1890 King of Southeast Asia

Thirty-five nautical miles northeast of the Squid and six thousand five hundred meters above, a military reconnaissance airship was floating in the clouds, moving slowly forward.

This is a semi-rigid airship. Unlike the cigar-shaped airship, the airship is generally shuttle-shaped, painted blue and white, and the logo on the pod indicates that it belongs to the navy.

"Captain, we have received news from the Squid. They have stopped to wait for supplies." The first mate walked into the reconnaissance cabin with a telegram.

The organization of the airship is basically the same as that of the navy. The boss is the captain or the captain, and the first mate and various operators are below.

"Say sorry to them, and we will treat them to a drink to make amends after we go back." The captain stood beside the observer, his face full of fatigue.

After they received the order last night, they took off urgently. However, not long after they took off, they had just reached the scheduled altitude and were ready to fly with the help of air currents, and they encountered a group of rain clouds, just in front of them.

Rain clouds are not a big threat to airships, but rain clouds may encounter convection and become thunderstorm clouds at any time, which will pose a great threat to airships.

It was too dark. When they found out, they were already very close. The captain ordered to increase the altitude while organizing the wearing of self-rescue equipment.

Then, the airship plunged into the rain cloud. The rain cloud was unpredictable and the wind direction was very chaotic. The airship was blown dizzy.

Fortunately, it was a semi-rigid airship with a certain strength of the skeleton. China was not short of rubber, and the skin was tough, so it could survive in the irregular turbulence.

It was not easy to fly out of the rain cloud, but it happened to be the darkest time before sunrise. The moonlight and starlight basically disappeared, and the sun had not come out yet. They were lost!

They wanted to send a message to Ryukyu and let Ryukyu send a backup airship, but found that the radio was damaged during the shaking.

After the sun came out, they found that they had deviated from the route by more than 100 kilometers...

"The number is confirmed to be correct, and all the characteristics are also in line. It is the eight main battleships of the Japanese army." The observer looked at the telescope and compared the information in his hand, and finally said with certainty.

"It's good that we didn't lose them. Send a message to Ryukyu. Our boat has found the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet and is carrying out reconnaissance and tracking missions." The captain breathed a sigh of relief and yawned.

"Captain, why don't you go to sleep for a while." The first mate advised.

"Okay, wake me up in an hour and take turns to rest." The captain didn't force himself.

…………

"The Japanese sent the main fleet to sail north? Where is it now?" Liu Yiming touched his chin and probably guessed that the Japanese were going to escort.

The Japanese launched a large-scale attack. In Liu Yiming's view, the Japanese could not sit still and seek a breakthrough on the battlefield.

Not only Liu Yiming, but almost all Chinese generals who received this news thought so, after all, the Japanese had made a breakthrough on the front line.

Although it was only a small breakthrough in the position, didn't the battlefield press into the Chinese territory? If we work harder, we might be able to break through.

"The Japanese are not fast, and they have only traveled less than 200 kilometers from Sasebo, but this time their behavior is very abnormal." Gu Fan stood up and drew a small circle on the map.

This circle is where the Japanese are, which is a vague range and the approximate scale of the Japanese Combined Fleet after it is deployed.

"Abnormal? What are the abnormal places?" Liu Yiming asked curiously.

In fact, in his heart, it is normal for the Japanese to do anything stupid, because their thinking is abnormal.

"According to common sense, before the main fleet is dispatched, there should be enough preliminary preparations, including reconnaissance of the safety of the channel, adjustment of auxiliary warships, deployment of personnel and materials, etc."

"But the navy has not received any intelligence that the Japanese army has sent out a large-scale reconnaissance fleet, and even the activities of the Japanese army have been much less recently."

"Under such circumstances, it is very abnormal for the Japanese army to suddenly launch an attack. If they suddenly received an order, I suspect that they have not even equipped the materials. If not, there must be a conspiracy."

What Gu Fan was puzzled about was why the Japanese suddenly dispatched.

The dispatch of the fleet requires a long period of preparation, and no corresponding news has been received recently.

The allocation of materials is also not simple, and Gu Fan knows that after cutting off Japan's trade routes, the Japanese army has few resources to use.

In this situation, the Japanese army launched a crazy offensive on the northern line. It is said that a regiment of the border defense army of three provinces blocked the attack of the Japanese army with less than 2,000 people and killed more than 40,000 Japanese soldiers.

It sounds a bit weird, but Gu Fan doesn't think anyone is so bold to lie about military intelligence. The intelligence department will verify it.

In the navy, China and the Japanese army fought twice. Neither side gained an advantage in the first battle, but the Japanese army had more seriously injured ships, and China won a small victory.

The second time, almost all the Japanese main battleships were injured, and many ships were seriously injured and lost their combat effectiveness in a short time. It can be said that the victory and defeat have been decided.

Moreover, both times, the Japanese navy came out in full force, but the Chinese navy did not do so. For various reasons, the most advanced warships only fought with the escorting Kongo class and won a complete victory.

