"Okamura, Kita-kun, what's going on? I seemed to have heard someone say that war was going on. Has a war really broken out? It was the Soviet Union and China fighting?" Tanaka Yoshi-kun asked slowly while rubbing his temples. At this time, what he thought of was that China might use the unrest in the Soviet Far East to launch a war with Germany.

Okamura Nishi gritted his teeth and shook his head, "Prime Minister! It's not that China and the Soviet Union broke out in war, but that China launched a war against the empire! The army just received a telegram from the headquarters of the Far East Army that the Chinese were shelling Xin'an Tu Castle and Far East Railway. Now the Far East Railway outside Xin'an Tu Castle has been blown up by the heavy artillery of the Chinese!"

Kitaichiko also continued Okamura's words and reported loudly: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just received an emergency telegram from the Imperial Embassy in Nanjing. The police in China are seizing imperial expatriates, merchant ships, and sealing Japanese-funded factories and merchants in China..."

Tanaka Yoshikaku stood up from the tatami and walked back and forth in the Kawaya barefoot for several times. As soon as he stopped, he saw one of his secretary running in sweating profusely and reported loudly: "The Navy Ministry called and reported that the battlecruiser and Shimafeng destroyer of Shimafeng were raided by the Chinese heavy cruiser Shimafeng near the Strait of Malacca. Shimafeng was sunk, and Shimafeng was chasing the fleeing Shimasheng with all his might."

"What?" The three people in the room suddenly screamed at the same time. Tanaka Yoichiro shouted at the secretary: "The Strait of Malacca? How did the King Kong run to the Strait of Malacca? How could a heavy cruiser raid a battle cruiser? What are these fools in the navy doing? What are you doing!?"

"Prime Minister," Okamura Yanji seemed to suddenly think of something. He reminded loudly: "Isn't China's heavy cruiser Chang Ruiqing's ship? He was on this warship to visit Europe!"

Tanaka Yoshihiko stamped his feet and gritted his teeth and said, "The bastards of the Navy... They actually sent warships to rob the chairman of the China Military Commission at sea! What's even more bastard is that Chang Ruiqing actually escaped from the muzzle of the King Kong! Fortunately, I still have such high hopes for the Navy. Now it seems that such a navy is of use besides bad things? Can you expect a fool like them to implement the national policy of going south? It turns out that I am also a fool, a big fool!"

"Prime Minister, the Navy is likely to have been ordered by the palace." Okamura Yasuji lowered his voice and reminded. "The sulli, the sullili also heard some winds, it is said to be..."

Yoshiichi Tanaka glanced at the intelligence director whom he trusted most, and waved his hand and interrupted: "No need to continue! After all, the palace is the palace, and we are not subjects to criticize it! And now the war has begun. As the prime minister, the only thing we have to consider is how to lead the empire to win this battle! Only by winning can the empire have a future!" Tanaka's voice was no longer as excited as before. The rest was calm, a calmness that only a real famous general could have.

Okamura Yanji and Kitaichiko were both respectfully crawling on the tatami, as if impressed by the prime minister's temperament. Tanaka looked at the two with a bright look and ordered: "Keijun, have you ever contacted the British ambassador urgently? And the Soviet ambassador? These two countries are allies of the empire, and the empire must seek their support."

Kitaichi replied: "I contacted the British ambassador and the Soviet ambassador immediately. They were also very shocked, but neither of them made any further statements."

Tanaka said: "That's natural. Such an incident is no longer possible for the ambassador to make any decision. But the work of these two countries needs to be done, especially Britain... Britain's attitude is directly related to whether France will join China and fight against the empire! Britain must be persuaded to remain neutral. As for Britain itself, it is estimated that it will not fight against China on the empire. Let Britain and France be neutral together!"

"France?" Kitaichike was stunned for a moment, as if he did not understand the importance of France in this war. Okamura Yasuji explained in a low voice: "France has a navy that is only the Empire, and there are many colonies in the South Pacific. If the French Navy uses these colonies as its base, it can easily cut off the trade between the Empire and the United States. Trade with the United States will be related to whether the Empire can maintain the war against the United States for a long time."

