Chapter I:
The storm before the tempest
Soviet intervention in China
March 4, 1933. Japan has not been defeated by years ! The Russo-Japanese War, the Great War, the invasion of Manchuria. We got the feel that we are invincibiles under the protection of our emperors.
The relations with the Russians after the Russo-Japanese War were restored in good shape in the beginning of the Great War, but with the rise of the bolsheviks, we lost any relations with the people of Russia, well, not with all. There were still rebels willing to fight for freedom. Some of the refugeed into Shanghai, some of them to Belgrade, wherever possible after the Russian Civil War.
The relations with China are kinda' broken. The Nationalists are afraid of us, and we feel it! We took the Manchuria after all! But, across all the incidents and difficulties between our countries, a bigger threat is awaiting it's opportunity, Communist China. Should they conquer China, and the Soviets would have the whole of Asia under their power.
March 7, 1933. The Five Ministers Conference.
The great five ministers of Japan have met to discuss about the future expansion of Japan and about the direction of Army. Going North will priotize the Army, and Navy may remain as it is. An expansion in the South would mean war with China and USA, this is something suicidal and without sense. We realised that we must be friends with the Chinese, in order to destroy the biggest threat of Humanity, the Soviet expansion.
And the Americans, as long as they help us with oil and stay with their isolation, what reason should we have to attack them?
So the five ministers, with the approval of Emperor Hirohito decided to go for a North Strike, that meaning the priotising of the Army and a future war with the Soviet Union.
Well, it is sad to hear the Nationalists lost against the Communists, but it's not a that big defeat.
Terrible news reaching the Palace of the Emperor!
The Soviets intervened in the Xinjiang war with East Turkestan. Xinjiang is made a puppet state of the Russians and the Turkestan is also doomed to the Soviet expansion.
We look forward for the reaction of the Nationalists. If something goes wrong, we will go to war!
Just as expected, East Turkestan was destroyed....but the Nationalists tried to get Xinjiang out from the Soviet influence ... surely, the Russians refused...only if the Chinese would've considered that decision with us, the Russians might not be afraid of Chinesee, but they are sure afraid of both Chinesee and Japanase!
And maybe mad by the loss of Xinjiang, Kuomitang attacked the Communists..
With that ocassion, we launched a campaign against the Communist forces in Manchuko! Maybe the Nationalist would understand that we have the same enemies!
And the war is over, with not a clear winner, if you ask us.
Only after the retreat from Southern China we realised that the Nationalists won that war! Hoorah for liberty!