Age of Conquest Reborn

Many times, one sentence is like a gate that can shut down a big mouth that can't stop talking. This is especially true for General Umezu Yoshijiro, who is in a paranoid state and has unfinished thoughts. His face, full of excitement and flushing, suddenly became dull and he asked uncertain questions.

He said: "Matsuda-kun, is there news that the base camp is going to send more troops to the battlefield in Manchuria?" He ignored the word "have to" that Lieutenant General Matsuda specially emphasized.

Chief of Staff Matsuda suddenly felt a sense of compassion. If he were to be pitiful, no one could be more pitiful than General Umezu, who was immersed in paranoia and fantasy. He suddenly didn't know that he had become a pitiable character, but he was still very kind.

Yes, I originally didn’t want to give my former boss such a heavy blow in front of so many senior officers at the headquarters, but the conversation has already arrived.

Lieutenant General Matsuda had a wry smile on his lips, his eyes seemed to be avoiding something, and he said: "No, General Umezu, when I was in Xinjing, I received an urgent top-secret telegram from the base camp. General Nanjiro, the deputy military affairs officer of the base camp, has been appointed.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army is now on his way to Fengtian!"

The war room was suddenly as quiet as death. All the officers of the Kwantung Army who were summoned for a military meeting inexplicably were stunned. Their minds seemed to have not yet woken up from this shocking news. "Bang!" General Yoshijiro Umezu said.

The baton inside fell to the ground, and it was particularly harsh in the dead silence and depressing atmosphere. Then, General Umezu's body, which was originally full of excitement, withered instantly like a balloon with a hole in it.

General Umezu Yoshijiro, who had dull eyes, slumped down on his chair. The silence overwhelmed the Kwantung Army officers and made them breathless. Chief of Staff Matsuda sighed inwardly. He waved his hands, and these officers seemed to be amnesty in a dream, with shocked expressions.

, slipped away quietly, and only General Umezu and Chief of Staff Matsuda were left in the war room.

The silence lasted for a long time. General Umezu slowly raised his head, with a fierce light flashing in his eyes, and asked in a hoarse voice: "Why?" His tone was sinister, like a wounded beast.

General Umezu asked in a confused manner, just asking "Why?" But Chief of Staff Matsuda knew it well. Now that the showdown had been made, he felt much calmer. Facing General Umezu's fierce eyes, he calmly said

Said: "

Forced by the situation! General Umezu, you disappeared on the battlefield and your whereabouts are unknown during this period. A lot of things happened. I think that my ability is limited and I cannot control the war situation in Manchuria. I can only report the situation on the battlefield in Manchuria truthfully to the base camp!"

General Umezu sighed, looking lonely, and said: "I understand! When will General Nanjiro arrive in Fengtian!"

"There are probably more than four hours left. General Nanjiro has now arrived at Lagu in the south of Fushun!" Chief of Staff Matsuda replied.

"Okay! Matsuda-kun. Please, when General Nanjiro arrives at the Kwantung Army headquarters in Fengtian, arrange for me to meet him. Now, arrange a place for me to rest, prepare a dinner, and - and me

Military uniform!" General Umezu Yoshijiro slowly walked out of the war room, seemingly pleading and commanding. His back was slender and thin. General Umezu, who was once as strong as an ox and as powerful as a tiger, died.

Chief of Staff Matsuda felt a burst of emotion in his heart, feeling inexplicably like a rabbit dying and a fox grieving for its own kind, "No problem, General, you are still my boss now! General of the Imperial Army!" This can be regarded as the last respect for General Umezu!

In the early morning, in order to avoid the independent division troops that he might encounter, General Nanjiro, who had taken a long detour and bumped around almost all night, finally arrived at the Kwantung Army headquarters in Fengtian and was tired from all the travels.

He only has a few people including Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Matsuda.

When he got out of the car, General Nanjiro looked at everything he was familiar with under the dim light, took a deep breath, and returned again less than three months after leaving. When he left, although the situation in Manchuria was critical, it was not

The truth is beyond control, and now he is back to save the lives of more than one million Kwantung Army soldiers, and to seek peace with the empire's sworn enemy - the Chinese devil Tang Qiuli. Suddenly, he has a sense that things are different and people are different.

Feeling!

Chief of General Staff Matsuda accompanied General Nanjiro to the headquarters. As he walked, he said: "Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, you have come a long way and have been tired all the way. The staff has prepared hot water and dinner for you!"

"Yes!" General Nanjiro did not comment and agreed with a cold expression. Lieutenant General Matsuda, who knew the temper of the old commander, did not take it seriously. He hesitated and then said: "Commander-in-Chief, General Umezu Yoshijiro is back!"

"Oh?" General Nanjiro was finally surprised. He suddenly stopped and looked at Chief of General Matsuda with a careful look, "Is Umezu-kun injured? Is he in good health? Where did you place him?"

