Chapter 250: Everyone Has To Compromise
Carrying that “confession,” Nakamura Isao left Shanghai and returned to the “capital” Xinjing of Manchukuo.
Xinjing, the air here was filled with a flavor completely different from that of the Shanghai concession.
This was Japanese absolute controlled territory, emanating a more rigid and oppressive atmosphere everywhere.
After the train arrived in Xinjing, Nakamura Isao got off at almost the fastest speed, without any delay, and set off under the cover of night to the private residence of South Manchuria Railway President Omura Takuichi to make a secret report to him.
Xinjing, Yunshan Villa District…
“Mr. Nakamura, you’ve had a hard journey.” Omura Takuichi, wearing only a worn kimono, greeted him kindly.
But when he carefully read the confession that Nakamura Isao brought back from Shanghai, there was not much change on his face, as if this matter, enough to cause a major earthquake in the South Manchuria Railway, was insignificant in his eyes.
“President Omura, this matter can be big or small.” Nakamura Isao organized his words, “If we make it big, it’s sabotaging the holy war, framing colleagues, and none of the participants can escape.”
“But if we make it small, it’s just a rumor. Yasuda and Aoki Tomoshige are both dead, and they have no strong evidence in hand.”
“Whether to kill one to warn a hundred or to go along with the flow is entirely up to the President.”
Omura sighed slightly, “Mr. Nakamura, what do you think the South Manchuria Railway is?”
“Everyone in every position represents their own different interests.”
“Behind Takeshita Hiroshi is the Mitsui Zaibatsu, the largest supplier of resources to the South Manchuria Railway.”
“Director Suzuki, Onishi Masao, Matsuo Kotaro also each represent their own forces.”
“The South Manchuria Railway is many people united together. It cannot be dominated by one family; balance must be maintained. It’s okay to make mistakes; as long as they can be corrected.”
Nakamura Isao said slowly: “I’m just afraid that Vice President Takeshita may not appreciate your kindness.”
Omura Takuichi smiled faintly: “Then it’s even simpler. For those who have made mistakes and refuse to correct them, I will certainly have a way to help him.”
Nakamura Isao frowned slightly: “President Omura, this matter is too significant. Almost no one inside is willing to take it on and cooperate.”
“If Your Excellency Omura finds it difficult, I can personally report to the homeland that these people are engaging in underhanded dealings behind the scenes.”
“Mr. Nakamura, you are a loyal servant of the Empire,” Omura Takuichi stepped forward, patted Nakamura Isao’s shoulder, and said in a low and deep voice: “Doing such a thing will not bring you greater benefits; instead, it will make others wary of you.”
“With your talents, you should be in a higher position. You are a man who does big things; you need to have a broader vision and should not think of perishing together with a few parasites.”
“I will arrange this matter; you don’t need to worry about it.”
Nakamura Isao half-bowed and said: “Hai…”
The next day, South Manchuria Railway regular meeting…
When the names of Vice President Takeshita Hiroshi and others were read from that bloodstained document, the air in the meeting room seemed to freeze.
Shock, anger, fear, suspicion… and other emotions intertwined on the faces of several giants.
It had to be said that Kagesa Shinzhao’s move precisely hit the soft spot of the South Manchuria Railway high command.
Internal cleansing was inevitable, but how to cleanse and to what extent, to both give the Ume Agency an explanation without crippling the South Manchuria Railway and turning it completely into a appendage of the military department! This became the most thorny problem facing everyone.
Just as the South Manchuria Railway high command was racking their brains and arguing endlessly over this, a message from Tokyo introduced a new variable.
Prime Minister Konoe’s private advisor, Ozaki Hidemitsu, was about to visit Xinjing under the pretext of “coordinating relations among Imperial organizations in Manchuria and optimizing strategic materials allocation.”
Ozaki Hidemitsu was regarded as one of Prime Minister Konoe’s brain trust.
His arrival undoubtedly threw a new stone into this muddy water.
And the most unexpected was Nakamura Isao.
No one knew Ozaki Hidemitsu’s identity better than him. At this critical moment when the Kwantung Army was about to launch operations in the Far East region, Ozaki Hidemitsu suddenly arriving from the homeland to Xinjing seemed to carry an unusual flavor.
Could it be that President Omura’s method was to let the cabinet handle this case.
Nakamura Isao thought it unlikely, because the discord between the cabinet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was no secret now.
As Prime Minister Konoe’s private advisor, Ozaki Hidemitsu would not do such boring work at this time.
Therefore, Ozaki Hidemitsu’s trip to Xinjing should have other purposes.
But what exactly it was, Nakamura Isao found it hard to speculate based on the current information.
Nakamura Isao soon received an invitation to meet with Ozaki Hidemitsu.
