Chang Ruiqing put the text in his hand on the conference table and glanced at the two Frenchmen sternly. He said: "Minister Briand, Your Excellency the Marshal, is this mutual defense treaty you proposing only against the Soviet Union? If, I mean, when did England decide to strike France by war on the grounds that the Franco-German alliance was detrimental to her interests, would China, Germany, and Italy stand with France? ”

The faces of the two Frenchmen immediately became hesitant. It is true that this mutual defense treaty should not be directed against the Soviet Union alone, and France and Germany are now concluding a military alliance! An alliance with France as its leader...... There was silence in the room.

"Your Excellency, your analogy is inappropriate, England is also an ally of France." French Foreign Minister Briand broke the silence.

Chang Ruiqing nodded with a smile and said in French: "Then I'll change the analogy to a more appropriate one." What if Japan launched an attack on French Indochina? This is very likely, and everyone knows that Japan has long coveted the rich South Seas. Will France need the support of China, Germany, and Italy? ”

The face of the French Foreign Minister turned a little yellow. In France, French Indochina is facing an unprecedented threat from two East Asian military powers, China and Japan. And after the signing of the mutual defense treaty between China and France, Germany and Italy, the threat of China is no longer there for the time being, but what about Japan?

"Your Excellency, do you have any suggestions?" Brian asked in a low voice, his voice a little hoarse.

"The Franco-German-Italian-Chinese defense treaty should not be directed against the Soviet Union alone. Any encroachment by any other State against any of the four countries should also be regarded as an encroachment on the other three countries, which should be assisted as much as possible. Chang used the word "help" instead of "war" because he knew that the French parliament would not approve a treaty that would likely involve France in a war.

"I agree." Briand nodded, and then Hitler, Rathenau, and Ciano the Elder, all three of whom nodded in approval. Then Briand said: "Then let us further clarify our respective rights and obligations—that in the event of a Japanese attack on China, France will provide assistance to China through French Indochina." "He was Germans and Italians.

Rathenau said: "Germany will declare war on Japan!" ”

The old Count Ziano thought for a moment and also said: "Italy will also declare war on Japan!" ”

These two countries have no colonies in the East, and they do not have a single soldier, and the declaration of war or anything is just a show. However, Chang Ruiqing still smiled and nodded at them very gratefully.

"And what about French Indochina being attacked by Japan?" Bai Lian looked at Chang Ruiqing.

"China will declare war on Japan!" Chang Ruiqing replied categorically. However, he thinks that is very unlikely. Because according to the private agreement between China and Japan, French Indochina was China's sphere of influence. After Chang Ruiqing's statement, German Foreign Minister Rathenau and Italian Foreign Minister Count Ziano also nodded and agreed to declare war on France when it was attacked by Japan.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Chang Ruiqing stood up at this time and said loudly in French, "since everyone agrees to regard Japan as our second enemy. So should you consider helping China improve its navy? His eyes were fixed on the two Frenchmen.

The atmosphere at the scene became solemn again. The two Frenchmen were silent for a long time. Only then did Briand speak: "If you overdevelop your submarine forces, it will cause opposition from the British." ”

"We all know that." Chang Ruiqing said, "We do not seek to have a strong underwater fleet. He winked at the Frenchman. Japan is just an imaginary enemy, and there are many imaginary enemies for the military, but in the end, it is not necessarily an imaginary opponent that will actually fight. ”

"As long as it's not a submarine. Other naval technologies can be transferred. The French Foreign Minister sighed lightly and said, "Or can France and China jointly design a heavy cruiser, a light cruiser, and a destroyer?" ”

"Isn't Germany participating?" Chang Ruiqing was Hitler.

"No, not participating." Germany's Jewish foreign minister replied in place of Hitler. He told Chang Ruiqing very clearly: "At present there is only one focus of Germany's military power. That is to defeat the USSR and regain lost territory! All other issues will have to be considered at a later stage. ”

……

The news that the foreign ministers and leaders of France, Germany, Italy and China met in Berlin and signed the "Quad Mutual Defense Treaty" should have been the most sensational news on the planet in February '92. But not many people in the Soviet Union paid attention to the news, although Pravda also devoted a huge space to the harshest criticism of China and the betrayal of the Chinese and the G. But compared to the other two great news, China's betrayal seems to be bad news that is not worth mentioning. On February Day, the day the Four-Power Mutual Defense Treaty was signed, the great Soviet Red Army struck again! Half a million heavily armed GCIST fighters marched into Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia with great courage and vigour, and of course at the invitation of the Soviet governments of these three countries. The invasion took only three days and was declared victorious, with only about 500 Red Army soldiers killed or seriously wounded. And the number of military and civilian casualties in those three countries is only about three or four thousand - not counting the number of people arrested and shot by the NKVD! According to later historical sources, the NKVD fighters of the USSR carried out a very thorough purge in the three countries, and in less than a month, at least 500,000 people were arrested, and 0% of them never returned to their homeland......

