In Tokyo, Japan, in Wanggakudai, Army Commander Hideki Tojo, Navy Commander Yamamoto Isoroku, and Chief of Staff Sugiyama Motomoto walked forward in a row with powerful steps, and the leather boots on their feet stepped on the soft carpet, making a consistent and dull sound.

After walking through several closed doors, they came to the door of a conference room. The door to the conference room was closed, and two burly guards stood like javelins.

Next to the guards, the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister Fumihiro Konoe, the Speaker of the Privy Council, and the Privy Adviser have been waiting there for a long time.

Seeing that Hideki Tojo and the three of them were coming, Konoe Fumiki nodded at them, and he asked, "Are you all ready?" ”

"Yes!" Sugiyama replied in a low voice, and as he spoke, he also lit up the hard folder in his hand, which contained the "Outline of Imperial National Policy" that had been drawn up, and it was precisely this topic that they came here to hold today.

"Your Majesty has arrived, let's go in." Konoe Fumiro said in a low voice.

The others all nodded, and they took off their shoes at the door, forming two lines outside the door in the order of their seats.

The guards slowly opened the door of the conference room, and the group lined up into the conference room.

The conference room was not large, but it was very well decorated, and Emperor Hirohito sat on the high platform in the middle, looking down with a blank face. There is a row of tables and chairs on each side below, and this is where the rest of the meeting will be.

When everyone entered the house, they bowed to the emperor en masse.

"Zhu Aiqing, please take a seat!" The Emperor said slowly, and only after receiving permission did they begin to take their seats in the order in which they had been before.

The Emperor was presented with the "Outline of Imperial National Policy," and the ministers began their own statements. In the process of entering the statement, the little emperor kept looking through the "Outline" without saying a word.

This is also more in line with Japanese tradition. In the eyes of many Japanese people, the emperor has always been a god-like being, and the fewer words and the more mysterious they are, the more they will be able to maintain this sense of admiration.

Naturally, he also tried his best to keep talking less at the Imperial Council, but today's topic was very important, and he couldn't help but say nothing after reading it.

Emperor Hirohito stroked his glasses, thought for a while, and then asked in an extremely slow voice, "Well, if diplomatic negotiations break down and a war breaks out between Japan and the United States." So, how long does it take for your army to solve the problem? ”

Sugiyama Mototo thought for a while and said, "As for the Nanyang side, the army expects to end the war in the Nanyang in three months and ensure the supply of important resources such as oil in our country. ”

Emperor Hirohito's expression changed slightly after hearing this, and it seemed that he was not satisfied with Sugiyama Moto's answer.

He took a deep breath and asked in a calm and slow tone, "Sugiyama, I remember that at the beginning of the Shina Incident, you were the Minister of War at that time. At that time, you also told me that it would take a month to solve the problem of China. But now, more than four years have passed, and the issue of China has not yet been resolved. ”

"This ......," Sugiyama Motochichi said, "The vast territory, large population, and abundant resources of China have caused us to be unable to fight as we originally established the strategy, so it has dragged on for such a long time." ”

Emperor Hirohito, apparently not satisfied with his answer, asked rhetorically, "Isn't the Pacific Ocean wider?" Isn't the level of industrial development and science and technology in the United States even higher? ”

Sugiyama didn't answer, he didn't know how to reply,

At this time, Navy Commander Isoroku Yamamoto said: "Your Majesty, I think that today's US-Japan relations have reached a point where they cannot be resolved. If the U.S.-Japan relationship is compared to a seriously ill patient, the decision must now be made at this time whether to undergo surgery or other treatment. ”

After Yamamoto's speech, there was silence in the conference room.

Emperor Hirohito was silent for a moment and then said, "You are still in relations with the United States, and you still decide to focus on diplomatic negotiations?" ”

Prime Minister Konoe nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty." Until the end of the year, we will try to negotiate with the United States. If negotiations fail, then go to war. ”

"The strategy of going south is in the fundamental interests of the empire, and I agree with it. But the stakes are high, and if there is a need to go to war with the United States, the whole people must be unanimous, but you have not shown me the courage I deserve. ”

After Hirohito finished speaking, he paused, thought for a while, and said in an extremely * tone: "'If you want to open up thousands of miles of waves and spread the power of the country in all directions', I decided to inherit the legacy of Emperor Meiji and am determined to implement the established strategy of going south. If we encounter any difficulties and obstacles in this process, I am determined to bear them together with the people of Aiqing. For the sake of the empire's tomorrow, no matter who the opponent is, the war must be waged! ”

The ministers were not allowed to raise their heads when they listened to the emperor's speech, so after the emperor finished speaking, everyone kept their heads down and listened to the emperor's words.

