"Yo Xi, it is true that famous teachers make great disciples! Speaking of which, Doihara and I have been friends for many years and share common understandings on many strategic policies." Ishihara smiled and nodded. In fact, he was very interested in Doihara Kenji and Kawakawa.
He still heard about what happened between Shima Yoshiko.
At this time, after listening to Kawashima Yoshiko's memories and explanations, Ishihara Wan'er's mind suddenly became clear. At the same time, he became more aware of Kawashima Yoshiko's intention of deliberately leaking this information. Kawashima Yoshiko nodded quickly and said with a smile: "Teachers also often
Mention your Excellency, Commander, to me and say that you are a rare strategic genius in the Empire of Japan. Please let me learn more and ask for advice from you!"
"No, Doihara is too polite. He was the pillar of the Empire of Japan. It's a pity that he died young." Even though he knew that most of it was just one-sided words from Yoshiko Kawashima, Ishihara smiled.
Still couldn't help but smile. "Your Excellency, Commander, you tend to get thirsty after drinking. Let me peel an apple to moisten your throat!"
After a few words of praise, Yoshiko Kawashima reached out to pick up the apple and the fruit knife from the fruit plate on the coffee table, and began to peel it. Soon, Yoshiko Kawashima had peeled the apple, stood up with a smile and walked towards Ishihara Wanji. "Oh!
!" However, just when she was about to come forward, Kawashima Yoshiko suddenly let out a sweet cry, stumbled forward suddenly, and suddenly fell into Ishihara Wanji's arms. "Miss Yoshiko, are you okay!"
Ishihara Wanji subconsciously stretched forward, and miraculously grabbed two soft balls. Suddenly, he felt full of high elasticity. The old devil's body suddenly tightened as if he had been electrocuted. "Sorry, I'm not here today either.
I drank a lot of wine, and my legs and feet are a little weak!" Kawashima Yoshiko was attacked on her vitals, but she was not unhappy at all. Instead, she looked at Ishihara and smiled with spring in her eyes: "Thank you, Commander, for helping me in time.
Otherwise, you will have to fall into a big fight!"
After saying that, Yoshiko Kawashima not only did not take the initiative to escape from the clutches, but instead sank into Ishihara Wanji's arms. "Where! Where!" Looking at Yoshiko Kawashima's appearance, Ishihara Wanji still didn't know where she was. This was completely
It was Chi Guoguo who threw herself into his arms and wanted to exchange her beauty for benefits. "Miss Yoshiko, you are so beautiful!" Ishihara Wanji actually had some thoughts about this woman with noble status and royal blood, so it was easy to see her at this time.
Without being polite, his hands began to look dishonest.
Yoshiko Kawashima hugged Ishihara Wanji tightly and murmured: "It is my greatest honor to be appreciated by Your Excellency the Commander! Please show mercy to Your Excellency the Commander!" After many years of ups and downs and honor and disgrace, Kawashima Kawashima
Yoshiko knows very well that if a woman wants to conquer the world, she must first conquer powerful men.
The Japanese in front of him not only controls the entire Manchukuo, but may further become a giant of the Japanese Empire in the future, so Kawashima Yoshiko has long made up his mind to capture Ishihara Wanji at all costs. "Yoshi! I am so interested in Yoshiko
I have admired you for a long time, Miss!" Ishihara Wan'er was in a good mood and drank a little too much. She was originally very excited, but how could she withstand such a lively scene now?
A few days later, Kawashima Yoshiko was appointed as the commander of the Puppet Manchukuo Imperial Guards, which was a big step forward in returning to the world and possessing a considerable armed force. In fact, Kawashima Yoshiko had already
He was appointed commander-in-chief of the Manchukuo Anguo Army, which was promoted as "the Manchukuo Volunteer Army led by a Manchu princess."
However, in 1934, Yoshiko Kawashima was disappointed because she felt that Manchukuo was not the restoration of the Qing Dynasty with the help of Japan, but just a puppet regime of Japan. From time to time, she publicly criticized the Japanese army's "mainland policy" and used her personal power to release some arrested people.
of Chinese people.
The Japanese army quickly became alert to this and sent her back to Japan for surveillance. It was not until 1936 that Yoshiko Kawashima made a comeback with the help of Hideki Tojo's Sino-Japanese peace talks strategy, and returned to Tianjin to run Dongxinglou Restaurant, secretly continuing espionage activities and collaborating with the Japanese army.
