usatvline Chapter 1952 Kentaro can go to the Army University!
Chapter 1952 Kentaro can go to the Army University!
Chapter 1952 Kentaro can go to the Army University!
Tokyo was bombed by the Americans. Despite the Japanese's best efforts to block and conceal the news, it eventually became impossible to keep it a secret as time went on.
Newspapers in Shanghai, especially in the French Concession, began to frequently report on the Americans' recent successful bombing of Tokyo.
Rumors even began to circulate that the Japanese emperor had been wounded in vital areas during the bombing.
The rumors intensified.
As a result, the Japanese had to publicly admit for the first time that Tokyo had indeed suffered a 'minor bombing' by the Americans. However, Tokyo suffered very little damage, and His Majesty the Emperor was unharmed. On the contrary, all the American bombers were shot down, which was actually a great victory for Tokyo's air defense.
……
"Bagyaluo!" Cheng Qianfan gritted his teeth in hatred. "If we find out who is spreading these rumors, I will personally twist that bastard's head off!"
“Miyazaki-kun, calm down,” Onodera Shogo said. “It’s just a despicable trick by the Chinese; it can’t hurt us in the slightest.”
"Disrespecting His Majesty the Emperor deserves to die!" Cheng Qianfan was still furious.
He sullenly drank two sips of wine.
"Miyazaki-kun, please take a look at this." Shogo Onodera handed a file folder to Kentaro Miyazaki.
Cheng Qianfan opened the file bag, took out a few pages of paper, and upon closer inspection, discovered it was a statement transcript.
"The Red Party guerrillas and the Kuomintang agents have joined forces?" Cheng Qianfan asked in astonishment.
This transcript comes from a person named Shui Weihua who was arrested at the Hangzhou station of the Military Intelligence Bureau.
The confession confirmed the Japanese intelligence that there was indeed an American pilot named Smithson, who was rescued by the Red Party guerrillas.
However, Smithson was seriously injured and had to come to Shanghai for treatment.
The Red Party guerrillas dispatched a crack team to escort Smithson to Shanghai. In order to successfully complete this rescue mission, the Red Party in Zhejiang even contacted the Military Intelligence Bureau in Hangzhou for assistance, which was unprecedented.
Shui Weihua was captured by the Hangzhou Military Police while participating in the escort operation.
Under severe torture, the man eventually confessed.
……
"Yes, the Communist Party and the Military Intelligence Bureau have cooperated in a rare move to save an American," Onodera Shogo said coldly.
“Now that we’ve confirmed Smithson’s existence, the rest is easy,” Cheng Qianfan said to Onodera Shogo. “According to the statements, he’s still on his way to Shanghai.”
He told Shogo Onodera, "As long as we keep a tight watch and set up strong defenses at every checkpoint, it will be very difficult for these people to sneak into Shanghai, let alone enter the French Concession."
“Miyazaki-kun, what we need is to capture that American,” Shogo Onodera said, “not to stop them from entering Shanghai.”
He glanced at Kentaro Miyazaki. "Moreover, Shui Weihua was tortured for a whole day before he finally spoke. With a one-day time difference, it's hard to say whether these people have successfully infiltrated Shanghai."
"So, according to what you mean, Mr. Onodera..." Cheng Qianfan frowned and asked Onodera Shogo.
“Miyazaki-kun, I need your help,” Onodera Shogo said.
“Of course, no problem.” Cheng Qianfan nodded and said, “Didn’t I already say that we are friends? The American pilot’s future is related to yours, Mr. Onodera, so I will do my best without hesitation.”
Shogo Onodera couldn't help but glance at Kentaro Miyazaki, sensing that there was something more to Miyazaki's words.
That's it.
Shogo Onodera gritted his teeth.
……
“Miyazaki-kun, I know your character very well,” Onodera Shogo said. “It’s vulgar to talk about money between friends. What I said before was indeed inappropriate and a desecration of the most sincere friendship.”
Cheng Qianfan didn't speak. He just smiled and looked at Onodera Shogo with a light that shone with sincerity in his eyes.
“However, there’s no reason to let a friend help for nothing,” said Shogo Onodera.
He waved his hand, signaling Miyazaki Kentaro to be quiet and listen to him.
“The truest expression of friendship is helping each other,” said Shogo Onodera. “Miyazaki-kun, don’t you agree?”
“Yes, that makes sense, but…” Cheng Qianfan said.
"No buts." Shogo Onodera waved his hand. "To be honest..."
He told Kentaro Miyazaki, "In this Imperial campaign against Zhejiang, I will be accompanying the army as an intelligence officer of the military police."
"What?!" Cheng Qianfan looked at Onodera Shogo in surprise.
Shogo Onodera never expected that he would be joining the Japanese army's campaign against Zhejiang.
