On October 9th, An Yi's plan to accompany Chiang Kai-shek to visit the Kulun Industrial Zone could not be realized because the famous "Asama Maru" incident broke out between Japan and Britain on October 7th. By yesterday, the situation was out of control and the war was over.
Dark clouds began to hang over Southeast Asia, and Chiang Kai-shek had to rush back to Nanjing to chair a military and political meeting to urgently discuss countermeasures.
When the European War broke out in early September, the German merchant fleets sailing around the world were suddenly attacked by the German fleet. In order to escape being captured by the British and French navies who had complete maritime superiority, these merchant ships panicked.
They hurriedly hid in the ports of various neutral countries. Because the war had not yet broken out of the European continent, most of these so-called "neutral countries" were ports in North and South America and Asia.
However, for these German merchant ships and the crew on them, the motherland is at war, the motherland needs them and their ships, and they should return to the country to participate in the war. This is an unshirkable obligation as Germans. The German High Command also through embassies in various places
, summoning these merchant ships and crew members to return home. At the same time, Britain and France are doing their best to prevent these merchant ships and crew members from returning home.
In addition to these active merchant ships and crews, due to the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles after the failure of the last European War, Germany was unable to research and develop military industry. A large number of military and military talents flowed to various countries around the world, most of which were in North and South America.
Among them, the navigation industry has received the most German naval talents. Standard Oil Company alone employs more than a thousand Germans, among whom there are many people who can operate submarines. After the outbreak of the European War, the vast majority of these people
They all spontaneously wanted to return home to participate in the fighting, and the Hitler government also issued formal orders to the embassies and consulates in various places to take these people back home. The British eyes were also closely monitoring these highly skilled and experienced veterans, determined to do whatever it took.
Prevent them from returning home at all costs.
At first, several German ships broke through the barriers of Britain and France and returned to Germany. However, as the aggression of the British and French navies further intensified, the hope of returning home gradually became slim. At the end of last month, the passenger ship Columbus sailed in the East United States.
The Virginia coast on the coast succumbed to itself. It could not contribute to the country, nor could it contribute to the enemy. This was the choice of the Germans. It was different from the money-splitting boy like Zhang Xueliang who gave all his family wealth to the Japanese.
All the Germans on the American continent gathered in the United States and wanted to return home from the United States. It was almost impossible to return directly from the east coast. The Atlantic Ocean became a lake for the British Navy. They inspected all passenger and merchant ships one by one.
, as soon as German sailors were found, they would be arrested immediately, so the Germans set their sights on the Pacific Ocean.
The United States and China on both sides of the Pacific are considered neutral countries. Although Japan has an alliance treaty with Germany, it has not yet participated in the war and is considered a neutral country. Therefore, the Germans take transoceanic passenger ships from San Francisco on the west coast to Japan, and then take the Japanese
The ship arrived in Shanghai, where he took a boat to Xufu in southern Sichuan and took the Berlin-Xufu route back home.
The British noticed this passage and quickly appealed to Japan through diplomatic channels, but Japan ignored it.
The morning before yesterday, the Royal Navy cruiser "Liverpool" intercepted the "Asama Maru" passenger ship owned by Nippon Yusen Co., Ltd. on the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture off the coast of Japan. The "Asama Maru" sailed from the Port of Yokohama, Japan to Shanghai.
, all twenty-one German sailors of military service age were arrested by the British.
This stirred up a hornet's nest, and the Japanese government immediately lodged a serious protest with the British government, saying that this was an act of piracy that ignored Japan's sovereignty and seriously violated Japan's interests. When the news came, people in Japan felt that their emotions were insulted, and the city of Tokyo held a
More than 200,000 people protested against the Japanese invasion. Various groups came to the Imperial Palace, the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of War to petition, strongly demanding that the government regain this place. Calls for Japan to declare war on Britain were rampant.
As the relationship between Japan and Britain suddenly became tense, Britain inevitably had to find helpers to suppress Japan's arrogance and ambition. In the early hours of last night, the British and French ambassadors to China went to Qilu to ask for a meeting with Soong Meiling, demanding to see Chiang Kai-shek himself as soon as possible, and an agreement was formed
The alliance started consultations to jointly fight against the expansion of Germany, Italy and Japan.
Chiang Kai-shek had been eager to board the British and French ships for a long time. Now that he had the opportunity, he would not let it go easily, so he hurriedly said goodbye to An Yi.
