"Actually, I have always firmly believed that even if giant ships such as 'Yamato' and 'Musashi' were built, once a war broke out, it would not be enough to guarantee victory in the war against Mi."

"An important problem affecting Japan is the contradiction between the navy and the army. The Army is blindly confident about whether or not the Mi War can be won, while the Navy is deeply skeptical. The election of Admiral Mitsumasa Yonechi as Prime Minister by the Council of Ministers was timely and appropriate. However, the discontent of the Army cannot be concealed in any way. Although it was due to the kind words of His Majesty the Emperor that the Minister of War of Hatake finally took office. However, Minister Hata soon resigned, citing ill health, and in this case, the Army rejected the Cabinet's recommendation for a successor, which was to be expected. This was done in order to avenge His Excellency Minai's harsh refusal to conclude a Japanese-German alliance when he was Minister of the Admiralty, and on the other hand, to bring about the collapse of the Cabinet that opposed the idea of the Army. Now, the radical ideology of the young generals who have "must crusade against Yingmi" is becoming more and more obvious to influence the political situation. In some branches of the armed forces, a group of people below Osa, who did not understand the world trends, and who held a pro-German and anti-American viewpoint, completely manipulated general-level officers. Osa-level officers such as Iwabe and Tatsumi, who were pro-British and Mimi, were also excluded from the General Staff Headquarters, and the war theory flowed from Miyake to the whole country like a torrent. ”

"I, as the commander of the Combined Fleet, spent most of my time at sea. This is because no matter what cabinet I am, as long as I am Minister of the Navy, I will certainly lead the navy to oppose the alliance between Japan and Germany, and I will certainly oppose the war against Britain and Mi even more strongly. If the navy resolutely opposes, then no matter how much the army sharpens its sword, Bi Jing is single-handedly unable to start a war. I had anticipated what was going to happen, and I was deeply worried about the future. ”

Writing this, Yamamoto Fifty-six shook his head and let out a heavy sigh.

"Regarding my appointment as commander of the Combined Fleet, a staff officer said that this was a 'sea exile' for me. If I were in Tokyo, I would have been assassinated as a national thief, and the post of commander of the Combined Fleet is the highest honor of a military general, and I have no reason to refuse it. In this way, I was completely placed in the situation that the edict stipulates that 'the military should not be politically prepared.' ”

"Actually, I thought it would be better to let Zengo Furuta come to the position. Furuta-kun is much stronger than me. If he is allowed to come to Qian, he will definitely be very good, but unfortunately, Furuta is under internal and external mental pressure, his health is deteriorating day by day, and he will leave his post soon. ”

"The current situation is that the Navy is led by the nose by the Army, and unwittingly goes to the abyss of war. The attitude of the new Minister of the Navy, Kazuko Shiro, was different from that of His Excellency Yone, and he made a compromise with the Army, and Prime Minister Konoe feared that he would be slowly dragged into the water by the Army. Prime Minister Konoe and I have had several confidential conversations. Prime Minister Konoe raised the crucial question of whether the Japanese Navy would be able to win if it fought against the British. To this, I gave a clear answer: 'If there will be a thousand hours within a year of the start of the war, it is difficult to predict what will happen in the future.' In other words, if you fight for a long time, you will be defeated. The implication is that it is better not to fight. For we are all well aware of the indomitable tenacity of the British and the tenacity of the American pioneers who were no less than the soul of Yamato. Therefore, Prime Minister Konoe naturally decided categorically to avoid fighting against Britain and Mi no matter what. He immediately devoted all his energy to diplomacy with the United States. However, this practice aroused the hatred of the Army, and the situation had developed to the point where it could no longer resist the Army's insistence on going its own way. The Army's insistence here refers to the trend of thought that 'Britain must be defeated'. At this moment, some scholars and writers also wrote articles such as "We must crusade against the British" and "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere". They curry favor with the army and scold the Japanese-Iranian negotiations as flattering foreign diplomacy. They played a very bad role in the deterioration of the situation. ”…,

