Prime Minister's Office.

"Prime Minister."

After entering the door, Ishihara immediately bowed his head to Mitsumasa Yonechi and saluted.

"Ishihara-kun."

Mitsumasa Yonechi was very enthusiastic.

Up to the war, the lieutenant generals of the Imperial Japanese Army have grasped a large number of them, and there are more than one full brigade in total, but there are fewer and fewer people who are really capable and have a visionary general.

Ishihara in front of him is one of them.

And it's the best of the bunch.

After seven years of war, Hideki Tojo's strategic defeat made it now seem that the strategic concept proposed by this man before the war was correct. If, according to Ishihara's idea, the industry in the Northeast region had been strengthened, so that it could be self-sufficient to a certain extent from the empire, and then divide and encroach on the Republic of China, provoke civil strife, and not start a full-scale war, I am afraid it would have been a different landscape.

It's a pity that there are no ifs in the world.

"Now that the empire is facing a crisis, can you help me?"

In his heart, Mitsuru Yonechi threw an olive branch to Ishihara.

"Do your best."

Although he had already guessed the reason for calling him, after actually hearing it, Ishihara was still overjoyed.

Being squeezed out of the reserve by Hideki Tojo and completely losing power, for an ambitious guy like him, the blow is huge, and now there is a chance to return to the center of imperial power and use his plans, which Ishihara can't ask for.

"Ishihara-kun must know about the situation in the empire in the near future."

Mitsumasa Yonechi looked at Ishihara with a smile.

He knew Ishihara quite well, although he was thrown into reserve by Tojo, and even sent troops to keep an eye on it, not to mention the affairs of the empire, he couldn't even command a brigade, but he definitely kept an eye on the situation in the empire.

His ideas have been predicted, and now a large number of fulfillments will inevitably attract some people to worship him, and it is not difficult to obtain some relatively confidential information.

"Understand a part."

Ishihara nodded.

Although he is also a general, and once served as the commander of the division, but because of disagreements, he was targeted by Hideki Tojo and assigned to the reserve, through some means and personal influence, he can get some information about the situation in the empire, but it is difficult for him to know the confidential information that the empire needs to cover up.

"This is the recent situation in the world, you see."

Mitsumasa Yonechi handed over a large stack of documents to Ishihara Wanji.

After receiving the information, Ishihara couldn't wait to start looking.

Flipping through the information page by page, Ishihara's expression gradually became solemn and shocked from the initial expectation, and finally he let out a long sigh, with a thick horror in his tone:

"The Americans actually retreated..."

Since the bombing of Tokyo, he had guessed that the situation in the empire was very bad, but after seeing the world situation gathered by the intelligence department, Ishihara realized that the situation was more complicated than he thought.

In just over a year, the main enemies of the empire have changed, and even the allies have abandoned the empire.

There was a falling out between Japan and Germany, and the devil blockade was very tight, so it was only circulated among the high-level, and the matter was really incredible, and it was normal for Ishihara Waner, who was assigned by Hideki Tojo, to not know.

"The Germans turned out to be..."

Seeing the information behind him, Ishihara's eyes widened suddenly.

He really didn't expect that in the face of the siege of Britain and the United States and polar bears, the Germans not only carried it, but even played an advantage.

"It's a pity."

Ishihara is tsk, tsk, tsk

If the alliance between Japan and Germany still exists, then this is a great opportunity for the Reich, but the world has no ifs, and now the Reich and Germany are no longer allies, and strategic cooperation is impossible.

"It was the Republic of China who bombed Tokyo, and it was the same group of bitter haha!"

Immediately afterward, Ishihara saw the news that shocked him again.

He knew that the guerrillas who had been hiding in the mountains had recently become stronger, and that they had been provided with tanks and artillery to fight the Imperial Army head-on, and even defeat it.

But he never imagined that the other party would be able to launch such a large-scale attack on the empire mainland.

Seeing the end, Ishihara Waner breathed a long sigh of relief, and there was a feeling of being in a different world. He was squeezed out by Tojo, and during the time he entered the reserve, the situation changed dramatically.

"What does Ishihara-kun think, what should the empire do now?"

Mitsumasa Yonechi asked.

In view of the current situation in the empire, he already has a preliminary plan in mind, but one person's ideas are narrow and limited, so he needs to synthesize other people's ideas, of course, not a fool like Hideki Tojo.

"Has there been any movement in the Far Eastern Army lately?"

Ishihara did not answer directly, but asked the question.

