The Rise of the Empire

"From a tactical point of view, this is a good start, but from a strategic point of view, we have lost the suddenness of the attack. If there is no accident, Makanov should have received the telegram that the war started today." Togo Heihachiro said slightly frustrated.

Although the number one target of the Japanese fleet is the Makanov fleet, it does not mean that the Essen fleet in Vladivostok and the Lushunkou fleet are left alone, especially the former, which is an order that can change the situation of the battle, so in order to completely seal this After the Makanov fleet arrived in Cam Ranh Bay, the Japanese Navy's camouflaged minelayers began laying minefields at night. Then, unexpectedly, the Russians came out so early this time! Although a naval mine temporarily removed a capital ship from the combat sequence, as Togo Heihachiro said, from a strategic point of view, the Japanese fleet actually suffered a disadvantage.

So now the question is very clear, what should the Japanese fleet do next? Should we deal with the Essen fleet out of Hong Kong or continue to deal with the Makanov fleet? If it is the former, how to intercept it? If it is the latter, where is the new ambush site chosen?

"We're going on an adventure!" Chief of Staff Akiyama Shinyuki took a deep breath and said: "We can't catch the Essen fleet. They have a lot of endurance, and they are fast, and their actions are erratic. It is difficult not to separate. Found, separated, easily broken individually."

"Our target should still be the Makanov Fleet, but this time, we must take the initiative to attack the opponent in the South China Sea! Instead of waiting for the opponent to throw himself into the trap!" Akiyama Shinyuki added. "Also, I have a hunch that the Essen fleet should join the Makanov fleet."

"If this is the case, our homeland will be empty. Before we come back, the Russians can fight as they like. If something goes wrong, who will be responsible?" Misu Sotaro asked.

"This is a loss that needs to be borne. How can there be no loss in war? As long as we can kill the Makanov fleet, then everything will be fine. If we can't complete this task, then everything will be over." Hikoyuki Uemura obviously supports Akiyama True advice.

"Yeah, there is everything for winning, and nothing for losing." Togo Heihachiro sighed. He knew that Akiyama Shinyuki's suggestion was correct. Now that the war has begun, Makanov cannot be so stupid as to throw himself into the trap, and the sudden departure of the Essen fleet also reminded the Japanese that the Russians may have already seen it. The Japanese plan, so the choice they made was to concentrate their forces in the South China Sea, and then go north! Is the Japanese fleet capable of breaking through Lushun or Vladivostok in a short time? No! Then we can only attack the Russian fleet.

But easier said than done, the South China Sea is so large, how does the Japanese fleet find targets? If the Japanese fleet goes south and the Russian fleet goes north and just slips through the gap, everything will be over! Once the three Russian fleets succeed in grouping together, Japan will lose half first.

"The fleet is moving in the direction of the Philippines, and another telegram is sent to the base camp, saying that the combined fleet is unable to maintain the safety of the sea line of communication during the battle against the Makanov fleet. Therefore, I hope the government can make a plan! At the same time, contact the British. , we need their help to keep an eye on the Russian fleet!" In the end, Togo Heihachiro decided to take the initiative to go south to find the Russian fleet.

And just when the Japanese decided to do it, Makanov also received a telegram from Essen, but for this crucial telegram, Makanov could only smile wryly, the Japanese plan was exposed, and the Russians 80% of the plan has also been exposed, and all action schedules must be advanced, but for the Russian fleet at this time,

This is really not good news. Now my fleet has just arrived at Cam Ranh Bay, and even before the next batch of German supply ships has arrived, this war broke out like this!

Even if Makanov wanted to leave, he would never be able to, because there was not enough fuel, and he had to wait for the US fleet. Now the war has begun. If the Americans cannot send the fleet before Japan and Russia officially declare war, then in Under the pressure of the neutral clause, whether the Americans can deliver the warships agreed in advance is a problem! Now, it obviously takes quite a long time to go from the German colony to Cam Ranh Bay. If the Japanese go south immediately, Makanov will have nothing to do, because Cam Ranh Bay does not have so much high-quality coal to supply the entire fleet!

So all Makanov can do is to increase the fleet's readiness level and urge the German transport ship to send the coal over immediately, and the rest can only depend on God's will.

The British were indeed good allies of the Japanese in this era. Not long after the Japanese government issued a request, the British began to help collect information on the Russian fleet. The intelligence of the British is very useful for the Japanese navy, but it is not the British who help the Japanese the most, but France, a good friend of the Russians!

At a reception held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, a French military attache in Japan unintentionally revealed that France did not have enough coal reserves in the Far East, and even planned to go to Tianjin to purchase coal for the French Far East Fleet. People have strengthened their strategies!

What is the difference between a fleet without fuel and a salted fish? Maybe the Russian warships are not enough to sail to Lushunkou or Vladivostok with their own coal reserves. Even if they are temporarily supplemented, in order to ensure the voyage, they can only choose the nearest route! Well, if this news is true, then everything will be easy to handle, the nearest route! And because of endurance issues, the speed of the Russian fleet cannot be fast!

At this time, the British government sent another reassurance to the Japanese. The German merchant ships transporting coal for the Russian fleet had just entered the Red Sea. It would take a long time before they arrived in the Far East, and the British also passed their own channels The information that the Russian fleet was short of coal was confirmed, and even the US Far East Fleet sold the coal it had stored in German ports to the Russians. Of course, the coal was in warehouses in Kaiser Wilhelm's domain and hadn't been shipped yet... .

"It turns out that the Makanov fleet is the weakest at this time!" Looking at the collected information, Togo Heihachiro finally showed a smug smile! Before the coal ship arrives, the Makanov fleet can only be in Cam Ranh Bay, and yesterday, the Japanese government has declared war on the Russian government, and after the declaration of war, according to the terms of neutrality, if France upholds neutrality, then the Russian fleet will be in the port Stay no longer than three days! Unless the Russian fleet is willing to be disarmed! And now, the Japanese fleet has moved to the southern Philippines, which is not far from Cam Ranh Bay!

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