"I think that if we adopt the strategy of 'we must fight against Yingmi,' we will actually have a situation of being punished by Yingmi, which is unthinkable. The only person who is qualified to judge whether it is a 'crusade' or a 'punishment' can only be the naval authorities. Why? Because Britain and Miki were two naval powers, they were unconquerable, and the danger of being attacked was bound to be on the side of Japan. Whether or not the Japanese Navy can control the sea and air power in the Pacific Ocean for a long time is a watershed moment in victory or defeat, and it is the key to determining war and peace. ”

"I have always maintained the view that it is impossible to win a war if it is extended for more than a year. If the outcome of the battle could be decided by fighting nine times, then the desperate battle of 'Yamato', 'Musashi', 'Shinano', and 'Azuchi' might be able to win victory for Japan, and if the fight continued endlessly, 'Yamato' would not be able to escape the fate of defeat no matter what. ”

"I made a rough plan, and the cost of building the Yamato battleship was 150 billion yen, with an average of 2 million yen per ton. This alone shows that Japan will never build such a warship again, because the cost of building a 'Yamato' battleship is simply too high. In retrospect, it is truly shocking that Japan was able to invest such a huge amount of money in the construction of four ships. ”

What was even more surprising was that on this 140,000-ton giant ship, there were 12 20-inch cannons. Moreover, the speed of the giant ship is 27 knots. This kind of shipbuilding record is unmatched by many countries in the world. Therefore, it can be said that the ambition of building ships and the sophistication of technology are simply shocking. ”

"In fact, Japan's advanced shipbuilding technology has long been praised in the world, and the construction of giant ships is by no means accidental. As early as 1907, when the Japanese Navy transformed the bow angle of the cruiser "Tsukuba" into a fishing boat, Japan had already emerged as a "new entrant with an immeasurable future" in the world shipbuilding community. Previously, the bow of a battleship was plunged into the water from the tip of the horizontal line, with the aim of ramming the enemy ship. However, this type of ship was not suitable for long-range artillery battles and affected the speed of the ship, so it was transformed into a fishing boat-type bow in one fell swoop. This step has brought Japan's shipbuilding technology ahead of others. ”

"In the past, the Japanese Combined Fleet, which participated in the Battle of the Sea of Japan, including the flagship Mikasa, were all imported ships. However, in the second year of this naval battle, when Japan began to build the battleship "Tsukuba", it immediately underwent design innovation, and thus took a leading position in the world. In the Showa era, Japan's shipbuilding technology made a new leap. The 3,000-ton light cruiser Yubari was equipped with weapons and equipment comparable to those of the 6,000-ton battleship of the British Navy, and the world was shocked. In the famous heavy cruiser competition at the time, the endurance of the 'Yubari' was also superior to that of similar ships in the British and Mimetric. In the early Showa period, the flagship of the British Far East Fleet, the "Kent" (a 10,000-ton heavy cruiser), came to the port of Yokohama, and at the invitation of the Japanese ship of the same type "Myoko," the British officers and men boarded the "Myoko" to visit, and said with infinite emotion: "This is the first time we have taken on a warship." This was both a semi-flattering remark, but also an expression of the true feelings of the British naval officers and men. Similarly, in 1937, when the heavy cruiser Ashigara attended the coronation of the British Emperor, a reporter from The Times of London wrote this sentence in a sentimental commentary: "The wolf of the sea has arrived." This is actually not an exaggeration. ”

"These ships embody the spirit of the Japanese Navy at that time. Therefore, the Yamato-class battleships are by no means accidental, they are built by combining the design characteristics of Japanese ships and combining all the technical experience. Compared to other ships, the giant ship itself is extremely tough. But I still think that the so-called 'unsinkable ship' does not exist. Especially with the advent of the aviation era. ”…,

After writing this, Yamamoto didn't seem to dare to look at the words he had written, and he carefully closed the notebook and locked it in his case.