And another piece of great news that can be compared with the liberation of the three Baltic states. It's the arrival of His Royal Highness Prince Hirohito, the Crown Prince of Japan! If there is any reason for the series of setbacks that the Soviet Union (Soviet Russia) has encountered in Asia in recent years, it is undoubtedly the Sino-Japanese alliance! It was precisely because of this alliance, which did not exist on paper, that the Soviet Red Army suffered heavy losses in Manchuria and the Far Eastern states were firmly controlled by Japan. So far, the Mongolian people and the people of Xinjiang have not been able to shake off the colonial rule of Chinese imperialism...... But now, the Soviet Union under the wise leadership of Lenin and Trotsky. Finally succeeded in breaking up the alliance. And the price they paid was only to recognize Japan's indisputable sovereignty over the Far East in a "Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration."

When the contents of the "Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration," which was decided by the future emperor of Japan and the current crown prince regent Hirohito, without the consent of the Japanese cabinet, were published in major newspapers in Japan, the cheers rose in waves on the streets of Tokyo. Prime Minister Yoshiichi Tanaka, who controls the cabinet, is also forced by such public opinion. I had to pinch my nose and approve of the crown prince's "walking alone".

The reason for this situation is actually very understandable. Since the great victory in the First Sino-Japanese War, Japan has always pursued a policy of expansion to the mainland, and under the demagogy of the Japanese government, their people have generally despised China, and even regarded Manchurian and Mongolian as Japan's possession. But no one thought of it. Because of Japan's act of seizing the Far Eastern states in the Soviet-Russian Civil War. and the subsequent policy of co-opting China to resist Soviet Russia actually gave China a chance to turn over! The ensuing intervention of Xianbeilia resulted in the cripplement of five divisions of the Japanese Army by the Red Army, while the Chinese Defense Forces shone brightly in Manchuria, winning a complete victory in the Battle of Harigantu Sumu and saving Japan from defeat...... So. The strength of the land forces between China and Japan was reversed almost overnight. In order to keep the Far Eastern states, Japan had to adopt a relatively soft diplomacy against China for more than two years. It also shifted the direction of the country's development from the mainland to the South Seas.

But the entire Japanese society, from the top to the people, even those who hold a friendly policy toward China. In fact, there is a fire in my heart, and I have to explode from time to time. However, they also know that with Japan's national strength, there is absolutely no way to deal a heavy blow to China, which has become strong, while defending against the Soviet Union! Unless Japan and the Soviet Union can reach a rapprochement on some kind of settlement, the Japanese are unwilling to give up the Far Eastern states that they have already acquired. Therefore, when the majority of the Japanese people heard that the Soviet Union had openly recognized Japan's indisputable sovereignty over the Far Eastern States, they took it for granted that the time had come for Japan to regain hegemony in Asia!

However, there are widespread doubts about the value of the joint statement at the top of Japan's leadership. Prime Minister Yoshikazu Tanaka still insisted on the "Soviet threat theory" at a joint meeting of the cabinet and senior ministers. He resolutely did not believe that the Soviet Union would really abandon the Far Eastern states, and even less agreed to change the established national policy of going south to westward. In his words: "What His Highness the Crown Prince received in the USSR was nothing more than a piece of paper!" But what the Chinese received from France and Germany was real benefits, not only loans of up to 000 million francs, but also as many as 0 heavy artillery regiments! Now there are as many as 0 artillery regiments in the Chinese Army, nearly 00 more than the Imperial Army! The so-called westward expansion policy is simply a fool's dream......"

……

Moscow. Embassy of Japan in the USSR.

Smack. Crown Prince Hirohito threw on the table a telegram forwarded to him by Tokyo about the results of the discussions at the cabinet meeting. The result of the cabinet meeting naturally disappointed the future Ming Jun. The original national policy of going south remains unchanged! The national policy of friendship with China remains unchanged! The policy of beware of the Soviet Union remains unchanged!

In addition, Prime Minister Tanaka also told Hirohito in a telegram that Chang Ruiqing, chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese People's Political Affairs Committee, had gained a great deal from his visit to Europe, and in addition to obtaining large franc loans and military aid, he had also concluded an alliance with France, the world's largest army power. Therefore, Japan must be more cautious in its China policy in the future.

However, Crown Prince Hirohito's answer to this telegram. That is, a cold snort.

"Isn't that just getting some foreign aid! The strength of the Imperial State still far surpasses theirs, as long as the army's military expenditure is raised to the same level as the navy. In less than two years, the strength of the imperial army will be far overwhelming them! ”

Hirohito vaguely remembers that China's steel production in 922 was less than 200,000 tons, while Japan's steel production was already more than 500,000 tons due to the development of the Far Eastern states! This year, it is as high as 2 million tons! When it comes to heavy industry, Japan is still far ahead of China.

Katayama also picked up the telegram, read it carefully, and then laughed with a sneer: "Prime Minister Tanaka is suffering from phobia. What 0 artillery regiment...... Can the Suzhì of the Chinese artillery be compared with the imperial army? Most of their soldiers are illiterate, artillery is a technical job, can the illiterate do it? ”

Hirohito slammed the table hard, and since he came to the Soviet Union, he felt much more excited than before. He was surrounded by a number of loyal and energetic young Zhuang officers, as well as the warm hospitality of the Soviet government and people and the great diplomatic victory, all of which made him feel that he had found a bright path that would allow Japan to return to its hegemony in East Asia.

