Chapter 996 Cairo Declaration (Part 2)

ps: Double monthly tickets have started. Please give me a monthly ticket. The promise of adding more tickets every 300 votes will continue to be valid and will not be doubled. Haha...

Foreign Minister Tani Masayuki sighed. Although Horikichi's words may not sound good, they are the truth. The current situation is very clear to the top leaders. Without Japan, Germany would be in trouble at most. Japan cannot afford it without Germany's support. All European countries are following Germany's lead. Italy, the second leader in the axis, has just changed its prime minister. It is Germany that even stabilizes the situation. Who dares to challenge Germany?

"I know what Hori-kun said. As long as it's not a matter of principle, I'll do whatever the Germans say. Isn't it just flattering? Who wouldn't?" King Higashikaru Miyazaki Minuhiko smiled magnanimously, "Germany is Unifying Europe and defeating the world leaders of Britain, France, the United States, and Russia at the same time, it is natural for Japan to be polite. If you want to replace the red deer in our country, I don’t know how far it has grown with such achievements. I must say that you all come to Berlin. Let's have a meeting, why would you choose Cairo specifically to take care of us? "

The Japanese guessed this correctly. The choice of holding the meeting in Cairo was first of all due to Hoffman's bad taste, but he also had to take care of Japan's face, because he wanted to talk about something different with Japan, and he did not first earn enough face for the other party. It’s not easy to open this mouth.

But King Higashino and Horikichi never expected that the opinions put forward by Germany could not be simply agreed to. After the grand and solemn welcome ceremony, that night, Hoffman invited King Higashino and Higashino for a secret meeting. , accompanied by Cole and Tani Masayuki. He originally wanted to invite Horikichi, but the Prime Minister was still a member of the royal family, so it was not easy to avoid it.

"Does your country want German New Guinea and other Pacific islands? This..." Upon hearing Hoffman's explanation of his intention, King Higashino Miyazaki couldn't sit still. He almost wanted to jump up and refuse directly, "Absolutely not", but Thinking of Horikichi's explanation in the afternoon, he managed to squeeze out a smile, "We did not take these islands from your country... um... this..."

It's far-fetched to say otherwise, because they were actually taken from Germany after World War I - Japan and Germany were hostile to each other in World War I. But now that Germany has expressed its intention to withdraw, Prince Higashinominiya's face becomes elongated.

"I won't talk about the past disputes. I'm not settling old scores with your country. Germany's current claims are mainly old colonies, and it needs an explanation at home." Hoffman said with a smile, "We can't take Japan's allies in vain. We will be compensated for the territory or the results of the war, and we can refer to the British - tanks, warships, and technology can all be discussed..."

King Higashikata Minuhiko did not want the atmosphere to become tense. Besides, the Germans also proposed "buying". Britain can buy and France can negotiate, so why can't Germany negotiate? He felt that he could not open his mouth even if he favored one and the other, so he changed his mind and said: "Currently, these are important defense areas of our country. I have to go back to discuss with the ministers and report to His Majesty."

"Of course, if the matter is not urgent, we can talk slowly." Hoffman smiled and suddenly said something that made the other party's heart skip a beat, "I heard that your country is in contact with the United States for peace negotiations?"

King Higashino Miyazaki wanted to deny it, but he knew it was wrong. Switzerland and Sweden were obviously penetrated deeper by Germany. How could they hide it from Germany? He reluctantly smiled and said: "We heard that your country broadcasts calls for armistice and peace to the United States every day. , so I tried to make contact, but it was actually just a test. Now the Eastern Expedition Fleet has set off and will launch an attack soon. "

This counterattack was very sharp: You, Germany, proposed peace first, and then Japan, and you see, I was just using smoke bombs to cover the fleet.

King Higashino Miyazaki didn't want to expose the news that the peace talks were rejected by the United States, but he didn't know that Germany actually knew everything - Switzerland speaks German, and Sweden is the younger brother of Northern Europe. What kind of trouble can they hide from the European overlord?

Hoffman did not dwell on this: "In fact, everyone hopes for peace, because the overall victory of the Axis has been determined. Under the current situation, everyone will not suffer from peace. Do you agree?"

King Higashino Miyazaki nodded of course: He dreams of peace in the current situation. Now that Japan is full, he most wants to stop and engage in construction.

"Then I propose a proposal. Both sides can seek peace through their own channels, but the terms should be communicated to their allies, and at the same time, the axis alliance system should not be undermined."

"Of course, of course, I totally agree!"

This round of talks lasted less than half an hour and ended. Hoffman personally sent King Higashino Higashino to the door, and then sent a company of guards to surround the Japanese Prime Minister and return.

In order to create a security system, the German army made Cairo impenetrable and mobilized a large number of troops withdrawn from the Eastern Front to Africa (they will be transferred to South Africa after the meeting). Hoffman was surrounded by the most elite 1944-type Guards Standard Division. , has a three-layered defense system, with the core and inner circle being the Brandenburg troops, in order to avoid any surprises. There are currently more troops in Egypt than when they first fought against the British.

Hoffman asked Cole, "How promising do you think my proposal is?"

