Chapter 267: Wild Weapons Growing In The Taihang Mountains?
Shanghai, Expeditionary Army Headquarters!
Sunlight streamed through the office’s large floor-to-ceiling glass windows, casting bright patches of light onto the polished floor, yet failing to dispel the palpable heaviness within the room.
Tada Shunroku sat erect behind the large desk, a military flag draped behind him.
His chiseled face betrayed almost no emotion, his cold gaze fixed on the intelligence summary on the desk, on which Nakamura had drawn a large circle around the words “Shanghai” in red ink, as if he could bore through the thin paper.
“Nishikawa!” His low voice suddenly rang out like quenched steel in the air.
The door opened with a click, and aide-de-camp Major Nishikawa Yoshinori stood like a javelin at the entrance: “Commander Your Excellency!”
“Notify Haruki Keiin, the person in charge of the Shanghai Mei Organ of the Special Higher Police Affairs; Major General Miyazaki Shigesaburo, the new Chief of Staff of the Gendarmerie Headquarters; Major Takada of the Navy’s Maritime Anti-smuggling Section of the Naval Special Landing Force; and Colonel Okamoto Kiyofuku, Minister of the Inspection Department of the Expeditionary Army Headquarters,”
Tada Shunroku paused, his gaze sweeping over the summary, “and also Fu Xiao’an, member of the Shanghai Provisional Government’s Material Control Committee and Acting Mayor of Shanghai; Deputy Mayor Qian Dajun, a member of the Nanjing Central Executive Committee; and Oshima Kenjiro, Vice Minister of the Southern Transportation Department, Chen Yang, and Nakajima, the new Director of the South Manchuria Railway Investigation Bureau…”
“One hour from now, an emergency meeting of the highest priority. The agenda: purging enemy elements sabotaging transportation and material safety within Shanghai, severing the supply chain of the Chinese resistance forces. Anyone arriving late will be dealt with by military law!”
“Hai!” Nishikawa Yoshinori bowed deeply, his movements sharp and decisive. He quickly turned and left, the soft sound of the door closing becoming the only pause in the brief silence within.
The occasional long whistle of a ship from outside only amplified the silent storm within the commander’s heart.
Could the blood of the enemy truly be flowing through Shanghai’s veins? This was absolutely intolerable!
In the large meeting room on the third floor of the Headquarters, the atmosphere was as stagnant as the dead sea before a storm.
The heavy, dark velvet curtains were tightly drawn, and only the cold, white light from the ceiling lamps shone uniformly, illuminating the large strategic map table and the circle of tense, even fearful faces.
An almost suffocating tension filled the air.
Tada Shunroku sat at the head of the table, his military cap resting on the corner, his meticulously short hair forming sharp, chiseled lines.
Without preamble or excessive pleasantries, he picked up a copy of the document left by Nakamura Masao with his right hand and, as if lifting a branding iron, slammed it onto the polished rosewood tabletop with a “snap.”
The crisp sound made all the attendees involuntarily tense up.
“Gentlemen, this is the lifeline map of the ‘Cage’ strategy, which the Imperial Army relies on most heavily on the North China front! Its core secrets, its weaknesses, are now being studied repeatedly by those disorganised rabble commanders! The ‘Cage’ has been torn open with a bleeding wound, and we are being bled dry!”
“And this is only part of it. On the North China front, our valiant Yamazaki Regiment suffered a severe blow last month.”
“Intelligence indicates the Eighth Route Army that attacked them was well-equipped, with a ferocity of fire far exceeding anything seen before! They not only possessed brand new Type 38 rifles, but even mortars!”
“Where did the ammunition come from? Where did the guns and artillery come from? Did God bestow them upon them?”
“Or did someone send them through the railways of our Transportation Department!”
As the last sentence fell, all eyes simultaneously turned to Oshima Kenjiro!
Beads of fine sweat instantly appeared on the forehead of Oshima Kenjiro, the head of Southern Transportation.
