Iron Cross

The answer was soon revealed. Prince Higashikuni said, "Your Majesty, it's not impossible for me to be the Chief of Staff, but I have a condition."

"You say."

"Ishiwara Kanji must be the Vice Chief of Staff."

"Ishiwara Kanji?" Hirohito nodded, "I know that he has always opposed Tojo's wrong ideas and was kicked out to teach at the university. Many of his policy ideas seemed a bit negative at first, but now they seem to be right. He is a visionary person. I think he can help you manage the General Staff Headquarters."

Kido Koichi was shocked and blurted out, "If Ishiwara Kanji comes to power, it will be difficult to become the Minister of War. Both Commander Umezu and Commander Yan Shunroku disagree with Vice Minister Ishihara's political views..."

"What's so difficult? Let General Itagaki Seishirō be the Minister of War. With Ishihara's wisdom and Itagaki's courage, the army will definitely have a new situation." Prince Higashikuni said nonchalantly.

But Hirohito frowned and said, "Itagaki Seishirō is not suitable. He has repeatedly provoked the Soviet Union during his tenure. After the warming of relations with Germany this time, the army is more likely to be instigated by Germany to attack the Soviet Union. Now that the empire is trapped internally and externally, it is not easy to make too many enemies."

"Then there is only Tada Shun?"

"But he has been transferred to the reserve a year ago." Kido Koichi said embarrassedly.

"Then just go back to active service." Prince Higashikuni said, "The cabinet reorganization should be done quickly rather than slowly. If it is delayed for a long time, there will be all kinds of voices."

Hirohito nodded in agreement, and then instructed Kido Koichi: "I will entrust you to talk to Tada Shun and Prince Fushimi Hiroyoshi. You must make it clear that it is my intention. I will consider the prime minister's matter again. Ishihara can worry about the work of the General Staff Headquarters first, and as for the military police surveillance, withdraw it immediately-Tojo is too outrageous."

"Your subjects obey your order." Kido Koichi and Prince Higashikuni looked at each other, smiled at each other, and immediately understood each other's mentality.

Did Prince Higashikuni visit Hirohito out of leisure? Of course not. He secretly received a message from Ishihara Kanji yesterday evening. Combined with the situation that the cabinet would be in turmoil, he keenly sensed the opportunity and immediately became restless. He decided to go and meet Ishihara Kanji in person and listen to his opinions. As a person who had served as the deputy chief of staff, Ishihara certainly had a backer, otherwise he would not have been able to stand up to Tojo for so long. This backer was Prince Higashikuni. The military police saw the royal family coming to visit, of course, they did not dare to move at all, and no one dared to report it. If the prime minister and the royal family eventually fell out, they would still be unlucky. This time Ishihara learned his lesson and knew that he had a large group of opponents in both the Army Ministry and the General Staff Headquarters. Therefore, his suggestion was to exclude Tojo's faction and reuse the people who had opposed the "non-expansion" faction. In other words, everyone from top to bottom must be Ishihara's friends or supporters. This was supported by Prince Toshihiko Higashikuni, who also wanted to use this incident to purge the General Staff. Ishihara's first choice for the Minister of War was Itagaki Seishirō. After discussion, the two believed that except for Umezu Mijiro and Yan Shunroku, other neutrals were acceptable, even Koiso Kuniaki could be appointed. Of course, another reason for rejecting Umezu Mijiro was that Ishihara believed that Umezu Mijiro was crucial in the Kwantung Army, and only he could control the Kwantung Army and prevent them from making a move - now they must not fight against the Soviet Union again, even if the Germans were talking about it. But in the end, neither of them expected that the Minister of War would fall on the retired Tada Shun.

Kido Koichi was still thinking about the candidate for Prime Minister: If Tada Shun and Ishihara came to power, Umezu Mijiro, who was not in the same faction as them, would definitely not have a chance; Koiso Kuniaki was a member of Ugaki Kazunari's team, and it was estimated that he would not be able to do it either; but would Ugaki Kazunari's possibility increase a little?

Ugaki Kazunari has been circling around the prime minister's throne for these years. He seemed to have a chance every time but failed to seize it every time. Among other factors, it was mainly because he offended the army in two things. The first was the "Ugaki Disarmament" in 1925. He reduced the army's strength by 4 divisions, closed 5 army hospitals and 2 army junior schools, and then used the saved funds to expand a tank regiment, an anti-aircraft artillery regiment, two aviation regiments and a Taiwan mountain artillery regiment, opened an army automobile school and a communications school, and equipped the army with aircraft, tanks, light machine guns, automobile-towed artillery and field heavy artillery. The strength of the troops was improved, but the officers of the 4 divisions were not properly placed, which caused opposition within the army. Now it seems that the first factor does not exist, because facts have proved that Ugaki's method is reasonable. Japan has a lot of troops but its technical equipment is seriously backward. It can still show off its strength on the Chinese battlefield, but it can only admit defeat to the Soviet army. Whether it is Zhanggufeng or Nomonhan, the Japanese army was defeated miserably every time. It was even more defeated when it encountered the Americans on the battlefield in Nanyang. It only took advantage of the British who were only left with a scumbag. If it wants to continue fighting, it must use Ugaki's method to improve the quality.

