Republic of China game

Page 504

If today's final test is successful, then this Type 91 modified 2 torpedo and the "liver shooting method" will become the biggest reliance for the Japanese combined fleet to attack Pearl Harbor.Kanfu Kengoro himself will also be promoted exceptionally, and he will be able to become a lieutenant officer before the age of 27, and he will also be appointed as the aviation adviser of the United Fleet.

……

"According to intelligence, the U.S. Pacific Fleet currently has three aircraft carriers, USS Enterprise, USS Lexington, and USS Saratoga; nine battleships, USS Pennsylvania, USS California, USS Maryland, USS Oklahoma, USS Tennessee, West Virginia, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado; in addition to 3 cruisers, 9 destroyers and 20 submarines. All of these warships are at anchor most of the year In Pearl Harbor, the home port of the Pacific Fleet. That is to say, if the Z operation plan is successful, we can wipe out the US Pacific Fleet at the beginning of the war! This will establish the victory of this war in one fell swoop!" Minister of the Navy Hidesuke Yamamoto said in Gosho At the joint meeting with the General Staff (Military Command), the strength of the US Pacific Fleet was first introduced, and then the Navy's Z Operation Plan began to be vigorously promoted.

"How sure is the Navy?" Nagata Tieshan, who became the Minister of War in the Konoe Cabinet, asked in a deep voice. He was leaning over the table with his hands on the table, looking at the Pacific Ocean chart, his face was gloomy, and he seemed very hesitant.

"The Navy is 13% sure that it can successfully annihilate the main force of the US Pacific Fleet and seize the Hawaiian Islands!" The Secretary of the Navy seemed full of confidence, "The United States is still enjoying a peaceful scene of singing and dancing, and the Pacific Fleet's defenses are also very loose, and The U.S. Army is very small, only 15000 people, and at most 15 people in Hawaii. Plus the Marine Corps will not exceed [-] people, and Plan Z plans to dispatch [-] ground troops! So it is absolutely possible to capture Hawaii .”

Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro's face flashed a trace of solemnity, the surprise attack to destroy the Pacific Fleet and the plan to capture Hawaii did have a high probability of success.But in this way, Japan and the United States will have a deadly feud.The strong industrial strength of the United States is very dreaded by the two imperialist countries, China and Germany.Relying on Japan's 200 million tons of steel...can you provoke such a powerful enemy?

"Will China and Germany support the empire's war with the United States?" Konoe Fumimaro asked after a moment of thought.

"The Chinese and the Germans will definitely support the war between the Empire and the United States!" Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka took the question. He adjusted the small round glasses on the bridge of his nose, and the pair of blistered eyes behind the lenses were filled with fanaticism. The bare bones.He said with a deep smile: "Because China and Germany are preparing for war with Britain and France, and the United States and Britain will definitely form an alliance after encountering an imperial attack. In this way, China and Germany will also attack Britain. Put them automatically at war with the United States! So what else can they do but support the Empire with all their strength?"

"This analysis is reasonable. On one side is Britain, the United States, France and the Netherlands, and on the other side is the support of Japan and Germany... It seems that the empire has a better chance of winning." Navy Minister Hidesuke Yamamoto said calmly.

"However, the relationship between China and the United States has always been very close, and Germany is also trying its best to avoid war with the United States. The empire cannot pin its hopes on them!" Nagata Tieshan said eagerly. Although he didn't know much about the United States, he knew Knowing Luo Yaoguo's actions very well, this guy can turn his face faster than a book!The secret agreement between China and Japan has no binding force on him at all.Maybe after Japan attacked the United States, he would propose an alliance against Japan to the United States!

"Even if China and Germany do not declare war on the United States, they will provide assistance to the Empire." Yosuke Matsuoka argued: "Because the United States will definitely provide support to Britain and France at that time, then China and Germany will naturally support the Empire to hold back the United States. troops."

"But why does the empire have to provoke the United States?" Nagata Tieshan asked back: "The real goal of the empire is the colonies of Britain and the Netherlands, Australia!"