Unsurprisingly, this outline of the declaration of war against the United States and Britain was adopted word-for-word at the Imperial Council, and Emperor Hirohito and his fanatical followers took another step in the campaign.

Soon after, Hideki Tojo, who strongly advocated going south, was appointed by Emperor Hirohito to form a cabinet, and Hideki Tojo was appointed prime minister, advocating complete control of the Japanese top level by the British and American hardliners.

At this time, and even years later, he could not have imagined that it was such a broad outline that led Japan to the path of destruction, nor would he have imagined that the Chinese army, which was separated from them, would attack where he was now.

Of course, that's all for later.

At present, the Japanese high command has begun to make final preparations for the imminent implementation of the southward strategy, because everyone knows that when the deadline is approaching, there will be no progress in the negotiations with the Americans, and they must make troop movements and formulate various strategic guidelines within this time period.

The General Staff Headquarters made strategic plans in conjunction with the War Department and the Navy Department. The Army's goal was to occupy the Dutch West Indies after the start of the war and break the blockade of American resources.

The left gate to this treasure trove is the Philippine Islands and to the right is Singapore. The goal of the Japanese attack was to land first from the Malay Peninsula and then to Singapore, attacking the Dutch West Indies from behind.

The goal of the navy during this period was relatively simple, to annihilate the naval forces of the United States and Britain in Southeast Asia, and to complete the control of the sea supremacy in Southeast Asia.

However, Yamamoto believed that a war with the United States in Southeast Asia would mean all-out war. The Navy must not just stare at these U.S. fleets in front of it, but must also be well prepared.

Isoroku Yamamoto pointed out that only by destroying the US Pacific Fleet in one go can we gain sea supremacy in the Pacific Ocean and have a chance to win.

The Admiralty's top brass and the General Staff Headquarters agreed to his battle plan, and the Navy top brass headed by Isoroku Yamamoto began to work out an operational plan for attacking the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

This plan was implemented half a year later, and the move shocked the world! Thus, the United States entered the war.

Of course, before the United States entered the war, although it imposed an economic blockade on Japan and provided assistance to the belligerents, in general, the attitude of the United States was not so clear, after all, they were still negotiating with Japan, and the United States did not want the United States to be involved in the war.

How to bring back the materials aided by the United States is a difficult problem that plagues Huang Ke's eyes.

Yesterday, Song Ziwen and Gu Weijun received news from the United States that they had signed an aid treaty with the Americans in accordance with the predetermined situation, but they never made concessions on material delivery.

Huang Ke could only ask Song Ziwen and Gu Weijun if they could fight for it again.

Song Ziwen sighed and said, "I'll do my best." ”

In fact, Huang Ke also knows in his heart that the decisions voted by the two houses of the United States cannot be changed just by saying that they will be changed, saying that they are fighting, but they know that there is no hope of trying it.

The Americans do not provide ships, then they have to figure it out themselves.

The day before yesterday, Chen Liewen handed him a survey of the domestic maritime merchants, but this situation table extinguished Huang Ke's last bit of hope.

The situation is much worse than Huang Ke thought, there are a lot of domestic private cargo ships, but those that can cross the ocean are rare, and the tonnage of all ships adds up to less than 300,000 tons, and the transportation capacity can be imagined.

On the one hand, there are all kinds of materials that are in short supply for officers and soldiers on the front line, and on the other hand, there are mountains of materials that cannot be transported back at the American docks.

When Huang Ke was melancholy, Secretary Chen Liewen made a suggestion: "Chairman, since we don't have ships and the United States doesn't provide them, can we lease cargo ships from other countries to transport them?" ”

Huang Ke nodded and said, "This idea of yours has already been mentioned by people from the Ministry of Transport before. It is a solution, but it does not solve our problems at the root. After all, now the whole world is at war. However, I have already asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Communications to get it, and it is estimated that I can lease some, but not too much. ”

After speaking, Huang Ke sighed: "For now, I can only be a little more lucky." With one more shipload of supplies, the officers and men on the front line may have one more full meal, more ammunition in their hands, more medical tablets, and fewer deaths. ”

After Huang Ke finished speaking, he walked to the window and looked at the devastated city of Nanjing, with mixed feelings in his heart.

He waved his hand and motioned for Chen Liewen to go out.

Chen Liewen knew that Huang Ke wanted to be alone for a while, so he went out quietly.

"Is the city of Nanking going to fall into the hands of the Japanese? Is this how the tragedy of history is going to happen? Huang Ke couldn't help but ask himself.

At this time, the door opened, Huang Ke looked back, and saw Chen Liewen running in happily and said, "Chairman, the problem of transportation has been solved!" ”