The current situation in the empire is dire.

The bombing of Tokyo was just the beginning, and it can be expected that a steady stream of bombers will inevitably fly from the mainland of the Republic of China in the future. Relying on the formation of air defense forces can only weaken, and cannot avoid the occurrence of bombing.

Based on the inferred bomber performance, unless the enemy's bomber forces can be completely destroyed, the bombing will inevitably occur.

On the battlefield of the Republic of China, the eastern, western, and southern fronts of the locust army were completely defeated, and the powerful navy could not enter the land, and even in the coastal areas, in the face of the enemy's superior air power, the navy may not be able to please.

Relying on the empire's own strength alone, there is almost no chance of victory.

"Yes."

Mine's tone was relieved:

"According to unconfirmed information, the Far Eastern Army has recently moved frequently, a large number of newly formed units have been replaced by old units, and there are fewer and fewer armored vehicles and tanks."

"Sure enough."

Ishihara nodded abruptly.

The pressure on Germany was too great, and the losses of the polar bear were so great that it had to send the Far Eastern Army to support the European direction, but the polar bear was obviously not worried about the empire, so he forcibly arranged some recruits to come over to make up the scene.

"Well, then, I suggest."

After a pause, Ishihara said what he thought:

"Retreat."

"The Southern Army retreated in full. Completely abandon the southern battlefield. ”

"The troops in North China also retreated, all retreated to Bohai Bay, and the Chengde defenders also retreated to the mountainous terrain in the rear, and then the rest of the Kwantung Army moved south to join the Chengde troops."

"The rest of the navy and army forces are concentrated in Bohai Bay, concentrate forces, rely on the navy and army aviation, and keep the northeast region."

As he spoke, Ishihara paused before saying:

"Then, contact the United States..."

"Southern Route..."

Hearing Ishihara's plan, Mi was overjoyed in his heart.

Because this plan, which is similar to his, is to concentrate superior forces to fight to the death with the Republic of China, but the information he gave Ishihara was before the bombing, plus some information on the big bombing, which is somewhat outdated.

Moreover, there was another very troublesome piece of information that he didn't show Ishihara, and he was worried that Ishihara wouldn't be able to bear it if he gave too much at once.

"What's wrong with the Southern Front?"

Ishihara's complexion changed.

From Mine's voice and tone, he sensed that something bad must have happened.

"The Eleventh Army of Isamu Yokoyama in the south and the surrounding locust army have been defeated, and it is expected that it will take a short time to regroup, and most of the heavy equipment will be lost."

As he spoke, Mitsumasa Yonechi took out a battle report that had not yet had time to be sorted out.

It's a war report about the South.

The empire is not the Eighth Road, without the support of mysterious people, weapons and equipment can only be produced by themselves, with the size of the Southern Army, the troops have lost almost most of the heavy equipment, and it will take at least half a year to replenish it.

Least!

"Crushed?"

Ishihara frowned.

He can still know the intelligence in the south, because of the intervention of the Eighth Road, the air transportation of materials, and air fire support, the Tenth Army failed to capture Hengyang in three consecutive months of offensives.

Who can defeat the defenders of Hengyang?

The distance between the eight roads in the Songxian area was too far, and the strength of the troops in Hengyang was insufficient.

"It's weird."

Mitsumasa Yonechi replied:

"There are a large number of armored units emerging from Hengyang City, as well as heavy artillery units and armored vehicles."

"Emerging from Hengyang?"

Ishihara couldn't help but wonder if he had misheard.

A large number of armored troops emerged from Hengyang City, as well as heavy artillery, armored vehicles, how is this possible. It is possible to transport armored vehicles and heavy artillery by plane after disassembly, but how can tanks be!

"How is this possible!"

But seeing Hengyang's battle report, Ishihara Waner didn't believe it, but he also had to believe it.

Literally, overnight, hundreds of tanks, hundreds of artillery, hundreds of armored vehicles, and more than 500 tanks alone emerged from Hengyang.

How is this done?

It doesn't make sense.

"Chen Fan."

Looking at the information behind him, Ishihara fell silent.

With the new information in his hand, he found that the situation in the empire was more severe and elusive than expected, and the key point was this Chen Fan and those materials that suddenly appeared.

This is true whether it is the materiel and ammunition materials that suddenly appeared in the independent regiment a few years ago, or the tanks and heavy artillery that appeared in Hengyang not long ago.

Weird and incomprehensible.

