In contrast to the unpredictability of Europe, there is a country in distant Asia that is also very restless.

This country is an island nation that calls itself the Great Japanese Empire.

In June 1940, while Italy boldly provoked Britain, Japan, far away in Asia, also emboldened itself and prepared to challenge the Soviet Union, which straddled Europe and Asia.

Yes, almost as motivated by the Battle of Nomenkan, some in Tokyo believed that since the Soviet Union had just annexed the two northern provinces of Romania and the three Baltic states, the Soviet government's center of gravity should be tilted westward.

This is the closest opportunity to launch a sneak attack.

"Your Excellency, our chance to be ashamed has come." Ogisu Libing, who had been defeated by the famous Soviet general Zhukov in the Battle of Nomenkan, was held accountable after the armistice, demoted to the General Staff Headquarters, and was now incorporated into the reserve Lieutenant General without military power, couldn't wait to knock on the door of Sugiyama Moto's office.

Because of the defeat at Nomenkan, Ogisu Libing can be said to have ruined all his future.

Originally, he went to Nomenkan to "gild", but he suffered an unexpected defeat, which caused heavy losses to the Kwantung Army, and he was deprived of military power and lost the opportunity to lead the army.

It's a pity that the abacus of the Ogizhou Libing has obviously failed.

Sugiyama Yuan looked at this subordinate who had high hopes for him, but now he was down, smiled bitterly, shook his head and said: "The northward faction in the country has completely lost its position now. The plan to attack the Soviet Union must not have been approved by the base camp. ”

Judging from the international situation at this time, Germany succeeded in blitzing Western Europe, the Netherlands and France were defeated one after another, and Britain was also in danger.

Obviously, it was much easier to seize the British colonies in Asia, France, and the Netherlands than to attack the Soviet Union.

Even in terms of political influence, it is not touching the defection to the Third Reich to maintain France's Asian colonies. The Netherlands, who were too busy to take care of themselves, would certainly not be able to hold the fat colony of the East Indies.

And the British Empire, which was in danger, with their little strength in Asia, could not fight the Japanese army.

In fact, the British government had already shown their cowardice and weakness in the face of Japan.

In order to win Japan from touching their Indian colonies, the British even closed the Yunnan-Burma Highway, the lifeline of China's war against Japan.

Everyone knows that most of China's foreign aid is transported to China through the Yunnan-Burma Highway, and the British cut off the Yunnan-Burma Highway directly cut off China's international aid sources, which is likely to lead to the defeat of China's war of resistance.

Once China lost the War of Resistance Against Japan, Japan would soon be able to gain access to China's vast manpower and natural resources, leading to a sharp expansion of its power and posing a huge threat to the security of the United States and the world.

From this point of view, the United States did not want the British to block the Yunnan-Burma road.

However, what is surprising is that without waiting for Roosevelt to put pressure on Britain to reopen the Yunnan-Burma Highway, Reinhardt, who was far away in Berlin, preemptively put pressure on France and forced the French government, which had been blockading the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, to immediately open the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway to replace the impact of the Yunnan-Burma Highway blockade by the British.

This was surprising to Roosevelt.

In the eyes of the Chinese, this was another major move by Germany to make friends with them.

In the eyes of the Americans, this was a political concession made by Germany to the United States.

After all, the direct beneficiary of the opening of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is China, and the biggest behind-the-scenes beneficiary is the United States.

Otherwise, in the face of a Japan that had its hands free to deal with the United States, Roosevelt was really worried that this crazy country would drive out something crazy.

In gratitude for the goodwill released by Germany, Roosevelt even acquiesced to the proposal of the domestic isolationists to temporarily suspend the sale of supplies to Britain.

After all, Germany's move is also to create a more superior isolation environment for the United States, allowing the United States to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight with lower risks.

In the eyes of the Japanese, they actually attributed Germany's move to Japan's delay in launching an offensive against the Soviet Union, and the German side expressed its dissatisfaction.

However, the Japanese General Staff Headquarters was not a bunch of fools, and they would not risk launching another "Great War of the North" just to win Germany's satisfaction.

"The failure of the Battle of Zaoyi led to the empire having to turn to a strategic stalemate on the battlefield in China." Sugiyama Mototo said to Ogisu Libing with regret: "At this time, the country urgently needs a new breakthrough to solve the current predicament. Obviously, this breakthrough is not in the north, but in the south! ”

"But......." Ogisu Libing, who was anxious to find an opportunity to make a fuss, seemed to want to argue.

"No, though," Sugiyama Moto, looking at this descendant who no longer had a future, said regretfully, "The Konoe Cabinet only formulated a new national policy outline a few days ago. ”

Seeing that Ogisu was confused, Sugiyama had no choice but to repeat for him: "The situation in the world has changed dramatically, and Japan's current urgent task must be promoted to realize it, and in order to break away from the situation that has always been constrained by Britain and the United States, and establish a situation of self-sufficiency in the South Seas east of India and north of New Zealand, Australia, the opportunity to achieve this goal will never be better than today. ”

In fact, Japan's base camp was set on the Dutch East Indies, which was a treasure trove of oil in East Asia.

Although the Netherlands was not attacked by Reinhardt, the Netherlands today has long since lost the style of the "coachman of the sea". For the colonies far away in Asia, control was even lower.

Anyone with a discerning eye knows that it was easy for Japan to seize the Dutch East Indies.

Even if the Dutch government did send reinforcements from the mainland, they would not be able to defeat the Japanese army.

"And what about the demands of the Germans?" Ogisu was obviously prepared, and he took out the information he had found and asked, "If we don't attack the Soviet Union, won't we violate the agreement with the Germans?" ”

Looking at this subordinate who had already been carried away, Sugiyama suddenly felt a little regretful.

If the Japanese army did not launch a war of revenge against the Soviet Union, Ogisu Libing might forever lose the opportunity to turn around and stay in the logistics department for the rest of his life.

Today's Ogizhou Libing, it is difficult to even calm down and think, grasp a little rumor and gossip, and imagine that this is his chance to turn over, I have to say, such a person is very pathetic.

"Lieutenant General Ogisu Libing!" Sugiyama raised his voice and said, "You have to remember that you are a Japanese soldier, not a German!" It's not what the Germans want us to do, we have to do it. There is such a thing as an agreement, which is always only observed when it is beneficial to oneself. Do you understand! ”