"However, the navy believes that only when the threat of the US Pacific Fleet is eliminated, can the empire go south with peace of mind." Hidesuke Yamamoto sighed softly, and explained: "At present, the imperial navy is actually strong from the outside, although there are 7 aircraft carriers and There are 5 battleships, but the technology and output of the most critical carrier-based aircraft are far behind the advanced countries in the world... If they do not adopt the tactics of sneak attack, but fight the United States in a decisive battle at sea, their 6 aircraft carriers can easily defeat them. The empire’s 7 aircraft carriers! At that time, the empire will become a vassal of China or the United States.”

Nagata Tieshan just wanted to refute, but General Sugiyama Moto, who had been "promoted" from the position of Minister of War to Military Councilor, stood up first: "I think the Navy's Z battle plan is feasible. As long as we can capture Hawaii, Then station 10 divisions there, deploy 500 to 1000 aircraft, and you will be able to defend there! As long as Hawaii is defended, the Americans should not be able to reach the Western Pacific, right?"

"It's not that we can't get through, but it's hard to get through." Eisuke Yamamoto stood up and gave a slight salute to Prime Minister Konoe, "Hawaii is the gateway between the East and West Pacific Ocean, as long as we guard this gateway, we can take it with confidence and boldly." Australia and India are gone. After the United States loses the entire Pacific Fleet and Hawaii, it will no longer be able to pose a threat to the cause of the Empire for at least 5 years. The rejuvenation of the Empire will be done in one fell swoop. Please support our proposal, the Prime Minister, and play it Please, His Majesty the Emperor, please judge!"

Chapter 0787 Sneak Attack ([-]) Anti-Fascist Alliance

Now the wheel of history has rolled to the beginning of October 1938.According to later historians, the present period belongs to the "Second Armistice of the Second World War".Different from the historical World War II ignited by Germany's invasion of Poland, the World War II in this time and space was triggered by the Soviet Union's invasion of Poland.Therefore, the war between Germany and Britain and France did not break out until one year after the outbreak of World War II.Although the current relationship between the two parties has evolved from an ally at the beginning to an opponent, they are not enemies in the legal sense after all.

However, preparations for war between China, Germany, Britain and France are in full swing.As of the end of September 1938, Britain had mobilized an army of 9 million people (including colonial troops such as the British Indian Army, the Australian and New Zealand Army, the Canadian and South African Army Corps), and also formed four tanks equipped with Matilda 200 tanks. Armored divisions, in addition to most infantry divisions in the UK are also equipped with a tank battalion equipped with light tanks.In addition, the United Kingdom will also transfer back most of the huge navy scattered around the world, including all 4 aircraft carriers (Brave, Glory and four Glory-class aircraft carriers that were born earlier than in history).

And France also took advantage of nearly a year of fierce fighting between China and Germany and the Soviet Union to expand the size of its army to 350 million (including the colonial troops in North Africa, Annan and other places), and its armored divisions to 10.Moreover, the size of the French Air Force has also been greatly expanded.It is also worth mentioning that in this time and space, the French obviously accelerated their pace of expanding their navy. By the end of September 1938, two battleships, the Richelieu with a standard displacement of 9 tons, had been delivered to the French Navy!Of course, at this time the imaginary enemy of the French Navy, the Italian Navy, has already owned two Veneto-class battleships with a standard displacement of more than 38500 tons in advance...

Stimulated by Britain and France's continuous strengthening of combat readiness, Hitler, the German head of state who weighed the pros and cons, finally made up his mind to launch a large-scale offensive on the Western Front as soon as possible.

October 10.Hitler signed Operational Order No. 9.In this order, he wrote: "If it can be concluded in the near future that Britain and France under its leadership are still unwilling to suspend war preparations. Then I am determined to take pre-emptive offensive actions as soon as possible to suppress Britain and France. Territorial offensives. As a result, our country is in a politically and strategically active position.” On the same day, he had a discussion with Luo Yaoguo, chief of the general staff of the Chinese National Defense Forces who was far away in Wuhan, by telegram.

