Age of Rebirth

The Sulu Sea area in early July is not the best season, but today's weather is good, at least, in the heart of Lieutenant Admiral Takasu Shiro, Commander of the First Fleet of the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet, it is like this, the sun shines through the porthole , according to the command cabin, everything brightened up, making people feel comfortable. 『≤top』≤point『≤small』≤say,

The First Fleet left the main force of the United Fleet and was alone in the Sulu Sea to escort the imperial army evacuated from Luzon Island and Mindanao. It has been active in this sea area for more than ten days. The sea area of ​​Luhai became quiet. Before, the China Independent Division Fleet, which had beaten the army's useless and frightened people, went to nowhere.

Lieutenant General Takasu felt quite sorry for this, but he was covering the airspace where the army was retreating. He fought against the land-based aviation of the China Independent Division several times, and he also weighed the enemy's weight. In all fairness, he can barely be regarded as second-rate. , I don't even have the guts to go out to the airspace of the Sulu Sea for air combat. What kind of threat is there for such an opponent?

The carrier-based aircraft of the two aircraft carriers of the First Fleet fought against the land-based aircraft of the China Aviation Force several times. They shot down eight enemy fighter jets and damaged more than ten fighters. They lost five carrier-based aircraft and injured six of their own. Controlling the Sulu Sea and even extending to the land and airspace of Mindanao and southern Luzon, it can be inferred that the number of land-based fighters of the Chinese Air Force in the two places is not much at all.

Because of the shortage of transport ships, the armies on Mindanao and Luzon did not evacuate quickly, but Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro was not in a hurry or urged, and his fleet was divided into two.Each takes an aircraft carrier as the core and continuously dispatches carrier-based aircraft.It is an army that was oppressed to one place by the ground troops of the China Independent Division.Providing air fire cover, more than [-] Imperial Army soldiers were able to board the ship and retreat safely.

In this sense, I am the army's savior. Of course, the guys in the army, although they fought poorly, still know how to be grateful, sending thank you telegrams.They were all piled up on his own table. For these, Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro just smiled indifferently, but he was very happy in his heart. Historically, the Imperial Navy was a few heads above the vulgar army.

Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro, who was in a very happy mood, read the telegrams with the Army and Fleet Command quite leisurely after eating the breakfast delivered by the orderly.Chief of Staff of the Fleet Terayama walked in, "Your Excellency, today is the last batch of troops retreating, and now they have boarded the ship and left the port. The escort mission of our First Fleet is basically over!"

"This is a thank you telegram from Lieutenant General Yoshioka, the head of the Seventh Division of the Luzon Island Defense Division of the Imperial Army." He said.Master Terayama handed the telegram to Lieutenant General Takasu.

Lieutenant General Takasu didn't even look at it, and put it aside casually.I don’t need to read the content of the telegram. I can guess it. It’s nothing more than words of thanks. It’s not nutritious and tasteless. I’m tired of reading similar telegrams.

"Terayama-kun, do you have any new orders from the Fleet Command?" Admiral Takasu asked.

"no!"

"Okay, I get it now!"

Chief of Staff Terayama hesitated for a moment and said, "Commander, since our escort mission has ended, why didn't the Fleet Command issue an order to let us return to the main force of the fleet? Our First Fleet will continue to stay in the Sulu Sea. Is there anything to do?"

Lieutenant General Takasu was very sensitive. He looked at his chief of staff and asked, "Terayama-kun, what are you worried about?"

Chief of Staff Terayama felt that it would be better to be clear, "Commander, the current position of our fleet cannot be said to be very safe. Look..."

As he said, Terayama walked to the military map, "The Sulu Sea area is between Kalimantan Island, Mindanao Island and Luzon Island. Now, these three islands have all fallen into the hands of the China Independent Division. The combat radius of the land-based air fleet of the China Independent Division Air Force can completely cover the entire Sulu Sea."

"You have to be vigilant about this situation. In addition, the United Fleet and us have sent reconnaissance planes to search for the location of the China Fleet for days, but they have found nothing. Then, where is the China Fleet with six aircraft carriers and more than 160 warships of various types?" where?"

"Commander, the current position of our First Fleet is a lone force, and the Second Fleet is far away in the Banda Sea. If we are attacked by the China Fleet and the land-based fleet, it will be too late for reinforcements. ah!"

Admiral Takasu said nothing, but the expression on his face clearly showed disapproval. Terayama's words were all nonsense. As the commander of the First Fleet, how could he not know the danger of his fleet's current position?

"Then according to Terayama-kun, what action should we take?" Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro asked casually.

Your Excellency the Commander’s indifference made Chief of Staff Terayama feel very uncomfortable in his hands, as if his orders were extremely underestimated, but he still faithfully performed his duties. Headquarters, we return to the main force of the fleet, at least, we should turn to the Banda Sea, close to the Second Fleet, so as to rely on each other!"

