The so-called contradiction between Japan and Germany, in fact, both the army and navy understand that the main thing lies in the northward advance, and to put it more bluntly, it is the question of the ultimate ownership of the Russian Far East and Siberia. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

Ishihara's strategy was to wait and see the Soviet-German war for the time being, and if he was convinced that the Soviet Union would fall, the Kwantung Army would advance north to seize the Far East and Siberia -- if not the entire capture, at least more than half of it.

Hoffman's strategy was: Soviet-German peace, the territory of the Soviet Union was limited to the east of the Ural Mountains, and 500 kilometers of no-man's land to the west were set aside as a natural demarcation line, so that the Soviet Union would be made an Asian country, but it was not necessary to completely eliminate the Bolshevik regime, and at the same time suggested that Stalin go to Afghanistan and North India to get a piece of the pie.

It was not easy to achieve these two goals: the realization of Japan's goal required the complete defeat of the Soviet Union, and Germany was obviously unwilling to shed so much blood, as long as Russia could retain more than 2 million troops, and Germany did not cooperate to continue the attack, Japan's hope of advancing north would be disappointed; The difficulty in achieving Germany's goal was to get Stalin to accept the fact that the Soviet Union had become an Asian state, and at the same time to prevent the Soviet Union from swallowing up China -- if the Soviet Union invaded from Xinjiang and Mongolia, China would certainly not be able to resist it, and then the Soviet Union would have a lot of room for manoeuvre, and both Japan and Germany would face a future Soviet counterattack.

Of course, there is a very small risk for Japan and Germany: the Soviet Union will resist the Urals line, and then the United States will send a large number of land forces (including army aviation) to land in the Soviet Far East, storm Manchuria and Korea, eat or suppress Japan first, and let China, the United States and the Soviet Union form a line, the basic requirement of this strategy is that the United States does not care about the loss of personnel (at least 500,000 level), Japan and Germany both believe that as long as the Americans are in a normal mind, they will not choose, but they cannot but prevent the possibility of sudden convulsions or breakdown of the Americans' brains.

Therefore, the northward advance was a thorn in the side between Japan and Germany: Germany did not mind allowing Japan to share in the Far East, but it was impossible to swallow it -- it was not that Germany was stingy and refused to give Japan this part of the territory, but that Germany wanted to prevent Japan's indigestion. The existing army top brass may also pursue rational goals, but the army deer at the bottom are not so easy to talk to. Therefore, Hori Yoshiichi said that it would be postponed until May, and he said that he was prevaricating the Germans, and Ishihara immediately reacted - he was also very troubled by this matter, and simply did not consider going north, and only attacked in the direction of India, hoping to use India to release the energy of the grassroots red deer a little more, so as not to think too much.

After listening to Horiyoshi's macro-strategic analysis at the naval operations seminar, everyone was silent, and everyone discovered the fact that Japan's strength is too small and its national strength is too weak, and it is not easy to gain the upper hand now, and the best option is to immediately cease the war, so that Japan will have the opportunity to quickly turn the areas it currently occupies into a part of the productive forces, and at the same time greatly encourage population growth, effectively strengthen regional control, and consolidate and enhance long-term strength. In order to achieve this goal, it is nothing to give up even a little territory temporarily, but it is a pity that the Americans do not appreciate it.

"The navy is now caught in a vicious circle of the army on the China issue -- whether we win or lose, the other side just refuses to make peace with us, and will not let go!" Horikichi sighed, "The army can still retreat in China and shrink the front, because there is no need to scruple about Chinese counterattack when retreating, but the United States is different, as long as we show the slightest sign of retreating and wavering, we will pounce on us like hungry wolves, which is difficult...... It's hard......"

"Sir......" Nishimura Shoji stepped forward, "If the United States refuses to make peace, then we will convince him." ”

"That's right! We'll convince him! All the people spoke in unison.

Horikichi shook his head: "It's impossible to be subdued, and it's very ideal to let the Americans retreat." That's why I have to seize power, reform and concentrate all my strength -- those who know me say I'm worried, and those who don't know me say I think wrong. ”

Yamamoto Fifty-six nodded, the words of the old friend should be sincere - a 60-year-old man, already at the peak of power, and at the same time has great martial arts, he doesn't want to usurp the throne, and he doesn't want to open a mansion, what else do you want? It's nothing more than trying to make the country a little more stable.

"Please show me the direction, I will definitely be in ruin, and we will die."

"I heard that in the past two days, some people have been discussing the strategy of counterattacking in the direction of Solomon and even seizing Australia?"

"Yes, indeed." Takasu Shiro nodded, "In the past two days, the army and navy have been in frequent contact, many people in the army have said so, and there are also many middle-level staff officers in the Navy Ministry and the Military Command Department who are ready to move, and some people say that this is His Majesty's idea." The reason seems simple: the US military was dragged by the Germans in the Atlantic, Panama was blocked, the Falklands were blockaded by Germany, and the Pacific Ocean was not left to our roam? Australia missed such a territory, but there is no such opportunity, the combined fleet is now in full swing, it just so happens that the army also has spare strength, can cooperate with the launch of the Australian strategy, and even some people said that if Australia can be taken, the rights and interests of Chinese mainland except for a few key ports and islands, nothing else. ”

Onishi Takijiro added: "Of course, this is all the idea of the Shaozhuang faction, and the top brass of the army, whether it is Tada Rikuxiang or Chief Ishihara, are very cautious, and only talk about completing the Indian strategy, and never mention the matter of Australia, not even the counterattack on the Nanyang Islands." However, they were very slippery, and they did not say no, but only said that they would wait for the navy to make a decision, and if the navy was determined, the army could cooperate. ”

Hori Yiji nodded: "I understand, in a word: in this situation, the old men are already trembling, walking on thin ice, and they want to retreat to defend it, while the young Zhuang faction still complains that the pace is too slow, the courage is too small, and they can rush forward again." ”

Everyone didn't know how to take this sentence, which was obviously wrong, but they didn't know how to refute it.

