At the beginning of the Imperial Meeting, it was the summary of this year's industrial production. Both Hirohito and Hideki Tojo were silent at first, listening to the reports of the others below.

King Fushimi Miyahiro Gong, the chief of the Military Command Department, was the first to speak: "As a result of the alliance with the Central Powers, our trade relations with the United States and Britain are bound to be greatly improved, but the Sino-Japanese war is likely to become a protracted war. In view of the fact that China's national strength is not greatly depleted at present, what are the countermeasures for maintaining national strength? ”

Prime Minister: "It is expected that trade relations with the United States and Britain will become even closer as new developments emerge, and even if trade with China has been completely severed, we should not have any worries. The current situation in our country is that many of our major military supplies depend on the United States and Britain, not on China, so we do not need to worry at all about the various blockade policies against China since the outbreak of the war. However, since we had already anticipated this situation, expanded domestic production, and made efforts to increase our reserves, if we could further strengthen the control over the consumption of the military, officials, and civilians, and concentrate the use of materials on the most urgent needs, we would believe that military supplies would not be affected for a fairly long period of time, and even if China and Japan were ordered to go to war, they would be able to cope with military expenditures for a relatively long time and withstand a fairly long war. ”

Suzuki Sadachi, president of the Planning Institute, stood up at this time, and he was born in the army, and he was also very proficient when it came to domestic industrial production capacity at this time: "Regarding steel, because scrap iron is used as the main raw material, China is now completely banned from exporting scrap iron, and my country can no longer secretly purchase scrap iron, and the steelmaking capacity will be weakened." But, as the Prime Minister stated. Historically, there have been facilities to expand the production circle, and there is also a steelmaking method that does not use scrap iron, so a considerable amount of steel can be produced. Moreover, the United States has begun to ship a large number of finished steel and scrap iron into the country, which will not have any impact on our steel, on the contrary, this year's steel production has made great progress.

Among them, this year's material mobilization plan is expected to produce 7.5 million tons of steel. If the U.S. completely loosens its export policy, it could reach 10 million tons in the first year. Even if production capacity is expanded in the second fiscal year, it will remain at about 10 million tons due to the reduction of previous inventories. It can be roughly maintained at the current level.

Now the quartermaster is. The direct and indirect parts of the army and navy together are 5.4 million tons, and the other civilian needs are 1 million tons, that is, the production is reduced to 500,000 tons, by reducing the civilian official needs. There was no difficulty in continuing the Sino-Japanese war. Other than that. If you try to revise the material mobilization plan. Increase the steelmaking capacity and add up the production that can be completed now and in the near future, including Japan and North Korea. The output of iron can reach 14 million tons, and the output of steel can reach 10 million to 11 million tons. At present, the steelmaking capacity is only 8.5 million tons due to the rush to expand other production and the poor quality of coal, but in the future, if the main focus is concentrated here and the existing equipment is fully utilized, it will be possible to increase the steelmaking capacity by 2.2 million to 2.3 million tons even with the existing equipment alone. Therefore, it goes without saying that the steel needed for the Sino-Japanese War can continue to be maintained for a long time even at the current level of military supply.

With regard to copper, the planned copper production this season is about 300,000 tons, but when copper ore is embargoed, it will be 280,000 tons in the first year, 280,000 tons in the second year, and will gradually increase thereafter. This year's domestic demand is 200,000 tons, and the army and navy's needs, including direct and indirect military supplies, are 110,000 tons.

However, copper is more difficult than steel, so it is necessary to look into other alternatives or take all possible ways to obtain them. A large number of them have been purchased in the United States not long ago, and now they have either been shipped, or are being loaded, or are about to be loaded.

About oil. Due to the lack of domestic production, it is more difficult than iron and non-ferrous metals. The Army and Navy had to use their existing stocks separately. Of course, it will be difficult to turn into a long-term war that exceeds expectations, but because there is still a considerable amount of stockpile, there will be no obstacles.

Aviation gasoline was by far the biggest weakness. Although a considerable amount has been obtained due to the first and second advance imports, as well as the recent special imports, it is in a better position than the others, but in the end it is not possible to support the needs of the military and civilians with the production and reserves within the yen economic bloc. While the United States is supporting us in large quantities, we must not rely too much on the United States and must expand our own sources of oil. It is therefore necessary to find ways to secure access to oil from northern Sakhalin and Indonesia.

