Liu Xiangzhen didn't make any adjustments, but the events that followed almost entirely surpassed his expectations.
Around 7:15 a.m., the flagship of the 42.2 Subsquad "Zizhou" sent a telegraph. A seaplane launched by it discovered several large battleships about 150 kilometers to the northeast. The seaplane not only came under fire from high-altitude guns but was also shot down by Newland fighter planes as it approached.
The telegram emphasized the word "fighter."
However, it didn't mention "ship-borne."
Furthermore, the location where the seaplane was intercepted was about 200 kilometers from the 42.1 Subsquad and over 400 kilometers from the 43.1 Subsquad. If the Newland carrier mixed fleet was there, it could at most provide air cover for the two main battle groups and deploy aircraft to attack the 42.1 Subsquad. Because it was too far away, it was very difficult to bomb the 43.1 Subsquad.
