Expedition to Europe

Unlike the expected two battleships, the Hiei and Haruna, the 3025 reconnaissance plane also found the Yamashiro and the Hyuga in the Japanese fleet.

The Yamashiro was the second of the Japanese Fuso-class battleships, and the Hyuga was the second of the Japanese Ise-class battleships. These two battleships, together with the Hiei and Haruna, formed the Japanese Combined Fleet.

Of course, the Japanese Combined Fleet was not just these four battleships, but also up to 15 destroyers and two supply ships. In East Asia, this was indeed a huge fleet.

The Lan Fang military had already issued all the Japanese warship image data, and the observers on the reconnaissance plane were already very familiar with the Japanese warships. Therefore, it did not take too long for the observers on the reconnaissance plane to identify all the warships of the Japanese fleet and send them to the Lan Fang military using the radio telegram on the plane.

At the same time when the reconnaissance plane discovered the Japanese naval fleet, the Japanese naval fleet also discovered the Lan Fang reconnaissance plane.

"The Lan Fang people are so arrogant. If they really want to fly our fighter planes into the sky, then we will shoot down all their planes." Captain Taniguchi Naomasa of the battleship "Haruna" sighed repeatedly with a telescope in his hand.

"This kind of small toy has no effect. Let them be arrogant. Even if the Lan Fang people find us, what can they do? Can their small planes deal with our warships? Let them watch us sink the Lan Fang's "France." "The commander of the southbound fleet, Yamaya and others, looked down on them.

When the airplane first appeared, it did not attract enough attention. Although the role of airplanes in the world war became more and more obvious, for the Japanese, airplanes were obviously just unfamiliar toys. Whether it was Yamaya, who was an admiral, or Taniguchi Naomasa, whose rank was already a vice admiral, they did not have a deep understanding of airplanes.

Well, Akashi Motojiro, who had the deepest understanding of the role of aircraft among Japanese soldiers, had already died. They would eventually suffer a big loss for ignoring the threat of aircraft.

A big loss that would make the Japanese unable to recover.

"In the long run, the Empire should still increase its efforts in aircraft research and development. If there are aircraft carriers in our fleet, it will be more fierce than launching an attack." Relatively speaking, Taniguchi Naomasa was more rational.

"Are you crazy? Don't say such things again! If we want to develop aircraft, then part of our military expenditure will definitely be diluted. Maybe we will have to postpone the construction plan of the 'Nagato' class. Is this what you want to see?" Yamaya and others were stern.

In the Japanese military, the allocation of military expenditures has always been the focus and center of all contradictions. At present, Japan's national strength does not allow Japan to develop the army and navy at the same time, let alone the air force.

Japan has always taken the construction of the navy as its main direction. Since the birth of the Fuso-class battleship, the Japanese Navy has always had the most powerful battleships in the world. Compared with the navy, the army is like a stepmother. Due to limited funds, the Japanese army cannot even carry out research on tanks.

So under this premise, if an air force comes out to disrupt the situation, it will really make the Japanese military a mess.

"You are right, Commander." Facing the strong Yamaya, Taniguchi had to admit his mistake.

If the class consciousness in Lan Fang's army can be described as "strict", then the class consciousness in the Japanese army can only be described as "harsh". The Japanese army is one of the armies in the world that attaches the most importance to class consciousness, and the superiors have the power to decide the life and death of the subordinates.

But at the same time, the Japanese military is also the army in the world that has the most frequent "downfall" actions. There are often junior officers who can't stand the harshness of their superiors and make extreme actions in anger. This fully proves the Japanese's indifference and perversion.

"Speed ​​up a little more, we have to rush to Cam Ranh Bay tomorrow morning and block the "France" in the port." Yamaya was murderous.

In fact, the "Haruna" can run at a speed of 24 knots, but that is the fastest speed, not the cruising speed, so the "Haruna" is still traveling at a speed of 15 knots.

"Yes, Commander." Taniguchi Naomasa was respectful, but there was deep mockery in his eyes.

Lan Fang's reconnaissance planes have appeared above the fleet, so the "France" cannot stay in the port and wait to be blocked by the Japanese fleet heading south. If the Lan Fang Navy drives the "France" into the inland sea of ​​Lan Fang, the Japanese Combined Fleet will not have much to do.

Compared with Japan's four mainland islands, Lan Fang has too many islands, more than 18,000 islands. If the "France" hides in any corner, the seemingly strong Japanese fleet heading south will be helpless.

Of course, the Japanese fleet heading south is not something that it can't do.

In fact, the Japanese fleet heading south had another mission, which was to directly attack the capital of Lan Fang, Coconut City. Even if they could not occupy Coconut City, as long as they used naval guns to flatten Coconut City, it would be considered that the fleet heading south had achieved a phased victory.

The capital was flattened by the enemy, and the Lan Fang people must not be able to bear such an insult.

