The Rise of the Third Reich

The so-called "continental policy" has always been the top priority of Japan's foreign policy and even national policy! Just one year before Hersman visited Japan, it was about the time when the National Government achieved a phased victory in the Northern Expedition. Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Giichi convened an important national policy meeting called the "Eastern Conference" and formulated the "China Policy Program".

Of course, since the composition of the Chinese National Government is very different from that in history, the threat to Japan's interests in China is also greater. Therefore, this "China Policy Program" is different from the one in history.

This program not only puts forward the "Mongolian and Manchurian Special Theory". It also determines the policy of firmly supporting the "Beijing Legitimate Government" and combating the "Wuhan Regime". Not only did it provide a large number of weapons and equipment to the Fengtian warlords and send a large number of military advisers, but it also dispatched the navy to conduct "embargo inspections" on ports controlled by the National Government, prohibiting all weapons and equipment and military-related equipment from falling into the hands of the National Government. In addition, the Tanaka Cabinet also sent troops to Shandong and Shanghai-because of Japan's threat of war, the Wuhan National Government temporarily stopped the Northern Expedition and shifted its focus to land reform.

But contrary to Tanaka Giichi's expectations, while the Wuhan National Government "surrendered", Soviet aircraft carriers and battleships swaggered towards the Pacific Ocean.

And after Japan further threatened to "block" the Soviet fleet from approaching China. Soviet heavy bomber groups came to Japanese airspace for a day trip every now and then!

In July 1928, the German military delegation, which was originally highly expected by Tanaka Giichi, told Japan very straightforwardly: Germany can only support the Soviet Union. If there is a conflict between the Soviet Union and Japan, Stalin will give as many heavy bombers as he wants! And it will not provide any help to Japan...

And Japan's traditional ally Britain (now no longer an ally) is willing to sell some advanced fighters and aircraft engines to Japan. But the British government also made it clear that once the Soviet Union and Japan go to war, the British Empire will strictly abide by neutrality, and it is true neutrality!

The situation where Britain supported Japan during the Russo-Japanese War will not happen now.

This means that the British government will not help Japan raise military funds, and Japan must implement "cash settlement and self-transportation" for all weapons and equipment it needs to import.

On one side, Russia and Germany cooperated, and on the other side, Japan fought alone. Before the Second Russo-Japanese War began, the Japanese Empire was already in an extremely unfavorable position.

The Imperial Five-Minister Conference on July 20, 1928 was held under such circumstances.

Prime Minister Tanaka Yoshiichi stood up, bowed to the emperor with a sullen face on the throne, and then began to speak: "Gentlemen, now my empire is facing a difficult moment that has not been seen in decades..." He frowned bitterly and said slowly, "The Wuhan regime in China has posed a major threat to the interests of the empire in China, so in the "China Policy Guidelines", it is proposed to send troops to intervene to control North China, ensure the lifeline of the empire in Manchuria and Mongolia, and contain or destroy the Wuhan regime in China."

Tanaka stopped here, his eyes were full of pain, and the muscles on his face were trembling slightly. "But the Red Russian heavy bombers have been invading our airspace for several days, which has posed a serious threat to the imperial capital Tokyo. And our army and navy air force are unable to intercept them due to their outdated fighter planes. If we rashly implement the "China Policy Guidelines", it may endanger the foundation of the country!" He nodded to Army Minister Shirakawa Yoshinori, "Shirakawa-kun, please explain the threat of the Red Russian bombers to the empire and the status of the army air force."

The distressed expression, the short Army Minister Shirakawa stood up and bowed respectfully to the emperor on the throne. Just as he was about to speak, Emperor Hirohito spoke in an unclear voice.

"I already know the status of the Red Russian bombers and the army and navy air force. You should talk about the countermeasures."

Hirohito is different from his mentally retarded father, Emperor Taisho. He will not be silent and act like a puppet in the imperial meeting, and he has shown an unusual enthusiasm for political issues.

"Your Majesty, the army and navy are currently stepping up their research on air defense countermeasures." Tanaka Giichi took over the question, "and have contacted Germany and Britain. The British side has agreed to sell new fighters and engines..." The emperor asked: "When will the new British fighters be in place? How are their engine performances? Can they be compared with the German engines used by the Red Russia?" This question is more professional, and Tanaka Giichi can't answer it at all. He can only look at the Navy Minister Keisuke Okada. Okada is four years younger than Tanaka, and he was born in a Westernized navy. He also has a better understanding of the development of foreign weapons. He stood up and replied: "Your Majesty, the world's current aircraft engines are divided into two routes: liquid cooling and gas cooling. Britain is in the leading position in the field of liquid cooling, while Germany is in the leading position in the field of gas cooling." "Oh, then can the Empire introduce British liquid-cooled engines?" The emperor asked. This is another very professional question. Fortunately, Keisuke Okada had done his homework long ago and consulted experts from Mitsubishi and Nakajima. "It can be introduced, but it is very difficult," Okada replied, "Because the liquid-cooled engine has a complex structure and requires extremely high processing technology, it is difficult to introduce it. In addition, the UK has technology export restrictions. It is impossible to transfer the most advanced technology..." He paused, then made his point clear, "Therefore, the navy tends to cooperate with Germany." Hearing this opinion, the emperor was stunned. He knew from a young age that the Japanese navy was more pro-British.

