Hirohito was dressed in military uniform, sitting on a gorgeous and spacious throne. Behind him, several ancient and luxurious golden screens were still standing. In order to show the majesty of the emperor, there was also a simple samurai sword placed on a table next to him.
In front of Hirohito, Prime Minister Yoneuchi, Prime Minister Konoe, Prime Minister Sugiyama Genriku, Foreign Minister Hirota Koki, Prince Zaihito and other important Japanese cabinet ministers were all sitting in front of him.
Hirohito's mood was extremely depressed at this moment. Japan had been involved in the Chinese War for nearly a year. Although the Japanese army was invincible in conquering cities and territories, the ultimate goal of forcing China to surrender was still far away. For the cities, railways, and ports in northeastern China,
The occupation of resources not only failed to bring the expected economic benefits to Japan, but was like a bottomless pit, sucking up Japan's military expenditures and soldiers. For this reason, the Japanese cabinet also frequently argued in endless quarrels.
Changes, political assassinations, terror, and abortive coups are like demons rising in the wind, flooding every corner of the island country of Japan. Now, the 48th Division was crushed in Maoming, Guangdong, and the division commander Dohashi Yuuichi died in battle.
.
Thinking of this, Hirohito couldn't help but feel a secret hatred in his heart, and his eyes couldn't help but look at a figure in front of him. This person was General Sugiyama Moto, the Minister of War and the then Prime Minister. In the past six months, Hirohito's relationship with Sugiyama Moto
More and more disgust and hatred. After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident last year, the Emperor once asked the Prime Minister how long it would take to fully resolve China's problems by starting a war against China. The arrogant and domineering Gen Sugiyama, with his chest pounding loudly at that time, promised: The Imperial Army
The China Incident will definitely be resolved within three months. He listed a lot of reasons in a clear and concise manner. Now, almost a year later, not only has the war in China not been resolved, but it has become increasingly protracted. What makes him even more angry is that this
The former boastful Prime Minister changed his mind and started talking full of excuses all day long. China was a vast country with a large population and it was difficult to solve the problem in a short time. He also made irresponsible remarks to the headquarters and cabinet ministers, creating a mess of contradictions and chaos at the top and bottom.
"We can't let this guy stay in the cabinet anymore!" Hirohito said to himself in a voice that only he could hear.
"Ahem..."
Seeing that Hirohito was silent, Prince Zaihi who was standing aside coughed lightly and said loudly: "Your Majesty, now that Mr. Dohashi and the Second Taiwan Regiment have died heroically, our Imperial Army feels the same sorrow. Ando Toshiyoshi also sent a telegram
, he said that the Fifth and Thirty-eighth Divisions have been mobilized to march towards Maoming at the same time. They must capture Maoming and avenge Mr. Tuqiao and the soldiers of the Forty-eighth Division who died. I wonder what your Majesty’s decree is?"
"Avenge Doqiao and the 48th Division?"
Hirohito repeated it softly and then sprayed out two streams of white mist from his nostrils. After snorting twice, he asked: "Then can Ando Rikichi guarantee that two divisions can defeat all the three hundred divisions in China?"
Annihilation?"
"this……"
The manned prince lowered his head in embarrassment. Capturing Maoming and annihilating the 300th Division are not the same concept. According to the intelligence, the 300th Division has an elite force of nearly 20,000 people. They will not stand there stupidly.
The ground is waiting for you to hit it. If you can't hit it, you will run away.
"And you!" Hirohito turned his attention to Marine Minister Yoneuchi, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his words: "Yoney, didn't you promise me before that you would use your carrier-based aircraft to cover the 48th Division's breakout?
Why not only could they not rescue Dohashi Yuuichi and the others, but they also suffered heavy losses to the carrier-based aircraft formation?"
"Here..."
After listening to Hirohito's words, Mine stood up and bowed fiercely to Hirohito, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, this navy's defeat is my responsibility, and I am willing to take full responsibility for this defeat. Please, please
Punish me!"
"Hmph! Punishment, how do you want me to punish you?" Hirohito shouted dissatisfied: "Let you resign? Or let you have a caesarean section? What you have to do now is to review the reasons for this failure and make a response strategy. Six
Eighteen fighter planes are just gone, isn't your navy going to give the people an explanation?"
Hirohito's voice was loud and he scolded Minai mercilessly. Seeing this situation in Sugiyama Gen's eyes, he felt an indescribable joy in his heart. Let your navy look down on the army, and let you always boast about HNA.
You are a great person, are you at a disadvantage now? Are you dumbfounded?
Seeing this, the corners of Sugiyama Yuan's mouth couldn't help but curve upward.
But what Sugiyama Gen didn't expect was that his expression was captured by Hirohito, who was in a very bad mood. If Hirohito was a little dissatisfied with Mineuchi, then he was unabashedly jealous of Sugiyama Gen.
I am disgusted. This disgust started more than half a year ago, and now it has finally reached a critical point and exploded.
Hirohito glanced sideways at Yuan Sugiyama and sneered: "Sugiyama-kun, the 21st Army's battle in Guangdong was unfavorable. The 48th Division lost more than half. As the Prime Minister, shouldn't you say something?"
