In the Japanese base camp, the always calm General Sugiyama Moto was pacing back and forth holding a piece of intelligence, sometimes anxiously looking at the large map on the wall, sometimes doubtfully comparing the contents of the intelligence in his hand.
"General!" As a close confidant of Sugiyama Gen, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rihei, who rushed over after receiving the notice, already knew a thing or two about the intelligence content in Sugiyama Gen's hands. At this moment, he was speaking with an expression that was hesitant to speak.
looked at Sugiyama Yuan with an expression.
In fact, Ogisu Rihei didn't need to speak, Sugiyama Gen also knew what he wanted to say. This information came so timely, as if it was tailor-made for the Japanese army.
"The Soviet Union is about to attack Poland across the board, and it will be difficult to mobilize new troops to the Far East in the short term!"
Such a piece of information is very important to Sugiyama Gen.
On the Chinese battlefield, the Japanese army's millions of troops have worked to no avail. Many divisions this year have almost stayed put, which is in sharp contrast to the rapid advance in the early stages of the war. Everyone can see that they want to defeat the Chinese army in a short period of time.
It is almost impossible. On the entire Chinese battlefield, the Japanese troops have become increasingly dispersed and exhausted.
Although within this month, the base camp has made a decision to dispatch another 400,000 people from the mainland to the Chinese battlefield. But even with the addition of these 400,000 people, Sugiyama Gen did not believe that the Japanese army could quickly open up the situation and resolve the war in China.
In sharp contrast to the million-strong army trapped in the Chinese quagmire, the Kwantung Army, with 230,000 people in 11 divisions, has been staying in the garrison and wasting its time, wasting its strength. Although using this army to confront each other seems to have more strength.
A strong Soviet army is the established goal that the base camp has long determined, but holding an elite force always motionless is not a good idea.
No matter how elite the army is, if it does not fight for five or eight years, can it still be an elite army? Without the tempering of war, no amount of training can make up for the rust that starts from the bones. It does not mean that there is no training.
Yes, but actual combat is inevitable for a force that truly wants to be called an elite force.
Besides, the style of the Japanese Army has never been to sit still and wait for death. The Northeast Army had 300,000 people, equipped with aircraft, tanks and artillery, but they were driven away by the 10,000 Kwantung Army. Although it was a fluke, it was also a classic attack with a small number of soldiers.
Much better than that.
However, since then, China's resistance has become stronger and more unyielding. And the Kwantung Army's record has remained at that initial battle.
But now, the "Northern Movement Faction" supported by Sugiyama Gen can no longer stand it. They urgently need a war to suppress the Southward Strategy proposed by the Navy guys, a war that is overwhelming!
At the beginning, the secret anti-tank weapons obtained from Germany are still hidden by the Northern Expedition and have not been used to this day. The purpose is to give the unsuspecting Soviet Union a head-on blow in the future. But now, the war has already started.
After so many years, secret weapons are hidden and not used, and elite troops are left undisturbed. This is simply occupying the latrine and not taking a shit - it is unforgivable!
"What do you think of this information?" Sugiyama Moto, who couldn't think of anything after thinking for a long time, turned to seek advice from Lieutenant General Ogisu Rihei.
"General, first of all, I am not very optimistic about the source of this information. I heard that it was secretly sent by the German Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Hans, right?" Ogisu Rihei said respectfully.
Sugiyama Gen didn't say anything, just nodded, acquiescing to Ogisu Rihei's question just now.
"Then, the authenticity of this intelligence is quite problematic. Ever since we launched a full-scale war against China, the Germans have almost cut off official contact with us. In recent years, Germany and Japan have stopped all exchanges.
.At this time, the German ambassador to Japan suddenly gave us a piece of Soviet intelligence. Isn’t it too strange?” As a close confidant of Sugiyama Gen, Ogisu Rihei has no scruples when speaking and speaks frankly.
Tell each other.
In fact, the acrimony between Germany and Japan did not stop at this point. During the Battle of Songhu, the Japanese army found a large number of Chinese soldiers wearing German steel helmets and holding German weapons, and they immediately questioned Germany.
As a result, the reply from the Germans could almost make people angry to death. At that time, Ribbentrop from the German Foreign Ministry replied, "Check, Germany will investigate this matter strictly to the end, and will definitely find out the truth. Please ask Japan
We are waiting for the results.”
At this time, it is two years......
To this day, Germany has not found any results.
As a result, today, the German side, which had not been in contact for two years, suddenly sent such a piece of information that the "Northern Expedition" urgently needed to the base camp, and the motives were inevitably a bit suspicious.
"Yo Xi... Although the relationship between Germany and us has been tepid in recent years, we are still treaty countries that signed the "Anti-Soviet Defense Agreement" together. In terms of relations with the Soviet Union, our interests are consistent.
"As a general, Sugiyama Moto naturally knew a lot of inside information, which of course included the "Anti-Soviet Treaty" secretly signed between Germany and Japan 15 years ago.
Speaking of which, at that time, Sugiyama Gen was still very good friends with Major General Umekawa Kuroko who went to Germany to sign the treaty.
That was a major general who left a deep impression on Sugiyama Gen. He was the first officer to talk to himself, who was the military section chief at the time, about the importance of Army Aviation. He was also recognized as the most promising young officer in the country at the time.
Sugiyama Gen believes that if he were still alive, his current achievements might be comparable to that of the German head of state!
The Japanese Army Base Camp, a comprehensive organization that was jointly responsible for the War Minister and the Navy Minister, and under the daily guidance of the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief of Naval Command, was originally supposed to have the same existence as the German High Command.
Unfortunately, Japan does not have a person like Reinhardt who can command all generals, so this organization that was supposed to play a coordinating role has now become a place where the army and navy are arguing.
And the major general who was most likely to integrate this organization was reportedly shot in the head by the current German head of state on the land of Germany, which he most hoped to unite with!
Gen Sugiyama still remembers that before leaving, Major General Umekawa threatened to bring back the most needed weapons technology and the world's most powerful allies to the Japanese Empire. As a result, the weapons technology was brought back, but the people stayed there.
.
This major general who never participated in factional struggles and was good at taking advantage of the conflicts between the northern and southern marchers to reap the benefits. When he first set out for Germany, he was a neutral person who did not interfere on both sides. When the body was returned
But he was rumored to be a staunch supporter of the "Southern Movement".
I heard that Hiroshi Oshima, who was accompanying Major General Umekawa at the time, had rumored that Major General Umekawa was murdered by the domestic Northern Movement faction and Reinhardt.
This kind of argument is quite popular in Japan. How else to explain why the Germans immediately sold the weapons to the North Expedition to deal with the Soviet armored forces after killing Major General Umekawa? There must have been contact in advance.
Knowing what the Northern Movement wanted, he casually killed Major General Meichuan on behalf of the Northern Movement.
Besides, Major General Umekawa had never been to Germany before, had no grievances against the Germans, and others had no reason to harm him. In this way, everything became a big chess game played by the Northern Movement.
Fortunately, the Southern Movement did not seem to know that Major General Umekawa was from their side, and the Germans also gave the Southern Movement, that is, some technical assistance to the Japanese Navy. The Emperor quickly sent someone to intervene to mediate, so this matter
There was no big fuss in the end.
However, there was some influence, because Major General Umekawa killed Takeshi Inukai, who was the first person in history to propose sending troops to Nomonkan, so the Battle of Nomonkan, which was supposed to break out in May 1939, was delayed until September.