Chapter 138 Brothers All over the World

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

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 Platform" is also different from the one in history.

This program not only puts forward the "Mongolian-Manchu special theory." It also determined the policy of firmly supporting the "legitimate government in Beijing" and attacking the "Wuhan regime". Not only did it provide a large amount of weapons and equipment to the Feng clique warlords and send a large number of military advisers, but it also dispatched the navy to conduct "embargo inspections" at the ports controlled by the Nationalist Government, prohibiting all weapons and equipment and military-related equipment from falling into the hands of the Nationalist Government. . In addition, the Tanaka cabinet also sent troops to Shandong and Shanghai - because of Japan's war threat, the Wuhan National Government temporarily suspended the Northern Expedition and shifted its focus to land reform.

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

After Japan further threatened to "block" the Soviet fleet from approaching China. The Soviet heavy bombers would come to Japanese airspace for day trips every now and then!

In July 1928, the German military delegation, which had originally placed high hopes on Tanaka Giichi, told Japan very simply: Germany could only support the Soviet Union. If there was a conflict between the Soviet Union and Japan, Germany would provide as many heavy bombers as Stalin wanted! And no help will be provided to Japan...

Japan's traditional ally, the United Kingdom (now no longer an ally), is willing to sell some advanced fighter jets and aircraft engines to Japan. But the British government also made it clear that once the Soviet Union and Japan went to war, the British Empire would adhere to neutrality, and it would be true neutrality!

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

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

On one side, Russia and Germany cooperated, and on the other side, Japan fought alone. The Second Russo-Japanese War had not yet begun, but the Japanese Empire was already at an extremely disadvantageous position.

The meeting of the five imperial ministers on July 20, 1928 was held under such circumstances.

Prime Minister Tanaka Giichi stood up, bowed to the ashen-faced Emperor on the throne, and then began to speak: "Gentlemen, our empire is now facing a difficult moment unprecedented in decades..." He said bitterly. He frowned and said slowly, "The Wuhan regime in China has posed a major threat to the empire's interests in China. Therefore, in the "China Policy Program", it is proposed to send troops to intervene to control the northern branch and ensure the lifeline of the empire in Manchuria and Mongolia. , contain or destroy the Wuhan regime in China.”

Tanaka stopped here, his eyes full of pain, and the muscles on his face were trembling slightly. "However, red Russian heavy bombers have violated our airspace for days and have already posed a serious threat to the imperial capital Tokyo. However, our army and navy aviation forces are unable to intercept them due to outdated and outdated fighter aircraft. If we continue to rashly implement the "China Policy Program", I am afraid that it will be jeopardized The foundation of the country!" He nodded to the Minister of War, Shirakawa Yoshinori, "Shirakawa-kun, please explain the threat to the empire from the Red Russian bombers and the status of the Army Air Forces."

With a troubled expression, the short Prime Minister Shirakawa stood up and bowed respectfully to the emperor on the throne. Just as he was about to speak, Emperor Hirohito's unclear voice spoke first.

"I already know the situation of the Red Russian bombers and the army and navy aviation. Please tell me the countermeasures."

Hirohito was different from his brain-dead father, Emperor Taisho. He would not pretend to be a puppet without saying a word in the Imperial Council, and he showed unusual enthusiasm for political issues.

"Your Majesty, the army and navy are currently intensifying research on air defense countermeasures." Tanaka Yiichi took the question, "We have also contacted Germany and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has agreed to sell new fighters and engines..."

The Emperor asked: "When will the new British fighter jets be available? What is the performance of their engines? Can they be compared with the German engines used by Red Russia?"

This question is quite professional. Tanaka Giichi cannot answer it at all, so he can only look at Navy Minister Okada Keisuke. Okada was four years younger than Tanaka, and was born in a Westernized navy, so he also had a better understanding of the development of foreign weapons.

He stood up and replied: "Your Majesty, currently the world's aero engines are divided into two routes: liquid cooling and gas cooling. The UK is the leader in the field of liquid cooling, while Germany is the leader in the field of gas cooling."

"Oh, so can the Empire introduce British liquid-cooled engines?" the Emperor asked.

This is another very professional question. Fortunately, Okada Keisuke had already done his homework and consulted experts from Mitsubishi Corporation and Nakajima Corporation.

"It can be introduced, but it is very difficult," Okada replied. "Because the liquid-cooled engine has a complex structure and extremely high processing technology requirements, it is difficult to introduce it. Moreover, the UK has technology export restrictions. It is impossible to transfer the most Advanced technology..." He paused and then made his point clear, "So the navy is inclined to cooperate with Germany."

Hearing this opinion, the emperor was stunned for a moment. He had known since he was a child that the Japanese navy was more pro-British.

He looked at Okada, who continued: "Germany is not only willing to provide high-power air-cooled engine technology, but is also willing to cooperate with us to develop new fighters and warships. It is willing to provide all 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 acquire these technologies. 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 everywhere" 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