Chapter 133: Because Of Distrust
“Minister Oshima, you wanted to see me?” Entering the third floor Minister’s Office, Chen Yang respectfully bowed to Oshima Kenjiro sitting behind the desk.
In fact, the entire Transportation Department did not have a very good impression of this Oshima Kenjiro.
Oshima Kenjiro was originally from the Central China Expeditionary Army Logistics Department, responsible for transportation matters.
This person’s resume had neither obvious shortcomings nor obvious strengths.
He just followed the established procedures to complete the tasks assigned by the leader.
Logically speaking, the position of Transportation Department Head should be filled by someone capable.
But Sato Buntai believed that as a department leader, one didn’t need to be too capable; the real talents who handled the work needed ability.
But now that Oshima had taken this position, he felt like he might have been wrong.
This person was just like Sun Liancheng in In the Name of the People, with neither great strengths nor great weaknesses.
He was honest, but at the same time, he would never help the leader take any blame.
He was simply the epitome of being desireless and demandless.
Whatever was assigned from above, he did exactly that, unwilling to put in even an extra bit of effort.
“Mr. Chen, have a seat.” Oshima Kenjiro squeezed out a friendly smile and invited Chen Yang to sit down and talk.
Chen Yang did not refuse and sat directly opposite him.
“Mr. Chen, how do you feel after joining the Southern Transportation Department?” Oshima Kenjiro asked Chen Yang with a casual, chatty opening.
Chen Yang respectfully replied: “Pretty good. I get along very well with colleagues from all departments, and there are no issues with the work.”
Oshima Kenjiro sighed: “The pressure on the transportation routes is all on the shoulders of Matsuura from the First Section.”
“The First Section is under a lot of pressure.”
“By the way, do you know about the sea-land conflict at Mai Gen Road Train Station a few days ago?”
Chen Yang nodded and said: “All departments went to the scene, and I went too.”
Oshima Kenjiro said somewhat gravely: “This incident should never have happened at all.”
“However, since it has happened, we must eliminate the possibility of it happening again.”
Chen Yang’s heart stirred slightly, and he respectfully said: “Minister Oshima, I don’t know what I can do?”
Oshima Kenjiro nodded slightly. Chen Yang’s attitude was very proper; he was indeed a promising talent worth cultivating with confidence.
“The Logistics Department has decided to have the Southern Transportation Department cooperate with the Navy Logistics Transportation Department. From now on, if they want to transport materials by railway or road, they have to go through our Southern Transportation Department.”
“Of course, as an exchange condition, we also need to borrow their fleet for transportation work.”
“I originally proposed that Section Chief Nagashima of the Second Section liaise with Lieutenant Colonel Saito Koichi of the Navy Department.”
“But after Your Excellency Sato reviewed the performance of the departments in recent months, he felt you would be more suitable than Nagashima.”
“So, the liaison with the Navy side will be handled by your Third Section.”
“At the same time, you need to take on more responsibility and add a supply route from Shanghai to Hankou.”
“If you have any difficulties, you can raise them now. I can help you communicate with Section Chief Matsuura.”
Adding one more line wasn’t really a big deal for Chen Yang.
“Please rest assured, Minister Oshima. I will do my utmost to complete the transportation mission assigned to me by the Empire.”
Oshima Kenjiro nodded and said: “Very good, then it’s decided.”
“This afternoon, Lieutenant Colonel Saito from the Navy Department will come to liaise with you on the details of the Navy Department’s transportation mission.”
“I remind you that the Navy Department has recently raised two tons of sulfanilamide powder to be sent to the Hankou front line for use by the Third and Seventh Fleets.”
“This batch of materials must not have any problems; otherwise, I’m afraid you won’t be able to bear the responsibility.”
Two tons of sulfanilamide powder—Chen Yang exclaimed inwardly. As expected of the Navy; they were really generous.
You know, the Army’s supplies rarely used tons as the unit.
Usually it was just a few dozen cases of medicine, but the Navy, with one move, supplied several tons of sulfanilamide powder.
Currently in Shanghai, the market price for one kilogram of sulfanilamide powder was at least five hundred silver dollars, and the selling price was as high as eight hundred to nine hundred silver dollars.
Two tons was two thousand kilograms; even at the supply price, converted to silver dollars, it would be a million.
This medicine supply volume was ten times that of the Army’s.
Otherwise, why would Sato Buntai tell Oshima Kenjiro that as long as he squeezed out a few hundred kilograms, it would meet the needs of the 106th Division.
It seemed the Army really hadn’t tasted any good pork.
“Please rest assured, Minister Oshima. All colleagues in the Third Section will ensure the medicine is delivered to the front line on time.”
“Good,” Oshima Kenjiro praised: “Then everything is entrusted to Mr. Chen. After you meet with Saito this afternoon and work out a feasible transportation plan, don’t forget to report it to Your Excellency Sato.”
“This is the first joint transportation plan between the sea and land forces; Your Excellency Sato does not want any problems.”
Chen Yang furrowed his brows but still respectfully agreed.
In the afternoon, Southern Transportation Department Third Section Section Chief’s Office.
“Lieutenant Colonel Saito, are you joking with me?” Inside the office, Chen Yang’s voice rose slowly: “Train K704 is taking the route from Shanghai to Hankou.”