In the telegram, he told Luo Yaoguo, "The current situation has reached a critical moment. Germany and China must choose between surrendering to Britain and France or fighting! If the delay continues, Britain and France will arm more troops. Offset the advantages of China and Germany on land. Therefore, I and the German Empire have finally made up my mind to launch a surprise attack on France and Britain by the end of November 1938 at the latest. I hope that your Excellency the Field Marshal and your country will prepare for war at the same time ..."

And Luo Yaoguo claimed in his reply: "Now the main force of my country's First Armored Army has been dispatched one after another, and it is expected that all of them will arrive in Germany in early December. Can the offensive start after the First Armored Army arrives?

...Will Italy enter the war against England and France?If Italy enters the war, can a powerful Luftwaffe or Naval Air Force be stationed at the airport in northern Italy before the beginning of December, and then take off from there to bomb the main force of the French navy in the port of Toulon?If the French navy can be paralyzed in the first place, it will be quite beneficial to future operations against Britain, because Britain will have to transfer part of its main naval force to the Mediterranean region.

In addition, the attitude of the United States must be fully considered.I hope that your Excellency, the head of state, can send a special envoy to the United States to fully contact and communicate with American politicians before going to war with Britain and France, and express to the United States that Germany and China are willing to lead the world together with the United States. "

In the following telegram, Hitler agreed to postpone the start of the war until December 12, and at the same time informed Luo Yaoguo: "Mussolini told us a few days ago that Italy has not yet completed its preparations for war, so they cannot participate in the war for the time being." A war between Britain and France..." Hitler fully agreed with Luo Yaoguo's suggestion that Germany, China and the United States jointly lead the world.He said in the telegram: "Mr. Rudolph Hess will go to the United States as my special envoy to meet with President Roosevelt. At the same time, I also hope that China can send a high-level special envoy to visit the United States to jointly persuade the United States to accept the imminent collapse of the British and French world empires." reality."

And Luo Yaoguo said that China will send Vice President Sun Ke and Foreign Minister Wang Jingwei to the United States to negotiate with Roosevelt. If the time is right, he can also visit the United States to exchange views with President Roosevelt face to face, and try his best to promote a compromise between China, the United States and Germany, so as to bring the war to an early end .In the end, Luo Yaoguo informed Hitler in a telegram that the design work for the first nuclear fission bomb had been completed, and it was expected that the first test could be carried out before the end of 1939.If development of a heavy long-range bomber could be completed within 1940, China and Germany might consider ending the war with a public demonstration of a nuclear fission bomb explosion.

After communicating with Luo Yaoguo, Hitler issued Operation Order No. 10 on October 10.In this order he stipulated the tasks that the German Army, Air Force and Navy will be responsible for after the outbreak of war.The task of the army is to "attack France from land with the cooperation of the German Air Force and China's allies, and if necessary, it can also pass through the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and other countries to directly attack northern France. The army will use armored forces on a large scale in offensive operations, Strive to defeat France in the shortest possible time." The task of the navy is "to form a joint German-Chinese fleet with the Chinese expeditionary fleet, and to launch a decisive battle with the British Navy under the coordination of the German Air Force to seize the command of the North Sea and prepare for future landings in the British mainland. Make the necessary preparations to win the final victory of the war!"

……

While Hitler and Luo Yaoguo were exchanging telegrams about the progress of the world war, Britain and France were also busy piecing together an alliance to prepare for war with China and Germany. On October 1938, 10, the special plane of British Foreign Secretary Robert Anthony Eden secretly arrived in Tbilisi, the temporary capital of the Soviet Republic.Aiden's special mission on this trip was to discuss the possibility of establishing an anti-fascist alliance between Britain, France, the Soviet Union and Japan (Britain did not know that Japan had turned against them).

Regarding this, Stalin had already learned about this through the Soviet representative in London. Therefore, the day before Aiden arrived in Tbilisi, he invited Molotov, a member of the Soviet People's Committee and People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, to his meeting in Tbilisi. In the villa on the outskirts of Leith, they agreed on the issues discussed with Aiden.At the same time, it is necessary to analyze the current dilemma and the way out of Britain and France, as the basis for the Soviet Union's asking price in this negotiation.

