In fact, Zhang Chi thought more than that, what he didn't say was ...... At this time, he did not want to hit the Japanese mainland so quickly, or to cut the throat of Japan and collapse it. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

The reason is very simple, Chinese all know the saying: "The bird hides the bow, the rabbit dies and the dog cooks". The reason why the Expeditionary Force now has its current status in the US military is that the Chinese Expeditionary Force can play an extremely important role in winning all battles against Japan.

Zhang Chi believes that at least before that, the Chinese Expeditionary Force should find a safe place to stay, or a base area.

Of course, these words are still not suitable for the officers to know.

Zhang Chi guessed correctly, as soon as Iwo Jima was occupied by the Chinese army, Hideki Tojo was in chaos.

Hideki Tojo found Ken Sato at the first time, and scolded angrily: "What's the matter with you? Didn't you say that in the Philippines it is possible to hold off the enemy so that we have ample time to prepare? Now it's only been a little over a month that the enemy has captured Iwo Jima, and that's what you're talking about preparation time?! ”

Sato Ken, that's even more wronged than Dou E, as far as the Japanese Combined Fleet is concerned, it doesn't even break the carrier-based aircraft, it's good to be able to successfully deal with the enemy, and still expect the enemy not to attack the Japanese mainland?

But of course, Sato Kenko didn't dare to say these words, he bowed and replied, "Your Excellency Prime Minister, it was the Chinese troops who attacked Iwo Jima, and this was not in our plan......

The implication is that he, Ken Sato, at least dragged the enemy's main force in the Philippines and couldn't get out.

Hideki Tojo snorted, in fact, he knew in his heart that he couldn't blame Sato Ken too much for this, and even when it came to responsibility, it should be more about himself...... Hideki Tojo did not pay attention to the attack of the Chinese troops, but Kenri Sato actively organized the defense of Iwo Jima.

Therefore, what Hideki Tojo said just now was just looking for someone to carry the black pot, just talk about it.

"It's over, I won't say anything more!" Hideki Tojo continued with a dark face: "Now that Iwo Jima is lost, Okinawa Island will be directly exposed to the enemy...... Okinawa is our choke point, and as far as I know, there is hardly any defense there! Is this to put the lifeblood of our Great Sun Empire in the hands of the enemy? ”

Hideki Tojo's words are obviously throwing the blame again, because whether Okinawa has defenses or not has little to do with Sato Ken, but has something to do with him, the prime minister who has just served as the chief of staff...... Isn't that what the Chief of Staff commands?!

Sato Ken is a smart man, although he knows it in his heart, he doesn't dare to refute it...... Ken Sato was afraid that Hideki Tojo would be unhappy, so he would really take these blames on himself, and then ask himself to apologize or something.

At the same time, Sato Ken knew why Hideki Tojo was in such a mess...... Hideki Tojo is now coaxing the people in the country with lies, and the people do not know that the enemy has reached their doorstep, and they still think that the Japanese army is still defeating the United States in the Pacific theater.

If U.S. warships and warplanes appear over Okinawa, which is only 340 kilometers from Japan's island of Kyushu, then all lies will be self-defeating, and Hideki Tojo, the prime minister, will probably not be able to be the prime minister.

"Yes! Your Excellency the Prime Minister! Ken Sato replied respectfully: "Due to the lack of preparation in advance, Okinawa has only one artillery squadron and a few guard squadrons......"

Therefore, the information given by the Japanese prisoners on Iwo Jima is correct, and the Japanese army on Okinawa Island has only one brigade, and most of this brigade is not a regular army, but a guard force and a police force. This is tantamount to the absence of any defense for Okinawa, which has a total area of more than 1,000 square kilometers.

Seeing Sato's performance, Hideki Tojo slowed down his tone and said, "So, do you have any countermeasures?" ”

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister!" Sato Ken replied a little helplessly: "For today's plan, the only way to do this is to transfer troops from Manchukuo!" ”

The green muscles on Hideki Tojo's face couldn't help jumping.

He did not want to transfer troops from Manchukuo unless absolutely necessary, because Japan's current strategy was to be able to take China before the enemy could reach the Japanese mainland, and Manchukuo's forces were Japan's reserve for taking China...... If troops are transferred from Manchukuo, it will probably mean that Japan's strategy in China cannot be realized, and at the same time, it will also mean that Japan will eventually have to defend an isolated island, and this is obviously no way out.

But what can be done now?

You can't sit idly by and watch the enemy choke Japan's throat!

"Won't there be a problem with transferring troops from Manchukuo?" Hideki Tojo asked.

"It's okay, it won't be a problem!" Sato replied with difficulty: "We have the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Treaty with the Soviet Union, and since the Soviet Union will not send troops, then there is no need for us to have so many troops in Manchukuo. As for the campaign on the Chinese side...... The fragile Chinese army has been completely defeated, and I believe that with the current forces we can achieve the results we hope for! ”

This statement of Sato Ken is a bit self-deceptive, first of all, he pins his hopes on a treaty that is like waste paper in this era, in other words, he puts his life and death in the hands of other countries.

You must know that the reason why the Soviet Union was willing to sign the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Treaty with Japan at that time was only because it wanted to deal with Germany with all its might and avoid fighting on the eastern and western fronts. At this time, the German army was defeated in the Soviet Union, and the situation was completely different.

Of course, Hideki Tojo also knew this, and even the fact that Japan had always stationed heavy troops in Manchuria was precisely to defend against the Soviet Union...... What is a treaty? Hasn't Japan torn up the so-called treaties again and again? Why can't Japan tear other countries if it can?!

But Hideki Tojo still has no other choice, he thinks about it, and this is the only way.

So Hideki Tojo could only nod: "Just do it, transfer troops from Manchukuo!" How many troops do you need? ”

Sato Ken thought for a moment and replied, "At least...... Five divisions are needed! ”

"Five divisions?" Hideki Tojo almost didn't jump out of his chair.

"That's Okinawa!" Kenri Sato hurriedly explained, "Your Excellency the Prime Minister! Okinawa has more than 1,200 square kilometers and does not have five divisions...... How can you defend such a large piece of land? ”

Hideki Tojo gritted his teeth and replied, "Just five divisions!" ”

At this time, Hideki Tojo could only hope that the battle situation would develop in the best direction. (To be continued.) )