Tanaka nodded and said, "The local resources of the empire cannot support the long-term war. In the past decade, the empire has mainly relied on coal, iron ore and other resources obtained from China to develop heavy industries. In recent years, there has been an additional Far East state. However, after the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, the import of resources in both aspects may be interrupted. The routes between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean will definitely be cut off by the Italian Navy, and the rest will be trade with the United States. If the routes with the United States are also cut off by France, the empire will definitely lose! Beijun, do you think Britain, France and the United States will view the Sino-Japanese War in this way?"

Kitaichi frowned. He was not a diplomatic background, but a party politician. He was not very good at analyzing the ideas of Britain, France, the United States and other countries. However, since the Prime Minister asked a question, he could not say he didn't know. So he replied carefully: "Britain, France, and the United States are probably happy to see the Empire and China wars, because once this war starts, the empire's progress southward steps may be dragged down... And they probably don't want China to be greatly weakened after this war, because China is now an important tool for Western countries to contain the Soviet Union... The officials are worried that once the empire gains a greater advantage in this war, the West may force the empire to cease war with China through sanctions..."

"What if China has the upper hand?" Tanaka asked coldly.

Kitaichiko and Okamura Yanji looked at each other, both showed a panic expression, and said in unison: "This is absolutely impossible!"

"Nonsense!" Tanaka snorted coldly. "This is completely possible! It would be fine if the Soviet Union could stand on the side of the Empire to participate in the war, otherwise the Empire's army would definitely not be able to defeat the Chinese army, and the navy's battleships could not go to the shore, so they could only do some work to block the coast... If I had known that the navy was so unreliable, I shouldn't have given them all military expenses." Tanaka paused and asked again: "Northern, do you think it is possible to ask Britain, France and the United States to mediate now?"

Kitaichike thought for a while and said, "Secretarius, let's go and test it." As he said that, he bowed to Tanaka, then stood up and took his leave.

"Okamura. Come with me to the palace." Tanaka Yoshiichi looked at the confidant who disappointed him and said thoughtfully: "Do you know what the biggest mistake in the empire in this incident?"

"Did you use the navy to rob and kill Chang Ruiqing?"

"No!" Tanaka Yoshiichi said coldly: "Killing Chang Ruiqing is not the biggest mistake. A unified and powerful China is always a threat to the long-term interests of the empire!"

"What's the biggest mistake?"

"It's the palace and the cabinet that do not trust each other!" Tanaka showed a guilty expression on his face, and he sighed. "I have an unshirkable responsibility in this regard. If I can fulfill the obligations of a minister, the empire's start in this war will not be so chaotic. If it were not just two warships that killed Chang Ruiqing, but the main force of the entire joint fleet. China should have fallen into chaos now, right? So I must go into the palace to have a good talk with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. If he still trusts this cabinet, please give me the power to command this war, otherwise, I will lead the cabinet to resign! Because in this struggle that concerns the destiny of the empire, there can only be one general in the imperial army!"

...

It was already past 2 a.m. on June 8 when Tanaka arrived at the palace. The most core temples of this castle that once belonged to the Tokugawa family were brightly lit. It seemed that Prince Hirohito couldn't fall asleep on this night. Under the guidance of the eunuchs, Tanaka lowered his head and walked quickly towards the palace where Hirohito was. After passing through a corridor, he saw the backs of two generals wearing uniforms of Navy Generals appeared in front of him. Looking at their figures, Tanaka knew that these two were Army Minister Yusaku Uehara and Navy Minister Tomosaburo Kato! It seemed that they were summoned into the palace by Prince Hirohito.

"Mr. Uehara, is Mr. Kato?" Tanaka Yoshiichi shouted the names of the two people regardless of the rules that were not allowed to make loud noises in the palace.