There were frequent contacts between high-ranking officials and traitors.
Now, with Ishihara Kanji coming to power and adopting a series of strategies of "using China to control China", the Manchu royal family has gained an unprecedented sense of "dignity" and presence, and Kawashima Yoshiko's desire to restore the Qing Dynasty has come back to life.
In order to realize the great dream in her heart, Kawashima Yoshiko continued to serve as a hawk and dog for the Japanese invaders, and she did not hesitate to fall into eternal disaster in the criminal act of collaborating with the tigers.
On April 9, 1940, Nazi Germany implemented a military plan code-named "Operation Weisselberg" to fully invade Denmark and Norway. However, both Denmark and Norway were neutral countries, and their relations with Germany were pretty good, and they had never provoked Germany.
Denmark's main ethnic group is still Germanic, just like Germany.
Hitler had never said that he would invade Denmark and Norway before, not even a verbal hint. So what was the reason for declaring war on Denmark and Norway? The reason for declaring war was as follows: It was reported that Britain and France were about to launch an invasion of Denmark and Norway. In order to ensure that Denmark
and Norway's neutrality and sovereignty are intact, the two countries should immediately hand over their countries to the protection of Nazi Germany.
In fact, the real reason was that after Nazi Germany attacked Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Compared with Britain, an old maritime empire, Germany's maritime power was at a disadvantage, especially after the pocket battleship "Spee" was sunk by the British army. The German navy
The "let it out" tactic failed completely.
In order to ensure sea control in the North Atlantic and the security of the iron ore import route from Sweden, senior German naval admirals suggested Hitler invade Denmark and Norway several times, and finally got Hitler's consent. Four hours after the start of "Operation Weisselberg", Denmark
It fell completely, and the king declared his surrender.
Norway, on the other hand, relied on its terrain, support from Britain and France, and heroic fighting to continue to deal with the Nazi German army! As Nazi Germany further expanded the scale of the war, the security situation in Europe became extremely severe, and Britain and France faced unprecedented war pressure.
Seeing the successive victories of the German allies, the two major powers of Britain and France could only parry but not fight back. The Japanese military government was greatly encouraged, and the call for a southward attack became louder and louder. However, there were still huge obstacles and problems before Japan.
, that is, the Republic of China government still persists in the war of resistance and has not surrendered, and the Communist base areas behind enemy lines are already starting to spread like wildfire.
In particular, the powerful Shandong Group Army was embedded in the hinterland of the Japanese-controlled area. It not only cut off the railway transportation network, but also threatened the security of the entire North China at all times. Therefore, before going south, the Shandong Group Army must be eradicated as a serious problem!
After a long period of planning and deliberation, the Japanese base camp formulated an unprecedented military battle. Two huge combat groups were formed against the Shandong Group Army and Qin Siyu's troops in Yunwu Mountain, and prepared to encircle and annihilate the Shandong Group Army and Qin Siyu's troops in a pincer attack from the north and south.
Qin Siyu Military Group in Yunwu Mountain.
On May 10, 1940, Nazi Germany decided to adopt the Manstein Plan and began to attack France, Belgium, the Netherlands and other low-lying countries, thereby ending the sham war that had lasted for more than half a year, known in history as the Battle of France.
On the evening of the same day, Churchill was elected as the British Prime Minister for the first time. What he inherited from his predecessor Chamberlain was a mess facing collapse. From the air, land to sea, the British Empire was suffering unprecedented continuous setbacks.
Just one week after Churchill took office, the German army broke through the Maginot Line, France's war totem. France's defeat was already a very real risk. After taking office, Churchill quickly delivered a famous speech in the House of Commons, which greatly encouraged people to indulge in failure.
Members of Congress who were in a state of emotion, the development of the war situation quickly proved Churchill's lies.
France claims to have "the strongest army in the world" and its weapons and equipment are at the world's first-class level. The Maginot Line of Defense set up in the east of France is considered by the French to be an unbreakable defense facility. But it has left everyone absolutely hopeless.
What comes to mind is that the German army bypassed the Maginot Line and entered France from the Ardennes region.
