The Rise of Sun: A Japan AAR

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Jun. 22, 1941

Now it's just weeks away from the 4th anniversary of Marco Polo Bridge Incident. The China Campaign went awry for the Glorious Empire. Still not able to subdue Chiang Kai-sak and his Nationalist China Government, the Imperial Army was in the danger of a war of attrition, which, not affordable to a resource-poor country as Japan.

"It is the one and only oppotunity to end the China Campaign. That's the Operation Reikyo!" Lobbied by General Kawabe, the Commander of China Exp Army. "Dejavu all over again" was the reaction of the generals in Imperial General Staff. General Okimura, two years ago, with a similiar tone referring to the battle of Wuhan, failed miserably in the field, and since replaced by General Matsui, and now, Kawabe. None of them was able to force a decisive battle against Chinese army and now, it appeared the Empire had stretched too much.

Only difference this time was the Prime Minister and the Chief of Army, Hideki Tojo was a hearty advocate for this operation. But when the request of Kawabe for 6 extra divisions in the South China Theatre was raised, every one flinched.

"We are already been over-stretched" One staff member commented. Kwantung Army was reduced to only 20 divisions, while facing a much superior force of USSR Siberian Army Group. Although a non-aggression pact between Japan and USSR, every one knew given the first chance either of them would jump at the other's throat. In case a war against USSR, Kwantung Army might at best be able to hold their own. North China Army was busy putting down local partisans, and they only got 10 divisions anyway. Mogol Army had some calvary divisions to spare, but South Chinese hills would be a nightmare for them. In the end, the only units available were a few home guard divisions from Honshu, and two divisions of 15 Gundan from South Army.

Anyway, the Operation Reikyo was carried out as planned. Reikyo was the name of a South China canal which connected Hunan from Guangdong. In this operation 43 Gundan from Jiujiang would attack Ganzhou and 4. Mixed Brigade Group from Guangzhou would attack Shaoguan. This would cut off the Chinese army in Jiangxi and Fujian. In the meantime, the other Gundans of China Exp Army would undertake auxiliary attacks in other provinces to divert the attention of Chinese army.

The operation was to be finished in 3 weeks. By Jul. 15 the province of Ganzhou and Shaoguan must be occupied.

 

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Jun. 23 1941

The late development of Europe caught every one by surprise. Without any omen, Germany just launched a full-fledged assault on USSR. On the same day, Neatherlands and USA treacherously cancelled their trade with us, now effectively cut off our oil and rare material supply. Although the exact number was not clear by now, a ballpark estimate said our strategic reserve of oil and rare material could only sustain for about 3 months. Now the choices of the Glorious Japan Empire were really limited. Either to pull out of China in 3 months or grab some resource-rich area ourselves. The latter, meant an invasion of Dutch East Indies.

The army were lobbying for drafting more divisions for the China Campaign. But at least for now, the emphasis should be on Imperial Navy. China chould always be handled later, but for a sucessful invasion and occupation of Dutch East Indies, we must beat the No.1 Navy in the world, the Royal Navy, for they were the steadiest supporter of Neatherlands in Far East, and, for that matter, the only nation that supplied China with armament and material. It was time to teach these White Ignorants a lesson. In the same day the production of superheavy battleship Yamato and 4 air carriers were set to the top priority. They would be the backbone of a navy that could rival the Royal Navy head to head.

 

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Jun 24 1941

It was a bad day for Japan Secretary of Foreign Togo Shigenori. On the previous night Sinkiang declared war on Japan. Not a big deal, did anyone really care what a central asia warlord which got no common border with Japan did?

And here came the weekly routine: protest to the British ambassadar about their aids to Chinese government. This british gentlman had carefully listened to the lengthy and cliche talk from Togo which ended with the routine threat:

"If this situation continues, something both of us will regret might happen..."

Then the ambassadar answered:

"I guess I will save you the trouble. I am here to officially inform you and your government, we are now at war."

What?

In less than 2 hours all the dominions of the British Empire declared war at Japan, together with France, Neatherlands, Belgium. Even Bhutan and Nepal.

The same day the formal Shanxi warlord Yan Hsi-shan was stripped of all power. His troops were disarmed by National Chinese troops and his Shanxi government was declared to dissolve. Yan was effectively under home arrest by National Chinese policeman. However, a Japanese commando succeeded in breaking into his house and took him away. He was supposed to be sent to Taiyuan in a few days. On the same time Japan announced the new Shanxi Government was formed in Taiyuan with Yan as the head of government. The provinces Shanxi and Hebei were immediately transferred into the power of this new government, under Japanese "supervision".

And the China Exp Army HQ received the order from Tokyo: Operation Reikyo recalled. All units hold current position and wait for new order.

 

[Sir Humphrey]

Very nice.