Chapter 1083: Strategic Planning

“Who was it that said a Japan that could stand up to America was in the fundamental interests of the Third Reich?” Akado frowned, looking at the diplomatic report submitted by Ribbentrop, and then questioned the German Foreign Minister: “Is this the reason you are asking to secretly support Japan?”

As Akado questioned, he closed the file with his hand, looked at his Foreign Minister Ribbentrop, and without waiting for him to explain, continued: “Then can you tell me, in the Third Reich’s future diplomatic strategy, what was our original design? You haven’t forgotten this diplomatic outline, and are now bringing me this report to deliberately make fun of me?”

“My Führer, we are not joking. Japan has already shown in this war that its own potential is insufficient. If at this time it shakes hands with the United States and makes peace, this is clearly a very unfavorable situation for us.” Ribbentrop, seeing that Akado was somewhat angry, quickly spoke up to explain: “So we have studied it privately, and feel that we can reveal some minor weapon designs to strengthen Japan’s war capabilities.”

He pointed to the report and continued, a little flustered: “This will help to make Japan and the United States continue to bleed in the Pacific theater, which is also in the fundamental interests of our Third Reich.”

“You are not unaware that in my planning, as an important ally of the Third Reich, China in the Far East will be shaped into the Empire’s core partner in the Far East, becoming an important part of the Empire’s interests in the Pacific region.” Akado said, slamming his hand on the table. “And the result? You question this plan, or rather, who… is questioning the Führer’s judgment?”

As if his backside had been pricked by a bayonet, Ribbentrop sprang up from his seat and raised his right arm in a German salute. He hurriedly explained his report, so nervous he was almost incoherent: “I… My Führer. Please forgive my presumption! This is not to question your judgment in any way, on the contrary, I am personally your most loyal follower! This, you must believe!”

What a joke. In the Führer’s residence in the Third Reich’s capital of Berlin, to question the decision of the Imperial Führer who had the title of “God’s Gift”—if one was not tired of living, then it was really because one’s brain was too waterlogged, leading to intellectual degradation. Within the territory of the Third Reich, to do so might get one beaten to death in the street by the mob. Of course, it was more likely to be dragged away by the SS, and in the end, not even one’s clothes would be left.

“Japan once invaded Australia! We have already declared war on Japan! Minister Ribbentrop!” Akado said, looking at his subordinate who was still saluting, not in a hurry to let him lower his arm. “And if our people, our allies, and our potential future allies, were to find out that we are still secretly supporting Japan at a time like this… what would they think?”

“But, my Führer, if Japan… is defeated in the war, then it is possible that the United States will be more capable of interfering in Asian affairs, especially in the Far East. This is clearly not a result we wish to see,” Ribbentrop replied, his arm still raised, his chin held high.

“At ease. Don’t just stand there with your arm in the air in front of me,” Akado said with a wave of his hand. After his Foreign Minister had lowered his arm, he continued, “Japan is not a market, nor is it a country that is worthy of our continued investment. On this point, your vision is too short-sighted.”

As he spoke, he stood up, walked to the large globe in his office, and gently spun the massive sphere with his finger, finally stopping with the Asian part facing him. The lines drawn on the globe were very beautiful. At a glance, this was a huge work of art, not a simple decoration.

Akado’s finger pressed on the position of China, and then he spoke to Ribbentrop beside him: “In the future, Asia, because of its distance, cannot be brought into the embrace of the Empire. On this point, I am sure no one has any objection. So this place is destined to be a place where we dump our products and win over allies.”

This German Führer, whose soul had come from China, as he spoke, his finger gently slid over the map of China. “If we hand China over to the United States and let it become an American ally… then we will lose such a huge post-war dumping market.”

Ribbentrop kept his mouth shut and did not continue to speak, because some of what Akado was saying now, he had already seen in the future diplomatic overview. Now that Akado was saying it again, it showed the Führer’s confidence in this outline.

As the Führer of Germany, Akado had the nickname “God’s Gift” in Germany. And the reason he had this nickname was because he could predict the correct direction of development for everything. This had saved Germany a great deal of development time and had allowed the Third Reich to avoid countless detours. Ribbentrop knew that he had no reason to question Akado’s vision, because past experience had told him that these visions were often correct.

