In fact, there has always been a saying among the Japanese army. Of course, this statement is also a recognized thing among the Japanese, that is, the Japanese Kwantung Army has the strongest combat effectiveness among the Japanese army and naturally has the best equipment.
, so they are also known as the "flower of the Japanese army".
As for the main task of the Kwantung Army, it is naturally to defend against the Soviet Union, and it is even ready to attack the Soviet Union at all times.
As early as 1919, after the establishment of the Kwantung Army, the Japanese military had repeatedly envisioned war with the Soviet Union.
Moreover, after the September 18th Incident, Japan even occupied Northeast China. This was not only preparation for expanding the scale of its invasion of China and annexing all of China, but also establishing a base for advancing against the Soviet Union.
Of course, during the September 18th Incident and the subsequent attack on Jehol, the Kwantung Army actively defended its strategy against the Soviet Union.
The main reason was that they were afraid that the Soviet Union would send troops to interfere in China's internal affairs. Therefore, in the subsequent series of military aggression, the Japanese tried their best to avoid provoking the Soviet Union and were also afraid of causing disputes.
But even so, in order to completely occupy and rule Northeast China, the Japanese have always wanted to seize the Soviet-operated China Eastern Railway in northern Manchuria. Therefore, the tense relationship between Japan and the Soviet Union has never been eliminated.
Although it is said that on March 23, 1935, Japan and the Soviet Union signed an agreement on the transfer of the Middle East Railway.
However, the relationship between Japan and the Soviet Union has never been fundamentally eased, and the railway disputes soon turned into border issues, and small-scale military conflicts broke out frequently.
Moreover, with the signing of the "Japan-Germany Agreement on the Communist International" on November 25, 1936, the relationship between Japan and the Soviet Union became even more tense.
Therefore, in the end, the Japanese imperialists decided that before dealing with the Soviet Union, they would first strike at China to create a wider rear area. After using China as the forward base of the Japanese Empire, they would then turn around and advance northward to eliminate the Soviet Union in one fell swoop.
Therefore, on July 7, 1937, Japan launched a full-scale war of aggression against China.
Although after the July 7th Incident broke out, China and the Soviet Union also signed a "non-aggression pact" on August 21.
However, the Soviet Union also actively supported China's Anti-Japanese War, not only lending 100 million yuan, but also sending consultants and technical personnel.
Therefore, the relationship between Japan and the Soviet Union is becoming increasingly tense, and disputes are becoming more frequent.
In this regard, the Japanese General Staff Headquarters once concluded that the Soviet Union is likely to take some kind of action in order to contain Japan's military strength in the war of aggression against China.
Therefore, in order to advance their initial large-scale invasion of China's interior, Japan also doubled down on the movements on the Soviet border.
The Japanese even continuously formulated some action plans to defeat the Soviet Union without resorting to force, and conducted simulated performances.
And just in July this year, the Japanese took the initiative to provoke the Zhang Gufeng incident.
To be honest, after the Zhang Gufeng incident occurred, the Kuomintang government was still a little excited and happy because this friction between the Japanese and the Soviet Union played a role in containing the Japanese army's attack on Wuhan.
Even regarding this incident, the Japanese Army General Staff Headquarters and the commanders of the troops unanimously believed that the Zhang Gufeng incident was the Soviet Union's diplomatic and military support for China's anti-Japanese war.
The Soviet Union was using military operations to directly restrain the Japanese army from launching attacks on Wuhan and Guangdong in mainland China, in order to continue to enhance the harmonious development of relations between the Soviet Union and China, and at the same time further encourage China's confidence and determination to resist Japan.
So at that time, I don’t know how many Chinese people were praying secretly in their hearts, hoping that the Soviet Union and Japan would go to war. In that case, it would be a great blessing for China.
However, the outcome of this incident did not develop as everyone expected.
Although Japan and the Soviet Union invested nearly 100,000 troops in this war, the Japanese army suffered 1,440 casualties and the Soviet army suffered 847 casualties.
However, in this strength contest, the Soviet army also used a large number of tanks, heavy artillery, aircraft and other modern weapons.
Therefore, the Japanese army's equipment felt inferior in comparison, so much so that they would rather watch the Japanese 19th Division being beaten than dare to send out planes and tanks to compete head-on with the Soviet army.
So in the end the Japanese had to withdraw from Shacaofeng and Zhanggufeng.
Subsequently, the Soviet Union and Japan signed the Zhanggufeng Armistice Agreement in Moscow.
Facts have proved that although the Soviet Union is willing to support China in consuming Japanese military power, it is impossible to directly participate in the war against Japan.
So in this world, mountains will fall if you rely on them, everyone will run away if you rely on them, and you can only rely on yourself.
Through the conflict in Zhanggufeng, the Japanese army also deeply felt the strength of the Soviet army, but they also realized that the Soviet Union had no intention of expanding the war, so they continued to concentrate on attacking Wuhan, the center of China's war of resistance.
But the ceasefire between the Soviet Union and Japan did not mean that both sides were in peace.
Moreover, in this incident, the Japanese suffered a big loss, so for the proud Japanese, how could they swallow this sigh of relief?
Therefore, the Japanese must find ways to regain their position.
Therefore, when Li Wei heard that Hisao Fujiwara had come all the way to Shanghai just to pick up a Russian, his thoughts became vivid.
What kind of Russians deserve such attention from the Kwantung Army?
In an instant, Li Wei also became interested!
Of course, this is not the time to think about this, after all Yoshinori Kondo and Hisao Fujiwara are still around!
Then the three of them started chatting again. Although it was the first time for Levi and Hisao Fujiwara to meet, Yoshinori Kondo was there to guide them, so they were quite happy chatting with each other.
While the three were talking, a piece of music suddenly sounded in the hall. Everyone looked up and saw a middle-aged man in a straight suit standing in the middle of the podium. This man was none other than Liang Hongzhi of the reform government.
At the same time, everyone also knew that the dinner party had officially begun, so Li Wei and the other three also stood up, returned to their seats and sat down, waiting for the sound in the hall to quiet down after the music.
As the apparent leader of the so-called reform government, Liang Hongzhi was naturally well-groomed and eloquent.
In addition, the celebration banquet this time was relatively large and there were more people participating, so it was quite appropriate for him to be the host of the celebration party.