Just two weeks later, at the end of May, France was defeated by Nazi Germany. The British and French coalition forces were completely defeated and surrounded by the German army at Dunkirk. On May 25, 1940, the British and French coalition defense lines collapsed under the rapid offensive of the German mechanized troops.
Afterwards, the British army conducted the largest military evacuation in Dunkirk, a small port town in northeastern France near the Belgian border.
Although this large-scale evacuation operation, codenamed "Project Dynamo", allowed Britain and France to use various ships to withdraw a large number of troops, successfully saved a large amount of manpower and preserved viable strength for future counterattacks.
However, all the heavy equipment of the British expeditionary force stationed in France was abandoned on the European continent, causing serious problems in the ground defense of the British mainland. The Dunkirk evacuation marked the withdrawal of British forces from the European continent. In Western Europe, except for the United Kingdom, Switzerland and
Major areas outside of Spain were occupied by Germany.
On June 10, 1940, Germany's victory in France was a foregone conclusion. Mussolini hastily announced on the balcony of the Palazzo Venezia that Italy declared war on France. On June 11, Italy's centralized crown prince Prince Umberto commanded the "
The "Western" Army Group fought against France.
After the German army entered Paris, the French government immediately collapsed and split, mainly between the pacifist government composed of Marshal Philippe Pétain that continued to remain in France, and the government-in-exile established by Charles de Gaulle in the United Kingdom. On June 21,
Pétain's Vichy French government proposed a truce to Germany, and France announced its surrender the next day.
The governments of France, Germany, and Italy signed an armistice agreement. According to the agreement, the German and Italian troops occupied most of France. Their food and wages were borne by the French government, and there was a complete ceasefire in France. The Allied forces suffered a total of 350,000 casualties and 1.9 million people were captured in this battle; the German-Italian Alliance
The army suffered a total of 155,000 casualties, including 45,000 killed and 110,000 injured.?
July 25, Tokyo Imperial Palace, Japan. Encouraged by the glorious achievements of the German and Italian allies in the European battlefield, the Japanese government was like a chicken blood from top to bottom, whether it was going north or south, or launching a larger-scale attack on China
The calls for attack became louder and louder. Emperor Hirohito held a high-level cabinet meeting and summoned all his ministers and confidants to the imperial palace for strategic discussions.
Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro, Chief of Staff of the General Staff Headquarters Kan'in Miyazahito, Army Education Director Yamada Otsuzo, Army Minister Hideki Tojo, Navy Chief of Staff Fushimi Miyahiro Kyoshi, Navy Minister Yoshida Zengo, Foreign Minister Matsuoka Yosuke and other veterans
All the Japanese were present.
Because today's meeting is very important, directly related to the next strategic direction of the Japanese military government, and thus greatly affecting Japan's national destiny, the atmosphere at the meeting was particularly solemn and solemn. These ministers were all sitting upright, acting respectfully like a group of primary school students. 1939
On September 1, 2011, Hitler invaded Poland and launched World War II, which swept through Western Europe in less than a year.
The glorious results of the German army greatly stimulated the aggressive ambitions of the Japanese fascists. The Japanese imperialists were extremely dissatisfied with the stalemate in the war of aggression against China and were eager to expand the scale of the war. They strongly demanded strongmen to form a cabinet and adjust Japan's strategy.
For this reason, they did not hesitate to overthrow the Yone Cabinet, which was opposed to the alliance with Germany and Italy. In this way, the originally frustrated Konoe Fumimaro once again received widespread support. Like a dream, the second Konoe Cabinet was established on July 22, 1940.
established.
The original cabinet minister of war, Kojima Nojiro, had been kicked out of the highest decision-making level and was appointed as the first chief of staff of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, assisting General Nishio Hiszo.
Kojima Nojiro made a last-ditch effort to end the war he started. He carried out the work of luring the Chairman to surrender and asked to fly to Changsha, controlled by the Chinese army, to meet the Chairman in person. He only wanted to keep the puppet Manchukuo and Japan within the Great Wall.
In order to achieve commercial interests, Japan withdrew its troops. However, the chairman of the Generalissimo remained unmoved, and the island became increasingly marginalized among the Japanese army.
After the opening remarks were over, Navy Minister Zengo Yoshida was the first to speak: "Now the European battlefield is dominated by Germany. Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France have surrendered one after another. The British have also been beaten to pieces and have withdrawn from Europe.
