Major General Araki Yoshiyasu, commander of the Araki Air Force of Japan's Southeast Asian Dispatch Army, had just gotten up, and after washing up under the service of the orderlies, he came to the courtyard according to his usual habits, brandished an ancestral war knife, and slashed it with great care.

This is the habit that Major General Araki has maintained for many years, and Major General himself believes that in his bones, it is the blood of pure samurai of the Japanese Empire, and his ancestors, by virtue of military merits, single-handedly established the Araki family, and when he reached his own generation, it happened to catch up with a brilliant emperor, and the ambition to expand the territory and dominate the Quartet surpassed that of any emperor in the past.

As a soldier of the Japanese Empire, born in this era of meritorious service with a saber, the opportunity to make meritorious contributions will naturally not be less, the era of the Araki family's glory again, should be opened in their own hands, facing the dawn of the rising Southwest Pacific, breathing a slightly salty morning breeze, after playing a knife technique, Major General Araki is all over the body, the orderly handed over a snow-white towel, and His Excellency the Major General is quite happy.

On the table, the delicious breakfast aroused Major General Araki's appetite, and it was good to be in a good mood and appetite, but unfortunately, this happy mood was broken by a young staff officer who came in a hurry, "Your Excellency Commander, I have just received a report from the Haoye Patrol Squadron that a large number of Shina planes have appeared over Kalimantan Island, the specific number and purpose are unknown!" ”

"Hani!" Rear Admiral Araki put down a piece of cake that had been brought to his lips, exclaimed in disbelief, and suddenly got up and knocked over the table.

The young staff officer repeated what he had just said, and it was no wonder that Major General Araki was surprised. Since the outbreak of the Pacific War, any unit of the Imperial Japanese Army has tried its best to avoid any conflict with Tang Qiuli's troops of the United States, and even after losing Hong Kong and Singapore, the base camp has not issued any order to fight the troops of the independent division, but has explicitly ordered all units not to have friction with the troops of the independent division.

It is clear that the Imperial stronghold has chosen forbearance, before completely solving the Americans and the British in the Southwest Pacific. Not wanting to go to war with a strong enemy, as a high-ranking general of the Imperial Army, Major General Araki understands the stakes, although he often has a feeling of humiliation in his heart, but now. The planes of the independent division came to the door. This is the inevitable war.

But. It takes courage to fight against the aviation unit of the Leichin Division, known as the "Butcher of the Air," and for the sake of insurance, Rear Admiral Araki asked, "Can you be sure." Is it a fleet of independent divisions? ”

Staff Officer Shaozo replied affirmatively: "Your Excellency Commander, you can be sure that after receiving the report, the combat department has ordered several other patrol squadrons to verify it. In the direction of their patrol, a large group of independent divisions was also spotted. ”

"I want the West!" Major General Araki's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he ordered: "Immediately convey my order to all fighter wings, immediately take to the air to meet the battle, and report the information to the Kuroda Air Force, Le Yiqin, don't think that our air force of the Great Japanese Empire is afraid of you!" ”

Staff Officer Shao Zuo replied loudly: "Yes, immediately carry out the commander's order!" As soon as he took a few steps, he was stopped by Major General Araki again.

"Wait a minute!" Staff Officer Shaozo looked at his boss incomprehensibly, Major General Araki's eyes rolled around a few times, and he said again: "Order, all fighter wings, prepare for lift-off operations, and immediately report this important situation to Commander-in-Chief Ito!" ”

Major General Yoshiyasu Araki has a little more heart, in his own direction, he discovered the aircraft group of the independent division, then, the Kuroda Yoshio Air Force stationed on Sumatra Island should also find a similar situation, only geographically speaking, the Kuroda Air Force should have discovered the independent division group earlier than himself, but why did they not report it to themselves, there is a lot of article in it?

Without the assistance of the Kuroda Air Force, the Araki Air Force would not be Rakuchikoto's opponent in terms of the number of planes alone, and he would not be able to command the Kuroda Air Force of the same level, so the dispatch army headquarters could only coordinate the matter, so the report was absolutely correct!

Major General Yoshiyasu Araki, although he is still martial and belligerent, is not an impulsive person, and it is precisely because of these considerations that he has adopted a more prudent way to suppress his inner fighting spirit.

Senior General Ito, who had been drinking happily with Chief of Staff Kawashima all night, had just sent off Major General Kawashima for less than half an hour, and was about to rest for a while, when the communications officer hurriedly came with a wind on the soles of his feet, and in his hand, he still held two telegrams.

Two telegrams with almost identical contents were placed in front of General Ito, reporting the same situation, in the skies over Kalimantan and Sumatra, and in the airspace over the Java Sea, the independent division and large aircraft groups were discovered.

