The Rise of the Empire

When the storm came, the Japanese finally gave up the pursuit and began to return to the main battlefield. The pursuit was too scattered just now, and now the Japanese need to gather their fleet to plan for the next move. To be honest, the Japanese also paid a certain price in this battle. Except for the Kasuga, which was killed by a torpedo, the Fuji, which has been shooting at Iowa, is the worst warship in the Japanese fleet. Three of the four 10-inch guns were knocked out. Half of the six 6-inch guns on the sidestring were broken. Although the Americans' artillery skills are not flattering, even Huashan Shiji believes that if they continue to chase and fight, the Fuji will be the end!

The Yashima, which was caught up with the Brooklyn, was also torn apart. The original high-power bridge was full of traces left by high-explosive shells. Huge bullet holes and traces of high-temperature flames abound. Yes, although the core cabin did not suffer any heavy losses, it is inevitable to return to Hong Kong for overhaul.

In the Japanese fleet, the four Asama-class armored cruisers produced in Bavaria that have maintained their combat effectiveness are relatively complete. Now almost all Japanese naval officers and soldiers think that the 5 million pounds is too worthwhile! He even said that if the Japanese Navy orders another cruiser, then there is no need to consider other models, and 4 more ships will be ordered according to this model! Of course, let's not talk about political issues, just this budget alone made officials from the Japanese Ministry of Finance come to the Ministry of the Navy desperately.

But even so, the Four King Kongs in the Japanese Navy still need to go back and take a rest. Among other things, the ammunition stock is not enough. At first, the Japanese did not expect to have a decisive battle with the Americans so soon. In order to ensure the speed of the ship, the loading of ammunition and coal was limited. As for the other two cruisers? Also need to go back and tinker. So after gathering the fleet, the Japanese fleet began to sail north, and informed the government of the country of the Sulu Sea naval battle by telegram.

At this time, the atmosphere of rectification and reformation of the Japanese fleet was filled with joy. Years of depression and aggrievedness disappeared after this battle! In the eyes of the Japanese, whether it was the black ship feud that the US fleet broke through Japan's gates, or the game between the two sides around Hawaii for many years, or the hatred and humiliation that Russia entangled in the intervention of the three countries, after this war, they were all dismissed. The blood of the U.S. and Russian navies has been washed clean!

"From now on, the Japanese navy will dominate the Far East!" When Kazuki Kawayama shouted this toast at the banquet of high-level military officers, the entire banquet hall erupted in cheers. Even some militant Japanese officers have begun to wonder whether the next step is to take Hawaii!

As the saying goes, some people are happy and some are sad. The Japanese fleet that won the battle is naturally happy for everyone, while the American fleet that is the loser is silently healing its wounds. After the captain of the USS New York was shot by a shrapnel, Ma Jifen automatically took over the command of the fleet. The Japanese ate, drank and had fun, and Ma Jifen didn't even have time to eat beef jerky since the battle ended.

The boat was sailing too fast, the swell further widened the breach, the temporary hospital was flooded again, medicine and gauze were not enough, and various problems kept Ma Jifen stuck like a nightmare. Although these problems are difficult, they are not difficult to deal with. What really worries Majifen is, what should the US fleet do next? Now the elite forces of the U.S. and Russian fleets are estimated to have been wiped out, and there are only 2 ships left that can be fought. Those dome cruisers will die if they encounter them.

Now let’s not talk about aiding the landing troops in the southern Philippines. The US fleet itself is hard to protect. After a busy night, watching the rising sun, eating beef jerky and drinking slightly salty water,

Magiffen was lost in thought.

After the Battle of Manila Bay and the Battle of the Sulu Sea, there is no possibility of negotiation between the United States and Japan. It can even be said that when the US and Japanese fleets entered the Philippines from the north and the south at the same time, the outbreak of war between the two sides has become It's a foregone conclusion, but no one expected that the Americans would lose so badly and so quickly! A few hours of fighting turned years of hard work by the U.S. Navy into a humiliating defeat! Although Ma Jifen had participated in the Sino-Japanese War and had a certain understanding of the Japanese navy, when this result came, he still couldn't accept it! So cruel!

From the perspective of outsiders, there are nothing more than two roads before the Americans. The first road is to withdraw to Samoa first, and then spend 2 to 3 months waiting for the arrival of the American battleship formation. The other way is to leave the Philippines. But in Ma Jifen's view, people's estimates of this situation are too optimistic! As the Japanese, they just don't do anything, once they do, they will never die! Now it has reached an irreconcilable level, and Ma Jifen believes that the Japanese will probably launch an attack on American Samoa! Only after Samoa is knocked out, the U.S. Navy will lose its bridgehead into Asia. Before the Panama Canal is completed, even if the U.S. wants revenge, it is impossible!

"Samoa is not safe. The only way now is to stabilize Japan first and buy time for the mobilization of troops." Magiffen found that the U.S. Navy was in a deadlock. Samoa's status is important, and the Americans cannot give up easily. Its military strength is not enough to keep this bridgehead. The Japanese are very likely to do something again, so what should the US Navy do now?

This kind of political matter is not something he can decide, so he quickly put his energy on the most realistic place. On the one hand, he needs to go to Morro Bay and other landing sites to inform the US landing force that the US Navy has been defeated and let them prepare. While retreating, he needed to rush back immediately to the German colony of Kaiser Wilhelm in the Far East, where they would be supplied and their warships could be repaired. At the same time, he also needs to send the resurrected Japanese and British to Hawaii, and then to the mainland United States! The British and the Japanese jointly planned this matter, and the American government and people must know about it!

Just when Magiffen was heading for these things, Shelly, who was rescued by the Germans, was already doing these things. In order to report these things to the country earlier, and to achieve this goal first, he must use the German ground telegraph station. So Shirley told the Germans all these things in detail! He also stated that if Magiffin's New York could be encountered in the German colonies, Shelley would order Magiffin to cooperate closely with the German government. And just when the first round of confrontation between the United States and Japan had just come to an end, the two sides were also engaged in diplomatic and political confrontations.

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