Both ministers were stunned for a moment, and at the same time, they stopped and turned around and bowed to Tanaka. Both of them looked not very good. They also frowned tightly, as if they were worried.

Yoshichi Tanaka walked up to them quickly. "I think the two of you should know more than I, the Prime Minister, right? It is really rare for the Army and the Navy to get together. If the entire empire could be as united as the Army and the Navy, the victory of this war should be expected, right?"

Tomosaburo Kato shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Prime Minister, I just knew it. To be honest, I was also extremely shocked. But what can I do? After all, it means the palace..."

Uehara Yusaku also said: "The Army Ministry had no idea before, but since the matter has been done, I can only find a way to deal with it. Is the Prime Minister probably entering the palace for this purpose?"

Yoshiichi Tanaka smiled faintly, not saying anything. "How do you two plan to deal with the aftermath? Are you having a vague case?"

The Minister of Army and Navy looked at each other, and Uehara Yuzusa said, "Of course we can only fight! Otherwise, what else can we do? You can't surrender like the Chinese, right?"

Kato also said: "It must be fought. This battle is related to the national destiny of the empire. It can only be victorious but not defeated! Prime Minister, the army hopes that you will lead the empire to fight to the death with China!"

Tanaka still had a expressionless face and just asked lightly: "I wonder how far the Army wants to fight?"

Uehara Yoro paused and said carefully: "There is a little chaos in the Soviet Union, and I'm afraid there is no way to participate in the war. The strength of the Imperial Army alone may not be able to seize Manchuria. However, the Mada Island issue should be resolved in this war. In addition, China should also compensate and apologize for their actions, and Chang Ruiqing can no longer serve as the commander of the Chinese army."

"So do the Army have any established plans?"

"The military headquarters has only one rough idea, and is preparing to take an offensive in the Far East Prefecture and defensive in North Korea. It is expected to hold a main battle through the Ussuri River to defeat the main force of the Chinese army, and force China to accept the empire's ceasefire conditions."

Tanaka Yoichichi still refused to comment, and he raised the same question to the Navy Minister. Tomosaburo Kato said: "In addition to Mashima and indemnities, the empire should also ask China to open up their markets, resume the implementation of the agreement tariffs, and cancel foreign exchange gold controls."

"Well, this is what Britain and the United States want. If such a request is made, it will help to win the support of Britain and the United States." Tanaka nodded in agreement. "Let us listen to the opinions of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He is now taking charge of major policies. He is the real master of the empire!"

This always sounds a bit sour, but the two ministers of the Navy and Army nodded in agreement. It is indeed a bit too much to say that Hirohito is the master of the Japanese Empire. However, if this prince forms a unit with the young and strong officers in the army, his influence on the national affairs cannot be ignored. Of course, the top leaders of the army do not have the ability to defeat Hirohito, the crown prince, but how could these generals and lieutenant generals be willing to take on such a relationship? Even if such a thing is successful, it will be inscribed forever.

The road to Hirohito's palace was not short, but Tanaka, Kato and Uehara did not speak anymore, and they all frowned and were thinking about their worries.

When they walked into a fully Japanese-style wooden temple, they saw Prince Hirohito standing in front of a military map hanging on the wall with his hands behind his back. Togo Hirago Hirakiro, president of the Tomorrow Imperial Institute, and Prince Hachiro Hitomiya Miyaki, stood by Hirohito, one left and one right.

"No need to salute, just come and talk." Hirohito turned around, his face full of worry, and he waved to Tanaka and the other two, calling them to him.

"This time I have concealed the matter, I am really sorry. Tanaka Qing wouldn't blame me, right?" As he said that, Crown Prince Hirohito showed an apologetic smile on his face.

"How dare you?" Tanaka said. "Your Highness's move is also considered for the empire's Qianqiu hegemony." Hirohito nodded, and a light expression slipped over it, as if the child who had done something bad was forgiven by the teacher. Hirohito asked, "Tanaka, do you have any opinions on the current situation?"

