For the rest of the 27th year of the Republic of China, Luo Yaoguo was in full swing to rectify the country, expand the army, develop military production, reserve war materials, and do all the work necessary for a world war. At the same time, at the end of the year, the first batch of expeditionary forces was dispatched, including the Eighth Armored Division with Lieutenant General Hu Lian, who graduated from the fourth phase of Huangpu, as the division commander, and the Seventh Aviation Division, with Lieutenant General Sun Yang, who graduated from the third phase of the Huangpu and the second phase of the Aviation Noncommissioned Officer School, as the division commander.

The former is an up-to-date standard Chinese Defense Forces armored division with a two-regiment armored brigade, a motorized infantry brigade and a five-battalion motorized artillery regiment. The total strength is about 20,000; There are about 380 tanks, of which two-thirds are 20-ton No. 2 tanks and the other one-third are 30-ton No. 3 tanks; There are also almost 300 armored vehicles of various models; There are about 150 artillery pieces and self-propelled guns; Thousands of vehicles of all kinds. The latter is a newly formed bomber aviation division, with two bomber aviation regiments and one escort combat aviation regiment, and a reconnaissance group. It has a total of 240 bombers of the He-111 series and 220 fighters/reconnaissance aircraft of the F3 series. At the same time, there was also an expeditionary force advance force headquarters, the commander of the advance force was General Wei Lihuang of Chiang Kai-shek's line, the deputy commander was Lieutenant General Du Yuming, and the chief of staff was Major General Liao Yaoxiang.

And Japan, which has been unusually quiet in the international community recently, has also been following its own path this year. The domestic political climate became more and more conservative, although power was still firmly in the hands of the reunification faction allied with the navy. However, the emperor's position in domestic political life became more and more important. Japan's economy finally began to grow this year, but the increased tax revenue was spent more quickly on the army and navy. In the end, Nagata Tetsuyama did not cut much of the army, and the establishment of the seventeen standing divisions was completely retained. And the Navy has turned into a money-burning machine! With seven large aircraft carriers (including under construction) and three light aircraft carriers (including under construction), the Japanese Navy is already the country with the largest number of aircraft carriers and tonnage in the world.

While building aircraft carriers one after another, Japan is also actively seeking the most advanced aviation technology. Through some efforts, they still got some technology from the United States, Britain and Germany, which is not too backward. A new monoplane fighter developed by the Japanese company Nakajima was finally completed at the end of the year and was designated Type 97. The fighter has a 610 hp nine-cylinder star engine and can reach a maximum speed of 460 km/h. Although this aircraft cannot be compared with the BF-108, which has already begun to fly in the Sino-German joint design, it is still a good aircraft.

For the Battle of the Dead Soviets. Japan is also preparing as much as possible. Although envoys with various names are running between Tokyo and Moscow, although the imperial faction in Japan is still trying to peddle the plan of the United Nations Soviet Union. However, the control faction, which controlled the political situation in Japan, still adhered to the original line and did not dare to get too close to the Soviet Union. At this time, the war in the Far East had gradually eased, and the Soviet Red Army finally retreated to the Amur River defense line to defend it, ceding the entire land south of the Amur River to China, Japan, and Russia...... And around the final ownership of this land, China and Japan have also started a series of open and secret battles! All of a sudden, the situation in East Asia began to become a little confusing again.

Meanwhile. The situation in Europe is also changing rapidly. At the end of the year, Adolf. Hitler's clutches finally reached Czechoslovakia. Pretty much the same historical pretext, Hitler made territorial claims to the Sudetenland to the Czechs! Britain, France and other countries continued to pursue their policy of appeasement, betraying the interests of Czechoslovakia in exchange for Hitler continuing to carry out his anti-Soviet war plan...... But what they never expected was that Hitler secretly sent an envoy to Moscow at this time!

……

Ribbentrop stood in his suite at the National Hotel in the center of Moscow. Looking out the window at the red five-pointed star on the top of the Kremlin spire. Absentmindedly wearing his tie, he missed both times, and barely tied it until the third time. He put on his shirt and sat down in a bulky brown leather armchair, resting two long tuǐ on a cushioned ottoman, and lighting a cigarette to calm down. He and the former German ambassador to the Soviet Union, von Murray. Schulenburg arrived in Moscow on December 27, 1936 by plane. As soon as he arrived in Moscow, he was arranged to stay in the best suite of the National Hotel, waiting for the Soviet leader Stalin's reception.

