On March 10, He Meng and Fan Tao bid farewell to the fleet on the dock. Everyone's expressions were very solemn, and the battleship slowly left the dock, and sounded the whistle one after another, and the loud whistle formed a chorus over the military port. All the officers and men on the battleship lined up to salute, and He Meng, Fan Tao and other generals also raised their hands to salute, watching the fleet slowly leave. The fleet was to rendezvous with warships in the north, and then set sail for the United States. All morning, the warships at the Oahu Military Port were finished, and Fan Tao and He Meng were still standing on the dock and refused to leave.

"Report, 2nd Fleet calls!" A communications officer made an urgent report. He Meng took the telegram and quickly glanced at it a few times and handed it to Fan Tao and said, "Zheng Haitao is calling, they have arrived in the waters of Panama. After reading the telegram, Fan Tao said: "Order Zheng Haitao, according to the operational plan, the enemy should not launch an attack without authorization, but he must put on an offensive posture at any time." "The communications officer has to be ordered to go. He Meng said: "It seems that the US High Command will be in chaos for a while, and when the US High Command comes to its senses, I am afraid it will be too late." ”

Zheng Haitao received an order to lead the 2nd Fleet from the Bosnia Islands and headed straight for Panama. For the sake of feint realism, the 2nd Fleet carried a landing force of one division. The fleet is mighty and cleaves the waves, attracting a large number of seabirds to chase and accompany them. On the deck of the 2nd Fleet's flagship Hurricane, Zheng Haitao and Shao Bo stood side by side in front of the wide glass of the command cabin and looked into the distance. This mission was a feint, so the expressions of the two were very calm, and there was no trace of nervousness.

"Wen Biao, this kid is so lucky, he picked up a beauty difference, you look at his expression when he leaves, it is clearly showing off." Zheng Haitao seemed to be unwilling. Shao Bo said with a smile: "I don't envy Commander Zhuang. There is no way, in order to guarantee the success of the expedition to America, we must play a supporting role. "The fleet sailed for more than 10 days. Gradually approaching the American continent. On this day, Zheng Haitao and Shao Bo were chatting when a communications officer came in and reported: "Report, the reconnaissance submarine called, and an island was found ahead." ”

When Zheng Haitao heard this, he immediately attached it to the chart and looked at it: "We have reached the waters of the Colon Islands in the eastern Pacific Ocean and ordered the fleet to speed up. After the communications officer left, Zheng Haitao said: "When we arrive at the Coron Islands, we will enter the early warning range of the US Pacific task force. The headquarters ordered us to take the Coron archipelago and garrison the Isabela Island, the largest island in the Coron archipelago. Isabella Island covers an area of about 2,000 square miles, and there is no problem in stationing a regiment. "Okay. I'll go and arrange it immediately! ”

About two hours later, the fleet reached Isabela Island on the western side of the Colon Islands, and Zheng Haitao ordered four destroyers to launch an artillery bombardment on the island. Soon the cannon roared. The shelling lasted less than half an hour. The communications officer quickly reported: "Report to the commander, the enemy forces on the island have raised a white flag, and several small patrol warships on the pier have also raised a white flag and surrendered, judging by the flag, it is the Spaniards!" Shao Bo ordered the 1st Regiment to kick the island to accept the surrender of the Spaniards. Since the island's dock was too small for large warships to dock at all, the officers and men of the 1st Regiment had to disembark from the transport ships onto the landing craft.

Soon after the 1st Regiment landed, a telegram was sent, and Zheng Haitao and Shao Bo learned about the specific situation. It turned out that there was a radio station of the coalition forces on the island, and about 300 Spanish officers and soldiers were stationed here. Mainly served as a vigilance mission. The Spanish patrol gunboats spotted the large fleet first and immediately reported it to the commander on the island. The Spanish officers did not dare to slack off. Immediately telegraph to Panama. When the outflanking of the battleships began, the Spanish officers were so frightened that they had no capital to resist, so they ordered surrender.

The large battleship could not be docked at all, and Zheng Haitao ordered the Spanish officers to be escorted to the battleship. After the interrogation was over, the Spanish officer was escorted away, and Zheng Haitao said to Shao Bo: "There are four patrol gunboats on the island, and I have sent someone to receive them, so they can temporarily serve as patrol duties on the island." The 1st Regiment was to be temporarily stationed on the island. "I have no opinion!" The next day, Zheng Haitao left behind two destroyers and a transport ship, and then led the fleet to continue its advance towards Panama.

The U.S.-British Defense Command in Panama received a telegram from the Spaniards, informing the task force to meet the enemy on the one hand, and reporting to the White House on the other. After receiving a report from the Defense Command of the United States and Britain in Panama, President Cleveland immediately summoned all ministers and generals to study countermeasures. Cleveland said in a deep voice: "As we expected, the enemy has launched an offensive against Panama, a big battle to defend the territory is about to begin, we now have no way to retreat but to fight bloodily, may God be with us!" ”

Ingmart, commander of the US-British coalition forces, said: "Your Excellency, I have ordered all the defensive forces of Panama to be ready for battle, and ordered the task force to go forward to meet the enemy, and even if the enemy can successfully land, it will have to pay a heavy price, which we have already considered in advance. Secretary of the Navy Vanst stood up and said: "Your Excellency President, I have a question, the enemy fleet is coming from the southwest, it may be the enemy's 2nd Fleet, and the one coming from Bosnia should be confirmed to be the enemy's 2nd Fleet, so what is the enemy's main fleet doing?" ”

Everyone was a little shocked when they heard this, and US Navy Commander Lester stood up and said: "I judge that the enemy's 2nd Fleet is acting as a bait to attract our task force to attack, and then the enemy's main fleet outflanks and intends to eat our task force completely, obviously this is the enemy's plan." Ingmart said: "We can't be fooled, the enemy's two fleets are combined, even if it is a traditional naval battle, the task force is not an opponent, and the enemy also has terrifying air strikes." When everyone heard this, they all exchanged their heads and offered advice.

