"Your Excellency, if Central China is abandoned, the Allies can use the airports in these areas to bombard the empire from a distance."

Lieutenant General Susumu Fujita, commander of Japan’s Thirteenth Army, said:

"Ryukyu, Taiwan and our sea routes will all be threatened, and the consequences will be very serious. The base camp will never agree to us giving up Wuhan under any circumstances."

"Even if we hold on to East China, it will be very easy for the Chinese to cross the Yangtze River on their own strength. The idea of ​​holding on to the Yangtze River with its natural dangers and waiting for reinforcements is unrealistic."

There was no expression on Shunroku Hata's face, he just nodded slightly.

The commander of the Eleventh Army, Anan Weiji, was a little unhappy. He asked coldly:

"This won't work, and that won't work either. Can Fujita-kun have any clever ideas that can solve the current dilemma that the dispatched troops are facing?"

The smell of gunpowder suddenly arose.

Fujita Susumu did not look at Anami Yuiki, he continued to say to Hata Shunroku who was at the head:

"Your Excellency, General, China is the first target that the Japanese Empire must conquer."

"In the past two years, especially after the Kwantung Army was completely annihilated, the strategies of the base camp and the upper echelons of the entire army seem to be wrong."

"Conquering Southeast Asia and provoking the United States gave the Japanese Empire a powerful enemy and severely dispersed its forces."

"What I want to say is that the soldiers of the empire are too greedy. If we had concentrated all our efforts on running China, we would have not only been able to obtain sufficient resources, but also a large number of servants, further enhancing the strength of the empire."

"After fully digesting China's population and resources, it will not be too late for the empire to conquer other places."

Shunroku Hata raised his hand to interrupt Susumu Fujita's speech, and said without any emotion:

"Fujita-kun, it's too late to say this now. What exactly do you want to express?"

Susumu Fujita stood up and bowed slightly to Shunroku Hata, then glanced at the senior officers in the conference room and said slowly:

"Your Excellency, General, and colleagues, the matter in China is no longer something we can solve by dispatching troops. We must seek full support from the base camp."

"First of all, I think the base camp should give up Southeast Asia, at least give up those small islands that have no meaning."

"Gather the elites of the army and navy to attack the Chinese army from Goryeo and Central China at the same time, seize Manchuria and the Central Plains, and make up for the mistakes made by the empire in previous years!"

As soon as Fujita finished speaking, the conference room was buzzing with discussion.

It is obvious that many senior officers of Japan's China Expeditionary Force here agree with Susumu Fujita's views.

China is their most important target to conquer, and the empire's strategic policy was wrong from the beginning.

Anami blinked a few times and seemed to begin to agree with Fujita Susumu's statement.

Shunroku Hata's expression finally changed, and he rubbed his temples helplessly.

What Fujita and Anami Yuki said are reasonable, but it is extremely difficult to actually implement them.

Prime Minister Tojo wanted to invade Australia and attract the main land and sea forces of the United States to the Australian region, thereby solving the Allied threat to the empire's homeland.

Australia can delay the United States for a while, but if China fails to send troops, the Allies can directly threaten the Japanese mainland through the Chinese mainland.

The Japanese now only have the strength to defend one aspect, either China or the United States.

However, the Allied forces were coming from multiple directions, and they would not be given time to calmly arrange their defense.

Alas, it’s all because I have made too many enemies, otherwise why would I be like this?

After thinking about it seriously, Shunroku Hata smiled bitterly and said.

"There is no regret medicine for sale in the world, we can only take it one step at a time!"

"Fujita-kun's idea is good, but it has no practical significance."

"I decided to implement the strategy of abandoning central China and using Chongqing to contain northern China."

After the General spoke, everyone stopped expressing other opinions and nodded solemnly.

Shunroku Hata looked at the commander of the 11th Army, Anami Yuiki.

"Before receiving the exact order from the dispatched army headquarters, the Eleventh Army continued to consolidate the defense line. Once the retreat order is issued, the actions of each department must be decisive. Remember, the Chinese, especially Jiangdong, must not be aware of it!"

"Hi Yi!" Anan Weiji replied.

"While building the Yangtze River defense line, the 13th Army must also strengthen the defense of Jinpu Road. Don't give up the area north of the Yangtze River easily, and make full use of the terrain to delay the Chinese actions."

"Hiyi!"

"Send a report to the base camp and request reinforcements from at least 5 divisions!"

Shunroku Hata looked at his chief of general staff, Lieutenant General Harumiya Jun, and said:

"You are personally responsible for liaison with Chongqing, and you must obtain the commitment of the leaders of China. Preventing Jiangdong from crossing the Yangtze River is a prerequisite for us to abandon central China."

"Hiyi!"

Harem Chun felt the heavy burden on his shoulders, and he bowed deeply.

………

May 5, Chongqing, principal’s official residence.

The principal sat on the sofa in the living room, his body motionless, and he didn't even blink for a long time.

In front of him lay two telegrams.

One letter was sent from Zhengzhou by Jiangdong, requesting German weapon masters to participate in the final battle against the Japanese invaders, and promising that the government would return the capital to Nanjing after the war.

The other was sent personally by Dai Li, a telegram of goodwill conveyed by Commander-in-Chief of Japan's China Expeditionary Forces, Shunroku Hata.

Both sides gave their own conditions.

It seems that the Japanese are more generous, while Koto is a little disrespectful of his teachers and the government.

The principal has read the two telegrams in front of him no less than ten times.

Behind his expressionless eyes were endless choices and thoughts.

Whenever he encounters major issues related to the future and destiny of the party and the country, he is always accustomed to thinking alone without referring to other people's opinions.

Only your own brain is the most trustworthy, other people's methods and strategies all have their own interests.

I don't know how long it took, maybe half an hour, maybe an hour.

The principal stood up from the sofa, walked into the office with his hands behind his back, and looked at the map of the country with deep eyes.

The color in his eyes became more and more intense, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, as if he had made up his mind.

Half an hour later, Dai Li hurriedly walked into the chairman's office.

"You brought this telegram. I believe you know its contents." The chairman handed the telegram from Shunroku Hata to Dai Li's hand.

"This matter is the sole responsibility of the Military Command Bureau. No matter what conditions the Japanese put forward, you can promise them that they must get it to Central China and Wuhan in the shortest possible time."

Dai Li opened his mouth and wanted to say that the Japanese might have other meanings and should not be taken lightly.

But he quickly thought of the Military Intelligence Bureau in North China!

He swallowed back the words that came to his mouth.

After receiving Dai Li's assurance, the principal tapped his finger twice on the map.

"No matter what the people of North China and Japan think, the Military Commission will only do what is best for the party and the country."

After hearing the principal's arrangement, the first thing that appeared in Dai Li's eyes was shock, but soon the shock turned into surprise and admiration.

"The central commander and the military commander will work together to complete this later matter. Stop fighting among yourself, at least not over this matter. You must have confidence in your heart!"

Dai Li swallowed his saliva and saluted uprightly.

"Don't worry, I will do my best to ensure that you will not be disappointed!"

"Well, go ahead and keep it a secret!"
Chapter completed!