New York, USA.

The bombing that took place at midnight 280 kilometers away did not directly disturb the city, but the news of the heavy bombing of Baltimore spread far faster and farther than the sound waves, and within half an hour of the bombing, many high-ranking people in New York had learned of the fact of the German bombing of Baltimore through various channels.

The boss of the New York Times, Trastein, was at first annoyed that his subordinates had called him to wake him up, but after a few seconds, the shrewd media magnate immediately thought of tomorrow's front-page headlines, so he hurriedly instructed his men to immediately stop printing the next morning, reformat and print 500,000 copies overnight.

After this, Mr. Trestan still felt uneasy, he woke up his driver, he wanted to go to the office building to see the group of people who were very uneasy, such an explosive news would definitely increase the sales of his newspaper, as for whether this was a national disaster, Trastan felt that he did not need to think about it.

Just as the Trestan Ford car hit the streets, the whizzing air raid sirens suddenly sounded in the downtown area, and most New Yorkers were very unfamiliar with the sound. The military had never conducted an air raid drill in New York before because of fears that the air raid drills would interfere with normal economic activity in this important commercial and industrial center, and because both Washington and the military believed that war would not break out until at least 1925. The sound of air raid sirens wakes many sleeping New Yorkers from their slumber as they open their windows or simply walk out into the streets.

When the humming sound came from above, people looked up and saw many black shadows in the bright starry sky.

At 1:33 a.m. on July 8, 1924, a violent explosion first came from Manhattan, the most prosperous district of New York City. Fires tens of meters high rose everywhere, and the whole city became brighter than daylight.

Stunned, his driver pulled over to the side of the road, a stupid decision that cost them their lives, and just half a minute later, a 100-kilogram incendiary bomb landed less than ten meters away, and they, like thousands of New Yorkers, did not escape the bombardment that day.

It was only about a quarter of an hour after the start of the bombing of the German aircraft group that the New York authorities began to organize citizens to take refuge in anti-aircraft bunkers. However, a large number of citizens panicked like frightened wild boars, and the scene in the city was completely out of control. The German bomber pilots who dropped bombs over New York could not control so much, and 200 Dornier bombers dropped more than 5,000 aerial bombs on this prosperous city in more than half an hour, and the port area, industrial area, and commercial area all became the targets of key attention, seven shipyards, four oil depots, three arms companies, one iron and steel plant, and three automobile factories were seriously damaged, and only the thermal power plant in the urban area was spared from extinction among the large industrial facilities. However, a large number of incendiary bombs burned most of the city's power supply lines, so the New York City area was quickly plunged into a state of blackout, which seriously affected the treatment of injured citizens in various hospitals, and in fact, more than a dozen hospitals of all sizes have been damaged in the bombing.

Under the heavy bombardment of the German aircraft group. U.S. fighter jets stationed near New York still made weak lift-off interceptions. Several cruisers anchored in New York Harbor also fired at the air with their own naval guns, which did not pose a threat to the eight squadrons of German heavy bombers, and 200 Dorniers returned home safely after the bombing. This has also become the best way for Germany and its allies to ridicule the US government afterwards.

Only later did the Americans learn that the eight squadrons of German bombers had actually departed from Guadeloupe, more than 2,000 nautical miles off the east coast of the United States, and flew for nearly 10 hours before arriving over New York. Thinking that the bombers carried by the German fleet that was attacked by the US and British submarines on 5 July were sent to Guadeloupe, the Americans could not help but be ashamed -- it seems that the 200 German bombers that bombed New York this time were not all the Germans had in Guadeloupe, at least the bombers loaded by that fleet would soon join the air raid on the US mainland, and according to the information sent back by the spies at that time, more than 20 cargo ships were loaded with no less than 100 Dornier bombers.

When New York was under heavy air raids, it was tea time in Tokyo across the ocean.

The acquaintances in the courtyard were tirelessly screaming, which only increased people's irritability in the summer. In a room decorated with a very Westernized décor, the Japanese regent sat with members of the cabinet and senior generals of the military department with serious expressions.

On the morning of the same day, the Japanese Government announced the severance of diplomatic relations with the United States in accordance with the provisions of the "German-Japanese Singapore Secret Treaty." However, they did not expel the US Secretary of State and his entourage, who had come for a secret meeting, and on the contrary, secret negotiations between the two countries continued.

Declaring war and advancing eastward or negotiating to demand that the US government surrender the Philippines and Hawaii was an important choice before Hirohito and others. If war is declared, then Japan and Germany will attack the United States from both the Pacific and the Atlantic, and with the current strength of the Americans, it is unlikely that they will not be able to hold two fronts at the same time, and the only option for the US Navy to transfer the Pacific Fleet back to the mainland will be the only option for the US Navy, so that the Japanese army will easily seize the Philippines and Hawaii. In the negotiations, Japan will most likely take advantage of the US Government's predicament to force the Americans to hand over the Philippines and Hawaii to Japan for "trusteeship." That would have avoided the two-front dilemma, and the Pacific Fleet would have been able to quickly return home and cross the Panama Canal to join the Atlantic Fleet, if the American Atlantic Fleet had not been defeated by the Germans by then.

In short, Japan will undoubtedly acquire the coveted Philippines and Hawaii, and control of half of the Pacific Ocean will be vested in the Japanese Navy. However, the Japanese government's choice is extremely important to the United States and Germany, and even if the Japanese Navy cannot hold back the US Pacific Fleet, at least it can make that fleet suffer some losses, and if the United States is defeated, Japan will be able to share some spoils after the war; And, although somewhat treacherous, was able to avoid any unnecessary casualties and losses, and at the same time made it more difficult for Germany to win the war and even changed the tide of the war.

