The Empire of Japan, 1936.
Exscript form 'Empires of the East' Arizona State University text, by Yosho Yazaki
In the year 1936 much of Asia was ruled by European powers. The British Empire, while in the last decades of it's existance, still strode the world like a titan, a empire that the sun never set on. In other places such as Australia the native population has been displaced almost entirely by European colonist and settlers. It seemed in that year that nothing would change that. A number of powers from the Soviet Union to the United States were covertly supporting and aiding factions within the region of China for both ideological and imperial reasons, as various nations sought to expand their sphere of influence and trade.
Change however was not long in coming. The military rulers of the Empire of Japan had long desired a pretext for intervention into China and their confidence was fed by their earlier sucesses in estblishing their puppet state in north of China. They would soon be given a golden oppority by the warlords of that region...
Tokyo, Japan, Imperial Army Intelligence HQ
"Would you sum it up for me, Captain?" Came the question. Captain Masaki stilled an urge to rub his throat in a nervious guesture, he had to keep his bearing as benefited a Japanese officer of the Army and servant of the emperor.
"The Guangxi Clique has declared war on Chaing's Nationalist government. The Northern Warlords are making noises about joining on the Guangxi's side. Yunan's declared neutrality, so have the communist. Though the western mulsims are with the nationalist. Sir. " He replied to his superior calmly.
"I see, in your professional opinion who do you think has the greater chance of victory?"
"All the armies invovled are... Less then acceptable by the standards of any true warrior Sir. There are if I may be premitted to note, alot more Nationalist peasents then there are warlord peasents. Also Chiang has more control over the industral areas of the Chinese region. The Guangixi should score some impressive early victories but in the end they will be overrun if they do not surrender. Sir." Captain Masaki noted keeping his face impassive. His superior was known for his temper and having a.. selective memory, more then one young officer had found himself disgraced and with only one honorable way out.
"Yes... Thank you Captain. That will be all."
Chinese civil war begins.
As the Captain left the room, General Tojo turnned to stare out of a small window. The Emperor was taking a more active role then he liked, one of those active roles had been to shunt him off to the side out of the government and insist on greater industralization instead of a military build up. Tojo had nothing but respect for the office of Emperor, it was the living symbol of Japan and the Japanese people, the greatest race on the face of the Earth! But in this case...
"Five factories but no tanks, planes or ships. How does he expect to enlarge the empire like that?" Even the research dictated by the government these days was mostly industral. Machine tools were well and good but rifles were what was needed! Still this Chinese Civil war was an oppority. He would... Discuss the situation with some of his friends and allies and see about turning it to Japan's advantage.
End of 1936, 11 months later
General Tojo stood on a the deck of a transport ship, grinning. His efforts had not been in vain! The Shangxi warlords of the north had under gentle urging sent a plea for Japanese alliance, protection and troops for their struggle against the Nationalist government and for a wonder the Emperor himself had accepted and ordered the armies into combat. He had however, refused Tojo a command, thus he was sneaking off to observe the battlefield for himself.
The situation was somewhat grim but not beyond the fighting spirit of proper warriors. The Gaungxi Cliche had been thrown back completely from their early gains (that Captain had been correct, Tojo would have to make a note of him later). The Nationalist had advanced deep into northern territory and only a single Corp of proper Japanese solders were available to stop them in addition to native barely able to be called solders. Peasents the lot most of them using WWI equipment!
Ah well, Bushido and the warrior spirit would just have to make good the lack of decent allies and numbers.
Northern front at the beginning of Japanese intervention into the Chinese civil war.