At this time, Yamamoto Fifty-six would not have thought that the words he wrote would become a witness to history.

Yamamoto Fifty-six got up and came to the window, looked out, his eyes fell on the "Dead Dragon" aircraft carrier not far away, and the waves in his heart gradually calmed down.

At this time, the orderly walked in and reported to him, saying that the staff officer Kuroshima Kameiri asked to see him.

"Invite him in, I just have something to ask him." Yamamoto Fifty-six nodded and motioned for him to bring Kuroshima in.

After a while, Kuroshima Kameiri appeared in front of Yamamoto Fifty-six, and Lizheng saluted him, and with Kuroshima Kamini's movements, a pungent stench wafted over.

Kuroshima Kameiri is almost the same "weird" as Akiyama Shinyuki, and it can be said that there is no knowledge in the Combined Fleet.

Yamamoto Fifty-six chose to ignore this, he raised his hand in return, and invited Kuroshima Kameiri to sit down.

"I've seen the plan you've drawn up, and it's not bad." Yamamoto Isoroku said, "Do you also think that we should start a war against the United States first, and not against China?" ”

"Yes." Kuroshima nodded with a blank expression, "We should start a war against the United States first." ”

"I heard that the Shina Navy is also building super battleships similar to the 'Yamato' class, what do you think about this?" Yamamoto asked again.

"It's just rumor, it's unlikely to be true." Kuroshima Kameiri said, "The budget of the Shina Navy is insufficient, and the level of shipbuilding in Shina is far from that of Japan, so it is impossible to build a ship similar to that of the 'Yamato' class battleship." ”

"But Shina already has a powerful aircraft carrier fleet." Yamamoto said, "The aircraft carriers that appeared at their last parade were very advanced in design. ”

"The combat power of aircraft carriers is reflected in the performance of the aircraft and the skills of the pilots, and from both points of view, Japan has an advantage." Kuroshima said, "We don't have to be afraid of the Shina Navy at all. ”

"In that case, why don't we defeat the Shina Navy first, relieve our worries, and then go to war with the British?" Yamamoto asked again.

"The threat to Japan in Shina is not the navy, but the army." Kuroshima Kameiri said, "The Japanese Navy has the ability to destroy the Shina Navy, but the Japanese Army cannot destroy the huge Shina Army. Unlike Japan, China is a mainland country, and as long as Japan cannot eliminate the China Army, it will be stuck in the quagmire of the mainland and will not be able to extricate itself, just as it did in the previous wars of conquest and support. ”

Listening to Kuroshima Kameri's words, Yamamoto Fifty-six couldn't help but sigh.

"It's o! When China's military strength was weak, Japan was not able to eliminate the China Army, and now China, with the support of Britain and Rice, the national strength and military strength are not what they used to be, and it is impossible to eliminate the China Army. ”

"If Japan levies money again, it is very likely that the United States will send troops to help, and then Japan will be in a situation of fighting on two fronts, and it will be difficult to win. If Japan requisitions rice, China may not be willing to send troops to help rice. Kuroshima Kameri said, "And with the military strength of the rice country in the Pacific, it is by no means an opponent of the empire, so it is more appropriate to compare the two and levy rice than to levy expenditure." ”

"Why do you say that Japan will not send troops to help when Japan is conscripting rice?" Yamamoto asked.

"This is determined by the inferior nature of the nation." Kuroshima Kameiri said, "The Shina people are selfish, intolerant, fond of infighting and xenophobia, greedy for comfort, valuing profit over righteousness, and lacking enterprising and pioneering spirit. Do what is beneficial, and do not do what is not profitable. Japan's levy and support, the United States will inevitably send troops to help support, because the United States consortium has major interests in China, and China has no interests in the United States, Japan will collect rice, China will inevitably sit idly by, and even be happy to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, in order to make profits. ”…,

"It's o! If Japan wins, China will inevitably depend on Japan, and if Japan loses, China will inevitably depend on the United States and help the rice army attack us. Yamamoto Fifty-six nodded and said, "Shinajin's knowledge of this 'standing in line' is incomparable to that of other nations. ”

While the two were talking, a communications officer, led by an orderly, walked in briskly.