In fact, the secret diplomacy of the Soviet Union and Germany has been going on for a long time. First, Stalin sent a special envoy to Berlin and proposed peace plans for one Yòu after another. This included the partition of the three states of Bōlan and Bōlo, the signing of the Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact, the payment of all the reparations required by the Soviet Union under the Brest Treaty, and so on. However, Hitler's interest was not too high, and it was only after the recent annexation of Czechoslovakia that he sent an envoy to Moscow for the first time, the "Ribbentrop Mission". Before Ribbentrop left Berlin, Hitler had personally instructed him: "Ribbentrop." You can verbally promise that Germany will not provide any assistance to Bōlan if it is attacked by the Soviet Union! However, they could not agree to sign any treaties with the Soviet Union, including the treaty on the partition of Bōlan and the Non-Aggression Pact! After saying these words, he sneered again and said: "I believe that the Soviet Union only needs to get our verbal promises." It's going to attack Bōlan! Because Stalin already had no choice. ”

Did Stalin really run out of options? Ribbentrop pondered it in his heart. The USSR was undoubtedly a behemoth with a terrible war potential. But now it is surrounded by China, Bōlan, Germany, and Japan, and the four countries can use tens of millions of troops to attack! According to the reconnaissance of the intelligence department, the upper limit of the troops that the Soviet Union could use was only 6 million to 7 million, and there was a clear gap between their weapons and equipment and that of Germany and China. What made Stalin even more desperate was that there was a Romanov dynasty on the side of Germany that could represent the Russian nation! Other words. This war was not a life-and-death struggle between the German nation and the Russian nation, but only a struggle between the Romanovs and the Bolsheviks! So Stalin simply could not use the vastness of Russia to play the trick of exchanging space for time, procrastinate the war until winter, and let the cold climate of Russia defeat the invaders...... Because the invaders can also stop and recuperate in winter, and by the way, on the "recovered" Russian territory, more White Russian troops will be armed.

For these reasons, the analysis of the General Staff of the Wehrmacht concluded that there were two possible strategies for the Soviet Union. One is to launch a surprise attack on Bōlan in a desperate way! Take advantage of the old feud between the bō and defeat the bō Lan first...... In this way, although the war cannot be won. However, it can also reduce the number of enemies. The second was to cede parts of Eastern Siberia, the Far East, and Central Asia in exchange for China's withdrawal from the war, so that they could concentrate their forces on the western front and fight a decisive battle with Germany. However, Ribbentrop knew that Marshal Luo Yaoguo, who was currently in power in China, was extremely disgusted with the Soviet Union! There is absolutely no possibility of compromise. In the same way, Moscow did not believe in China, they should already know that China was the initiator of this anti-Soviet alliance, so Stalin preferred to throw an olive branch to Japan than send someone to Wuhan once! Form a little tacit understanding with Germany and concentrate forces to defeat Bōlan first. It really seems like the only viable option. The Führer's strategic vision is truly unparalleled.

"Mr. Ribbentrop, the Kremlin has just called, and the banquet has already started at 11 a.m. Now the car sent by the Kremlin has arrived downstairs at the National Hotel. ”

At this time, the secretary's voice suddenly came from outside the door. Ribbentrop looked at his watch, got up from his armchair, and straightened his clothes. There was a hint of sarcasm at the corners of his mouth, and it was only 10 a.m. The Kremlin's car had already reached the downstairs of the hotel. It looks like Stalin is in a hurry!

……

The weather in the North Atlantic was particularly bad in the last few days of 1936, and one bō after another was rushing towards this huge fleet of ships bearing the flag of the Republic of China Navy. This is probably the first time in history that the Chinese naval fleet has appeared in this sea area to carry out combat missions, right? And this North Atlantic unceremoniously gave the advance force of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, which had just left the calm Mediterranean, a dismount! Light gray sè clouds pressed low. In the middle of the fleet, the four newly launched 15,000-ton transports were so jolting that the waves buried the bow of the ship. The convoy struggled to maintain its formation, and the officers and men of the Chinese Navy were struggling to keep up with their posts in the bad weather, trying to adapt to everything in the North Atlantic.

But the hardest thing was not the sailors who were accustomed to seeing the sea, but the passengers of this fleet, the 20,000 officers and men of the 8th Armored Division of the Wehrmacht. When did these armies experience such a scene? They all staggered in the cabin. The floor of the cabin was full of spitting stuff, and it was filled with a foul sour smell...... And in order to let these seasick officers and soldiers eat a little bit, the commander of this advance army, General Wei Lihuang, even issued a military order to the troops that "they must eat on time and in quantity"! However, this commander of Wei himself was the first to violate his military order, and he vomited so much that he couldn't even get up. I had to lie in the luxurious officer's cabin of the battleship Ningyuan, which was like a mountain, and talked about this combat mission with a few high-ranking officers of the advance army and the navy who did not get seasick.

Rear Admiral Yu Yanshou, commander of the Chinese Expeditionary Fleet of the battleship Ningyuan, was wearing a raincoat at this time. I pushed the door and walked in. The rear admiral had just made a round trip on the deck, and although he was wearing a raincoat, he was still soaked, but he looked very good, and smiled at Wei Lihuang: "Commander Wei." I've looked at the storm goggles, and the air pressure is rising. It is estimated that this storm will soon pass. When you get to the English Channel, I'm afraid you'll encounter a storm! But...... Even if there's a storm, it's exciting, it's the English Channel! Less than 100 years after the British opened the door of China with the strongest ships and cannons, we drove the most powerful battleship in the world to the door of the British! ”

Wei Lihuang was looking at the monstrous waves outside the porthole with a blue face, imagining in his heart that when those arrogant Germans saw the seasickness and staggered honor of the squadron, would they laugh off their big teeth? If the Germans can't be seen differently, will their advance army still be able to fight as the main force in future wars? It can also influence the situation in Europe to the greatest extent. And help Empress Anastasia ascend to the throne of St. Petersburg? If the mission of sending troops to Europe is not accomplished this time, will he still be able to have a place in the Wehrmacht as a general of the Chiang family?

