Chapter 4: He’s Suited To Be A Hawk
Abe Mitsuhiro sighed and said, “What he just said is very correct. War is not the goal, but merely a means of conquest.”
“I reminded Your Excellency Matsui early on that we should not waste a large portion of our forces on Chinese territory.”
“The purpose of war is to obtain vast interests, not to display one’s own strength.”
“However, there are many people within the Empire who have become obsessed with the issue of China.”
“They only think about how to conquer this great Eastern nation, instead of how to obtain sufficient interests.”
Iwai Koichi chuckled, “Mr. Abe, not every Imperial soldier can be as calm as you.”
“Since the Battle of Jiawu in 1894, the Empire has gained sufficient interests each time it has launched a war.”
“Especially concerning China, from the Treaty of Shimonoseki, the Twenty-One Demands, to the Tanggu Truce,”
“the Empire has always obtained vast interests from China. Each victory has fueled their ambitions, and now they are no longer satisfied with just interests.”
Pausing, Iwai Koichi said word for word, “What they want is the entire 13 million square kilometers of Chinese territory.”
Abe Mitsuhiro said slowly, “You are very right. Whether it was facing the Beiyang Fleet during the Qing Dynasty or that giant Russian bear.”
“The Empire could always defeat them with ease, which also made them arrogant.”
“But now the war is not progressing smoothly. According to the war command department’s simulations, to completely occupy China, we would need to deploy at least two million troops.”
“But we only have a little over thirty divisions in total, with over a million troops. Some of them are the Kwantung Army, which must garrison the Northeast to prevent a surprise attack by the Soviets when we launch large-scale combat.”
“The main force on the battlefield now is only the Central China Expeditionary Army.”
Iwai Koichi frowned, “Isn’t there also Your Excellency Terauchi’s North China Area Army?”
“The telegram from Mr. Inukai previously stated that Commander Itagaki of the 5th Division and Commander Isogai of the 10th Division of the North China Area Army have been ordered south.”
“They are preparing to rendezvous with Commander Tada Shunroku from the north and advance together to crush the National Government’s main force and completely stabilize the Southern Campaign.”
Abe Mitsuhiro gave a wry smile, “I’m afraid it won’t be that easy.”
“Mr. Iwai, the war command department has conducted simulations on the progress of the war.”
“We believe that unless Chinese soldiers once again engage in a head-on confrontation like in the Battle of Songhu, committing the entire nation’s strength to a decisive battle.”
“Otherwise, we will not be able to smoothly eliminate the enemy’s main force.”
“China is too vast, and its population is several times that of the Empire. Do you know what this means? As long as they want to retreat, there are many places they can retreat to.”
“As long as they want to replenish their troops, they can get a large amount of supplies in a short period.”
“But we cannot. We are not fighting on our homeland. If the war turns from fierce confrontation into a protracted war of attrition, it will be very disadvantageous for us.”
“I can tell you responsibly, we cannot afford this.”
“The Empire is too small. Every expansion requires a vast amount of resources to drive the war machine at full speed. If resources are not supplied in time at this point, we ourselves will not be able to bear it, without others doing so.”
“Take this instance as an example. When preparing for a decisive battle with China, the homeland prepared six hundred tons of gold, a full twelve million taels. Yet, less than half a year after the war broke out, this gold has already been half consumed.”
“If the China issue cannot be resolved quickly, and it begins to backfire, the Empire’s domestic affairs could collapse at any time.”
Iwai Koichi shook his head, “Mr. Abe, you are still too pessimistic. We must firmly believe that the Empire will surely achieve victory.”
Abe Mitsuhiro simply smiled without speaking.
Iwai Koichi opened a drawer and took out a paper filled with names, placing it on the table.
The paper listed the official appointments and names for the Nanjing Restoration Government.
After a moment of thought, Iwai Koichi picked up his pen and filled in Chen Yang’s name for the position in the Ministry of Finance’s Economic Department.
Abe Mitsuhiro was taken aback, “Mr. Iwai, you’re making Chen Yang the Director of the Ministry of Finance’s Economic Department of the Nanjing Restoration Government?”
“This is an official with real power, in charge of logistics and allocations. He’s just a fresh graduate…”
Iwai Koichi raised his hand to interrupt Abe Mitsuhiro, “Mr. Abe, do you find this inappropriate?”
Of course, it’s inappropriate. As everyone knows, throughout history, there have always been two departments in feudal dynasties that were the most lucrative.
The first is the Ministry of Personnel’s Examination Department, which is in charge of reviewing officials’ performance. With a stroke of the pen, they can promote you or demote you.
The second is the Ministry of War’s Armory Department, which is in charge of manufacturing weapons, procuring and transporting grain, and nominating candidates for military examinations.
The Economic Department of the Nanjing Restoration Government is the former Armory Department. It provides material supplies to the various levels of troops under Nanjing. It is truly a fat and lucrative position, and you’re giving it to a young man?
Iwai Koichi said calmly, “Mr. Abe, you also know that this department is of utmost importance. Those old officials are skilled in extortion and all sorts of malfeasance.”
“If we give it to them, they will likely enrich a large group of people in no time.”
“This Chen Yang has no background and is the most valued student of my teacher. How much can he take by himself, compared to a group of people?”
“The most crucial point, Mr. Abe, do you think this Chen Yang is easier to control, or are those cunning old veterans easier to control?”
“That’s right, the Empire needs obedient attack dogs, but I think this Chen Yang is suitable to be a hawk, not a dog that only wags its tail.”
Abe Mitsuhiro pondered, “But to elevate him like this is too arbitrary.”
Iwai Koichi said seriously, “Mr. Abe, this position is not something just anyone can hold steady; he still has many hurdles to overcome.”
“With the new government just established, the personnel disputes and power struggles within it, any one of them could be fatal.”
Abe Mitsuhiro immediately understood, “Mr. Iwai, I get it, you’re trying to train a hawk…”
Iwai Koichi sighed, “To cultivate a fledgling hawk into a master hunter, it requires many prey. Just like a knife needs to be sharp, it requires many whetstones.”
Saying this, Iwai Koichi handed the letter brought by Chen Yang to Abe Mitsuhiro, “My teacher’s intention is that if he can resolve the material supply issue for the Osaka Chamber of Commerce, this position will be given to him.”
Abe Mitsuhiro glanced at the letter and nodded. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Report, Your Excellency Iwai, Mr. Liang has arrived.”
“Oh, please ask Mr. Liang to wait for me in the meeting room. I will be there shortly.”
After speaking, Iwai Koichi stood up and said to Abe Mitsuhiro, “Mr. Abe, it seems I cannot continue our chat. I have to meet someone.”
Abe Mitsuhiro hesitated, “Is it this Mr. Liang? Who is he?”
Iwai Koichi adjusted his clothes and smiled, “He is a dog, a very obedient dog.”
Shanghai, French Concession, Fukaisen Road.
This road might not be known by many, but in the future, it will have a very famous name: Wukang Road, Shanghai.
This road is one of the main roads in the French Concession, and many famous residences are located along the street.
For example, the literary master Ba Jin, Huang Xing who commanded the Guangzhou Uprising, and the Song family, one of the four great families of the Republic of China.
Those who can reside on this road are either wealthy or noble.
A Buick Sedan drove forward and arrived at Lin Mansion, located at No. 1311 Fukaisen Road.
The driver, Uncle Qi, honked twice, and the gatekeeper hurried out to open the gate.
The car drove into the garage and stopped. As Chen Yang walked into the lobby with his luggage, a voice suddenly rang out.
“Chen Yang, kneel down for me.”
