sovbooks Chapter 1838 Kentaro supports 'Northward Advance'
Chapter 1838 Kentaro supports 'Northward Advance'
Chapter 1838 Kentaro supports 'Northward Advance'
"Yes, before the Germans launched the attack, who could have imagined that the Soviet Red Army would be so vulnerable." Heitaro Imamura nodded and said with emotion.
"It seems that the purification policy implemented in the Soviet Union that you mentioned before, teacher, has a more serious impact on the Soviet Union, especially the military, than we imagined." Cheng Qianfan said.
Japan, which had already occupied the four northeastern provinces, paid special attention to its huge neighbor, the Soviet Union.
The Japanese took note of the "purification" purge being carried out in Soviet Russia.
Heitaro Imamura once discussed the Great Purge of Soviet Russia with Kentaro Miyazaki during class.
Based on the intelligence the Japanese had, they inferred that during the entire Great Purge operation so far, at least nearly 10,000 officers in the Soviet Army had been publicly executed or secretly imprisoned, and more than half of its generals had been affected.
Among them were senior generals such as Soviet Marshal Tukhachevsky.
……
"I have discussed this with Ikeuchi-kun before," said Imamura Heitaro. "Ikeuchi-kun also believes that it was the brutal struggle in the Soviet Union that caused the core generals in the Soviet army to be affected. This directly led to the lack of experienced officers in the Soviet army, especially at the grassroots level, and they could only be filled by inexperienced low-level officers."
"Yes, yes." Cheng Qianfan nodded repeatedly, his tone a little anxious, and said, "The combat effectiveness of the Soviet Union has greatly decreased compared to two years ago. The current Soviet army can even be described as vulnerable."
"What exactly do you want to express?" Imamura Heitaro looked at Miyazaki Kentaro suspiciously and said.
"Ah?" Cheng Qianfan raised his head and opened his mouth with a bewildered expression. Then, under the gaze of Imamura Heitaro, he smiled awkwardly, "Teacher, did you see it?"
"Teacher, you are not confused yet." Imamura Heitaro snorted coldly, "Your eyes, expression, movements, and tone of voice all betray your true purpose."
Imamura Heitaro gave Miyazaki Kentaro an unpleasant look and said, "Go ahead."
"Teacher, I don't mean anything else." Cheng Qianfan said quickly, "I just feel that the current Soviet Union is so vulnerable to the German attack, which directly exposes the weak nature of the Soviet army."
He became more and more excited as he spoke. "The Empire should take this opportunity to launch an attack on Soviet Russia, attack the Germans from both sides, meet in victory in Europe, and divide Europe up!"
……
"It seems that you firmly support the Empire's implementation of the northward strategy." Heitaro Imamura took a sip of tea and said lightly.
"Of course." Cheng Qianfan said excitedly, "The shame of Nomonhan should be avenged!"
"Don't forget that the Empire just signed a treaty with the Soviet Union more than two months ago." Heitaro Imamura looked at his student and said lightly.
Cheng Qianfan knew that the treaty that Imamura Heitaro was referring to was the Japan-Soviet Neutrality Treaty.
In April, Japanese Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka visited the Soviet Union and promoted the signing of the Japan-Soviet Neutrality Treaty between Japan and the Soviet Union, which stipulated that the two sides would not invade each other and would be valid for five years.
"Teacher, the significance of signing a treaty is that it can be torn up at any time." Cheng Qianfan said, "The Soviet Union has exposed its weak nature. As the saying goes, opportunity is lost and will never come again. The Empire should not hesitate any longer and should strike decisively and attack the Soviets from both sides with the Germans."
"You keep saying we're attacking from both sides with the Germans." Imamura Heitaro chuckled and pointed at Miyazaki Kentaro, saying, "If you don't know me, you might think you're a lobbyist for the Germans."
He shook his head and said, "The signing of the 'Japan-Soviet Neutrality Treaty' has positive significance. This treaty is of great significance to the stability of the northern border."
Cheng Qianfan chuckled and said, "If what you said is true, then the millions of brave warriors of the Imperial Army are all lobbyists for the Germans."
"You also said it was the army," Imamura Heitaro said, "You have to know that there are forces in the navy and even within the cabinet that cannot be ignored, who believe that the empire should move south."
"The navy is short-sighted." Cheng Qianfan's face darkened, and he couldn't help but say, "Only by advancing north, occupying the Far East, and opening a passage to occupy Europe by land, can the imperial government's grand blueprint for the world be realized."