Under Tada Shunroku’s piercing gaze, he stood up hastily, his body taut like a drawn bowstring, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness: “Com-Commander Your Excellency! The Empire’s control over Shanghai’s water and land transportation hubs… uh, this, this is absolutely… secure!”
“Important military… material control lists are strictly double-checked and registered by the Gendarmerie stationed in Shanghai and the Water Police Department… there is absolutely no possibility of a major… oversight! Inland waterway… shipping is personally supervised by Vice Minister Saito of the Navy Transportation Section, escorted by the Navy Department throughout, with detailed manifests for each ship…”
“Secure?” Minister of Inspection Okamoto’s voice carried a hint of arrogance, “Minister Oshima’s so-called security, does it refer to the three tons of seamless steel pipes that inexplicably ‘evaporated’ from the warehouse at the Pujiang Wharf last month?”
“Or the small transport barge that ‘lost its way’ outside Wusongkou last week? Or the supply military train that was looted clean in the Lu’nan sector?”
“Your Southern Transportation Department’s account books likely only record what ‘should be,’ and not what ‘actually is,’ don’t they?”
“Minister Okamoto, what evidence do you have to prove these things are related to our Transportation Department?” Oshima pointed at Colonel Okamoto, his face turning red, about to retort.
“Silence!” Tada Shunroku’s low command was like thunder, instantly forcing both back into their seats.
He turned to Major General Miyazaki Shigesaburo, the Chief of Staff of the Gendarmerie, who had been sitting in silence: “Minister Miyazaki, your gendarmes are the cornerstone of order in Shanghai. Recently, have these phantom underground material flows yielded any clues?”
Major General Miyazaki slowly stood up, his voice calm but carrying an iron will: “Your Excellency, the Gendarmerie deploys significant forces daily for surveillance and searches.”
“However, we must admit that the opponent’s methods are extremely covert and highly mobile.”
“They infiltrate legal trade chains, using chambers of commerce, charitable organizations, and even gang organizations as cover.”
“There are numerous stages for material cutting, transit, and repackaging, making it easy for clues to be broken. Currently, we have arrested some lower-level ‘resellers,’ but the source, especially the source of weapons and ammunition, has not yet been reached.”
Tada Shunroku pondered for a moment, his gaze finally falling on Chen Yang, the Deputy Minister of Transportation: “Chen Sang,”
His tone softened slightly, “The material control at the Mai Gen Road Material Warehouse in Shanghai is a crucial guarantee for the smooth progress of frontline operations.”
“The failure of the ‘Cage’ plan, the bloodshed of the frontline soldiers, stems from someone under our very noses using supplies stolen from the Empire’s veins to strike back at us! The Empire needs absolute safety and order in Shanghai, you should understand this.”
Chen Yang leaned forward slightly, his attitude humble and earnest: “What Commander Your Excellency says is absolutely correct.”
“Our Transportation Department has been fully cooperating with the Army Department’s material control strategy and remains highly vigilant against the outflow of all ‘unauthorized’ materials.”
“I have already dispatched additional personnel to implement stricter approval processes and random inspections for sensitive goods such as medicine, hardware, and chemical raw materials.”
“However, with the concessions and Chinese territory intertwined, and a population of tens of millions, black market transactions are deeply rooted… sometimes it really feels like trying to catch loaches in a swamp; you have strength but can’t fully use it.”
“But please rest assured, Commander Your Excellency, we will do our utmost…”
“Do your utmost?” Before Chen Yang could finish, a cold voice came from the doorway of the meeting room, “Chen Sang, the Imperial Army does not want an ‘utmost effort’ attitude, it wants results!”
“It wants immediate, tangible effects! The Empire can tolerate the cost of temporary chaos, but it absolutely will not tolerate the enemy establishing a supply lifeline in a major city that we consider our heart!”
“This cancerous tumor lodged within the material circulation system must be… within a month…”
“…uprooted! No matter how cleverly it disguises itself, no matter which corner it hides in! Remember, whoever obstructs the Army’s Great Cause will be utterly crushed!”