Of course, at this time the Soviet Union did not have much choice.After the Sino-Russian coalition forces achieved a breakthrough in Sochi, the Soviet Red Army's painstakingly managed Caucasus defense line had a fatal breach. Zhukov organized several counterattacks in a row, but under the enemy's overwhelming firepower and air superiority, all were in vain... …Stalin also knew that Zhukov had done his best, and that the Soviet Red Army was also fighting at the risk of death.The failure was entirely due to the disparity in the strength of the enemy and ourselves.And if we want to turn things around, it seems that we can only rely on the great unity of the world's anti-fascist forces.

At this moment the door of Stalin's office opened and Molotov entered.Although the current situation is critical, Molotov, as usual, is cautious, prudent, and respectful. When he sees Stalin, he seems to be full of energy and confidence.

"Comrade Stalin, I have good news for you." Molotov could always find one or two not so bad news among a lot of bad news.Holding a telegram in both hands, he handed it to Stalin respectfully. "Just received the news that the United States has rejected the request for visits by Rudolf Hess, the deputy head of fascist Germany, and Sun Ke, the Chinese vice president."

"Oh? This is good news." Stalin managed to force a smile, and beckoned Molotov to sit down again. "It seems that the most powerful capitalist country in the world is not attracted to the two bandits China and Germany."

Molotov smiled and said: "There is another piece of news. Mr. Eden told me by phone before boarding the plane in Baghdad. Japan has also agreed to join the World Anti-Fascist League, on the condition that after defeating the Chinese and German fascists, Hand over my country's Far East and China's Manchuria to Japan..."

"These Japanese really miss Manchuria and Mongolia!" Stalin smiled happily.Suddenly he became serious again and asked, "Do you think Britain, France and Japan will change their anti-Soviet policy after defeating China and Germany?"

"No." Molotov replied, and he said lightly: "But before they defeat China and Germany, they will definitely try their best to help us."

"This is enough." Stalin said: "There is another question, can the power of Britain, France, Japan and the Soviet Union defeat Germany and China?" His words revealed doubts.There also seemed to be an atmosphere of restlessness and tension in this office.

"Comrade Stalin," Molotov looked at Stalin with a look of condescension that must have made the communist dictator feel better. "The key now is not Britain, France and Japan, but the United States. As long as the United States joins the anti-fascist alliance, the advantages of China and Germany will disappear. The current attitude of the United States is obviously in favor of us. They rejected the special envoy of China and Germany. , but did not reject the representatives of Britain and France."

"Do you think the United States will join?" Stalin sat down at the table and asked in a deep voice.

"Yes! I will definitely!"

"Then when will they join?"

"It depends on the attitude of the United Kingdom. Although this country is crazy hostile to our Bolshevik system, they are definitely opposed to letting China and Germany dominate the Eurasian continent, so they will definitely fight with China and Germany. The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom It is very special, and it will be involved sooner or later. As long as we persist until that day, we can become the victorious side of the war."

"Yes, it is better to be the victor in the war." Stalin interrupted Molotov, "It is better than to be the loser, but it may be difficult for the Soviet Union to recover, right?"

"Maybe that's the case." Molotov agreed, "But the Soviet Union is definitely not the only one that has a great vitality. The fascist countries of China and Germany are quite powerful, and most of the White Russian traitors will also stand by their side."

"Otherwise, Mr. Eden should go to Petersburg?" Stalin got off his seat, stood up, walked to the huge map on the wall, and stared at it for a while.The fascist camp is indeed very strong, as you can tell by looking at the map, while the anti-fascist camp is only a small piece of Western Europe, the British Isles, a string of islands in the east, and then a large area of ​​colonies.God knows whose side the people of these colonies will take in a war?At this moment, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw the "Socialist Republic of the Far East" located in the corner of the Asian continent, which is a country controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Although the Chinese Communist Party is currently clamoring to "oppose Stalinist revisionism" or something... But After all, they are not in the same group as the Chinese imperialists. As the saying goes, the enemy of an enemy is a friend. Maybe they can be drawn into the anti-fascist alliance.It seems necessary to send Dimitrov to Khabarovsk to have a good talk with those Chinese communists...