The series of questions seemed to be of deep concern for his colleagues, but Lieutenant General Matsuda knew that this was not what the old officer wanted to ask. "General Umezu asked me to meet with you!" he answered truthfully.

General Nanjiro hesitated for a moment, and finally ordered: "Matsuda-kun, please arrange a quiet room, simply prepare some purely local dishes, and prepare more good sake, Umezu-kun and I will eat while

Talk, don’t let anyone disturb us!”

"Hai! Follow your instructions immediately!" Lieutenant General Matsuda stood at attention. For some reason, his heart suddenly relaxed. It seemed that someone had taken over the burden of General Umezu Yoshijiro and carried it on his back!

General Umezu Yoshijiro, who had changed into a new military uniform and was neatly dressed but still looked gloomy, followed Chief of General Matsuda into a quiet room. General Nanjiro was waiting for him. Then, Lieutenant General Matsuda quietly led him through the door outside.

Up, there are two people in the room. The two commanders-in-chief of the Kwantung Army finally met. It wasn't the first time, but the roles of the two people have been completely reversed.

General Nanjiro looked at him in surprise. General Umezu was so thin that he lost his human form. Three months ago, he handed over the post of commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army at the headquarters of the Kwantung Army. At that time, General Umezu was so high-spirited and full of confidence.

, the body is as strong as a cow. It has only been more than three months, how come...?

The surprise in General Nanjiro's eyes was reflected in General Umezu's eyes, and he could only smile bitterly in his heart, "If you live on the run for more than ten days on the battlefield, you can't eat well, you can't sleep well, and you have to be constantly on guard against people searching for you on the battlefield.

The soldiers of the Independent Division are tensed up all the time. After taking the time to sleep for a while at night, they don’t know if they can see the sun tomorrow again, so they won’t be surprised!”

"Umezu-kun, I asked Matsuda-kun to simply prepare some wine and food. Just the two of us can eat and talk openly without being disturbed. We can talk about anything and everything. Please take a seat!" General Nanjiro gave way gently.

General Umezu smiled bitterly and said, "Nanji-kun, you are interested, thank you very much!" Then, without being polite, he sat down in front of the low table with wine and food.

General Nanjiro picked up the wine pot, filled the wine glass in front of him with sake, and said calmly: "Umezu-kun, I came to Manchuria this time to take over your duties under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor and the headquarters!"

The words were very direct and did not mince words, because General Nanjiro felt that there was no need to be secretive between the two senior generals of the Imperial Army.

"Gudu!" General Umezu drank a gulp of the wine in his glass, looked at General Nanjiro, and asked very calmly: "I understand, what is the punishment for me at the base camp?"

The question was also very direct. It was obvious that the base camp suddenly sent Nanjiro to replace him, which meant that he had not done anything to satisfy the Emperor and the base camp during the few months he had been in Manchuria. Moreover,

The current war situation in Manchuria has reached an irreversible level. Speaking of which, I have my own responsibilities, but it is not all my own responsibility. When I took over the post of commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army, the situation in Manchuria was already full of crises!

It seemed that he was taking the blame for the old guy who poured him wine! Since he was dismissed, he must be held responsible and punished. Regarding this, when he learned that General Nanjiro had taken over his post, General Umezu felt very sad.

Clearly, and with sufficient psychological preparation, His Majesty the Emperor, the headquarters, and even the empire, need a scapegoat! To be responsible for the current situation in Manchuria!

General Nanjiro shook his head and said: "No, His Majesty the Emperor and the base camp have not punished you in any way. They have not even issued an order to formally remove you from your post as Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army!"

"Why?" General Umezu was finally surprised and asked in disbelief.

General Nanjiro shook his head slightly and said: "After receiving the telegram from Matsuda Kenjiro, His Majesty the Emperor and the base camp judged that Umezu-kun has died for the country and has been missing for more than ten days. His whereabouts are unknown. On the battlefield, any accident will happen.

If it happens, how will you be punished?"

General Umezu shook his head with a self-deprecating smile. He felt like a mirror in his heart. In the minds of His Majesty the Emperor and the big bosses in the base camp, he was already a dead person. How could he be punished for a dead person? Thinking of this, it was very strange.

It's a lack of interest.

"By the way, Nanji-kun, has the memorial I gave to His Majesty the Emperor, His Excellency Koichi Minai, been presented to His Majesty the Emperor?" This is what General Umezu can't let go of. Perhaps, this is an opportunity to change his destiny, because

The subsequent development of the Manchurian War proved that my judgment was correct!

Strategic foresight can better demonstrate his military talents. From the bottom of his heart, General Umezu was never willing to be dismissed from the position of commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army in such a dejected manner.

Maybe the memorial can be appreciated by His Majesty the Emperor, and can reverse the outcome and allow the old guy to go home, and then continue to implement the battle plan he got after many sleepless nights and careful consideration on the way to escape.

(To be continued)