Age of Rebirth

In many cases, a word is like a floodgate, which can close the mouth that is endlessly eloquent. This is especially true for General Umezu Yoshijiro, who is in a state of paranoia and can't stop thinking. Said: "Mr. Matsuda, but the news that the base camp is going to send more troops to the Manchurian battlefield?" He ignored the three words "have to" that Lieutenant General Matsuda specially emphasized.

Chief of Staff Matsuda suddenly felt a sense of pity. If he is pitiful, it is the General Meizu who is immersed in paranoia and fantasy. He suddenly does not know that he has been reduced to a pitiful role, and he is still very kind. Yes, I didn't want to deal a heavy blow to my former boss in front of so many senior officers at the headquarters, but the conversation has already reached here.

There was a wry smile on the corner of Matsuda's mouth, his eyes seemed to avoid something, and he said: "No, General Meizu, when I was in Xinjing, I received an urgent and top-secret telegram from the base camp. The commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army is now on his way to Fengtian!"

The war room was suddenly as quiet as death. All the officers of the Kwantung Army who had been summoned inexplicably to hold a military meeting were all dumbfounded, as if they hadn't woken up from the shocking news, "Crack!" The baton fell to the ground, and it was extremely ear-piercing in the dead silence and oppressive atmosphere. Immediately afterwards, General Meijin's body, which was full of excitement, withered instantly like a balloon with a hole in it.

General Yoshijiro Umezu, with dull eyes, slumped down on his chair. The silence overwhelmed the officers of the Kwantung Army, and they couldn't breathe. Chief of Staff Matsuda sighed inwardly.Waving their hands, these officers slipped away softly into the war room with shocked expressions like a dream amnesty.Only General Umezu and Chief of Staff Matsuda were left.

The silence lasted for a long time, and General Meijin slowly raised his head, with a fierce gleam in his eyes, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Why?" His tone was gloomy, like a wounded beast.

General Meijin asked without thinking, just a simple "Why?" But Chief of Staff Matsuda knew it well.The showdown was over, but his heart was much calmer. Facing the fierce eyes of General Meijin, he said indifferently: "The situation forced it! General Meijin, you disappeared on the battlefield and your whereabouts are unknown. Many things have happened. I think that my ability is limited and I can't control the situation in Manchuria, so I can only report the situation in Manchuria to the base camp truthfully!"

General Umetsu sighed, with a lonely expression, and said, "Understood! When will General Nanjiro arrive in Fengtian!"

"There are still about four hours, and General Nanjiro has now arrived at Lagu in the south of Fushun!" Chief of Staff Matsuda replied.

"Okay! Matsuda-kun. Please, when General Nanjiro arrives at the headquarters of the Fengtian Kwantung Army, arrange for me to meet him. Now, arrange a place for me to rest, prepare a dinner, and—and me military uniform!" General Umezu Yoshijiro walked out of the war room slowly, seemingly begging and commanding, his back was desolate and thin, that General Umezu who used to be as strong as a cow and as imposing as a tiger.die here.

Chief of Staff Matsuda felt emotional for a while, feeling inexplicably saddened by the death of a rabbit and a fox, "No problem, Your Excellency, now. You are still my boss! General of the Imperial Army!" This is the last respect for General Meijin!

In the early hours of the morning, in order to avoid the independent division troops that might be encountered, General Nanjiro, who took a long detour and bumped almost all night, finally rushed to the headquarters of the Fengtian Kwantung Army with fatigue all over his body. For him, there are only a few people such as Lieutenant General Matsuda, the chief of staff.

After getting out of the car, General Nanjiro looked at everything that was familiar to him under the dim light, took a deep breath, and came back again after leaving for less than three months. When he left, the situation in Manchuria was critical, but there was no The reason is out of control, and now he came back to save the lives of more than 100 million soldiers of the Kwantung Army, and he came to seek peace with the mortal enemy of the empire—the Chinese devil Tang Qiuli. Suddenly, he felt that things are right and people are wrong !

Chief of the General Staff Matsuda accompanied General Nanjiro to the headquarters. As he walked, he said, "Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, you have come a long way and have been exhausted all the way. The staff department has prepared hot water and dinner for you!"

"Hmm!" General Minamijiro agreed with a cold expression without comment. Lieutenant General Matsuda, who understood the old commander's temper, didn't care, hesitated for a while, and then said: "Commander-in-Chief, General Umezu Yoshijiro is back!"

"Oh?" General Nanjiro was finally moved by surprise. He stopped suddenly and looked at Chief of Staff Matsuda carefully. "Is Umetsu-kun injured? Is he in good health? Where did you place him?"

