usatvline Chapter 1967 Midway Island
Chapter 1967 Midway Island
Chapter 1967 Midway Island
There was a crash.
"Who did this!" Li Cuiqun's face turned ashen, and he was panting heavily.
The personnel and vehicles sent by Guangxinglong Company to Meicun to transport grain have not returned, and the dockworkers say they have not seen any of the personnel.
Li Cuiqun sent people to Meicun to investigate.
Just now, the phone rang. The investigation shows that the personnel sent by Guangxinglong Company and the Special Agent Headquarters did indeed arrive in Meicun and successfully unloaded the grain before leaving. Then—
The grain was stolen.
Not only was the grain stolen, but many of the escort personnel were also killed or wounded, and many more were disarmed and taken prisoner.
The unarmed 'ordinary workers' of Guangxinglong were not seriously injured; they were simply bound hand and foot and thrown into waist-high grass, where they were fed to mosquitoes.
……
Ye Qisui wore a pained expression as he pondered.
"Speak," Li Cuiqun glared at Ye Qisui.
"An armband of the Loyal and Patriotic Army was found at the scene," Ye Qisui said.
"The Loyal and Patriotic Army?" Li Cuiqun frowned.
"However, we also found New Fourth Army patches," Ye Qi said.
"So?" Li Cuiqun asked.
“There are two possibilities,” Ye Qisui said. “First, it was the New Fourth Army that did it and tried to frame the Loyal and Patriotic Army; second, it was the Loyal and Patriotic Army that did it and tried to frame the New Fourth Army.”
Dong Zhengguo opened his mouth, then closed it.
He wasn't an employee of 'Guangxinglong' company; he was suddenly called in by Director Li to help analyze the case.
“Section Chief Dong, you speak,” Li Cuiqun said, noticing Dong Zhengguo’s expression.
"I don't think there's much need for either side to frame someone," Dong Zhengguo said.
Ye Qi immediately looked at Dong Zhengguo, his gaze slightly unfriendly.
Dong Zhengguo ignored Ye Qisui's unfriendly gaze. He hadn't spoken up immediately because he felt that speaking up at that time would be seen as a targeted rebuttal to Ye Qisui, so he avoided suspicion.
However, since Li Cuiqun had singled him out to express his opinion, Dong Zhengguo spoke his mind. Although he was unwilling to offend Ye Qisui, he was not too afraid of him.
He was a member of the Special Agent Headquarters, and he was very clear about his position. As long as he was capable and loyal to Li Cuiqun, no one else could affect him.
……
“Director, whether in the eyes of those people in Chongqing or in the eyes of the Red Party, those of us who followed Mr. Wang to save the country peacefully are all traitors,” Dong Zhengguo said. “Therefore, whether it was the New Fourth Army that seized the grain or the Loyal and Patriotic Army that took action, they had no need to hide it. To them, it was all meritorious service.”
Li Cuiqun pondered, understanding the meaning behind Dong Zhengguo's words.
"So, you mean the people who did it weren't the New Fourth Army or the Loyal and Patriotic Army?" Li Cuiqun asked Dong Zhengguo.
"Director," Dong Zhengguo said, "it could be the New Fourth Army or the Loyal and Patriotic Army. What I'm trying to say is that the possibility of them framing me is very low."
"What you said is as good as nothing at all," Ye Qisui said coldly.
Dong Zhengguo smiled but didn't say anything.
Although he wasn't afraid of offending Ye Qisui, it was still best to offend him as little as possible.
"You will personally lead a team to Meicun in Wuxi," Li Cuiqun said to Dong Zhengguo. "I'm entrusting you with the investigation of this matter."
"Understood," Dong Zhengguo replied.
……
After Dong Zhengguo left.
"What about the batch of grain in Kunshan?" Li Cuiqun asked Ye Qisui.
“It’s still in the warehouse in Kunshan,” Ye Qisui said. “Before I came to No. 76, I spoke with Mitsuyoshi Yusuke on the phone and confirmed that the grain was still there.”
"Did you tell Mitsumata Yusuke about the grain problem in Umemura?" Li Cuiqun asked, frowning.
"Of course not." Ye Qisui shook his head and said, "If it were someone else, I could hold them accountable, but that approach is useless against a Japanese like Mitoma Yusuke. In fact, it would only make the Japanese look down on you."
"Get that batch of grain back to Shanghai as soon as possible," Li Cuiqun said.
"I'll go see Mitoma Yusuke this afternoon." Ye Qisui nodded. "Mitoma Yusuke is waiting for me to deliver the money."
As he spoke, he thought for a moment and asked Li Cuiqun, "Should we use Mitsumata Yusuke's connections to ask Japanese soldiers to escort the grain..."
