At 4:30 pm on January 30, there was still one hour left before the reply time requested by Daming.
The Strait of Malacca, with a total length of about 1,000 kilometers, runs northwest to southeast. The northwest end, which is about 600 kilometers long, has a relatively open sea surface, and the narrowest point is 120 kilometers. But the southeastern section, which is about 400 kilometers long, suddenly "closes"
, has become very narrow, with the widest point being less than 60 kilometers. And this section is now filled with Ming army destroyers and patrol boats.
Originally, the Ming Dynasty Navy had four major fleets (East Sea Fleet, Dongjiang Fleet, South Sea Fleet, and Yangtze River Fleet). After acquiring Sumatra in the South Seas, it planned to build the South Sea Fleet, which was stationed in Palembang and Java on Sumatra Island.
Semarang on the island. The strategic mission is mainly to protect the Ming Dynasty's territory and rights in Southeast Asia, maintain the security of the Malacca Sea, protect the safety of the Chinese in Southeast Asia, and most importantly - when necessary, control the Strait of Malacca by force.
In view of the characteristics of these tasks, the Nanyang Fleet does not use battleships as the main force like the East China Sea Fleet, emphasizing the ability to decisively fight the Japanese fleet. Instead, it uses cruisers as the main force, supplemented by destroyers, torpedo boats and other small ships, and is equipped with a large number of naval and land forces.
Teams and troop transports mainly emphasize the capabilities of rapid delivery, force suppression, and escort.
This is also the first time that the Nanyang Fleet of the Ming Dynasty has been involved in a large-scale mission since its establishment. Although this mission is not a battle, it is of great significance, even as much as a battle. The Nanyang Fleet has invested 9 destroyers and 18 patrol speedboats.
Three water reconnaissance planes set up three blockades. Now in the narrow eastern section of Malacca Strait, ships from various countries passing by can already smell some tension.
From time to time, seaplanes fly over the heads of cargo ships and oil tankers, and they fly very low, probably to identify national flags and ship numbers. Once a Japanese ship is discovered, the reconnaissance plane will extend its hovering time, and after a while, it will
A speedboat rushed over and followed slowly behind.
Since the blockade was set up at 3:30, until now, four Japanese cargo ships and one Japanese oil tanker have been targeted within an hour. It is not the last time yet, so they are still allowed to pass, just follow. An hour later, once
When the order to "start blockade" comes, the targeted Japanese ships must be intercepted immediately and given two options: either turn around and go back, or seize the ship and take it to Palembang.
…
At this moment, there was a quarrel at the Prime Minister's Residence in Tokyo. Prime Minister Hirota Kouki, Prime Minister Terauchi Juichi, and Prime Minister Nagano Shushen. Until the last moment, their opinions were still not unified. Moreover, everyone kept watching.
He stared at the clock on the wall, anxious.
Although it was winter, the indoor fireplace was burning brightly, and the three important ministers were already sweating a little due to their impatience. Terauchi Juichi and Nagano Shushen were both soldiers. Although they sweated a lot, they still maintained their posture.
In a strict military style, he buttoned the top button of his uniform, sat upright with his hands on his knees. But Hirota Koki was a civil servant, so he didn't care about this. He had already taken off his suit, unbuttoned the top two shirt buttons,
And he rolled up his shirt sleeves.
"You two," Hirota Koki picked up a handkerchief, wiped the sweat on his forehead, and looked at the clock on the wall, "please note that there are still forty minutes. And we sent the telegram, and the Manchurian Expeditionary Army received it.
Translating the telegram will take at least twenty minutes. You two, we can't drag it out like this any longer. We must come up with our opinions within twenty minutes."
Terauchi Shouichi said coldly:
"The opinion has been there for a long time. I still say that this matter was deliberately planned by the Ming Dynasty from the beginning, with the intention of creating friction, provoking trouble, and preparing an excuse to tear up the secret agreement between Japan and Ming Dynasty. This note
, said to be a letter of protest, is actually an ultimatum! Japan has not been threatened by an ultimatum since the Russo-Japanese War! If
This time we succumbed to the Ming Dynasty's ultimatum, which would cause a heavy blow to the morale of all the army and navy officers of the Empire of Japan, and even the 100 million people! The "high-level national defense system" that Japan has established with great difficulty since the Meiji era will also suffer a heavy blow.
It will fall apart spiritually! Once Japan surrenders to the Ming Dynasty this time, there will be many more such things in the future!"
Nagano Shushen also said coldly:
"Let's not talk about the distance, let's talk about the immediate situation! The Ming Dynasty controls the Strait of Malacca. Although it is not clearly stated this time, if we don't give it a satisfactory answer, it will definitely make a fuss about the Malacca Channel! We are currently at war.
