Chapter 101: China Transportation Section
Everyone followed the order, took the documents, and returned to their respective offices.
Sato Buntai gathered the reports from the previous meeting, his brows furrowed tightly.
Materials transportation has always been of utmost importance to the Logistics Department.
Before the Xuzhou Campaign broke out, the Logistics Department could still use the excuse of obstacles between the northern and southern railway lines preventing efficient transportation.
Now, the Jinpu Line and Longhai Line both belong to the Empire, yet transportation efficiency has decreased instead of increasing.
This is a bit hard to explain.
Therefore, the Operations General Staff Office’s suggestion is to unify the planning and management of all transportation lines in the South.
This sounds simple, but in actual operation? Do you really think the transportation issues are due to too many departments?
Sato Buntai did not think so in his heart, but there was no method; others just thought that way.
So, he could only follow the instruction and act accordingly.
At the door of the third floor meeting room, seeing Sato Buntai coming down, Abe Mitsuhiro immediately went forward to greet him.
“Your Excellency Sato, as per your command, we have gathered the persons in charge from the North China Transportation Administration Office, Southern Railway Command, Southern Railway Construction Command, Nanjing Restoration Government Economic Department, Nanjing Transportation General Administration, Expeditionary Army Transportation Company, and other organizations.”
“Now we are just waiting for you.”
Sato Buntai nodded slightly: “Abe, well done.”
“Let’s go in together.”
“Hai.” Abe Mitsuhiro bowed slightly, then quickly pushed open the meeting room door and invited Sato Buntai inside.
“Rustle.” Seeing Sato Buntai, with the rank of Major General on his shoulders, enter, everyone stood up.
“Gentlemen, please sit,” Sato Buntai extended both hands forward and pressed them slightly downward.
Everyone sat down according to the order.
Chen Yang curiously sized up this Major General Sato standing at the front of the meeting room.
He was actually not tall, his height of one meter sixty-three not standing out among the group, and with his somewhat emaciated build, he could only be described as short and sturdy.
His age appeared to be around fifty, with years leaving clear marks on him: short black-and-white hair trimmed meticulously close to the scalp, but the hairline had quietly receded, and deep horizontal lines on his forehead seemed to record years of planning and scheduling.
His face was square, with bone lines becoming increasingly clear under the thinning subcutaneous fat.
His skin was slightly yellow from long indoor work and contemplation, with some sagging, especially at the jawline and under the eyes.
His eyes were not large, but exceptionally sharp, with fine crow’s feet stacked at the corners; his gaze was bright and piercing, exuding pragmatism, shrewdness, and an unquestionable air.
His nose bridge was not high but straight, with deep nasolabial folds extending from both sides of the nostrils like creases in two rigorous ledgers, reaching straight to the corners of the mouth.
His lips were thin and tightly pursed, with the corners slightly downturned, forming a habitual, almost stern line; overall, he appeared both rigid and serious, giving the impression that he would follow the rules strictly no matter what decision he made.
“Ahem,” Sato Buntai cleared his throat and said: “I have gathered you all today to announce an important matter.”
“With the Empire’s successive occupation of Xuzhou, Dengfeng, and other places, the strategic deployment to connect the northern and southern railway lines has been completed.”
“Next, to accomplish the Empire’s complete occupation of China.”
“The homeland has decided to implement the Hankou Operation Plan, which requires annihilating the Blue Army’s main force in the Wuhan area.”
“To ensure the warfare proceeds smoothly, the Logistics Department must handle materials support work properly.”
“After the General Staff Office’s consideration of the China battlefield and assessment of transportation capacity in the north and south.”
“The General Staff Office suggests reorganizing the transportation structure, reintegrating the seven southern transportation-related departments, and establishing the Southern Transportation Department.”
“Abe, you announce the position appointments.”
“Hai.” Abe Mitsuhiro bowed slightly, opened the prepared document, walked to the front of the conference table, and said slowly: “Gentlemen, after our multi-party examination and performance reports.”
“The newly established Southern Transportation Department will have Colonel Oshima Kenjiro from the Army Transportation Department serve as Minister.”
A somewhat rotund Japanese soldier stood up from the crowd and bowed slightly to those present.
Abe Mitsuhiro continued: “Mr. Ino Kyuji from the Manchurian Railway Co., Ltd. will serve as Deputy Minister.”
“Kobayashi Shuzo from the original Southern Railway Construction Department will serve as Section Chief of the General Affairs Section, responsible for railway construction and maintenance work.”
“Lieutenant Colonel Matsuzaki Atsushi from the original Southern Railway Command will serve as Section Chief of the First Section.”
“Nagashima No-hiro, former advisor from the North China Transportation Administration Office, will serve as Section Chief of the Second Section.”
“Director Chen Yang of the Nanjing Restoration Government Economic Department will serve as Section Chief of the Third Section.”
At these words, the people present erupted in an uproar.
A Chinese person actually being appointed to the position of Section Chief was simply unbelievable.
Sato Buntai waved his hand slightly, signaling everyone to quiet down.
Then, he took out an investigation report from his briefcase and threw it directly onto the conference table.
“It seems that you gentlemen have some differing opinions regarding the appointment of Director Chen, Mr. Chen from the Economic Department.”
“Then why don’t you take a look at the transportation performance of the Economic Department’s Tongji Office from mid-March to June over these three months.”
“The Economic Department is responsible for the Hangcheng to Nanjing, i.e., ‘Hangning Line,’ and Shanghai to Nanjing, i.e., ‘Shanghai-Nanjing Line,’ two transportation lines.”
“They were able to increase from one freight train to three in just three months, and there has never been any delay.”
“Even I find this efficiency incredible.”
“The Empire’s establishment of organizations and appointment of positions are all based on very professional investigations and assessments.”
“Mr. Chen’s performance is exactly the kind of talent we need; appointing him as Section Chief of the Third Section for medium- and short-haul transportation is after multi-party consideration.”
“Do any of you gentlemen have further questions?”
Oshima Kenjiro asked suspiciously: “Your Excellency Sato, as far as I know, it is the Tongji Office within the Economic Department that handles transportation.”
“Appointing the Director of the Economic Department as Transportation Section Chief, is this not…”
Abe Mitsuhiro stared at Oshima Kenjiro and said coldly: “Oshima, do you think our Expeditionary Army Special Services Section are all idiots? Unable to even investigate who can do the work and who cannot?”
“I can responsibly tell you that Colonel Konan sent people to investigate very thoroughly.”
“From March to now, a total of three months, the Tongji Office requested three speed increases and two additional freight trains from the Dispatch Center; these were all planned by Director Chen.”
“Their Tongji Office director has been in position for less than half a month and, until the Special Services Section’s investigation ended, had not participated in any transportation plans.”
“This single point is enough to prove Director Chen’s ability.”
“Therefore, we invited Director Chen to join the Southern Transportation Department.”
“Oshima, do you still have any questions now?”