The location was arranged at a rather elegant ryotei in Xinjing.
Xinjing, Shengjing Road 1225, Songhe Small Dwelling…
A black sedan with the South Manchuria Railway emblem steadily stopped at the door. Driver Yamada Sanzo quickly got out and respectfully opened the back door.
Nakamura Isao got out from the back door, tightened his clothes, glanced at the sign above, and walked in with a solemn expression.
The private rooms inside Songhe Small Dwelling were named after wind, flower, snow, and moon.
Nakamura Isao walked to the door of the private room engraved with “wind,” and gently knocked on the door.
“Please come in,” a warm voice came from inside.
In the private room, Ozaki Hidemitsu wore a traditional kimono, his demeanor composed and poised…
“Mr. Nakamura, you’ve had a hard journey.” Ozaki Hidemitsu slowly set down his tea cup, his gaze mild…
“Ozaki,” Nakamura Isao sat familiarly opposite him and said slowly: “I didn’t expect you to stir into this storm.”
“This is the most troublesome time now.”
As he spoke, Nakamura Isao detailed to Ozaki Hidemitsu everything from receiving the Southern Transportation Department order, negotiating with Kagesa of the Ume Agency, to the confession given by Kagesa…
“Mr. Nakamura,” Ozaki’s voice sounded somewhat low and deep, “The situation in Tokyo now is even more complex than what you felt in Shanghai.”
“To be honest, it’s not that I want to wade into this muddy water, but I was requested by Your Excellency Konoe to come coordinate, because the cabinet and the military department have consistent positions on certain issues.”
“First, the South Manchuria Railway must not be paralyzed due to internal strife. The Empire’s economic lifeline and continental policy cannot do without the effective operation of this South Manchuria Railway machine!”
“Second, the South Manchuria Railway must not be allowed to use this opportunity to escape the military department’s necessary ‘guidance’ and control, becoming an independent kingdom.”
Nakamura Isao nodded silently; this matched his previous judgment.
Ozaki’s fingers lightly tapped the desktop, as if pointing at those invisible names: “The ‘gift’ sent by Kagesa Shinzhao is very vicious. The people on the list—Vice President Takeshita, Director Suzuki, even the implicated Mizui Shosho…”
“To be honest, the cabinet does not believe the Ume Agency has direct evidence of their corruption or treason.”
“But the cabinet dares not gamble! Especially at this critical moment. Any scandal that could trigger turmoil in the South Manchuria Railway high command and be used by opponents to attack the cabinet for ‘ineffective control’ is absolutely unacceptable.”
“Most crucially,” Ozaki Hidemitsu’s voice lowered even more, as if afraid of being overheard by the walls, “the military department has grown impatient.”
“They think the current cabinet is too ‘weak’ and plan to push General Abe Nobuyuki to reorganize the cabinet.”
Abe Nobuyuki! This name made Nakamura Isao’s heart sink sharply.
Abe was different from Konoe; he was a typical representative of the military department hardliners, closely related to the Kwantung Army. If he formed the cabinet, it would mean the military department’s power would become even more unrestrained, and control over the South Manchuria Railway would be more direct than now.
At that time, the so-called “autonomy” that the South Manchuria Railway had always pursued would completely become a pipe dream.
“Ozaki, what you mean is…” Nakamura Isao seemed to have grasped something.
“It means,” Ozaki Hidemitsu’s gaze was piercing, “we must cut through the mess quickly before the cabinet changes, proactively ‘digest’ this crisis!”
“We need to give Kagesa Shinzhao and the military department a way out, satisfy some of their demands, while preserving the South Manchuria Railway’s core framework from being dismantled, avoiding a completely passive situation after Abe takes power.”
“The people on the list must be sacrificed.”
“Not because they are guilty, but because they need to make sacrifices.”
“Vice President Takeshita needs to ‘retire due to illness,’ Director Suzuki needs to be transferred to an idle position, and a batch of people in related links need to take responsibility. This is the price for the South Manchuria Railway’s overall survival and limited future autonomy!”
Nakamura Isao suddenly felt a chill; this was the cold logic of the high level, where individual fates were insignificant on the larger chessboard.
“Then what do we need to do?” Nakamura Isao asked.
“Cooperate with me.” Ozaki Hidemitsu said resolutely, “I will convene a ‘discussion meeting’ in my capacity as prime minister’s advisor, with South Manchuria Railway high command, Kwantung Army, Ume Agency representatives, and Southern Transportation Department representatives.”
“At the meeting, I will pressure the South Manchuria Railway to carry out ‘self-discipline rectification,’ while also ‘persuading’ the military department side to give the South Manchuria Railway corresponding operational space after completing the rectification.”
“We need to create an image of both sides stepping back under cabinet mediation to reach a reconciliation.”
