Iron Cross

"All members of the combined fleet have joined the rebellion? Ugaki Tamateu Blade God Shigetoku?" After hearing Matsuda Chiaki's report, Yamamoto Isoroku, who was chatting with Horikichi in the military headquarters, was shocked, "This... …This…this…is impossible.”

"You don't believe it?"

"No, no, no, I believe in the matter of the United Fleet. The key is Ugaki Matoi..." Yamamoto Isoroku showed a confused look, "Both of us have never given Ugaki Matoi a good look. I still politely confessed to him. Get up, you are even more ruthless, you drove him away on the first day you boarded the ship, how could he do that? "

"Alas, everyone has forgotten that Ugaki Matoi's nickname is 'Golden Mask'." Inoue Narumi sighed, "This is actually his usual routine and style. Oikawa doesn't seem to understand. He is really careless."

The true meaning of "Golden Mask" is "the one who crushes scumbags". Ugaki Matoi will show his loyalty to those who are not as capable as him, regardless of the opponent's level; but on the other hand, if his ability is stronger than him, no matter what others think of him , he all admired him respectfully and prostrated himself.

Regarding Horikichi driving him away on the first day, he actually wrote in his diary: Well done! A chief of staff like me who tampered with the results of the exercise and dared not face the problem can no longer be employed. He needs to change his position and sober up. Commander Horikichi is a courageous commander.

When Horikichi not only led the Yamato to advance and win the South Pacific naval battle, but also led the Combined Fleet in the westward expedition with consecutive victories, and even dared to block the Panama Canal with battleships such as Mutsu, Ugaki Matoi decided that the Combined Fleet was not under the command of Horikichi. No. "After his short-lived appearance at Pearl Harbor, Commander Yamamoto became increasingly conservative and gradually transformed into a bureaucrat. However, Commander Horikichi's innovative and adventurous spirit continued, taking the Combined Fleet to new heights. In particular, he also spoke uprightly to reform the entire naval system," said I said what I wanted to say but didn't dare to say, which is so shocking..."

In the evening, the main force of the combined fleet entered Tokyo Bay and merged with the Second Air Battle. The atmosphere was warm and the sound of "onboard" could be heard endlessly.

Hearing that the entire United Fleet was "rebellious", Oikawa Furushiro committed suicide in his room in despair. After Kondo Nobutake rushed to the scene, he sighed and said: "Control the commander well, and then find a good coffin for the general." He was buried. He worked in the navy all his life. No matter how much credit he has, there is always hard work. "

Following in the footsteps of Koshiro Oikawa's suicide was Chuichi Nagumo. After witnessing the murder of Koji Matsushita and Masafumi Arima along with several staff members, he was the only one left in custody by the rebel army. He looked extremely depressed. Although Tsunoda and Nishimura were quite polite to him, Yamamoto Isoroku also sent a telegram specifically asking to find a way to keep Nagumo. But amid the intentional or unintentional cynicism of the surrounding soldiers, coupled with the news that the entire combined fleet had joined the rebel army, Nagumo Chuichi's last string broke and he chose to commit suicide.

"Welcome back to the ship, sir!" The deck of the Yamato docked at night was brightly lit. Headed by Kondo Nobutake, the officers and soldiers lined up in two neat rows to greet him.

"Thank you for your hard work, everyone!" Horikichi bowed slightly to everyone, "Thank you for your support of the just cause!"

"Onboard!" Everyone cheered.

Horikichi first walked up to Kondo Nobutake and thanked him. Then he walked up to Ugaki Matoi and patted him on the shoulder: "Ugaki-kun, it's not easy for you."

"Sir!" Ugaki said a thousand words, all while saluting.

"What? The entire United Fleet rebelled? Oikawa Koshiro committed suicide?" After receiving a call from Horikichi, Ishihara Wanji was so shocked that he could hardly hold the phone.

"I don't need to lie to you. Would you like to send a few staff officers to the dock to take a look?"

"Okay, I'll send someone right away, right now!"

"What's going on?" Shun Tada looked at Ishihara who was smiling nervously when he walked into his office, and asked in surprise, "Looking at your panic, what new tricks did Horikichi come up with?"

"All the members of the United Fleet have the surname Hori..."

"What?" Tada Shun was also shocked. He stood up and overturned the chair without realizing it.

"Verify it immediately and report to His Highness. This is a big deal!"

King Higashino Nomonuhiko was woken up by a call from Ishihara Wanji in a daze: "Ishihara-kun, just tell me, and I will go to bed after listening. In the evening, His Majesty was unable to contact the United Fleet, so he got into a big fuss, which caused Everybody is distraught.”

"Don't wait, the Yamato is docked at the dock."

"What? Say it again."

"All the main forces of the fleet, including the Yamato, have joined the rebellion."

"This, this, this... Oikawa Koshiro was defeated too quickly, wasn't he?"

"Horikoshi's strength is unfathomable. You should report to His Majesty as soon as possible and make a decision as to life or death. If Your Majesty insists on persisting to the end, I will send a plane to take him out of Tokyo and go to North Korea first to avoid the limelight."

King Higashikata Minuhiko knew that the second half of the sentence was nonsense, so he fled to North Korea? Wouldn't that really turn into a civil war?

"Bang!" After listening to the report, a vase was swept to the ground by Hirohito, and everyone who was summoned urgently did not dare to express their anger.

"Oikawa Koshiro has wronged the country! He has wronged me! His crime will not be forgiven!"

"His Majesty!"

"I don't care anymore. The worst that can happen is that the king will die in the country. You can do whatever you like." Hirohito swung away with his sleeves, leaving only the stunned ministers.