The second is the failed "March Coup" in 1930. That year, the core figures of the Ugaki faction, Hashimoto Kingoro, Naga Yong, Tanaka Kiyoshi, and several junior officers and Okawa Shumei wanted to push Ugaki to the stage as prime minister. They planned to let Koiso Kuniaki mobilize the right wing through Okawa Shumei to create riots, and then send troops to establish a military dictatorship in the name of suppressing the riots, but Ugaki himself gave up because of his unsteady attitude. Now even Koiso Kuniaki, his former subordinate, has been put on the list of prime minister candidates for preparation, so there is no reason to entangle with this matter.

Excluding these two factors, Kido Koichi was surprised to find that Ugaki Kazunari met almost all the conditions. In addition, the Council of Ministers had pushed Ugaki Kazunari to be prime minister during cabinet changes many times. He believed that Ugaki Kazunari should be given a chance. : This time the re-election of the Prime Minister is to coordinate the relations between all parties rather than simply provide decision-making services. Ugaki Kazunari, who has deep qualifications and wide contacts, meets this requirement. He is determined to reveal Hirohito's recent changes in mentality to high-level meetings and let them re- Consider the recommendation.

That night, the ingratiating Kido Koichi approached Tada Shun for negotiation and communication. The latter himself was dumbfounded. How dare a retired general and a figure who has almost stepped aside dare to think of a position like Prime Minister? But he became excited when he heard that it was King Higashino Minuhiko and Ishihara who recommended him, because these two people were old acquaintances and had a good relationship, which would be very helpful for future work. But he was a man with a calm personality. Although he was excited, he was not in a hurry to express his position. After thinking about it for a long time, he finally made a request: "If you want me to serve as land minister, I hope that the sea minister will be appointed by General Yamamoto. He is the one who can really control the troops." He is also the current soul of the Navy. I don’t want to be deceived by the Navy again on major issues. If it happens a second time, it won’t be as simple as resigning. That will cost me my head..."

"Sir, major changes have occurred in Tokyo." At the Combined Fleet Headquarters in Truk Atoll, Lieutenant General Matoi Ugaki, Chief of Staff, came over and handed the relevant telegram to Combined Fleet Commander Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.

"Well, let me see..."

When he saw the news of Marine Minister Shimada's suicide and the resignation of Chief of Military Command Nagano Osamu, Yamamoto Isoroku knew that a storm was coming.

"Any other news?"

"It is said that Chuichi Nagumo is also going to resign, and the report has been drafted."

Yamamoto Isoroku nodded. Of course Nagumo Chuichi would resign. Firstly, he was the culprit for the defeat at Midway. Secondly, his benefactor, Admiral Nagano Osamu, resigned. Nagumo Chuichi could not stay in the position of commander of the mobile fleet— —He is not one of Yamamoto’s men. How can he survive without the support of Nagano Shushen?

"Respect his personal choice."

"The second telegram is Tokyo ordering us to end the Guadalcanal operation as soon as possible and assist the Army in its full transition."

"What?" Yamamoto Isoroku hadn't expressed his position yet, and all the other combat staff nearby yelled, "Who gave this order? With the Navy Minister gone and the Chief of the Military Command resigning, who can directly order the combined fleet? This is a random order. ! Besides, we have made countless sacrifices in the Guadalcanal Campaign. If we persist a little longer, a turnaround may be just around the corner. How can we give up so easily?”

"Obey the order." Yamamoto Isoroku said calmly.

"Yes, but?..."

Yamamoto had clearly seen the source of the telegram and explained: "This is His Majesty's personal edict, not issued by the Military Command. Of course it is not an arbitrary order. Have you forgotten that Your Majesty has the supreme commanding power?"

Everyone was silent, and everyone was thinking: What happened, and why did the situation suddenly become like this?

Later, a flood of messages came in, and all the people in the headquarters realized that the Navy had concealed the true situation of the Battle of Midway and Guadalcanal from the Emperor, and they began to discuss:

"Hey, those people in Tokyo are messing around. We have already reported the situation to the country. We cannot be blamed for lying and concealing reports."

"It's probably General Nagano's idea. He has a lot of clever ideas. It was because of him that Chief Nagumo refused to resign. You didn't notice that as soon as he resigned, Chief Nagumo also resigned."

"But it's good like this now. The commander has more power, and he will no longer be restricted by those damn army deer."

"That's enough!" Yamamoto glared at everyone. scolded, "You can discuss high-level personnel changes and major policies?"

A group of staff members were silent and did not dare to make any sound. Yamamoto then left the room and went to the bridge.

"Sir, I see you are not very happy." Ugaki Matoi followed silently and said after a long time.

"Can you be happy?"

"I think..."

Before Ugaki finished speaking, he was interrupted by Yamamoto Isoroku: "I may have to leave the United Fleet..."

"Why?"

"The country is in a difficult situation. Your Majesty may have other considerations and arrangements for me without saying anything."

"But who has the prestige and ability to hold the position of commander-in-chief of the combined fleet?"

"There will always be someone." Yamamoto said meaningfully, "What if I die tomorrow, will the combined fleet be disbanded?"