me. ”

Ye Jingying, who was in a trance, nodded vigorously: "The mirror lives for the emperor." ”

Liu Qianhua took Ye Jingying's hand and pressed it gently, raised her eyes and looked out of the curtain: "Forget it, let's call them in, have I seen them?" ”

"There is one who is the third son of Premier Yang, Yang Zhiyong, who was a waiter in the palace when the first emperor was there, maybe you don't have much of an impression. There is also an old acquaintance of the crown prince, named Qi Peng, who is the elder brother of Qi Bing, the flower of the First Voyage War, who was summoned by the two brothers and sisters together before the war. There is also a man named Lin Ying, who is the brother-in-law of Liang Tianhe, the Marquis of Ningbei, and when the emperor came to the Marquis's Mansion, the Marquis specially introduced the ......"

"The names are quite familiar, you go and arrange it, and the side hall will summon you."

……

At two o'clock in the afternoon, 110 nautical miles east-southeast of San Cristobal Island, six officers of the battleship "Tennessee" stood side by side in front of Vice Admiral Schroeder, including Major Fletcher.

"Major Fletcher and Captain Cliburn, on two seaplanes of their own ship, headed for Task Force 51; Captain Rudian and Second Lieutenant Norek, aboard two seaplanes aboard the USS California, bound for Enda Island; Lieutenant Cheney and Second Lieutenant Macmillan, aboard two seaplanes aboard the USS Idaho, headed for San Cristobal Island. The quest must be completed before sunset. ”

After giving the order, Lieutenant General Schroeder took the four envelopes from the chief of staff and handed them to the staff officers one by one, and when he handed the last envelope to Major Fletcher, his direct gaze was unusually majestic and powerful.

"Major Fletcher, after completing the mission, you will stay in Task Force 51 to assist Rear Admiral Witson, and you must implement the operational ideas of the headquarters - in fact, it is all your thoughts."

Fletcher straightened his chest, exuding confidence: "I won't let you down. ”

The expression on Schroeder's face became more severe: "You can't let me — no — disappoint the U.S. Navy." ”

After speaking, he took two steps back, put his hands behind his back, and swept the faces of everyone in front of him.

"The enemy's tentacles have reached the most rearly fortress of Solomon, and we cannot afford to watch Solomon fall, let alone abandon our naval comrades, army brothers, and Allied friends on the island without firing a shot, and let them be taken prisoner in despair. Our people, the people of our allies, are watching us, and our choices will determine their courage and confidence. ”

"Just now, I made a decision, we are going to beat those dogs* hard, for Hawaii, for the Philippines, for Panama, for San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, for all the American people who have suffered from those militaristic yellow monkeys!"

There was a burst of cheers and whistles from inside the bridge, but Fletcher and his party stood still with serious faces.

After the surroundings were a little quieter, Schroeder raised his voice and continued: "Your task is crucial to the implementation of my decision. The entire fleet must remain radio silent until the first shot is fired, so it is up to you to personally deliver the battle plans to Task Force 51, the cable telegraph station on Enda Island, and the Kiraquira airfield on San Cristobal Island. I want you to assure that no matter what happens, at least one of the two groups of men on the same mission will always succeed in completing the mission, and in the event of an accident, you must ensure that there is absolutely no chance that the battle plan will fall into the hands of the enemy. ”

Raising his hand for a military salute, Schroeder's eyes were full of anticipation: "Now, let's go-"

……

At night, San Cristobal Island, Kirakira Air Base, headquarters of the Anglo-American Combined Air Force "Tucano".

“…… The aircraft losses were counted, including ground damage: 6 twin-engine medium bombers, 5 single-engine torpedo bombers, 5 single-engine fighters; Losses in air combat: 2 single-engine fighters; A total of 18 aircraft. ”

"Ground facilities losses include: the barracks of the 2nd Battalion of the 99th Infantry Regiment were partially destroyed......"

Hearing this, the commander of the air force, Rear Admiral Westland from the British Royal Navy, waved off the staff officer's report and turned to his nominal superior, Rear Admiral Mitchell, commander of the U.S. 10th Air Force and commander of the Anglo-American-Australian Joint Air Force.

"What do you think?"

Mitchell crossed his arms and nodded: "It seems that the camouflage and protective measures taken by the base before are still very effective, and the tragedy in Singapore has not been repeated, but this time it is only a high-altitude bombing carried out by a heavy bomber team without escort, and even so, our fighters and anti-aircraft guns have only shot down 3 of them with all their strength." If it is replaced by a surprise attack by the opponent's aircraft carrier task force, I am afraid it will be more than that. ”

Westland let out a sigh of relief, his hands pressed to the edge of the table, his eyes focused on a hand-drawn red cross at the bottom right of the chart.

"After that noon report, there was no news of the East Asian Task Force, and the last place to appear was only 240 nautical miles from Kirakira, and if it drove in a straight line at 18 knots, it would be possible to approach the airfield at midnight and carry out artillery bombardment. However, throughout the afternoon I sent two squadrons of reconnaissance planes to search in that direction, but found nothing.......

