This trip to the imperial capital gave Tan Renhao a new feeling, the capital is still so prosperous, but the people in the capital are no longer as optimistic as before. In the mouths of the people, what is most talked about is not the victory, but the tragic price, as well as the current situation in Japan.

The war has entered its fourth year (in fact, it has not yet been three years), and the people of the empire have a much more rational view of the war. In the first year of the war, pessimism and anger clearly appeared on the faces of every citizen of the empire, and the crushing defeat in the early stage of the war, as well as the situation of passive beating, angered everyone in the empire and aroused the fighting spirit of the people of the empire. In the last two years of the war, the people of the empire heard the good news of victory more often, as if victory was just around the corner, but in 24 years, with the entry of the United States into the war, the situation of the war changed significantly. Japan's defeat did not have much of an impact on the tide of the war, and it was already impossible for the empire to win in the short term, nor would it be an immediate defeat. In this case, the views of the imperial people on the war were clearly divided into two factions.bsp; Most of the people still firmly believe that the empire will be the final victor, since the empire entered the constitutional period, victory has been with the empire, in countless wars, the empire has been the final victor, even in the last war, the empire is still the face of the victor (in fact, the empire lost badly) now, although the empire is facing the strongest challenger in history, there are still the vast majority of the empire people who firmly believe that victory still belongs to the empire, and it is only a matter of time, That pride and confidence still fill their hearts.

In addition to this part of the population, there is also a part of the population who doubts the inevitability of war. Although these people also believe that the empire will win the final victory, and it will be won through fierce battles, they are doubting what the war will bring besides victory, what is worthy of the pride of the empire, and worthy of the terrible price of the people. It can be said that these people are realists, and victory is certain, but is it worth paying huge sacrifices and losses for victory? And how much good will the final victory bring to the empire? Is it like every war that has preceded it. After victory, will the empire be set back for decades, or even collapse for decades?

Almost everyone has this kind of suspicion, not only the common people, but also many soldiers, and the difference is only the depth of suspicion. Tan Renhao himself feels that he sometimes doubts the necessity of this war, but as a soldier. He didn't get into that, all he had to do was win and win on the battlefield.

"War brings us more than just victory."

Nie Renfeng glanced at the pedestrians outside the car window, "The impact of the war on the lives of the people has already been revealed. Although the rationing system had been in place since the year before, it was still possible to buy and sell some daily necessities and luxury goods freely. Since the beginning of this year, the government has begun to crack down on the underground black market trade, which has greatly affected the lives of ordinary people. Now there are many people who wonder if it is necessary to take so much food and medicine to rescue the Japanese. If the empire weren't in a period of military control now. I'm afraid there will be demonstrations in many places. ”

"Actually, I don't understand either, although the empire has enough food production, and the industrial production capacity is also increasing year by year. But is it necessary for me to help the enemy who provokes the war? ”

Tan Renhao shook his head as he spoke.

"And what do you think we should do with Japan?"

Nie Renfeng glanced at the student, "Let the Japanese fend for themselves?" Or will Japan be wiped off the face of the earth completely? None of this is realistic, young people, Japan is, after all, a country that has been recognized, and it is a country with a population of tens of millions. It is undeniable that Japan is poor in resources, and its production materials cannot even feed its own people, and Japan is still the source country of this war, and it was Japan's aggressive actions that finally detonated this war. But look the other way around. If Japan had not provoked war, would we have been able to avoid war? A few more years of peace will we be able to enjoy? Also, what good is it for us to destroy Japan? In the end, we will still have to clean up the mess, and wouldn't it be better to use Japan now than to clean up the mess in the future? ”

"Utilization?"

Tan Renhao glanced at the principal in confusion, what is the use value of a desert island with only residents who are so hungry that they can't even stand up?

"Yes. Exploit. ”

Nie Renfeng nodded affirmatively, "Let's take an analogy, now the two warring parties are national groups, but then again, national groups are also composed of countries, and the interests of each country are different. Just as we and Germany have different views on many issues, do the United States, Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, and Japan also have many contradictions? If we can use Japan to make other countries realize that surrender is not bad for them, only good, then what will be their attitude? Judging from the current situation in Russia, as the pressure we exert increases, Russia will not be able to avoid defeat in the end, and the difference is only whether it will be defeated next year or the year after. If we can deal with the Japanese problem well, in fact, we will tell Russia that surrender is the best option for them, so that we can save us a huge investment in the Russian battlefield, and it will not do us any good? ”

However, our investment is already huge enough, and now we have enough investment in Japan to support us in several large-scale battles. ”

"Maybe you're not wrong in this view, we can use the investment in Japan to kill Russia, but the question is, there are so many countries such as Italy, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom, if we continue to fight one by one, how much strength will we need to invest in the end?"

Nie Renfeng laughed, "These are actually secondary, and solving the Japanese problem can strengthen our position in the alliance, which is the most important thing." ”

Tan Renhao was slightly startled, and immediately asked, "Headmaster, you mean that someone has threatened our position in the alliance?" ”

Nie Renfeng let out a sigh and was silent for a while, before he said, "What do you think is our relationship with Germany?" ”

"Allies, we've been fighting side by side."

"And what about the future?"