It could even be described as an unexpected surprise.
Cheng Qianfan's mind raced as he tried to figure out how to get more information about the Japanese military from Onodera Shogo.
Shogo Onodera not only participated in the Japanese army's operations in Zhejiang, but more importantly, he was an intelligence officer in the Japanese Shanghai Military Police Command. This meant that Shogo Onodera could not be viewed as an ordinary Japanese lieutenant colonel.
……
“I wanted to warn you about the dangers at the front, but…” Cheng Qianfan looked at Onodera Shogo and said, “Onodera-kun’s fighting on the battlefield and making contributions for His Majesty the Emperor is also our long-cherished wish.”
His tone was sincere with a hint of admiration, "When will Onodera-kun set out for battle?"
……
"Don't know?" Cheng Qianfan looked at Onodera Shogo in astonishment.
He had just asked Onodera Shogo when he would set off, and Onodera Shogo replied that he didn't know.
Cheng Qianfan then revealed his dissatisfaction.
“Onodera-kun’s caution is justified,” he said to Onodera Shogo. “However, I want you to know that I have no other intention than to bid farewell to the warriors who are about to go to war for the country.”
"Miyazaki-kun, you've misunderstood." Seeing that Kentaro Miyazaki had misunderstood, Shogo Onodera could only smile wryly and quickly explained, "It's not that I'm unwilling to tell you, it's just that even I'm not sure when we'll set off."
"Why is that?" Cheng Qianfan asked in astonishment.
At that moment, Atsuto Kawada pushed open the door and entered.
“Let me answer this question for Onodera-kun,” said Atsuto Kawada, his face grim.
……
"Such a thing actually happened?" Cheng Qianfan looked incredulous. "The battle plan has been changed several times in such a short period of time. Isn't this child's play?"
This was not an act; he was genuinely astonished.
From Atsuto Kawada's angry narration, one could almost unfold a vivid picture in his mind of the highly confidential military exchanges between the Japanese General Staff and its so-called China Expeditionary Army.
The Japanese army's original operational objective was to carry out a sweeping "mopping-up" operation in the Zhejiang region, with the initial start date set for April 25.
However, just as the battle preparations were nearing completion, on the third day after Tokyo was bombed by the United States, the Imperial General Headquarters suddenly ordered the cancellation of the original battle plan.
Commander-in-Chief of the China Expeditionary Army, Hata Shunroku, expressed his dissent to the General Staff. He stated to the Imperial General Headquarters that combat preparations were complete and that it would be very difficult to suspend operations at this point. He hoped that the original military operation plan could be implemented.
However, this 'reasonable and justified' request was categorically rejected by Chief of the General Staff, Gen Sugiyama:
"Based on the overall situation, it is imperative to destroy the Zhejiang airfield complex immediately. Therefore, the 13th Army's Operation No. 19 must be immediately suspended, and operations to destroy the airfield complex must be quickly initiated."
Subsequently, on the sixth day after the bombing of Tokyo, the Tokyo General Headquarters dispatched Shinzo Sano, the head of the Second Section of the General Staff in charge of operations in China, to Nanjing, the location of the headquarters of the China Expeditionary Army, carrying the Zhejiang operation plan drafted by the General Headquarters.
The basic content of this operational plan is as follows: the main force of the 13th Army stationed in Shanghai, along with some troops drawn from the North China Area Army and the 11th Army, will form a core combat group of about forty infantry battalions to defeat the Chinese forces in Shaoxing, Zhuji, Jinhua, Lanxi, Hangzhou, and Fuyang, occupy Jinhua, Yushan, and Lishui, and completely destroy the air bases in Quzhou, Lishui, and Yushan.
If necessary, advance further west to capture Shangrao, the location of the headquarters of the Third War Zone of China.
……
"According to the General Headquarters, after conquering the aforementioned areas, they should be held for a necessary period of time; furthermore, if the situation permits, the airports and other military facilities and major transportation lines can be completely destroyed before restoring the original status quo," Atsuto Kawada said.
Cheng Qianfan, however, wore a serious expression.
“Young Master Atsuto, such confidential military intelligence…” he said to Kawada Atsuto.
“It’s alright.” Kawada Atsuto shook his head. “If it’s a pre-established military plan, you naturally can’t listen to it.”
He said to Kentaro Miyazaki, "This battle plan from headquarters..."
Kawada Atsuto sneered, "Nanjing has rejected it!"
"The commanders of the expeditionary force were very dissatisfied with the General Headquarters' hasty, resolute, and unquestionable decision on the designated battle plan."
"What displeased Nanjing the most was that the staff officer sent by the General Headquarters to convey the battle plan was only a lieutenant colonel," Kawada Atsuto said, chuckling. "This Sano Shinzo is not only a lieutenant colonel, but he also had an aggressive attitude towards General Hata Shunroku."