...
Three o'clock in the afternoon, Cullen, Anjia Army Northern Military Region War Room.
"According to the latest information, so far, the Japanese army has assembled five armies in the Lanyin Islands, four of which have been deployed to Sumatra. They can cross the Strait of Malacca and land on the Malay Peninsula at any time. On the 18th of last month, the Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet
Departing from the Port of Nagasaki, it was last spotted in the ocean east of Taiwan and its whereabouts are currently unknown. The intelligence agency speculates that the fleet is most likely to travel from the waters west of Guam, southward to the Maluku Islands, through the Java Sea and into the Indian Ocean, waiting for an opportunity to find
Decisive battle with the main force of the British fleet.
"On the British side, at the beginning of last month, Lieutenant General Phillips, the British Under-Secretary of Naval Operations, was promoted to the rank of admiral. Chamberlain appointed him as the commander of the British Eastern Fleet, leading the battleships 'Prince of Wales' and 'Repulse', as well as carrying 40 aircraft
The aircraft carrier "Invincible", an old-fashioned biplane fighter, strengthened the defense of the Far East. However, the "Invincible" ran aground on the rocks halfway before reaching Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and had to return to China for repairs. The remaining two battleships were launched last month.
On the 22nd, we arrived in Singapore with Phillips.
"Both Japan and Britain are intensifying their efforts and are constantly making targeted deployments. Judging from all aspects of the situation, the cloud of war has begun to hang over the Malay Peninsula."
Liu Qing's briefing made the generals present look uncertain.
When Japan confronts Britain, its troops deployed in Eastern Siberia, Northeast China, North China, and Shandong will surely be transferred southward. This will undoubtedly be a great benefit to the Anjia Army and the overall situation of the Anti-Japanese War. However, Britain
Japan's strategic focus is in Europe, and its fleet is mainly deployed in the Atlantic and Mediterranean to suppress Germany's foreign trade. The Z fleet deployed in Asia is not strong. Once Japan successfully eliminates the British fleet, then South China
The export trade will suffer a fatal blow, and the economy will also have a series of problems.
Judging from the current situation, it is still unclear what substantive impact the Japanese army's actions will have on Nanhua. Therefore, many generals, including General Yang Jie, the deputy chief of staff who is known for his bold and outspoken remarks, are
Not daring to speak easily, the conference room fell into silence.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit serious, An Yi lowered his head and flipped through a thick piece of detailed information on the Japan-UK conflict and the reactions of various countries sent by a special plane sent by Lieutenant General Du Yi, the Minister of National Security, and had a rough judgment on the situation in his mind.
His eyes flashed across the faces of the generals under his command. An Yi waved his hand and called the staff officers standing aside, asking them to hang a large world map on the map stand nearby. He stood up and walked back for a while, and finally stood in front of the map.
Set, pick up the baton and say loudly:
"The change in the situation is a bit unexpected, but don't worry too much. In fact, in my opinion, Japan's choice to attack the UK now will have a certain impact on us, but the impact will not be big. Taking the overall situation into account, for us
, it is not necessarily a rare opportunity.
"The current world structure has existed for too long since the end of the last European War and the formation of the Versailles system. It needs some opportunities to change! I don't know if you have discovered it. I don't know when. Bullying the weak and fearing the evil has become a British thing.
, the instinctive reactions of France, the United States and other countries. Look at Japan’s repeated aggression against our country over the years, Italy’s aggression against Ethiopia and Albania, Germany’s annexation of Austria and the Czech Republic, Britain, France and the United States, the three most powerful countries in the world,
How many sanctions have been taken?
"Yes? No! Nothing! Facing powerful enemies, Britain, France, the United States and other countries have chosen to compromise and make concessions again and again... As the three dominant powers in the world, what they are afraid of is
What? Afraid of disrupting the order of the world dominated by them! Afraid of disrupting the leadership they had finally obtained over weak countries! Therefore, in the face of naked aggression again and again, they would rather sacrifice the interests of weak countries.
We must desperately maintain the so-called world peace, but we never know that such concessions have greatly boosted the ambitions of the invaders. Now we have reached the point where we can no longer restrain them!
