Rabaul, Chinese Army Southeast Front Theater Command. () Free e-book download

"What is that idiot Yuan Feng doing? He's willing to risk the entire fleet just for his broken flagship. He's trying to trick me to death!"

In the commander's office, the marshal who was banging the table and getting angry was none other than the theater commander Zhang Yiye. In front of him, lined up in front of him were the theater chief of staff, Major General Nanshan Ze, the theater's chief of staff of the joint air force, Colonel Zhao Zixi, and

Lieutenant Colonel Zhou Junshi, the theater joint fleet liaison officer, all three of them bowed their heads and remained silent, waiting for instructions from the commander-in-chief.

However, the two special guests behind the three people - Major Qi Peng, special advisor to the Theater Air Force and "Major Liu Wuwei", the special intelligence specialist of the base camp. After whispering to each other, "Major Liu Wuwei" - His Royal Highness the Imperial Crown Prince Liu Ping

——Take two steps forward, assuming that he has something to say.

"Commander, do you want to ask the headquarters for instructions immediately..."

Zhang Yiye glanced at him and responded casually: "What are you asking for?"

"A direct order was issued from the base camp, ordering Yuan Feng to use a small number of troops to cover the damaged Thunderbolt, while the rest of the troops moved towards the Munda base at full speed."

Zhang Yiye raised his chin towards Zhou Junshi who was beside Liu Ping: "You should tell Commissioner Liu yourself about your navy matters."

Zhou Junshi glanced at the military rank on Liu Ping's shoulder with the corner of his eye, and immediately raised his head and raised his chest: "Commissioner Liu does not know that since the establishment of the Imperial Navy, fleet operations have always been fully responsible for the local commander who personally leads the team. Even if

He is the commander-in-chief of the combined fleet and has no right to interfere with the combat command of the local commander - as for the base camp to directly interfere with fleet operations, it is unheard of."

Liu Ping was stunned, but Qi Peng took the opportunity to ask: "I remember that during the Battle of the Bay of Bengal, Commander Sar also asked the base camp to make a decision on whether to continue the night battle. How can you say that the base camp has no right to interfere in fleet operations?"

Zhou Junshi didn't even look at him this time, he raised his head and said: "Whether the headquarters has the right to interfere in fleet operations has never been explicitly stipulated, but in actual operations, unless the local commander takes the initiative to request a ruling.

There is no precedent of direct unilateral intervention."

Seeing that Qi Peng was also choked, Zhang Yiye sneered and chuckled: "There is indeed no precedent for the base camp to interfere in fleet operations. However, as the highest military commander in the theater, the commander-in-chief certainly has the right to issue orders to his direct subordinates. The combined fleet in the theater

Since it is directly under the theater headquarters, Yuan Feng is my direct subordinate—Commissioner Liu. It seems that I still have to give this order."

"This...the theater commander's intervention in fleet operations also has neither express regulations nor practical precedents. If Commander Zhang must give an order, he must first submit the relevant bill to the National Defense Headquarters to be passed by Congress, and then signed by the current Prime Minister of the Cabinet.

Please ask His Majesty the Emperor to seal the decree before acting in accordance with the law."

Zhou Junshi refused to give up, but Zhang Yiye cursed in his heart: "The Congress is not even in session, and it still passed a crappy bill. Besides. If this imperial edict is so easy to invite, the base camp would have invited it down long ago. I still have to talk to you."

What are you talking about here?"

Zhang Yiye was about to show off his authority as a marshal and commander, when a staff officer on duty suddenly rushed out of the telecommunications room next door and presented the thin telegraph newspaper in his hand to Chief of Staff Nanshan Ze with a serious expression.

Nanshan took a quick glance and told Zhang Yiye with a sullen face: "The fleet was attacked by an air attack, and the Haruna was severely damaged."

Zhang Yiye glanced at it perfunctorily and handed it to Zhao Zixi: "What do you think?"

