Compared with the unpredictable situation in Europe, there is a country in distant Asia that is also very restless.
This country is the island country that calls itself the Empire of Japan.
Just as Italy boldly provoked Britain in June 1940, Japan, far away in Asia, also emboldened and prepared to challenge the Soviet Union across Europe and Asia.
Yes, it was almost the same as the motivation during the Battle of Nomenkan. Some people as far away as Tokyo believed that since the Soviet Union had just annexed the two northern provinces of Romania and the three Baltic countries, the Soviet government's center of gravity should tilt westward.
This time is the closest opportunity to launch a sneak attack.
"Your Excellency, General, here is our chance to avenge our past humiliation." Ogisu Rihei, who was defeated by the famous Soviet general Zhukov in the Battle of Nomonkan, was held accountable after the armistice and demoted to the General Staff Headquarters. Now he is assigned to the General Staff Headquarters.
Lieutenant General without military authority in the reserve army eagerly knocked on the door of Sugiyama Yuan's office.
Because of the defeat at Nomenkan, Ogisu Rihei could be said to have ruined his entire future.
He originally ran to Nomenkan to "gild", but he suffered an unexpected failure, causing the Kwantung Army to suffer heavy losses. He was also deprived of military power and lost the opportunity to lead the army.
Unfortunately, Ogisu Rihei's plan obviously failed.
Sugiyama Yuan looked at this subordinate who once had high hopes for him but was now in dire straits. He smiled bitterly, shook his head and said: "The northern movement in the country has now completely lost power. The plan to attack the Soviet Union must be impossible to be defeated."
Approved by the base camp.”
Judging from the international situation at this time, Germany successfully attacked Western Europe, the Netherlands and France were defeated one after another, and the United Kingdom was also in danger.
Obviously, it is much easier to seize British, French, and Dutch colonies in Asia than to attack the Soviet Union itself.
Even in terms of political influence, regardless of the fact that France had defected to the Third Reich and maintained its Asian colonies, the Dutch, who were too busy to take care of themselves, would definitely not be able to hold on to this fertile colony in the East Indies.
And the British Empire, which was in danger, could not fight the Japanese army with the little strength they had in Asia.
In fact, the British government has shown their cowardice and weakness in front of Japan.
In order to prevent Japan from touching their Indian colonies, the British even closed the Burma Highway, the lifeline of China's war against Japan.
Everyone knows that most of China's foreign aid supplies are transported to China via the Burma Road, and the British's action of cutting off the Burma Road directly cut off the source of China's international aid supplies, which may very well lead to the failure of China's war of resistance.
Once China fails in the War of Resistance, Japan will soon be able to obtain China's huge manpower and natural resources, leading to a sharp expansion in power and posing a huge threat to the security of the United States and the world.
From this point of view, the United States does not want the British to block the Burma Highway.
However, what is surprising is that before Roosevelt could put pressure on Britain to reopen the Yunnan-Burma Highway, Reinhardt, who was far away in Berlin, put pressure on France and forced the French government, which had previously blocked the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, to
Immediately open the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway to replace the impact of the British blockade of the Yunnan-Burma Highway.
This fact surprised even Roosevelt.
In the eyes of the Chinese people, this is another major move by Germany to establish good relations with them.
In the eyes of Americans, this is a political concession made by Germany to show goodwill to the United States.
After all, the direct beneficiary of the opening of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is China, while the biggest behind-the-scenes beneficiary is the United States.
Otherwise, facing a Japan that was free to deal with the United States, Roosevelt was really worried that this crazy country would do something crazy.
In order to thank Germany for its goodwill, Roosevelt even acquiesced to the domestic isolationists' proposal to temporarily suspend the sale of supplies to Britain.
After all, Germany's move also created a more superior isolation environment for the United States, allowing the United States to sit back and watch the fight between tigers and tigers with lower risks.
In the eyes of the Japanese, they actually attributed Germany's move to Germany's way of showing dissatisfaction with Japan's delay in launching an offensive against the Soviet Union.
However, the Japanese General Staff Headquarters are not a bunch of fools. They will not take the risk of launching another "War to the North" just to win Germany's satisfaction.
"The failure of the Zaoyi Battle forced the empire to turn to a strategic stalemate on the Chinese battlefield." Sugiyama Moto said regretfully to Ogisu Rihei: "At this time, the country urgently needs a new breakthrough to solve the current dilemma. Obviously, the country is in urgent need of a new breakthrough.
, this breakthrough is not in the north, but in the south!"
"But..." Ogisu Rihei, who was eager to find a chance to avenge his shame, seemed to want to argue.
"No more," Sugiyama Gen looked at this direct descendant who had no future, and said with regret, "The Konoe Cabinet just formulated a new national policy outline a few days ago."
Seeing the confused look on Ogisu Tatehei's face, Sugiyama Gen had to repeat for him: "The world situation has changed drastically. Japan's current urgent task must be to promote its realization. In order to break away from the situation that has always been constrained by Britain and the United States, it is east of India and Australia.
The southern ocean area north of New Zealand forms a circle and establishes a self-sufficient situation. The opportunity to achieve this goal will never be possible except today, and the good opportunity will no longer be available in the future."
In fact, the Japanese base camp was interested in the Dutch East Indies, the oil treasure house in East Asia.
Although the Netherlands was not attacked by Reinhardt, today's Netherlands has long lost its demeanor as a "sea coachman" in the past. Its control over colonies far away in Asia is even lower.
Anyone with a discerning eye knows that it would be very easy for Japan to seize the Dutch East Indies.
Even if the Dutch government really dispatched reinforcements from the mainland, they would not be able to defeat the Japanese army.
"What about the Germans' requirements?" Ogisu Rihei came clearly prepared. He took out the intelligence he had gathered and asked: "If we don't attack the Soviet Union, wouldn't we be violating the agreement with the Germans?
"
Looking at this subordinate who had been carried away, Sugiyama Yuan suddenly felt a little regretful.
For Ogisu Rihei, he badly needed a chance to redeem his reputation. If the Japanese army did not launch a war of revenge against the Soviet Union, Ogisu Rihei might never have the opportunity to turn around and stay in the logistics department for the rest of his life.
Nowadays, Ogisu Rihei has trouble even calming down and thinking. He seizes on some rumors and gossip and imagines that this is his chance to make a comeback. I have to say that such a person is very sad.
"Lieutenant General Ogisu Tatehei!" Sugiyama Gen raised his voice and said: "You have to remember that you are a Japanese soldier, not a German! We do not have to do anything the Germans want us to do. This agreement is
When planting something, you only need to follow it when it is beneficial to you. Do you understand!"
