Ch.208Japanese-like Behavior

So far, they’ve been staying quiet. Even MacArthur might negotiate with Huey Long now that he’s managed to drive out Trotsky with our help.

That would be better for us too.

If America collapses more than expected, Russia could step in and swallow it whole, but for now, I just hope America quickly returns to its former state.

Well then, since the American Civil War seems to be nearing its end, shall we turn our attention to Europe?

As the war in America is slowly concluding, Europe is next.

“How is the war in Europe progressing?”

“Currently, the Royal Navy is bombarding the coasts of Communist Germany, and the Red Air Force of Communist Germany is engaging with Britain’s Royal Air Force in German skies.”

Two absolutely incompatible forces with their namesake air forces are clashing.

The Red Air Force of communism versus the Royal Air Force of constitutional monarchy. It really makes my heart feel petty.

Honestly, wouldn’t “White Air Force” sound cooler?

“Hmm. That’s quite something. The question is which side has the advantage.”

“From the current situation, Communist Germany has the upper hand.”

Right. Communist Germany naturally has the home field advantage.

That said, Communist Germany is likely suffering greater losses. Still, this seems different from the original history where the Luftwaffe took heavy losses in the Battle of Britain.

“But they must be taking substantial damage.”

Fighting on home soil means they might fight better, but it also means greater damage to their own territory.

“Since they’re fighting on their own territory, that’s to be expected, but Goebbels seems to be using this to rally German national unity.”

“Hmm.”

Goebbels seems quite confident. At this rate, my prediction might come true.

The communization of France. Didn’t they rapidly communize Denmark before?

Of course, comparing Denmark to France is a bit of a stretch. But right now, that’s Germany’s only path to victory, isn’t it?

“Aircraft performance-wise, Germany is ahead. Though Britain isn’t far behind.”

Ahead of Britain, you say. So Communist Germany hasn’t been idle either.

Just look at the Soviet Union—they’ve been stealing technology from abroad using spies.

“It seems Britain is struggling in many ways.”

“Germany is digging in with trenches and refusing to give ground.”

Indeed, this is quite different from World War I.

Communist Germany is drawing enemies in and forcing them to take casualties.

Of course, the German homeland is being fiercely bombed. Didn’t the Luftwaffe lose many pilots in the Battle of Britain?

Britain will likely take quite a beating from this too.

“What about Poland?”

Poland is important here. If this invasion is stopped, Poland will be torn apart.

Germany seems quite confident.

“Poland appears to be attacking eastern Germany alongside the German Imperial Army.”

So they’ve gone ahead with the attack.

The Nazi German fabrication of “my grandmother died” started the war in the original timeline.

Poland, which was supposed to be beaten badly, is now on the offensive.

Oh, our Poland is impressive.

Caught in my evil machinations, they’re now trying to cross the Rhine.

But still.

“It doesn’t seem to be going well.”

The “appears to be” suggests they’re not making much progress.

We’ve been supplying them with weapons non-stop, but Communist Germany seems to be holding out through sheer tenacity.

Hmm, this might actually work out well for us.

Communist Germany is holding out remarkably well.

The more this continues, the more other countries will have no choice but to rely on us.

Looking at the situation, they’re surrounded on all sides except the south and taking a beating.

The Low Countries are practically irrelevant. At this rate, it seems Communist Germany has prepared thoroughly.

From the current situation, it looks like there won’t be any major battles in America anymore.

So, we can quickly deploy our troops and officially enter World War II.

“There’s good news from Ethiopia as well.”

“Ethiopia?”

Ah, that makes sense. Our Italy declared automatic participation when Germany was attacked.

Even though they hadn’t finished with Ethiopia.

So Italy’s East African forces would naturally be withdrawn. Even Mussolini wouldn’t keep his main forces trapped there.

They probably left only minimal troops behind.

“They seem to be planning a counterattack against the Italian forces to restore the pre-war borders.”

Right. As an emperor, he should at least do that much.