Tanaka thought for a while and said slowly: "The beginning of the war seems to be a bit unfavorable... Sun Tzu's Art of War says: The top soldiers attack the plan, the second is the attack of the diplomatic forces, the next is the attack of the enemy, and the next is the attack of the city. His Highness sent the Battlecruiser of the King Kong to attack the Chinese dictator Chang Ruiqing on the ship to attack the attack of the Chinese dictator. Since the attack has not been completed, it is time to attack the enemy in the future."

"Strike the enemy?" Hirohito was stunned for a moment, and tried hard to think about Sun Tzu's Art of War. There seemed to be such a statement above, which seemed to make some sense. The crown prince asked: "How to attack the enemy?"

"The first thing is to let the Far East Army and the Korean Army adopt a tactic of steady defense."

"Can you only defend?" Hirohito seemed a little disappointed.

"Yes. The imperial army had no advantage over the Chinese army. If Chang Ruiqing died, the situation in China was chaotic, and there might be a chance to seize Manchuria. Now Chang Ruiqing is not dead, the Chinese army would have been ready to go to war long ago. The Far East Army and the Korean army would have no choice but to take advantage of it."

Hirohito looked at his uncle, Miyazai Miyagi, and the old prince nodded, as if he agreed with Tanaka's analysis. Hirohito asked again: "Can the empire defeat China?"

"No." Tanaka Yoshiichi shook his head and emphasized his tone. "But it can prevent the empire from being defeated by China! First, invincible, and then victory is the perfect solution! Comparing the war potential between the empire and China, His Highness will find that the two countries have their own strengths and weaknesses in war preparations, and their overall strength is evenly matched. The empire's advantage is that it has a complete industrial system and a strong navy; the disadvantage is that it is lack of resources and a small population. And the advantage of China is that it is that it has a weak resource and has a small population.

With sufficient reserves, abundant resources, and relatively strong army, the disadvantage is that the industrial foundation is weak and the navy is weak. Therefore, the war between the Empire and China is likely to fall into the quagmire of protracted war! The Empire must be prepared for long-term combat, and long-term combat must rely on external resource supply. In the future, the war must be broken, and the war must be joined by Red Russia! Therefore, the outcome of this war lies first in diplomacy, and secondly in the decisive victory on the battlefield!"

"Can't we organize a battle in Xin'an Tucheng and Hutou Fortress?" Hirohito asked with a frown. Before Tanaka Yoshihito arrived, he was discussing the "Tiger Head - Battle of Shin'an Tu". The major artery of north-south transportation in Far East Prefecture was cut off by the artillery of the Chinese Tier Head Fortress in Xin'an Tu, and the Far East Army was also facing the dilemma of being cut into two sections in half. Therefore, Hirohito and Prince Zaito both believed that the current top priority was to seize the Tier Head Fortress and repel the Central Team on the west bank of the Ussuri River.

"Your Highness, the specific combat matters should be considered by the military headquarters and the Far East Army." Tanaka Yoshiichi reminded. "Your Highness and the cabinet should consider the general strategic direction. The first thing at present is to win over Britain and the Soviet Union, stabilize the United States and France, and isolate China! To achieve this goal, the empire should show a 'not expanding' attitude and demand that Britain and the United States intervene in mediation. At the same time, the announcement of the operation of the King Kong was a rebellion!"

"Isn't this equivalent to admitting that the empire is mainly responsible for this conflict?" Hirohito's voice had sunk. "If China accepts mediation between Britain and the United States and asks the empire to bear the liability for compensation, what should the empire? Will it really end in humiliation?"

"Your Highness!" Tanaka Yoshiichi looked at the self-righteous Japanese crown prince and said calmly: "The King Kong incident will have a very bad impact internationally! The whole world will regard the empire as a madman! If we do not distinguish it, none of the Western powers, such as Britain, France and the United States, will stand on the side of the empire... because no one can guarantee whether the empire will do the same thing to the US president and the British king in the future! As for the war between the empire and China, we can find another excuse to continue."
Chapter completed!