"Okay, let's get back to the subject. Japan's attack on Britain has several advantages for us. First, it will completely subvert the basis of British rule in Malaya, Burma and other colonies. This is very important, regardless of whether it is indigenous
Still Chinese, many people still have illusions about the British, trying to gradually improve their political, economic and other rights and interests through the kindness of the British. Although these colonies have been looted by Indian rebels, the British are orthodox
Consciousness is deep-rooted. Once the Japanese come, they will definitely form a colonial government belonging to the Japanese. The inherent interest class and the new interest class will inevitably collide violently and form a huge chaos. This will help us extend our tentacles into these
Colony, slowly gaining profits;
"Secondly, the Japanese army drove away the British forces. From now on, these colonies will become the territory of the Japanese. Although we maintain a delicate balance of power with Japan and have never been at odds with each other in Southeast Asia, as long as the time is right,
We can send troops to Malaya, Burma and other places occupied by the Japanese army and replace them with Japan. We obtained the land from Japan. Even if the British come back in the future, we will have sufficient reasons to keep them out.
.What’s more, after the war with Japan and Germany, Britain will definitely be devastated and will not necessarily acquiesce to our rule over the above areas, just like France acquiesced to our rule over Annan;
"Third, Britain and the United States are one, and no later than two years later, the United States will rapidly grow in strength due to the outbreak of war in Europe! Now that the Japanese army is taking action, it can muddy the water even more, and it may not necessarily happen in the future.
We also hope to extend our tentacles to the British Australia, New Zealand and even the American Hawaii..."
Seeing Yang Jie shaking his head disapprovingly, An Yi smiled and asked, "Geng Guang, do you have any different opinions?"
Yang Jie stood up: "According to my observations over the past year, Ishihara Wanji is a very clear-headed person who knows where the limits of military use are. Among the senior Japanese naval generals, Yamamoto Isoroku has been stationed in the United States for a long time. For the United States,
Japan has a full understanding of its national strength, and Japan is unlikely to provoke the United States, so we have little hope of encroaching on Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii."
"Haha, it is a Japanese tradition to go down and go up. Geng Geng, don't forget what Ishihara Wanji relied on to come to power. Once the Japanese become crazy, it will far exceed your imagination! And -"
An Yi motioned Yang Jie to sit down and deliberately raised his tone: "Americans are not as peace-loving as most people think. This country composed of immigrants has never been willing to be lonely. However, due to the economic crisis, now people can't even eat.
If they don’t have enough to eat, most Americans are focused on domestic economic recovery. Isolationism is extremely popular. I guess even President Roosevelt can’t go against the trend at this time. If he announces today that he will bring the United States into war, tomorrow
He just waits to step down..."
At this point, An Yi changed the subject: "However, the good wishes for peace are short-lived. After two years, with the production lines of all factories running at full speed, the pockets of Americans will quickly bulge, and those who have become rich will
Capitalists will inevitably begin to fantasize about directly participating in the war and obtaining huge war dividends like the last European War. At that time, whether the Japanese government is willing or not, it will encounter comprehensive suppression and oppression by the United States. The United States will continue to challenge the psychological bottom line of the Japanese
, such as interrupting trade, detaining merchant ships, disrupting shipping routes, etc., to force them to go crazy and take the initiative to launch a counterattack against the United States, so that the United States can naturally join the war."
There was silence in the conference room, everyone was digesting An Yi's speech.
An Yi knew very well that if history did not change, everything he said would become reality. When the United States entered the war, all allies would become the targets of its "Lease Act", and the United States would become the target of all European countries such as Britain, France, and Germany.
The creditor of the country. With the beginning and end of the Cold War, the United States will become the world's largest hegemon, almost synonymous with power politics. It will lead a group of subordinates to kill anyone who doesn't like it, from North Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Yugoslavia to Afghanistan.
, and then later engaged in armed intervention in China's South China Sea, doing all kinds of bad things, and the end of it all was that World War II resulted in huge war dividends without paying much.
Now that Japan has not recovered from the economic crisis in the United States, it has taken the initiative to launch the Pacific War, trying its best to capture the British colonies and enrich its national power without irritating the Americans. What will be the difference in the result? In this regard, An Yi
Also full of curiosity.
An Yi's baton clicked on the United States on the map:
"Whether it is now or in the future, the United States will be Japan's biggest enemy. Now let's take a look at the military power of the United States... After Japan announced its abolition of the Washington Treaty five years ago, the United States immediately began the first Calvin...
