Volume 2: War breaks out Chapter 9: Incomprehensible Tasks (Part 1)
Until new orders are received, the fleet can only continue to perform combat readiness patrol missions in designated sea areas.
The next day, the naval headquarters lowered the combat readiness levels of each fleet, but did not change the previous orders. The four major fleets of the Empire operating on the waters of the Eastern Hemisphere continued to carry out combat readiness patrol missions.
On the third day, a transport plane landed on the "Taizu" aircraft carrier, bringing a staff officer from the naval command, as well as a piece of intelligence and a new order.
"You are very familiar with the person who came. He is your classmate. I heard that he is very familiar with you."
Colonel Ji Xiaobin went directly to Tan Renhao's senior officers' cabin to find him.
"Alumni of the same school, and we are still familiar with each other?"
Tan Renhao was a little confused. His best schoolmate was Lei Shaoqing, and his relationships with the other people he was familiar with were not very good.
"Do you know the second place winner in your period?"
"Are you talking about Jiang Zhongmin?"
Tan Renhao reacted immediately. He and Jiang Zhongmin were very familiar with each other, but they were definitely not good friends.
"Yes, a year ago, he was transferred from the Second Fleet to the Navy Headquarters. He was promoted twice in two years and is highly valued by the Chief of the Navy General Staff. However, he is still far behind you."
Ji Xiaobin smiled and patted Tan Renhao on the shoulder. "This time, he is here to give us new orders. You should greet him well later."
Tan Renhao nodded reluctantly. He and Jiang Zhongmin were not the same kind of people. In his opinion, Jiang Zhongmin and Fan Peikun were of the same kind, but now Tan Renhao and Fan Peikun could be said to be incompatible.
In the operations conference room, Captain Jiang Zhongmin was conveying new orders from the Navy Command and the Navy Staff to General Liao Hanxiang and General Wu Xianyu.
"This is an order personally issued by Chief of Staff Guo Xianzhong. The Fifth Fleet will first meet up with the supply fleet and, after completing the supply, proceed to the Japanese port of Nagasaki for a friendly visit."
Jiang Zhongmin still looks very calm. When he was in school, some people jokingly called him "Iceman".
"This visit was arranged by Prime Minister Xue Xiyue himself. Now our relations with Japan have eased somewhat. According to the Imperial Cabinet Government, we are not prepared to go to war with Japan in the near future.
Marshal Sagittin also said this: we are not yet ready for war.
Therefore, this visit is very important and can also be seen as a return visit to the visit of the Japan Southwest Combined Fleet to us more than a year ago.
General, do you have any questions?"
Liao Hanxiang did not say anything because he was a little disgusted with these young officers in the Navy Command.
Almost all young officers in the naval headquarters feel superior to others. They think that working in the headquarters means they are better than other officers and often use chicken feathers as tokens.
"We have no problem..."
Wu Xianyu had just finished speaking when he saw Ji Xiaobin and Tan Renhao, "Colonel, you are here."
Ji Xiaobin nodded, and then asked Tan Renhao to stand next to him.
"Captain Jiang Zhongmin, I don't need to introduce you, right? Major Tan Renhao is the operations staff officer of our fleet aviation operations staff."
Tan Renhao smiled and nodded at Jiang Zhongmin, and found that this classmate who had once suppressed him had not changed much.
Jiang Zhongmin also nodded to Tan Renhao, but his expression was still serious.
"Major, accompany Captain Jiang Zhongmin to get familiar with our flagship!"
Liao Hanxiang stood up and said to Jiang Zhongmin, "You two are classmates from the same period. We haven't seen each other for more than two years. You must have a lot to talk about, right? As for the visit, we will consider it. When will you return to the headquarters?"
"The sooner the better."
"Okay, then I'll give you an answer as soon as possible."
Liao Hanxiang glanced at Ji Xiaobin and motioned him to see him off.
"Captain, this way please!"
Ji Xiaobin asked Jiang Zhongmin to leave the conference room, and also pulled Tan Renhao, "Major, you accompany the guests outside, I will welcome the captain tonight."
Tan Renhao was of course aware of what the colonel and the commander meant. They didn't want outsiders to be present when they were discussing fleet affairs, otherwise Ji Xiaobin would not have called him over to specifically entertain Jiang Zhongmin.
The two men walked through two corridors and arrived at the officers' mess below.
Because it was not yet time for dinner, there were not many people in the restaurant. Several officers were gathered in groups, some were playing chess, some were bragging, and two were reading magazines.
The officers' mess is also the main place for officers to entertain and rest, but many officers on leave will stay in their own officers' cabins.
Both of them first briefly introduced their experiences over the past two years, and then Tan Renhao learned the reason why Jiang Zhongmin came to the fleet.
"Let's go on a visit to Japan?"
Tan Renhao sneered in his heart. Fortunately, Jiang Zhongmin was from the Navy Command, otherwise, with General Liao Hanxiang's temper, he would have thrown him into the sea to feed the fish.
"I can't do anything about it. I'm just an ordinary officer ."
Jiang Zhongmin shrugged helplessly, "However, your current position is very good. I heard that General Liao Hanxiang has recommended you many times, and even Marshal Sagittin attaches great importance to you."
"Brother Jiang, you are making fun of me."
Tan Renhao used the common term in the military academy.
"What's my position? Even if I make it to the top, I'll just be a brigadier general. You're serving in the headquarters, a place that others are desperate to get to. Maybe in three to five years, you'll be one of the youngest generals in the history of the Imperial Navy."
Jiang Zhongmin smiled bitterly.
"Renhao, you are making fun of me.
You had a grudge against Van Pekun at the beginning, but I didn't help him.
But then again, judging from the current situation, I'm afraid you have a greater chance of becoming a general than anyone else."
Tan Renhao smiled bitterly and shook his head. What he was thinking about now was not when he could become a general, but whether the current tense situation would turn into a war.
"Zhongmin, do you think we will fight with Japan in this situation?"
Jiang Zhongmin smiled but didn't say anything.
"I think the chances of a fight are slim!"
Tan Renhao stirred the coffee in his cup. "But this is fine. We don't want to fight anyway."
Jiang Zhongmin is a very steady person. No matter how Tan Renhao tries to hint at him, Jiang Zhongmin refuses to reveal any inside information.
Tan Renhao soon gave up his efforts. When he was in school, Jiang Zhongmin was the most stable student among the 192nd class, with a maturity that did not match his age.
Of course, Tan Renhao had not thought about how much "intelligence" he could get from Jiang Zhongmin. His task was just to wait with Jiang Zhongmin for a few hours.
