ps: There is one more update today.

Originally, according to the rules, since it was the emperor's inquiry, Prime Minister Hideki Tojo should be the first to report and speak, but unexpectedly, Hirohito actually fired first: "Prime Minister, what happened to the four aircraft carriers of the Mobile Fleet in the Battle of Midway?" When will the dispatch continue? ”

"They suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Midway, 1 ship was sunk, 2 ships were heavily damaged, and 1 ship was broken, I am afraid that they will not be able to count on it in the short term." This is the Navy's battle report to Hideki Tojo, and he doesn't understand why Hirohito suddenly asked about this and told the truth.

"How dare you deceive me until now?" Hirohito stood up in a fit of rage, and in his forties, he scolded angrily, "The Germans have come to the door to say that we have completely failed in the Battle of Midway, that none of the four aircraft carriers survived, that we had lost more than 300 aircraft, and that we had lost more than 100 elite pilots - and that you were still announcing the Victory Parade!" It doesn't matter if you engage in propaganda and boost the morale of your subjects, and now the Imperial Council is also in this attitude, and I don't know what to say. ”

"Your Majesty must not easily listen to the slander of outsiders...... We ...... "Tojo didn't know how deep the pit was inside, so he plunged into it headwide."

"That's enough......," Reprimanded Minister Koichi Kido, "I have sent people to visit several naval hospitals, which are full of uninjured and sick naval officers and men, do you think you can hide it from Your Majesty?" ”

Hideki Tojo was speechless and unable to utter a word, and could only cast a deeply suspicious gaze on the Minister of the Navy, Shigetaro Shimada, who followed Hideki Tojo very closely in the cabinet. Completely discarding the view of the gateway between the army and the navy, he was ridiculed by the navy as "Tojo's adjutant", and saw that his body was like a sifting chaff. Mumbled and unspeakable. Hideki Tojo's heart tightened, could it be that the naval fleet was also hiding from Shimada? Was this Admiral Yamamoto or whose idea was it?

Before he could figure out a clue, Hirohito's second shot came again: "Have you found the reason for the failure of the Battle of Midway?" ”

"It has been summed up that there is an imbalance in the balance of forces between us and the enemy, the enemy's strength is strong, and our army is insufficient and ......"

"Don't talk to me about these useless things. During the Battle of Midway, the Americans had only three old aircraft carriers, and the pilots on them were not as brave as the Imperial pilots. "Hirohito had never felt that this Admiralty Minister was so hateful. He said loudly in that male duck voice, "The reason for the defeat is very simple-our military code has been revealed, and the people of the United States have all the information. Didn't you say that the desalination equipment at Midway was damaged? That's a scam. It was the Americans who deliberately unleashed it to lure us into the bait! Do I need you to check it again? ”

Admiral Nagano Shuseki, the chief of the Military Command Department, who was present at the meeting, trembled when he heard this, because he had clearly received this telegram, and now that Hirohito had brought up the old matter, his mind reacted in an instant. Look at Nagano's self-cultivation. Hirohito basically understood. But I still have to make a final confirmation: "Chief of the Military Command Department, am I right?" Was there ever such a telegram? ”

"Your Majesty, this matter is true, the ministers never expected it......"

"Sea Minister, you have disappointed me so much!"

"Minister, I am sincerely afraid, I have the trust of His Majesty!" Shigetaro Shimada was trembling, and originally wanted to explain two more sentences. Who knew that Hirohito directly sealed the latter words to him.

"Forget it, I'm sure the prime minister doesn't know about this either. Although you can't be blamed for this situation, someone must always be responsible for the problems of the navy. He paused and said, "Resign!" ”

As soon as these words came out, the audience was stunned: although the emperor would often express his opinions about cabinet members, and would also signal his subordinates to resign through overt and covert means, it was the first time that he had said it so bluntly as today, and it seemed that he was indeed angry. In particular, the news still poked out from the Germans, which may make His Majesty feel even more embarrassed.

Hideki Tojo gritted his teeth and did not say a word, he knew through other channels that the navy had suffered great losses and had made the worst preparations, but he did not expect that the consequences would be even more serious than he expected.

"In addition, there is one more thing...... Hirohito said to Nagano Shusui, "On August 7 of this year, when I was summer in the Nikko Palace, I received the news that the US troops had landed on Guadalcanal......

Nagano was speechless.

Minister Kido added expressionlessly: "There are three main points that the Chief of the Military Command Department reported on behalf of the base camp at the beginning: first, Guadalcanal is only an unknown island in the South Pacific, and the landing of US troops is only a reconnaissance landing; secondly, the navy will quickly repel enemy forces; Third, if we are slow to act, the United States will increase its forces, so the base camp immediately held a meeting to deploy and respond, Your Majesty does not have to worry, you can rest assured that you can escape the summer in the Nikko Palace......"