Yeah, Shanwu and others made a good calculation.

Qin Zhiyuan did not realize that the capital was about to be flattened by the Japanese. After receiving the information that the Japanese fleet appeared in the North Sea, Qin Zhiyuan immediately ordered Zhou Hongguang to start the "decapitation" operation.

The "decapitation" operation was the battle plan formulated by the Lan Fang General Staff against the Japanese battleships.

After the successful development of the torpedo plane, Qin Zhiyuan ordered the General Staff to formulate a variety of combat plans against the Japanese Combined Fleet, all of which were aimed at sinking the Japanese battleships. These combat plans were called the "decapitation" operation, which was both vivid and appropriate.

Zhou Hongguang is currently the commander-in-chief of the Lan Fang Air Force. All fighter planes are under Zhou Hongguang's control. Torpedo planes, as the main weapon against battleships, are given priority development.

Just after the order to execute the "decapitation" operation was issued, the guards reported that the US Ambassador to Lan Fang, Greenton Augustine, asked for an audience.

"Your Majesty, I believe you already know that the four Japanese battleships have already sailed towards Lan Fang. If you want to cease fire now, it is not too late. I can mediate." Greenton Augustine came to talk about peace.

"Ceasefire? No, I don't want a ceasefire now. The Japanese must pay the price for their arrogance. I will not consider a ceasefire until the Japanese are completely defeated." Qin Zhiyuan was firm.

Well, it seems that the Japanese are sure that the Lan Fang Navy cannot threaten the Japanese fleet heading south, so they do not hide the movement of the navy at all.

The Japanese are telling Qin Zhiyuan openly: Yes, we are here, we are here, do you want to destroy me? Show your strength!

"Your Majesty, this decision is not rational, and it is very likely that such a situation will never happen. It is impossible for a "France" to fight against four battleships. Countless facts have proved this. Perhaps in a few years, Lan Fang will indeed have the strength to compete with Japan, but it is definitely not now." Grinton Augustine said earnestly.

The original text is available at Liu # 9 @Shu/Bar!

In fact, including the Japanese, everyone knows that Lan Fang has a brighter future than Japan. Lan Fang has oil fields, various mines, enough land, and enough resources. As long as time passes, Lan Fang's national strength will definitely surpass Japan.

It is precisely because of this that the Japanese have been deliberately provoking Lan Fang. As long as Qin Zhiyuan is angered and declares war on Japan, Japan can use the war to interrupt the normal development of Lan Fang, and even strangle Lan Fang's room for improvement. That is the situation that the Japanese want to see.

"Battleships can't drive to land after all. The Japanese may be prominent for a while, but in the long run, Japan's defeat is unquestionable, and Lan Fang will make its own reputation in the process of defeating Japan. No one can make Lan Fang surrender. This is Lan Fang's attitude." Qin Zhiyuan said righteously.

The United States is currently Japan's largest trading partner, so the relationship between the United States and Japan is now in a honeymoon period. Qin Zhiyuan will definitely not tell Greenton Augustine about the torpedo plane, which is equivalent to telling the Japanese directly.

"Okay, as you wish." Grinton Augustine gave up trying to mediate. It was obvious that Grinton Augustine had little influence on Qin Zhiyuan, who was determined.

After Grinton Augustine said goodbye, Owen Jonah, the French ambassador to Lan Fang, came to visit.

"Your Majesty, you really gave us a big problem. Although we have declared war on Japan, please understand that compared with the Japanese fleet heading south, the French Far East Fleet is not strong enough now. Only after the reinforcements from Europe arrive in the Far East, the French Far East Fleet will have the strength to compete with the Japanese. Therefore, before the European mainland fleet arrives in Lan Fang, the French Far East Fleet cannot provide help." Owen Jonah apologized.

France and Lan Fang are allies. After Lan Fang declared war on Japan, France also chose to stand in the same camp with Lan Fang to declare war on Japan.

Of course, although the French declared war, they have not sent a single soldier to Lan Fang at present, and the fleet coming from the European mainland to support will take another two months to arrive in Lan Fang. During this period, Lan Fang can only rely on itself.

"It's okay, it's okay. In fact, France's declaration of war on Japan has fully proved our friendship. This friendship was honed in the war. He is trustworthy." Qin Zhiyuan didn't mind the French's self-protection behavior.

Since declaring war on Japan, the French Far East Fleet has parked its few warships in Guangzhou Bay. Even though the Japanese Combined Fleet has already moved south, the French have no intention of starting a war.

"To be honest, Your Majesty, now is not the best time to start a war. If Your Majesty wants to stop the war now, it's not too late. When the Lanfang Navy has not suffered a major blow, everything is not too late." Owen Jonah also came to be a lobbyist.

Truce?

Never!

Qin Zhiyuan is determined.