Nie Renfeng glanced at the student, "According to the current comparison of the strength of the two warring sides, we are far ahead of the enemy. Although tactical victory is very important, the ultimate fight in the war is the national strength and the comprehensive strength of the national bloc. Among them, industry, science and technology, and resources are the most important, and from these three aspects, we must be stronger than our opponents, and victory will belong to us sooner or later. But the question is, will the United States be our last adversary? After the end of the war. Are we still allies with our current allies? ”

Tan Renhao's expression sank, the principal's words were too profound, Tan Renhao had never thought about it so far-reaching before, and this was not a battlefield commander, and he didn't need to think about such a long-term political issue. But the principal's words are very profound, what will the world be like after the war? God knows that allies are just friends with common interests, and when this common interest disappears, friends will be estranged. When the contradiction overcomes the common good. Friends become enemies.

"None of this is something we can consider right now, but in order to maximize its benefits, the Empire must secure its position as the leader of the Allied bloc. It is necessary to establish one's own prestige and ensure one's prestige. It may be that no one wants to come to Japan, but in the long run, it will be good for us, and it will be a huge benefit. ”

Tan Renhao no longer has any objections, some of the ideas of politicians are incomprehensible to the military, such as taking the three main fleets to do some errands, Tan Renhao can't understand. For the sake of a retaliatory operation, hundreds of pilots were sacrificed. This is also something that Tan Renhao cannot understand. There are many more that he can't understand, and the only thing he can do is obey orders and fulfill the duties of a soldier.

"The first closed-door meeting will be held tomorrow, and both the Navy and the Sixth Army will explain their plans for the next stage of operations."

Nie Renfeng clasped his hands to his chest, "You prepare well, and go to the Prime Minister's Mansion with me tomorrow." If you have time today, it's good to come out for a walk, and remember to buy some specialties from the capital to go back. Don't let your family think you've lost everything for work. ”

Tan Renhao smiled and nodded, he was also thinking so.

In the afternoon, Tan Renhao took Duchenne and left the hotel of the naval headquarters, and now his room has been raised by one level, and Duchenne has been promoted to captain and adjutant of vice admiral, and he is treated much better.

The capital has not changed much in recent years, and the main thing that has changed is the people of the capital. When he went to Xidan to buy souvenirs, Tan Renhao keenly noticed that there were many fewer vehicles on the street than before.

The Tang Empire was the first country to popularize cars, before World War I, the empire car dealers began to promote the first practical family car to the people, to the outbreak of the war, the empire owned 650o private cars, and the empire's urban population at that time was only 350 million, an average of about five people per house, that is, almost every urban family has a car. Therefore, some people also call the Tang Empire "a country on wheels", which is actually the basic national condition of the Tang Empire, in the vast territory of the empire, especially in the north and west, the cities and towns are extremely scattered, and during the economic crisis after World War I, in order to ridicule domestic consumption, the imperial government increased a large amount of financial budget, built a complete road network in the northwest region, in the fifteen years from O6 to 21, the Tang Empire built a total of 250,000 kilometers of roads in the west and the north, Most of them were built in accordance with national arterial road standards. In addition, hundreds of thousands of kilometers of road networks were built in the eastern and southern parts of the empire. With the expansion of the road network, cars have also begun to be popularized into people's homes and have become a necessary means of transportation for many families.

Before the war, there were nearly two million cars in the imperial capital, and it can be said that the capital at that time was extremely prosperous, with a lot of traffic and an endless stream, and it was one of the most prosperous cities in the world.

"After the rationing system was implemented, it was very difficult for people to buy gasoline."

Duchenne Gang explained the problem to Tan Renhao, "Without gasoline, those cars can't drive." Originally, the empire had relied on imports to maintain domestic oil consumption, and although a few new oil fields were opened, most of the oil was supplied to the army, and the gasoline that could be distributed to the people was pitiful. However, most of the people have now adapted to life without private cars, at least, the buses and subways are not paralyzed. ”

Tan Renhao looked around, it is true that most of the people who travel take buses and subways as their main means of transportation, and the pace of pedestrians is very hurried, and those who live closer will probably choose to walk.

"General, let's go back early, I heard that General Gu Xunlei came from the 6th Army this time, and he should be about to be promoted to lieutenant general."

Du Xing shrugged his shoulders towards the general, "They should also arrive today, maybe he will come to you." ”

Tan Renhao hesitated slightly, and then got into the car. "I have seen his combat record in the northwest battlefield, and his performance is very good, this time Marshal Yan Dingyu brought him here, obviously to commend him, of course, to represent the 6th Army, it is also obvious that he wants to call me out."

"I don't think General Gu should be the kind of person who doesn't distinguish between public and private."

Duchenne moved the car and quickly exited the alley.

"yes, he's not that kind of person, so he's a rare friend."

Tan Renhao laughed, although he had met Gu Xunlei once, but Tan Renhao believed in his own judgment.

The two did not delay any longer, and after returning to the hotel, Tan Renhao asked Duchen to go to the logistics department of the navy and ask if there had been any planes back to the naval headquarters recently, so that they could bring back the souvenirs they had bought first. Then Tan Renhao went back to his room. He must sort out the manuscript of tomorrow's speech in the Prime Minister's House, and also organize his own thoughts. Gu Xunlei suffered a loss last time, and this time he will definitely come prepared, Tan Renhao doesn't want to lose to his former subordinates.

Du Xing also brought someone when he rushed back, and when Tan Renhao saw the lieutenant general of the 6th Army who walked in after Du Xing, he immediately laughed, Gu Xunlei was really promoted to lieutenant general, it seems that the 6th Army is also vigorously promoting a young general like him!