Iron Cross

In addition to the three main conditions, Lin Lin also wrote some clauses about post-war cooperation and joint opposition to the Bolsheviks.

Horikichi explained: "The actual conditions are actually just one sentence. Japan, Germany, and the United States formed a compromise on the basis of carving up the colonies and autonomous territories of the British Empire. The remaining countries will no longer engage in military occupation, but instead give economic priority to the United States. With a decent international status and substantial gains...as a negotiation strategy, the empire can return the Philippines if necessary."

"Is this your opinion or the German opinion?"

"Strictly speaking, it is a common idea between both parties. Before leaving Europe, I had an in-depth meeting with the German head of state and talked about the next strategic vision and the way out for future political settlement..." Horikichi looked at Yamamoto Isoroku, "You You have been a military attaché stationed in the United States. You don’t really believe that we can defeat the United States, do you?”

"This is impossible." Yamamoto smiled bitterly and shook his head, "I thought so before the war started, and I still think so after winning Pearl Harbor. At first, I optimistically estimated that the advantage period would only be 6-12 months, but now that you have messed with me like this, It may last longer.”

"I'm not so optimistic. Even if the Panama Canal is paralyzed and Cape Horn cannot be crossed because the Germans occupied the Falklands, our advantage period is only 12 months - within 12 months, the US military will definitely open up Cape Horn. , Unless the Germans can be more powerful, maybe there will be 6-12 more months, and we must seize this time to quickly defeat India." Horikichi smiled broadly, "Germany also means the same, they are in a better situation than us. Much better, but the fact that the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom have not yet surrendered still makes the head of state a little worried. He is relatively satisfied with the current situation on the Eastern Front, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He believes that Germany's goals have been basically achieved, and he wants to end the war as soon as possible. "

"But he went to attack the Falklands again, and even reached into South America!" Yamamoto asked doubtfully, "This is clearly a posture of a big fight, how could he stop so quickly?"

"That's just a strategy to coerce the Americans. Just like when I went to attack New York, it was only for intimidation. You don't think I really want to fight the United States to death, do you?" Horikichi laughed with a strange look, "Wait for the Empire It occupies India and Southeast Asia, and occupies half of the economic priority in the direction of China. After 100-200 years of colonial development, it has a population of 300-500 million. It will be a world-class power. The world's hegemons dare not even think about it, compared with the United States and the United States. It is still possible for Germany to fight in separate courts.”

"But they can't listen to this. What's the use of my agreement?" Yamamoto Isoroku said in a worried tone, "Since you went to Europe and Yamashita Fengfumi went to India, the country's fanaticism has reached no limit. Once you open your mouth, The imperial army is the best in the world and is invincible on land and sea! Some people are confused and think that after India is finished, it is best to take advantage of the decline of the Soviet Union to defeat China, and then take advantage of the decline of the Soviet Union to eat up the Soviet Far East and Siberia. "

"I have to fight to death!" Horikichi was speechless. "What is this? Living in a dream that you will never wake up from?"

"This is the kind of morality in China that has not changed at all over the years. In many cases, it is more difficult to fight with someone than to fight with them."

"Do you want me to fight a few defeats to wake them up?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Yamamoto Isoroku glared at him, "But why do you still advocate returning the Philippines? If India is captured, the Philippines will happen to be guarding the main waterway between the mainland and India. How dangerous would it be?"

"On the one hand, the Philippines is one of the few colonies of the United States in the Far East. This can reassure the United States and also remind us that when enemies are watching eagerly on the edge, we can maintain our passion and fighting spirit and be less prone to internal friction... " Horikichi explained, "On the other hand, the mainland will not matter at that time. The worst case scenario is that the citizens will collectively migrate to India to build a new Japan. It will be enough to keep one-fifth or even one-tenth of the people in the mainland - this area is narrow and the land is Barren, a place where earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons and tsunamis gather, whoever likes it can stay.”

"You are so courageous."

"I'm not the only one who thinks so. Chiaki Matsuda came to visit me two days ago. He believes that compared with China, India is the century-old foundation of the empire, and it is easier to form an alliance with Germany and Italy there."

"It's Matsuda-kun. To be honest, I still owe him an apology."

Matsuda Chiaki used to be the Naval Attaché of the Embassy in the United States and was a well-known American expert. He was listed as a dangerous element within the Navy because of his support for national transformation. After February 26, he was placed in the reserve for sympathizing with the rebellion. Later, the Total War (Total War) Research Institute was established in Tokyo. Its main function was to set up a mock cabinet to discuss Japan's future politics, economy, diplomacy, military and other aspects, especially possible problems in U.S.-Japan relations, and to submit the research results to recent Wei Wenmeng Cabinet. Matsuda was reactivated because he was familiar with the situation in the United States. He proposed to conduct scientific discussions using the exercise method shown in the picture. The results of the exercise were almost historical facts. He later proposed a research report titled "Japan and the United States must not go to war", but it was also rejected by senior officials. But he put it aside and had no choice but to transfer to the fleet.

