.Mu Haoyang received the message while having supper and rushed to the fleet combat command center.

"I just received the news that the 'Fenhe' discovered the joint fleet."

“Where?”

Zhou Yusheng pointed on the chart and said, "To the east of Honshu Island, about 150 kilometers away from Kashima Beach, and is heading north on the 24th Festival."

"Going north!?" Mu Haoyang glanced at Zhou Yusheng.

"The course is about fifteen degrees, and the speed is definitely around twenty-four knots."

Mu Haoyang frowned and said, "The United Fleet runs so fast, it seems to be avoiding us. I didn't expect the Japanese to be so timid."

“Another angle, this is the best choice.”

"At least, it can be believed that the United States has not provided battlefield information yet, so the Japanese Navy is not clear about our whereabouts, so it dares not let the joint fleet go south."

“For us, this is a huge advantage.”

"Yeah?"

Zhou Yusheng paused for a moment and said, "In the joint fleet, except for four aircraft carriers, other warships are conventionally powered, and twenty-four knots are the maximum continuous navigation speed, while we only have conventional powered frigates and can continue to sail at a speed of more than thirty knots."

Mu Haoyang nodded, indicating that he understood Zhou Yusheng's meaning.

"We can pass through the middle of Xiaozhiyuan Islands, maneuver to the south of the Joint Fleet, and then head north at full speed, and catch up with the Joint Fleet in up to three days."

"It's too risky to do this."

"Why?"

"Don't forget, Japan also has submarines." Maki Haoyang pointed on the Xiaoliyuan Islands on the map and said, "If I were the commander of the Japanese Navy, I would deploy several submarines here. In the current situation, our previous judgment was correct. The Joint Fleet did not intend to fight us, but instead restrained us in the way of existence. As expected, the Japanese Navy would soon launch an attack on the Indian Ocean. Therefore, the value of the existence of the Joint Fleet is very important. The Japanese Navy has no reason to relax its vigilance, and it would also expect that we may take the initiative to find the Joint Fleet to fight. In this way, it would be natural to deploy several submarines in the Xiaoliyuan Islands."

"Even so, we have a great chance of winning."

"The question is, can you guarantee that you will catch up with the United Fleet?"

"this……"

"As long as we expose our whereabouts, or expose tactical intentions, even if we are just a mystery, the Joint Fleet will take evasive measures. More importantly, the United States will definitely intervene at the appropriate time. As long as the Joint Fleet can obtain accurate battlefield information in time, the Japanese Navy will likely adjust its tactics and take the initiative to fight with us." Mu Haoyang glanced at Zhou Yusheng and said, "Our advantage is not obvious when we go deep into the ocean to fight. Even if we can win, we will have to pay a heavy price, and this will have an immeasurable impact on future battles."

"So, are you still insisting on your own opinion?"

Mu Haoyang nodded and said, "At present, it seems that continuing to operate here is the most beneficial to us, and there is no need to rush to kill the Joint Fleet."

At this time, Ma Mingtao rushed over.

"I knew you were here."

"Is there any new information?"

"The information sent by Lao Li, the United States has airlifted a confidential communication system to Hawaii and is expected to be sent to Japan by submarine."

"submarine?"

"According to what Lao Li said, the United States originally planned to use diplomatic special planes to transport communication equipment, but we required all diplomatic special planes entering and leaving Japan to undergo inspection." Ma Mingtao smiled and said, "Maybe, this is the main reason why Japan has not received intelligence support so far."

"Why doesn't the United States use other means of communication?" Zhou Yusheng asked.

"The issue of confidentiality, after all, the United States provides information to Japan will provide us with reasons to expand the scope of blockades and even impose sanctions." Ma Mingtao took out a cigarette and said, "In addition, the US Congress has passed a bill submitted by the president, which legally prohibits the provision of war aid to Japan."

“When will the equipment be delivered?”

"A week, maybe ten days."

Mu Haoyang's brows jumped a few times, and no new questions were raised.

"Old Li said, we have to try to intercept the submarine."

"How to intercept?" Zhou Yusheng was stunned for a moment and said, "The submarine is not a merchant ship. Even if we find it, we cannot force it to stop the ship for inspection."

"Then you have to take a more direct approach."

Zhou Yusheng was stunned and immediately understood, then looked at Mu Haoyang.

"The key is that we don't know where this submarine is."

"The Second Ministry is rushing to collect intelligence and at least provide the approximate time for the submarine to leave the port. The destination of this submarine will not be a Japanese port."

"In other words, you have to find a more hidden harbor."

Ma Mingtao nodded and said, "Japan has many harbors, but not many can be anchored by attacking nuclear submarines, so we can roughly judge the submarine's route."

"So it is possible to set up an ambush on the route."

"It would be too hasty to do this." Mu Haoyang shook his head and said, "If we sink American submarines on the coast, it will be difficult for us to obtain direct evidence of the United States' involvement in the war, and we will not be able to make the US authorities think they are unlucky. If things get bigger, it is very likely that the United States will participate in the war. If you want to obtain direct evidence, you have to start when transferring the goods, and we don't have this opportunity at all."

