Age of Rebirth

General Ito's tone was full of contempt, and General Yamamoto almost fainted, "This bastard, on the one hand, clings to the army-oriented thinking, and on the other hand, emphasizes that mastering air and sea control is a matter of the navy, but there is Isn’t it a typical paradox to regard the navy and air force as subordinate to the army?”

"Ito-kun, since you think that before starting to land on the west coast of the United States, the issue of air and sea control must be resolved, then it proves that the tactics I am using now are correct and effective!" General Yamamoto's eyes have begun to blaze Son, "Ito-kun won't deny this?"

Not to be outdone, General Ito stared at his eyes and said, "It's not a question of denial or acknowledgment, but a battle against the mainland of the United States. All military operations must be dominated by the army, otherwise, it will be difficult to win!"

"Remind Yamamoto-kun not to forget that the just-concluded Australian war was won by the army as the main force. The attached air force was not even a supporting role. To occupy the entire Australian continent, it still relied on the soldiers of the Imperial Army Two feet! Actually, I haven’t seen any outstanding performance of the naval and aviation units, which spend more than two-thirds of the empire’s military expenditure!”

General Yamamoto is about to explode with anger. Facing such a stubborn guy who clings to his old experience, there is no need to talk about it any further. Son, he will not give in!

"Crack!" General Yamamoto slapped the table fiercely in anger, and the plates and bowls on the table jumped up.The voice also became louder, "Ito-kun, don't cling to your army's victory argument. Ito-kun should not forget that a few years ago, on the southern battlefield of the mainland of China, the Imperial China Southern Dispatch under the command of Ito-kun Army, how was it beaten so terribly by the troops of the Chinese demon Tang Qiuli that the entire army was almost wiped out?"

"As for the Navy, since the beginning of the Pacific War, it has never tasted a defeat. It wiped out the US Navy's Pacific Fleet that has been rebuilt many times. Even the Australian War that Mr. Ito is proud of. It was also when the Navy completely blocked the US mainland to Australia. The victory was achieved under the premise of the mainland communication line, and Ito would not think that he won the Australian war just by relying on the army?"

General Ito is not to be outdone.Although you are the commander and I am the deputy, but the military rank is generally large, and there are two factions, the background is evenly matched, don't try to scare me with attitude, just slap the table and stare at the poor words, get used to your stink, treat me like you are in the navy subordinate?

What's even more unbearable.He even exposed his own background, not knowing which battle was fought in the south of China mainland.Is it my eternal pain? General Ito raised his hand even more simply, "Wow!" Overturned the table in front of him, and scattered all kinds of dishes on the floor. Then, he looked provocatively at General Yamamoto, whose face was livid with anger, He gritted his teeth and growled: "Commander Yamamoto, you've gone too far, I'd better take back what you just said!"

As far as the positions of General Yamamoto and General Ito are concerned, there is no possibility of agreement and mutual compromise when it comes to issues of principle. , is harder than climbing to the sky!

One is that the navy decides the victory or defeat of a war. It is a loyal supporter of the key factor theory and a practitioner. It has also been tested in actual combat. Coincidentally, the defeated opponents are all Americans and the allied forces dominated by Americans force.

Admiral Yamamoto and Admiral Ito have absolutely irreconcilable differences on the tactical issue and campaign thinking of the war against the United States. This is no longer a personal dispute. Even if the lawsuit is brought before His Majesty the Emperor, it will not help It is related to the battle between the land power and the sea power that has lasted for many years in the Japanese army and navy. Even the imperial power cannot forcibly suppress one side!

The two generals present here, the chief and deputy commanders of the Japanese North American Combat Command, one patted the table and the other lifted the table, and then looked at each other viciously like a cockfight. I was so shocked that I was stunned, my mind went blank, and I didn't even have the idea of ​​interjecting!

General Nanye sighed deeply and remained silent. Even he himself could not reconcile this situation. He was still on the side of General Yamamoto in his heart. He was quite disgusted with General Ito's stubbornness and obstinacy. If the war is fought according to Ito's thinking, the prospect of the empire will definitely be bad, but he also knows that he cannot persuade Ito to give up the theory he insisted on.

As one of the few strategists in the Empire of Japan, Admiral Minano is deeply worried about this. In this case, it is not a matter of standing in line or choosing, but that everything depends on the empire being able to win the war against the United States. actual departure.

General Nanye took a shallow sip of wine, sighed and said: "Yamamoto-kun, Ito-kun, any of you are leaders in the empire's military world, and you are all meritorious ministers of the empire in the Pacific War. Everyone has a reason to stick to their own theory!"

