Age of Rebirth

The Japanese military and political officials were once again called into the palace overnight to participate in the imperial military meeting. Since the situation in Manchuria has deteriorated, the imperial military meeting held by His Majesty the Emperor has become as frequent as everyday food, and the Minister of Civil and Military affairs is not surprised. Yes, but, in my heart, there is a lot less sacred feeling in the past. If it was before, who can be specially ordered by His Majesty the Emperor to participate in the imperial meeting is almost as lucky as the smoke from the ancestral grave. It is worth celebrating by the family. Remember Enter the genealogy and show off to future generations!

This time, Emperor Hirohito’s imperial military meeting was not as long and noisy as before. In fact, there was nothing to argue about. Surrounding the crisis in Manchuria, various tricks and tricks They used them all over and over, and they did not hesitate to cut their flesh, and let the Germans come forward to mediate. In the end, all the hope was lost, and the Germans failed to mediate. In Manchuria, the Kwantung Army had no choice but to fight.

Up to now, each of their efforts failed, but Emperor Hirohito had a desperate effort. He didn't give the ministers time to speak at all. After reporting the failure of the German mediation, he directly addressed the Minister of Army and the Acting Chief of Staff of the headquarters. Chief General Mitsuko Minai said: "General Minai, in the name of the General Staff Headquarters, immediately order the Kwantung Army Commander-in-Chief, General Minamijiro, to be mentally prepared for a desperate battle!"

"In the order, we must clearly tell Nanjiro that it is better to be broken than to be whole. The more than one million soldiers of the Kwantung Army on the battlefield in Manchuria must have the determination to dedicate their lives to the Great Japanese Empire, even if they are all broken. , but also to cause heavy casualties to the troops of the Chinese demon Tang Qiuli, the warriors of the Yamato nation are brave and fearless, even in the face of an enemy several times their own!"

Don't look at Emperor Hirohito as the supreme commander of the Japanese army.But fighting a war is definitely a layman. This order was issued in a muddle, making more than 100 million Kwantung Army people desperate, which is right.But there must be a direction and a goal.How to fight, whether to break through or stick to the spot.Fight to the last man?

Minai Koichi naturally knew that His Majesty the Emperor was not good at this, and he was definitely a super master when he played tricks, tricks and so on.He said very humbly: "Your Majesty, once your order is issued, it will definitely inspire all the soldiers of the Kwantung Army to have the courage to fight bloody battles with the enemy. Encouragement. It will also play an immeasurable role. Please tell your Majesty whether the Kwantung Army will break through the siege or fight on the spot?"

Mi Neiguang said these words.The words are tight, just to remind Hirohito, how to fight the Kwantung Army, there are two ways, one is to break through the siege, and the other is to fight to the death on the spot. It's just right, but I really don't know how to make a specific decision. It's impossible for Minai Koichi to remind me more blatantly, how incompetent I seem?

"Hmm... this..." Emperor Hirohito pondered, secretly anxious in his heart, a large group of ministers were eagerly waiting for his holy will, suddenly, a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, Thinking of that guy Meizu Meijiro, what he said in the memorial, he immediately had an idea, and he seemed to say with confidence: "I have decided to break through! The troops of the Kwantung Army in the Ximan area will immediately break out in the west of Liaoning. The assembly point is at In the Huludao area in western Liaoning, join forces with the Kwantung Army troops in western Liaoning, and then withdraw to the Korean peninsula together!"

The ministers of foreign culture and military affairs below have all read Umezu Yoshijiro’s memorial. After hearing His Majesty’s words, a strange feeling suddenly arose in their hearts. On the one hand, he still adopted the suggestion in his memorial, so Meijin, the unlucky guy, is he a sinner or a hero, he is confused, and can only be explained by the unfathomable Sacred Heart!

Minai Koichi was afraid that His Majesty would reveal his secrets about the military command, so he hurriedly bowed and said loudly: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will immediately convey Your Majesty's imperial order to General Nanjiro, the commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army!"

Of course, this is not the end. If Ximan's Kwantung Army successfully breaks through the encirclement, joins up with the Kwantung Army in Western Liaoning, and withdraws to the Korean Peninsula, how will it go by sea?What flashed in Emperor Hirohito’s mind was the memorial of that unlucky Umezu, “Minister of the Navy, Aiki Nagano, your navy should immediately form a fleet and recruit a large number of merchant ships to the port of Huludao in Liaodong Bay. Responsible for covering the Kwantung Army troops that successfully broke through the siege, cross the sea and gather on the Korean peninsula!"

Secretary of the Navy Nagano Xiushan couldn't help grinning. It is easy to recruit merchant ships, but it may take a lot of effort to build a fleet. The navy's main fleet is in the Eastern Pacific and Southwest Pacific. They are desperately fighting the US Navy. There are only about [-] small-tonnage warships and gunboats, which were originally used for patrolling the local coastal waters. There is no choice but to pull them to the front line!