Mainland! The international situation is said to be very good. Except for the Soviet Union and the United States, the Empire of Japan has no external threats. Now the Imperial Japanese Navy has officially moved south to attack South Asia. It is a great opportunity for Southeast Asia to absorb more strategic resources.
Your Majesty the Emperor, this opportunity must not be lost and it will not come back again. I strongly recommend that you approve the southward offensive strategy as soon as possible!" Southeast Asia is rich in resources, and the Japanese army is actively "moving southward". The competition for resources is one of the primary reasons. Among the many resources, the giant island located on the Indonesian island of Sumatra
The Hong Kong Oilfield contains oil, the strategic resource that Japan most desires to obtain. The Palembang Oilfield is the largest oil field in Asia, with an annual output of 4.7 million tons of oil, which is approximately Japan’s domestic oil consumption in a year.
As long as it controls the Palembang oil field, Japan will no longer be afraid of the US oil embargo, and its war potential will expand rapidly. It has the second-largest navy in the world, but it has been only able to cruise on the sea doing nothing, and has endured it for so many years.
Naturally, the Japanese Navy has long been driven to the point of going crazy. Now that the European battlefields are reporting good results one after another, the British and French will not surrender because they are too busy to take care of themselves. They no longer have to worry about the revenge of Britain and France. The Japanese Navy's mood to go south to expand its territory has become even more urgent.
From August 1939, Zengo Yoshida was re-elected as Navy Minister in the Abe Nobuyuki Cabinet, Yoneuchi Mitsumasa Cabinet, and the Second Konoe Fumimaro Cabinet. "Your Majesty, I think the time to go south is not mature enough at present. Our most important thing at the moment is and
Germany and Italy should form an alliance to establish a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere integrating Japan, Manchuria, and China, instead of rushing south to go to war with Britain!"
As soon as Yoshida Zengo finished his high-pitched words, Foreign Minister Matsuoka Yosuke shook his head and objected: "Yes, France has surrendered now, and Britain has been beaten by Germany and can only parry. However, we must not forget that in front of the Japanese Empire
Not only is the powerful United States eyeing it, but China has not yet been completely conquered. Millions of Japanese Imperial Army troops are being held back on the Chinese battlefield.
Therefore, I believe that the most urgent task for the Japanese Empire is not to attack south, but to conquer China first, so that it can further accumulate strength and make the Japanese Empire invincible." After taking office, Matsuoka couldn't wait to seek cooperation with Germany and Italy.
formed an alliance, and at the press conference after taking office, he first proposed the establishment of a "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" integrating Japan, Manchuria and China.
He also made it clear that the Co-Prosperity Sphere included French India and the Dutch East Indies. According to his explanation, the so-called "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" was based on the "fundamental spirit of the Imperial Way" as the guiding principle and was established with Japan as the leader.
economic group.
Matsuoka Yosuke also declared: "Japan is expanding. Just imagine which expanding country has not attacked its neighbors? Ask those American Indians and Mexicans, and look at the years of the young United States of America.
How we tortured them cruelly before."
Matsuoka's wishful thinking was that the formation of a three-nation alliance would not only resist the strong pressure of the United States in East Asia, but also promote the establishment of a "new order" at the east and west ends of Eurasia. Based on this, he would then invite the Soviet Union to join Japan and Germany.
With the Italian-Italian joint system, a powerful power group with a new system in Eurasia will emerge, and it can maintain a confrontation with the Western Hemisphere centered on Britain and the United States.
Zengo Yoshida was immediately unhappy and objected again: "An alliance with Germany and Italy basically means going to war with the United States, and the fighter planes in the hands of the Japanese are far inferior to those of the Americans in terms of quality and quantity, and their production capacity is even higher.
It is far behind.
Without the support of fighter planes, how can the already weak navy fight? Isn't this asking for death? The Empire of Japan is still not strong enough. We still need to absorb more strategic resources. At this time, we must not break up with the Americans.
I am shameless, so I cannot form an alliance with Germany and Italy no matter what." To be honest, Zengo Yoshida is a capable person in the Japanese navy. When Isoroku Yamamoto became the commander of the Combined Fleet, he succeeded him.
