Chapter 1: Early Spring (Part I)

Spring 1939. The puppet capital of Manchukuo, Xinjing (Changchun), the first section of the General Staff of the Kwantung Army Headquarters, and the deputy chief of the general staff, Otosaburo Yano, slapped the telegram that had just been delivered to him on the table with hatred, and then raised his foot and kicked the filing cabinet next to the table three feet away. All kinds of documents that had not had time to be filed and sealed were shocked out and fell all over the ground (Note 1)

The staff officers of the first lesson did not dare to come forward to persuade them. Trembling and squatting on the ground. Convergence of scattered files. I saw the submissive appearance of my subordinates. The deputy chief of the General Staff of the Kwantung Army, Otozaburo Yano, became more and more angry. Lift your feet in leather boots. It's a kick in the ass." Get out. Get the hell out of here. A bunch of useless waste. A crusade plan has been in the works for three days. I haven't made any eyebrows yet... A lesson for you guys who eat rice. What's the use."

The kicked staff officers leaned against the wall. Look at each other. No one will be ordered to leave. Continue to stay in the office. It will undoubtedly bring even more anger from the top boss. But working hours are everywhere. In case he is met by the commander-in-chief Kenkichi Ueda, who has only one foot left. I'm afraid the end will be even more miserable. The former will just fall all over the body. Find a bone-setting doctor to recuperate and recover. The latter will directly send back home those who have not worked hard. Sent into the reserves. That would mean that the man's military career was completely over. All the hard work of most of his life has been in vain.

"Yano-kun. Why did you make such a big fuss? Has someone accidentally knocked over a bookshelf while walking?" Just when the staff officers are in a dilemma. An elegant baritone sounded in the doorway. Chief of the General Staff of the Kwantung Army, Ryosuke Isoya, pushed open the door. Walked in with a smile (Note 3)

Otozaburo Yano is just a major general. Regardless of the seniority in the army and the background behind him, he is incomparable with Ryosuke Isoya, the lieutenant general and chief of the General Staff. Listen to the concern in the other person's words. Hurry up and hurry forward. Respectfully gave a military salute to the other party. At the same time respond loudly." Reports to the Chief of the General Staff. It was just Odanaka Sa's careless walking. Knocked over the filing cabinet. His subordinates are reprimanding him. Didn't expect to alarm my colleagues. The subordinates know that they are wrong. I beg your pardon with the Chief of Staff."

"Yo Si." Ryosuke Isoya returned the salute with a smile. Then Srizzle responded." Since it was Oda-kun who was careless. You emphasize office discipline. I think it's as it should be. But remember to change the time and place next time. Don't delay the lesson. Don't disturb other colleagues either. Yours. Understood."

"Understood." Otozaburo Yano hurriedly got off the donkey. Loud promise." Your subordinates must keep in mind the teachings of His Excellency the Chief of Staff. No more acting impulsively. ODA Jun. Why don't you come over and apologize to His Excellency the Chief of Staff?"

"Hi Yi." Oda, the combat staff officer who was innocently pulled out as a scapegoat, did not dare to debunk the lies of his top boss. Say yes loudly. Come forward and cooperate with the acting." Accidentally disturbed the work of His Excellency the Chief of Staff. The subordinates were terrified. Your Excellency the Chief of Staff is invited to punish him."

"No need. You're also unintentional." Ryosuke Isoya didn't believe the claims of Otozaburo Yano and Staff Officer Oda. But I don't want to be too serious. Smiled. Wave your hand gently." Hurry up and pack up all the files on the ground. A lesson in the General Staff of the Kwantung Army. It's like a vegetable market. If it is seen by outsiders. What will you say about us?"

"Hi Yi." The staff officers glanced appreciatively at the chief of the General Staff. Squat down. Packing up the papers on the ground.

Take the opportunity that everyone has no time to be distracted. The Chief of the General Staff of the Kwantung Army, Ryosuke Isoya, walked to the table. Seemingly nonchalantly asked Otozaburo Yano." Yano-kun. Is there any important news lately? I just came back from a business trip in North China. I haven't had time to read a lot of telegrams."

"Yes." Know that your boss is creating opportunities for you to explain. Otozaburo Yano walked to the table very cooperatively. Pick up the telegram that made me lose my temper in an instant. He held it with both hands to Ryosuke Isoya, Chief of the General Staff of the Kwantung Army. But there is some news that I am afraid will disappoint you very much. Call from the West Garrison Command of Hung Yen Province. Last month they were admitted there for multiple internal organ failure. Died. He was declared dead on the same day. There are also Lieutenant Ogura, Captain Enda and six privates. It's all too cold. Death due to failure of the lungs and other respiratory organs."

"Oh. What sad news." The Chief of the General Staff, Ryosuke Isoya, responded with a sigh. Reach out and take the telegram." The commander of their division was not informed of this matter. What did the Lieutenant General of the Garden Department say?"

"Not yet. Lieutenant General of the Park Department has been busy deploying in Qiqihar recently. The subordinates did not think that the Kwantung Army Headquarters would directly handle the matter. Or leave it to Lieutenant General Yuanbu. It was up to him to arrange for the newcomers to give tactical guidance to the Manchurian detachment." Otozaburo Yano shook his head. The voice of the reply brought out a bit of frustration.