Li Cuiqun instinctively wanted to object, as he could easily contact the pacification army to help escort the grain; there was no need to trouble the Japanese.
The problem with that batch of grain in Meicun was due to his carelessness. He didn't expect that, in broad daylight, Wuxi, which had been repeatedly raided, would still have such a large number of enemies lurking there.
"You decide for yourself," Li Cuiqun said to Ye Qisui, swallowing back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
A thought struck him: if he could establish a good relationship with the Japanese behind Yusuke Mitoma through this collaboration, it would be a worthwhile gain.
……
"Extra! Extra! The Japanese Navy has achieved a great victory, while the United States suffered a crushing defeat at Midway!"
"Extra! Extra! Watch as the Japanese Navy beats up the American devils! The Greater East Asia region cheers for the Japanese army!"
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nanjing sent a congratulatory telegram to our friendly nation Japan, congratulating the Great Japanese Empire on its second victory over the United States!"
"Minister Chu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nanjing praised Japan as a beacon of light for Asia."
The newsboy waved his newspaper and shouted enthusiastically.
Every now and then, pedestrians would stop and take out their coins to buy a newspaper.
"Haozi, go buy a newspaper," Cheng Qianfan said to Li Hao.
"Yes, Brother Fan."
Li Hao turned off the engine, got out of the car, bought a newspaper, and came back.
……
Cheng Qianfan turned off the radio.
The broadcast had just been loudly proclaiming the Japanese Navy's "unprecedented victory" at Midway.
The broadcast claimed that the Japanese Combined Fleet had "sunk two American aircraft carriers and shot down 120 aircraft" in the Battle of Midway, with a casualty ratio of one to four, and that the Japanese Navy had achieved an unprecedented victory.
Cheng Qianfan glanced at the newspaper on his desk.
This is a report reprinted from the Asahi Shimbun by the *China Times*, a mouthpiece of the Wang Jingwei regime's propaganda department. The newspaper even directly used space from the Asahi Shimbun.
Asahi Shimbun's front page: "Imperial Army's Great Victory in the Naval Battle!"
The newspaper also included a picture of the Japanese aircraft carriers' victorious voyage.
Cheng Qianfan felt heavy-hearted.
Previously, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had severely damaged the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Riding this momentum, the Japanese swept through Southeast Asia.
In the Battle of Midway, the Japanese once again defeated the Americans, which will have a significant negative impact on the current situation of the War of Resistance against Japan.
Japan's propaganda of a "major victory in the Pacific" and the correctness of the Wang Jingwei regime's "indirect approach to national salvation" could, to some extent, help the Wang Jingwei regime induce more wavering generals to surrender.
Cheng Qianfan could almost predict that a new wave of surrenders would likely occur in the coming period.
Furthermore, if Japan controls the central Pacific, air routes from India will fall within the range of Japanese land-based air forces, which also means that the Hump air route could be cut off.
……
Cheng Qianfan sat in the chair, smoking silently.
This naval battle between the Japanese and Americans, which had been completely unknown beforehand, is now being presented to the world with such a result.
Li Hao brought in a case of Coca-Cola and saw that the office was filled with smoke.
"Brother Fan, what's wrong?" Li Hao asked.
"The Japanese won the Battle of Midway, and the Americans lost," Cheng Qianfan said.
“Midway, where is that?” Li Hao asked.
“A small island in the Pacific Ocean,” Cheng Qianfan said.
Li Hao didn't ask where the Pacific Ocean was. He knew about the Pacific Ocean because the Japanese had attacked the American base at Pearl Harbor in the Pacific, and that's when he learned about it.
In fact, many people don't even know much about the geography of China, let alone abroad.
When he returned to Yandeli earlier, he overheard Aunt Ma chatting with the neighbors, saying that the Japanese had stolen the Americans' pearls, and the Americans were very angry and now they were fighting.
……
That night.
Cheng Qianfan then appeared at the Imamura Mansion.
“Teacher,” Cheng Qianfan said excitedly, carrying seasonal snacks and a gift box of red wine, “The Empire has won a great victory over the Americans at Midway. This is a joyous occasion, and I’ve come to have a couple of drinks with you.”
Heitaro Imamura stood at the top of the stairs on the second floor, preparing to go downstairs.
He glanced at Kentaro Miyazaki and nodded. "Come on up."
"Hai."
……
"Teacher, this naval battle was kept very secret. I only learned about the Empire's important victory from the newspapers."
"There is one point: the Americans only had two aircraft carriers sunk, and one of them escaped."
"If we could annihilate all of the American ships, then this great victory would be perfect."
Cheng Qianfan arranged the seasonal dishes he brought on the coffee table, then opened the cabinet with practiced ease, took out two wine glasses, and then took out a decanter to start decanting the wine.