“The Italian forces must have withdrawn significantly.”

The Italian withdrawal is probably substantial.

Unless he’s a fool, Mussolini wouldn’t abandon troops that would inevitably become isolated.

“Yes. After all, if they continued the Ethiopian invasion, they’d be crushed by British forces too, so they’re focusing on the French front.”

“Stupid fools.”

Well, Italy doesn’t have much choice.

Even if Mussolini is an inevitable idiot, if Germany gets beaten to death, Italy will be left alone to face the consequences.

Moreover, Ethiopia is too far from the Italian mainland.

Considering that, perhaps abandoning Ethiopia to focus on the French front is a viable strategy.

Italy might now try to compensate by pushing against Austria, Yugoslavia (though it’s awkward to call it that now), and Greece.

“If things continue this way, the Anti-Comintern Pact countries might move as well.”

Italy could end up being the key.

“Perhaps we should declare war first?”

A declaration of war. That’s a good approach too.

We’re planning to enter the war anyway, and since our borders don’t touch, it would be a phony war for a while.

But we should at least maintain appearances.

“Hmm. No.”

I waved my hand dismissively.

Let’s assess the current situation. Goebbels must have something up his sleeve to be holding out so tenaciously.

Churchill and France, caught off guard, will fall right into the trap. Then Austria, building up military power in the south, will be next.

Eventually, Austria will be forced to enter the war too.

We have a mutual defense treaty and the Anti-Comintern Pact with Austria, so we’d automatically join as well.

“We need to observe the situation a bit longer.”

I know that joining now would make it easier to capture Germany.

But the current Europe is incomplete.

If we crush Germany right away, what would the European landscape look like?

At minimum, Britain and France need to be severely weakened to the point where they can no longer effectively counter Russia.

Those two countries need to suffer enormous damage until they can barely maintain their colonies.

In other words, this war is essentially a colonial liberation war for me, using German hands, since I don’t have an immediate justification for liberating colonies.

“Your Majesty, while we’re at war, won’t America fully recover?”

“Well, considering America’s potential, that’s possible.”

The Duma is aware of America’s capabilities.

My mistake here was in how long to prolong the American Civil War.

Honestly, I had hoped America would remain in civil war throughout World War II, but things got complicated, so I changed direction to end the American Civil War before joining.

Ah, a good idea just came to mind.

What if we gradually ban oil exports to Japan?

In the original history, Japan thought that if they struck America once after the oil embargo, America might come to the negotiating table.

But in this timeline, Japan has been getting oil from Russia.

And Japan is determined to deal with China once and for all.

Either China gets completely neutered, or Japan dies. With the Emperor’s death, they’re solely focused on defeating China.

In this situation, what if Russia announces that oil exports are difficult due to the European war?

Japan might strike Russia to bring them to the negotiating table.

No, that would be difficult. The Far Eastern Army has enough troops to hold out until the Russian main army arrives via the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Even though Ishiwara Kanji was purged, Kita Ikki is still there, and most of the Imperial Way Faction was influenced by Ishiwara Kanji’s harmony of five races.

They won’t attack Russia.

After all, while America imposed an oil embargo to hinder Japan’s war, we haven’t been particularly anti-Japanese.

“Hmm, let’s start talking to Japan about oil. Tell them that the European war has made oil exports difficult. We’ll give them only what we can spare. Japan is focused on subduing China, so they won’t consider opening a front against Russia.”

Let’s think carefully.

Russia with its prepared military versus America just emerging from the late stages of civil war.

Which would be easier to deal with?

At least from Japan’s perspective. Might they not be tempted to try?

I have a feeling that the Japan I know would do just that.

“Yes, understood.”

It’s worth a try at the very least.

Even if it doesn’t lead to war, it will divert Japan’s attention toward America.

Now, I just need to hope that Britain and France mess things up properly.

* * *

Imperial General Headquarters, Forbidden City

The Imperial General Headquarters, which had been advancing southward with momentum, recently underwent changes.

