Episode 56 Proof! Evidence!

On the afternoon of the 23rd, Shen Rongxuan met with Xiang Xiaoqiang, commander of the People's Guard, in his office.

Shen Rongxuan didn't go around in circles, first showed them the letter from the Soviet side, and then briefly explained what had happened, as well as the situation of the discussion with the German ambassador at noon.

Xiang Xiaoqiang put down the letter, looked up and asked:

"Elder Ge, what did the German ambassador say?"

Shen Rongxuan smiled and said:

"The matter of leasing the port is relatively big, and the ambassador himself cannot make the decision, he will definitely go back and send a report to Berlin. But the ambassador was clearly very pleased. He proposed a compromise to prevent Berlin from having misgivings about the lend-lease port. The ambassador suggested that we could send warships to Germany in the form of a 'visit'. The ambassador himself is quite sure that even if Berlin may have misgivings about the 'lend-lease', it will never have any hesitation about the 'visit', and will only welcome it. ”

Fourteen Gege laughed:

"Long-term visits?"

Shen Rongxuan nodded:

"Long term visit. We can stay as long as we want. So the initiative is still on the German side. Although Spain was at war, Hitler did not necessarily want to completely turn the other cheek with the Soviet Union. Today, I invite His Royal Highness Tachiwa here mainly to learn about the trends in Japan. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang was very sensitive, and immediately asked vigilantly:

"Elder Ge, do you mean to ask, is there any threat from the Japanese side, can we send fleet forces to Europe?"

Shen Rongxuan smiled:

"That's what it means."

Xiang Xiaoqiang and Fourteen Gege tried it out. Then Fourteen Gege gave him a relieved smile, shook his hand underneath, turned to Shen Rongxuan and smiled:

"At present, the People's Guard has Japan-related information, which is similar to that of other units, and it is currently a Takayama espionage case. What the People's Guards know, Dongchang and Jinyiwei also know. Japan is actively collecting intelligence on the Soviet Union and stepping up reconnaissance of the Soviet Pacific Fleet and the Far East. There has been no unusual behaviour towards our country. Of course...... If it is said responsibly, then I dare only say that the possibility of Japan attacking our country at the moment is not impossible. However, judging from various indications and the analysis of the situation of the three countries, the Ming, the Soviet Union, and Japan, it is more likely that Japan will attack the Soviet Union. ”

"How much bigger?"

Shen Rongxuan stared at her eyes tightly and asked.

"Ah Fang!" Xiang Xiaoqiang blurted out, grabbed Fourteen Gege's hand, and then turned to Shen Rongxuan and said with a smile, "Elder Ge, this is not easy to say. You know, just looking at the superficial intelligence, it is true that everything points to Japan's attack on the Soviet Union. But you are also an old informant, and you should know that there is such a thing as a 'scam' in the intel. Information can be falsified. As for the analysis of the situation of the three countries...... Elder Ge, we are only an intelligence and military unit, and international situation analysis is the business of politicians like you. ”

Fourteen Gege was a little surprised, but he didn't expect Xiang Xiaoqiang to be so nervous. Since Xiang Xiaoqiang said this, she planned to respect Xiang Xiaoqiang's opinion in front of Shen Rongxuan. She didn't speak again, just kicked Xiang Xiaoqiang's foot lightly, reminding him that this was the first assistant minister, and he had to be careful when he spoke.

Shen Rongxuan smiled and waved his hand:

"Don't worry. I have invited you here to hear your opinions on intelligence and not to hold you responsible. I am the head of a country, and I am definitely responsible for all external decisions, whether good or bad. Stand out, just say what you want, don't be so cautious. Even if you pat my chest directly with me today and say that Japan will never attack our country, or that Japan will definitely attack our country, it will only be a reference for me. If it turns out in the future that there is really a mistake in judgment, it is also my responsibility, and it has nothing to do with supporting you at all. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang still said:

"Elder Ge, if you want to ask my opinion, then my opinion is to guard against Japan. It is a fact that Japan is now stationing more and more troops in the northeast. Regardless of whether so many troops were preparing to attack us or the Soviet Union, it was better for us to prepare as if they were attacking us. Until after the dawn. ”

Shen Rongxuan frowned and said:

"What's the difference?"

Xiang Xiaoqiang says:

"Japan attacked. It was the USSR who attacked, then we would be relieved. It's us who attack...... Then we won't be unprepared. ”

Shen Rongxuan smiled:

"We certainly don't go unprepared. Even if Japan attacks us now. We have several divisions in Mukden. There is also the Dongjiang Fleet in Lushun. Now it is also ready to transfer a battleship to Arthur. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang says:

"I know that. But it was against the battleship "October Revolution" of the Soviet Pacific Fleet. After being transferred to the Arthur base, once the Soviet Union declared war, the warships would immediately sail through the Tsushima Strait and cruise to the Sea of Japan. At that time, if Japan attacked us, we would not even have a capital ship in the north. At that time, as long as Japan blocked the Tsushima Strait and then two or three straits to the northeast, our battleships would be trapped in the Sea of Japan and would not be able to return. ”

Shen Rongxuan smiled and shook his head:

"Well, I said, why are you so obsessed with this idea? …… Hehe, well, even if our battleships entered the Sea of Japan and were blocked inside...... Isn't that a great deal? Around the Sea of Japan, there are five straits that open to the outside world. Of these, there were four in the Japanese range and one in the Soviet Union. That is, if Japan wants to completely block our battleships in the Sea of Japan, it will have to use at least four times the force to block the four straits respectively. In addition, they will not let our battleships roam around their backyards, and they will send a considerable force to search for us in the vast waters of the Sea of Japan. This battleship squadron will become an 'existence fleet', containing several times the strength of the Japanese navy. Well, you're a soldier, and you should know more about these issues than I do. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang was speechless for a while, unable to think of how to respond.