"It's hard to say. First, it depends on how well Japan is doing. Second, it depends on how Your Excellencies Horikichi and Ishihara Kanji view this issue." Cole said with a smile, "Currently, it is not the person in the imperial palace who decides on Japan's major policies. , not the prime minister, but a unique army-naval coordination system.”

This comment hit the nail on the head. Everyone promoted him to the position of prime minister of King Higashikaru Palace Minuhiko because he could represent the coordinated interests of the army and navy. If this was violated, nothing would be done. Apart from these, his status, reputation, and identity are of use.

Sure enough, King Higashikata Minuhiko hurriedly called for Horikichi as soon as he checked into the hotel: "Hori-kun, something bad has happened. Germany is eyeing our territory in the Pacific..."

Horikichi remained calm: "Are you asking for it or buying it?"

"Buy." King Higashikata Minuhiko looked at him strangely, "Do you know?"

"I guessed it." Horikichi replied lightly, "Ever since France discussed purchasing southern Indochina, I knew that the Germans were pushing behind it, and they were planning a post-war layout."

"How to reply to this? It would be too hurtful to refuse directly. If you don't refuse, how will we talk about it later? Many people here are in the absolute defense circle."

"What conditions did the Führer put forward?"

"I didn't say anything. I just said that we can discuss it and we won't suffer any loss." He told the general scene of Hoffman's meeting in detail, and then scratched his hair in distress, "This matter is not easy to handle. The Germans have too much appetite." big."

Horikichi listened to him patiently, thought carefully and said, "The head of state actually gave a very important condition."

"What?"

"Maintaining the Axis Alliance."

"What does this mean? Isn't this the obligation of all countries?"

Horikichi shook his head: "Your Highness, you and I are no longer children. We can just laugh at this kind of statement, but we can't take it seriously."

Prince Higashikata Minuhiko nodded: "That's right. Germany has no reason to fight to the death with the United States, and it is stronger than the United States. It will be easy for them to make peace."

"I guess the peace talks between the United States and Germany must be underway, and one of the clauses is to abandon Japan." Horikichi said, "Germany cannot agree to this condition, it must be destroyed..."

Although Horikichi said this, it hurt his self-esteem, but Prince Higashino Miyazaki was not a hot-headed red deer. He knew the importance and said hurriedly: "This is natural. Making good friends with Europe is the most important purpose of participating in this meeting. The United States has already With the door to reconciliation closed, Europe cannot afford any more surprises.”

Then the two men took out the map and began to study the territories that Germany planned to claim.

On the eve of World War I, Germany had quite a lot of territory in the Pacific, including German New Guinea (including Kaiser Wilhelm Territory, Bismarck Islands, Solomon Islands, Bougainville Island, Nauru, etc.), German Marshall Islands, and German Samoa. , Caroline Islands (including Truk, Palau, etc.), Mariana Islands and other places.

Horikichi pointed out: "It depends on the situation. For example, German Samoa is currently occupied by New Zealand, which allows the Germans to negotiate directly, and we don't care; the Caroline Islands and the Mariana Islands are the territories entrusted to Japan by the League of Nations. There are also important anchorages like Truk, which must not be handed over; the Marshall Islands are also very important and are the backbone of the absolute defense circle, and they cannot be handed over. The key is German New Guinea, where the situation is more complicated, the Solomon Islands, and Bugan. Weir has been occupied by the United States, and we have no counterattack plan in the short term. I think we can give it to Germany in exchange for supplies and equipment that the empire needs more. The key is the Bismarck Islands and New Guinea, which are relatively large and important..."

King Higashikata Minuhiko is in the Army and doesn't understand Nanyang geography, but he basically understands it after looking at the map. New Guinea is now the front line of the confrontation between Japan and the United States, and Rabaul is also in it. It has a very important position. It not only has a large navy, but also nearly 100,000 land troops. The head of state didn't talk about anything else when he came up, he just talked about New Guinea, and he seemed determined to win it.

He hesitated and said, "You won't give it to me?"

Horikichi shook his head: "It's impossible not to give it. It won't give it to this or that. It's equivalent to directly rejecting the German proposal. New Guinea is the largest piece of German-occupied territory. If you give it to this piece of land, you won't give it to other islands. There is another way of saying that if you don't give anything, I'm afraid it won't be easy to explain. The head of state is also a person who wants to save face. "

Prince Higashikata Minuhiko smiled bitterly. He could ignore the issue of face, but he did not dare to ignore Germany's strength.

"Prime Minister, I feel that I will be punished by heaven in the future..."

"How could it be?" King Higashikata Minuhiko asked strangely, "Isn't this a discussion..."

"You know my attitude towards Australia and New Zealand. I have always opposed expansion there. Once New Guinea is handed over, our road to Australia and New Zealand will be cut off. Do you know what this means?" Horikichi said, "I not only gave up. New Guinea has clearly given up on Australia and New Zealand. How will the country view it?”

Hearing what Horikichi said, King Higashinominiya's face became serious, and he couldn't help shouting: "Does Germany want to control Australia and New Zealand?"

"Maybe, maybe not." Horikichi smiled, "Now Britain is an ally of Germany, and Australia and New Zealand are British Dominions. To control Australia and New Zealand, Germany does not necessarily have to come forward in person. It is enough to lift Britain out... Oh, Take out the London government and there will now be two Britains.”