Kita Ikki, who had served multiple terms as Prime Minister and controlled the home islands at will, was ousted.

Subsequently, Konoe Fumimaro rose to the position of Prime Minister, but this was merely because a government was needed to run domestic administration. In reality, Japan’s military command—the force sustaining Japan today—was in the hands of Tojo Hideki at the Imperial General Headquarters in the Forbidden City.

In essence, it was a system similar to the shogunate.

Army Chief of Staff Tojo Hideki had one goal:

To avenge the Emperor and complete the conquest of China.

For him, oil was a necessary resource for Japan to more effectively pound China and declare victory across the Chinese theater.

Until now, oil imports from Russia had been possible. But gradually, oil supplies from Russia became difficult.

“Russia has informed us through our ambassador that oil exports will be difficult.”

“Is it because of our war in China?”

“No, they say the European war is taking a serious turn. Communist Germany is holding back the combined forces of Britain and France.”

“Hmm. Then what if our Imperial Army goes to Europe to defeat Germany?”

“With China holding out with human wave tactics, it’s impossible. We can’t handle the European front while maintaining such a wide front here.”

Why should we go all the way to Europe to fight in the first place?

That makes no sense, and the army currently fighting in China was dragging out the conflict by scorching every visible village, determined to completely finish off the Chinese.

“Then what if we attack and occupy Northern Manchuria from Russia, which will have insufficient troops due to European participation, and directly secure oil? Remember the Russo-Japanese War?”

Let’s attack Russia and have another go like the Russo-Japanese War.

Such opinions weren’t entirely absent.

“Would we suffer the same defeat twice? Even back then, our victory was only possible because we launched a surprise attack, and today’s Russia is incomparably stronger than it was then.”

Now that Japan directly borders Russia.

Japanese diplomats sent to Russia for improved relations unanimously declared that war with Russia was out of the question.

“The Far Eastern Army alone has over 400,000 troops, and Russia’s ‘regular army’ is estimated at 5 million. Even if Britain and France are struggling, they won’t lose to Germany even if they can’t win, which means Russia has the capacity to deploy forces to Asia. In such a situation, do you think it’s possible? It’s already difficult to maintain the current front, and while the enemy has as many soldiers as China, their quality is overwhelmingly superior.”

Attacking Russia would truly be madness.

At least the current Japan, passionate about China, was reluctant to open a two-front war by attacking Russia.

Even with the slow advance in China due to the castration operation, if Russian forces moved south from above, that would be problematic.

Moreover, while oil was difficult, Russia was still selling other resources, making war somewhat ambiguous.

In all honesty, are there any other countries in Asia besides Russia that could help Japan?

There’s no reason to fight the goose that lays golden eggs.

“Then what do you suggest?”

Japan still needed oil.

And then, a very interesting piece of information reached Tojo Hideki’s ears.

“The Russian Duma has secretly suggested that we consider importing oil from America, as their civil war is nearly over. According to Russia’s assessment, America is just ending its conflict, and if we show some strength, they might release oil.”

America. Right, there was America.

America was a country from which oil imports had become impossible after their civil war broke out.

Focused on China, I had forgotten about them.

Importing oil from an America weakened by civil war.

“Hmm. The American Civil War is ending. But it’s not over yet.”

The United American States still exists, meaning they’re still divided.

Currently, the remaining two factions are struggling and even holding talks.

But the question remains: would America listen to Japan’s request?

Russia’s suggestion has merit, but that’s a different issue.

With Chinese diplomats dispatched worldwide begging for help against Japan, America would be no exception.

Just then, a very good idea came to mind.

As always, something that would make one think, “Ah, Japan is being Japan.”

Very similar to the original history’s Japan, which resolved difficult wartime situations by opening new fronts.

Such thoughts naturally floated through Tojo Hideki’s mind like passing clouds.

Yes, that idea was:

‘What if we attack America while we’re at it?’