From the bottom of his heart, Nagano Xiushan is not optimistic about the formation of a fleet that goes deep into the Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Sea to meet and cover the retreat of the Kwantung Army troops. No, but they have to start from the mainland, pass through the Korean Strait, and go to Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Sea of ​​China. It is almost like a sheep entering the tiger's mouth. With the independent division fleet and land-based aircraft fleet, can this fleet that does not even have basic air defense capabilities be spared?

However, Nagano Shuzan understands that His Majesty the Emperor is putting all his eggs in one basket. If he presents these practical difficulties, he will openly oppose His Majesty's strategy and sing the opposite. I am afraid that the Secretary of the Navy will have to be replaced soon, but he is not reconciled. , Just order a fleet to die like this, without fighter jets and anti-aircraft firepower, these small-tonnage warships are almost like living targets!

Nagano Xiushan pondered for a while and said: "Your Majesty, the navy is very supportive of His Majesty's wise decision-making, but there is a practical difficulty. When the escort fleet and troop carrier formation are withdrawing from Manchuria, they will inevitably be attacked in the Liaodong Bay area." If this is the case for the interception of the independent division fleet and land-based fleet, after the bloody battle, wouldn't the Kwantung Army units already on board suffer another loss?"

Emperor Hirohito didn't quite understand the reason for the air superiority of the escort, the land-based fleet of the independent division, but as the Minister of the Navy, Nagano Xiushan must have a reason for what he said. Besides, in this case, Nagano Xiushan He didn't dare to make alarmist remarks, so he turned his attention to Koichi Minei.

As soon as Mi Neiguang knew what Yongye Xiushan meant, he also knew that what he said was true. Similarly, he did not want the Kwantung Army to suffer any losses at sea, so he said: "Your Majesty, what Yongye-kun said is absolutely reasonable. It means that the land-based air force and naval air force that can be mobilized in the mainland should be mobilized to form an escort fleet to escort the Kwantung Army troops to the Korean peninsula. Only in this way can the Kwantung Army's retreat be ensured.

The ministers of the Navy and the Army, who have never been able to urinate in the same pot, and pinched each other when they met, reached an unprecedented agreement on one thing, which surprised Emperor Hirohito, and was very pleased, "You two lovers, can you At the critical moment, I am very relieved to work together to share my worries. Well, I will authorize Aiqing Minai and Aiqing Nagano to jointly take charge of the retreat of the Kwantung Army. Should the plan be decided by you? , don’t report to me!”

"I very much hope that the two lovers will work together and come up with unique schemes to preserve a trace of the Kwantung Army's blood for the Empire of Japan and me. Then the two lovers will contribute to the empire and the present. Please!"

Emperor Hirohito also lowered his posture, stepped down from the dragon seat, and bowed deeply to Kouichi Minai and Shuzan Nagano, frightened the two extremely human ministers, bowed repeatedly, and said in a choked up voice : "Your Majesty, I have killed my ministers and others. It is my duty to serve His Majesty the Emperor and the Great Japanese Empire!"

After the meeting adjourned, Minai Koichi and Nagano Shuzan, two political enemies, rarely sat in a car, which caught the attention of the civil and military officials attending the meeting. Strange things happen every year, especially this year. The two donkeys, who have never been tied to the same trough, actually sit in the same car, and they are very polite to each other. They are used to pinching each other when they meet each other. Reunion!

In the car, looking out of the car window at the already dimly lit streets of Tokyo, Minai took a breath and said straightforwardly: "Mr. Yongye, from the establishment of the naval escort fleet to Huludao in the sea area of ​​Liaodong Bay, how long does it take in the shortest time?" long time?"

Nagano Xiushan was silent for a while, and he also answered affirmatively: "Minei-kun, the army and the navy are now united as one, and I will tell you the truth. To form a fleet, you need to mobilize warships from all over the mainland, plus the time spent at sea. , the fastest, it will take ten days before the fleet can reach Huludao in Liaodong Bay!"

"Okay!" Minei Kou knew that Nagano Xiushan didn't dare to play tricks at this time, "Nongye-kun, I will order the Kwantung Army troops to persist in the western Liaoning area for at least two weeks, so as to give the navy sufficient time to prepare!"

Minai Koichi's statement surprised Nagano Xiushan. He knew the weight of this promise and how heavy it was. In the case of being surrounded by enemies, the Kwantung Army troops would suffer more than tens of thousands of casualties every day they persisted. Minai Koichi is using the lives of soldiers of the Kwantung Army to buy time for the Navy!

For the first time, Nagano Xiushan's cold heart surged with a touch of emotion, "Minei-kun, I will order the fleet to Huludao in Liaodong Bay as quickly as possible, within ten days, and within a week." , The Kwantung Army is also an imperial army, and the navy has no reason to make these brave imperial soldiers pay a greater price for their own reasons!"

"Work hard!" Minai Koichi and Nagano Shuzan held hands tightly together. I don't know how many years, the two ministers in charge of the empire's army and navy have not shaken hands!

(To be continued)