If Gu Fan was the commander of the Japanese Navy, he would definitely not send out the large fleet at this time, but would frequently attack with medium-sized warships to look for opportunities.

Only warships of the same level or larger can deal with medium-sized warships. This is the disadvantage of the South China Navy. The Chinese Navy has also inherited this point and is short of medium-sized warships.

In this way, the Chinese Navy will have to dispatch large warships to deal with the actions of the Japanese. If they do so many times, Japan will always have a chance to seize it.

This was also the method adopted by the German Navy in World War I when it was at a disadvantage. Unfortunately, the Germans' information was clearly grasped by the British, and they were forced to fight a naval battle.

The Japanese did not do this, but chose to retreat, with only some fast small warships patrolling. Whenever the Chinese Navy approached, they chose to retreat.

Gu Fan certainly didn't know that this was because the Japanese Navy at that time could not get resources, and the progress of ship repair was delayed again and again, and there was no way.

After finally restoring the resource tilt, it was found that there were only so many resources left, and they dared not waste them at all.

This kind of fishing law enforcement consumes a lot of resources, and the Japanese can't afford it.

This is also the reason why Japan has always advocated decisive battles.

"Conspiracy?" At this point, Liu Yiming immediately linked the situation.

"Yes, conspiracy, the Japanese navy is very likely just a feint, the purpose is to attract our fast warships to intercept." Gu Fan looked at the situation map.

"Still no news from Japan?" Liu Yiming did not answer Gu Fan, but looked at Jiang Wang.

"So far, no effective news has been received. Our informants in the Japanese army have all remained silent. We don't know the specific situation." Jiang Wang nodded slightly.

As soon as the incident last night happened, Jiang Wang immediately sought information from his informants in Japan. Jiang Wang's intelligence network in Japan is very large. From the government to the peddlers, there are informants.

However, he was not notified in advance of this matter, and he could not find out the specific situation after the incident.

It can be confirmed that the Japanese must have kept it very strictly confidential, and all those who knew about it may be controlled.

"We can assume that the Japanese are planning a campaign that can change the strategic situation. Whether it is Korea or the sea, it is part of this campaign." Liu Yiming knocked his head.

"At present, we don't know what the Japanese goal is, but obviously we can't just sit there."

"Gu Fan, according to normal circumstances, what is our reaction?"

Liu Yiming was a little upset. He couldn't figure out the chance of Japan turning defeat into victory. After all, the two sides are of different sizes.

In terms of naval strength, the Japanese navy may have a slight numerical advantage at the beginning of the war, but once the war starts, Japan is doomed to fail to win.

Unless the Japanese Combined Fleet suddenly appears in the Java Sea, lands at the Banjarmasin Naval Base, and goes straight to Huanglong.

Is this possible? The Japanese Combined Fleet is still under the surveillance of China. What do they want to do?

"Normally, this fleet may be going to escort the army. We will send fast battleships to quickly respond, intercept and delay its progress to the north."

"So I think the Japanese target is our fast battleship formation."

Gu Fan said.

This is a normal reaction, and it is also the role of seizing sea control. Otherwise, even if the enemy fleet is defeated, what is the role of sea control if the enemy transport ship is not attacked?

"The Japanese should know that their ships cannot keep up with our fast battleship formation, and even if they do, they cannot beat it." Liu Yiming shook his head.

The Japanese are very easy to be arrogant, but when they are not arrogant, they are very tolerant and cautious. Even Gou Jian, the King of Yue, can't tolerate it.

Decades later, the military strength of the Japanese Empire has reached the forefront of the world. Years of victory have allowed it to continue to expand, and then the Pacific War was launched.

But before that, Japan has always been a rational, humble, and cautious country.

As for the war of aggression, it was an industrial country fighting an agricultural country, which was not an expansion at all. At most, the army expanded and wanted to quickly complete the snake swallowing the elephant.

"Well, I really can't understand it. It's impossible for Japan to have a large-scale naval battle with us? Do they still have enough resources?" Gu Fan didn't understand.

In Gu Fan's eyes, the Japanese main fleet is no longer a big threat, because the blockaded Japan has even found it difficult to repair damaged warships.

Such a fleet, even if it wins in a fleet decisive battle, what can it do? China has more than one fleet, and more than battleships.

Under the blockade of countless small and medium-sized warships, Japan's route is still unable to open. If the warships are broken, it will be difficult to repair them, and the resources to maintain the war will soon be exhausted.

And China can calmly repair and manufacture warships. Anyway, Nanhua has made a lot of money during this period.

The model verification of the new warship has been completed, and it is only waiting for the construction to start.

"If you don't understand, don't think about it. Anyway, just don't go in the direction they want." Liu Yiming looked at the battlefield situation.

Six attack submarines have arrived at the outskirts of Sasebo, and they are only more than 100 nautical miles away from the Squid, which is half a day's journey.