"Look, the mothers out there hate the war because the war took away their husbands and sons. As a father, I understand their feelings, but as a leader, I have to order their husbands and sons
Go and join the war." Su Tong's Memoirs, Volume 2, Chapter 28: Tokyo, Japan. In February of previous years, the streets and alleys of Tokyo should have been crowded with people going out to enjoy the snow, but in the past two years, people have gone out to enjoy the snow.
But there are relatively few. Today's Tokyo has not yet recovered from the Tokyo bombing two years ago. The Chinese Air Force's indiscriminate bombing and fires not only took the lives of hundreds of thousands of Tokyo citizens, but also
One-third of Tokyo was burned down. After more than three years of intense construction, Tokyo still looks deserted.
Taro Nakamura and Kurai Sakai were walking on a street in Tokyo, and felt a sense of emotion when they saw that the once bustling street had become so deserted.
On the side, Sakai Kurei complained somewhat gloomily, "Nakamura-kun, the streets are really deserted. It's not as lively as before. Even if there are some people, they are all crazy lunatics. Why do you think they like fighting so much?"
Watching the few people holding small flags who occasionally passed by on the street were hysterically shouting some fanatical slogans, Nakamura Taro secretly sighed in his heart. The country has now fallen into a fanatical and anxious mood, and his reason has been lost.
Like the appendix, it was cut off by the people who chose their surname.
"Nakamura-kun, people are asking you questions, why are you ignoring them?" Sakai Kurei took her boyfriend's hand and pouted.
"They are celebrating the navy's victory, so naturally they have to celebrate." Nakamura came to his senses and quickly comforted his girlfriend beside him.
"Are they celebrating the navy's successful attack on Pearl Harbor? But it's been more than a month since this happened, why don't they stop? Besides, we have been fighting the Chinese for so long, can't they live a peaceful life for a few days?
Son?" Sakai Kurei asked curiously with wide round eyes.
Nakamura Taro stopped and stared at Sakai Kurayi and said sternly: "Kurayoshi, you are not allowed to despise the Chinese people so much in the future. You must know that respecting others is equal to respecting yourself. Do you understand?"
"Oh." Seeing that her boyfriend was angry, a look of panic flashed in Sakai Kurayi's eyes. She lowered her head timidly as if she had done something wrong. Then she glanced at her boyfriend secretly and said aggrievedly.
: "The classmates all call them that, and even the teacher says that, and the classmates say that those Chinese people are a group of inferior ethnic groups. Sooner or later, the Imperial Army will fight back to North Korea, Manchuria and even the entire China."
That’s what they all said, Nakamura-kun, did I say it wrong?”
Nakamura stopped, took Sakai Kurayi's hand, looked lovingly at his girlfriend's pretty face, shook his head and said: "Kurayoshi, your teachers and classmates are too deeply influenced by those crazy militarists. What is
The Chinese are an inferior nation. So what kind of nation are we, the Japanese? Yes, the Chinese have shortcomings of one kind or another. For example, they like to fight among themselves, like to save face, like to enjoy themselves, etc. These habits are not good. But on the other hand, we
As for the Japanese, how far are we better than them? We were driven out of the Chinese mainland, not only dreaming about going back to Manchuria all day long. Now that China has achieved unification in the true sense, they have not yet
Giving up this unrealistic dream is not because I look down on those idiots in the military. They couldn't even conquer China, but they overestimated their capabilities and provoked the Americans again, although they bit the Americans while they were not paying attention.
, but when the Americans react, the only thing waiting for us is destruction. Kurei, just watch, the whole of Japan will be buried with these careerists in as fast as two years or as slow as three years."
Nakamura's voice became louder and louder, and Sakai Kurei was so frightened that he quickly covered his mouth with his small hand, looked around and begged in a low voice: "Nakamura-kun, please stop talking. If others hear you, you will get into trouble."
Troublesome”
Nakamura Taro turned his head and looked around, then he hummed and then lowered his voice and said: "Kurai, I will be serving in the military in a few days. You have to take good care of yourself and take good care of grandma for me."
"What?" Sakai Kurayi couldn't help but pale when she heard the news. She ignored her reserve and grabbed Nakamura's sleeves and asked eagerly: "Nakamura-kun, is it true? You have one semester to go to college.
After graduation, why would they draft you into the army?"
Looking at his girlfriend's red eyes, Taro Nakamura couldn't help but smile bitterly: "There is no way, there is going to be a war. This time the empire is going to send troops to occupy the Pacific and sweep across Southeast Asia. It needs to recruit a large number of armies to compete with the Americans for various islands in Southeast Asia. The army also needs to
The number has been expanded. My classmates and I are all in the queue for recruitment. Just yesterday I also received a recruitment letter from the military department."
Sakai Kurai looked at Nakamura blankly, and finally couldn't help but shed tears. In the past, she only heard about the war from newspapers or other people's accounts. She also saw off the soldiers who were going to war with her female classmates. At that time
She was once moved by these soldiers who went on an expedition, thinking that they were fighting for the interests of the empire. But when the target of the expedition was changed to her beloved boyfriend, she became frightened. She might never see him again in the future.