After a period of confusion, Cleveland said: "Everyone, how to avoid falling into the enemy's trap, I think it is safest for the task force not to attack in the harbor defense, and to use the battleship and the anti-aircraft fire on the shore to meet the enemy." "There is no good solution, and everyone thinks that Ingmart's suggestion is desirable. Cleveland then ordered the task force to cancel the sortie plan and defend the harbor. After some tossing and turning, the US high command made a major mistake in its judgment, and its feint attack plan was a great success.

A huge fleet appeared off the coast of Panama, war clouds hung over Panama, and the nerves of the US-British coalition were highly tense. On the flagship battleship Hurricane, Zheng Haitao and Shao Bo sat leisurely under the parasol on the deck, and the two listened to the report of their subordinates while sipping tea: "Report, it has been 5 days, and the enemy fleet still has not moved, and continues to stay in the harbor." "The rats don't come out of the hole, it looks like the enemy has been tricked." Order the harassment fleet to continue harassing so that they cannot stop for a moment. Zheng Haitao sent his subordinates away, picked up the teacup and drank it all.

"Brother Zheng, the enemy is worried about the ambush of our main fleet, and it seems that our feint attack plan has been successful." "Now is not the time to celebrate, in five days, when the enemy discovers our main fleet on the mainland of the United States, it will be the time when everyone will be happy." "In the past few days, the enemy's reconnaissance ships have appeared frequently, and it is estimated that the enemy has made our situation clear. Four fake aircraft carriers are afraid to keep the enemy awake at night. "The headquarters has thought it through, the fake aircraft carrier is actually our talisman, even if the enemy understands the truth, he will not dare to pursue it."

The atmosphere in the defense headquarters of the United States and Britain in Panama was gloomy, and the enemy was unable to provoke it, indicating that it was still waiting. The constant provocations of enemy warships for several days are even more telling. The commander of the Panamanian defense, American Wagger, stood tall and frowned. The commander of the task force, the Englishman Mercier, said: "Your Excellency, the situation of the enemy fleet has been figured out, there are four aircraft carrier warships in the fleet, and the fleet carries a division of landing troops. The High Command judged it accurately, and fortunately we were not fooled. ”

Wagle said: "The enemy has found that we have not been hit, and the next step will definitely be to attack." The enemy may be redeploying, and we must not take it lightly. "Your Excellency, I don't understand, why does the enemy not send carrier-based aircraft to launch an offensive or conduct reconnaissance?" Messier questioned. Wagle groaned for a moment and said: "The enemy's carrier-based aircraft are no longer a secret to us, maybe the enemy knows this, and for dense anti-aircraft fire, simply dispatching carrier-based aircraft to launch an attack is of little effect." I judged that after the enemy's main fleet came up, it would definitely be carrier-based aircraft that appeared above us. ”

Panama's US-British coalition forces were highly nervous, but the 2nd Fleet of the Chinese Empire was leisurely. On this day, Zheng Haitao and Shao Bo played chess, and the two of them were arguing while arranging chess. Zheng Haitao lost two games in a row, but he didn't lose in chess. "You kid is unforgiving, I'm not in a good state today." "Don't make excuses if your level is not good, every time you lose a game, you say that you are not in good shape, you are a cooked duck and you have a mouth left." "A hard mouth is also a big plus, hey! I ask you've heard you took Anna that? "That's it?" Shao Bo became alert.

Zheng Haitao took advantage of Shao Bo's distraction, took the opportunity to jump off the horse and said: "Don't pretend to be confused, I heard that you took Anna down, I can warn you, don't wait for your belly to be in trouble, let's get married!" Shao Bo was a little embarrassed and didn't answer positively: "The foreign woman's offensive is too fierce, and she can't prevent it!" "Ha Luha, you finally confessed! Checkmate! "Hey! When did you jump on this horse, why didn't I pay attention! "This is called to throw in the towel!" "It turns out that your kid's kung fu is outside of chess, and I am willing to bow to the wind!" Shao Bo pushed the chess to indicate that he couldn't play.

Zheng Haitao said unrelentingly: "Brother Shao, the taste of foreign girls has a unique charm!" "Of course, if you can't eat grapes, I'll sour you!" "Hey! Let's be serious, let's get married when we go back this time! Wen Biao deliberately left Anna behind, which is to fulfill you. "To be honest, I have to thank Commander Wen." At this time, a communications officer came to the front: "Report, call from headquarters." Zheng Haitao hurriedly took the telegram and glanced at it quickly, and then issued an order: "Order the fleet to retreat to the Coron Islands."

Shao Bo finished reading the telegram report: "The headquarters called and said that our task has been completed!" It seems that the main fleet is approaching the continental United States. "It is estimated that the covering fleet has been discovered, and our feint attack will be completed, so we will naturally have to go home!" Seeing that Zheng Haitao was a little depressed, Shao Bo shook his head and said: "Brother Zheng, don't be angry, this task force will be your opponent sooner or later, you better recuperate!" The fleet turned its bow and sailed out of the Bay of Panama, and a long voyage without a fight came to an end. In fact, the vast majority of officers and soldiers did not know about the launch of the feint, and they were still confused when they announced their retreat. (To be continued......)

PS: The Confusion Tactic is a big success!