ps: The last "two Nagato-class ships" at the end of the previous chapter is written incorrectly, it should be "Ise class", sorry......

By the way, ask for a ticket

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At this time, the officers and men of the Japanese fleet were also very nervous, and you must know that the current relations between China and Japan are not good, especially the navies of the two countries. For the officers and men of the Japanese Navy, the nightmarish Sino-Japanese battle is still fresh in their memories, and now they are talking about the control zone of the old opponent, and it would be a lie to say that they are not nervous.

Of course, they did not come to China for revenge this time, although Britain has repeatedly promised to coordinate with China, and Japan has also greeted China in advance, but they also have to worry about accidentally misfiring their guns.

As soon as they sailed out of Japan's territorial waters, a Chinese flying boat circled overhead, and within a few minutes, dozens of planes came over, circling around the fleet, and the surveillance style was very obvious. Some of them were torpedo bombers, which could be seen carrying torpedoes under their bellies.

On the aircraft carrier Fengxiang of the Japanese fleet, aviation commander Yamamoto Isoroku Nakasa carefully looked at the planes in the sky and said with emotion: "China's planes are much better than ours......

Jizaburo Ozawa, who was next to him, said: "They were the first country in the world to be equipped with military aircraft, and it is normal that they are better than us. ”

Yamamoto said: "Needless to say, the other planes, looking at the Water Bombard-1 airship that has been following us, it is much better than the Type 5 airboat we are using now......"

Ozawa also nodded and said: "Yes, our relationship with China was also very good back then, if we could establish a Greater East Asia Alliance with China, we wouldn't need to look at the eyes of the British, and blame those army red deer for messing things up." ”

"I also feel more and more now that the [Theory of Asian Oneness] put forward by His Excellency Atsuki Konoe back then was really far-sighted, but some masters did not take it seriously. Because of all kinds of unconspiracy actions, we now have extremely bad relations with China, which is extremely detrimental to the development of the empire. Red deer-like continental policies should be thrown into the garbage!" Yamamoto complained indignantly.

Since ancient times, the people of Japan have been afraid of power but not virtuous, in other words, they are shaking. The more painful and miserable they are, the more they will obey you and the more obedient they will be. This is the case in the plane, after they were ruthlessly withdrawn back to their original form by China in the Guichou War, the original concept of despising China began to take a 180-degree turn. The war also seems to have awakened their memories of the past thousand years, recalling that China is the boss of the East.

As a result, a "new thinking toward China" soon appeared in Japan, and "Asianism," which had been greatly weakened by the rise of its own national strength, began to resurgence again. Various non-governmental organizations propagating ideas such as "Asianism" and "East Asian integration" have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain. Japan's political bigwigs pretend not to see this.

The general social background is like this, and the military is naturally no exception. Various "reflections" and "new thinking" have also appeared in the Japanese army, and some old guys may not have turned the corner, but many young and strong officers have begun to change. In particular, the navy, which was beaten the hardest, had the strongest trend of thought, and many people took out the deeds of the "Tang envoys" in those years to hype it up, and even appeared to "learn from China again."

Although the Japanese government also has the heart to reconcile with China, but it can't pull down the face and say clearly, besides, they still think that the British Empire is the strongest country in the world at present, although China is also a bull, but it can always not be compared with my Great Britain, if you kneel too much to China, the cow boss will definitely not be happy, for the current Japan, holding the cow's leg is obviously more important. Therefore, although there is a friendly voice between China and Japan among the people, the government only vaguely says good things about the Chinese side, and expresses the meaning of reconciliation in a very tactful tone.

And China's hints to them are also lukewarm, pretending not to understand, and a little bit of wood has the legendary "Celestial Empire demeanor". No way, Mr. Wen is not the kind of person who covets fame. Just say a few good words, but there is no actual benefit, so I have to bother to help you?

Yamamoto and Ozawa are the representatives of the "Asian faction" in the navy at present, and they advocate joining forces with China to establish an East Asian military alliance to jointly deal with the European powers. They believe that Japan is too close to China. If it was placed in the Qing Dynasty, when China had not yet woken up, then this kind of thing was nothing, and there were even a lot of advantages to take advantage of. And now China has woken up and is rejuvenating again, and soon it will be back to the position of the leader of the East again. Now this situation has become a typical "too far from heaven, too close to China".

They are very disgusted with the current foreign policy of the Japanese government, and it is no longer stupid to let China, a big country that is close at hand, not to have dealings, but to kneel and lick Britain and France.

However, the vast majority of those who think this way are still middle- and lower-ranking officers, and they have no say in major policies.