Hirohito's sharp voice floated in the vast conference room, carrying an indescribable coldness. It was so cold that everyone could hear that His Majesty the Emperor was really going to get angry this time.
Sugiyama Moto is also a smart man. He knew that His Majesty the Emperor was angry as soon as he heard Hirohito's words. He quickly got up, knelt down, gave Hirohito a prostrate gift, and said with a mournful face: "Your Majesty, there are also defeated ministers in the army.
There is a certain responsibility, and I am willing to accept your Majesty’s punishment!”
A sneer appeared on the corner of Hirohito's lips, and he said softly: "Is it just a certain responsibility?"
Listening to Hirohito's faint voice, no one dared to say a word. The prince frowned at the side. He knew that his nephew, the emperor, had been dissatisfied with Sugiyama Gen for more than a day or two, but because Sugiyama Gen had not
What a big mistake, so there is no way to punish him. Is the emperor going to take advantage of the opportunity today to punish Sugiyama Moto?
However, although Gen Sugiyama is the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister's duties are only to coordinate logistics and mobilization. He has never been able to interfere with the direct command of the army. The command of the troops has always been a matter of the General Staff Headquarters. The Emperor wanted to use this excuse to punish
Sugiyama Gen is probably too far-fetched.
Thinking of this, Prince Zairen wanted to plead for Sugiyama Gen, but just as he was about to speak, Hirohito said: "Sugiyama-san, as the land minister, you are so concerned about the frontline affairs. I think you should go to China."
Come on, you can serve as the commander of the North China Front!"
"What?"
As soon as Hirohito's words came out, everyone was stunned. The position of commander of the North China Expeditionary Force was indeed a high-ranking position to others, but this may not be the case for Sugiyama Gen. Sugiyama Gen was originally Japan's military commander.
Prime Minister, nominally all the armies in Japan are under his jurisdiction. But now he serves as the commander of the front army. This is obviously a demotion. Moreover, Hirohito's demotion order is so naked and does not cover up at all.
My dislike for Sugiyama Gen was very rare in the past.
Before the manned prince could say anything, he heard Hirohito say such astonishing words. He let out a long sigh. He knew that the reason why Sugiyama Yuan was today was because he had laid the foundation for the destruction of China in three months more than a year ago.
The evil consequences finally broke out today.
"His Majesty!"
When Sugiyama Yuan heard Hirohito's words, he didn't react. He was completely stunned. He was lying on the ground and couldn't straighten up for a moment.
He asked with a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, it is my unshirkable duty to fight for the empire, but I dare to ask Your Majesty, who will hold the post of Minister of Army after I leave?"
Hirohito sneered: "Sugiyama-kun, you don't think that you won't be transferred to the Army Ministry after I leave you, do you?"
Sugiyama Yuan said in a trembling voice: "I... don't dare, I hope your Majesty will show you."
"Well, after Mr. Sugiyama goes to China and takes office, Seishiro Sakagaki will be appointed as the Minister of War. What do you think?"
When everyone saw it, they thought... you have even found a successor for Sugiyama Gen. What else can we say, so they all lowered their heads: "I respectfully comply with His Majesty's decree!"
Hirohito kicked Sugiyama Gen to the ground, and he felt much better. A smile finally appeared on his face: "Sugiyama-kun, after you arrive in China, you must cooperate with the work of Nishio Hiszo (Commander of the Chinese Expeditionary Force). Remember not to
You are showing off your seniority and airs, do you understand? If you do a good job, I will still have another important use for you!"
Although he knew that the latter sentence could be interpreted as Hirohito farting, Sugiyama Gen still said respectfully: "Hai, I obey His Majesty's decree!"
"Well, that's good." Hirohito nodded, his expression suddenly changed and said: "Also, since the establishment of the 300 Division, it has repeatedly opposed our Empire of Japan. Our empire has had many generals and
The division suffered heavy losses in his hands, so when you arrive in China, you must find an opportunity to destroy that 300 division, do you understand?"
When he said this, Hirohito's face was already stern, and a murderous intent appeared on his face.
"Hai!"
Sugiyama Yuan's heart trembled, and he quickly lowered his head and agreed quickly.
After dealing with Gen Sugiyama, Hirohito also turned his attention to the face of Foreign Minister Hirota Koki, "Kirota-kun, did you get an answer last time when I asked you to negotiate with the United States and Germany for the weapons of the 300th Division to assist the other side?"
Hirota Koki said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, the German government and the U.S. government have both responded to our diplomatic letters. They both claimed that they have not sold any advanced fighters or weapons to China in the past year. Therefore, for us
Their protests were ignored!"
"Baga!" Hirohito was angry: "Did the aircraft, weapons and artillery of the 300th Division appear out of thin air? Or is Suri a god who can turn stone into gold? Check...send someone to check for me...must be
Get to the bottom of it!"
"Hai!"
In this way, in history, Sugiyama Moto, who was originally going to go to China for several months, was rushed to China by Hirohito because of the small wings of a certain butterfly. Therefore, a small change in history happened...
(To be continued. Please search Piaotian Literature, the novel will be better and updated faster!)