This lover is no longer in front of me.
"Nakamura-kun, don't go, don't leave me." Sakai Kurai hugged Nakamura Taro on the street, and his big tears fell on the dust on the ground, making small craters.
Nakamura stroked Sakai Kurayi's hair and said sadly: "It's useless, Kurayi. People in this country have gone crazy. All of us are involved. No one is immune. You know what? I heard that
A few days ago, our crazy Prime Minister Tojo sent his own son into the army. How can a civilian like me escape?"
"I don't care, I don't care." Sakai Kurei hugged his lover's body tightly and shook his head desperately, "I'm going to tell my father that I want you to graduate early and work in my grandfather's company. I will never watch.
You go to the battlefield and die.”
"Kurayori, you silly girl." Nakamura smiled bitterly after hearing the childish words of Sakai Kurayi. Although his girlfriend's father served as a quartermaster in the Ministry of War, he had no choice in the face of this mighty war.
What ability can you use to protect yourself?
After pondering for a long time, Nakamura Taro grabbed Sakai Kurayi's shoulders and looked directly into her eyes and said solemnly: "Kurayori, listen carefully, there is no room for negotiation on the matter of my military service. Who can
You can't change this fact, but if you really want me to return to Japan alive, just listen to me carefully and do as I say, do you understand?"
Sakai Kurei nodded desperately with tears in her eyes. Now she was already in a state of confusion, and she was willing to do anything as long as her lover could come back safely.
"Since I can't change my military service, I at least have to go to a safer place. When your father comes home tonight, go and beg him to let him move and transfer me to the garrison in Taiwan.
, maybe I can come back alive to see you."
"Taiwan" After all, Cangyi looked at Nakamura with eyes wide and red from crying, and asked doubtfully: "Why did I hear that the military will send a group of elite troops to occupy the Nanyang Islands this time? Why don't you join those permanent divisions?"
It might be safer that way."
"No, you must not join those permanent first-class divisions." Nakamura shook his head, "You don't understand what tasks those first-class divisions usually undertake, and you can't go to the Nanyang islands, where the empire and the
I can already smell the stench of corpses in places where the United States is fiercely contesting."
"Then why are you going to Taiwan? Don't you think the Chinese will attack there?"
Nakamura looked up at the gray sky and said, "No, Cangyi, you don't understand. Although the Chinese people have a deep hatred for the Japanese, they are still very tolerant towards some Japanese. Believe me, Cangyi, as long as I
If I can go to Taiwan, I have a great chance of returning to Japan. You must wait for me to come back."
As the United States declared war on Japan and the Chinese army in Soviet Russia suspended its attacks on Soviet Russia, the work of recovering Taiwan was put on Su Tong's agenda. Under Su Tong's instructions, the staff of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Navy
We also reopened the station closure plan that had been buried in the archives and started to get busy again.
In the military port of Xiamen, Fujian, hundreds of warships and large landing craft came from all directions as if overnight. The densely packed warships filled several ports in Xiamen. Along with the warships were countless troops
, among them were the Air Force wearing blue military uniforms, the Navy wearing white military uniforms, and even more Marine Corps wearing ocean-colored camouflage uniforms. More than 100,000 troops turned the coastal city of Xiamen into a huge city almost overnight.
's military camp.
"Our navy is going to recover Taiwan, we are going to recover the treasure island." Almost everyone along the coast of Fujian was excited. The naval department recruited experienced fishermen from all over the place. Although they could not operate warships or go into battle to kill the enemy,
They have lived here for generations and are familiar with the nearby sea conditions. Every elderly fisherman is almost a walking dictionary.
"It's a landing craft again. Everyone is asking me for a landing craft. Let me tell you, I have dreamed of a landing craft." A loud voice came from the office.
Outside Chen Shaokuan's office, dozens of naval officers waiting outside looked at each other and smiled bitterly upon hearing this. People in the naval department have almost crossed the threshold of Chen Shaokuan's office these days. Almost all of them, without exception, turned to
Jiang Baili, the Navy Minister, reached out for the landing craft, which annoyed Chen Shaokuan.
There was a "pop" sound, and the sound of hanging up the phone rang in the office. After a while, a tiger-faced Chen Shaokuan walked out of the office with his hands behind his back. When the officers in the hall saw this, they quickly dispersed.
Chen Shaokuan walked to the hall and shouted loudly: "Come here, prepare your car, I'm going to the Presidential Palace."
"Mr. Fu, please calm down first." In Su Tong's office, Su Tong picked up the purple clay teapot and poured a cup of tea for Chen Shaokuan. He asked with a smile: "How are you, Mr. Fu? Those boys from the Navy Department are annoying you these days.
It must be quite annoying.”
"Hmph, those boys are asking me for boats one by one. They want landing craft and frigates. They think I am Sun Wukong. I can conjure it up with a handful of cold hairs." Chen Shaokuan scolded angrily: "Our navy
I only have so little money in total, and I have given out everything I can, but they still come to my place every day to make trouble, which makes me not have a good night's sleep these days."