"How dare he?" Cheng Qianfan exclaimed in surprise.
“Yes, how could he dare? But that’s exactly what Sano Shinzo did,” Kawada Atsuto said. “The Nanjing side considered Sano Shinzo’s actions unacceptable, as it was an insult to him personally and to the entire China Expeditionary Army from the Tokyo General Headquarters.”
……
"Does this mean the battle plan has been stalled?" Cheng Qianfan looked at Onodera Shogo. "Onodera-kun's dream of personally going to the front lines has been interrupted just like that?"
“Onodera-kun, you’re friends with Staff Officer Nohara from the General Staff. He must have told you something, right?” Kawada Atsuto said, looking at Onodera Shogo.
“Yes, Master Atsuto.” Onodera Shogo nodded and looked at Miyazaki Kentaro. “Staff Officer Nohara and Major Ogasawara of the Nanjing Expeditionary Army Staff were classmates at the Army University.”
Cheng Qianfan nodded, indicating that he understood, and gestured for Onodera Shogo to continue.
The Nanjing authorities were extremely dissatisfied with the 'humiliation' suffered by their headquarters.
However, the Nanjing Expeditionary Army Headquarters quickly formulated an operational plan based on the General Headquarters' intentions, but this plan differed somewhat from the General Headquarters' plan.
The General Headquarters' previous operational intention was simple: to completely destroy several airfields located in Zhejiang Province, China, in order to prevent the US military from using these airfields to threaten the Japanese mainland.
The generals of the Chinese Expeditionary Army believed that launching a large-scale attack merely to bomb a few airfields and forward bases was pointless and failed to demonstrate the Empire's determination and ability to retaliate.
……
“According to Nohara, the generals in Nanjing preferred to fight a major war,” said Shogo Onodera.
"Both General and General Sawada, commander of the 13th Army, believe that the General Headquarters' operational plan is extremely rudimentary," said Shogo Onodera.
"Alright, stop embellishing it with your words," Atsuto Kawada said with a smile.
"The exact words from Nanjing were that the staff officers at headquarters were all stupid, and the battle plans they devised were clumsy, like child's play," he said to Kentaro Miyazaki, flicking his cigarette ash.
"It may be somewhat disrespectful, but it's truly the case," Cheng Qianfan pondered. "To defeat the Chinese army and destroy the airport—such a mission is truly..."
He flicked his cigarette ash, chuckled, and said, "Don't the Americans and Chinese know how to repair those airports?"
Kentaro Miyazaki looked at Shogo Onodera and said, "It's not just the Red Party guerrillas who are good at guerrilla warfare; the troops in Chongqing have also learned to fight guerrilla warfare now, and they're all slippery as can be."
……
“Look, even Kentaro understands this principle, yet the staff officers at the Tokyo headquarters are still pontificating and engaging in empty talk,” Kawada Atsuto said, pointing at Miyazaki Kentaro.
“Miyazaki-kun just didn’t have the right opportunity,” Onodera Shogo said with a smile. “In my opinion, if Miyazaki-kun had had the chance back then, he could have gotten into Riku University.”
"Really?" Cheng Qianfan deliberately feigned surprise.
Atsuto Kawada and Shogo Onodera burst into laughter.
"Alright, enough chit-chat." Kawada Atsuto looked at Onodera Shogo. "This operation against Zhejiang will not be interrupted; on the contrary, it will be an even bigger battle than we imagined."
“Onodera-kun, this is your chance to showcase your skills and prove yourself on the battlefield,” Kawada Atsuto said.
“That is exactly what I wish for,” Onodera Shogo said excitedly.
……
Atsuto Kawada glanced at Kentaro Miyazaki, then at Shogo Onodera. "Did you talk to Kentaro about it?"
Shogo Onodera looked a little embarrassed and said, "Not yet."
Then he quickly added, "I was just about to say that."
"Then hurry up and say it. True friends are open and honest with each other, there's no need to be reserved." Kawada Atsuto said with a smile, "Don't worry, Kentaro is your best friend, he'll just think you're an honest and good friend."
Although Cheng Qianfan didn't understand, upon hearing this, he immediately looked at Kawada Atsuto and gave him an expression that said, "Young Master Atsuto understands me best."
"You two can talk," Kawada Atsuto said, standing up and declining their attempts to stay. He left with an air of nonchalance, as if he had only come to visit and casually chat about the secrets of the Nanjing Expeditionary Army headquarters.
……
"Miyazaki-kun," Onodera Shogo said to Miyazaki Kentaro, having composed himself, "what are your thoughts on the Nanjing 'mopping-up' operations."
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(End of this chapter)