Inoue Narumi sneered: "What do they know? When the war situation is unfavorable, he is very pessimistic, thinking that he will lose his country in two days; When the war situation is favorable, he is very optimistic, thinking that Japan can do anything, and God is the eldest and we are the second. If you really listen to them, you will really lose your country. ”

"Raiding Australia and New Zealand, in fact, it's not impossible to do, but the way they think is wrong, if you start from the direction of Solomon and New Guinea, let alone half a year, you can't win for a year. To fight a war, it is necessary to identify the enemy's weak points. Horikichi smiled slightly, "Can you tell me what the weaknesses of the U.S. military are?" ”

"I think it's the fear of death." Kakuharu Tsunoda was the first to stand up and speak.

There was a lot of discussion on the spot, some people agreed, and some people thought that judging from the two years of fighting, the US military was not as afraid of death as previously estimated, and the Caribbean and Tarawa fought very tenaciously.

"Tsunoda-kun, tell me your reasons."

"I'll give you an example. US carrier-based aircraft pilots often have numerical superiority, but they are not skilled enough to defeat our army. If they are not afraid of death, they can completely close, flatten or even reverse this gap. Tsunoda explained, "If I were in command, I would have the pilots fight a ramming battle, and the American planes are not slow, and the fuselage is very strong, so they can't hit them at all." There is no need to fight with us, just collide, one plane for another, one life for one life, even if two planes for one, three lives for one life, as long as we can knock out 500 of our planes, our army's outstanding pilots will basically be finished, without this batch of elite pilots, what to fight with the Americans? than the number of pilots? than the number of aircraft? Japan has no chance of winning......"

Yamamoto Isoroku nodded, thinking that what Tsunoda said made sense, but with his understanding of the U.S. military, he thought it was unlikely, unless it was to hit the U.S. mainland and the Americans faced life and death, they wouldn't do it.

Others also said several aspects, including: the command tactics of US generals are relatively dull; The U.S. military is spread across two oceans and is too distracted by its allies; The current unit combat effectiveness of the US military is too low...... Wait a minute

"Your opinions are very pertinent and sober, and only by knowing yourself and your opponent can you survive a hundred battles." Horiyoshi nodded, "Let me tell you what I think, I think one of the fatal problems of the US military at present is that the war is too dependent on materials and too high requirements for logistics. Have you seen the US military rations? If the daily rations of individual soldiers of the US army are accompanied by a little rice ball, it is enough for our soldiers to enjoy for a week, and no one feels that they are suffering. If the U.S. military had only been able to use our army's logistical standards, their morale would have collapsed long ago......"

"That's why they all say that the American young master is ...... soldier," someone wittily mentioned, and everyone laughed.

"In that case, wouldn't it be nice to cut off their logistics? Why bother to fight? Horiyoshi strode to the map, pointed at the chart with his whip, and said, "The U.S. military in the direction of Australia and New Zealand, in addition to food and some daily necessities that can be provided by Australia and New Zealand, the rest of the heavy equipment, supplies, and ammunition need to be transported from the mainland, and we can completely cut off this line!" Let the US army have no oil, no tanks, no planes, no shells, and lose its long-lasting combat capability! ”

Everyone's eyes lit up.

"Kakuharu Tsunoda, Shoji Nishimura, Masafumi Arima!"

"Humble duty!" The three of them stepped forward respectfully.

"Order the three of you to lead the second air battle to attack after 15 days!" Horikichi pointed to the map, "The Zuizuru can be completely repaired in 10 days, and it will also be incorporated into the Second Air Battle, strengthen its strength, and I will incorporate Musashi and King Kong into the Second Air Battle, and you will go to the waters east of the Marshall Islands to break diplomatic relations and intercept all the US military transport fleets coming from the US mainland to Australia and New Zealand, especially oil tankers, and not let a single one slip through the net!" The U.S. Pacific Fleet currently estimates that there is no or only one regular aircraft carrier, so you can rest assured that you can fight boldly! On artillery warfare, on aviation warfare, you all have full grasp! ”

"Yes!"

"Remember, avoid the US military island airfield, you are going to break diplomatic relations, not to fight hard with the Americans, if there is a bargain, take it if there is a benefit, don't fold the capital into it. I won't be remote control on how to break diplomatic relations, the three of you make your own decisions, remember the essence of breaking diplomatic relations that you learned from the Germans, and I will ask the German army to send a few advisers with you. ”

"Understood!"

"The rest of the combined fleet will continue to train and run in at home, and when we return home from the Second Air War in May, we will go to a big goal together."

"Sir, where are you going?"

"Hit Midway first, then the West Coast, and avoid Pearl Harbor!" Horiyoshi said with great ambition, "In the meantime, I will first push forward the reform, which is a major event that will benefit in the long run!" ”