Starting from the Abe Cabinet in 1939, Yoshida Zengo served as Navy Minister in three cabinets. At the beginning of the full-scale war of aggression against China, it was he who led the Japanese Navy's offensive as the commander of the Second Fleet. Therefore, regardless of ability,
In terms of reputation, Zengo Yoshida has a certain status in the Japanese naval community.
Zengo Yoshida was really out of tune in the cabinet. With the support of Vice-Presidents Sumiyama Tokutaro and Narimi Inoue, he had always insisted on opposing the formation of a military alliance with Germany and Italy. However, what troubled Yoshida Zengo was that he was still serving as a close officer at the time.
As the Minister of the Navy in the Cabinet, if the cabinet cannot even agree on internal opinions, then the game is basically over.
In order to persuade Yoshida Zengo, Foreign Minister Matsuoka Yoyou, Military Affairs Director Oka Keizumi and others went to Yoshida Zengo's house every day, took turns persuading, and pestered him endlessly. As a result, Yoshida Zengo was haggard physically and mentally within half a year after taking office.
He suffered from depression and even attempted suicide.
In the end, Yoshida Zengo had to agree to form an alliance with Germany and Italy, but only if he himself resigned. Since you have to do it, then I will resign from the head office, right? There is no need to hinder your work! What’s interesting is that the Treaty of the Three Kingdoms Alliance was officially signed.
On that day, Japan wanted to send Yoshida Zengo as a representative to sign, but this man directly yelled: Whoever wants to go, I won't go!
Later, facts also proved that Yoshida Zengo, Yamamoto Isoroku and others had very accurate vision, and they successfully predicted the war situation after the establishment of the Three Kingdoms Alliance. In the end, they were defeated in the confrontation with the United States and were beyond recovery. However,
On the other hand, in fact, we should also be grateful to those who support the Three Kingdoms Alliance. It was their ambitions that drew the Americans to the Pacific battlefield, which greatly eased the pressure on the Chinese battlefield and accelerated the demise of Japanese militarism.
.
But at this time, Yoshida Zengo seemed to be a different person, with an extremely excited expression. As a senior naval officer, he was always dreaming about leading the Japanese naval fleet south to expand territory. After a pause, Yoshida Zengo became excited again.
He emphasized: “Our strategic goals should be more realistic, rather than fantasizing about an alliance with Germany and Italy and trying to carve up the entire world.
Americans have always put interests first. As long as we do not have direct military conflict with them, they will not easily get involved in the war!
Therefore, I firmly believe that as long as the Empire of Japan does not form an alliance with Germany and Italy, even if we attack South and Southeast Asia, the Americans will still stand aside and the Empire of Japan will be able to gain maximum military benefits." Tojo Hideki said at this time: "I
It is believed that it is feasible to attack south to acquire more strategic resources, and it is also necessary to form a military alliance with Germany and Italy.
The next strategic goal of the Empire of Japan is to extend the "New East Asian Order" to the colonies of Britain, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands in Southeast Asia. At the same time, the Empire of Japan must do its best to exclude the interference of American power."
Can you have both? Do you think Americans are stupid?" Yoshida Zengo glared at Tojo Hideki and retorted in an extremely excited tone:
"Once we form a military alliance with Germany and Italy, it means that the Empire of Japan will participate in carving up the entire world. How can Americans sit back and watch the unlimited expansion of this military alliance?" Hideki Tojo is also not a good-tempered person. Seeing Yoshida
Shanwu kicked his nose in his face and immediately retorted loudly: "Are you the only smart person in the world?
Going south to attack Southeast Asia will definitely cause a conflict of interest with Britain and the United States and destroy their vested interests in Southeast Asia. If the Americans really want to intervene in the war, they will also fall out with the Japanese Empire. So instead of being so passive, we might as well take a preemptive strike and further strengthen
Military alliance, gain more power!
Also, as you said before, as long as we do not have direct military conflict with the United States, even if the United States is extremely dissatisfied with the Empire of Japan, the Americans will never intervene militarily in the short term." "Baga! Stupid! The Empire of Japan
Sooner or later, we will all be destroyed in the hands of you idiots!" Yoshida Zengo was so angry that he was shaking all over. He couldn't help but swore directly, and stared at Tojo Hideki with red eyes, as if he wanted to kill someone!