The full name of this bill is "An Act Concerning the Construction of Naval Ships Complying with the Treaties of Washington and London." It was jointly proposed by Representative Carl Vinson and Senator Parker Trammell. The content of the bill is to build aircraft carriers.
Wasp, one heavy cruiser, five light cruisers, 64 destroyers, 26 submarines, a total of 97 ships and 210,000 tons of naval expansion plan.
"Two years later, in 1936, the second Vincennes Act was passed. Its content was a shipbuilding plan with three South Dakota-class battleships and two Essex-class aircraft carriers as the main body, to be divided into batches within four years.
The construction of forty-six warships, totaling 260,000 tons, cost one billion US dollars. However, so far, one-third of the warships stipulated in the two acts have not been completed.
"At the end of last year, Japanese Chief of Staff Kanji Ishihara, together with Chief of Naval Command Nagano Shushen and Combined Fleet Commander Yamamoto Isoroku, revised Japan's shipbuilding plan and abandoned the construction of three giant ships such as Yamato, Musashi and Shinano.
The plan for battleships has been replaced by a plan to build twelve aircraft carriers and one thousand two hundred combat aircraft. In addition, a large number of cruisers, destroyers and submarines are also included in the new round of shipbuilding plans. So far, Japan has used the purchased British
, four medium-sized aircraft carriers renovated by merchant ships from the United States and other countries have been launched in May and are expected to be officially put into use by the end of the year. Another four aircraft carriers are also being renovated. Japan has rapidly narrowed the gap with the United States.
"Currently, the United States, including its Atlantic Fleet, has a total of 312 warships with a total tonnage of 1.13 million tons. The total number of Japanese warships is 267 with a total tonnage of 980,000 tons.
The ratio of Japan to U.S. warships is close to 87%, which is a very dangerous number. Of course, when the lower part of the U.S. warships on the slipway is put into service, the gap can be widened to less than 80%, but for
For the United States, which needs to use warships in the Atlantic and Pacific respectively, this ratio is not safe.
"Since Japan is fully aware of the role of aviation in its competition with our military, it has been almost fully developing its aviation power in the past year. It is said that a new naval fighter will enter service in January next year. Since next year is the 26th year of Japan's calendar
For a century, this aircraft has been named the 'Zero' fighter jet by the Japanese Navy. The comparison of fighter aircraft between Japan and the United States is: Japan has 4,800 military aircraft, of which the so-called 'expanded force' that can be used in combat against the United States is
There are more than 2,600 aircraft, and the United States has 5,500. Among them, the so-called "frontal" aircraft that can be used against Japan are 2,200. The United States is unexpectedly at a disadvantage.
"The Japanese actually know very well that Japan's production capacity lags far behind that of the United States. The current warship ratio that is so close can only be regarded as a flash in the pan. Once the United States adopts a new naval shipbuilding plan, Japan's advantage over the United States will be quickly lost. The Japanese Navy
The Provincial Military Affairs Bureau predicts that in two years the combat power of the Japanese navy will only be 70% of that of the United States, and in three years it will be only 60% or even half. Therefore, the conclusion is: fight early, otherwise there will be no chance at all.
, if these two years are used to bring Malaya, Myanmar, India and Australia under control in one fell swoop, then the gap between the United States and Japan will quickly narrow. If Germany succeeds in Europe again, then Japan will become a power across the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The dream of a superpower may not be impossible to realize."
An Yi's words triggered a heated discussion in the conference room. If this war drags the United States into it again, it will be a real world war. How Nanhua can obtain the maximum benefit in this world war is indeed a matter of
It's something worthy of serious consideration, but it has little to do with the military generals here. After all, An Yi has always been in control of the overall situation, and everyone is more accustomed to obeying this.
An Yi threw down his baton, returned to his seat, and took a sip of tea.
Such a major matter cannot be judged in a short while. It requires comprehensive intelligence support and comprehensive measurement, so An Yi took the initiative to bring the topic to the troop reorganization in the Northern Military Region and the Central Asian Theater, as well as Afghanistan.
On the ongoing war.
...
Afghanistan, Maidan City, 35 kilometers southwest of Kabul.
Sheng Shicai commanded the army and finally arrived at Maidan City.
When the troops were camping, Sheng Shicai took several guards to a high hill and calmly observed the defense of Maidan City through binoculars, his face as cold as ice.
On the way to Maidan City, because the Afghan government army sent elite troops, together with local tribal armed forces, to continuously obstruct and harass, Sheng Shicai's troops paid a heavy price on the way to Kabul, and at the same time, the marching speed naturally increased.