The commander of the 7th Division, Lieutenant General Sonobe and Ichiro, was a nobleman. He has always been known for his arrogance and eccentric temper. Otozaburo Yano just took office just over two months ago. Rush to perform. Didn't ventilate with him. Recommendations are made directly to the command. Transferred one of his squadrons to the "crusade" against the resistance in the Chahar area. It has already made him very dissatisfied. Now the squadron leader who is in charge of commanding operations has died of illness. The entire squadron also fell to the end of more than half of the casualties. It is tantamount to adding to the already strained relationship between the two. It does not count as holding accountable for "carelessness". Just thinking about how to explain to Kazuichiro Sonobe. It's enough for Otozaburo Yano to drink a pot. Even if the telegram is forwarded in the past tense. Just in time to catch up with the garden lieutenant general is in a more happy mood. I can't escape a sneer. And in case the telegram was received just in time for the Lieutenant General Sonobe was not happy. I'm afraid Otozaburo Yano will have to pay a huge price for his recklessness. It's not good that Sonobe and Ichiro will spread the matter to the country. Then operate a little bit through the family behind him. The deputy chief of the General Staff of the Kwantung Army Command had to be replaced by someone else. It's no wonder that Otozaburo Yano was in a hurry like a rabbit with red eyes just now.

But in all fairness. Otozaburo Yano, this red-eyed rabbit, is really a little aggrieved. Send a squadron of the Kwantung Army plus a battalion of Manchuria** to "crusade" against "a gang of horse thieves who have just been reorganized by the Jin Sui Army and a **guerrilla force of one hundred and ten people. Anyway. The response plan proposed by the General Staff has been considered very seriously. Even a lot of well-known anti-union teams. None of them can meet this kind of "hospitality specifications", but who would have expected that the battle would last for two months. The targets of the crusade are still alive and well. One squadron of the Kwantung Army died more than forty people. Frostbite for more than sixty. The entire squadron was completely crippled. And the whole battalion of Manchurian **.There were more than 200 deserters alone. It is already close to half of the total size.

"Then don't forward the telegram to Lieutenant General Sonobe yet. Wait until the evening. I'll give him a call and explain." Sympathetically pressed Otozaburo Yano's shoulder. The Chief of the General Staff of the Kwantung Army, Ryosuke Isoya, commanded with a smile.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff Otozaburo Yano's heart warmed. Nodding. Respond with red eyes." Then you're in trouble. Humble Position. Humble ......"

"Alright. All right. It's not a big deal. You sometimes think too carefully." Ryosuke Isoya waved his hand. Interrupted with a smile again. Otozaburo Yano is from a relatively humble background. Surely he would not dare to face the anger of Kazuichiro Sonobe, a noble young master. But he didn't have similar scruples. After all, there is the Isoya family standing behind him. And the Aoki family of the wife's maiden family. The influence in the Army and the Cabinet is also not to be underestimated.

"For you. Of course it's not a big deal. But in the entire Kwantung Army . It's comparable to your old age. You can count a few." Otozaburo Yano muttered quietly in his stomach. The expression on his face became more and more respectful." Be. You're right. I'll consider the issue in the future. Be sure to keep your old teachings in mind. Put ......"

"Alright." Ryosuke Isoya interrupted his subordinates for the third time. There was already a hint of displeasure on his face. Some flattering words. It shouldn't be in the mouth of a soldier." When I saw Otozaburo Yano, I had to bow and admit my mistake. He slowed his tone a bit. continued: "We don't have time to talk about that right now. You report back to me carefully. Mitsui detachment. How could it be so frustrated .. That's the elite of the A Division. According to common sense. Hit a battalion of the ** team. There shouldn't be any problems."

"Mainly the weather. Or the special geographical conditions of the grassland and desert areas are at work. On combat effectiveness. On the Chinese side, the Jin Sui army and ** guerrillas. None were far from being the opponents of the Kwantung Army of the Great Japanese Empire. So. A section of the General Staff is planning this crusade. Only one squadron was sent over. subordinates at the time of the audit. Didn't think too much about it. However......" heard this. Otozaburo Yano hurriedly put away the messy thoughts in his heart. Lessons learned from the lessons were taken seriously. Though. in the capacity of a deputy chief of the General Staff. Lessons learned for the defeat of a squadron. It's a bit too aggrieved for him.

If it weren't for the fact that this battle involved Manchukuo's plan to expand westward and factional disputes within the Kwantung Army. Ryosuke Isoya also can't afford to fight for a squadron level. Waste your precious time. But I patiently listened to the report of my subordinates for a while. The expression on his face became more and more solemn. You mean. Most of the losses of the Manchurian-Mongolian detachment. It's all caused when chasing and killing ** guerrillas. How many people were on the side of the guerrillas at that time. How many people did Mitsui Nakasa bring. What about Manchuria**. What were they doing?"

Note 1: Otozaburo Yano. Deputy Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army. Rank of Major General, 1938-1939 served in office after the Battle of Nomenkan.

Note 2: Kenkichi Ueda. Commander of the Kwantung Army. The rank of general. Once at the celebration party of the "128 Incident". Assassinated by Korean righteous soldiers. Lost a leg. Therefore he was called lame by contempt. Never married. One is said to be homosexual. Psychopath. Because of the disparity in strength between the two sides, the Battle of Nomenkan was launched. After the defeat of the war, he was dismissed by the Japanese military department.

Note 3: Ryosuke Isoya. Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army, Lieutenant General. Son of the old Japanese bureaucracy. His father-in-law was also a lieutenant general. You know China very well. A few members of the Kwantung Army did not recommend expanding the war against China. The "rational faction" who hoped that Japan would take over the Northeast as soon as it was good, and later resigned due to discord with others.

Note 4: Kazuichiro Enbe. The 7th Division of the Kwantung Army. Division Commander. Lieutenant General. He was once defeated because of his losses in the Battle of Nomenkan. Disciplined. Later, relying on family connections, he was transferred to South China as the commander of the 11th Army. In the Battle of Shanggao, he was defeated by General Wang Yaowu and fled. Transferred to military staff officers. Sent to the reserves.