Shen Rongxuan sighed, looked at him, and said:

"Well, do you think Japan will attack us?"

Xiang Xiaoqiang hesitated for a moment and said:

"I think...... It's possible. ”

"It's not just possible, is it?" Shen Rongxuan stared into his eyes, "In your opinion, it should be quite likely." Isn't it? …… Yes, this is a matter of national destiny. If you have any information that we don't know yet, it's now your obligation to tell it. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang took a deep breath, shook his head, and said:

"No, I don't have any information...... I know as much as you do. ”

Shen Rongxuan stared at his expression and judged carefully. Then he glanced at Fourteen Grids quickly. Fourteen Gege was also looking at Xiang Xiaoqiang, and he was also very confused.

Shen Rongxuan picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and then sighed:

"If it's just 'possible,' then we all think it's possible. It's the same for everyone. The key is how likely it is. For example, I think that Japan may attack us, and this is undeniable. But is it unlikely? I don't think it's big. Princess Liaoyang must also think that Japan may attack us, but it is unlikely. Only if you stand up, not only think that it is possible, but also think that it is very likely. It's as if it's already affirmed. …… What the hell do you think? ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang felt great pressure. He picked up the teacup in a panic, took a big sip, then put it down, and said a little hoarsely:

"Japan...... Japan is in dire need of land and resources, and this is doomed to it...... If you want to develop further, you must take land from the East Asian continent......"

Shen Rongxuan stared at him and said calmly:

"However, Japan has already acquired large swaths of continental territory. The land is fertile, rich in resources, and many times larger than the original island nation. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang was flustered, took another sip of tea, and said slowly:

"Japan...... It has great ambitions, it wants to be the boss of Asia, and it is destined to coexist with the Ming Dynasty......"

Shen Rongxuan lit a cigarette and leaned back in the chair:

"It's been coexisting for years. It is still coexisting. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang took a deep breath and said:

"Now that the Ming Dynasty and the Soviet Union are fighting in the northwest, it is the best time for Japan to attack the Ming Dynasty. If Japan and the Soviet Union attacked the Ming Dynasty at the same time, the Ming Dynasty would be caught in a two-front war, and it would be difficult to take care of both the end and the end. The likelihood of a simultaneous victory for both Japan and the USSR has increased significantly. ”

Shen Rongxuan shook his head and said:

"Just change your sentence to a few words. Now that the Ming Dynasty and the Soviet Union are fighting in the northwest, it is the best time for Japan to attack the Soviet Union. If Japan and the Ming Dynasty attacked the Soviet Union at the same time, the Soviet Union would be caught in a two-front war, and it would be difficult to take care of both the end and the end. The likelihood of both Japan and Ming winning at the same time has increased dramatically. …… Isn't that so? ”

"No, that's not the same ......" Xiang Xiao finally found a little reason, and said vigorously, "Japan and Daming are both sea power countries, and each other's sea areas are so close that they are destined to not tolerate each other." And the Soviet Union was not a sea power country, Japan could coexist peacefully with the Soviet Union, but not with the Ming Dynasty. ”

Shen Rongxuan smiled:

"In the era of confrontation between the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Ming Dynasty only occupied half of the south of the Yangtze River, and its military and national strength was only half of what it is now. At that time, Japan was still supporting the Northern Qing Dynasty, and it did not directly oppose the Ming Dynasty. Why is it that now when the Ming Dynasty has unified the whole country and the military strength and national strength have increased exponentially, Japan has to choose this time to be the enemy of the Ming Dynasty? ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang was stunned and was speechless again.

Shen Rongxuan shook his head and smiled:

"It's ...... I didn't mean to go against you. You must know that on matters of national interest, none of my decisions will be influenced by personal grievances with anyone. …… What's more, we have always been very good with each other. Yes, I can see that you are very wary of Japan, and you do not hesitate to disagree with many people for this. That's good, it shows that you value the interests of the country more than your personal gains and losses. But yes, I am a politician and the first and auxiliary minister of the Ming Empire. I have the responsibility of the whole empire. Every decision I make, even every thought, must be based on rational analysis. If you want to convince me, show me the evidence. And so far, all you have shown me is your personal 'feelings'. And when it comes to making national decisions, you can't just rely on the word 'feeling'. ”

After he finished speaking, he leaned back in the chair, drank tea, and looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang with his spare eyes, as if he was waiting to see if he had anything else to say.

Xiang Xiaoqiang took a deep breath, turned his face to look at Fourteen Gege, looked at Shen Rongxuan, and suddenly felt that what he said was right. Isn't it just based on the word "feeling" that he is trying to persuade one person after another? People just want to see the evidence, what's wrong?

He suddenly realized that not only could he not convince anyone else now, but he could not even convince himself.

Shen Rongxuan smiled, looked at the clock on the wall, and said:

"That's it, Tingzhi and Her Royal Highness the princess will go back first, and if you have any ideas when you come back, it's best to be the basis, and come to me at any time." I'm going to put down the rest of the arrangements and talk to you about it. What do you think? ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang and Fourteen Gege glanced at each other, and then Fourteen Gege smiled:

"That's all right. So, right? Let's go back first and let the elder keep the pavilion busy. ”