The newcomer wore a khaki uniform, and the stars on his collar and the yellow sashes on his shoulders all spoke of his unusual status.
Chen Yang lowered his head: “Hai! Your subordinate understands! Please rest assured, Chief of Staff Your Excellency, everyone in the Transportation Department will mobilize all our strength and go all out! Strive for…”
“I want to hear something other than that,” Nakamura Masao waved his hand, interrupting Chen Yang’s lengthy discourse, and slowly walked to Tada Shunroku’s side, handing him a document.
“I received secret intelligence, Chen Sang, that someone has reported that your Transportation Department has exhibited significant transgressions during recent transport operations. Can you explain this?”
“What does Your Excellency Nakamura wish for me to explain?” Upon hearing this, Chen Yang’s respectful demeanor instantly vanished, and even his tone became forceful.
I was just being polite, and you actually took it seriously, thinking you’re really something special?
Nakamura said sternly: “First, regarding the repeated mistakes of Deputy Minister Yoshida during transport, and second, regarding you, Minister Chen, having excessive material losses while coordinating transport.”
“Stop,” before Nakamura could finish, Tada Shunroku stood up and said, “Minister Nakamura, these issues are perhaps not best discussed here.”
“Let’s first follow procedure and review the transaction locations within our respective jurisdictions, and strengthen material management!”
“Chen Sang, Nakajima, Okamoto, Oshima, all of you come with me.”
“Hai!”
The several men stood up, bowed slightly, and followed Tada Shunroku to the Commander’s office!
“Creak,” the next moment, the thick oak door of the commander’s spacious office closed tightly!
The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the large French floor-to-ceiling windows, casting orange-red patches of light into the room, extending all the way to the heavy sofa in the corner!
Tada Shunroku took off his military jacket, wearing only a crisp white shirt with the top button of his collar undone, a rare display of “relaxation.”
“Everyone, please be seated.” Tada Shunroku gestured towards the sofa, and he himself sat on a single sofa diagonally opposite, deliberately adopting a more relaxed posture.
The others sat as instructed, but they dared not relax in the commander’s presence. Their backs were straight, hands placed flat on their knees, their posture impeccably respectful.
Tada Shunroku got straight to the point: “Earlier in the meeting, Chief of Staff Nakamura expressed urgent concern about the North China campaign and potential hidden dangers in the rear, especially in Shanghai.”
“I can understand his attitude. How much effort did the North China Area Army pour into the ‘Cage’ plan? How many officers and soldiers at the front have been lost because of it?”
“The First Army even lost its most elite Sakata Regiment!”
“Nakamura has identified the source of the materials in our Shanghai, and he is pointing all his immense dereliction of duty and shame here!”
“He doesn’t need explanations or difficulties now, he needs a result that can clearly convince everyone!”
“A ‘leak’ that can fill his immense sense of defeat and justify himself to the Army Department in Tokyo!”
“Otherwise, all Imperial institutions in Shanghai will face an unprecedented and fierce purge! No one will be able to escape this storm.”
“Chen Sang, transportation matters are the cornerstone of the Empire’s administration in Shanghai.”
“I would like to know if you have a different explanation for Your Excellency Nakamura’s accusations.”
“There can be no rifts within the Empire; this is the bottom line, do you understand?”
The office was immediately plunged into a deathly silence.
The golden-red light patches of the setting sun lay quietly on the floor, illuminating the dust motes floating in the air, and also the eyes of Chen Yang: “Commander Your Excellency, for the reputation of our Transportation Department, I believe it is necessary for me to explain to Your Excellency Nakamura in person.”
Tada Shunroku’s fingers twitched slightly, “Chen Sang, you must think carefully. Your Excellency Nakamura represents Commander Shinozuka of the First Army of the North China Area Army.”
Chen Yang said calmly: “Commander Your Excellency, I believe regardless of who he represents, we should still reason things out.”
“My personal honor and disgrace are minor. The key is that he is insulting Minister Yoshida and the Transportation Department.”