Heitaro Imamura glanced at his student and shook his head.
This guy, Kentaro Miyazaki, is a passionate young man who fanatically supports the Empire's northward advance.
……
"Teacher, do you support the northward advance and join the Germans in hunting down the Soviet Union, or do you support the southward advance of the empire and attack Southeast Asia?" Cheng Qianfan looked at Imamura Heitaro and asked.
There was a curious look in his eyes.
"What? You still want to find out from me the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' attitude towards this?" Imamura Heitaro said with a chuckle.
Cheng Qianfan just chuckled, not caring at all that his little thoughts were seen through by Imamura Heitaro.
Heitaro Imamura himself fell into deep thought.
What is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' attitude towards "going north" or "going south"?
In fact, the attitude of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not static.
Five years ago, after the signing of the Anti-Red International Pact, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperated with the Army to put pressure on the Soviet Union and supported the Kwantung Army's military provocations on the Manchurian border.
Only after that did the Zhanggufeng Incident three years ago and the Battle of Nomonhan two years ago occur.
It was after the Imperial Kwantung Army's disastrous defeat at Nomonhan that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs realized the strength of the Soviet Far East military and that it would be difficult for the Kwantung Army to suppress the Soviet Far East military power.
It was also because of this that the attitude towards "advance northward" within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs actually turned negative.
"Do you think Mr. Matsuoka supports the 'Southward Advance' strategy?" asked Heitaro Imamura.
……
"Isn't it..." Cheng Qianfan blurted out subconsciously, and then he closed his mouth and just looked at Imamura Heitaro, because he knew that since Imamura Heitaro asked this, there must be a reason.
"Mr. Matsuoka is actually close to Germany and opposed to the Soviet Union," said Heitaro Imamura.
In fact, Foreign Minister Matsuoka Yosuke was the representative of the pro-German and anti-Soviet faction within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He advocated that the empire should "move north" to cooperate with Germany.
Although Mr. Matsuoka Yosuke promoted the signing of the Japan-Soviet Neutrality Pact, Imamura Heitaro heard about it. After the signing of the treaty, Mr. Matsuoka was not happy, but sighed frequently.
According to what Heitaro Imamura learned, Foreign Minister Matsuoka personally still supports the "advance northward" strategy. Matsuoka has been in contact with the Army General Staff Headquarters and is still trying to support the Army's "advance northward" strategy.
However, what made Foreign Minister Matsuoka feel helpless was that the "Japan-Soviet Neutrality Treaty" he pushed for might actually pave the way for Japan's southward advance and avoid fighting on two fronts.
……
"Teacher, what you mean is that the 'Japan-Soviet Neutrality Treaty' signed under the leadership of Mr. Matsuoka is what the Navy wants to see, and it paves the way for the southward advance." Cheng Qianfan said, "But, in fact, Mr. Matsuoka still supports the northward advance?"
"Yes." Imamura Heitaro nodded slightly.
"As expected of Lord Matsuoka, he really stands high and sees far." Cheng Qianfan was very excited and praised, "It is a blessing for the Empire and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have a foreign minister like Lord Matsuoka."
"You, what a temper." Heitaro Imamura pointed at Kentaro Miyazaki with a helpless look, and said with a smile and shaking his head.
Mr. Matsuoka, who signed the "Japan-Soviet Neutrality Treaty", attracted complaints from Kentaro Miyazaki. Now, hearing that the Foreign Minister is pro-German and anti-Soviet, this kid Kentaro Miyazaki turned around and praised Matsuoka Yosuke.
"Kentaro, you have to know that when it comes to the strategic decisions of the empire, it is not something that can be determined by one person's inclination or one person's choice," said Heitaro Imamura.
He put down his teacup and said slowly, "Regarding whether to 'advance north' or 'advance south', the army and navy have been arguing for many years, just as the conflict between the army and navy has been going on for a long time."
"Students understand." Cheng Qianfan nodded and said.
"It will be very difficult to decide whether to 'go north' or 'go south'," said Heitaro Imamura.
Cheng Qianfan thought about it and nodded subconsciously.
"But even if it's a difficult decision," Imamura said, "it's time to make a decision now."
Cheng Qianfan's heart moved, and he calmly added water to Imamura Heitaro's teacup.
The subtext of Imamura Heitaro's words is that whether it is 'advancing north' or 'advancing south', the Japanese can't wait and are finally going to make a decision as soon as possible!
