While Tu Qianjun and others were meeting, the New York Times and the Washington Post suddenly made detailed and in-depth reports on the Panay incident.

However, reports have always tended to either regard Japan as a monolithic political entity, or to target "Japanese warlords," "militarists" and "extreme militarists."

Subsequently, the "Los Angeles Times" published an editorial on Roosevelt's warning to the Emperor regarding the "Panay Incident":

"I hope readers will pay attention to the fact that Japan's armed forces are under the sole control of the Emperor, and are not... bound to be subordinate to the Japanese government represented by the cabinet... Of course, as for whether Japan's high command is actually subordinate to the Emperor or not

Controlling the emperor is another question.

But there is a duality in Japan's institutions that makes it difficult to negotiate with the Japanese government. I personally think that we should be prepared, that is, some hard-line elements will harm world peace and even the lives of our compatriots. This

This is already happening!"

However, the Los Angeles Times has not reached a conclusion on the issue of the emperor's actual power. This is a huge misunderstanding, and it is a pity that the United States does not have any understanding of it now.

Roosevelt urgently summoned the Japanese ambassador to the United States and issued a strong warning face to face: The United States will not sit idly by and watch its compatriots suffer such a disaster. Japan must provide a reasonable explanation for the matter and deal with those responsible.

Otherwise, the United States will have to "use means it does not want to use but has to use" in order to defend its people!

This tough conversation was faithfully followed by radio waves back to Tokyo. In Hirohito's palace, with a livid face, he held the telegram and said solemnly to the Hanin Palace in front of him.

"Who can tell me what is going on?! Who can give me an answer, what is going on?! Who gave the order to attack?! Who did this?!"

Hanyuan Palace bowed his head and did not dare to speak, while Hirohito stood up and roared: "Answer me!!"

"Your Majesty, this is an accidental injury, not..."

"Malu Yelang!! Do you think I am a fool?! The sky is clear and the American flag is painted on the Panay. If this can be accidentally bombed, then the entire brigade that was accidentally bombed should be disemboweled!!"

Before Hanin Palace finished speaking, Hirohito started roaring crazily! Although the war in China has made some progress, the situation in Japan as a whole is not optimistic.

First of all, in order to prevent Japan from threatening their interests in the three northeastern provinces, American capital proactively reduced the supply of resources to Japan. Secondly, the internal reaction of the United States to Japan's war is getting bigger and bigger!

Once the resources are completely cut off, Hirohito himself knows very well what is waiting for Japan. Unless the resources are occupied, Japan can only consume itself to death in a war of attrition!

"Your Majesty, we need to consider the thoughts of the frontline soldiers. If we punish them, it will definitely affect the morale of the troops. By then, the empire's war in China will be difficult to guarantee..."

Hanyuan Palace leaned down and said sadly. But Hirohito's face turned cold! He said fiercely: "Are you threatening me?!"

"Your Majesty, you dare not! Your Majesty, now is the most critical time for the Holy War in Greater East Asia. At this time, the morale of the military must not be shaken. Our goal is to fight against the forces from the United States and even Europe."

"So, this attitude is just a matter of sooner or later. The first thing we must complete now is the war in China. After annihilating the Nanjing government that moved to Wuhan, we will be able to control most of the areas within the pass."

"When the time comes, with resources and supplies, we can attack from both sides and kill the tiger in Manchuria that has humiliated the empire several times! Get back the honor that belongs to the empire!"

Hirohito's face turned blue and white as he listened to Haningu's words. He knew that what Haningu was doing was actually for the good of the royal family. But was being so radical the best way?!

He didn't know because he had never commanded troops in a war. He just relied on his political sensitivity to feel that a war with the United States would be extremely detrimental to Japan.

"Three months! I will give you three months at most!" Hirohito looked at Xianyuan Palace and said solemnly: "You have achieved certain results in China. I admit this. But if you can't do it within three months,

To annihilate Chiang Kai-shek's government, then this war will come to an end. I will consider accepting mediation!"

Hanyuan Palace was lying prone, but his face facing the ground was extremely ugly. It seemed that Hirohito's determination had been exhausted. If he had not annihilated the forces in Nanjing, then there would be no need to fight against that tiger.

The biggest reason why the troops in North Korea now dare not launch a counterattack is that the Japanese army does not fully control the pass. Once North Korea fails, the entire Japan will be threatened.

Even if the war continues at that time, the impact on the homeland will cause the Japanese army to use most of its troops to defend the homeland. This will eventually lead to Japan being dragged to death.

"Hai! Hanyuan Palace will definitely bring glory to Your Majesty! You will never live up to my royal name!" Hanyuan Palace leaned over and shouted to Hirohito. In the corner of his eye, he saw Hirohito waving to him, and he lay down.

He slowly exited the room.

