Chapter 132: Who Is Suitable For This Position?
Yamaki Kenichi frowned slightly, but still bowed lightly and said, “Kawabe Chief of Staff, after I return, I will do my utmost to restrain my subordinates. Such a thing will absolutely not happen again.”
“However, regarding transportation matters, if you do not let us arrange them, in case there is a delay in materials or some other accident,”
“I hope to receive your guarantee.”
Sato Buntai chuckled lightly, “Yamaki, your Navy seems unable to achieve the words ‘on time’ either.”
“Since you cannot do it, what reason do you have to demand that we do.”
Yamaki Kenichi said in a low and deep voice, “If that is the case, I think the Navy Department needs to reconsider coordinating operations with the Army Department.”
“You dare.” Sato Buntai instantly flushed with anger.
“You guess.” Yamaki Kenichi faced a Major General Chief of Staff from the Army Department and a Logistics Department Major General Minister, yet showed no intention of yielding in the slightest.
Kawabe Chief of Staff saw that both sides seemed about to argue again, and could not help but frown, “Alright, I will arrange for the Southern Transportation Department to send dedicated personnel to follow up on transportation matters. Although I cannot guarantee on time, we will absolutely treat everyone equally and will not deliberately hold up the Navy Department’s materials.”
“If Yamaki is still dissatisfied, please have Hasegawa Lieutenant General negotiate directly with Commander Tada Shunroku.”
Hearing the other side bring up Hasegawa Sei, Yamaki Kenichi finally stopped insisting.
The Navy is not like the Army in liking to challenge superiors; the Navy places the utmost emphasis on seniority. For such a small matter to alarm Lieutenant General Hasegawa, the other side would surely think Yamaki lacks ability, unable to even handle such a minor issue independently.
The Navy Department’s promotion path is very singular; an superior’s evaluation is an extremely important matter for them.
Yamaki Kenichi also did not want this small matter to alter Hasegawa Sei’s evaluation of him.
“Alright then, later I will send Lieutenant Colonel Saito from the Transportation Department with authorization documents to liaise with personnel from the Southern Transportation Department.”
“I also request Your Excellency Sato to recommend a suitable person to take charge; otherwise, if any accident occurs, I fear you will also find it hard to explain.”
“I have said all there is to say, farewell.”
As the words fell, Yamaki Kenichi bowed lightly, leaving behind a dashing back view as he exited the Logistics Department office.
“Kawabe, what attitude is that.” Sato Buntai looked at Yamaki Kenichi’s departing back, still harboring some unresolved anger.
“Sato, everything must prioritize the Empire’s warfare. Although I also dislike the Navy’s fools, this is now a critical period in the battle. To achieve the greatest results, we need to compromise.”
“Arrange transportation matters properly. By the way, Commander Matsuura of the 106th Division has sent three urgent telegrams urging medicine.”
“Has the issue of allocating your materials been resolved? If it still cannot arrive on time, I worry that neither you nor Oshima will be able to explain.”
Sato Buntai said respectfully, “Please rest assured, Kawabe Chief of Staff. We are already coordinating, and there will certainly be no accidents.”
“That is best,” Kawabe Chief of Staff nodded slightly and said, “Sato, go personally to the Southern Transportation Department and quickly finalize the plan with Oshima.”
“I will head back first.”
Shanghai, Minister’s Office of the Southern Transportation Department.
Thick dark green velvet curtains half-covered the window, filtering the harsh sunlight outside into a oppressive dim yellow beam that slanted onto one corner of the large rosewood desk.
On the desk, files were piled like mountains, resembling miniature fortresses.
Sato Buntai sat with his back to the window, slowly flipping through a thick file in his hand page by page.
The room was unusually quiet, with only the monotonous and suffocating “rustle—rustle—” of paper turning, and the faint muffled whistle of river steamers from outside the window.
Southern Transportation Department Minister Oshima Kenjiro stood straight like a javelin about two meters in front of the desk.
His face showed no expression, quietly watching Sato flip through the documents.
Sato’s fingers flipping the paper paused on a document prominently marked in red pen: “Seventh Fleet Highest Priority—K704 Special Train Supply Details（ Top Secret）”.
His fingertip, with an almost stagnant slowness, slid down along the list entries. The paper made a faint friction sound.
It stopped when his fingertip touched the clearly printed line “Sulfanilamide Powder – 2 tons”.
He raised his head, his gaze passing over the top edge of the document, landing on Oshima Kenjiro’s impassive face.
“Oshima,” Sato’s voice was low and deep, breaking the room’s dead silence,
“The front lines… especially the 106th Division; their division headquarters has sent urgent telegrams,”
“now piled almost higher than the edge of an engineer’s shovel.”
“This batch of sulfonamide… a full two tons. Can you really not coordinate even a little? Even just a few hundred kilograms to tide us over?” The last three words were said very softly, yet like a heavy hammer striking the stagnant air.
“Clack!”
Oshima’s black hard-soled military boots snapped together at the heels on the smooth teak floor, emitting a crisp, short, gun-cocking-like impact sound!
