Volume 2: War breaks out Chapter 21: The Fallen Giant (Part 1)

Before the fleet arrived at Zhoushan Port, news from other fleets and bases had already been delivered one after another, some of which were even telegrams sent in clear text.
Tan Renhao also stayed in the commander's headquarters, assisting Chief of Staff Wu Xianyu in handling telegrams from various parties. While he learned about the situation of other fleets at the first time, he was also extremely shocked by the huge losses suffered by the Imperial Navy in just a few hours.
The imperial military bases on the Ryukyu Islands, including Naha Port, Kadena Airfield, and the First Fleet stationed in Naha Port became the main targets of the Japanese Navy and Army Air Force.
The First Fleet in particular became the ideal target for Japanese bombers.
However, the specific losses of the First Fleet have not yet been reported, and Tan Renhao and his men do not know whether the First Fleet was severely damaged or completely wiped out.
The Second Fleet encountered the Japanese Southern Fleet commanded by Takenobu Kondo in the Surigao Strait and was also bombed by Japanese long-range bombers that took off from Buru Island.
The battle is still going on. Lieutenant General Jiang Bangguo is leading the Second Fleet to fight and retreat, preparing to return to Lianggang or Lion City.
The Third Fleet and the Southwest Fleet were jointly attacked by Japanese bombers and submarine forces in the south of the Makassar Strait and the Bali Sea. Two battleships had been sunk, and another three battleships and more than a dozen other warships were severely damaged or sunk.
The fleet is breaking out towards Lion City at full speed.
Almost at the same time, Japan's air forces deployed on Timor Island and Buru Island were fully mobilized and carried out fierce bombing on the empire's airports in the South Pacific region.
A submarine operating in the west of the Arafura Sea discovered a Japanese landing transport fleet departing from Timor Island. There were at least dozens of landing ships carrying a large number of Japanese ground forces heading towards the empire's various military bases and ports in the South Pacific region.
The Imperial military base on Jeju Island, the Busan naval port, was also attacked by Japanese bombers.
These two bases were leased by the Kingdom of Korea to the Tang Empire. All four airports on Jeju Island were bombed, and more than 200 fighter planes parked at the airports were almost all destroyed.
In addition, several patrol warships anchored in the Busan naval port were also sunk by Japanese bombers. …
The war broke out almost instantly and reached its climax in an instant.
The Imperial Navy went into battle with the Japanese Navy completely unprepared.
As the radio waves delivered telegrams one after another, more and more loss reports appeared in the hands of Wu Xianyu and Tan Renhao.
This was not a fair fight, but there was no doubt that the Imperial Navy was about to fall. Under a series of heavy punches from the opponent, this huge military force was already on the verge of collapse. Perhaps one more punch would bring this giant down completely. The air in the headquarters seemed to be frozen. Every time a telegram was received, the officers' emotions would fluctuate, and the tension in the air and the hatred towards Japan would increase.
"Where did Japan get so many troops?"
Hao Dongjue and his men had quietly returned to the headquarters.
Tan Renhao smiled bitterly and did not answer his friend's question.
After World War I, Japan was the first "defeated" country and the main target of suppression by the empire. Therefore, in the several rounds of peace talks after the war, Japan did not gain much benefit and was also placed under heavy shackles by the empire.
For example, Japan's army could not exceed 200,000, the total tonnage of its naval ships could not exceed 350,000 tons, and it was not allowed to build battleships over 30,000 tons (this was later cancelled), and it was not allowed to own aircraft carriers over 25,000 tons (this was equivalent to not saying anything, because the subsequent "Matsue Treaty" had already limited the displacement of aircraft carriers). In addition, Japan's overseas territories were almost lost.
The Mariana Islands and Midway Island fell into the hands of the United States, and Japan's only remaining territories in the South Pacific were the two small islands of Timor and Buru Island. The rest were occupied by the empire.
It can be said that almost all the participating countries in the First Global War gained something. Even the Tang Empire, which was later forced to reach an armistice agreement with Western powers, saved its face and remained the nominal global hegemon. The empire's naval warships still sailed on the four oceans, and the empire's overseas territories still spread across five continents.
As a result, only Japan did not gain any benefits, but suffered heavy losses. Its international status even fell behind the vassal states of the Tang Empire such as the Kingdom of Korea and the Kingdom of Thailand.
This is one of the main reasons why Japan endured hardships and made all-out efforts to prepare for war after the war.
"We've received news from the First Fleet."
Wu Xianyu's hands were shaking slightly, and he seemed particularly nervous when he picked up the cup of water.
Tan Renhao took the telegram and took a glance at it before his expression darkened.
"What's going on?"
Hao Dongjue looked at Tan Renhao in surprise.
"See for yourself!"
Tan Renhao gave the telegram to Hao Dongjue, then breathed a sigh of relief.
At this time, Wu Xianyu went to the combat command center to find Liao Hanxiang. The staff in the headquarters were all looking at Tan Renhao. Now Tan Renhao was the highest-ranking officer here, and the other staff officers all wanted to know the situation of the First Fleet.
"Impossible, how is this possible?"
Hao Dongjue simply couldn't believe the contents of the telegram.
Tan Renhao smiled bitterly. He didn't know how to make others believe this almost unbelievable fact.
At this time, Liao Hanxiang returned to the headquarters. He had already learned about the experience of the First Fleet from Wu Xianyu, and Tan Renhao also quickly gave the telegram to Liao Hanxiang.
"Major, please follow me to the command cabin."
Liao Hanxiang's hand was shaking slightly as he held the telegram. "Chief of Staff, please inform me immediately when you have more news. When will the fleet be able to arrive in Zhoushan?"
"We'll be there before evening."
Wu Xianyu's answer was very brief.
Liao Hanxiang glanced at the staff in the headquarters, called Tan Renhao and returned to the command cabin.
The warship was shaking slightly, and Tan Renhao felt dizzy. He hadn't slept for two days and one night. Even a strong man would not be able to hold on any longer.
"Sit down, have some coffee?"
Liao Hanxiang was not asking for Tan Renhao's opinion. He took the initiative to make two cups of strong coffee without adding sugar.
"You have also read the telegram. The Imperial Navy suffered the heaviest loss in history on this day. Although we have escaped the disaster, the war has just begun. I believe that the Imperial Navy will win again."
Tan Renhao took the coffee. Actually, he just wanted to have a good sleep. As for how to win, he would think about it after he recovered his energy.
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