"Ishihara Wanji said that if His Majesty still has this temper, he can only send a plane to North Korea tomorrow."

"North Korea?" The interior minister trembled and repeated subconsciously.

"How did it become like this? How did it become like this?" Sugiyama Yuan kept thinking there.

"You bastard, look at the people you recommended, look at what you have done!" Prince Kanin Gong Zaijin was furious and directed his anger at Gengo Hyakutake, the captain of the guard. The latter did not dare to say a word and was in despair. The ground muttered, "Oikawa wronged me! Oikawa wronged me!"

Now the situation is very clear. With the main force of the combined fleet arriving, facing the unrivaled artillery fire of Yamato and Musashi, not to mention a Guards Division, even three more are useless. If we continue to be tough, we will really have no choice but to fly out of Tokyo. City.

King Higashino Higashi no Hiko whispered in the ear of the chamberlain: "Why don't I ask Takeda Gong to protect you early tomorrow morning and go to the military headquarters to discuss terms with Horikichi? Your Majesty has lost enough face."

"Yes!" The other party nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

"Everyone." In the battle room of the Yamato, Horikichi held the first meeting since the scale of the rebel army was expanded. "His Royal Highness Prince Minuhiko Higashikuru has just sent a message that Minister Kidouchi will come to express condolences to our army tomorrow."

"Okay, okay..."

"Hahaha, this old turtle finally knows how to be afraid." Everyone knew what "condolences" meant.

"Although we are only one step away, we still have to go well." Horikichi smiled and said, "I plan to send a telegram to all the powerful units in the army and ask them to make a joint appeal..."

"Sir, let me do the work of the Nanyang Army. I'm familiar with them." Kurita Takeo was the first to get up and speak.

"Let's do the work of the Kwantung Army and the Korean Army." Tsunoda and Nishimura stood up together, "We just had dealings with each other some time ago."

"I will be responsible for India's dispatch of troops." This is what Kuolu Renyi said.

"I will send troops from China myself." Horikichi smiled and said, "The victory of the rebellion is close at hand. I will drink with you all after the victory!"

"I would like to congratulate you, sir!"

In the early morning of the 30th, the commander of the Kwantung Army, Umezu Yoshijiro, was leading everyone to check out the newly transported 200,000 tons of arms and supplies. Suddenly, he received a call: "The combined fleet hopes that the Kwantung Army will support it, and the palace also sent a telegram to wait for our stance."

"Oh... I see." Admiral Umezu tilted his head and thought for a moment, "Is it confirmed that the combined fleet has surrendered to Horikichi?"

"Yes, it's all confirmed."

"Call back: The Soviet Red Army is unwilling to accept the previous failure and is ready to launch a large-scale cross-border attack at any time. The headquarters is guarding the national border and is unable to return to the mainland. We hope that this incident will be resolved peacefully as soon as possible."

The Governor-General of North Korea, Koiso Kuniaki, also received a similar telegram. He frowned and asked his subordinates: "What is the Kwantung Army's reply?"

The staff officer reported it again.

He thought for a moment and then dictated: "Call back: In view of the imminent large-scale invasion of the Soviet army, the Korean army, as the back-up and support force of the Kwantung Army, has a heavy responsibility and should not be tampered with. We are temporarily unable to provide support. We hope that it will be resolved peacefully and not damage the vitality of the empire!"

"Sir, the Prime Minister is still waiting for you..."

"Forget it, he's old and confused. Why does he worry about this kind of thing? Isn't it chaotic enough? Listen to me!"

"India dispatched a telegram: The current Indian campaign has entered a critical period, and its troops are seriously insufficient. We implore you to send more reinforcements. The combined fleet is the key to India's strategy. It must be handled properly..."

"Telegrams from various armies in Nanyang: I am deeply shocked to hear about the changes in the mainland. Currently, the British and American forces are ready to move. Our frontline troops are tight and unable to do anything. We hope that the mainland will be stable and that your majesty will live forever..."

"China dispatched a telegram: Since the armed friction between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in mainland China in late October, the situation has seriously deteriorated, and the scale of the struggle has escalated repeatedly. Our dispatched troops are currently paying close attention to the progress of the situation and suppressing the other party's behavior of crossing the line. We are temporarily unable to return to the division. We hope that we The entire empire, navy and army are of one heart and one mind..."

As each telegram was read out, Hirohito's face became increasingly pale.

Interior Minister Kido said in a trembling voice: "Today I had a contact with Admiral Horikichi, Marshal of the Navy, and the Navy proposed to hold a grand military parade ceremony on December 31st to show the power of the Navy, boost national morale, and celebrate the New Year of Showa 19 Come, Your Majesty is invited to attend.”

"Don't go!" Hirohito gasped and cursed, "I don't have such cruel and unscrupulous officers and soldiers, I don't have such a rebellious combined fleet, and I don't have such an unfaithful, unfilial, unkind, unkind, and unfriendly naval commander. official!"

"Your Majesty, the Navy strongly insists on your Majesty's attendance."

"Just say I'm sick."

"Your Majesty, the Navy has one more...sentence...I...I...don't dare to say it."

"Tell me, if you have anything else to say that's treasonous! Say it to me!" Hirohito slapped the table and shouted.

"The Navy said...The Navy said..." the voice of the Interior Minister was full of panic, "If His Majesty is not physically capable of participating in the military parade, then it is okay to ask Prince Yonghito of Chichibu Palace to attend on his behalf. If Prince Yonghito is also sick, you can also ask Takamatsu Prince Gong Xuanren will attend;...if the former emperor and the prince are sick, the successor, Prince Akihito, can also attend on his behalf!”

With a "clang", the cup in Hirohito's hand could no longer be held and fell to the ground and broke into countless pieces...