Anti-Japanese War: Li Yunlong dared to attack Taiyuan

Holding Southeast Asia and the Odalia region provides an endless supply of resources.

There is no benefit in defending the four eastern provinces except for constantly implementing the tactic of adding fuel to the fire and helping Li Yunlong's troops to gain victory.

The most important point is that even if Li Yunlong took over the entire four northeastern provinces, he could only sigh in despair and could not threaten the Japanese mainland.

But the Americans are different. They have a fleet. If Odalia, Southeast Asia and other regions are recaptured by the Americans.

Not only would the Japanese lose their resources in Southeast Asia, but even their homeland would be threatened, so Private First Class Tojo chose this path after careful consideration.

Chapter 726 Kodera Kouta gets promoted again

“Is the focus shifting to Southeast Asia?”

After hearing this proposal, Guizi Tianhuang's face showed obvious dissatisfaction.

The Kwantung Army is a force loyal to the Japanese invaders, but now it has been crippled, and the Japanese invaders will have less say.

Originally, according to the plan of Guizi Tianhuang, the Kwantung Army was to be revitalized, but now the Army Headquarters wants to focus on Southeast Asia and Odalia, which means that resources will be tilted towards the southern army controlled by the Army Headquarters.

The Japanese army has limited internal resources. If they give more to the Southern Army, then the Kwantung Army will have less.

Moreover, after the Kwantung Army lost Fengtian and other places, it was no longer able to be self-sufficient and maintain its superior position. If it shifts its focus now, it will be very difficult for the Kwantung Army to rise again.

Since the shogunate era, the Japanese government has always wanted to actually control the country of Japan. After various efforts, it finally gained certain rights after the Meiji Restoration. If it abandons the Kwantung Army now, it will be equivalent to giving up the rights that successive governments have fought for since the Meiji Restoration.

"Southeast Asia? This place is too far away from our homeland. Once Li Yunlong occupies the area controlled by the Kwantung Army, it will be very close to the homeland and can threaten the homeland. Moreover, Li Yunlong has also developed a new weapon that can threaten the homeland!"

After Guizi Tianhuang finished speaking, he took out a memorial and said, "I think the empire should not give up these areas of the four eastern provinces. Instead, it should increase its investment!"

After hearing what the devil Tianhuang said, Private First Class Tojo also knew what Tianhuang was going to do. In their position, they were actually representing the interest groups behind them. Private First Class Tojo represented the power of the headquarters faction of the army faction, so he needed to fight for the interests of these people.

The locusts are fighting for their own interests, and the hatred between the navy and the army is also because of interests.

"Your Majesty, the situation in the four eastern provinces has become extremely devastating. It is already very difficult to hold on to the four eastern provinces. The Empire must make a decision. The Kwantung Army launched an attack on the Russians despite all obstacles, which led to the current situation."

"Your Majesty, if the Kwantung Army had not attacked the Russians, the Russians would not have supported Li Yunlong, and the situation in the four eastern provinces would not have become what it is today."

"The current situation requires the Kwantung Army to deal with it on its own. The Empire cannot be dragged down by the Kwantung Army."

"If we fully support the Kwantung Army in attacking Li Yunlong now, the Empire will have to pay the price of at least two million men and countless resources."

Private First Class Tojo once again reiterated the price of retaking the four eastern provinces, and repeatedly emphasized that this was the result of your wrong decision-making and had nothing to do with the Army Headquarters.

"Your Majesty, I think Private Tojo is right. The Empire cannot be dragged down by the Kwantung Army. We should shift our focus!"

At this time, the Minister of the Navy also stood up. It was not because the relationship between the navy and the army had improved, but because if the strategic focus of the army shifted to the south, it would also be a good thing for the navy. The navy needed the army to control some islands to ensure that its waterways were unobstructed.

Moreover, the Navy is also dissatisfied with the Tianhuang. After all, every time something happens, it is the Japanese Tianhuang who supports people to mess with the Navy, and it is always the Navy that is sacrificed, so suppressing the Tianhuang is also one of the daily routines of the Navy.

Seeing that the navy and the army had united again because of suppressing him, Guizi Tianhuang looked a little ugly.

"Gentlemen, please take a look at this memorial. My intention is not to attack the area controlled by Li Yunlong, but to continue to send troops westward to attack, join our ally De San, and eliminate the Russian bear!"

"Once we deal with the Russian bear, our allies will be able to provide us with a lot of help, and we can easily solve the Li Yunlong problem."

"Furthermore, in Europe, once the Russian bear falls, the US will inevitably allocate a large amount of resources to help Europe, and then the pressure on us in Southeast Asia will be relieved."

Listening to Tian Huang's talk, Private First Class Tojo finished reading the memorial and said with a sarcastic look on his face, "Your Majesty, I propose that the person who submitted this memorial be executed!"

As soon as these words came out, the devil Tianhuang's face changed. He obviously didn't expect Private First Class Tojo to react so strongly.

"Your Majesty, the European continent is thousands of kilometers away from East and West Siberia. Even if we control the Western Sayan Mountains and other areas, we still have another two thousand kilometers to go before we can cross the Ural Mountains!"