Then, when the empire deals with the Republic of China in the future, it will also need to consider this issue.

Thinking of this, Ishihara felt a little numb in his scalp - the difficulty suddenly increased more than tenfold, who could withstand the more than 500 tanks that suddenly popped up for no reason?

Not to mention the Great Japanese Empire, even if it is the Germans and the Anglo-American coalition, they can't withstand it.

"That's not right."

In the end, Ishihara's complexion, who had read the southern intelligence, suddenly changed drastically.

"What's wrong?"

Mitsumasa Yonechi asked.

"The Southern Army is in big trouble."

Ishihara's face was solemn.

Unlike Mitsumasa Minechi, who was born in the navy, Ishihara is an army faction that once served as a division commander and has strong military ability, so he can see the problems in this scattered war report at a glance.

"Why do you say that?"

Minai hurriedly asked.

"Their goal is not just to crush, but..."

Taking a deep breath, Ishihara's tone was still trembling:

"They want to annihilate the Southern Army."

"Annihilation?"

Mitsumasa Minei was shocked:

"Annihilation, this can't be."

Although he is not in the army, he still understands the basic principles of the battlefield.

The Southern Army has a total strength of 400,000 troops, and if it wants to annihilate the 400,000 army, it must at least 1.5 times the size of the army to start a war of annihilation.

"Logically speaking, it is impossible to annihilate them all, but."

Ishihara's tone was still solemn, and when he said this, he paused before saying:

"The Eleventh Army and other southern armies have been routed, lost their command, and are retreating south along the Guangdong-Hankou Railway, a total distance of more than 500 kilometers, and they are still pursued by enemy tank troops, and there are enemy planes bombing and strafing."

"Tank units are very mobile."

"Moreover, the enemy has deployed a large number of blocking forces in front."

"Blocking troops?"

Mitsumasa Yonechi was stunned.

Although the Southern Army can be said to have fled, the grassroots officers still have a strong control over the troops, it is not difficult for the brigade to march together, and divisions are also very common, and if you want to intercept such a force, you need the main force.

There were only a few guerrillas in the South...

Thinking of this, Mitsumasa Minechi suddenly turned pale, and suddenly cold sweat rained down.

The current guerrillas of the Republic of China are completely different from what they used to be.

······

A day later.

German Empire.

Hamburg.

"What about the losses?"

In Kesselring's office, the old fox rushed in.

The bombers that bombed the United States had returned, and it was said that the Führer was so pleased with the bombing effect that he was preparing to expand the size of the bombing force and drop more bombs on the British.

But the old fox was more concerned about casualties than the bombing effect.

Germany could no longer afford to lose a single English air battle. Now the supplies are sufficient, and the fuel planes can be used casually, but the pilots are no longer enough.

"The losses are low."

Kesselring spoke in a calm tone:

"Only thirty-five bombers did not return."

"Thirty-five."

The old fox did the math in his heart.

This time, a total of 850 bombers were dispatched, and the loss rate was 0.4 percent, that is, according to this loss rate, one crew member could only carry out a maximum of 25 bombing missions.

Moreover, this bombing was a surprise attack, the air defense of the US mainland is very low, and there is detailed information, and the losses will be even higher in future bombing, and in terms of air force, Germany is far worse than the Anglo-American coalition.

"The Führer asked me to continue to increase the size of the bombers, and then to carry out a massive bombing of the British."

Kesselring knew what the old fox was thinking and continued.

"Hey."

Hearing this, the old fox rubbed his head and had a headache.

He wanted to persuade the Führer to abandon the idea, but he was also well aware that it was almost impossible, or even absolutely impossible. It was absolutely impossible for the Führer to abandon the big bombing of Britain.

As for that loss of personnel, it will not go to the Führer's heart at all.

"I have an idea."

Kesselring said suddenly.

"What thoughts?"

The old fox came interested.

"Our pilots have reached the limit, but we can recruit the allies, a bomber has at least fifteen people, as long as the captain and others are our own people, it doesn't matter if the others are from other countries."

"Good idea."

The old fox's eyes lit up.

There are not many Germans, the pilots are still elite, and the investment consumption is not cost-effective, according to the calculation of more than 6,000 six-engine bombers in the list, it will take 100,000 crew members to consume all of them.

This is something that Germany could not provide.

But in Europe, there are not only Germany, but also many, many other countries, such as Poland, Finland, etc., which can easily recruit qualified cabin crews.

"We can also improve the treatment of pilots."

The old fox added.