Thinking of his identity as Chiang, Wei Lihuang sighed lightly and turned his head to look at Colonel Chiang Ching-kuo, chief of staff of the Navy Transportation Command. This president of Luo Da is now a colonel! The flower candle in the cave room came with the promotion and fortune, but he couldn't see the slightest joy, and he still had a calm face.

"Jingguo, how is Jiegong lately?" Wei Lihuang asked with concern.

Chiang Ching-kuo squeezed out a smile. "My father is fine, he has been inspecting various places in the United States for the past two days, and he may leave the United States next month."

"Oh, is Jiegong coming back?" Wei Lihuang didn't care about the eyes and ears of Luo Yaoguo in this room, and cheered loudly. In his opinion, any murder is completely imaginary! It was completely an excuse made up by Luo Yaoguo to frame Chiang Kai-shek......

"Returning home?" Chiang Ching-kuo smiled bitterly: "Where is it so easy? My father bought a house in Manila and was going to recuperate there for two years before deciding where to go. ”

"Two years? That's not going to work. Wei Lihuang shook his head. After two years, this war with the USSR may be over! At that time, He Yingqin, An Sihua, Bai Chongxi, and Li Zongren will definitely be marshals! The status of the prince can be ......"

The atmosphere at the scene was a little awkward, and the officers of Chiang Kai-shek's family all bowed their heads deeply and looked depressed. And several officers of Luo Yaoguo's faction did not gloat, but sighed there with a regretful face. When Yu Yanshou saw this scene, he had to cough lightly and said with a light smile: "Brother Jingguo, I have finished transporting the Eighth Armored Division." Which troops will be brought to Europe? I've heard that 1 million to 1.5 million people will be transported, right? ”

"Oh. The next batch is the 7th Aviation Division and part of the Belarusian army, which has 5 armies and 250,000 men to transport. They were transported throughout the first half of 1937, and the transportation of the Wehrmacht was resumed in the second half of the year......" Chiang Ching-kuo was still introducing according to the external caliber of the Transport Command.

"So, we have at least a million people, and Belarus has 250,000...... That's 1,250,000! Wei Lihuang counted with his fingers and said with a smile: "At that time, it is best for us to advance along the sea of Bōluo with White Russia and directly attack St. Petersburg...... There are also hundreds of planes and two battleships, and it doesn't seem that it will be very difficult to complete the mission! ”

……

Ribbentrop and Schulenburg had by this time entered a huge ballroom covered with white sè marble, red sè curtains, and shiny intarsia floors. In the middle of the hall were many tables with white tablecloths glittering with gold, silver, and glassware. On the high platform there was a long table, about a hundred feet long from one end of the hall to the other, and the rest of the tables were arranged at right angles to the high platform, and two gigantic chandeliers hung from the high red sè gold sè ceiling, and the countless round lamps of frosted glass on the chandelier shone brightly. On the walls, there are also ornately decorated sconces that shimmer brightly.

"Ahh This is a luxury! For the first time, Ribbentrop found himself like a country boy who had just entered the city, staring at everything in front of him.

Feng. Schulenburg is clearly not the first time he has experienced the luxury of GCISM: "It used to be the palace of Empress Catherine, but now it belongs to the Bolsheviks. ”

"Oh my God. Not even the Catherine Villa in Goering could be compared to this place, if this was their way of life. Ribbentrop said, "Maybe it's time for me to consider joining the GCD!" ”

"As far as I know, that's how they live," von said. Schulenburg glanced at Ribbentrop and said with a smile: "GCD people are materialists, and it is all about them to enjoy life while they are alive, and if they were like Lenin, everything would be over." ”

The menu, printed in Russian and German, on pale yellow paper with a sickle and axe emblem on it, is a long string of fish, soup, game, chicken, grilled meat, seafood, etc., which is extraordinarily rich. Waiters begin to serve the food, and others begin to pour the glasses with wine and vodka. Ribbentrop, whose family was in the wine business, could tell at a glance that the lunch was all champagne from the old man's Heinkel winery, which was a very expensive vintage of 1887.

Stalin then walked into the dining room, accompanied by a large group of high-ranking Soviet civil and military officials in colorful uniforms, and unlike other countries that gave civilian officials a suit or a robe or a coat, the civilian officials of the militarized Soviet country also wore beautiful uniforms that resembled military uniforms.

The audience applauded, Ribbentrop and Schulenburg also stood and clapped, and Stalin saw two Germans at a glance and strode forward to shake their hands. In Russian with a Georgian accent, he said loudly: "Welcome to Moscow!" On behalf of the Soviet people, I welcome you! Wishing Adolf. His Excellency Hitler is in good health and wishes the Soviet-German friendship a long history. Speaking of this, he raised his eyes to Ribbentrop and said with a smile: "Mr. Ribbentrop, I think you are here for the friendship between the two countries, right?" ”！。