Taiwan has been an integral part of China since ancient times. It is located on the southeast coast of China, bordering the East China Sea to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the South China Sea to the south, and facing Fujian Province across the Taiwan Strait to the west.
Taiwan Island, known as the "Treasure Island", is also a barrier and an important gateway to the southeastern sea of China. However, it was stolen by Japan in 1895 and is still in Japanese hands today.
After the Battle of Nanjing, Li Weidong, while vigorously supporting local development, also set his sights on the ocean.
Taiwan Island is the focus of Li Weidong's attention because its geographical location is extremely important. It defends China's southeastern coast inward and serves as a strategic springboard to march into the Pacific. Therefore, its importance is self-evident.
To this end, Li Weidong specially ordered the Hainan Military Intelligence Section to take preemptive actions to collect intelligence and prepare for the next stage of recovering Taiwan Island.
—————[This is the dividing line]————
Taipei City, the Japanese Governor-General's Palace in Taiwan.
The front line was defeated, the main force of the Japanese army in Central China was wiped out in the battle of Nanjing, and the remaining Japanese army in Shanghai City was in danger of survival. As bad news came one after another, a trace of panic began to spread rapidly on the island of Taiwan.
Because with the two provinces of Jiangsu and Fujian being recaptured by the Hainan Army, it is impossible for the Hainan military government to allow the isolated island of Taiwan to threaten Hainan's home base, so Taiwan Island will definitely become the front line of the war.
As a place where Japan has been operating for decades, Taiwan has gathered a large number of Japanese expatriates. As for the killings of Japanese troops on the Chinese mainland, they thought it was nothing at all because the distance was too far. However, when the flames of war burned to their
When they reached the top of their heads, they couldn't help but start to panic.
So groups of Japanese expatriates, shouting various slogans, gathered outside the Japanese Government-General's Office, waiting for a response from the Government-General's Office. The entire city of Taipei, including other areas, suddenly fell into chaos.
"Baga, is that bastard who allowed them to gather outside? The police!? Order the police force to expel them!..." The top military commander of the Japanese army in Taiwan, Ando Rikichi, poured out his anger in the office.
The reason why he was so angry was not only because of the excited overseas Chinese and Taiwanese people outside, but also because when he first arrived, he was accidentally hit by a rotten egg thrown by the crowd, and his brand-new military uniform was immediately stained with
A nasty-smelling stain.
"Ando-kun! Please calm down. The top priority is to stabilize the situation in Taiwan. If this continues, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to the base camp..." Chief of Staff Isayama Haruki said to the side.
Hearing this, Ando Rikichi controlled his anger. The two had been partners in Taiwan for nearly ten years, and he would not get angry at his chief think tank.
"Isayama-kun, what can you do?" For the staff of the staff department, Toshiyoshi Ando still trusted Isayama Haruki.
"As an old Chinese saying goes, 'It's better to open up than to block'. Blind suppression is useless. Since the overseas Chinese have no confidence, let's restore their confidence!" After a brief thought, Isayama Haruki came up with an idea.
An idea, then replied.
["What's the plan?" Xiao Yi, who was possessed by Emperor Liu's uncle, asked. However, it's a pity that Isayama Haruki is not Zhuge Kongming! 】
"Nani! It's better to clear the block than to clear it? What should we do?" Andojili asked in confusion.
"The navy of our Empire of Japan is invincible in East Asia. The Chinese cannot fly across the Taiwan Strait. We can dispatch the naval fleet to go out to find results. As long as we win a few games, we will definitely regain our confidence!" Haruki Isayama vowed.
He said that he was too superstitious about the combat effectiveness of the Japanese Taiwan Fleet.
"Yodaishino [Translation: That's it]! It is indeed a good idea, Isayama-kun, I will order the naval fleet to dispatch! Make sure to give the Chinese people a hard blow!" Ando Rikichi suddenly realized it and was about to give the order.
In fact, just when Yoshihiro Ando ordered the navy to dispatch to seek results and change the current chaotic situation in the Taiwan Island area, the Hainan Army's Nanyang Squadron had moved to the coastal areas of Fujian two days ago.
Moreover, on the sea less than fifty nautical miles away from Keelung Naval Base, the Japanese naval base on the mainland of Taiwan, the warships of the Nanyang Squadron are cruising. Those who are out looking for achievements
The Japanese Taiwan Fleet collided head-on with the Hainan Army's Nanyang Squadron.
The Hainan Army Nanyang Squadron is a newly established fleet of the Hainan Navy half a year ago. It was established to cope with the increase in the sea area controlled by the Hainan Military Government. A Nanyang Fleet alone is no longer enough to control the entire sea area. Therefore,
Some battleships were separated from it and formed a new fleet.
Originally, Li Weidong wanted to name the new fleet "Pacific Fleet", but in the end he gave up this idea. Because of the obstruction of Taiwan Island, the squadron has not yet set foot in the Pacific waters. Their current control area is the coastal waters of Fujian and Guangdong.
The name "Pacific Fleet" is a bit untrue.
Penghu Islands, Hainan Army Nanyang Squadron.
Since the Hainan Army's warships were equipped with the latest radar equipment, it was the Hainan Army's Nanyang Squadron that first discovered the opponent.