"Yes, our shipyards have only focused on building aircraft carriers, destroyers, and cruisers in recent years. They have little time to build landing craft that are not used in daily life. Now that the war is approaching, everyone is getting anxious. This shows that we
The work is not done yet.”
Su Tong also felt a little emotional. Although the country has been vigorously developing its navy in the past two years, and the shipyards have been working day and night to build warships, only small and inconspicuous ships such as landing ships have been built infrequently. Now they want to regain Taiwan.
Everyone was dumbfounded. Without the landing craft, the army and marines who were deliberately preparing to set off would not have been able to set foot on the land of Taiwan. Without the landing craft, there would be no way to transport the mountains of supplies. Now the entire navy's landing craft combined is not enough.
There were fifty landing craft, and they were all small landing craft of tens of tons, so much so that the naval commander almost turned his head with worry.
Su Tong looked at Chen Shaokuan with a half-smile and said: "Master Fu, the naval construction plan was formulated by your naval department. Why didn't you have a plan to build a large landing craft at that time?"
Chen Shaokuan blushed. The Navy's shipbuilding plan was indeed formulated by him and the officers of the Navy Department. At that time, they only saw powerful aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and other large battleships, but they were only interested in those which were almost useless on weekdays.
Useless landing craft were dismissed with disdain. Many naval officers, including Chen Shaokuan, always stubbornly believed that building large-scale landing craft was just a waste of resources. When they suddenly decided to regain Taiwan and start fighting, everyone was surprised to find that they
There was no shortage of any combat ship in the fleet, only the landing craft, which were inconspicuous in ordinary times, were missing. Now everyone was as anxious as if the rafters were on fire, looking for the ship everywhere.
"Mr. Fu, I'm not telling you, you really need to change your habit of scrambling. The navy is a service that values precision coordination. It cannot do without any kind of ship. I have reminded you of this issue at the beginning.
You, you just don’t listen, now you’re going to be caught blind.” Su Tong’s smiling expression made Chen Shaokuan feel his face burning.
Chen Shaokuan sighed helplessly, "It's too late to regret now. The only solution now is to recruit civilian ships. Recruit all the fishing boats along the coast and transport as many troops as we can."
Su Tong shook his head, "No, the nearest strait from Fujian to Taiwan is more than 120 kilometers, and there are Japanese planes and warships intercepting along the way, allowing unprotected fishing boats to transport soldiers across.
Haina undoubtedly pushed our soldiers into the sea."
"Then what do you want me to do? It's better to send them over in a fishing boat than to let them swim over," Chen Chaokuan said angrily. At this time, he no longer had the temper in front of his subordinates. He didn't dare to face the majestic president.
Yell as if you were in your own office.
"Okay, don't worry, I've prepared everything for you." Seeing Chen Shaokuan's haggard appearance, Su Tong couldn't bear to tease this old man who worked so hard for naval construction anymore. He walked to his
At the desk, he took out a stack of lists from the drawer and handed them to Chen Shaokuan.
Chen Shaokuan, who was still a little confused at first, looked at the list of results and was so excited that he almost spilled the tea in his hand on the floor.
His trembling voice showed his mood at this time: "President, are these the landing craft that are going to be issued to me?"
"Yes, there are a total of two hundred and sixty-eight landing craft, including sixteen 6,200-ton "Zhoushan" landing craft, fifty-seven five-hundred-ton "Wasp" landing craft, and the rest are one hundred
Twenty-ton small landing craft, these landing craft are enough for you to send the army to Taiwan," Su Tong said with a chuckle.
"Enough, enough, this is enough."
Chen Shaokuan calculated in his mind that the "Zhoushan-class" landing craft can transport about one infantry regiment of soldiers and supplies at a time, while the "Wasp-class" landing craft can transport about one battalion of personnel and supplies, plus nearly two hundred small landing crafts.
, then two divisions of troops can be sent ashore at once. This kind of force is enough to establish a stable beachhead in the early stages of the campaign.
"That's good. If there are no problems, Ma Jun will send someone to deliver the things to you tomorrow. You are ready to organize people to receive them in Huludao," Su Tong said slowly after taking a sip of tea.
Looking through the list in his hand, Chen Shaokuan was overjoyed but also had some doubts in his heart. Now shipyards across the country are building warships. Where did the president get these landing craft? Why, as the commander of the navy, did he not know anything about it beforehand?
I knew that watching Su Tong and Chen Shaokuan slowly sipping tea, there was a wave of excitement in his heart.
However, after all, Chen Shaokuan was in his forties and had been struggling in the ups and downs of the officialdom for decades. After a second thought, he gave up the idea of inquiring. He also knew that as a superior, he always had something in his hand.
He has some trump cards that others don't know. As a subordinate, sometimes it's better to be a little confused. If you have to get to the bottom of everything, you will definitely attract the taboos of the superiors.
Zheng Banqiao once again said it best, "It's rare to be confused." This sentence will never go out of style.
Moreover, President Su always does something unexpected. Most of the warships currently in service in the navy were obtained by him from unknown sources. There were once some very curious people who wanted to find out the origins of these warships.
, but the final result was that they disappeared mysteriously without exception. Chen Shaokuan didn't know anything else, couldn't he even make a fortune in silence?