“If in the future we do not bring both China and India in Asia into the scope of the Axis, to build a Eurasian-African super-alliance, what method will we use to marginalize the United States?” Akado asked Ribbentrop, pointing at the globe, one sentence at a time. “Once this alliance is broken, and the United States controls Asia, who will guarantee the security of the Empire?”

“If the United States defeats Japan, then Japan will become a vicious dog kept by the United States,” Akado said, having finished with the alliance issue. He then pressed his finger on the small island of Japan and continued, “The Americans, holding this vicious dog of Asia, will not let Asia truly side with the United States… At the very least, China will not.”

Speaking of this, Akado seemed to recall the on-again, off-again Sino-Japanese relations from his soul’s memory. And so the smile on his face deepened, and his tone of voice also became more confident. “A Japan that has been defeated and is controlled by the United States will become a yoke on China’s neck. This yoke will be a constant reminder to the Chinese, to make them stand more firmly on our side.”

“…Then, my Führer, how can you guarantee that China will really stand on our side, or rather, be willing to join the Axis family?” Ribbentrop asked with a puzzled look.

“If I can give Turkey one-third of the Balkans… can I not give China one-third of Siberia?” A smile that no one could read appeared on Akado’s face. He pointed to the north of China and said, “If I were to give the Soviet Union’s Vladivostok, as well as Outer Mongolia, to China… do you think it would consider joining the Axis?”

“Führer… to do so, would it not be to strengthen this country, whose position is unclear, too much?” Ribbentrop, after hearing this, was stunned for a few seconds before he came to his senses and immediately objected. “Perhaps a too-powerful China will also become a potential threat to the Empire.”

“We are not strengthening China, but weakening the post-war Soviet Union! We have no enmity with China, but we have a blood feud with our neighbor, the Soviet Union! After the war, the first thing we must ensure is that the Soviet Union will never again have the ability to counter-attack! Do you not agree?” Akado said, convincing his subordinate with complete confidence. “And, to give these places to China will not affect our global strategy!”

“First, the Empire and China are separated by the new country of ‘Siberia,’ so there is no geopolitical conflict between our two countries,” Akado explained confidently to Ribbentrop. “Second, we will lease China’s Taiwan and Vladivostok as our Pacific naval bases, and sign a permanent strategic partnership cooperation agreement… I don’t think China will disagree with this exchange.”

Only an idiot would refuse such an exchange—to trade the lease of two ports, and to join a powerful organization, in exchange for hundreds of thousands, or even over a million, square kilometers of land. Whoever disagrees would be the biggest fool in the world… Ribbentrop grumbled in his heart.

“You see. We win over China, and we radiate our influence to Southeast Asia,” Akado said, pointing at the map of Asia on the globe, and telling his Foreign Minister his grand vision. “India will be in an encircled state and will have no choice but to side with us. As long as we can successfully win over South America and Australia, then the Americans will only be able to sell their goods to God.”

To hell with the “chosen nation.” Today, he would let these Yankees see what geopolitics was all about. As long as Asia, Africa, and Europe could form an iron plate under Germany’s leadership, then the Americans would be left out in the cold, outside the world’s game table. Their geographical advantage would immediately be dragged down by transport costs into a geographical disadvantage. America would be defeated without even having to fight.

Akado moved his finger from the globe and looked back at Ribbentrop beside him. “Do you know why I have only just now brought out this future vision? Because it is only today that I can confirm that we have won this war, that we Germans will have the last laugh!”

He didn’t wait for the astonished Ribbentrop to ask, but just reveled in his own satisfaction. “General Guderian has continued to attack to the north this morning. We have almost completely surrounded Moscow on three sides. Do you know how close we are to Moscow now? 12,000 meters!”

“And do you know how far the nearest American fleet is from the Japanese homeland?” Akado asked with a smile. “By the time we have finished our negotiations, and have turned the Soviets into history, the Americans will probably still be in the Philippines, bleeding out against the Japanese! What we have to do now is to take Moscow and to win the entire war.”

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