"Report! The ship-borne radar shows that an unknown fleet appears on the east side of our fleet. It is predicted that it should be the Japanese Taiwan Fleet!" a radar officer reported on the flagship.
"Order, the entire fleet activates the level 2 combat readiness state! In addition, dispatch carrier-based aircraft to detect the enemy's situation!" Upon hearing the enemy's situation, the squadron commander Zhang Zongqiang issued the order.
Zhang Zongqiang is currently the rear admiral of the Hainan Army and the commander of the Nanyang Squadron of the Hainan Army. He was specially appointed as the commander of the squadron by Li Weidong because of his heroic performance in many naval battles and his outstanding commanding capabilities.
Soon, a seaplane was placed on the sea by the crane on the warship. It was a pure white Seagull series reconnaissance aircraft.
As an excellent maritime reconnaissance aircraft, apart from one machine for self-defense, it has no other weapons installed. Every part is specially designed for the pursuit of flight speed and flight altitude.
The reconnaissance plane hovered above an altitude of 10,000 meters, like a white seagull. Even if the Japanese army found it, they were helpless because of the height and speed.
Following the radio on the reconnaissance aircraft, the details of the Japanese Taiwan Fleet were reported back to the fleet headquarters. The Japanese Taiwan Fleet included one battleship, three cruisers, plus destroyers and torpedo boats, a total of fifteen ships.
"Commander Yu, what do you think?" Zhang Zongqiang turned his attention to Counselor Yu Dengliang. After learning about the strength of the Japanese Taiwan Island Fleet, although he was a little moved, he was not carried away by it.
Although he is the commander of the Nanyang Squadron specially appointed by the commander-in-chief, and no one doubts Li Weidong's authority, the army itself is a place where strength speaks for itself, and he needs a victory to convince the proud soldiers and generals under his command.
"Brother Zhang, the order given to us by the headquarters is to patrol the coastal waters. Since the Japanese fleet is invading, there is no reason to avoid fighting! Moreover, one of our army's preparations for the battle, unless the gap with the invading enemy is too large, or
Order the retreat from the top, otherwise those who avoid fighting are fleeing from the battlefield!" Yu Dengliang replied confidently.
With the current strength of the Hainan Army's Nanyang Squadron, it is not without a chance of defeating the Japanese Taiwan Island Fleet. In addition, our side is the first to discover the opponent's position, and we are absolutely 70% sure of it.
"Since the chief of staff also has such an idea, let's fight his little devil like this!" Zhang Zongqiang received the support of the chief of staff, and then answered with excitement on his face.
As a soldier, the battlefield is the stage. Every soldier has this dream of defending his home and country, leading thousands of troops to defeat the enemy, and today his dream is about to come true.
Then, facing his subordinates who were also looking forward to it, Zhang Zongqiang ordered with a calm face: "Order! All ships immediately enter the first level of combat readiness. The carrier-based aircraft formation takes off. Once the Japanese Taiwan Island Fleet enters the attack range,
Attack now!"
All warships in this era, whether they were ordinary warships or battleships, relied on burning coal to power the ships, so the symbol of the fleet at sea was the black smoke column.
Obviously, the Hainan Army is already ahead of everyone in this regard, and large-scale diesel engine power technology has tended to be perfected. Although the tonnage of those ships is not large, they are better in speed and range, without having to rely on other ships.
Like a national warship, when going out to fight, it must be loaded with a full cabin of coal.
As the distance between the two sides gradually narrowed, the smoke plumes of Japanese warships appearing on the sea-sky line in the distance were already in sight, and the carrier-based aircraft formation immediately launched an attack.
"Buzz buzz..." The fighter plane roared and soon appeared within the sight of the Japanese fleet.
However, it took at least five minutes from the sudden discovery of the enemy's situation to the deployment of defensive forces. Therefore, before the Japanese army could react, the aerial bombs had already fallen on the head of the Japanese Taiwan Island Fleet.
"Enemy attack, Chinese fighter planes..., pay attention to air defense..., boom..." The panic was accompanied by the exclamation of a Japanese officer, and then a falling aerial bomb ended the lives of him and the Japanese soldiers beside him.
The sudden attack stunned the Japanese Taiwan fleet. The shrill sirens tore through the clouds, but only a few sporadic anti-aircraft guns formed a counterattack.
"Damn it! Why did the Chinese fighter planes appear here? Bastard! There must be a Chinese fleet nearby! Order all ships in the fleet to immediately organize an air defense counterattack. The destroyers will explore the location of the Chinese fleet. They must be found!" Japanese Taiwan Island Fleet
The commander, Major General Umeda, ordered with a panicked look on his face.
The Japanese Navy had many battles with the Hainan Army's fleet. As the saying goes, one gains wisdom after suffering many losses. After suffering many losses, it also figured out the naval warfare methods of the Hainan Army.
If Hainan Army fighter planes are found at sea, you must know that there must be a Hainan Army fleet nearby, and once the air attack begins, Hainan Army warships will launch an attack soon.
Although Major General Umeda clearly knew the Hainan Army's tactics, this did not mean that he had any means of prevention. The only thing he could do was to quickly confirm the opponent's position in the hope that he would not be caught off guard again.