, a large amount of materials, oil, coal, and steel are needed every day
, food... these all pass through the Strait of Malacca. The Malacca Channel is our blood vessel! Once the blood vessel is cut off, let alone the war with the Ming Dynasty, even the current war in Manchuria will not be able to continue! According to the existing laws in Japan
of oil, the war can last for at most two months!”
Temple Shouichi smiled slightly and said:
"Your Excellency the Lord Admiralty seems to have made an obvious mistake. That is, there is more than one route from the Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific! The Strait of Malacca is blocked, so we can use other routes!"
Nagano Xiushen smiled and said:
"Oh? Really? Yes, of course there is more than one route. As long as you are willing to go around, you will always find another route. This is the same as the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal! The Suez Canal is blocked, but you can still go around the Cape of Good Hope! Panama
Even if the canal is blocked, we can still go around the Strait of Magellan! It’s just a little longer! Haha, this is really a good idea!”
When Hirota Kouki saw Nagano Shushen mocking Juichi Terauchi in a nonchalant manner, he was worried that the two of them would start fighting again, so he quickly smoothed things over:
"Well, this... Of course what the Minister of War said is reasonable, but the concerns of the Minister of the Navy must also be taken into consideration... Minister of the Navy, from your point of view, if we really can't go through the Strait of Malacca, then which is the nearest channel?
What? How many more kilometers do we have to go around?"
Nagano stood up, walked quickly to the map on the wall, pointed with his finger and said:
"Please see, the Strait of Malacca is here. If our ship goes through the Strait of Malacca, then as long as it comes out from here, it can go directly north, pass through the South China Sea and the East China Sea, and then reach Japan. In this way, from the Indian Ocean to Tokyo Bay, it only takes about 100 kilometers to sail
6500 kilometers
However, if you don’t go through the Strait of Malacca, you have to go around from the south. Although there are several straits east of Sumatra, the water channels in each place are narrow and dangerous shoals and coral reefs are densely covered, which is very dangerous. The international community does not regard these straits as
A small strait serves as a waterway.
"Then, our ship must keep going eastward until it reaches the north of Australia, passing through the Timor Sea between the Australian mainland and Timor Island, entering the Arafura Sea, then going north, entering the Banda Sea, and from Suzhou
Passing between Rawaisi Island and New Guinea Island, heading northwest
Okay, we have just reached the southern tip of the Philippines. Passing between Mindanao and Kalimantan, we can enter the South China Sea. From there, we can go straight north and sail to Japan. In such a long circle, from the Indian Ocean to Tokyo Bay,
The total range is estimated to be 15,000 kilometers.
"Did you see it? In order to avoid the Strait of Malacca, we have to sail an extra 8,500 kilometers. These more than 8,000 kilometers are equivalent to sailing from Tokyo to San Francisco in the United States, which is the length of the entire Pacific Ocean. The Strait of Malacca is called the second most important in the world
It is not unreasonable to have waterways. It is not unreasonable for the Singapore Fortress to be one of the "Four Fortresses in the World".
Your Excellency, Minister of Military Affairs, the history of human land wars has lasted for millions of years, while the history of sea wars is only three to four thousand years. And the real age of navigation was only five hundred years. Why? It's very simple. Things at sea
Bravery alone is not enough, you must also have strict hard conditions, plus a rational and realistic mind, and you must also learn to compromise when necessary."
Terauchi's face turned red from suppressing his emotions. He stared at the long route drawn by Nagano Shushen on the map. He wanted to refute but was unable to say anything. What could he say? Should he say "It doesn't matter, let's just go around"?
The clock on the wall rang. Three pairs of eyes looked at the clock and listened to it ringing five times.
It's five o'clock in the afternoon. There is still half an hour before the deadline required by Ming Guo.
Hirota Koki grabbed the handkerchief, wiped the sweat on his forehead, and took a deep breath.
He quickly glanced at the two of them, and then glanced at Shouichi Terauchi. Although Shouichi Terauchi blushed, he didn't say anything in the end.
"Okay, it's decided..." Hirota Koki picked up the phone receiver and said, "Take my telecommunications class."
Then, he turned to look at the two of them, sighed and said:
"We'd better... accept Ming Guo's request for the time being."
Terauchi Shouichi's blushing face slowly calmed down. He stared at the map on the wall and said coldly:
"Well, this is just the first time... From now on, when the Ming Dynasty enjoys the benefits, it will use the Strait of Malacca in everything... The Ming Dynasty has the Strait of Malacca in its hands, and we must obey the Ming Dynasty in everything from now on. This is terrible
That’s not the way to go.”
Nagano Shushen also stared at the map and said grimly: