The Rise of the Empire

Chapter 560: The curtain opened



"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 nothing else, Makanov should have received the telegram of the beginning of the war today." Togo Heihachiro said slightly depressed.

Although the number one target of the Japanese fleet is the Makanov fleet, it does not mean that the Essen fleet and the Lushunkou fleet in Vladivostok are indifferent, especially the former. It is an order that can control the battle situation, so in order to completely block this After the Makanov fleet arrived in Cam Ranh Bay, the Japanese Navy’s camouflaged mine-laying ships began laying minefields at night. Then, what is unexpected is that this time the Russians came out so early! Although a sea mine temporarily removed a capital ship from the battle sequence, as Togo Heihachiro said, from a strategic point of view, the Japanese fleet actually suffered a loss.

The question is now clear, what should the Japanese fleet do next? Is it to deal with the Essen fleet in this port of expenditure 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 location?

"We're going to take an adventure!" Chief Staff Officer Akiyama took a deep breath and said, "We can't catch the Essen fleet. Their endurance is great, and their speed is fast, and their actions are erratic. It is difficult to not separate. Found, separated, easily broken by each."

"Our target should still be the Makanov fleet, but this time, we have to take the initiative to attack our opponents in the South China Sea! Instead of waiting for the opponent to snare!" Akiyama added. "Moreover, I have a hunch that the Essen fleet should go to join the Makanov fleet."

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

"This is a loss that needs to be borne. How can there be no losses in the war? As long as we can kill the Makanov fleet, then everything is not a problem. If we can't complete this task, then everything is over." Uemura Hikoyoshi clearly supports Akiyama Real advice.

"Yes, there is nothing if you win, nothing if you lose." Togo Heihachiro exclaimed. He knew that Akiyama's suggestion was right. Now that war has started, Makanov can't be so stupid as to snare himself, and the sudden sailing of the Essen fleet also reminded the Japanese that the Russians may have insights. The Japanese plan, so their choice was to concentrate their forces in the South China Sea, and then go north! Does the Japanese fleet have the ability to break through Lushun or Vladivostok in a short time? No! Then we can only start with the Russian fleet.

But it’s easier said than done, because the South China Sea is so large, how can the Japanese fleet find its target? If the Japanese fleet goes south and the Russian fleet goes north, it happens to run past the gap, then everything is over! Once the three Russian fleets succeed in grouping together, Japan will lose half first.

"The fleet moved towards the Philippines, and also sent a telegram to the base camp, saying that during the battle against the Makanov fleet, the combined fleet was unable to maintain the safety of sea lines of communication. 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 when the Japanese decided to do it, Makanov also received a telegram from Essen, but for this vital telegram, Makanov could only smile bitterly. The Japanese plan was exposed, and the Russian's Eighty percent 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 that his fleet has just arrived in Cam Ranh Bay, and even the next batch of German supply ships has not arrived, this war broke out!

Even if Makanov wanted to go, he would definitely not be able to go because there was not enough fuel and he had to wait for the American fleet. Now war has started. If the Americans cannot send the fleet before Japan and Russia formally declare war, then Under the pressure of the neutral clause, whether the Americans can deliver the previously stated warships is a question! But now, it obviously takes a long time from the German colony to Cam Ranh Bay. If the Japanese go south now, Makanov will have nothing to do, because Cam Ranh does not have so many 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 ships to send coal over immediately, and the rest can only depend on heaven.

The British are indeed good allies of the Japanese in this era. Not long after the Japanese government issued a request, the British began to help gather intelligence on the Russian fleet. The British intelligence is very useful to the Japanese navy, but the greatest help to the Japanese is not the British, but the Russian friend France!

At a reception held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, a French military attache in Japan accidentally revealed that France did not have enough coal in the Far East, and even planned to go to Tianjin to buy coal for the French Far East Fleet. This news made Japan People are firmer in their strategy!

What is the difference between a fleet without fuel and salted fish? Maybe the Russian warships are not enough to drive to Lushunkou or Vladivostok with their own coal reserves~www.novelhall.com~ Even if they are temporarily replenished, they can only choose the nearest route to ensure their voyage! So if this news is true, then all problems are easy to handle, the nearest route! And because of the endurance issue, the Russian fleet cannot be fast!

And 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 for them to reach the Far East, and the British also passed their own channels. It was confirmed that the Russian fleet was short of coal, and even the US Far East Fleet sold its coal stored in German ports to the Russians. Of course, the coal is in the warehouse of the Emperor Wilhelm’s territory and has not been loaded yet... .

"It turns out that the Makanov fleet is the weakest at this time!" Looking at the information gathered, Togo Heihachiro finally showed a triumphant smile! Before the coal ship arrived, the Makanov fleet could only be in Cam Ranh Bay. Yesterday, the Japanese government had declared war on the Russian government. After the declaration of war, according to the neutral clause, if France upholds neutrality, then the Russian fleet is in the harbor. The stay cannot exceed 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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