Especially for the next round of China's attack, for the sake of Indonesia's oil, we can no longer retreat. ”

Suzuki concludes by mentioning Indonesia, which has become Japan's largest oil production base. And Singapore has been occupied by China, and now Indonesia is at the forefront of China.

Unlike China, Japan is not very concerned about controlling the Strait of Malacca, because Japan has long been prepared that the Strait of Malacca can only be ceded to China. However, Indonesia is absolutely not allowed to give up an inch of land.

The commander-in-chief of the Military Command Department, King Fushimi Miyahiro Gong, once again spoke out: "Once China begins to attack Indonesia, the army will not be able to resist it. At that time, military oil could be counted on from stocks or from places such as northern Sakhalin and the United States, but these alone could not sustain a long war. Excuse me, how will the oil needed for the long war be replenished? ”

As an old man of the Japanese Navy, King Fushimi Miyahiro has deeper naval qualifications than Yamamoto Isoroku, and is the soul of the navy in the same period as Heihachiro Togo. As an old man, he was supposed to live at home for the rest of his life, but after Nagano Shushen became the new commander of the Combined Fleet, he had to enter the Imperial Council again and became the chief of the Military Command Department.

As an old navy, especially when the Japanese Combined Fleet is growing day by day, the blood and oil of war has always been a very important issue in front of Japan. In total, the Japanese Combined Fleet has more than 300 warships, large and small, and its daily fuel consumption can be calculated by several calculations.

Because it is no longer the era of coal-burning, coal-burning naval ships have basically disappeared from the navies of various countries. Although compared to coal-burning warships, oil-burning warships are more than a little stronger. But fuel consumption. It's a big problem.

Oil is already on a par with life for the military.

Sadachi Suzuki continued: "Regarding the issue of oil, it is as mentioned earlier. Once a fairly long war develops, it is absolutely necessary to hold on to the oil of northern Sakhalin and Indonesia. In addition, through the mediation of the United States, it was necessary to supplement from the Soviet and European sides. In short, every means should be used to obtain as much oil as possible. There is no other way.

Domestic oil refining also needs to be carried out vigorously. The annual production of natural oil is only 500,000 tons, but the production of artificial oil has recently progressed considerably, and next year it could reach 600,000 tons per year, if you add up the parts that are planned now and those that are under construction. Up to a considerable amount.

Again. The oil in the northern part of Sakhalin is by no means small, and now it produces less than 800,000 tons per year, but this is the result of the obstruction of the former Soviet Union, otherwise hundreds of thousands of tons can still be produced even with the current equipment. Plus the 1.4 million tons received by the Soviet side. It can reach 1.7 million to 1.8 million tons. That's a fairly cashable amount.

In short, the issue of oil should be obtained as much as possible from overseas and efforts should be made to increase domestic production. On the other hand, efforts should be made to economize on domestic consumption, and there is no other way to do so. ”

Suzuki Sadachi still has a lot of thoughts in his mind, but there is no need to say them now.

In his mind, as long as the Sino-Japanese War does not break out, the United States will not be able to continue the war against the United States by exerting economic pressure alone. It can also obtain a significant amount of oil from outside the United States. It's just aviation gasoline, Chinese goods are the best, and Japan can't refine high-grade gasoline at this time. In the past, a small amount of China Airlines gasoline was imported from secret sources. Comparing the aviation fuel imported from the United States with the aviation fuel of China, the aviation fuel of the United States can only be considered okay.

At the same time, he had a deep disappointment with his country's industry.

The chief of the military command department, Fushimi Miyahiro Gong, said: "Regarding the issue of oil, can it be generally understood that there is no reliable hope of obtaining oil? It should also be mentioned that the only good way to get the most out of dependence on the Soviet Union for supplies is to ensure the safety of Indonesian oil, and the only way is to use force, hoping that the Imperial Navy will be able to increase its strength. ”

Listening to the questions and answers of the two, Hideki Tojo said at this time:

"When it comes to negotiating with the U.S. alliance, getting oil is my primary concern. At that time, I asked the United States about Japan's acquisition of Dutch East India (Indonesian) oil, which belonged to American and British capital but was owned by the Netherlands, and about allowing Japan to participate in the Dutch East India Oil Company in the future.

According to Britain, the amount of oil obtained by the United States in the Arabian Peninsula has exceeded the oil consumption of the Allies since September last year.

