There used to be a well-known Longze Hotel at the crossroads of Yingze Street in Taiyuan. At this time, it had been transformed by the Japanese into a military hall, specially used to entertain officers above the school level.
A woman in kimono was carrying a dish and carefully dragging her clogs to the Japanese-style door covered with white squares.
She first knelt down and put the dishes aside, bowed and said, "Your dishes are here, I kept you waiting for so long!".
After receiving permission, the woman gently opened the door to one side, slowly and steadily, as if pushing a basin of water that might overflow at any time.
As the wooden door was pushed open, the song came out. It was the famous Japanese song "Sakura". A dancer in a gorgeous white face and red lips was dancing to the music indoors.
The woman did not dare to raise her head and bowed again before standing up with the plate in hand. Then she took off her wooden clogs and gracefully stepped into the room with a standard action she had repeated thousands of times. She stepped on the spotless wooden floor in white socks and walked to the table in small steps.
After putting down the dish, he put a plate of "tempura" (a famous Japanese dish) fried to golden brown and dotted with green vegetables on the table, and bowed again: "I've kept you waiting for a long time, please wait."
!”
The moment the woman stood up, she was surprised to find that the person sitting opposite the lieutenant general was actually a Chinese, which made her stagnate.
The lieutenant general glanced at the woman with a displeased expression. The woman immediately realized her gaffe, bowed and apologized before retreating.
Okamura Neiji raised his wine glass and said in pure Chinese to the Chinese people opposite: "Then, I'll leave the matter of the quasi-public security area to you, sir!"
The Chinese raised their glasses and replied: "You're welcome, Lieutenant General Okamura. It is my duty to ensure the stability of the country and the prosperity of the people!"
Okamura Neiji replied with a smile: "Okamura really admires you for your dedication to the country and the people! Come on, give me a toast to you!"
As he spoke, he raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.
After seeing off the Chinese people, Yoshio Shinozuka couldn't help but cast a contemptuous look in the direction where the Chinese people left, and said: "Your Excellency, Lieutenant General, the Eighth Route Army is already dying under your strategy. We are fully capable of conquering these Chinese people by ourselves."
, I don’t understand, why do you rely on these Chinese scum? They have betrayed their country now, and they will definitely betray us in the future!"
Okamura Neiji glanced at Yoshio Shinozuka, then picked up a celadon deli (a small wine flask used by the Japanese) to refill Yoshio Shinozuka's wine.
Yoshio Shinozuka was flattered and held up the wine glass with both hands to welcome him. He nodded and bowed slightly while taking the wine.
"Shinozuka-kun!" Neji Okamura finished his drink and sighed, "Do you know what conquest is?"
Yoshio Shinozuka thought for a while and replied: "To control the enemy's power of life and death and make them afraid and dare not disobey our orders is conquest!"
Okamura Neiji smiled and shook his head: "Some people once thought so, and they even did it, and in this land, these Chinese people did it more than once. But... they all ended up without exception.
Failed!"
"Really?" Yoshio Shinozuka was greatly surprised.
He couldn't believe that the Chinese people had such resilience.
Okamura Neiji nodded slightly, holding the wine glass and said thoughtfully: "If you know their history, you will know that they have been invaded by foreign nations several times, the most representative of which are the invasions of the Mongols and Manchus. In addition,
, as well as the Khitan, Nuzhi and other people. However, they failed to eliminate China, but instead became part of China. Do you know why?"
"Yes!" Yoshio Shinozuka lowered his head and said, "Please enlighten me!"
Yoshio Shinozuka admired Okamura Neiji in front of him more and more. His understanding of China was unmatched by others.
Is this what Neji Okamura meant by knowing yourself and your enemy?
Okamura Neiji held the wine glass and politely saluted Shinozuka. After drinking it in one gulp, he continued: "It's culture, Shinozuka-kun! This country has thousands of years of cultural accumulation, and every nation that invades China
, although he has conquered them by force, ruled them, and even, as you said, controlled their power of life and death, let
They were afraid, which made them dare not disobey orders... However, they were all conquered by Chinese culture and uncontrollably learned their writing, clothing, language, calligraphy and painting, and even living habits. Over time, they found themselves becoming part of China.
, become a Chinese! Finally, he blends into this country and disappears!”
Shinozuka Yoshio seemed to understand the meaning of Okamura Neji's words: "Lieutenant General, are you worried that we will integrate into this country like these nations that invaded China? This is impossible!"
Although Yoshio Shinozuka admires Okamura, he cannot agree with this point. He even thinks that this statement is ridiculous and unfounded...
However, Yoshio Shinozuka immediately realized that he had just used a Chinese idiom.
"Nothing is impossible!" Neji Okamura said: "At the beginning, those nations that invaded China thought it was impossible like you, but now? This is an invisible war, Mr. Shinozuka, we must avoid it
If this result occurs again, we will win militarily but lose to the enemy culturally!"
Okamura Neiji was very worried. He had been learning Chinese writing since he was four years old. No one knew the charm of Chinese culture better than him, so he knew how difficult this war was.
Shinozuka Yoshio suddenly realized when he heard this: "That's why Lieutenant General..."
"Yes!" Okamura Neji nodded slightly and replied: "So, we have to start from two aspects. On the one hand, making them believe that their culture is backward and useless is the reason why China is now being bullied.
, Only in this way can they destroy their cultural self-confidence. On the other hand, let them learn our characters, language, history, and even living habits. One day, when they completely abandon their own culture and choose our culture, then it will be considered a conquest!
Shinozuka-kun, do you understand?"
"Yes!" Yoshio Shinozuka bowed his head respectfully.
He was so impressed by Okamura Neji that he realized what the gap was between him and Okamura Neji!
On the other side, the chief received a piece of information from the chief of staff.
"Chief!" said the Chief of Staff: "Okamura Neiji used Wang's puppet regime to carry out the 'Qingxiang' movement in the guerrilla areas! They printed and distributed "Qingxiang Daily" and leaflets, controlled schools to force students to learn Japanese, and promoted reactionary ideas and enslavement
educate!"
The leader slammed his fist on the table and cursed: "This Okamura Neji, with one hand connected to the other, catches people off guard!"
"Chief!" the chief of staff asked, "how should we respond?"
After thinking about it, the chief said: "We can't continue like this, otherwise we will fall into complete passivity!"