A series of questions seemed to be deeply concerned about his colleagues, but Lieutenant General Matsuda knew that this was not what the old chief wanted to ask, "General Meijin asked me to meet with you!" He replied truthfully.

General Nanjiro hesitated for a while, and finally ordered: "Matsuda-kun, you arrange a quiet room, simply prepare some pure local dishes, and prepare more high-quality sake, and I will eat with Umezu-kun." Talk, don't let anyone bother us!"

"Hay! Immediately follow your instructions!" Lieutenant General Matsuda stood at attention. For some reason, his heart suddenly relaxed. It seemed that someone had taken over the burden of General Umezu Yoshijiro!

Changed into a new military uniform, General Umezu Yoshijiro, who was spotless but still looking gloomy, followed Chief of the General Staff Matsuda into a quiet room. General Minamijiro was waiting for him. Then, Lieutenant General Matsuda quietly opened the door from the outside. Above, there were two people in the room. The two commanders-in-chief of the Kwantung Army finally met. This was not the first time, but the roles of the two had been completely reversed.

General Nanjiro looked at him in surprise. General Umezu, who was so thin that he lost his human figure, handed over the position of commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army three months ago, and he was also at the headquarters of the Kwantung Army. At that time, General Umezu Yoshijiro was so high-spirited and full of confidence , as strong as a cow, it's only been more than three months, how come. . . . . . ?

The astonishment in General Nanjiro's eyes was seen in General Meijin's eyes, and he could only smile wryly in his heart, "If you spend more than ten days fleeing the battlefield, you can't eat or sleep well, and you should always be on guard against the battlefield hunting you down. Soldiers of the Independent Division, tense up their nerves all the time, and after taking the time to sleep for a while at night, they don’t know if they will see the sun tomorrow again, so they won’t be surprised!”

"Meijin-kun, I asked Matsuda-kun to prepare some food and drinks. Just the two of us, we can eat and talk openly without being disturbed. Please sit down!" General Nanjiro gave way gently.

General Meijin smiled bitterly, "Nanji-kun is interested, thank you!" Then, not politely, he sat down in front of the low table with wine and vegetables.

General Nanjiro picked up the jug, filled the wine glass in front of him with sake, and said politely: "Umezu-kun, I came to Manchuria this time to take over your position by order of His Majesty the Emperor and the headquarters!" The words were very direct, without beating around the bush, because General Nanjiro felt that there was no need to cover up between the two senior generals of the Imperial Army.

"Gudu!" General Umezu drank the wine in his glass, fixed his eyes on General Nanjiro, and asked very calmly: "I understand, what punishment will the base camp impose on me?"

The question was also very straightforward. It was obvious that the base camp suddenly sent Nanjiro to replace him, which meant that during the few months in Manchuria, he did not do anything that satisfied His Majesty the Emperor and the base camp. Moreover, The current situation in Manchuria has reached an irreparable level. Speaking of it, I have my own responsibility, but not all of it is my own responsibility. When I took over the post of commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army, the situation in Manchuria was already in danger!

It seems that I have taken the blame for the old guy who poured wine for me in front of me!Since he was dismissed, he must be held accountable and punished. When he learned that General Nanjiro would take over his post, General Umezu knew very well, and he was mentally prepared. His Majesty the Emperor, the headquarters, and even the empire, A scapegoat is needed!Come and take responsibility for the current situation in Manchuria!

General Nanjiro shook his head, and said: "No, His Majesty the Emperor and the base camp have not imposed any punishment on you, not even an order to formally dismiss you as the commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army!"

"Why?" General Meijin was finally surprised and asked in disbelief.

General Nanjiro shook his head slightly, and said: "After receiving the telegram from Matsuda Kenjiro, His Majesty the Emperor and the headquarters judged that Umezu-kun had already died for the country. He had been missing for more than ten days and his whereabouts were unknown. Happened, how to punish you!"

General Meijin shook his head with a self-deprecating wry smile, his heart was like a mirror, in the eyes of His Majesty the Emperor and those big bosses in the headquarters, he was already a dead person, how could he punish the dead?Thinking of this, it is very unsatisfactory.

"By the way, Nanji-kun, have I delivered the memorial to His Majesty, His Excellency Minai Koichi, to His Majesty the Emperor?" What General Umezu couldn't let go of was this matter. Perhaps, this was an opportunity to change his own destiny, because The subsequent development of the Manchurian War proved that my judgment was correct!

Strategic foresight can better demonstrate one's military talents. From the bottom of his heart, General Meijin is not reconciled to being kicked out of the position of commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army just like that.

Maybe, the memorial can be appreciated by His Majesty the Emperor, and the result can be reversed, so that the old guy can go home, and then continue to implement the battle plan that he obtained after careful consideration during so many sleepless nights on the way to escape.

(To be continued)