"Anyway, we still have a relationship with Germany. It was also in the interests of the Germans for the Japanese army to move north to contain the Soviet Union, so there was no need for them to lie about this intelligence. Sugiyama Mototo, touching his mustache, reasoned as if he was convincing Ogishu and as if he was convincing himself.

Although Germany and Japan were not allies, there had been no hostilities between the two countries, and to some extent, it was possible that Germany had sent the Soviet military information they had received to Japan. On the surface, the people are selling favors to the Japanese, but in fact, aren't they also for their own interests?

"The interests of the Germans, the interests of the Germans ......." Sugiyama Moto, as if he had discovered something, muttered to himself.

"I see! I get it, I finally figured it out! Once the Soviets conquered Poland, Germany would be bordered by the Soviet Union. Therefore, the Germans will inform us as soon as they receive the information that the Soviet Union is preparing to attack Poland, and induce us to attack the Soviet Union from behind. They are asking for our great Japanese Empire, quack quack........" Sugiyama Moto's eyes lit up as he said to his confidant, Major General Ogisu.

"Soga!" Ogisu also nodded: "Then should we follow the advice of the German ambassador and launch an attack on the Far East after the Soviet Union sends troops to Poland?" ”

"Yes, of course we have to sell this face to Germany." Sugiyama Motoha laughed and said, "You think, the Northern Advance faction of the empire has been looking for an opportunity to defeat the Soviet Union and achieve hegemony in Asia in the true sense. It can be said that even if the Germans had not sent this information, it would not have been long before we would have waged war against the Soviet Union. Therefore, even if it seems that the Germans who are hiding behind the back are cheap, this does not actually go against the strategic direction of the Great Japanese Empire. On the contrary, the information sent by the German ambassador has really done us a great favor. ”

Did us a big favor? Ogisu Libing suddenly noticed something in these words, and looked up at Sugiyama Yuan in surprise.

"Looks like you've guessed it. True, the Reich had long planned the opportunity to fight against the USSR. Now it seems likely that we will be the executors of this plan. Sugiyama Yuan smiled slightly and said, "I will be the supreme person in charge of this battle, and you are my forward general." ”

"Then ......." Ogisu looked deeply at Sugiyama Motomichi, "If the vanguard of this war will fall on my shoulders, where do I need to start attacking?" Should I find out about this first? ”

"First of all, attack the Mongolian People's Republic in the area of Nomenkhan, occupy its eastern territory, the Haraha region, as a springboard for the next step to invade the Soviet Far East, and then realize the plan of northward expansion." Sugiyama Yuan said slowly: "As long as I can open up the situation in the area of Nomenkan, how to fight the battle in the future is my task." ”

"Your Excellency, General!" A major staff officer took a telegram and hurriedly pushed the door open and ran into Sugiyama Moto's office.

Sugiyama Yuan had a flat expression, waved his hand and said, "Say, is there a new task coming?" ”

"Yes......." Finding that General Sugiyama seemed to have guessed it, the major also calmed down, picked up the telegram and reported: "The Minister of War immediately decided to launch an attack on the Far East as soon as the Soviet Union sent troops to Poland was confirmed as soon as the German side suggested it. General Sugiyama Motodai was appointed as the supreme leader of the operation, and Major General Tateto Ogisu was appointed as commander of the newly established 6th Army, responsible for the first phase of the offensive mission. ”

In a word! Ogisu Libing really became the vanguard general of the Japanese army in this operation. And the 6th Army under his command was all the troops invested by the Kwantung Army in the first stage. As for how many additional troops the Kwantung Army will have in the future, it depends on how far the Ogisu troops can fight.

As for how capable this newly built 6th Army is, Sugiyama Gen knows a little better than the newly arrived Ogisu Standing Army.

Compared with the 6th Army in history, the current 6th Army can be said to have received a certain improvement in equipment (equipped with 1000 Iron Fist anti-tank rocket launchers), but the rest is not ideal.

First of all, this 6th Army is called an army, but in fact there is only one main body of the 23rd Division of the Kwantung Army, with a brigade of the 8th Border Guard of the Kwantung Army.

The 23rd Division of the Kwantung Army is actually only a three-unit division of the nature of a garrison, with a total of three infantry wings under the jurisdiction of the 64th, 71st, and 72nd. Each infantry wing averaged only 2,909 men, and the 12 120-mm guns of the artillery wing were all obsolete goods sent by the 5th Division. In April 1939, one month before the outbreak of the Battle of Nomenkan, the soldiers of the 23rd Division began training in field tactical subjects, and their weapons were also inferior, and their firepower was weaker than that of the second-rate divisions on the frontal battlefield in Guannai, with a total of only 15,000 men.

Although most of the soldiers in the 23rd Division, which was formed only last year, are in their first or second year of service. But most of these recruits came from southern Japanese cities such as Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Hiroshima, and Oita. Traditionally, troops from these conscription areas have proven to be brave and combative, especially rather crazy in offensive operations. Therefore, the combat effectiveness of this unit may not be too low.

Fortunately, with Sugiyama Yuan's current authority, he can still add a bargaining chip to his cronies.

"Ogizhou-kun, if you want to open up enough situations in the first stage with such a force, speed is the key." Sugiyama reminded kindly.

Ogisu Libing naturally knew that his boss was concerned about him, and immediately replied respectfully: "Please rest assured, I will do my best to break through the Nomen Threshold within the first week and enter the Haraha region behind him." As long as I have one soldier under my command, I will not give the order to retreat, and the whole army will not return. ”

"Good! It's worthy of my Sugiyama Moto's person, and he has courage. Sugiyama Mototo, looking at Ogisu with approval, said, "Although most of the troops under your command are newly formed, they are equipped with the use of the 'Iron Fist', a secret weapon that has been pressed at the bottom of the box by the War Department. When it comes to the Soviet armored forces, they must be much more anti-tank than those units in the Kannai. ”

"Hey! I think so too. Ogishu agreed from the bottom of his heart.

However, this senior general and a major general actually did not say the key to it.

What are the opponents of those troops in Kannai? That's a bunch of infantry!

What do they want anti-tank capabilities for? Keep anti-own armored vehicles ?!

After these two self-deceiving generals cheered each other up, Sugiyama Yuan waved his hand again and said: "Considering that you don't have enough manpower, I will find a way to transfer the 10th Flying Reconnaissance Team of Qiqihar, the 24th Flying Team of Hailar, and the 100 transport vehicles of the Eastern Army Automobile Team to your 6th Army command." In that way, you're going to have to give me a good result. ”

"Hey!" Ogishu Libing gratefully assured Sugiyama Yuan: "My subordinates must live up to the high expectations and care of the general, and give the general a brilliant victory at Nomenkan!" ”