He looked at Okada, who continued: "Germany is not only willing to provide technology for high-power air-cooled engines, but is also willing to cooperate with us to develop new fighters and warships. It is willing to provide all the technical drawings of Soviet aircraft carriers and send engineers to help us develop new models. Aircraft carriers and other naval capital ships cooperate to develop high-power marine propulsion equipment.

In addition, Germany is also willing to sell equipment that is extremely critical to the shipbuilding industry, including large hydraulic presses, ultra-large hot rolling mills, and large acid open-hearth furnaces... These are things that the United Kingdom and the United States are unwilling to sell.

Moreover, Germany has successfully improved the level of heavy industry in the Soviet Union and Italy in the past few years. Therefore, the Navy believes that the Germans are truly prepared to transfer key technologies to Japan. "

High-power aero engines, high-power marine engines and large hydraulic presses are "important weapons of the country" in the 21st century, not to mention the 1920s. It can be said that it is extremely difficult to obtain technologies in these areas. But Hirschman has now agreed to "openly" transfer to Japan!

It's no wonder that Keisuke Okada and the Japanese Navy are tempted.

Emperor Hirohito turned his attention to Tanaka Giichi again, because he also knew that the Germans would not provide so many good things to Japan unconditionally.

"Your Majesty, Germany requires our empire to abandon its "China Policy Program" and maintain peace with the Wuhan Government of China for at least five years. Otherwise, in order to maintain barter trade relations with Red Russia, Germany will have no choice but to be involved in future conflicts between Russia and Japan. Full support for Red Russia..."

This is the purpose of Tanaka Yiichi convening this meeting of the five imperial ministers!

The Emperor asked: "If we insist on implementing the "China Policy Program", can the Empire be sure of victory?"

"I'm sure," replied Tanaka Giichi. "It's just that the price is quite heavy!"

Of course, a Soviet aircraft carrier, an outdated battleship, and a few old cruisers and destroyers could not deal with the powerful Japanese navy. Although the Wuhan government can rely on its huge grassroots power to mobilize millions of soldiers to fight a people's war, it does not have enough weapons to equip them.

Therefore, as long as Japan is willing to pay the price - hundreds of TB-2 sorties come to Tokyo for a day trip every day and drop hundreds of tons of 1,000-ton bombs and so on - it can still destroy the Wuhan regime.

Emperor Showa then asked: "Then what does it mean to maintain peace with the Wuhan government of China for at least a few years? Do you want to sit back and watch the Wuhan government unify China?"

"That's not the case. According to the German side, Red Russia currently only hopes to maintain the Wuhan government's rule south of the Huaihe River. Our empire's interests in Manchuria and North China will not be affected. However, the Wuhan regime is completely different from the Fengcian regime in Beijing. It is a radical revolutionary government, and with the help of Red Russia, it will inevitably rise. The Fengcian regime in Beijing will never be its opponent. Even if our empire directly intervenes in the civil war in China, we may not be sure of victory. It is very likely to lead to a decisive battle between the empire and Red Russia. Therefore, although a few years of peace can strengthen the country's strength and preserve the foundation of the empire, it is really difficult for ministers and others to make a decision..."

As expected, neither the left nor the right is good! Emperor Hirohito glanced at the five ministers of the cabinet and a group of important ministers with sad faces. He suddenly took a breath and said in a long and vague tone: "We are brothers from all over the world, why are we in such a hurry?"

Then the emperor stood up from his throne and left, accompanied by his ministers and attendants. The ministers and ministers present all understood what Emperor Hirohito meant - using a vague and ambiguous Japanese song to express one's wishes is a characteristic of Japanese domestic politics. The advantage of doing so is that the superiors can shirk their responsibilities.

Hirohito's words "We are brothers everywhere" have special meaning. When Emperor Meiji decided to launch the Russo-Japanese War, he said, "We are all brothers in the four seas, so why should there be hatred for nothing?" So the meaning of "We are brothers all over the world" is to want to fight. The meaning of "Why rush each other" can be understood literally - now is not the time, if there is a chance to fight again in the future, can a few years of peace turn the Wuhan government into a tiger? The Emperor doesn't believe it. Moreover, the area controlled by the Wuhan government is not the lifeline of Japan. There is no need to attract so many TB express delivery for this, right? Wait until Japan has enough air power...

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Additional update for vote 450