“The purpose of doing this is first to create a fait accompli before Abe forms the cabinet, making it hard for the new cabinet to easily overturn it!”
“Second, to show all parties that only through the cabinet’s coordination can this kind of ‘controllable’ stability be achieved. This is both to preserve the South Manchuria Railway and to preserve the influence of the current cabinet.”
Nakamura Isao fully understood. Ozaki Hidemitsu’s trip was truly to put out the fire, but more so a carefully designed political operation, aiming to use this crisis to gain chips for the tottering current cabinet, while gaining a breath of relief for the South Manchuria Railway under the military department’s dominance.
“I understand, Ozaki.” Nakamura Isao took a deep breath, “I will fully cooperate with you. What do you need me to do?”
“You are the key, Mr. Nakamura.” Ozaki Hidemitsu patted his shoulder, “You need to use your connections and influence within the South Manchuria Railway to communicate in advance, ensure the ‘self-discipline rectification’ plan can be smoothly implemented, and avoid fierce internal resistance.”
“The most important point is to make some people understand that the current sacrifice is to avoid being uprooted by the military department in the future.”
The flickering light in the private room illuminated the indelible solemnity on Nakamura Isao’s face even more clearly.
He was silent for a moment, finally voicing his inner thoughts: “Ozaki, I understand the necessity of ‘sacrificing pawns to save the king’ and the immense pressure the cabinet faces.”
“However, the price the South Manchuria Railway pays this time… is really too great.”
“Vice President Takeshita is one of the pillars supporting the South Manchuria Railway’s operations, and Director Suzuki has deep roots in the investigation department for many years.”
“Such a ‘sacrifice’ without any buffer will not only chill the hearts of tens of thousands of South Manchuria Railway staff, but also severely shake external confidence in the South Manchuria Railway’s stability and reputation.”
“Should we… consider, after cutting flesh to heal the poison, also giving the South Manchuria Railway some due ‘decency’ to soothe hearts and maintain the organization’s normal operations?”
Ozaki Hidemitsu listened quietly; he understood Nakamura Isao’s concerns. This was not woman’s benevolence, but a realistic consideration for maintaining a massive organization’s combat effectiveness.
Excessive humiliation and deprivation would only provoke stronger backlash or complete passivity.
“Mr. Nakamura, your concerns are valid.” Ozaki Hidemitsu said slowly: “Punishment is not the goal; maintaining the effective operation of the Empire’s strategic machine is the fundamental.”
“Giving a certain ‘decency’ is both to soothe and to inspire, and also for better control in the future.”
“I can suggest to Your Excellency Konoe that the cabinet can step in. While forcing the South Manchuria Railway to carry out internal rectification, under the pretext of ‘improving efficiency and clarifying responsibilities,’ formally transfer the land transportation coordination and management authority for key areas in Central China and South China to the South Manchuria Railway for unified control temporarily.”
“This means that, at least for a period in the future, the military department logistics system and other southern transportation organizations will need to respect the South Manchuria Railway’s opinions more in daily scheduling in these areas.”
A glint flashed in Nakamura Isao’s eyes.
This was indeed a substantial concession, handing over part of the long-desired transportation dominance to the South Manchuria Railway. Though prefixed with “temporarily,” it would undoubtedly greatly boost morale and partially compensate for the losses from high-level turmoil.
“However,” Ozaki Hidemitsu changed tone, “the military department, especially Kagesa Shinzhao’s side, must also have face.”
“The Southern Transportation Department is a field they have worked hard to operate and infiltrate; we cannot make them feel completely excluded, lest they jump the wall in desperation.”
“Therefore, for balance, and to have someone on key positions who can be accepted by the South Manchuria Railway without overly stimulating the military department,”
Nakamura Isao asked curiously: “Who?”
Ozaki Hidemitsu named the key person, “Current Section Chief of Land Transportation Chen Yang, recommended by Your Excellency Sato of the Logistics Department, promoted to Deputy Minister of Southern Transportation Department, specifically responsible for the newly assigned Central China and South China transportation coordination affairs.”
“Chen Yang?” Nakamura Isao felt something amiss upon hearing the name.
That Chinese who participated in the negotiations with Kagesa, what role did he play in this game?
“Yes, him,” Ozaki Hidemitsu nodded: “He is very suitable for this position.”
“By the way, Mr. Nakamura, I also want to introduce a friend to you this time.”
As he spoke, Ozaki Hidemitsu glanced at his watch and muttered to himself: “At this time, he should be here!”
Knock knock knock, as soon as he finished speaking, a knock sounded…
【Out of the ICU but a bit busier, need to get out of bed and do rehab training, rest assured godfathers, current progress is good, will keep updating, will ask for leave if I can’t handle it…】