"Second, if the Joint Fleet Command does not approve our request, then call Commander Yamamoto directly and request that the remaining warships of the First Fleet be returned to the fleet organization immediately. The first fleet of this class of warships is sufficient to deal with threats from all directions!"

Chief of Staff Terayama is an excellent staff officer. What he said is correct. Even Lieutenant General Takasu agrees with his old-fashioned words and safe strategies. But the crux of the matter is that Commander Yamamoto and himself do not think so. The different positions and heights of the two doomed the limitations of his vision.

Therefore, as soon as Chief of Staff Terayama's words fell, Lieutenant General Takasu smiled and said, "Terayama-kun, do you think that Commander Yamamoto of the United Fleet will neglect or fail to consider these issues?"

In one sentence, as if with magical power, all the words of Chief of Staff Terayama were blocked immediately. He smiled bitterly and said, "The staff department dare not doubt Commander Yamamoto and your wisdom!"

The words of Chief of Staff Terayama are by no means out of resignation. General Yamamoto’s position in the Imperial Navy is absolutely detached. Some energetic young staff officers can criticize the Imperial Navy in private. Any commander, including the head of the first naval department, Admiral Nagano Shuyama, will never make irresponsible comments on Admiral Yamamoto.

In the United Fleet, Admiral Yamamoto's prestige surpasses that of any other commander. When it comes to Admiral Yamamoto, no one is in awe. It was His Excellency Yamamoto who fought brilliantly one after another. He attacked Pearl Harbor and wiped out it twice in a row. The U.S. Pacific Fleet shattered the former overlord of the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Navy, which was swallowed up like a tiger. Later, as an admiral, it commanded more than 100 million troops in the war against the U.S., and achieved remarkable results.

Throughout the history of the Imperial Navy, who else can create such a brilliant record? Within the Imperial Navy, Admiral Yamamoto is a god, sacred and inviolable, including Chief of Staff Terayama, who regard Admiral Yamamoto as an idol in their hearts.

Seeing his words, he convinced Chief of Staff Terayama, Lieutenant General Takasu smiled gently, and said: "Terayama, the suggestion you just made is by no means aimless, I will seriously consider it, the First Fleet may as well be in Sulu Sea area, stay for a few more days!"

"Now the position of our fleet is in the waters near the Cagayan Islands. I ordered the fleet to move north. Mr. Sishan, convey my order. The fleet will continue to go north and cruise in the waters near the Cuyo Islands. I have a hunch that something will happen. what?"

Lieutenant General Takasu's premonition was correct. In the afternoon, when he was about 300 kilometers away from the Cagayan Islands, he received a report from a carrier-based reconnaissance plane, "reporting to the Fleet Command, near Busuanga Island In the sea area, a small fleet of an independent division was found, with five main warships and about forty small gunboats, and it is now sailing towards the South China Sea at high speed!"

"Oh!" Lieutenant General Takasu raised his eyebrows, excited to find the prey. This was the first time in more than ten days that the First Fleet had captured the traces of the China Fleet. It's a pity, but it's the only gain.

As for the more than 40 small gunboats, they automatically ignored them, "Gunboats!" In the establishment of the Imperial Navy, gunboats probably belonged to the vicinity of the port, maintaining maritime law and order, and scaring fishermen. Even fifty gunboats, It can't match a main battleship of its own.

In Lieutenant General Takasu's mind, the battle plan was determined in an instant. Since the direction of the Chinese fleet was traced, even though there were only five ships, they could not be let go. He ordered: "Order, the reconnaissance plane will continue to monitor and reconnaissance. The carrier guides the target!"

"Order the first carrier-based fighter wing, the first carrier-based bomber wing, to take off immediately, the target, China's small fleet, request, end the battle within an hour, sink all of them, other carrier-based aircraft combat units, enter a Super combat readiness, waiting for orders at any time!"

I can't tell the reason. Chief of Staff of the First Fleet Terayama always felt that this small fleet of China appeared too strange. It disappeared after searching for many days, but now it suddenly appeared. It's a conspiracy!

"Your Excellency, Commander, please hold off on issuing orders!" Terayama Dazuo said, "Don't you think this small Chinese fleet appeared too suddenly? The staff suspects that this is a conspiracy by the Chinese to try to attract our fleet Stationed in pursuit, and then..." Then what, he couldn't say it, he just felt abnormal.

Surprisingly, Lieutenant General Takasu, who was stopped, didn't mean to be unhappy. On the contrary, he looked at his chief of staff with appreciation, and praised: "Mr. Terayama, your calmness and stability make me very happy !"

(to be continued) (to be continued...)