Chapter 222: Terms
The airplane landed at the Japanese Navy airport.
Traitor Wang and his group exited the airplane and saw the former Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro who had come to welcome them.
In terms of protocol, Konoe coming to welcome them was giving full face.
Since it was a military airport, no welcoming troop was arranged. They chatted and laughed as they got into the car. Upon arriving at Tokyo Train Station, a grand welcome ceremony came into view.
Japan’s Minister of the Army, Minister of the Navy, Foreign Minister, and Finance Minister all came to welcome them. The welcoming Japanese women wearing kimonos were waving small colorful flags.
Traitor Wang did not know Japanese, but Traitor Zhou’s Japanese was quite good. He chatted familiarly while translating, and people from both sides burst into laughter from time to time, pretending to be old friends.
Today was the first day of arrival, and even hanging requires catching one’s breath, so no negotiations were arranged.
Eat a meal, visit around, and first cultivate a feel.
Reporters snapped photos, recording this scene of Sino-Japanese friendship.
The next day, the Wang Faction delegation led by Traitor Zhou formally began negotiations with the Japanese.
The meeting venue.
Traitor Wang chatted amiably with the current Prime Minister Hiranuma Kiichirō.
Other matters were left to the subordinates.
Chief negotiator Gao Zhongwu handed over the draft policy for establishing the new government to the Japanese Cabinet negotiation team.
The draft completely followed the negotiation content reached by both sides in Shanghai.
Three core clauses: the new government admits Manchukuo, allows the Japanese Army to station troops long-term in North China and Mengjiang, and agrees to Japan developing China’s mineral resources.
The content of these core clauses would not change. Everyone being able to sit together meant it was already agreed upon.
The new government’s government framework followed the old Nanjing Government’s five-yuan system.
That is, Legislative Yuan, Executive Yuan, Judicial Yuan, Examination Yuan, Supervisory Yuan.
It was all the old framework, no problem.
At the end, Gao Zhongwu added a letter of hopes toward Japan, specifying it had been reviewed by Mr. Wang.
The letter of hopes proposed four demands.
First, the Japanese side should abolish the regimes in North China and Central China before the new government is established.
Second, the National Government established in Nanjing should continue to use the blue sky white sun flag and the Three Principles of the People.
Third, Japan should return the occupied railway lines, and the railway operation rights should be handed over to the new government.
Fourth, after the goal of peace is achieved, the Japanese side should gradually withdraw troops.
Japanese Cabinet members began discussions.
At the same time, the Japanese negotiation personnel also handed a document issued by the Japanese side to Traitor Zhou.
Traitor Zhou had a mild attitude, smiled as he took it, and began reading.
He first skimmed it roughly, and just this glance made his face darken and his brows furrow.
Regarding admitting Manchukuo and stationing troops in North China and Mengjiang, the Japanese added some details, such as being able to implement military supervision at any time.
Stationing troops and supervision are completely different. Stationing troops is to guard against war accidents. Except for war, troop movements require orders from higher military authorities, otherwise they cannot act on their own.
But if military supervision can be implemented at any time, this means the local Japanese troops would have actual supreme control.
They could impose curfews whenever they wanted, supervise whenever they wanted, and do whatever they wanted.
Agreeing to this would mean losing control over the entire North China and Mengjiang.
Traitor Zhou continued reading, to the content on the new government structure.
Military aspect.
The Japanese proposed that the new government’s Navy Department needs to establish an advisor office for Japan, and all decisions require approval from Japanese advisors.
The new government’s Army Department needs to cooperate with Japanese Army combat operations, including providing military intelligence, logistical support, and jointly striking anti-Japanese forces.
Economic aspect.
The Japanese proposed that Japan would dispatch economic advisors to review the new government’s tariff, salt tax, and other fiscal income.
Operating control of Sino-Japanese joint ventures belongs entirely to the Japanese side.
Japanese citizens in China can freely reside, do business, and enjoy tax exemption policies.
Administrative aspect.
The Japanese proposed that the new government’s core departments must establish Japanese advisor offices, and all decisions require approval from Japanese advisors.
Education aspect.
The Japanese proposed that pro-Japan education must be implemented, all publications reviewed, all anti-Japanese speech and activities prohibited, and anti-Japan thought thoroughly eliminated.
Reading through, it was just two words: advisors.
The Japanese actually added so many clauses, and every clause was extremely harsh.
This meant all decisions required Japanese approval.
This was completely beyond the acceptable range.
Slam!
Traitor Zhou slammed the document on the table, looked at Imai Takeo opposite, “Imai, shouldn’t you explain to me why so many never-before-mentioned clauses appear in the contract!”
Traitor Zhou’s reaction instantly quieted the entire venue. Even Traitor Wang was guessing what he saw to have such a big reaction.
Imai Takeo was completely unsurprised by Traitor Zhou’s reaction and smiled faintly: “Mr. Zhou, after all, it is wartime now, and you come from Chongqing. Regarding whether government internal personnel can wholeheartedly serve the new government, that still needs a question mark.
We don’t want to be attacked from both front and rear, so for this reason, proposing to participate in your government internal affairs is very reasonable. You don’t need to have such a big reaction.”
