Five hundred and ninetieth chapters Hirohito's mind
In early September 1940, a new round of war broke out in Jiangxi and Fujian. China and Japan had more than 500,000 troops and started another round of fighting on a land area of nearly 1,000 square kilometers.
Although this battle was not as large as the previous Battle of Wuhan, the international community and the Japanese base camp paid no less attention to this battle than the Battle of Wuhan. Because the outside world unanimously believed that this was the battle between Su Rui and Li Zongren.
The first battle after announcing the official merger with Bai Chongxi was also a battle related to their future and destiny.
If Su Rui and the others lose this battle, it means that all the results they have worked so hard to win will be in vain. If the Japanese lose, Hubei, Anhui and Zhejiang will all be exposed to the Soviet Union.
At the gunpoint of the Fourth Theater Command led by Rui, it also proved that this emerging force was qualified to compete with the might of the Japanese nation.
After all, although Suri had repeatedly defeated the Japanese army before this, many people believed that this was because the Japanese focused their main energy on the Kuomintang, and only a small number of troops were used to deal with Suri. But as
With the rise of the fourth theater and more and more troops being annihilated, the Japanese base camp has realized that if the Chinese forces represented by Su Rui are not killed, their idea of conquering China is destined to be just a dream.
Just as Okamura Neiji was commanding nearly 300,000 troops to attack Jiangxi and Fujian in three directions, Japan's political arena was as lively as a revolving door. On September 2, Japan's Prime Minister Hideki Tojo was reporting the battle plan at the imperial meeting.
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"Capturing Jiangxi and Fujian will bring several benefits to the empire: First, the people of China have now regarded the four theaters led by Su Rui as a symbol of invincibility. If we can recapture Jiangxi and Fujian, we will win.
That would be a serious blow to their people's morale and morale. Second, after the empire retakes Jiangxi and Fujian, we can continue to mobilize heavy troops to suppress Suri's living space, which means that Suri will no longer be able to continue in this snowballing manner.
By expanding, the empire will have time to continue to oppress the National Government and force them to surrender. As soon as the National Government surrenders, the empire's strength can easily destroy them." After Tojo Hideki finished speaking, he also made a vicious gesture.
Expression. To enhance his tone.
Emperor Hirohito's eyes lit up and he asked: "Is this battle sure? What are the reactions of the United States, Britain and France?"
Tojo Hideki said: "Britain and France have declared war on Germany, and France has now become a government in exile. It has little energy to compete with us for control of Asia. And the United States is still rampant in isolationism. At most
We can only pay attention through diplomatic channels."
"Hmm!" Hirohito nodded, but said hesitantly: "Although I know that Okamura Neji is a capable general, Suri is really difficult to deal with. Last time, the empire dispatched 300,000 people to deal with him.
A large army, but everyone knows the result of the battle, and this time the surrounding troops were mobilized into three groups. Although it looks good, it is hard to say whether it will be effective. I think the strength of Okamura Neji's troops is still
Too little!”
Upon hearing this, the eyes of all the army generals lit up. Hirohito's words were what they loved to hear most. These words were almost equivalent to a signal for military expansion.
But soon the top leader of the Ministry of Finance, Minister Kanda Konobu, stood up and interrupted their dreams. Kanda Konobu said coldly: "Your Majesty, I have to remind you. The empire's finances are already in very bad shape. If
If we continue to expand the army, the empire’s finances will not be able to support it!”
"Baga. This bastard, he always comes out to disrupt the situation!" After hearing Kanda Konobu's words, all the army generals cursed in their hearts!
At this time, Vice Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku added fuel to the fire and stood up and said: "No matter what the outcome of the southern war between the Empire and the United States, Britain, France and Germany, the Empire's interests in the Far East cannot be sacrificed. If Hitler wins
, his next target is bound to be the Middle East and North Africa, where there is inexhaustible oil. The last time the Chinese sneak attacked the Empire to pick up the Second and Third Division's task force, they have told us that Suri has now developed
He has become a force that can pose a threat to the empire's navy, so we cannot overestimate him no matter what. Therefore, the Navy Headquarters believes that now we can take advantage of Suri's busy dealing with Okamura Neiji to attack Guangxi in China and take advantage of it.
It is in the best interest of the empire to control the Beibu Gulf there!"
"Attack Guangxi?" Yamamoto Isoroku's suggestion made everyone dumbfounded.
Yan Junliu on the side couldn't help but remind him: "Yamamoto-kun, do you know where Guangxi is?"
Yamamoto Isoroku laughed dumbly and said: "No need for Yan Junjun to remind me, of course I know that Guangxi is the place where Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi made their fortune, and it is also their hometown."
Yan Junliu asked in surprise: "Now that you know it, do you still make this suggestion? Do you know how many troops it would cost to attack Guangxi under the current circumstances, and how many naval ships would support it? Yamamoto-kun's idea of serving the country loyally
It's good, but this idea is too unreliable. You should worry more about the affairs of the Admiralty."