……

At this time, on the other side of the world, the joint meeting of the five cabinet ministers and the General Staff (Military Command) that had been held for several days finally made the decision to go to war against the United States.Japanese Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro attacked Emperor Hirohito. Hirohito took the decision of the cabinet and his face was cloudy. Minister Kidouchi had reported to him the fierce dispute that broke out at the cabinet meeting a few days ago.

"Is it necessary to go to war with the United States? Is the cabinet sure?" Hirohito put down the report and asked softly, but his tone was full of worry.

"Your Majesty, this is the cabinet. The General Staff (Military Command) has made a decision after careful study. If Japan wants to reverse the current unfavorable situation, the only way to defeat the United States is to fight to the death! The cabinet is absolutely sure of this." Konoe Wenmao said respectfully and firmly: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Army is unable to defeat the clearly superior Chinese Army, so it is unrealistic to seek a new living space on the mainland. The only way out is to go south, and to go south must defeat the United States! "

"Defeat the United States! Does the empire have such power? How can it be possible to defeat the United States even if a single China cannot be defeated?" Hirohito asked again.

"Your Majesty, both the Army and the Navy believe that it is entirely possible to defeat the US Pacific Fleet and seize Hawaii! Although the US is powerful, it will take two or three years before their industrial capabilities can be transformed into military capabilities. The empire can use this time to turn Hawaii into a An impregnable fortress. With Fort Hawaii, the Empire can keep its enemies in the Eastern Pacific."

Hirohito thought for a while: "But I heard that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still in contact with Britain and France and is preparing to join the "Anti-Fascist League" to jointly oppose China and Germany. What's going on? Is the empire going to war with the whole world at the same time?"

During this period, British Prime Minister Chamberlain sent Sir Halifax as a special envoy to Japan to try to persuade Japan to fight together with Britain and France, and also promised that after the victory of the war, the entire Soviet Far East, China’s Manchuria and Mongolia, and Taiwan All to Japan.Faced with this covenant full of empty promises, Japan resorted to tricks, and Matsuoka Hiroyuki came forward to negotiate with the British envoy.To paralyze Britain and the United States, while actively preparing to provoke a war with the United States.

"At this time, the strategy used by the cabinet to paralyze the United States is well known. The relationship between Britain and the United States is relatively close. If the empire forms an alliance with the United Kingdom, the United States will not guard against the empire. This will be very beneficial to the empire's sneak attack plan. "Anti-Fascist Covenant", but don't declare war on China and Germany for the time being... This matter has been understood by China and Germany, so don't worry about unnecessary trouble." Fumimaro Konoe simply revealed the deceitful plan drawn up by the cabinet and the headquarters .He paused, and then said: "Once the war begins, the empire will use the entire combined fleet and more than 15 offensive troops to land on the Hawaiian Islands, in order to completely capture the islands in the shortest possible time! Your Majesty, this will be decisive for the fate of the empire." A battle."

Yuren also nodded heavily, picked up the jade seal, and lightly pressed it on the document.

At the same time that Emperor Hirohito approved the start of the war against the United States, negotiations between Japanese Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka and the British Prime Minister's special envoy Edward Halifax finally reached an agreement. On October 1938, 10, Yosuke Matsuoka and Halifax signed their respective names on a draft of the "China, Britain, France, the Soviet Union and the Anti-Fascist Declaration" on behalf of their respective countries...

At this time, the Japanese Combined Fleet had already left Kagoshima and was on its way to the Thousand Islands.

The Thousand Islands, a chain of volcanic rocks more than 700 miles long between Japan and Siberia, is a good secret staging area.Japan's 7 aircraft carriers and 5 battleships quietly sailed to this sea area on the night of October 10, and a large number of cruisers, destroyers, oil tankers, supply ships, and troop carriers came with them!Except for the officers and soldiers on board and a few high-ranking Japanese officials, few people knew that the Japanese Combined Fleet had now assembled and arrived at the Thousand Islands.And when the fleet set off eastward in the early morning of October 18, only a few fleet commanders knew where they were going and what they were going to do.