General Ito looked at the Chief of Staff of Kawashima, who had just returned to his resting place, and before he could drink a saliva, he was urgently recruited back, "Kawashima-kun, what do you think of the sudden appearance of the Shina group, could it be that which Shina devil is going to attack us?" Admiral Ito asked.

To tell the truth, Chief of Staff Kawashima was also confused, he had no way of knowing what the aircraft group of the Independent Division suddenly appeared in the above-mentioned airspace, but if it was said that Tang Qiuli's troops were going to attack, it was unlikely, because, in addition to receiving the discovery of the independent division's aircraft group, there was no sign of a large-scale attack by the ground forces and fleet of the Independent Division, and Sumatra Island and Singapore were separated by the Strait of Malacca, and it was not difficult to monitor the movements of the troops of the Independent Division!

At this time, the Araki Air Force and the Kuroda Air Force sent a second telegram one after another, reporting the latest situation, "The independent division aircraft group that invaded the skies over Kalimantan and Sumatra is an aircraft carrier carrier-based aircraft group that continues to fly to the southeast through the air space over the Java Sea, and it is a land-based aircraft group of the independent division, and our department is ready to meet the battle, waiting for the order of the General Headquarters!" ”

Senior General Ito and Major General Kawashima rushed to the map, carefully drew three red lines on the map, and the two raised their heads at the same time, and their eyes collided, or Major General Kawashima spoke first, and said in a dry voice: "The British and Australian troop transport fleet withdrawn to Australia!" ”

Admiral Ito nodded heavily, he also came to the same conclusion, the independent division carrier-based aircraft group over Kalimantan and Sumatra is not the main direction, the main direction is the independent division land-based aircraft group that continues to fly to the direction of Australia, then Tang Qiuli's intention is obvious, escort the British and Australian troop carrier formations.

And the purpose of his carrier-based aircraft group is to warn or deter the Araki Air Force and the Kuroda Air Force not to intercept them, Rear Admiral Kawashima asked: "Commander-in-Chief, what should we do?" ”

When encountering a similar situation, Rear Admiral Kawashima, who is quite wise, is obviously inferior to Admiral Ito in terms of psychological quality and command experience, Admiral Ito groaned for a while, and said: "Kawashima-kun, order the Araki Air Force and the Kuroda Air Force to meet the carrier-based air group of the Independent Division, order the Kashima Air Force to reinforce the naval fleet, and at the same time, inform the naval fleet of the situation, we can't let Tang Qiuli's aircraft group destroy our plan!" ”

Major General Kawashima understood that Commander-in-Chief Ito had made up his mind to fight a big battle with Tang Qiuli's air force, and he knew that in the heart of his boss, he still had the intention of avenging the revenge of the Indochina Peninsula.

As far as the record of the independent division aviation is concerned, his number one air warrior, Le Yiqin, has killed how many veteran air teams of the empire, the commander-in-chief and himself have a good idea, this is in the southwest Pacific region, a formidable air force, the number of aircraft, even more than the sum of the three air groups of the dispatch army, after a big air battle, maybe the dispatch army aviation team is lost, and Tang Qiuli's air force can still maintain its due combat effectiveness, which is definitely not a good thing for the dispatch army!

Perhaps, it will be a catastrophe, as the chief of staff, Rear Admiral Kawashima cannot but take these into account, therefore, the chief of staff Kawashima said: "General, please be cautious, in my personal opinion, the two air forces of Araki and Kuroda are not suitable for a decisive battle with the carrier-based aircraft group of the independent division, and the Kashima Air Force cannot all support the naval fleet, we should take into account the situation after a big war!" ”

"If the sending army air force is hit hard, it will definitely not be a favorable thing for us, and besides, the navy has two fleets, and the number of their carrier-based aircraft should be able to cope with the independent division aircraft group. When the time comes, your help may become an excuse for the defeat of the navy, and I hope you will think twice, General! ”

Everyone has selfish intentions, and Admiral Ito is no exception, after calming down, he carefully recalled the words of Chief of Staff Kawashima, and had to admit that what this guy said was reasonable, the navy's annihilation of the 100,000 British and Australian troops who returned to Australia was just a local battle in the southwest Pacific theater, and the victory or defeat did not have a great impact on the entire battle situation.

Even if the 100,000 British and Australian troops returned to Australia intact, Admiral Ito would be completely sure that on the Australian continent, killing them all, and the air power of the dispatch army, suffering heavy losses, would definitely be detrimental to the defense of the existing occupied areas, and occupying and consolidating the entire southwest Pacific region was his own goal and greatest interest, and it was also the original intention of His Majesty the Emperor and the base camp.

The rest are all secondary, if the decisive battle with Tang Qiuli's aviation is lost, the loss is the air power of the sending army, and the navy will not have the slightest gratitude, and he is ashamed to stop the credit in his arms, then I still have a desperate fart?

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