His entire being, from his eyebrows and eyes to his expression and movements, radiated genuine happiness.
“Teacher, let’s drink sake first. This is my favorite Daishin Brew, the one you’ve had before,” Cheng Qianfan said happily, raising his glass. “Teacher, cheers to the Empire’s great victory.”
The two clinked their glasses, and Imamura Heitaro didn't say anything, but just silently took a sip of his drink.
Cheng Qianfan's heart skipped a beat, but he remained expressionless.
……
“Teacher, after this battle, the Empire will have complete control of the Central Pacific.” He said to Imamura Heitaro, “The Hump air route between the Chinese and the British and Americans will be completely cut off by the Imperial Air Force this time.”
Cheng Qianfan became more and more excited as he spoke, “Without the Westerners providing support to Chongqing, the city’s will to resist could not have lasted much longer.”
“And then there’s Soviet Russia.” Cheng Qianfan poured himself a full cup of wine, took a sip of his hometown’s Daqi wine, and let out a satisfied sigh. “With the Americans defeated, Soviet Russia will adopt a more moderate attitude toward the Empire. And if the Empire puts pressure on Soviet Russia, it can force Soviet Russia to cut off all its aid to China.”
As he spoke, Cheng Qianfan gritted his teeth and said, "A China that has lost all its external support, a..."
"By the way, as a result, the fighting spirit of the Chinese army will also be affected. It is foreseeable that a new wave of Chinese generals surrendering to the Empire will emerge."
"And Chongqing, facing internal and external difficulties, is a possibility of formally surrendering to the Empire."
"Once Chongqing surrenders, only the Red Party will remain. As for the Red dissidents, we can easily suppress them by working together..."
Cheng Qianfan spoke excitedly and fluently, seemingly unaware that Imamura Heitaro had been drinking silently without saying a word.
……
“Teacher…” Cheng Qianfan then noticed that Imamura Heitaro’s mood seemed a bit off. He looked at Imamura Heitaro and said cautiously, “Did I say something wrong?”
Heitaro Imamura didn't say anything. He glanced at his student and said, "Kentaro, give me a cigarette."
"Hello." Cheng Qianfan was slightly taken aback, because Imamura Heitaro rarely smoked.
Then, he realized what was happening, quickly took out a cigarette holder from his pocket, lit a cigarette, and respectfully handed it to Imamura Heitaro with both hands. He then took out a lighter and helped Imamura Heitaro light the cigarette.
Heitaro Imamura took a light puff of his cigarette, then, seemingly not satisfied, took a few deep drags, only to be choked and cough repeatedly.
"Teacher." Cheng Qianfan quickly stood up and patted Imamura Heitaro's back with concern.
"I'm fine now," Heitaro Imamura said.
……
"Kentaro." Imamura Hyoutarou said.
"Hai."
“I was very pleased with your analysis just now.” Heitaro Imamura forced a smile and said, “You were able to think of these things from the outcome of the battle after reading in the newspaper that the Empire had won a great victory over the Americans at the Battle of Midway. This shows that my teaching of you over the past few years has been very effective. Your progress makes your teacher very satisfied.”
"Kentaro is inherently dull-witted, but the teacher did not despise his student and taught him with great care," Cheng Qianfan said gratefully, tears streaming down his face.
"Kentaro." Imamura Hyoutarou said.
"Hai."
"Then let me test you again." Imamura Heitaro flicked his cigarette ash, some of which fell into the sake cup, but Imamura Heitaro seemed not to see it and picked up the cup to take a sip of sake.
Cheng Qianfan saw it and quickly said "ashes," but saw Imamura Heitaro wave his hand, indicating that it was alright. He had no choice but to shut up and said, "Please give me a question, teacher."
……
“If, I mean if,” Heitaro Imamura said, “if the Battle of Midway had been won by the US Navy…”
“Kentaro,” he said, looking at Kentaro Miyazaki, “analyze the impact of this outcome on the war based on this assumption.”
“Ah, teacher…” Cheng Qianfan seemed to understand something, but he looked at Imamura Heitaro with some hesitation, “On such a joyous day, is it appropriate to make such a assumption?”
"It was just a test, no problem," Imamura Heitaro said with a faint smile.
"Hai."
Heitaro Imamura looked at Kentaro Miyazaki, waiting for him to answer the 'test question'.
"Teacher, please give me a few minutes," Cheng Qianfan said. "I've never thought about this before, and I need time to think about it."
“Okay.” Imamura Heitaro nodded slightly.
Cheng Qianfan thought for about four or five minutes, then took a sip of wine, still with a happy smile on his face, and asked, "Teacher, in this hypothetical scenario, how much did the Empire suffer in the naval battle? Could you provide some hypothetical data so I can answer?"
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(End of this chapter)