“Minister Yoshida’s health problems were due to work-related reasons, which is why he became vulnerable to military intelligence assassins.”
“I will not allow anyone to smear him!”
As soon as this was said, Oshima Kenjiro and Nakajima Shinichi both agreed.
Tada Shunroku frowned, and finally instructed Nishikawa Yoshinori to summon Nakamura Masao!
As Nishikawa went to deliver the summons, Tada Shunroku looked at Chen Yang, who was sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, resting, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to do.
Soon, Nakamura Masao arrived at the Commander’s office, led by Nishikawa Yoshinori.
“Commander Your Excellency, did you summon me because you have already reached a conclusion?” Nakamura Masao was aggressive from the outset.
“Your Excellency Nakamura,” Chen Yang opened his eyes and stood up, “I would like to know if your so-called secret intelligence has any actual evidence to support it.”
“Evidence?” Nakamura Masao stared at Chen Yang and said, “Deputy Minister Chen, this investigation report was compiled by the Special Higher Police audit team over more than ten days, tracing back all transport data to derive the results.”
“Can this not be considered evidence?”
Chen Yang sneered: “Derivation? That means you would rather believe numbers than a transport officer who has dedicated his life to serving the Empire diligently.”
“If we’re talking about data, I think data can deceive people more easily than people can.”
“Pure data can deceive the eyes. Moreover, the data you obtained is not comprehensive. I am certain that your so-called data is merely reports compiled from various nodes, completely lacking detailed transfer data for transport military trains. What, are you planning to ruin a meritorious official with a pile of cold data?”
“Is there still law? Is there still morality?”
Chen Yang spoke with great confidence because all the detailed information for the transport military trains was sealed within the Transportation Department, and he was responsible for it!
To obtain the authority to review this information, both Oshima and he needed to sign off.
This was all top-secret information, and the Special Higher Police had not submitted a request to the Transportation Department for document review, or perhaps they were afraid of alerting him and didn’t want Chen Yang to discover their objective!
Therefore, the answer was obvious!
Nakamura Masao was taken aback for a moment and said sternly: “However, Minister Chen, no matter what, you still owe us an explanation.”
“An explanation?” Chen Yang scoffed, “I wonder what kind of explanation Your Excellency Nakamura desires.”
“Do you want to know how so many weapons suddenly appeared in the Taihang Mountains?”
“If we follow your logic, I think the land of China is rich in resources, and the Taihang Mountains are especially blessed. Those places have abundant wild resources, and it’s quite normal for wild heavy machine guns and mortars to grow there from time to time!”
“Since everyone is not relying on evidence and is just guessing, maybe my guess is more accurate than yours!”
“Baka yalu…” Nakamura Masao’s face instantly flushed red: “Minister Chen, please watch your words. As the Deputy Minister of Transportation, speaking so carelessly, are you insulting my intelligence?”
“Insulting intelligence?” Chen Yang sneered, “Who is insulting whose intelligence? If Your Excellency Nakamura still intends to use these so-called data as evidence, insulting the Transportation Department and Colonel Yoshida,”
“Then I boldly predict that in the future, not only mortars and heavy machine guns will grow on the Taihang Mountains, but even 75mm mountain guns and 105mm howitzers may not be out of the question.”
“I wonder how Commander Shinozuka will deal with such heavy firepower then?”
With a “bang,” Nakamura slammed his hand on the tea table, gritting his teeth: “Baka, Deputy Minister Chen… you dare to threaten me?”
“Tch,” Chen Yang sneered, his expression chilling, “That’s right, I am threatening you…”
【ps: The author is recovering well and can finally be discharged from the hospital. I need to find a rental room in the next couple of days and will need to stay here for a few more months. By the way, I wrote about battles in the previous chapters to pave the way for this section. When writing a novel, you always need to build up the plot first before leading to a climax. The author has a lot of experience in this and won’t arbitrarily add filler. However, if you truly dislike it, I won’t write about the frontal battlefield anymore, as it’s my weak point, and I admit it…】