Yan Junliu's meaning is very obvious, that is, occupying the territory is the matter of the army, and you, a layman of the navy, should not interfere.
Yamamoto Isoroku couldn't help being furious, but just as he was about to explode, he was stopped by the Prime Minister of the Sea, Mitsumasa Yoneuchi. Yonei shook his head slightly at Yamamoto Isoroku, signaling him to stop talking. At this time, Yamamoto Isoroku
Although he had already reached the rank of Vice-Minister of the Navy, he had not yet reached the point where he would be able to keep his word in the Navy a few years later, so he could only bear this breath for life.
The people in the Army sneered. In their opinion, Yamamoto Isoroku's proposal was really terrible. Now Okamura is commanding hundreds of thousands of troops and is fighting Suri's Fourth Theater Army in Fujian and Jiangxi.
In the midst of the fierce fighting, people like the Navy jumped out and said they were going to attack Guangxi. Isn’t this nonsense? Even before one side has won the battle, they are thinking of opening up a battlefield on the other side, and it’s still in their home base. Anyway, it’s not your navy that died.
People, you can spend as much as you like, right?
Seeing the indignant look of the Army people, Emperor Hirohito also frowned and said to Yamamoto Isoroku: "King Yamamoto, you don't need to talk about the landing in Guangxi anymore. This matter is not mature yet. Let's talk about it later."
Seeing Hirohito say the same thing, Yamamoto Isoroku could only lower his head and respond in a low voice, but in Yamamoto's heart he sighed secretly.
In fact, in Yamamoto Isoroku's mind, at this time, Suri and the main force of the fourth theater have been firmly dragged by Okamura Neji to the battlefields of Fujian and Jiangxi. The defense of Guangxi has been much relaxed. If the Japanese suddenly land
Guangxi will definitely achieve unexpected success, but it is a pity that the people in the army are frightened by Su Rui. They all believe that as the home of the Guangxi faction, Su Rui and others will inevitably mobilize heavy troops to guard Guangxi, but Yamamoto thinks that Su Rui
The troops were limited and could not afford to worry about Guangxi. Taking Guangxi at this time was the best opportunity. It was a pity that Yamamoto Isoroku's idea was treated as a joke by those in the army as soon as it was proposed.
The other generals of the Navy Department were very angry when they saw Yamamoto Isoroku being ridiculed by the Army people. However, they did not dare to make a mistake while the Emperor was sitting there, so they could only be angry.
He sat and said nothing.
The people from the Navy Ministry did not speak, and the remaining people from the Army Ministry could only sing a one-man show there. Finally, the Emperor looked at it and thought... This imperial meeting should not be held. Everyone should go back and do what they should do. So Hirohito
He waved his hand very depressedly and announced that the meeting was adjourned.
After a while, Hirohito walked towards the back with his hands behind his back. Hideki Tojo noticed that Hirohito was not in a good mood and quickly followed him. However, his behavior fell into the eyes of those in the navy and he became a sycophant.
A low curse.
After leaving the conference room, Hirohito walked in the imperial garden with his stomach full. At this time, he felt a little depressed. In another time and space, Japan at this time should be the most glorious time. On the European battlefield, the Germans were invincible.
Unfortunately, even the British, a traditional world power, were beaten so hard that they had no time to take care of themselves. As an ally of the Germans, the Japanese were naturally in a situation where the tide was rising and they subconsciously regarded Asia as their own territory. But things didn't work out as they wished.
When they were eager to conquer China, the appearance of Suri gave them a blow. After several years of losing troops and generals, Hirohito finally realized that the suzerain country that had suppressed Japan for thousands of years was not as unbearable as they thought.
This was a big blow to Hirohito, who was ambitious and wanted to inherit his father's legacy and dominate the world.
Hirohito, who was deep in thought, heard rustling footsteps behind him. He looked back at the person in front of him, but did not stop but continued to walk forward.
Tojo Hideki trotted up behind Hirohito. Naturally, he didn't dare to speak even though Hirohito didn't say a word. He carefully followed Hirohito half a body behind him.
After a long time, Hirohito sighed slightly and asked: "Tojo Aiki, do you think it was wrong for the empire to launch a war against China?"
"Um, Nani?"
After hearing Hirohito's words, Tojo Hideki couldn't help but be surprised. Could it be that His Majesty the Emperor has become war-weary about the China War? This is not a good sign. Tojo Hideki knew very well that the reason why he could be
He became the Prime Minister because he advocated conquering China and advancing southward. If Emperor Hirohito decided to end the war against China, he would probably lose his position as Prime Minister, which he had just taken up.
"No, I have to persuade His Majesty the Emperor to give up this idea!"