Ishihara smiled and said, "I had made a conclusion about the contest between Japan and the United States several years ago. Why should Okamura ask him knowingly?"

Okamura Yasuji was silent when he heard this.

Then he suddenly remembered that Ishihara Kanir had made a clear explanation of Japan's future when he was the chief of staff of the Kanto Army.

At that time, Ishihara Kanir firmly opposed Japan's full-scale war against China.

Ishihara Kanir insisted that Japan has a small territory and a short population, so it is absolutely impossible to annex China in a short period of time, so the most appropriate approach should be to digest Manchuria and North Korea.

After ten to twenty years, when North Korea and Manchuria have become an integral part of Japan, Japan will have become one of the most powerful countries in the Far East in terms of its territory and population. Perhaps there is still a gap between China's territory and its population, but at least it is not that huge.

However, on the basis of industry, Japan has an overwhelming advantage.

At this time, Japan declares war on China again. Based on historical experience, the result will be devastating and even in less than a year to occupy the entire territory of China!

After completely annexing China, after another thirty to fifty years of digestion, the new Japanese Empire will become the world's leading power. Then, whether it is going north to compete for hegemony with the Red Soviet Union, or going south to compete for Southeast Asian islands and dominance with Western powers such as the United States and Britain, Japan will have an absolute advantage!

This is the grand strategy proposed by Ishihara Kanir about Japan's future!

However, this strategy was firmly opposed by a group of Showa warlords headed by Hideki Tojo.

The final result was that Ishihara Kanir was transferred back to Japan and served as the commander of the Tsurumi Fortress, while Hideki Tojo made ambition to move to the position of deputy commander of the army.

As a senior and close friend of Tojo Hideki, Okamura Nagaji is not easy to judge his character, but from the bottom of his heart, Okamura Nagaji actually agrees with Ishihara Kanir's grand strategy.

At this moment, Okamura Yasuji said with some depression: "So, does the Empire still have a chance to win now?"

Ishihara Kanir shook his head and asked back, "Does Okamura-kun want to hear the truth or lies?"

"Forget it, I won't say it." A hint of displeasure flashed across Okamura's face, and then continued, "Ishihara, although you didn't say it, I have already answered it."

"Is that so? Okamura-kun, do you really have the answer?" Ishihara smiled slightly, and then said, "The truth is that the empire still has a chance to win! But the opportunity is already very slim. If you take a wrong step in the next few years, what is waiting for the empire will be doomed."

"Is that so? Then I was really wrong." Okamura Yasuji said, "Please tell me in detail by Ishihara."

Ishihara nodded and said, "Originally, if we follow the three-step strategy of first Korea, second Manchuria, and then China, the empire can be said to be as stable as a rock, and there is no need to take any risks!"

"But even if we go to war on China without waiting for the digestion of Manchuria, it will not be out of control."

"In the war for nearly three years, although the empire spent a lot of manpower, material resources and financial resources, it did not gain anything."

"At least, the Empire has harvested an elite army of up to two million people, and now, a powerful air force with more than 7,000 combat aircraft!"

"With such a huge armament, the empire can sweep Southeast Asia without any effort."

"Wait." Okamura Yanji couldn't help but interrupt Ishihara Kan, "Ishihara, do you say that the empire can sweep Southeast Asia without any effort? Do you really think so?"

Ishihara Kanir asked back, "Don't Okamura-kun think so?"

"I don't think so." Okamura Yanji said heavily, "Southeast Asia is a colony of Western powers. There are more than 70,000 American troops on Luzon Island, tens of thousands of French troops in Vietnam, and more than 100,000 troops in Malaysia and Myanmar. The combat effectiveness of Western troops is not comparable to that of the Chinese army."

"No, no, Okamura, my judgment is exactly the opposite of you." Ishihara Kan said, "Don't look at the Chinese army vulnerable in front of the Imperial Army, wait, except for the Chinese army led by Zhong Yi, in short, the overall combat effectiveness of the Chinese army is far inferior to that of the Imperial Army, but their combat effectiveness is only stronger and not weaker than that of the Western powers!"

"If you don't brag, the base camp only needs to give me four permanent divisions, and I can wipe out the entire Southeast Asia and wipe out the Western armies of Luzon, Vietnam and Malaysia! If the navy is willing to help, I can even occupy Australia. The British Empire is actually far weaker than we imagined."

Okamura Yasuji said in surprise: "Ishihara, if you say this, isn't the situation very good?"

"Is the situation a big one?" Ishihara smiled and said, "Okamura may as well look east."

Okamura Yanji's eyes went east along the map, and then said in a deep voice: "Pacific Ocean? US Navy? US mainland?"

"To be precise, it's the United States! The United States is the ultimate opponent of the empire!" Ishihara nodded and said, "Although the world overlord is the British Empire now, the British Empire is just a mere appearance. The United States is a real industrial power. Its industrial manufacturing capabilities are even more than Germany, and the total of Britain and the empire is even greater!"

"Once such a huge industrial machine is converted into a military industry!"

"What kind of energy will such a huge war machine burst into motion once it is fully activated? Have you ever thought about it seriously?"

Okamura Yasuji said: "What will happen?"

"The consequence is..." Ishihara Kanir took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "In a year, the United States may produce more than 100,000 combat aircraft, hundreds of thousands of tanks, millions of cannons, dozens, or even hundreds of aircraft carriers. As for cruisers, there are more, that's like dumplings!"

Okamura Yanji took a deep breath and said, "Ishihara, is it so exaggerated?"

"This may be a bit exaggerated." Ishihara smiled, "but even if it is not as big as this number, it will not be too far apart. The industrial strength of the United States is really not comparable to that of the empire."

Okamura Yasuji said: "According to what you said, wouldn't the Empire lose without a doubt?"

"That's not." Ishihara said, "If the empire can sweep Southeast Asia and Australia in the shortest time with its powerful army, navy and air force, and then wipe out the US Navy's Pacific Fleet in the shortest time, and finally capture Midway and Hawaii Island, and destroy the US Navy's foothold in the Pacific, the empire will be invincible!"
Chapter completed!