"The terrain in this 2,000-kilometer area is very complex. How does the Imperial Army maintain its logistics?"

"How many troops will the Empire send to the European continent? Ten thousand? One hundred thousand? These few people can't decide the outcome of a battle. If it's a million, how will we solve the logistical problems for a million people?"

"Your Majesty, this memorial is pure fantasy and impossible to achieve! Someone who only talks big should be forced to commit seppuku!"

Upon hearing this, the Japanese soldier Tianhuang's face turned ugly. Private Tojo was just nitpicking, because it was clearly written in Kotaro Kota's memorial that only three divisions would be sent west to solve the supply problem by rail, to harass the rear areas of the Russian bear and help the German three-way battle.

If the battle goes well, continue to expand the controlled area and use the Trans-Siberian Railway as a hub for transporting logistics.

In the eyes of Guizi Tianhuang, although it is a bit too idealistic, it is much more reliable than when he gambled on the fate of the country. Moreover, Kotaro Kotaro made a detailed investigation and found that the Russians had few troops in the Central and Western Siberia regions. If the three divisions were sent there, they would be like Genghis Khan's expedition and could crush the enemy with ease.

But in front of Private First Class Tojo, he was worthless and was forced to commit suicide by seppuku.

The empire is now full of people like Private First Class Tojo who are promoted based on seniority, and lacks fresh blood.

"This is Kodera Kouta's memorial. Does Tojo-kun want the heroes of the empire to commit seppuku?"

Hearing this, Private First Class Tojo lowered his head and said, "I dare not, but this idea is indeed fantastic!"

Guizi Tianhuang glanced at the people below, and finally turned his gaze to the officials in the Osaka area. He was ready to do something. He needed to disintegrate this group of people from within the Army Headquarters.

It is necessary to support one of his own people to hold an important position in the Army Headquarters, and this person must be loyal to him. At the same time, he cannot be excluded after entering the Army Headquarters, otherwise he will be like Private First Class Tojo who went to the Kwantung Army and was eventually sent back in disgrace.

"I plan to transfer Kota Kodera back to Sakura City and have him serve as the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Headquarters. What do you think?"

As soon as these words came out, they hit the water like a huge rock, causing an instant uproar.

"Your Majesty, please repeat yourself. I didn't hear you clearly."

Private First Class Tojo suspects that there is something wrong with his ears. Tianhuang wants to transfer Kotera Kouta back to the Army Headquarters to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff?

Chapter 727: Support from Osaka People

Who was Kota Kotaro? A man who hadn't even attended Army University, who had only been a regimental commander two years ago and a Type B division commander a year before, and now he was directly appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army Headquarters?

And how old was Kota Kota? Thirty? Thirty-one? With someone so young serving as Vice Chief of Staff, how could the rest of the Army Headquarters look down on them?

"Your Majesty, the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff is the most important position within the Army Headquarters. This position is held by qualified and capable individuals. It is related to the formulation of the Imperial Army's combat plans, and there is currently no shortage of people."

"Furthermore, Kotaro Kota is too inexperienced. He was previously only a regiment commander and was recently promoted to division commander. He has never commanded a large troop group in combat, let alone participated in the formulation of combat plans. He lacks strategic vision and is unfit for the position of Vice Chief of the Army General Staff. Your Majesty, please withdraw this order!"

We must oppose it. The position of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army can be considered one of the top ten positions in the Japanese Army Headquarters. He knows everything about the Army. If we let someone appointed by Tianhuang take this position, wouldn't Tianhuang be the first to know what happens in the Army Headquarters in the future?

And now, what's more, if Tianhuang arranges more people to come in in the future and gradually undermines the Army Headquarters, then won't the Army Headquarters become the same as the Kwantung Army?

After hearing Private First Class Tojo's rebuttal, Guizi Tianhuang's expression did not change. He knew that he would face strong opposition from the army. Not to mention such an important position as the Vice Chief of Staff, even some staff positions would be very difficult for him to fill.

Although the position of Army Chief of Staff is sometimes held by a member of the royal family, a royal family member is not necessarily a member of the Tianhuang faction.

However, despite the opposition, Guizi Tianhuang's expression did not change much. Instead, he looked at Private First Class Tojo thoughtfully and said, "Private First Class Tojo, are you saying that anyone who has never commanded a large-scale military operation cannot take on this position?"

"Your Majesty, what I mean is that the position of Vice Chief of Staff is very important and requires an experienced person to take charge. Kodera Yasuta is a little young and not suitable for this position. After he has trained for a few more years, he can be transferred back to the headquarters to take up this important position!"

As soon as these words came out, Guizi Tianhuang couldn't help but snort coldly: "What experience does Tominaga Kyoji have? What experience does Shifang Ryoji have? Come and tell me about it."

Hearing this, Private First Class Tojo didn't know how to refute for a moment, and the Navy Minister next to him stood by and watched the joke.