……
"I'm going back to Manchuria in a couple of days," said Heitaro Imamura.
Cheng Qianfan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes showed eagerness, "Teacher, but the Empire has made a decision, and chose to 'go north'?"
Imamura Heitaro smiled and shook his head, saying, "I just want to go back to Tokyo, go to Manchuria first, and then go back to Tokyo from Manchuria. What are you thinking about?"
"Oh." The eager expression in Cheng Qianfan's eyes visibly decreased, and then he suddenly seemed to react, looked at Imamura Heitaro, and asked, "Teacher, why are you returning to Tokyo at this time?"
"The situation is turbulent and there is a cabinet meeting. Mr. Matsuoka recommended me as one of the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend." said Heitaro Imamura in a flat tone.
"Really? That's great!" Cheng Qianfan showed an ecstatic look and said excitedly, "Teacher, I am proud to have a teacher like you."
He was so excited that he paced back and forth without thinking, rubbing his hands and looking at Imamura Heitaro, "Teacher, will you have a chance to see His Majesty the Emperor when you go back to Tokyo for a meeting this time?"
When saying this, Cheng Qianfan's eyes were filled with eagerness, even fanaticism.
"It is said that there will be an imperial meeting." Imamura Heitaro tried his best to make his tone seem calm, but the raised corners of his mouth betrayed his true emotions. "Teacher, of course, I am not qualified to participate in the imperial meeting, but as a painting selected for praise by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I can still provide some small help of 'documentary materials and suggestions' behind the scenes."
……
Cheng Qianfan looked at Imamura Heitaro, his eyes flashing with admiration, envy, and pride dancing in his admiration.
"I have accomplished the king's business and won a good reputation in my lifetime and after my death." Cheng Qianfan sighed, "A real man should be like my teacher."
"You, if you don't know how to use poetry, then don't use it." Imamura Heitaro pretended to be angry and glared at Miyazaki Kentaro. "Teacher, I just did some insignificant work."
"Teacher, you are good in everything except that you are too modest," said Cheng Qianfan.
Then he sighed, "But it's no wonder that you are so modest. Even so, your name has long been well-known. It's even a bit unfair to describe you as world-famous."
"That's an exaggeration. You should seek truth from facts." Imamura Heitaro pointed at Miyazaki Kentaro and said, "Flattering the teacher is useless."
Cheng Qianfan showed an embarrassed look, and then he did not forget to argue, "It is the duty of students to respect their teachers. How can it be considered as flattery?"
Then, Cheng Qianfan added something like, "Students respect their teachers. It is a simple idea and it is not false."
Imamura Heitaro laughed out loud.
He naturally knew that his student was flattering him. One could even say that Miyazaki Kentaro's flattery was a bit crude and lacked technical skills, but there was nothing he could do about it because he liked to hear it.
"Teacher, when will you leave for Tokyo this time and when will you come back?" Cheng Qianfan asked.
"We will leave in two days." Imamura Heitaro said, "As for our return, it will be at least the end of next month."
Then he asked with a smile, "Why, Kentaro, you want to go back to Tokyo with me?"
……
"District Chief, what should we do?" Fu Liao offered a cigarette to Chen Gongshu and said, "Boss Dai is still waiting for our reply."
A secret telegram from Mr. Dai from Chongqing requested the Shanghai District to confirm Cen Yufeng's whereabouts as soon as possible.
At the same time, it is interesting that in the telegram, Chongqing clearly informed Shanghai:
The military police arrested a lot of people on Maoming Road some time ago, and the Shanghai District needs to identify and verify whether Cen Yufeng is among those arrested.
This shocked the Shanghai district, including Chen Gongshu.
"Don't be surprised." Chen Gongshu tried to remain calm and said, "Boss Dai has his own channels, and we can use this to obtain more information."
"This is a good thing for us," Chen Gongshu said. "It gives us the opportunity and possibility to obtain more confidential intelligence, especially if we try to do it as quickly as possible. This is an additional guarantee for the work safety of all of us in the Military Control Commission and the Shanghai region."
"Yes." Fu Liao said quickly.
Then, he thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "District Commander, the latest intelligence obtained by Chongqing is information that we, as the parties involved, have not been able to grasp in time. Could it be that Xiao Mian's Special Affairs Department provided it to Chongqing?"
Chen Gongshu, who had a normal expression and even a smile on his face, suddenly turned gloomy and snorted heavily.
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(End of this chapter)