Mitchell raised his glass and took a sip of whiskey, squinting for a long time before smacking his lips meaningfully: "I'm sure it's not magic, maybe they just turned around?" ”

"It's very likely, but I still can't completely rule out the possibility that the other side has penetrated the reconnaissance plane's search net."

Westland crossed his hands in front of his chest, his thick eyebrows tightened, perhaps his experience taught him: Chinese, anything is possible.

Mitchell smiled faintly, stretched out his hand and tapped the two envelopes on the table: "According to the plan here, Schroeder's Task Force 52 should have entered the position of 30 nautical miles east of the base and is on standby, and can send a rapid detachment to the offshore sea of the base at any time." If the enemy attempts to attack the base at night from the sea, in a chaotic night battle, the enemy's proud aircraft carrier force will not only fail to play any role, but will become a burden to the fleet. ”

"If Schröder's judgment is correct, there will be a fierce battle tomorrow." Westland was not very serious.

"Yes, a tough battle, and we must win." Mitchell was so calm that it hurt slightly.

"If you lose, you have to get out of here, and I don't know how far the road will go." MacArthur, who had been honest for too long with a wine glass on the side, couldn't help but interject.

Not to Douglas, who has a Governor's father? Young Master MacArthur had a prejudice, and the battle-hardened Westland inadvertently snorted from his nose, turned his head and asked the staff officer: "How many air forces do we have available before dawn tomorrow?" ”

"Together with the support forces of Task Force 52 that took off from two auxiliary aircraft carriers this afternoon -- two bucket planes and 24 'Dujuan' MK3 torpedo bombers, it is expected that by 6 o'clock tomorrow morning, the three airfields in Kirakira will be fully equipped with crews for combat duty: 17 four-engine heavy bombers, 39 twin-engine medium bombers, 64 single-engine torpedo bombers, 89 single-engine fighters, and 18 single-engine pontoon water reconnaissance planes...... The available forces on Rennell Island remain 27 twin-hull water reconnaissance aircraft and 24 single-engine fighters. ”

After listening to the staff officer's report, Mitchell's expectant gaze suddenly overshadowed Westland: "Almost two hundred planes, but one-third less than your possessions during the Battle of the Bay of Bengal - what are you going to do?" ”

"The Battle of the Bay of Bengal? That's all the number of troops I can really use at that time - there's nothing to plan for, I'll empty the airfields in batches tomorrow morning, send all the heavy bombers and seaplanes to search for enemy ships, arrange at least two waves of attack formations, and keep at least one squadron of fighters covering over Task Force 52. ”

Westland paused, clenched his right hand, popped out his index finger, and lowered his head and smiled bitterly: "I don't expect the remaining 48 fighters on the two cruise carriers to cover the entire task force alone, I only hope that the 51st task force hiding behind our island can at least launch an effective attack ...... before being discovered by the enemy."

……

After rubbing his hands gently on the white napkins, Marshal Zhang Yiye, commander of the Southeast Theater Command, took the telegram presented by the adjutant, glanced at it cursoryly, and then stretched out his hand to Rear Admiral Ye Fei, chief of staff of the Combined Fleet on the opposite side, as a matter of course.

Ye Fei hurriedly put down his chopsticks and took them, chewing the tender squid in his mouth.

Before taking a sip of red wine and sending the delicious food in his mouth, Ye Fei had already finished reading the telegram, and casually handed it to Major General Nan Shanze, chief of staff of the theater beside him

"At six o'clock, the mobile unit turned around again, marched south at night, and tomorrow morning will plan an air attack on Kirakira."

Nanshan held the cup in one hand and pinched the telegram in the other, and nodded while reading: "I hope everything goes well, the ship group at the Shortland anchorage has ordered to set sail on time at six o'clock tomorrow morning, and the landing must start according to the plan before seven o'clock in the morning the day after tomorrow." ”

"Tomorrow morning, at least 27 heavy bombers will be dispatched to attack Kirakira, and if such a two-pronged approach cannot achieve satisfactory results, the battleships that will be put into the main force will be shelled after night to ensure complete suppression." Ye Fei confidently picked up a crab claw bigger than his palm, picked up the scissors on the table and began to violently disassemble it.

Zhang Yiye was obviously full of food and drink, leaned on the back of the chair with both hands on his slightly bulging belly, tried his best to suppress the burps in his abdomen, and finally spit out: "The only thing I'm worried about is the enemy's fleet." ”

"The British are not useful for those broken ships." Ye Fei smiled and was busy stuffing a large strip of crab meat into his mouth, "The Americans are too seriously injured to dare to confront us head-on, so they can only hide in the British military port and grimace at the Germans on the opposite side." ”

Nanshan put down the telegram, glanced at Zhang Yiye, and ignored Ye Fei's face, and said bluntly: "According to the comprehensive intelligence in this theater, it is very likely that the British have sent additional cutting-edge mobile forces to the Australian side, including one fleet aircraft carrier, and the US military is very likely to send a main fleet including 3 to 5 dreadnought battleships. ”

Ye Fei moved away from the plate of broken crab shells piled up high in front of him, touched the napkin in his hand, and smiled calmly: "The navy has heard about this for a long time, and it is very hopeful that the situation is true, and it is even more wishful that these enemies will appear nearby when our army is attacking." ”