Moreover, the Soviet Union, despite the needs of Great Britain, was faithfully fulfilling its economic treaties with the United States, and was shipping a considerable amount of oil from the Soviet Union to the United States. In addition, it received a lot of oil from Romania, so the Soviet Union was not worried about oil. The USSR had enough oil. The war consumption did not have much effect on Soviet oil.

The result of the alliance with the United States will inevitably lead to a total embargo on Japan by China and a complete ban on China's exports, which is really the most painful point for us, because we can now get no oil and steel through some channels. Therefore, I have proposed that the United States must be allowed to further increase the amount of oil exported to us. In addition, the United States was entrusted with the mediation of the Soviet Union on the issue of oil in northern Sakhalin, and the oil from Sakhalin could not continue to be used in the preparation for war in the Far East, and had to be quickly shipped back to the country. Or ask the Soviet Union not to interfere with Japanese oil companies there. The Far East and the Siberian Plain could obtain oil supplies from Sakhalin Island, but the United States had to guarantee that 50 million tons of finished fuel oil would enter the Japanese mainland within six months. ”

In fact, Hideki Tojo said lightly that when the Soviet Union transported oil to the United States, it was actually exchanging weapons with the United States. Japan, on the other hand, wants to empty the white wolf and say that the oil needs of the Far Eastern army, without the huge mechanized army of the Soviet Union, can Japan hold the northern land with peace of mind?

The chief of the Military Command Department, King Fushimi Miyahiro Gong, once again said: "The oil capital of the Dutch East Indies belongs to Britain and the United States, and the Dutch government has gone into exile in Britain. Therefore, although Germany had occupied the Netherlands itself, the control of oil was actually in the hands of the United States and Britain. And Indonesia is already under the rule of the empire, it sounds like the contract. The resources of the occupied territories are at the disposal of the country, which is actually a matter of no choice, because the oil fields are in our hands. In my opinion, this is not a condition, because the thing itself belongs to the empire.

So, we have to get the United States to pay more steel and oil faster. What is the foreign minister's view on this? ”

There is no most shameless, only more shameless. Under the robber logic of Hideki Tojo, I didn't expect it. King Fushimi Miyahiro is a robber than him.

Hideki Tojo, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is naturally Japan's foreign minister. After listening to the words of King Fushimi Miyahiro Gong, a flash of realization flashed in his heart, but he did not agree with the words of King Fushimi Miyahiro Gong. This is not a good question. Because Indonesia is still under the threat of China at the moment.

"Now we need to think more about how to hold on to our oil! Rather than abandoning the basics. To try to get America to give us more time. Of course. Both sides can be stopped. The United States also needs someone to say that there is no such thing as oil, no amount is too much. Hideki Tojo glanced at the people in the Gozen conference room. He said, "Indonesia is the main defensive force of the empire. Previously, we had 1.6 million troops in Indonesia, and after joining the Allies, half of the troops that attacked Australia returned to Indonesia. At the moment, we have more than two and a half million troops in Indonesia.

Among them, 1 million were the Imperial Japanese Army, and the other 1.5 million were Imperial Allied Army troops. Now is the time to think about how we can use these forces to hold our oil. ”

Hideki Tojo's words stunned everyone in the conference room, and then, Army General Shouichi Terauchi, who had just been transferred back to the headquarters, said: "Will the United States send troops into Indonesia to assist us in defense?" ”

Although the treaty clearly stipulates that Japan has the obligation to voluntarily enter the war, whether or not the United States will directly send troops to the occupied areas to participate in the war must be decided through the trilateral agreement. There is also the Army and Navy Military Commission, which will study the state of affairs at that time and then inform the Governments (allied Governments) of the results of the study, and it will be up to our Governments to make their own decisions, that is, to decide for themselves. Hearing Shouichi Terauchi's words, Sadaichi Suzuki immediately replied.

Kantaro Suzuki, the speaker of the Privy Council, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up: "Through the question of the Chief of the Military Command Department, the question I want to ask has become clear, oil is an indispensable thing. The treaty between us and the Allies is an alliance treaty for China, and the Allies want to use this treaty to balance China. China has always regarded itself as the caretaker of Asia and has exerted oppression on us. This is the main reason why we joined the camp of the Allies.

