Chapter 576: The Japanese Army's Dilemma

On the flagship of the Combined Fleet, Commander Nan Yun Zhongyi, dressed in a Navy Lieutenant General uniform, stood in the command cabin, his gaze fixed on the endless sea ahead, his expression steady yet unable to hide the pride in his brows.

Beside him stood the fleet chief of staff Cao Lu Longzhijie, holding a navigation chart, solemnly reporting: "Commander, the fleet has successfully arrived at the outer waters of Morseby Port. According to the plan, from Morseby Port to Brisbane is about two thousand kilometers; the round‑trip voyage and deployment of landing troops will require at least a week."

Nan Yun Zhongyi nodded, lightly tapping the control desk, and said in a flat tone: "Understood. Relay the order: the fleet must increase speed and arrive at the Brisbane sea area on schedule, ensuring the 2nd Division lands smoothly."

The 2nd Division, drawn from Xia Shan Feng Wen's 25th Army to the Southwest Pacific.

In fact, at this time the Japanese Army's headquarters had already ordered all Class A Divisions within Huaxia, including the Kwantung Army in the northeast, to pull large numbers of regiments to form new divisions for seizing islands in the Pacific.

Cao Lu Longzhijie hesitated briefly, stepped forward, and added gravely: "Commander, there is another thorny issue."

"America, Britain, and France still control several islands in the South Pacific. These islands lie along our route and not only threaten the landing 2nd Division but also directly endanger our fragile logistical supply line."

"Baka!" Nan Yun Zhongyi frowned, his tone tinged with impatience.

"They're just a few lingering islands—what's there to worry about? Does the Combined Fleet's strength still fear these remnants?"

Cao Lu Longzhijie quickly explained: "Commander, I'm not concerned about the fleet's combat power; it's that this operation must both transport the 2nd Division and escort it throughout, ensuring supplies can flow from the Solomon Islands to Brisbane. A two‑front operation will stretch our forces, and if America, Britain, and France seize the chance to launch a surprise attack, the consequences would be disastrous."

Nan Yun Zhongyi sneered, a flash of arrogance crossing his eyes: "Cao Lu, you're overly cautious. The presence of America, Britain, and France in the South Pacific has long been crippled by us; what remains are merely defeated remnants, hardly worth fearing."

"Our primary task is to safely deliver the 2nd Division to Brisbane, capture Brisbane, and open a new foothold for the Imperial in the South Pacific. As for the leftover forces on those islands, a few combat aircraft to harass them will keep them from acting rashly."

Fleet adjutant Shan Kou Duowen also stepped forward to agree: "The commander is right; America, Britain, and France have long been drained of vigor and lack any ability to match the Combined Fleet. Moreover, our escort formation is formidable enough to handle any sudden situation and keep the supply line clear."

Nan Yun Zhongyi nodded, his tone growing firmer: "Very well. Relay the order: strengthen the escort's vigilance, have the transport fleet steam at full speed, and reach the Brisbane sea area within three days, preparing for the landing."

At that moment, Nan Yun Zhongyi was full of arrogance, paying no heed to the remaining forces of America, Britain, and France, nor to the emerging Nanko Fleet in Southeast Asia.

He had just received intelligence that the suddenly appearing Nanko Fleet, though sizable and not to be underestimated, had one fatal flaw—no aircraft carriers.

Thinking of this, Nan Yun Zhongyi couldn't help laughing and said to his subordinates: "Did you know? That so‑called mighty Nanko Fleet has no carriers! Without carriers, there's no ship‑borne air cover; even the strongest battleships are just moving targets on the sea."

Nan Yun Zhongyi believed that as soon as his Combined Fleet entered Thai waters, it could annihilate the Nanko Fleet.

Even the United States' Pacific Fleet has already been destroyed beneath the Imperial Japanese Combined Fleet.

Upon hearing that the Nanko Fleet lacked carriers.

Cao Lu Longzhijie's eyes flashed with doubt: "Commander, does the Nanko Fleet really have no carriers? If so, their naval combat power would indeed be greatly reduced."

"Absolutely!" Nan Yun Zhongyi slapped the command desk, his tone dripping with contempt.

"According to all intelligence reports, the Nanko Fleet consists only of battleships, cruisers and destroyers—no carrier, no ship‑borne aircraft. Such a fleet without air cover, before the Combined Fleet, is merely a dish on our plate!"

Nan Yun Zhongyi was exceedingly confident.

Shan Kou Duowen quickly flattered: "Commander, your wisdom shines! The Combined Fleet possesses multiple carriers and a large contingent of ship‑borne aircraft; once our carrier group moves, the Nanko Fleet will have no means to retaliate."

"After we successfully transport the 2nd Division to Brisbane and stabilize Australia's situation, you will personally lead the Combined Fleet to wipe out the Nanko Fleet in one stroke, eradicating the maritime threat in Southeast Asia!"

Nan Yun Zhongyi's face broke into a smug smile as he looked toward the distant sea, his tone arrogant yet resolute: "Alright! Let's do it! Once the army is ashore and Brisbane's defenses are secured, I will personally confront the Nanko Fleet, show them the might of the Combined Fleet, and make them understand that a fleet without carriers is utterly vulnerable before us!"

The fleet surged forward at full speed across the boundless ocean, while ship‑borne aircraft circled overhead on patrol.

On the transport ships, soldiers of the Japanese Army's 2nd Division stood ready, each tense yet a touch arrogant, believing that with the Combined Fleet's escort, the landing at Brisbane would surely go smoothly.

What they did not know was that the remaining forces of America, Britain, and France had already set up ambushes on the islands along the route.

The United States' remaining fleet in the South Pacific was quietly reshaping its formation, preparing to bite the Japanese Combined Fleet at the opportune moment.

At this time, the United States was eager to seize the chance to sink a Japanese carrier.

Meanwhile, Terauchi Hisaichi, at the Southern Army headquarters, stared at a telegram from the Australian direction, his mind filled with complexity.

He had abandoned the landing at Sydney precisely because the Southeast Asian front had collapsed.

Myanmar, Thailand were in successive emergencies, and the loss of Singapore stripped the Japanese Army of its core foothold in Southeast Asia.

If the Combined Fleet were to pull away from the Southeast Asian peninsula and devote all forces to the Australian landing, any opportunistic attack by the Nanko Fleet would mean the remaining Japanese forces in Southeast Asia would be utterly annihilated.

Sydney lies in southern Australia, and because of this, even if the Japanese conquered Australia, forcing Australia to surrender.

But if the American forces in Australia cannot be completely destroyed, the war would be meaningless.

Yet Australia is as vast as Huaxia.

At this time most of the Japanese Army's ground forces were mired in Huaxia's quagmire.

Before launching the Pearl Harbor raid, the Japanese Army earnestly hoped the Chongqing government would surrender.

However, the more they tried, the more resistance arose.

The Japanese Army could not concentrate forces in Huaxia to launch an attack on Chongqing.

Terauchi Hisaichi could only place his hopes on Nan Yun Zhongyi, who could both complete the Brisbane landing and contain the Nanko Fleet, buying the Japanese Army breathing room.

What he didn't know was that Nan Yun Zhongyi had already been blinded by arrogance, underestimating the Nanko Fleet's fatal weakness, and was gradually driving the Combined Fleet toward the abyss.

Three days later, the Japanese Combined Fleet reached the Brisbane sea area, and the landing operation officially began.

Ship‑borne aircraft roared toward Brisbane's coast, and landing craft carrying soldiers of the 2nd Division surged toward the beach—a new brutal battle.

It opened on Australia's coastline, and Nan Yun Zhongyi's arrogant oath was about to face its harshest test.