"How did I remind you in the first place?" Hirohito was furious, slapped the table and scolded, "I personally wrote the words 'don't be careless' in the song, and now that two months have passed, is it still a nameless island?" It is now clearly the focus of contention between Japan and the United States! Who's going to tell me how the battle is going on the front? ”

Everyone was speechless, and Hideki Tojo didn't dare to say anything more, because he was clear about the situation on the front line on Kuah Island, which had deteriorated greatly recently.

"Your request to Germany for 1 million tons of steel and 500,000 tons of ships has been clearly rejected." Hirohito continued, "The Germans refused very tactfully, not because they couldn't get the materials, but because how did they get them? Painstakingly circumnavigating half the world and then letting the Americans sink them at sea? ”

The members of the cabinet looked at each other, this is the note officially submitted by Hiroshi Oshima at the end of August, and the official reply from the Germans has not yet been received on the diplomatic channels, and His Majesty the Emperor already knows about it?

"From the lack of ships, it can be seen that the situation on the front line is not good, it is 5,000 kilometers from the mainland to Kuah Island, and you even use naval destroyers to ensure transportation." Hirohito said in a mocking tone, "The Americans named them 'Tokyo Express', which looks a bit modern, what do the army and navy themselves call it - 'rat transport', it is a sneaky deed, Admiral Nagano, is my word accurate?" ”

Even knowing such a secret thing, both Hideki Tojo and Shusei Nagano were speechless in shock - needless to say, this must have been said by the Germans as well.

"Will the battle on Kuah Island continue? Rather than struggling to support in front and exhaust our elite army and navy under the encirclement and suppression of the enemy's superior forces, it is better to think long-term after retreating. Hirohito ignored what was going on, "There are many opportunities to fight the Americans, and there is no need to be obsessed with the gains and losses of one time and one place. ”

"The ministers will study and deploy as soon as the meeting is dismissed."

Hirohito nodded: "I hope you will discuss it well and come up with a reliable plan." In addition, in addition to briefing the Germans, they also offered to establish a mechanism of regular contact and exchange with us, and I have agreed. It is unrealistic for you to want large quantities of supplies from the Germans, but it is feasible to exchange materials in small quantities, just like the previous time the Navy sent submarines to carry out willow transportation and anti-willow transportation; Efforts should also be made to maintain the air channels through which the special envoys come to ensure security. ”

"The ministers obey."

Foreign Minister Gu Zhengzhi said: "Yesterday the Germans proposed the first batch of exchange of materials and technology exchange list, Germany is willing to export to us including electric exploration, new engines, tanks and other equipment objects or drawings, clearly stated that they can be provided to us in the form of barter, but our country should also give corresponding returns, such as ......."

He couldn't think of a name for a while, and quickly flipped through the words on the note and added: "For example, the information about acid torpedoes." ”

Upon hearing this name, Hirohito asked suspiciously: "Chief of the Military Command Department, this name sounds very strange, does the empire have this kind of weapon?" ”

Nagano Xiu broke out in a cold sweat, and finally could only say: "Yes!" This is the most valuable and secret weapon of the Empire, a torpedo that uses oxygen as a propulsion power source, and it is extremely powerful and concealed. It's just the Germans ......"

"You want to ask where the Germans know?" Gu Zhengzhi explained, "The Germans raided the British and American code-breaking agencies and obtained quite a lot of U.S. military intelligence, which must have come from there. ”

Hideki Tojo thought indignantly that this German envoy was too ignorant of the rules, so why didn't he communicate with him first and stab everything to His Majesty, causing such an embarrassing situation. He glared at Foreign Minister Gu Zhengzhi, but the other party turned a blind eye, and instead said: "The envoy also brought a single anti-tank weapon at random, which the Germans call an iron fist, the effect is amazing, the cost is low, and the technical requirements are very low, which is very suitable for the use of the Empire, and he is willing to demonstrate it on the spot; In addition, the Germans came up with drawings of a man-controlled rocket, which was so powerful that one could sink a warship, which was said to be the secret weapon of the German invention, because they could not recruit enough volunteers to transfer it to us...... The German envoy also said......"

Except for Hirohito and Gu Masayuki, everyone else now feels that this special envoy of the head of state has said a little too much, and they have hidden a lot of information from the emperor, and they have formed a tacit understanding with each other up and down, but they didn't expect to be easily stabbed by an outsider, and everyone is a little uncomfortable in their hearts.

"Carefully study specific matters, and must not fall into the dignity of the imperial state, and must not delay the overall situation."

"The ministers will do their best to live up to Your Majesty's trust." Several important ministers raised their heads tremblingly, and before they had time to wipe the cold sweat from their foreheads, they found that Hirohito had taken the lead in leaving the table.

Everyone knows in their hearts that after a major earthquake like today's, a cabinet reshuffle may be inevitable...... (To be continued.) )