"That's right! What Katayama said is reasonable! Hirohito now favors Katayama, who was born as a commoner and once ran a socialist party. He was a little disgusted with the one who whispered bad things about the Soviet Union in his ear all day long, but fortunately, Japan and the Soviet Union were engaged in economic cooperation negotiations in the past two days. Hirohito sent Kita Yihui to take charge of this matter, and his ears were much clearer.

Katayama bowed to Hirohito with a smile on his face: "Your Highness, what is really difficult for China is not their army, let alone their cannons, but a person-Chang Ruiqing!" He is the soul of the current government and army in China. As long as he doesn't save zài...... Then we will go back to the era of fragmentation. ”

"Katayama means ......," Hirohito frowned slightly. He certainly wouldn't be as cautious as Yoshiichi Tanaka. Even the little Lori spy who was lurking beside Chang Ruiqing didn't dare to contact him, for fear that the other party would find out something and retaliate against the Japanese military and political high-level - in fact, fortunately Tanaka was cautious, otherwise that girl would have been exposed! But Hirohito couldn't think of any way to put Chang Ruiqing to death, and the other party was also the king of a country. In and out, it is guarded by guards who call and hug each other. It's not much easier to assassinate him than it is to assassinate yourself.

"We can get rid of him with the navy!" Katayama raised his slap and waved it hard, making a slashing gesture. He said sharply: "He took the heavy cruiser Haitian to visit Wèn in Europe, and it is estimated that he will return to China on this cruiser." And His Highness's navy can have 0 battleships and battlecruisers......"

Hirohito couldn't help but take a breath: "...... Use the Navy's warships to go to sea to rob and kill Chang Ruiqing? This is an unheard-of evil! And there is simply no way to keep it secret...... The Empire's reputation is about to be ruined! ”

Katayama looked at Hirohito and said lightly: "Your Highness, is the reputation of the empire important?" Or is it the eternal legacy of the empire that matters? Besides. Not long ago, didn't the people of China also openly instruct the Korean rebellion to assassinate Your Highness? Now, why can't the empire retaliate with a tooth for tat? ”

Hirohito slowly stood up, looked around, and found that there were only two people in this office, him and Katayama, so he sighed softly: "Tanaka Yoshiichi will not agree to do this......"

Katayama Qian leaned into Hirohito's ear, lowered his voice, and said word by word: "This matter is related to the rise and fall of the imperial kingdom, and all naval aspirants who are loyal to His Majesty the Emperor will obey His Highness's decree." The key is that His Highness can convey it to them personally! ”

"Kiss ......," Hirohito half-turned. stared at Katayama Diving, and his tone became cold. "Are you asking me to go against the state system and move warships without going through the Cabinet and the Navy's Command Department? Did You Know...... This is rebellion! ”

"Your Highness, you are the future Emperor!"

"But now it's just the crown prince!"

"If you miss this opportunity, Your Highness and the Japanese Empire will probably be ridden by the neck of the Shina people forever!"

There was dead silence in the room. Hirohito coldly dived into the mountains. And Katayama Qian hung his head deeply, didn't say a word, and had nothing to say.

……

At this moment, Chang Ruiqing is at the invitation of German Foreign Minister Rathenau and German Defense Minister Adolf Hitler to spend the weekend in a luxury estate on the outskirts of the German capital Berlin.

It was snowing outside the house. Chang Ruiqing, Rathenau and Hitler sat around a small Western-style table in a living room warmed by a fireplace. Small talk over coffee. It's like three old friends.

An Asian dictator, a Jewish billionaire, and a Hitler! These three people were able to sit down and chat like friends! Chang Ruiqing sighed in his heart that the world was impermanent, and said in English with a smile: "Mr. Hitler, with Germany's current military strength, it should be enough to defeat the Soviet Red Army in Poland and fight all the way to East Prussia, right?" ”

After listening to Chang Ruiqing's words, Hitler had not yet done anything (he didn't understand much), and the smile on Ratnau's face froze. However, he still told Hitler about Chang Ruiqing's words.

The future German Führer also restrained his smile and spoke a lot of German in a hurry and quickly. Rathenau then translated: "Monsieur Hitler said: The Soviet Union is a huge country with infinite war potential, and the Bolshevik Party system is particularly conducive to war, which can squeeze the last bit of potential of the Russian nation out of it." Therefore, even if Germany was able to temporarily defeat the Soviet Union, it would not be able to ensure the final victory, and European diplomacy has always been deceitful and deceitful, without any credibility to speak of. If the Soviet Union really faced a total defeat on the battlefield, then Germany's former allies would probably have to run to the side of the Soviet Union. Therefore, Germany cannot act rashly, it must wait, and I hope that China can wait with it. The final victory will surely belong to the German nation and the Chinese nation! ”