He had also heard of the rumors circulating within the army about the three traitors and four fools. Seeing that Private First Class Tojo had nothing to say, he slowly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I've heard that there's a saying circulating within our ranks that Tojo-sama is surrounded by three traitors and four fools."

After hearing this, Private First Class Tojo glared fiercely at Navy Minister Shimataro Shimada. This man used to be his good friend, but after becoming the Navy Minister, he completely broke off relations with him, and now he was even taking advantage of his misfortune.

"Tojo-kun, do you have anything else to say?"

The Japanese locusts were closing in on him, and he knew that this was the best time for him to take back his power. If he didn't press on with the victory now, all his previous efforts would be wasted.

A crippled Kwantung Army was not enough for him to maintain the dignity of Tianhuang. He had to expand his influence and continue to watch the navy and army fight each other and profit from it.

"Your Majesty, although Tominaga Kyoji and others have no actual combat experience, they have held many positions and have been promoted step by step. However, Kodera Kouta has no experience at all and is unable to handle the affairs of the Army Headquarters!"

Private First Class Tojo was still insisting, and at the same time he turned his head to look at the other army generals beside him, asking them to speak together and put pressure on Tianhuang.

But at this time, Tianhuang also raised his head and looked at the other army generals, especially some people from the Osaka faction.

There is actually a reason why the devil Tianhuang chose to attack today, because he has reached a tacit understanding with the people of Osaka.

The people of Osaka have always been excluded from the core power of the devils. Although they are rich, they have never had much say. This is also a kind of checks and balances. Those who control the economy must never be able to control power.

Before, they had Kenkichi Ueda to support them, but because of the failure of the Nomonhan Campaign, he had been expelled from the core circle, and Kantaro Suzuki was old and in poor health. He rarely attended the Imperial Conference, so the people of Osaka were somewhat leaderless.

After the 4th Division was destroyed, they had even less say in the army, so they urgently needed someone to stand up and speak for the people of Osaka.

Originally, high hopes were placed on Nakamiya Daxiang, but Nakamiya Daxiang's career ended in failure. Fortunately, someone like Kotaro Kotaro suddenly emerged.

After sending people to contact him, the pure Osaka people were also willing to serve their hometown, so the resources in the Osaka area began to tilt towards Kota Kodera. They mobilized all their connections and constantly mentioned Kota Kodera in front of Tianhuang.

Including the first time that Kota Kodera was mentioned by Tianhuang, there were people from Osaka pushing him behind the scenes, otherwise how could the Japanese Tianhuang pay attention to a small Type C division commander?

Kouta Kotera did not disappoint the expectations of the Osaka people, and continued to win and grow.

Some time ago, Tianhuang's eunuch found Suzuki Kantaro and conveyed his intention. The Osaka people thought about it for a while and agreed to Tianhuang's request.

After all, for the Osaka people, it is not important that a person from Tianhuang is inserted into the Army Headquarters. What is important is that an Osaka person becomes the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, and maybe he can go one step further and become the Chief of Staff in the future, and then?

"I think that with the Empire now in its current state, it's understandable that Your Majesty wants to inject fresh blood into the Empire. Furthermore, although Kodera Kouta has never commanded a large-scale military operation, he has never been defeated on the battlefield!"

Ueda Kenkichi slowly stood up and spoke.

Private First Class Tojo looked at the forgotten Imperial General and instantly understood what had happened. He took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, Kodera Kouta can serve as Vice Chief of Staff, but the Army Headquarters has already formulated a key defense plan for the south. I beg for your approval!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone understood what Private First Class Tojo was going to do. He was negotiating with Tian Huang. Kota Kotera could enter the Army Headquarters, but the previously proposed operational plan to strengthen defense in Southeast Asia had to be agreed to.

Tian Huang stared at Private First Class Tojo. He really wanted to kill him with a knife, but he still held back. After all, Private First Class Tojo was very powerful at this time and had many supporters. Even Shimataro Shimada, who had always been his rival, was once a close friend, so he could not be touched for the time being.

"Okay, but I need to see the results!"

"Hayi, please rest assured, Your Majesty!"

"The meeting is dismissed!"

After the Imperial Conference ended, the Japanese Army Headquarters immediately took action, mobilizing the navy transport ships within the army and began to transport the divisions in the peninsula area to Southeast Asia.

Chapter 728: Abnormal Deployment of the Japs

"Are there any unusual movements in the Devil Peninsula area?"

Li Yunlong received news from the intelligence department two days after the Japanese imperial meeting ended.

"Yes, the Japanese have recently mobilized a large number of transport fleets to the peninsula area. Their destination is still unknown!"

Li Yunlong walked to the front of the map and mobilized troops from the peninsula area. The Japanese would definitely make big moves, but the country's coastline was very long and there were many places where the Japanese could land. Even in the area controlled by Li Yunlong, there were many places, such as Huludao and other places.

"Apart from this, is there any other information?"

"This is all the information we have at the moment!"

Li Yunlong thought for a moment and said, "Order all troops in port areas to increase their security level, and then contact the Northeast Bureau. It would be best if we could get information about the Japanese's material transfer in the peninsula area!"

"Yes!"