Admiral Ito was convinced by his chief of staff's clear and meticulous analysis, but he did not quite understand the opportunity he was talking about.

Chief of Staff Kawashima also saw the doubts in Admiral Ito's eyes, but did not give a direct answer, but continued to analyze: "Since the navy is determined to win, and has also obtained the imperial permission of His Majesty the Emperor, we cannot change the facts, starting from the interests of the empire, after MacArthur's headquarters evacuated Luzon, the warships without escort are more conducive to achieving the greatest effect of destroying the enemy at sea at the lowest cost." ”

"If MacArthur's U.S. and Philippine forces and Haruta-kun's troops are completely annihilated, they will also pay a considerable price, and instead of this, we might as well give this credit to the navy, and the navy will annihilate the U.S. and Filipino forces, and our army will occupy Manila, and each will take what he needs, and it will not be a loss."

Admiral Ito nodded again and again when he heard this, and was completely attracted by the analysis of his chief of staff, however, Rear Admiral Kawashima changed his words and said with a sneer: "General, the wishful thinking of the navy is good, a fully armed fleet, dealing with an unarmed troop carrier, is like a strong man, beating a young child, there is no suspense about the outcome of the victory, but I am afraid that the plan of the navy will be disappointed!" ”

Admiral Ito couldn't help but straighten up and asked suspiciously: "Kawashima-kun, I don't understand, why do you have such a judgment, is it possible that MacArthur still has any hole cards?" ”

Rear Admiral Kawashima smiled reservedly, shook his head and said: "General, you misunderstood what I meant, the Southwest Pacific War, to this day, MacArthur is already a poor donkey, and there are no hole cards that can be used, you analyze, after the naval fleet annihilated the British and Australian forces, the American and Philippine troops on Luzon Island." The evacuation has not yet begun, and after learning the news, will MacArthur be so stupid as to follow the steps of 100,000 British and Australian soldiers and die in the footsteps of the bottom of the sea? ”

Speaking of pride, Major General Kawashima's words were somewhat carried away, and he unconsciously took out the tone of teaching his juniors, but fortunately, General Ito was completely taken by his words. Fascinated, he didn't notice the detail, but listened intently as he solved the mystery.

Chief of Staff Kawashima continued: "MacArthur was not a stupid man, since the withdrawal to Australia, without an escort fleet. It's going to die, then. He will choose to defend himself on the front line in Manila. There may be a glimmer of life, if so, the task of annihilating the US and Philippine forces has not yet fallen to Harata-kun's 14th Army, and we can also take the naval side regardless of the actual situation on the battlefield. Desperately grabbing the credit, so much so that he delayed the handle of the fighter, grabbed it in his hand, and used it as a bargaining chip for future maneuvers. Wouldn't it be better! ”

General Ito applauded and laughed, he was completely convinced, he, the chief of staff, was really a fucking ghost, and he could analyze so many benefits from his reluctance, breathlessness and fire, and he felt that the breath in his chest had disappeared, and he felt this comfort in his heart!

General Ito, who was in a good mood, shouted to the guards and ordered: "Sue the sù cooking soldiers, prepare a table of authentic local dishes, and I want to talk with the chief of staff of Kawashima over wine!" Senior General Ito, who was in high spirits, took out the posture of talking all night, and Major General Kawashima was of course happy to accompany him.

At 3 o'clock in the morning of 25 August, Major General Le Yiqin, commander of the Southern Flight Group of the Independent Division's Air Force, dressed in military uniform, walked into the office of division commander Tang Qiuli. ”

Tang Qiuli looked at his favorite general with a smile on his face and asked, "Le Yiqin, have all your people arrived?" Well, the chief of staff has already arranged a room for you to command operations in the office building of the Military Management Commission, you can rest assured, the entire floor will be given to you, and the storage is enough! ”

Le Yiqin said happily: "Then thank you to the division commander, I came to your son, just to make a report, and immediately rush to the airport, the first echelon of fighter formations is ready to take off!" ”

Tang Qiuli frowned and said, "What's the matter, you still lead the team in person?" ”

Le Yiqin said embarrassedly: "Commander, you know me, old habits, I don't participate in such a big scene in person, let me sit at the command tower and point fingers, isn't that as uncomfortable as killing me!" ”

Tang Qiuli sighed slightly, he knew that at this time, it was not appropriate to let Le Yiqin sit in the command headquarters and command the air battle, but he was just a little worried, playing a real fire, Le Yiqin went up desperately regardless of a qiē, he couldn't imagine how big a blow would it be to himself if Le Yiqin encountered an accident?