"But what Nanye wants to say now is that any kind of theory must be considered in the actual situation. As far as the empire is about to launch a war against the United States, my personal attitude is that Yamamoto-kun's tactics and campaign ideas are It is the most appropriate and most effective!"

"And Ito-kun's army victory theory may become dominant when fighting in depth in the United States, but at least for now, it is out of date. Therefore, I firmly stand on Yamamoto-kun's side!"

"You..." General Ito was furious, and almost blurted out the word "traitor", gnashing his teeth and cursing in his heart, "You old bastard, are you still from the army? How did you get to Pearl Harbor? , have a hot fight with the Navy? Wear a pair of pants with Yamamoto?"

"Commander Yamamoto and Chief of Staff Minano, if we don't agree with each other!" Admiral Ito said viciously with a livid face, "As the deputy commander of the Imperial North American Operations Command, I will truthfully state to His Majesty the Emperor and the headquarters My own views and opinions, even if His Majesty the Emperor disagrees, I will not change my original intention! Farewell! Thank you for the reception feast that gave me insight! Kawaguchi-kun, let's go!"

General Ito took Major General Kawaguchi and left angrily. Before he left, he said some tough words, leaving General Yamamoto and General Minano, looking at the mess all over the ground, they were relatively speechless, and their expressions were as ugly as those of dead people. like.

After a long time, General Nanye said quietly: "Yamamoto-kun, what I am most worried about is that an army general like General Ito, who is stubborn, does not see that because of the difference in the battlefield, the tactics to be adopted should also be different. Such a change, and In the actual battle, it is definitely not the luck of the empire to do something that does not obey orders!"

"This is no longer a battle of wills, it will spoil the big things! The most taboo thing in the battle is that the generals will be single-minded and restrain each other. It is impossible for Ito Yansaburo to give up his ideas and follow your ideas completely. Yamamoto-kun, it's time to make up your mind!"

General Yamamoto raised his head suddenly, his eyes sparkled brightly, and he said uncertainly, "Nanye-kun, what do you mean..."

"Yes, in order to ensure the empire's final victory in the war against the United States, you must gather all the command powers in one person, and you should not appear to challenge your authority, or those who have the qualifications and ability to decentralize power, Existing in the North American Combat Command of the Empire, that would be a bad thing!" There was a dim light in the eyes of General Minano.

Two days later, General Ito's memorial first flew in front of Emperor Hirohito, and then General Yamamoto's memorial also flew to Tokyo. Unlike General Ito's memorial, General Yamamoto did not state in the memorial Own campaign ideas and specific tactical issues.

Instead, he put forward with a very clear attitude, "Your Majesty, when the empire is about to launch a large-scale attack on the United States, the ministers have to think again and again. The centralization of command and control of the campaign is especially important. Otherwise, it is absolutely difficult to fulfill your majesty's high expectations!"

"Therefore, I implore you, Your Majesty is issuing an edict to abolish the post of Deputy Commander of the Imperial North American Combat Command, and it should not be established again. The battle for the dominance of the Imperial Army and Navy has been going on for a long time, and I don't want to waste my energy on it. , Spend on this, otherwise, I would rather resign from the current position as the commander of the Imperial North American Combat Command, and give up!"

General Yamamoto's meaning is very clear. If I don't transfer Yanzaburo Ito, I won't do it. Please also ask Gao Ming. In the North American Combat Command, there is me without him, and he without me. Anyway, you can't eat in a trough Grass.

After reading the two memorials, Emperor Hirohito's head swelled and he had a headache. Why can't the people in the army and navy, like enemies for a few lifetimes, abandon the past and cooperate sincerely for the great cause of the empire?

They are also from the army. You see, Xiushan Minano and Yamamoto 56 have a very happy cooperation. Probably Minano is an anomaly. Both Yamamoto and Ito are capable and heavyweight front-line commanders, and both have illustrious military exploits. , It really made it difficult for Emperor Hirohito to choose and make a decision.

Of course, Hirohito hoped that Yamamoto and Ito would cooperate sincerely to build a world for the empire together, but he knew that this was absolutely impossible, and he brought the lawsuit to him. Generals who are strong enough, if they are forcibly squeezed together, it will definitely cause bad things!

Three days later, an order personally signed by Emperor Hirohito arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, "In view of the fact that the war with the United States has reached a critical juncture, in order to concentrate military command and better coordinate the combat steps of the army and navy, the headquarters decided to revoke the The post of deputy commander of the Imperial North American Combat Command, the former deputy commander Gensaburo Ito, was immediately recalled to the country, and another appointment was made!"

(to be continued) (to be continued...)