Kōdōha, the Imperial Way Faction, was a political faction in the Imperial Japanese Army, and now one of the two frontrunners between running the new Military Government. They are mostly junior officers, that promote totalitarian, militarist, and expansionist ideals. They are also considered 'Ultranationalist', the Kōdōha envision a return to an idealized pre-industrialized, pre-westernized Japan, in which the state was to be purged of corrupt bureaucrats, opportunistic politicians, and greedy zaibatsu capitalists. Domestically, the state would return to the traditional values of Japan. Of course, the modern Kodoha of this timeline realize that a pre-industrialized society is an impossibility, but they still maintain a hard stance against business zaibatsu, western ideology and promote traditional values and Japanese ideas.
Tōseiha, the Control Faction, was a political faction in the Imperial Japanese Army, and now one of the two frontrunners between running the new Military Government. Led by Major General Tetsuzan Nagata, along with Hideki Tōjō, the Tōseiha is a grouping of officers united primarily by their opposition to the Kōdōha faction led by General Sadao Araki and Jinzaburō Masaki. Many members are promising graduates of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy and Army Staff College, and are concerned about Araki's emphasis of the spiritual 'élan' of the army over modernization and mechanization. Whereas the Kōdōha is strongly supportive of the strategy of a preemptive strike against the German Empire, and their control of China, the Tōseiha favor a more cautious defense expansion. Both factions adopt some ideas from totalitarian and fascist political philosophies, and espouse a strong skepticism for political party politics and representative democracy. Unlike the Kōdōha, the Tōseiha foresee that future wars will be total wars, and will require the cooperation of the bureaucracy and the zaibatsu to maximize Japan's industrial and military capacity.
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As for the military situation of the Fengtien Republic:
Last tallies during our control of Manchuria showed that the Fengtien Republic maintained:
- 16 Infantry Divisions
- 1 Fighter Squadron
- 1 Tactical Bomber Squadron
Our military power in the area ready to fight upon the day of declaration are:
- 1 Army HQ
- 18 Infantry Divisions
- 5 Armored Cavalry Divisions
- 3 Fighter Squadrons
- 5 Tactical Bomber Squadrons
- 2 Additional Infantry Divisions projected to arrive before any declaration of war.
In addition, our military assets are considered several years ahead, technologically, with a more offensively-minded doctrine and well-trained officers behind them.
If anyone would like to modify their votes upon seeing this, please, go ahead.