So, Tang Qiu said solemnly: "You are in command in the air, you can control the overall situation, and command the battle, but I will never allow you to participate in the battle in person, Le Yiqin, you remember it for me, this is an order, in addition, the escort group around you must not be less than one squadron, once I know that you violated the order, you know the consequences!" ”

Le Yiqin grinned and replied happily: "Yes, teacher!" Resolutely carry out your orders! ”

I secretly thought in my heart: "When the plane goes to the sky, you can't help it, the division commander, the air combat battlefield is changing rapidly, and when the time comes, thousands of planes will be mixed together, and I am worried that I don't have the opportunity to enjoy myself!" ”

In the corridor, there was a sound of footsteps, and Chief of Staff Zhao Yu, Major General and Colonel Chen Feng, Director of the Communications Division, and Colonel He Zhijun, Director of the Operations Department of the Southern Flight Group, walked in together.

Zhao Yuhe said: "Division commander, all the personnel of the front-line air command are all in place!" ”

Chen Feng reported: "Division commander, the liaison with the participating units has been communicated, and it is normal!" The commander of the fleet called from the commander of the fleet, the fleet has entered the waters of the South China Sea, waiting for the order of the division command at any time! ”

He Zhijun reported: "The division commander, commander, and communications department have established sea and air liaison with the Indian escort fleet and troop carrier formation, and the British army reports that the troop carrier formation is expected to arrive in the Coral Sea area at about 7 o'clock this morning, and the British task force will also arrive in the same sea area at the same time!" ”

Zhao Yuhe and Chen Feng often go in and out of the office of division commander Tang Qiuli, and they are used to it, but He Zhijun himself is the first time to report the situation to the boss of the all-independent division alone.

Tang Qiuli also saw it, and said jokingly: "Minister He Zhijun of the Operations Department of the Southern Flight Group, I have heard you Commander Le, I often mention that you are a talent, how about it, have you ever thought about becoming a deputy director of the staff office of the division headquarters!" ”

He Zhijun's brain became blank because of the words of the division commander, it was too sudden, and he was not prepared at all, and before he could react, Le Yiqin on the side stopped doing it, and said anxiously: "Division commander, don't bring this, isn't this digging the foot of the wall in front of me, but it can't be done!" ”

"Our flying group can't do without him, he is my right-hand man, if you plan to reuse Zhijun, will you promote him to be the chief of staff of our flying group! Since Chief of Staff Liao was transferred, I have never had a Chief of Staff! ”

Tang Qiuli laughed and said: "Okay, since it was personally recommended by Commander Le of you, if I don't reuse it again, I will bury the talents, and after this battle, the division headquarters will have a formal order!" ”

Le Yiqin squeezed his eyes at He Zhijun and whispered: "How about Lao He, get promoted, after the battle is over, you want to have a treat!" ”

He Zhijun nodded subconsciously, this qiē was like a dream, and in the blink of an eye, he became the chief of staff of the Southern Flying Group.

Everyone sat down casually in Tang Qiuli's office to discuss some details, during which staff officers came in from time to time to report various situations and send telegrams, and at about 4:30 a.m. on August 25, Le Yiqin stood up and said, "Division commander, I'm going to the airport!" ”

Tang Qiuli sent Le Yiqin to the door of the office, looked at him with complicated eyes, and advised: "Yiqin, pay attention to safety, take care of yourself!" ”

Le Yiqin's heart was hot, he was not used to such a farewell occasion, and used a big grin expression to hide his excited heart, "Teacher, don't you worry about me, just the little devils, they have been fighting for a few years, and they took advantage of it that time, it's okay, you just wait for the good news!" ”

At 5:30 a.m. on 25 August, more than 100 fighter planes took off from the Singapore Field Airfield, skimming over the rising sea and heading toward the Coral Sea.

At the same time, the formation of carrier-based aircraft, which took off from the aircraft carriers of the fleet, divided into two routes, flew in the direction of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

One of the carrier-based aircraft groups of the independent division fleet, when approaching the airspace of Kalimantan Island, was discovered by the air patrol group of the Japanese Araki Air Force, the Japanese patrol aircraft group is the size of a squadron, the squadron leader Captain Haoye, led five fighters, just drilled out of a cloud, facing the rising dawn, in the endless blue sky, suddenly appeared dense independent division aircraft group.

Captain Hirono's scalp was numb, and his hands holding the control stick trembled slightly, if there was an air force in the airspace of the southwest Pacific that could not be provoked, the pilots of the three air groups under the Japanese Southwest Pacific Dispatch Force would definitely answer in unison: "The Southern Flight Group of the Independent Division Air Force!" ”

It was the unit of Le Yiqin, who had the famous nickname of "Butcher of the Air", although it had not fought with the pilots of China, but several old air forces of the empire were folded in their hands, and it was by no means groundless, and all the commanders at all levels had repeatedly warned that there should be no friction with the independent division air force, which confirmed this matter.

Captain Hirono didn't even have the idea of the air warriors of the Imperial Japanese Empire who had the courage to fight to the death in the face of a strong enemy, so he turned the nose of the plane and fled, and at the same time, reported this astonishing information to the air force headquarters.

(To be continued) (To be continued.) )