Zhao Zixi carefully read the telegram, glanced sideways at Zhou Jun, stretched out his hand and handed the telegram to him: "It seems that the enemy still doesn't know which injured battleship is dragging down the entire fleet.

, No matter what, let’s do the surgery first with the Japanese.”

"But this is not a good thing. It was just the first wave of air strikes, and there should be second and third waves after that. If the Thunderbolt escapes by chance, then the board will only hit other battleships, not only the Haruna

If there is danger, the other three high-speed warships that are currently undamaged may not be able to escape intact."

"Personally, I think the worst case scenario is that the Thunderbolt and Haruna are both sunk under concentrated attacks. However, in this way, the other three high-speed battleships can share less of the blow, and the probability of being seriously damaged is smaller."

"The best case scenario is that none of the five battleships, including the Thunderbolt, are sunk. However, since they share more blows, other battleships other than the Thunderbolt will face a greater probability of serious damage.

, it is possible that all of them will have to be docked for repairs... If this is the case, in the next few weeks, the empire will not have a single available capital ship in the Pacific, and of course, there will be no available aircraft carriers."

"Judging from this report, although the Haruna ate two torpedoes, and the bow of the ship was damaged by a mine before, there were no critical injuries. She should still be able to drive to more than 20 knots, and there is still a chance to follow the high-speed battleship

It’s hard to say whether to withdraw first and then delay.”

Zhang Yiye heard this and stared at Zhou Jun: "Whether you are willing to pass on it or not, I will give a direct order to Yuan Feng now, ordering him to abandon the Thunderbolt and lead the rest of the troops to the Menda base at full speed."

Zhou Junshi's hand holding the telegram trembled slightly, and he was obviously shaken.

"If Commander Yuan accepts the order of the Commander-in-Chief, then all the consequences will be borne by the Commander-in-Chief. I ask the Commander-in-Chief to think twice..."

Zhang Yiye took advantage of the victory and pursued him: "Whoever is responsible will be responsible. If I were afraid of being responsible, I would have gone home to retire - you quickly express your position and go to draft the message with Chief of Staff Nanshan if you are willing to help. If not,

Please go to Commissioner Liu and his friends to rest for the night first, and we will arrange a flight back to Truk for you tomorrow."

Facing the commander with extremely stern eyes, Zhou Junshi knew that he must make an immediate decision related to the future of his life.

…

On the sea east of Malaita Island, the bridge of the US military's modified aircraft carrier "Panama".

Colonel Reeves put down the message in his hand and looked across the empty flight deck of the ship to the Royal Navy "Glory" fleet aircraft carrier diagonally behind - the flight deck was also empty.

It is now 1:50 in the afternoon. 40 minutes ago, the first wave of air raid troops independently organized by the "Panama" flew over the target. After the leader of the team, Major Towers, sent the message "I found out, I attack", for a while

Lost contact.

30 minutes ago, the second wave of air strike forces independently organized by the "Glory" finally took off. Its strength was equivalent to that of the first wave of air strike forces, including 22 "Camel" 2F1 fighter jets and 20 "Dujuan" mk3 torpedo aircraft.

(including 2 command planes), carrying 18 18-inch aviation torpedoes.

Five minutes ago, Major Towers finally sent a telegram: "The torpedo fleet concentrated on attacking a Japanese battleship and scored at least 3 hits. The fighter fleet shot down at least 10 enemy aircraft, including many suspected of emergency takeoff from the battleship.

water reconnaissance aircraft. We lost 10 torpedo planes and 8 fighter planes, and many more were wounded... Reserve commander Captain Carson was shot down."

Reeves knew that all the cards available to him had been played. Now he could only wait for all the torpedo planes that served as reconnaissance forces to return and mount torpedoes. At the same time, he would draw forces from the fighter jets that served as fleet air defense escorts to form the first wave.

Three waves of air strikes came to continue hunting the "lame prey."

Suddenly, a warning came from the electric horn connected to the air observation post at the top of the island: "A four-engine large aircraft was spotted forward on the starboard side and is climbing!"

...(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
Chapter completed!