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With such a posture of the Japanese navy being dispatched with all its forces, it is naturally impossible for China not to react. Although Britain had explained in advance and assured the harmlessness of the Japanese fleet, and Japan had greeted the ambassador to China, it was impossible not to be unguarded for such a thing. Therefore, as soon as the combined fleet entered the waters of the Ryukyus, China's Pacific task force began to come over to "accompany" it.

The 5th Cruiser Detachment, the 8th Destroyer Detachment, and the 18th and 19th Thunderbolt Groups were the first to approach the Japanese fleet as vanguards.

Four heavy cruisers of the Qingcheng class of the 5th cruiser detachment, as well as six destroyers of the 8th destroyer detachment, lined up in columns and gradually approached the Japanese fleet within five kilometers.

On the flagship Huangshan, the detachment leader Li Ang raised the telescope and said, "Fuso, Yamashiro, Ise, Hyuga, Kongo, Hiei, Haruna, Kirishima...... Well, four battleships, four battle cruisers are there, and the aircraft carrier Fengxiang, which has just been commissioned, is also ...... The Ise hung the commander-in-chief's flag. ”

He told the chief of communication: "Ask them about their identity and intentions in plain code, and also ask them about ...... under flags."

The flagship of the Combined Fleet "Ise".

At this time, Vice Admiral Gentaro Yamashita, the current commander of the Combined Fleet, was also observing the approaching Chinese fleet. Because of the fiasco in the Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese Navy lost a large number of officers, and after the war, because of the pursuit of responsibility, another group of officers were retired early or transferred to the second line. In other words, a lot of space is freed up.

As a result, General Yamashita, who was originally the "Commander of the Sasebo Town Guard", was promoted ahead of schedule, and according to the history of the original time and space, he would have to wait two years before he could sit in this position. Of course, he is not the only one who has received this kind of benefit, and many originals, such as Yamamoto and Ozawa on the Dragon Horse, have also been promoted in advance.

At this time, the communications staff officer came over and reported to him: "Your Excellency, the Chinese fleet has sent us a clear code, claiming that we have entered China's 100-nautical-mile national defense and security zone, and asking us about our identity and intentions......"

Yamashita Gentaro said: "Well, tell them, we are the combined fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and now our army is fulfilling the obligations of the Entente members and going to Europe to participate in the war. This fleet has no hostile intentions towards your country, and in accordance with international practice and your country's regulations, it can have harmless access to your country's [National Defense Security Zone] waters......" Although he was still not convinced by the Chinese Navy in his heart, he did not dare to provoke at this time, so he answered honestly.

After a while, the Huangshan of the Chinese fleet sent a response: "Our army has received a notice from the higher authorities that your army can pass guò harmlessly in our waters in accordance with international practice, but it must be continuous and uninterrupted, and it must not stop on the way." At the same time, it is necessary to inform our army of the route of your army, and accompany our army to guò until it leaves our waters...... Now, we will check whether your warships are consistent with the list of warships notified by your country, and we ask for your cooperation......"

"Hey...... Just as they say......" Gentaro Yamashita waved his hand a little dejectedly. I think that back then, the Japanese Navy needed to be so troublesome when passing by here, and it was not that it could pass by as much as it wanted, not to mention the so-called "100 nautical mile national defense and security zone" announced by China itself, and even China's territorial waters and even internal waters, did not just think about it.

For Japan, the "100-nautical-mile national defense and security zone" that Moon Tokuji created the year before last is also too disgusting. You must know that Korea, the Ryukyus, Taiwan, and several surrounding islands are all Chinese, and this "100 nautical miles" is drawn to encircle Japan to the death. In other words, as soon as a Japanese warship leaves its own territorial waters, it will arrive in the "100-nautical-mile national defense and security zone."

Of course, Mr. Wen is not unreasonable, this "100 nautical mile national defense and security zone" is only for the passage of foreign ships, civilian ships are still not included, and they can pass guò at will. If China had made this kind of demand, it would have only been ridiculed for not being able to do enough for it, and the great powers would not have liked you at all.

But now it's different, with the current third strength of the Chinese Navy in the world, of course, it is qualified to make its own claims. In addition, the European war is at a critical juncture, and neither of the warring parties dares to offend this large supplier. Even if the great powers feel uncomfortable, they have no choice but to pinch their noses and admit it, anyway, it is impossible for Europe and the United States to extend their hands to East Asia now, and besides, it is only aimed at warships.

The Huangshan soon received a reply from Japan: "...... The fleet agrees to be accompanied by your military and cooperates with your military in checking the ships...... We will now inform you of the route......"

It seems that Japan's reply, a smile hung on the corner of Li Ang's mouth, and he ordered: "Okay, let's go and check the Japanese ships, and say hello to them by the way......"

With his order, the four Qingcheng-class heavy cruisers of the Fifth Cruiser Detachment came out of the line and accelerated closer to the Japanese fleet, ready to "check".