Traitor Zhou was not an idiot; no three-year-old child would believe such deceptive words.
“Then there’s no need to talk like this; cannot accept.”
Imai Takeo paused, smiled and said: “Mr. Zhou, negotiation is like doing business—asking for the sky and settling for a penny. If you feel any clause is unacceptable, you can raise it, and we can discuss further.”
“We can only accept the final plan we proposed; none of the clauses here are acceptable.” Traitor Zhou forcefully tapped the table.
With the argument so heated, Traitor Wang had come over, picked up the document beside Traitor Zhou and read it, and his face quickly darkened too.
Slam! Another sound of a document slamming on the table.
Traitor Wang stared at Imai Takeo, scanned the Cabinet crowd, and finally fixed his gaze on Hiranuma Kiichirō, “Prime Minister Hiranuma, farewell! We’re leaving!”
Slam slam slam, all the Wang Faction personnel at the negotiation table packed up and left, chairs scraping loudly.
“Mr. Wang, Mr. Wang”
“Mr. Zhou”
Imai Takeo’s verbal retention had no effect; he could only watch the Wang Faction personnel leave.
Of course, they knew they couldn’t keep them.
Only have Kagesa Sadaki accompany and see them off.
The Japanese remaining at the venue were not too surprised by the Wang Faction personnel’s departure. This document was originally a sudden attack, and the Wang Faction personnel’s reaction was very normal.
Navy Minister Yonai Mitsumasa mocked: “I said there was no need to come today at all. As long as anyone with a normal brain wouldn’t sign this document. Coming today was completely wasting our precious time.
Are you satisfied? If you drive away Wang, there will be one less major boost on the China battlefield. I want to see what you do next.”
The target of the Navy’s mockery was of course the Army.
Army Minister Saga Kiyotsugu was dismissive of this, “With your ability, of course you can’t understand the importance of this document. Once the Wang regime government is established, our troops can withdraw from the China battlefield, swing north to attack the Soviet region, and hunt Europe with the German Army.
In war with the Soviet Army, without strong supervision, if the Wang regime government takes the opportunity to collude with the Chongqing Government and jointly scheme against us, what do we do? We’d be caught in a pincer attack!
You mud eels at sea won’t understand the importance of land operation deployments. After all, your Navy has natural advantages; the enemies you face are only ships and fish and shrimp, at most surrounded by fish and shrimp.
I advise you to speak less about things you don’t understand.
Of course, I estimate you don’t understand anything; you’d better shut up forever.”
This is also why it is necessary to obtain stationing rights in Manchuria and Mengjiang region; that line is aimed precisely at the Soviet Union.
How could Yonai Mitsumasa endure such a great insult? He angrily retorted: “The plan to swing north to attack the Soviet Union is originally a stupid plan that even a stupid pig wouldn’t make! And you’re still complacent about it?
The China battlefield isn’t even taken yet; what makes you think you can take the Soviet Union?
And hunting Europe with the German Army—you don’t know Europe is Britain and America’s base? Will they let you attack Europe?
Once Britain and America enter, without resolving the China battlefield, we’d be mired in the European battlefield again; what then?”
Yonai Mitsumasa demanded heavily: “What then?!”
Saga Kiyotsugu sneered, “The problems you mentioned won’t exist. We form a military alliance with Germany and Italy; against the Soviet Union, it’s a pincer situation. If the American Army wants to enter, can they get here from so far away?
Once we join Germany to devour the Soviet Union, all resource problems are solved; Soviet resources are fully enough for us to fight a protracted war.
Next, we can turn around and swallow China, and divide Europe with Germany.
Then execute your Navy’s south advance plan. Rest assured, these small islands in East Asia don’t need your Navy; our Army can handle it. Your ships just need to transport the spoils of war we capture for the Empire.”
Yonai Mitsumasa looked at him coldly, “With an Army Minister as stupid as you, failure is only a matter of time! I hope when that day comes and you need to commit seppuku, you still have so much to say!”
After speaking, he walked away, and after two steps added, “Idiot!”
Cursing felt good, then continued leaving.
Residence.
The residence arranged by the Japanese for Traitor Wang was a high-end villa in the suburbs of Tokyo, ensuring privacy.
The estate’s scenery could be called beautiful, but at this moment, no one was in the mood to appreciate it.
Since Japanese guards acted as drivers, everyone was silent along the way.
Until entering the room, Traitor Wang suddenly turned around and pointed at Gao Zhongwu and Mei Siping’s noses, angrily shouting: “What exactly did you negotiate!”
Gao Zhongwu felt so wronged and said in panic: “Mr. Wang, I really didn’t know the Japanese would give such clauses; they never mentioned them before. Minister Mei.”
Mei Siping also hurriedly said: “Mr. Wang, previously Kagesa and Imai Takeo really didn’t mention this content; the Japanese added it temporarily. We really didn’t know the Japanese would do this.”
“Didn’t know?” Traitor Wang’s anger did not subside, “Negotiated for half a year, and you don’t even know the other side’s real intentions? Then what did I send you there for? For fun?”
