If the Americans want to mobilize merchant ships and oil tankers in this way for the sake of the Philippines, it should be before attacking the Philippines. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

At this time, there is only one possibility for mobilization: that is, to attack places outside the Philippines, the most likely of which is Okinawa, because compared with Taiwan, Okinawa is weaker in both garrison and defense, and is an excellent offensive point for the US military.

So, it's clear that Umezu Mijiro misjudged this.

But what about Mitsuru Ushijima? Continue to convince Umezu Mijiro? Ushijima was not hopeful, he knew that these so-called officers of the General Staff would be stubborn for the sake of face, and if their mistake was pointed out, although it was obvious, they would also find various reasons and intelligence justifications without any change.

Ushijima sighed and said to himself, "It seems that we can only rely on ourselves!" ”

But...... How do you defend this Okinawa island? Looking at the map in front of him, Mitsuru Ushijima fell into deep thought!

At this time, Okinawa was facing a serious shortage of troops.

It was okay when Hideki Tojo didn't resign...... Hideki Tojo's strategic policy was to use the Philippines to contain the U.S. forces and delay time, and then try to strengthen the defense of the Japanese mainland, including Okinawa, so that the garrison on Okinawa Island was increased to 100,000 at one time.

However, after Hideki Tojo stepped down and Kuniaaki Koji came to power...... In fact, this has nothing to do with Koji Kuniaki, because he can't be the master at all, and the decision-making power is all in the hands of the chief of staff, Umezu Mijiro.

Umezu Mijiro's strategy was to fight a decisive battle with the US Navy in Leyte Gulf, so the Philippines, which was originally just delaying time, became the place of decisive battle, and Okinawa, which was originally the focus of defense, became secondary; in the following time, Okinawa's troops and defenses were not only not strengthened, but in order to "fight a decisive battle" with the US forces, the 9th Division, the only elite division on Okinawa Island with rich combat experience, was transferred to the Philippines, and a large number of fighters and pilots with combat experience were transferred to the Philippines after that.

At this time, only two divisions, one mixed brigade, one tank wing, and two artillery groups remained on Okinawa, with a total strength of just over 60,000 troops.

With more than 60,000 troops, these forces were barely enough to defend one-third of Okinawa Island, but the Japanese army was scattered throughout the island...... As a result, there will not be enough defense forces anywhere, but the US military, with its strong firepower, can easily drive straight into Okinawa and gallop across the island as if it were no man's land.

Something has to be abandoned!

This was the first conclusion that Ushijima had reached.

Then Ushijima Mitsuru said to the chief of staff, Major General Yong, "Transfer all the troops from the north to the south!" ”

Staff Officer Chang Yong couldn't help but be taken aback: "Your Excellency Lieutenant General, do you mean that the entire north will give up?" ”

Ushijima just let out a "hmm".

Then Ushijima Mitsuru said: "Take the fighters and attack planes of Yomitan Airport and Kadena Airport...... All of them were transferred to Naha Airport and did a good job of concealment, and only a small number of troops were stationed there! ”

Hearing this, Staff Officer Changyong couldn't help but open his mouth for a long time and couldn't close it: "But...... Your Excellency, according to the intention of the General Staff Headquarters, the Yomitan Airport and the Kadena Airport should be the focus of our defense, because that area is likely to be the location where the American ghost animals landed, and it is also the place where we will block the decisive battle between the American ghost animals......"

What Staff Officer Nagayu said was true, because the terrain of Okinawa is relatively special, and its northern part is rugged and steep mountainous and sparsely populated. The central part is a plain where Yomitan and Kadena airports are located, and the southern part is a low hilly area, so it is clear that the U.S. military will choose to land in the central part of the country.

According to the idea of the General Staff Headquarters, that is, Umezu Mijiro and others, if the US troops want to land in the central region, it will of course take advantage of the US troops to destroy them on the beach when they land, and in order to wipe out the US troops on the beach, it is of course very important to protect the two airfields, so the two airfields in the central part are naturally the focus of defense......

It can also be seen from this that Japan's command decision-making often has a phenomenon in which theory is divorced from practice...... The actual combat of the Pacific War has taught the Japanese countless times that the tactic of destroying the enemy on the beach is not applicable to the powerful US military at all, and the powerful firepower of the US military will blow up the airfields and coastal fortifications before the Japanese army can see the shadow of the Americans.

This was clear to Hideki Tojo when he was chief of staff, but when Umezu Mijiro came to power, he stubbornly believed that the best option for the Japanese army was to "wipe out the enemy on the beach".

Ushijima was not so stupid, he had carefully studied every offensive of the American army, and he knew that piling troops in the Central Plains was only to find death.

"Do as I say!" Ushijima replied coldly.

"Yes!" Chang Yong's staff officer responded.

But that's not all, Ushijima Mitsuru continued: "Withdraw the main forces deployed on Ie Island and Kerama Islands!" ”

"Your Excellency Lieutenant General......"

Staff Officer Changyong wanted to say something, but he didn't dare to say anything because he was glared at by Ushijima, so he had to stand up and respond: "Yes!" ”

Staff Officer Chang Yong couldn't understand this either...... The Ie Island and Kerama Islands are some of the islands around Okinawa, and from the usual habit of U.S. military attacks, they often capture small islands next to the main island and use them as offensive bases. Once these islands fall into the hands of the US military, the US military will establish naval and air bases on the islands, and even transport long-range howitzers to the islands to directly bomb the main islands with artillery fire.

This is also one of the reasons why Staff Officer Changyong believes that these islands must be defended, and at the same time, the General Staff Headquarters also thinks so...... However, Lieutenant General Ushijima withdrew the troops from these islands.

Staff Officer Chang Yong finally summed up: the abandonment of the northern mountains is still understandable, it is a sparsely populated barren land, and the American troops do not even need to occupy the north, and the Japanese troops stationed in it will soon starve to death.

But abandon the central part and the surrounding islands...... That's almost the same as being undefended.

What Staff Officer Changyong didn't know was that Ushijima Man's thinking was much clearer than his, and Ushijima didn't want to hold these places, but he couldn't hold them at all...... At this time, Japan no longer had a navy or even an air force, so how could it hold on to the surrounding islands without sea and air supremacy? The garrisons on those islands were only killed, surrounded, and annihilated.

Rather than that, it would be better to use these forces where they are more useful.

Finally, Ushijima Man ordered, "Pass the order on...... Everyone, be sure to do it: one plane collides with one ship, one ship collides with one ship, one person for ten enemies or one tank! ”

"Yes!"