Although we have received a lot of support from the United States, China has put economic pressure on us to impose a total material blockade on us, cutting us off our oil and steel sources. It also cut off trade in the purchase of raw materials from Japan, so that we could be plunged into a long and intolerable war of fatigue.

The war in Southeast Asia has not yet dissipated, and although Indonesia is in our hands and everything above is ours, we cannot make it easy for the United States, and we must let the American military also join Indonesia's defense. Reduce the pressure on all aspects of our work.

And I also heard that something very unpleasant happened in China today. ”

In the end, Kantaro Suzuki glanced at Hideki Tojo thoughtfully. As an important person next to Hirohito, he is not very jealous of Hideki Tojo, because he is the president of the Privy Council.

The Privy Council of Japan is an advisory body to the Emperor consisting of Privy Counsellors (Advisors). Because it deals with many constitutional issues, it is also known as the "guardian of the Constitution". It was established in 1888 and is simply called the Privy Council, and the Speaker is also known as the Minister. In 1888, the Privy Council was created under the Privy Council system for the purpose of deliberating on the draft Constitution. In the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, promulgated in 1889, it was clearly stated that it was the highest advisory body to the Emperor. The first speaker of the Diet was the famous Hirobumi Ito.

For a long time, the Privy Council was the prominent department that controlled the major policies of the Japanese state, but after the First Sino-Japanese War, Japan was defeated, the power of domestic political parties declined, the military gradually became tougher, and the influence of the Privy Council gradually declined. However, the emaciated camel is bigger than the horse, and he Kantaro Suzuki does not boo Hideki Tojo, at least according to his personality.

In addition, in order to cope with the emperor's inquiries at any time, the Privy Council also has a lot of information and the latest information. The power of its Speaker is not small.

Hideki Tojo didn't say anything, some people rebelled, and they still went at him. He didn't care, even if Hirohito knew about this kind of thing, he wouldn't have any effect. Because of the current Japan, he is a big family, one word.

However, Suzuki Kantaro's words still made him can't help but look at the Privy Council Speaker twice, as if he suddenly wanted to see through him completely.

At this moment, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, King Fushimi Miyahiro Kōko, spoke: "The opinion of the President of the Privy Council is very reasonable. War is not a war of ours alone, and although the United States is carrying out a strategic transformation and has begun to vigorously support Europe, we must not let the United States forget about the Pacific. So, I support the entry of U.S. troops into Indonesia to join the defense against the Chinese offensive. ”

Hideki Tojo suddenly continued: "The army also attaches great importance to the oil issue as much as the navy. On this issue, a decision was made at the joint meeting of the base camp and the government as early as the beginning of the formation of the cabinet. That is, the "Outline for Handling the Current Situation" was formulated, which called for the speedy end of the war on other fronts and the concentration of forces. And the problem of Sakhalin, that's it first.

When it comes to the Indonesian issue, you are all right, the United States must join in, and this point must be resolved immediately before further discussions with the United States about oil.

Prior to the meeting, the military department and the U.S. Pacific Theater Command had reached an agreement that in order to strengthen the defense of Indonesia, Australia's air force and armored forces would fully support Indonesia. Of course, this does not include the US Army, just the US armored divisions.

Now that the meeting has decided so, it is necessary to negotiate further with the United States so that the American Army can begin to enter Indonesia and join the defensive war. I think the firepower of the American army should not be lost to the Chinese army. ”

Speaking of this, Hideki Tojo glanced at the Minister of the Navy next to him, and said again: "The Combined Naval Fleet has begun to merge with the Pacific Fleet of the United States, and I believe that as long as the Japanese and American navies are combined, this time, the Chinese Navy and Air Force will definitely not be allowed to enter a no-man's land in the Pacific Ocean." The most important point is that the American jet fighter has been put into large-scale production, and at the same time, the new jet fighter of the empire is almost completed, and the sky in the future will no longer be Chinese. ”

With Hideki Tojo's continuous revelations, the atmosphere in the conference room became lively, and as he finished speaking, the whispers of Susuo came out of the conference room. When Hideki Tojo saw such a scene, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Hirohito, who had been listening to everyone in the conference room very quietly, also had a slight joy on his face, and was about to speak. A palace guard military attache hurriedly ran in, not only interrupting Hirohito's words about to speak, but the next words were no less than dropping a bomb in the conference room.

"The Chinese Air Force attacked ......" (To be continued......)