The Japanese are also preparing for the No. 1 combat plan.

No. 557, Xinfa Road, Changchun.

Japanese Kwantung Army Headquarters, Conference Operation Hall.

General Yoshijiro Umezu, the commander of the Kwantung Army, was dressed in military uniform and stared at the map on the wall with a sad expression on his face.

The current situation of the Kwantung Army is not good!

Although the base camp has recently allocated more than 100,000 troops to the Kwantung Army, and a steady stream of troops and combat supplies are arriving in Manchuria.

but!

To the east, there are hundreds of thousands of the Soviet Union's Far East Army watching eagerly, and to the southwest, there are hundreds of thousands of North China's Eighth Route Army eager to fight.

If the Soviet army in the Far East takes advantage of the Kwantung Army to implement the No. 1 combat plan and launches a large-scale surprise attack from behind, the Kwantung Army will face the danger of being wiped out.

If it were last year, the Japanese army would not have to worry about the Soviet army launching an attack because the Soviet army itself could not protect itself.

But now the situation on the eastern battlefield in Europe has undergone some changes. A few months ago, the Soviet army won the battle to defend Stalingrad, which gave them a big sigh of relief.

Although after the Battle of Nomonkan, the Soviet Union and Japan signed a non-aggression pact.

But Umezu Yoshijiro knows very well that there are only eternal interests between countries.

Once the benefits outweigh the risks for the Soviet army, the other side will definitely tear up the treaty unilaterally without hesitation. After all, the bear in the north will stare at the fat piece of Northeast China for more than a day or two.

Compared with other fanatical officers, Umezu Yoshijiro was not optimistic about the Japanese army launching Operation Plan No. 1 at this time.

This is equivalent to putting most of the Japanese Army's chips on the gambling table.

It would be a good thing if you can win.

but…

Once the No. 1 Operation Plan fails, the consequences will be disastrous. Not only will a large area of ​​land be lost, but the Locust Army will also suffer heavy casualties and consume countless combat supplies. From then on, it will no longer have the ability to attack on a large scale and will only be passively beaten.

Umezu Yoshijiro frowned deeper and deeper, thinking that this year, 1943, would probably not be a good time for both Germany and Japan.

When Umezu Meijiro turned around, the scowl and frown on his face had disappeared, replaced by an expressionless expression.

Umezu Yoshijiro was sitting on a chair in his military uniform. Sitting on both sides of him were the commanders of the various armies of the Kwantung Army, as well as the commanders of each flying division, as well as staff officers and others.

Umezu Yoshijiro glanced at all the Japanese officers and said: "Everyone."

"The base camp has given us the Kwantung Army a formal order to prepare the No. 1 combat plan."

"Prime Minister Tojo ordered us to immediately formulate combat plans and contingency plans, stockpile combat supplies, and must complete preparations within two months."

After the words fell, except for a few sober-minded officers, most of the Japanese officers' expressions and eyes became fanatical.

Lieutenant General Eitaro Uchiyama, commander of the Third Army, asked with a tone full of expectation: "Your Excellency, General, how many troops will our Kwantung Army dispatch in this No. 1 combat plan?"

Eitaro Uchiyama was an artilleryman and served as the brigade commander of the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade.

When he served as the commander of the 13th Division, he led his troops to participate in the Second Battle of Changsha, killing a large number of innocent Chinese people.

"At least 600,000."

Umezu Yoshijiro's tone was serious.

Among the Japanese army, the Kwantung Army has the strongest combat effectiveness and the best equipment.

At its peak, the Kwantung Army consisted of 31 infantry divisions, 11 infantry and tank brigades, 1 death squad brigade and 2 aviation corps, with a total strength of approximately 1.2 million people.

During the Guande Exercise period, the total strength of the Kwantung Army was approximately 700,000.

With the rise of the Eighth Route Army and the outbreak of the Pacific War, the elite Kwantung Army was gradually transferred to the North China battlefield and the Pacific battlefield for consumption.

However, the Kwantung Army was used by the Japanese base camp as the army's general reserve force.

Every time troops were transferred from the Kwantung Army, the Japanese base camp would replenish the Kwantung Army with new combat troops, keeping the Kwantung Army's troops at more than 500,000.

The current total strength of the Kwantung Army is still around 700,000.

"Yoshi!"

Eitaro Uchiyama's voice suddenly rose, and the enthusiasm in his eyes became more intense.

"In this case, the base camp still needs to allocate 300,000 troops to our Kwantung Army?"

Lieutenant General Toshichi Uemura, commander of the 4th Army, asked.

While fighting against the North China Eighth Route Army, at least three to four hundred thousand troops must be left in Manchuria to guard against the Soviet army in the Far East.

"Yes!"

Umezu Meijiro nodded and said.

Toshimichi Uemura looked delighted: "In this way, our Kwantung Army will have 1 million elite troops. The Kwantung Army with 1 million elite troops will be invincible!"

"Not enough!"

Umezu Meijiro shook his head:

"The Eighth Route Army, like the Soviet Army, is a force with extremely powerful combat effectiveness and firepower. We must not take it lightly."

"An order is sent to temporarily recruit Japanese expatriates in Manchuria to join the army. Anyone who dares to disobey the order or resist will be killed without mercy!"

Since 1937, Japan has moved more than two million people, entire villages, in batches from its own land to the puppet Manchukuo.

Umezu Yoshijiro has ordered the staff to make careful calculations, and it is possible that 250,000 overseas Chinese will enlist in the Kwantung Army.

Although there is a serious shortage of weapons, it is still a considerable force and can be used as an elite supplement to the main force of the Kwantung Army when necessary.

As a result, the total strength of the Kwantung Army will be close to 1.3 million men.

Thinking of this, Umezu Yoshijiro finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The Eighth Route Army has been beaten by the Japanese into a fear of lack of firepower.
Chapter completed!