This sound was especially abrupt and piercing in the overly quiet room. His upper body remained perfectly still, only the line of his jaw tightening slightly more.
“Your Excellency Sato!” Oshima’s voice rang out, “This list, along with the transportation priority and timeliness requirements, was personally signed by Seventh Fleet Commander Your Excellency Suzuki and stamped with the approval seal of the Combined Fleet Commander-in-Chief!”
He drew another document from the folder on the desk, flicking his wrist to unfurl it with a “whoosh”.
He stepped forward half a pace, laying the document flat atop the pile of files in front of Sato.
Sato Buntai was slightly stunned; clearly printed at the top of the document was a line: “Yangtze River Upstream Operation Phase Two Fleet Supply Assurance Plan（ Wuhan Direction）”.
“Please look.” Oshima Kenjiro said in a low and deep voice, “This is the operation proposal just sent over by Colonel Yamaki.”
“The fleet main force will complete assembly within two weeks, proceeding upstream along the river to coordinate with the operation plan to capture the core Wuhan area.”
“All time nodes are as precise as the pressure gauge in a warship’s boiler, down to the hour! The timeliness and reliability of supply assurance for the fleet’s actions in the Yangtze’s narrow waters directly determine the success or failure of the entire campaign!”
Sato Buntai listened quietly, his face showing no change in expression. His finger on the “Sulfanilamide Powder” entry had unknowingly been withdrawn, now crossed on the desktop.
For some reason, Sato Buntai suddenly found himself very much disliking this Oshima Kenjiro.
When problems arose, he did not think of solving them but pushed the issue to the Logistics Department, pitting him against Yamaki Kenichi.
Now that coordination of materials was needed from him, he put on this official business demeanor.
Official business is a very good attitude, but it depends on the occasion.
The 106th Division had a large number of wounded evacuated from Jiujiang; due to the hot weather, most soldiers’ wounds had developed severe infections.
The medicine urgent request submitted by the military doctor could nearly fill a wastebasket.
At a time like this, Oshima still adopted this detestable official business demeanor.
One must know these were materials the Navy Department asked them to transport, not the Army Department’s.
Exactly which side was he on? Could he be an undercover from the Navy Department?
“Ahem.” Sato Buntai coughed lightly, “If it cannot be coordinated, then forget it.”
“Who do you plan to hand Navy Department transportation matters to?”
Oshima Kenjiro hesitated for a moment and said, “Currently, the First Section’s workload is already at full capacity; Matsuura has no capacity left to take on the Navy Department’s transportation missions.”
“Now, only Nagashima from the Second Section and Chen Yang from the Third Section have the energy.”
“Personally, I prefer handing it to Nagashima.”
“You also know we chose Chen Yang to join because his transportation routes highly overlap with the material transport lines needed by the Jinling Government.”
“Moreover, his performance in transportation has been very good. However, for transporting Empire materials, I personally think it is best not for him to be in charge.”
Sato Buntai frowned and said, “We are all working for the Empire, so why distinguish so clearly.”
“What I want to hear now is your evaluation of their abilities.”
Oshima Kenjiro was silent for a moment, then took a folder from the pile of files in front of Sato Buntai.
“This is the evaluation table for subordinate Transportation Sections since the establishment of the Southern Transportation Department.”
“Currently, Chen Yang’s performance is the best.”
“Of course, the key reason is that he handles short-haul routes, short times, and reasonably arranged transportation missions.”
“So, according to this table, his ability should be somewhat better than Nagashima’s.”
“However, I personally believe that for transportation matters, one should not choose the best, but the most suitable.”
“Enough, I do not want to hear this.” Sato Buntai waved his hand impatiently.
“Since Section Chief Chen’s ability is superior to Section Chief Nagashima’s, then this transportation mission should be assigned to him.”
“Compared to suitability, I trust that the data does not lie.”
Oshima Kenjiro’s expression tightened slightly, and he bowed lightly, “I understand.”
Sato Buntai stood up and said, “Quickly complete the liaison with the Navy Department and have them promptly transport the materials.”
“Right, after work handover is complete, have Section Chief Chen come to the Logistics Department to report his work plan to me.”
“I will head back first.”
Oshima Kenjiro nodded heavily, “Hai.”
Third Section Chief’s Office, Southern Transportation Department.
The conflict incident between the sea and land sides at Mai Gen Road Train Station was ultimately resolved by making a big issue into a small one, and a small one into nothing.
Chen Yang, as usual, hid in his office drinking tea and reading the newspaper.
Currently, the materials being transported to the Jinling side seemed to pose no transportation pressure for him.
After all, most transportation lines were occupied by Matsuura Jun’s First Section.
Knock knock knock, a knock sounded, and Li Ningyu pushed open the office door, “Sir, Secretary Tanaka just came to find me, asking you to go to Minister Oshima’s office now.”
“Minister Oshima has a new transportation mission for you.”
“A new transportation mission?” Chen Yang was slightly stunned, set the newspaper aside, and said, “Alright, I will go up immediately.”
