Let me preface by saying I’m enjoying this back and forth. Tone is never present in online discussions and therefore words can come off the wrong way. Just know I’m loving the discussion :-D
Said respectfully, I feel like your Japanese plans never include the fact that the Allies get to buy units and move as well.
The US and Anzac will be steadily buying ships, planes and units as well. To maintain, and constantly retake, the DEI is worthwhile for Japan, but it’s certainly not easy or without cost. You will lose transports, men, and if you spread your force too thin trying to protect too much you’ll eventually get picked off. Again, Japan is strong and can certainly win the game. But it’s not as simple as saying “Japan will just take the DEI and hold them the whole time!” I’ve never played a single game of Global where Japan took the DEI J3 or J4 and held them virtually uncontested the rest of the way.
Let’s get back to China and Russia
In an earlier post you said you like to have the main Japanese fleet situated at the Caroline islands, plus a transport in 36/37 with some protection. You later mentioned you keep planes in Jehol. So let’s look at the setup going into round 2:
Russia moves 18 men and 2 AA into Amur; you want to counter with 15 ground units and some planes. Ok, no problem.
First things first, you’d have to anticipate Russia moving into Amur R2, meaning you’d have to leave back the Manchuria troops. So right off the bat Russia is, as the very least, dictating where your units have to go. Not a game breaker, but a nice ancillary benefit for the Allies. Moreover, you’d have to commit a couple of transports. Again, nice play for the Allies. Finally, since you’re doing the attack, you’ve now activated Mongolia and given Russia 6 extra troops. Once again, not a game changer, but still nice. Finally, let’s say you do have all your Manchurian troops still there, and your Korean troops, and transports ready to go, and half your air force in Jehol: Russia sees that and decides to sit in Buryatia on R2. So now what as Japan? You aren’t going to keep that entire air force in Jehol, right? You’re going to move those transports down toward the DEI, right? So Russia made you keep your men out of place for J2, then just moves into Amur on R3. What’s the next step? I’m guessing you’re not going to redirect your entire air force to Northern China on J3?
As far as planes go, I’m guessing on J1 you hit Yunan with 3 inf, 1 art, 1 ftr & 1 tac from Shanghai, 2 str from Japan. Let me know if I’m wrong, but this seems to be the standard as far as I can tell, since taking Yunan is important for J1. Those planes would have to land in Kwangsi, and I’m guessing you have at least a couple of your carriers loaded up in the water? And you at least brought a couple to Hunan? It’s very unlikely that you have your entire air force in Jehol.
As far as the Japanese homeland goes, I rarely find that it’s prudent for the US to spend heavy time and resources threatening SZ6. Ultimate, it just puts them out of position and let’s Japan do exactly what you said: control the DEI. Trust me, as the Allies I will have plenty of loaded carrier power down in Queensland around turn 4, 5.
Lastly, you mentioned that if China retakes Yunan and has to sit in Szechwan, they are susceptible to Japanese air strikes. I mentioned earlier in the thread that China can have about 12 inf, a ftr and 4 Russian units in Szechwan by the time J2 rolls around. Now, certainly you agree: the Japanese air force cannot be a threat to that stack, AND a threat to Amur, AND sitting on your carriers at the beginning of J2?