Ma Mingtao took two puffs of cigarettes and said, "Old Li means that too, so let's do it."

"Sounds true?"

"To put it bluntly, this is just his idea, and it is unlikely that the Head of State authorizes us to attack U.S. warships."

Mu Haoyang smiled and shook his head, saying, "Since that's the case, there is no need to consider it. As you said, American submarines can only arrive in Japan in one week at a time, and we only need to wait patiently for ten days. My opinion is that it is best to keep American submarines in Hawaii."

"What's the meaning?"

"If the American submarine arrived in Japan ten days later, that communications equipment would not be much valuable."

Ma Mingtao was stunned and then said, "I'll contact Lao Li and let him think of a solution."

Mu Haoyang nodded and did not stop Ma Mingtao. In his opinion, the best choice is not to take action by intelligence agencies, but to let the diplomatic department come forward, reaffirm China's principle of war, put pressure on the United States diplomatically, and force the United States to have some concerns when making decisions.

As long as it can be delayed for a few days, US intelligence assistance will lose its value.

Thinking of this, Mu Haoyang asked the Communications Staff to answer the phone number from the General Staff Department and personally explained the situation to Teng Yaohui, hoping that the General Staff would come forward and let the Foreign Minister take action.

At this time, Teng Yaohui also received information provided by Li Mingyang.

Like Mu Haoyang, Teng Yaohui first thought of Du Xiaolei, and exchanged views with Du Xiaolei before Mu Haoyang called back.

That night, Du Xiaolei met with the US Ambassador to China at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Almost at the same time, the Chinese ambassador to the United States rushed to the US State Department and submitted a diplomatic note to the US Secretary of State, reaffirming China's principle of war.

For the United States, diplomatic pressure from China is a factor that must be considered.

In fact, without intending to participate in the war, the US president is most worried that China will make things worse. Politically speaking, any secret actions by the United States in this war, especially those aiding Japan, may turn into a scandal, leading to the president's resignation.

As a result, on the morning of July 5, the American submarine did not leave Pearl Harbor.

Although Cia, who was responsible for providing battlefield information to Japan based on some information released after the war, made preparations, on the afternoon of July 5, another American submarine set off from Guam to Japan with secret communication equipment, in order to avoid exposing its whereabouts, the submarine sailed at extremely low speeds until July 14, and Japan's intelligence headquarters did not assemble the communication equipment on July 15.

It can be said that the approach of the United States' first rat has helped Mu Haoyang a lot.

However, this attitude of the United States also directly led to the expansion of the scale of the war.

On July 5, after learning that the United States could not provide immediate intelligence assistance, the Japanese Prime Minister approved the combat plan submitted by the Defense Minister.

It is not a combat plan in the Western Pacific, but a combat plan in the Indian Ocean.

According to the Minister of Defense, after withstanding the fierce attacks of the Chinese Air Force for the first five days, in order to reduce the burden of local defense, it is necessary to open a second battlefield in the Indian Ocean, forcing the Chinese Navy to send troops to the Indian Ocean, and create opportunities for seizing sea control in the Western Pacific.

The real reason is not that Japan withstood the fierce attack of the Chinese Air Force, but that the joint fleet has no way out.

By the early morning of July 5, the joint fleet was approaching Hokkaido. If they retreated, they could only go to the North Pacific, and the Chinese fleet was likely to follow closely.

If you fight the Chinese fleet in the North Pacific, the chances of winning of the United Fleet are very slim.

In other words, new hot spots must be created to allow the Chinese Navy to divert its power.

At that time, there was another option, which was to directly attack China. However, when deliberating on the combat plan, the Japanese Prime Minister rejected the resolution. The reason was very simple. China had long announced its basic national defense policy and no longer promised not to use nuclear weapons first, but to follow the example of the United States and Russia, claiming that under any circumstances, as long as the local area was attacked, it was possible to use nuclear weapons to fight back.

In the eyes of the Japanese Prime Minister, attacking China's mainland is equivalent to seeking death.

In this way, attacking China's overseas military bases became the only option.

Strategically speaking, attacking and saving is definitely a masterpiece.

The problem is that Japan is betting too much on this, or Japan regards the Indian Ocean as a decisive battlefield, believing that it can completely defeat China through victory in the Indian Ocean. Politically speaking, Japan even hopes to allow India to participate in the war through victory in the Indian Ocean.

Given the situation at that time, it might be even more beneficial if Japan regarded the Indian Ocean as a secondary battlefield.

For example, using shore-based aviation forces to attack the China-Nicoba base on the Andaman-Nicobar Islands can force China to strengthen its presence in the Indian Ocean, while the Japanese Navy can allow the Akagi aircraft carrier battle group to remain in the Western Pacific and enhance its sea control capabilities.

Of course, it's useless to say that.
Chapter completed!