Before the Battle of Midway, a war game was held on Yamato. Matsuda served as the commander-in-chief of the Red Army because of his "American familiarity". He relied on land-based aircraft with a range superior to that of the Japanese army to conduct searches and grasp the battlefield situation. In the exercise on the map, he The blue team dealt a heavy blow and sank three aircraft carriers. Although Golden Mask Ugaki modified the results of the exercise because he was worried about affecting morale, in the end, Japan almost lost 4 aircraft carriers in the Battle of Midway according to this deduction process. Ugaki's modification of the war game results was tacitly approved by Yamamoto, which is why the latter said he apologized. However, Yamamoto was more concerned about face and did not express much when he lost in the end. He would not banish the modification on the first day he took office like Horikichi. The golden mask of the exercise results. Now let's use this excuse to talk about apology, that is, I want Horikichi to convey it.

The outside world commented that the two commanders-in-chief of the Combined Fleet thought that they had a eccentric think tank: Yamamoto's chief think tank was Kamesennin who was smelly and didn't like to take a bath - this person has been sent away by Horikichi; Horikichi's chief think tank was full of talk. Matsuda is "non-national" with the "can't" argument. However, no one in the Combined Fleet thinks so. Kamesennin and Golden Mask are incompatible, Ugaki is basically a decoration in the Combined Fleet, and Kusaka Renichi (chief of staff), Matsuda Chiaki (confidant think tank) and Yamamoto Chiao (former staff officer) ), the iron triangle between with execution in place.

Most of the time, Caolu Renyi, the chief of staff, does not need to think about the details. He only needs to coordinate the personnel, echelons, and materials, act as a housekeeper An An steadily, and do some ideological work by the way. This situation not only makes him It felt comfortable and calm, and the entire system was accepted by the entire United Fleet. Everyone was more willing to deal with Matsuda, a non-citizen, than the smelly Kame Sento who was full of eccentricities. Even the aviation staff officer Minoru Genda, who always had an eye on the top, met Matsuda Chiaki. He is also respectful and sincerely convinced.

After pondering for a moment, Yamamoto Isoroku said: "This report must not be presented like this, otherwise the government and the public will be in chaos, which will cause a greater sensation than your reform plan."

"I know this, so I'll show you first. Envoy Cole is also here this time. He will first mention the deepening of cooperation between Japan and Germany through diplomatic channels, and then communicate about the peace talks and post-war arrangements. The relevant peace talks will be conceived by him. First of all, the German and Italian allies also proposed to hold a coordination meeting of the three heads of state in the early spring of next year, initially in Cairo, Egypt, hoping to further coordinate the position of the axis camp, unify the goal and issue the "Cairo Declaration."

Yamamoto Isoroku grabbed the few hairs on his head in distress and sighed: "I agree with everything you said, but what's the use of just agreeing? The situation is now better than I originally expected, but everything is in vain if I can't pass. If something goes wrong, everything will be like a mirror.”

"We must try our best to win the support of the Army. Vice Minister Ishihara is a sensible person, and His Royal Highness the Chief of Staff is much wiser than the one we have here."

"Then we need to transfer more benefits to the Army, but military expenditures are limited. If the Army takes more, the Navy will struggle even more."

"I have thought about this. The head of state hopes to launch the second Western Expedition of the Combined Fleet this winter and next spring. Don't bother to produce the heavy equipment of the army yourself. Germany can just buy it. When the time comes, the debt will be placed on the Combined Fleet. This time we will bring Aren’t there more tanks than Japan has ever produced? As for aircraft, it is not difficult to get a batch of advanced aircraft. Not only did the Germans give us the drawings of new aircraft, they even said that the latest jets can be used. The technology can be negotiated for sale to us, but if we can't make the key components ourselves, isn't it a waste of time?" Horikichi waved his hand boldly, "If we have the time, we should build more aircraft carriers and train more pilots and aviation officers. , This is the way to make big money. Hurry up and negotiate for development opportunities, and mention technology, industry, and technology again, and this small Japanese company will really come into its own.”

The rhythm was suddenly brought to business economics. Yamamoto Isoroku, who didn't know how to answer the conversation, was immediately confused and had to change the topic: "I don't know what to do with the second amendment discussion of the Five Change Plan tomorrow..."

The Kaifu Plan was formed based on the Marugo Plan proposed by the Japanese Navy in 1941 in response to the expansion of the U.S. Navy's armaments. After the Battle of Midway, due to the rapid loss of aircraft carriers, it was forced to implement the Kaifu Plan centered on aircraft carrier construction. Due to the occurrence and advancement of a series of naval battles, it was planned to convene the second amendment to the fifth plan.

"What else can we do? Let's make a noise. There's no one in the empire who doesn't make a noise..." Horikichi sneered, "There are only two situations where you can't make a noise. One is when one faction kills all the other faction; the other is when a disaster is imminent and life or death is at stake. I don’t have time to argue anymore.”

Sure enough, on the second day of the meeting, fierce arguments began after the first few opinions were passed quickly.