In fact, as early as August 7, 1936, Japan's five-phase meeting passed the "National Policy Baseline", which specifically stipulated the strategic plan to invade China, invade the Soviet Union, and wait to advance southward.
However, the huge benefits received from invading China made Japan somewhat forget about this national policy benchmark. Ships of cultural relics, wealth, gold and silver were shipped to the Japanese mainland in countless quantities.
The Japanese, who were marching forward in the Chinese battlefield, even clamored for subjugation to China in three months.
However, under the heroic resistance of the people and soldiers across the country, the Japanese army has become somewhat weak. After all, Japan is an island country with extremely scarce resources. The front line is too long and the consumption is too high.
China has sufficient strategic depth.
Therefore, after failing to gain enough benefits on the Chinese battlefield, they set their sights on Southeast Asia.
To them, the Soviet Union is still a behemoth, and they cannot take action for the time being. But now Southeast Asia is a weak paper tiger, just like China before.
France was defeated, and Britain was beaten to the point of being unable to hold its head high by Germany.
The British and French colonies were like a stripped beauty standing naked in front of the Japanese and inviting them to enjoy it.
So, they took action.
They originally signed an agreement with the puppet France to enter Vietnam. As a result, before the words were signed, the Japanese military impatiently invaded Vietnam. But under the control of Germany, France did not dare to say anything and could only let Japan do what it did.
The time is already 1941, and the time for Germany to attack the Soviet Union is getting closer and closer. This war has slowly begun to spread around the world.
Now, if Japan wants to mobilize the Kwantung Army southward and effectively trap this million-strong army in Northeast China, it must maintain a friendly relationship with the Soviet Union. Hence, the current negotiations.
From the words of the Japanese Major General, it seemed that they had communicated with Soviet representatives before, but they seemed to have ended on bad terms.
"Mr. Ivan, long time no see." The Japanese major general smiled when he saw the Soviet representative.
"We haven't seen each other for a long time. Didn't we just meet yesterday?" Ivan sneered mercilessly. The Soviets still looked down on the Japanese.
The Japanese major general did not have the awareness to be exposed and sarcastic, "There is an old saying in China, which is that if you don't see me for a day, it will be like three autumns. Although I just saw you yesterday, I always feel like I haven't seen you for a long time."
Ivan was choked and didn't say anything. Sure enough, if a person is shameless, he is really incomparable.
"Mr. Ivan, please sit down. We can continue the topic we didn't finish talking about yesterday."
…
In Jinan, Zhou Weiguo looked at the goose-feather-like snow flying in the sky with a sense of loneliness.
But at this time, Liu Yuan came over with a telegram, "Weiguo, the Japanese seem to be making some unusual moves."
Zhou Weiguo heard this, turned around, and took the telegram from Liu Yuan's hand, "Southern Henan?"
As soon as he saw the location, Zhou Weiguo thought of the Battle of Southern Henan.
Liu Yuan nodded, "Yes, it's South Henan!"
"What's the reason?"
"It should be to eliminate the threat posed by the national army to the Japanese army in Xinyang."
Zhou Weiguo frowned, "It should still be within the mediation agreement period."
Liu Yuan nodded, "Yes, so the Japs just made some changes, and there are only 4 months left before the agreed deadline."
Zhou Weiguo touched his chin. Do the Japanese really want to continue to advance westward and ignore the independent division? Impossible. Therefore, the Japanese must have some purpose. Could it be that the resources they have captured in Southeast Asia have inflated the Japanese?
Zhou Weiguo's guess was indeed correct.
The huge benefits gained in Southeast Asia have allowed the Japanese to regain some vitality again.
They seemed to be back to the time when they were invincible.
Indeed, in Southeast Asia, no one can stop them for the time being.
…
Although time has entered 1941, for the Chinese people, it is just the end of the year.
This year, people in Shandong generally have some spare money in their hands.
There are New Year's fairs everywhere on the streets. In five days, it will be January 26, which is New Year's Eve.
Zhou Weiguo was wearing casual clothes and walking on the street. He felt satisfied when he saw the smiles on the faces of the people.
The New Year is over and February is quickly approaching.
Due to the previous incident in southern Anhui, the Kuomintang authorities were in an unprecedented situation of political isolation and had to curb their anti-communist activities. In February, Chiang Kai-shek publicly stated that "there will never be a military campaign to suppress communism again."
However, Zhou Weiguo knew that as the international situation changed, Chiang Kai-shek would make further moves.
…
"Sorry, we will not agree to your conditions." Ivan once again rejected the Japanese. He felt that the two Japanese in front of him were simply wasting his time. How many times have we discussed this?
"No, Mr. Ivan, your country's conditions are really too much."
"Haha, there's nothing more to say." Ivan raised his feet and walked out.
…
"Mr. Matsuoka, we all know that there is no point in procrastinating like this." Ivan said, having discussed it countless times, "We will respect your country's territory! But we also hope that your country can respect our Soviet!"
Matsuoka Yosuke nodded, "Indeed, if that's the case, then can we be considered to have reached an agreement on this issue?"
Ivan nodded.
In fact, since July 1940, at the initiative of Japan, Japan and the Soviet Union began talks. The negotiations were temporarily suspended at the end of August. After the signing of the Axis Alliance Treaty between Germany, Italy and Japan, the Japanese government was committed to the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Treaty.
During the negotiations, Japan proposed the "Japan-Soviet Non-Aggression Treaty Plan". It also appointed Lieutenant General Takekawa Mitsuji as the new ambassador to the Soviet Union to speed up the pace of Japan-Soviet negotiations. On October 30, 1940, Takekawa visited Molotov and submitted to Japan
The "Japan-Soviet Non-Aggression Treaty Plan" drafted by the government. On November 18, 1940, the Soviet Union proposed the "Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Draft" and the draft subsidiary protocol. In mid-December, the negotiations were suspended again. Until March 1941, Matsuoka
Yangyou visited Europe in an attempt to once again use the power of Germany and Italy to promote the improvement of Japan-Soviet relations. An agreement was reached on April 12, and the agreement was formally signed on the 13th. The treaty has a total of 4 articles and is valid for 5 years. The main content is: Both parties promise to maintain the relationship between the two countries.
Peaceful and friendly relations, mutual respect for territorial integrity and inviolability; if one of the contracting parties becomes the object of war with one or more third parties, the other party shall remain neutral throughout the conflict and agree not to sign the relevant North Korea page for the time being.
Additional Protocol to the Transfer of Island Rights.
After the agreement was signed, the two sides issued statements to each other. The Soviet Union respected the territorial integrity of Manchukuo, and Japan respected the territorial integrity of the Mongolian People's Republic!
As soon as this news came out, it caused thousands of waves in China!
Liu Yuan looked at the telegram in his hand in disbelief. The Soviet Communist Party has always been the big brother of the Chinese Communist Party and has been assisting China's cause of resistance during the War of Resistance. Now it has signed the "Japan-Soviet Non-Aggression Treaty" with Japan. Obviously, it is