During the plan formulation, Bai Zhizhan faced the most severe problem, not the assault on Transfer Island, but how to achieve strategic deception.
The key to attacking Transfer Island was strategic deception.
Due to insufficient forces, it was impossible to attack Wei Island simultaneously; thus, the fleet's range of action was strictly limited and could only enter from the northwest of Transfer Island.
This severely limited the fleet's tactical flexibility.
As a direct result, as long as the Imperial Navy's operational intentions were exposed or guessed, the Special Mixed Fleet might be ambushed during the attack on Transfer Island.
Even if the Newland Navy had only two small carriers, seizing the opportunity would give them confidence to annihilate two large carriers.
Clearly, the only method was strategic deception, making the Newland Navy firmly believe that the Imperial Navy would not attack Transfer Island but target other locations.