"Your Excellency, the Ministry of the Navy has called and asked you to go to Tokyo immediately to attend the meeting." The communications officer said, handing a telegram to Yamamoto Isoroku.

Yamamoto Isoroku opened the telegram and glanced at it, and handed it to Kuroshima Kameri.

"Germany should have defeated Sweden today." After reading the telegram, Kuroshima said calmly, "The cabinet must also consider this issue of taking sides." ”

Yamamoto Fifty-six understood what was going to happen, and couldn't help but let out a deep sigh in his heart.

China, Beijing, Supreme Command.

"The Germans competed to occupy all of Norway and Sweden so quickly." Wu Peifu, president of the Chinese Federation, said with some surprise, "Its combat power is really not comparable to other countries." ”

"On the contrary, the Soviet army has successively increased its troops by nearly one million, and it has not yet taken Finland, which is too big." Chief of the General Staff Zhang Xiaozhun said with a smile, "In this way, the Soviet army is really not afraid. ”

Listening to Zhang Xiaozhun's words, some of the senior Chinese generals who attended the meeting also laughed.

Through intelligence, they already knew about the performance of the Soviet troops on the Finnish battlefield.

The current Soviet army has almost become the laughing stock of the whole world.

"Germany had a bad partner when it entered the last World War, and this time it was still the same." Wu Peifu also laughed, "It seems that Germany is destined for this." ”

"However, Germany will still be able to take advantage of the fact that it has pulled the Soviet Union as an ally this time." Yang Shuoming smiled and said, "Germany's own resources are insufficient, and this time it can get a large amount of war materials from the Soviet Union, so this time it has the strength to build the world's first giant ship. ”

"Hanzhi's statement is reasonable, this war is a competition for national strength, not just the victory or defeat between armies." "Without a strong industrial system and sufficient resources, it is impossible to defeat. ”

"I now regret that China and Japan carved up Siberia in the first place." Wu Peifu seemed to remember something, and sighed, "Raising tigers is a relic!" ”

"It's o! The resources of that land played a vital role in Japan's development. Jiang Baili said, "Without this, it would be absolutely difficult for Japan to compete with our country now." ”

"Anyway, we in China have not been idle in recent years, and now it is time to distinguish the superior." Wu Peifu said.

"It's a sure thing, but we don't have to rush it." Yang Shuoming smiled and said, "I think Japan just wants to compete with my country, and it will not be now." ”

"How does Hanzhi know?" Wu Peifu asked in surprise.

"They need to divide the European side." Yang Shuoming said, "Germany has occupied Norway and Denmark, destroyed Poland, annexed Austria, there is no worries, the next target is France, the first power in the European army, and the United Kingdom, the first naval power, if the German army is victorious, the United States will inevitably concentrate its main military strength on the east coast, and its military strength in the Pacific will inevitably be weak, then Japan will not have to worry about being flanked, and can go all out to plot against our country." ”

"What Hanzhi said is good." Listening to Yang Shuoming's words, a hint of admiration flashed on Jiang Baili's face, "Japan is delaying its move now, and that's why." ”

"I see." Wu Peifu understood, "Just like the last time in Europe, they had to stand on the side of the winner." ”

"Judging from the current situation, if the German army wins the attack, Japan will inevitably form an alliance with Germany and the Soviet Union." Yang Shuoming said, "Then we will work with the Soviet Union to flank our country." ”

"If Britain and France had won, Japan wouldn't have been so thousand, would it?" Wu Peifu thought about it and asked again.

"I'm afraid not necessarily." Jiang Baili said, "After the Soviet Union occupies Finland, if the whole country moves eastward in order to try to attack China, Japan is also likely to send troops to attack China together with the Soviet Union." Japan will not die in the heart of self-destruction, and such an opportunity will not be missed. ”

(To be continued)