Time slowly entered 1938, but no one was celebrating this New Year's Day. Everyone's eyes were drawn to the ancient capital of Nanjing.

In this city abandoned by Chiang Zhongzheng, more than 80,000 troops are still fighting the Japanese army. From December 13, they took over the defense of Nanjing and have been fighting until now. The urban area of ​​Nanjing has not been lost.

This directly made Chiang Zhongzheng speechless in Lushan. It is certain that Chiang Zhongzheng has now lost his leadership position in the anti-Japanese war. His performance in Nanjing caused doubts among warlords everywhere and even within the national government.

You, Jiang Zhongzheng, promised you that you could hold on for two months. But within a few days, you let Tang Shengzhi escape! Is this called war?! Jiang Zhongzheng abandoned the defense, but the troops who came out of nowhere failed to hold on.

to the city of Nanjing.

This unit has not shown its flag until now, but rumors have spread that this unit is actually affiliated with the National Defense Forces. They have entered Nanjing early in the morning to prepare for the resistance against Japan.

Chiang Zhongzheng's decision to abandon Nanjing forced them to stand up and resist the Japanese army. However, under the heavy siege, aircraft bombing, and heavy artillery shelling by the Japanese army, this unit still managed to hold on until 1938.

"Niang Pixi! Didn't I tell that Tiger Butcher not to get involved?! Does he take me as a leader seriously?!" Chiang Zhongzheng roared in his office in Lushan, and no one dared to come close.

There was no one else in the office except Wolong Yang Yongtai, who Jiang Zhongzheng believed was particularly capable of "pointing out".

"Chairman, please calm down." Yang Yongtai said to Jiang Zhongzheng: "Although the National Defense Forces have the upper hand in this matter, it does not mean that we have no chance..."

"Oh?! Why did Chang Qing say that?!" Jiang Zhongzheng was originally roaring, but after hearing what Yang Yongtai said, he couldn't help but put down his anger and said curiously.

"Chairman, please look at this. This is the latest issue of the New York Times. It contains news that Japan bombed and sank the American USS Panay!" Yang Yongtai said with a chuckle.

"There was a huge reaction in the United States to this, and even US President Roosevelt issued a strong warning to Japan. If Japan does not give the United States an explanation, then they may not resort to war."

Counting on the intervention of foreign adults was very consistent with Chiang Zhongzheng's mentality. Yang Yongtai's statement immediately caught Chiang Zhongzheng's heart. However, he saw his face change from anger to joy, and he said to Yang Yongtai.

"Chang Qing! What's the plan for my Crouching Dragon?! Come and tell me quickly!"

"Chairman, Ziwen has always had close contact with the Americans. It is best to leave this matter to him. We can agree to some conditions or make some deals. In exchange for military supplies to fill the vacancies on the battlefield."

But Yang Yongtai paused and continued with a smile: "Eggs don't put in one basket. I believe Americans understand this. Although the three northeastern provinces are strong, they may not be able to withstand the Japanese attack. Give us some

I believe the Americans are still willing to equip us with weapons to resist the Japanese."

Jiang Zhongzheng nodded, and Yang Yongtai's analysis was not unreasonable. This move by the Japanese was undoubtedly a bad move. In this way, the warships attacking the United States would not scare the United States, but would arouse the vigilance of the United States.

In Jiang Zhongzheng's view, isn't the reason why he is weak just because his weapons are bad? If the weapons from the three eastern provinces were put into his own troops, Jiang Zhongzheng would even have the confidence to directly drive the Japanese out of China!

However, history has proven that even if Chiang Zhongzheng obtained advanced weapons, he would not be able to defeat even the Japanese army with poor combat effectiveness.

In the last few months of the Anti-Japanese War, the national troops, which were armed with fine weapons, were still beaten to a pulp by the Japanese. The Japanese Akira Fujiwara recorded in "Military Records on the Chinese Front": In 1945, he captured the southwestern part of Jiangxi Province.

In the Ministry of Commerce, Dayuhou, near the border with Guangdong Province, not only obtained a large amount of sugar-coated tablets of quinine, a drug used to prevent malaria, but also seized 500 tons of rice.

Akira Fujiwara said, "Because it is all rice that has been shelled, it should be military rice. With so much food, the Japanese army no longer has to worry about the supply of staple food to the troops."

At the same time, Akira Fujiwara also said, "The large amount of medical materials obtained in Dayu can be said to be a rare respite for the Japanese army, because the interruption of the supply of medical materials to the Japanese army is a very profound problem."

"Since the supply of medicine is not directly related to the outcome of the battle, the Japanese army does not pay attention to the supply of medical materials at all. However, the harm of the lack of medical materials can actually reach the level of killing people, thereby making the combat effectiveness of the troops hopeless.

Declined irrevocably and immeasurably.”

"There is no quinine to treat malaria, so far a large number of people have contracted malaria, and many people have died from it."
Chapter completed!