“From Shanghai to Hangcheng, then to Nanchang, transferring to Dean, along Jiujiang, Huangmei until Wuhan.”
“To sabotage the Empire’s transportation plan, the Blue Camp’s air force from Wangjiadun Airport in Hankou and Yichang Airport has been bombing the railway since late June.”
“Xiao Lin from the General Affairs Section just sent the evaluation report. The section from Jiujiang to Wuhan has just been repaired, the roadbed is soft, and even light materials require speed limits.”
“The transportation plan you’re giving me now isn’t for transporting medicine and materials; it’s for transporting keel materials used to repair ship hulls.”
“Do you know how heavy that stuff is? If the speed is too slow, the train will easily become a live target.”
“If something happens, is it your responsibility or mine?”
Navy Transportation Department special liaison officer Saito Koichi was wearing a crisp white Navy summer uniform.
He leisurely picked up the thick porcelain tea cup on the desk, which contained freshly brewed cheap green tea with coarse leaves unfurling.
Gently blowing away the foam, Saito Koichi took a sip, as if savoring fine dew.
“Section Chief Chen,” Saito’s Japanese had a rigid rhythm, “the Empire Navy warships are waiting for this batch of special steel to make keel materials for repairs.”
“I think you should also know that during the attack on Madang Fortress, the Empire Navy warships on the Yangtze River suffered multiple attacks from Blue Army mines, man-made sunken ship reefs, and shore defense guns.”
“Many warships were damaged to varying degrees and urgently need repair materials.”
“These special steels are prepared for repairing the warships; they are the ‘bones’ and ‘blades’ essential for the Empire Navy’s future victories, relating to the frontline strategic layout.”
Chen Yang sneered: “Lieutenant Colonel Saito, as far as I know, the Navy’s Yokosuka Shipyard is in the homeland, not in China.”
“At this time, instead of figuring out how to transport materials, you’re transporting these bulky things to slow down the Army’s transportation efficiency.”
“Section Chief Chen Yang,” Saito’s Japanese carried a hint of cold hardness, “please watch your words. The Army’s difficulties are not a reason to disregard the Empire’s overall strategy.”
“The Navy Transportation Department has its own procedures and considerations.”
Chen Yang raised his eyebrows slightly and said gravely: “Lieutenant Colonel Saito, Minister Oshima assigned me to assist the Navy Department with transporting medicine, not these bulky steels.”
“Considering the pressure on the transportation routes, I believe I must refuse to carry out this transportation mission.”
Saito Koichi said slowly: “Section Chief Chen, I think you cannot refuse this transportation mission.”
With that, Saito Koichi took a document from his briefcase and slowly spread it out in front of Chen Yang.
Chen Yang’s gaze instinctively fell on the document.
The paper was smooth and crisp, with a prominent Navy Transportation Department emblem and Tokyo Headquarters at the top.
The body text was densely packed printed Japanese.
At the end of the document, a bold black signature seemed as if the ink was not yet dry.
That was the name of the Navy Military Affairs Department highest officer, Military Affairs Minister Toyota Shinshiro.
Above the signature was a fresh red seal symbolizing absolute authority: “Imperial Japanese Navy Military Affairs Department, Approved.”
Saito Koichi said slowly: “The medicine and supplies have already been sent by ship.”
“What you need to do is deliver these keel materials to the war zone on time to assist the fleet.”
Chen Yang furrowed his brows: “Lieutenant Colonel Saito, you’ve temporarily changed the transportation materials plan. I need to report this before I can give you a reply.”
“I can understand Section Chief Chen’s difficulties,” Saito Koichi stood up and said: “However, please come up with a transportation plan as soon as possible.”
“The supply materials will arrive at the Mai Gen Road materials center warehouse this afternoon. I hope this batch can depart within two days, preferably before the supply ships arrive.”
“That way it won’t hinder our plans. Section Chief Chen, I’ll take my leave first and await your good news.”
With those words, Saito Koichi picked up his briefcase and walked out.
Chen Yang watched Saito Koichi’s departing back, and the corner of his mouth inexplicably curved up.
Two tons of sulfanilamide powder and the previously planned supply materials were being transported by supply ships, and they had to arrive before the train transported the special steel materials.
The Navy’s warships were docked near Huishan Wharf. With starting point, destination, and time, plus cross-referencing their supply ship speeds, Chen Yang quickly used the program in his mind to calculate a route matching the supply ships’ progress.
This wasn’t actually difficult; it was like knowing the time from point A to B and finding their route.
Hmm, for the AI program in his mind, this was probably just elementary school level difficulty.
In the evening, Shanghai Central China Expeditionary Army Headquarters Logistics Department Head’s Office.
“Baka yaro, whose idea was this? What the hell does the Navy want?” Sato Buntai flew into a rage upon seeing the transportation plan sent by Chen Yang.
He had originally planned to get his hands on the Navy’s medicine supplies, but who knew they had switched the transported medicine to special steel materials.
This stuff was completely useless to the Army.
Chen Yang stood to the side and respectfully said: “Your Excellency Sato, I believe the Navy Department has absolutely no trust in us.”