In addition to the two opinions of war and peace. The third theoretical possibility is that Japan and the United States reach an understanding and form an alliance, and then Japan moves eastward into the Indian Ocean to threaten Germany's African colonies, but this theoretical possibility was strongly rejected by the Japanese Admiralty as soon as it was put forward - they have been under the German Navy since the end of the war, not to mention the close relationship between the two navies, in terms of the combat effectiveness of the German and American navies, the Japanese naval commanders would rather fight the Americans than risk a war with the mighty Germany, and take revenge Perfidious basin.

After a morning of discussions. For the time being, the hardliners in the Admiralty Office and Cabinet supported a declaration of war on the United States and the eastward march of troops, while the conservatives in the War Office and the Cabinet believed that Japan should see the situation first. As the current de facto ruler of Japan, Prince Hirohito has kept his face tight and has not expressed his opinion.

When the meeting was about to come to an end, the news that New York had been bombed and suffered heavy losses came from the United States through Japanese spies, and the atmosphere in the conference room suddenly changed greatly.

"First Baltimore, then New York, two of America's most important industrial cities were hit in a matter of hours! Gentlemen, this situation could not be more obvious. In the case of a very optimistic market. It's time for us to place our bets! I believe that since the Germans have greatly increased their hopes of victory, we should declare war on the United States in time. lest we attract the dissatisfaction of the German government with us in the future! ”

Admiral Minister Keichi Murakami stood up and said loudly that just this morning, the German ambassador had already conveyed Berlin's intention twice that the German Government hoped that the Japanese Government would fulfill its obligations to the Allies as soon as possible and hold back the main force of the US Pacific Fleet stationed in Hawaii for as long as possible.

Prince Fushimi Miyahiro, who was sitting next to the regent, nodded slightly, and his experience of fighting alongside the German Navy in the South American theater made him even more determined to support Japan-Germany friendship. In addition, his father, Sadaai Fushimiya, was one of the elders of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and he was also the most influential imperial figure among the active admirals of the Navy, and after he nodded, the opinion of the entire navy was self-evident.

War Minister Yu Kazunari didn't think so. The opinions of him and the majority of the cabinet members can be summed up in five words: sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight! At present, the four most powerful countries in the world are Germany, the United States, Japan, and Russia, and if Russia, which is not counted as a hypothetical appearance, then Japan's biggest potential opponents are Germany and the United States, and as long as these two countries lose both sides in this war, then Japan will undoubtedly reap the benefits of the fisherman.

"Since the Germans are sure of victory, it seems that there is no need for us to get involved, and wouldn't it be nice to wait to hear the good news of the German victory?"

Utama's words were supported by Prime Minister Kiyoura Keigo, Minister of Finance Katsuda and others, and for these civil officials. Of course, arms sales to the United States must be cautious, at least no one dares to offend the Germans at this time, even the Japanese, who have always been arrogant.

"Do you want to see the Germans training in the Americas, but our mighty fleet is rusting in the harbors?" Murakami unceremoniously refuted the opinions of conservatives.

Yu Tan did not budge, "Wouldn't it be a matter of killing two birds with one stone to send observers to the Americas to sum up the experience of the German-American war and improve the combat capability of our ** team?" ”

"What better way to observe than to go to war in person?"

"Entering the war will cost you casualties, not to mention that the government's financial situation has only recovered slightly this year, and it is difficult to bear additional war expenditures!"

"We will be accused of being unfaithful!"

"Enough!" Hirohito, who had been silent, finally took the case, and the 23-year-old young man's face had a domineering spirit beyond his age, and the sharp eyes were forced to back down even for those who had been in battle for a long time. For a moment, the room was eerily quiet, and there was only the odious sound in people's ears.

"Before he joined the war, he made a lot of trouble within himself, and wouldn't he be laughed at if he spread it?" Prince Hirohito looked coldly at the two factions that were still arguing fiercely just now, this situation is not uncommon in the meeting of the Japanese Cabinet or the Ministry of War, the dispute between the Commander of the Army faction and the Navy Satsuma faction has been going on for a long time, and the two sides seem to have become enemies that can never be resolved.

After a long pause, Hirohito changed to a calmer tone:

"In the morning, I received a letter from the German envoy, a letter from the Kaiser!"

At this time, everyone in the conference room wanted to know what Hirohito would say next.

After a few seconds to whet everyone's appetite, the Lord Regent said in his still slightly green voice:

"The Kaiser told me that Germany has been preparing for this war for almost 10 years, and as we all know, the goddess of victory always favors those who are prepared! Whether to watch the victory or taste it for yourself, he sincerely hopes that we can think about it! ”

Under the cold gaze of the regent, everyone wanted to discuss but did not dare to make a sound, it was hard to believe that a young man could intimidate many government officials and army generals on such an occasion. It can be said that the god-making movement since the Meiji era has achieved great results, and the "modern human god" has become a sacred and inviolable true god in the eyes of the Japanese.

"Therefore, I have decided that the Empire of Japan will enter a state of war with the United States of America from now on!"

Hirohito's words made the Satsuma generals rejoice, and then he said to the conservative generals and ministers:

"In view of the temporary financial difficulties of the empire at present, the Imperial Family will allocate 10 million yen as additional military expenses for the war, and the government does not need to allocate additional expenses, as long as it pays for military rations and arranges military production! Keijun Matsui, please tell the U.S. Secretary of State that we will take over the Philippines and Hawaii in a week's time, and if they want to abandon their homeland defenses and fight us in the Pacific, then their Pacific Fleet will stay there! ”

"Hi Yi!" Foreign Minister Keishiro Matsui stood up and respectfully accepted the instruction.

"Ladies and gentlemen, now that the war has begun, let's do our best to contribute to the Empire!" The "Present Gods" began to issue their own calls.

"Hi Yi!" Everyone stood up in unison and replied respectfully.