Slowed down.
Now, the cavalry, which is the vanguard of the entire army, has arrived at Maidan City, but the infantry and artillery are still advancing slowly on the mountain road of Jalez. According to the current situation, it will be good if the follow-up troops can arrive before sunset tomorrow night.
Through the telescope, the Afghan government army was adjusting its troop deployment and repairing fortifications. In order to enhance the city's defense capabilities, the Afghan army dug trenches in the west of the city wide and deep. Seeing so many people busy in the tunnels, Sheng Shicai felt abnormal.
Anxious, looking at this posture, the opponent clearly laid mines or traps at the bottom of the trench. He led the cavalry over there, but he could only do nothing when facing the trench that was about ten meters wide. The opponent was placed behind the trench or on the city wall.
The machine gun firepower will bring disaster to yourself.
The Afghan army is not weak. As a nomadic people, it is common for them to conquer cities and territories. The Afghans mastered muskets in the 17th century. It was not until the failure of the second anti-British war in the late 1970s that the "Gandan" was signed under the gunfire of the British.
After the Treaty of Damak, Britain became a semi-colony, but before that, Britain lost at least 40,000 to 50,000 troops and spent as much as 200 million pounds on war.
Only forty years later, in the Third Anti-British War, Afghanistan defeated more than 300,000 British troops and achieved national and national independence. The combat effectiveness of its army is evident.
Now that the Afghan army is determined to hold on, and the opponent also has new artillery provided by the British, they can't even hope to take Maidan City in one go by relying solely on cavalry.
Sheng Shicai brought two cavalry divisions, almost half of which were direct descendants of his Soviet Army. The other half were concentrated on the outstanding cavalry of the Soviet Central Asian Military Region. He carefully observed the surrounding environment and found that the other party did not take advantage of him.
With the intention of launching an attack without a stable footing, he immediately sent two regiments to seize the high ground on the left and right sides respectively, and then used the two regiments to build positions in the front. The rest of the troops spread out to conduct a survey of the villages and towns around Maidan City, like other places.
In this way, by looting the wealth of rich people and tribal leaders, they can enrich the military resources and win over the hearts and minds of the people.
Even in the 21st century, Afghanistan is still an agricultural and animal husbandry country. More than 80% of the country's labor force is engaged in agricultural and animal husbandry production. The output value of agriculture and animal husbandry accounts for more than 70% of the total output value of the national economy, of which animal husbandry accounts for more than 70%.
It also occupies the most important position. The main livestock is sheep, followed by cattle and camels. Therefore, people generally eat mutton as their staple food.
There is a problem with using mutton as the staple food. There is not enough pasture around Kabul. In the past, sheep were purchased from all over the country and brought into the capital based on actual needs. Now the roads to the north, west and south have been cut off, and the only way to go is from the east.
supply, but the transportation and production capacity in the east are limited, and the troops generally do not have much food in stock.
Due to the emergency of the war, most of the troops who reinforced the Maidan City this time left without even bringing dry food. When they arrived at the Maidan City, they discovered that there was no extra food supply at all, so the officer in charge of purchasing had to take banknotes.
Buy supplies everywhere.
After receiving the report from the troops, Sheng Shicai immediately fortified the walls and cleared the country. Food, cattle and sheep, iron tools, property, and even horse materials were collected by the cavalry. Together with the farmers and herdsmen, they were taken to Behsud and Bali, where relatively solid bases had been established.
Those who were unwilling to obey orders were all arrested on the charge of "subsidizing the enemies of the people" in Kaoda and other areas, and their houses, large piles of hay, and supplies that could not be taken away were all ordered to be lit.
The fire was set ablaze.
Not only that, in order to prevent the opponent from using local materials to build fortifications, Sheng Shicai also ordered his troops to set fire to some woods and grasslands far away from his own position. For a while, before the battle started, there was already dense smoke outside Maidan City.
The smoke was billowing, and even the city of Kabul, which was more than 30 kilometers away, was shrouded in smoke.
The entire capital region of Afghanistan is shrouded in panic deliberately created by Sheng Shicai.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
***: Well, that’s basically the situation this month. Please tell me tomorrow’s ***!
Tomorrow is the first day of December. Emperor strives for double updates and implores brothers to leave the guaranteed *** to "Iron Bone"! Please!