NIS Agents Tearing Up the Japanese Empire - Chapter 306



Only Noblemtl

Episode 306

Homecoming? (9)

Life is a series of struggles.

There is no better expression to describe the present Kwantung Army than this.

Dalian on the Liaodong Peninsula, where the Kwantung Army was stationed… no, to be precise, where the Kwantung Army had been stationed, had not changed much since it was swept away by the previous attack by the independence army.

The Guandong Prefecture Office in Dalian was still working in a collapsed state because the wall that had collapsed after being hit by a shell had not been repaired, and the military unit was in a similar situation.

The shell marks were covered up by mobilizing soldiers, but all the buildings were destroyed, so all that was left were crude wooden structures hastily made out of wood.

Even so, because the home country, that is, the Japanese Army, had a lot of funds to spend on rebuilding the Kwantung Army, the Kwantung Army was reorganized into an independent military system, and so it was pushed down significantly in the home country’s support priorities.

The reason for the existence of the Kwantung Army right now is to protect the Imperial Kwantung Province, but where is the force that is threatening the Imperial Kwantung Province right now?

Zhang Zuolin of Fengtian?

He was the kind of person who would keep them in check, but would never attack first, thinking that the Japanese Empire could blow his balls off at any moment.

What about the independence army then?

Since the Korean Independence Army thoroughly trampled and crushed the Kwantung Army like hunting animals during the previous attack on the Liaodong Peninsula, they have not paid any attention to this place.

Rather, the Kwantung Army was so afraid that the Korean Independence Army might invade that they had to watch out for it.

“Report! Today, the armed group of the Firefighting Ships in Yanji are said to be stationed in the city as usual and are focusing on maintaining security in the surrounding areas!”

“Whew… … Today also passed without incident.”

Shigeru Honjo, who had recently been appointed commander of the Kwantung Army, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the report of Lieutenant Colonel Mutaguchi, who had been appointed to the Kwantung Army around the same time as the operations chief of staff.

“Mutaguchi-kun, what kind of actions do you think the Yeongil Buddhist monks will take in the future?”

“Yes! When I was their prisoner, I looked into their situation in detail and found that… … .”

Our Lieutenant Colonel Mutaguchi is from the past.

As a survivor of the Japanese army’s miserable defeat in the Battle of Gando, he became a prisoner of war for the independence army.

Lieutenant Colonel Mutaguchi, who was captured in this way, was taken here and there as a laborer at construction sites or as a miner in mines, and while suffering all kinds of hard labor, he took advantage of the opportunity to escape while the surveillance net of the independence army was loose.

Mutaguchi Chugaku walked across Manchuria bare-handed to the Liaodong Peninsula where the Kwantung Army was located and reported back to his commander.

General Honjo was greatly impressed by Mutaguchi’s appearance and sent Mutaguchi’s rescue letter and letter of recommendation to Japan, allowing him to remain in the Kwantung Army.

Well, the truth is that some independence army officers who were annoyed by the sight of Mutaguchi eating so much gave him a chance to escape, and the Japanese government also didn’t want to mention the issue of Japanese prisoners of war still being held by the independence army, so they gave him a promotion and left him in Kwantung Province in order to hide his identity.

Of course, to Honjo, who was unaware of these circumstances, Mutaguchi simply appeared to be a capable officer who had escaped that dangerous place alone.

That’s why Honjo cherished him like his own hands and feet and often asked him for advice…

“Whew… … .”

“Do you have any concerns?”

“Worries? There are always a lot of worries. Looking at the current situation of the Kwantung Army, even worries that didn’t exist before are starting to pile up.”

“That’s true.”

“Even though the local situation is difficult, the home country just keeps repeating that support is difficult, and the Japanese Government-General of Korea keeps saying that they are having a harder time… … .”

Commander Honjo’s worries seemed deep.

Our Lieutenant Colonel Mutaguchi opened his mouth slightly, observing the commander’s expression.

“Your Majesty, how about trying to implement ‘that’ thing I reported before?”

“That? Are you talking about the Manchurian plan that came up last time?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Manchurian plan.

It was literally an operational plan to figure out how to conquer Manchuria.

Of course, Manchuria was not Japanese territory.

Although it is now under the rule of Zhang Zuolin of Fengtian, it is clearly the territory of the Republic of China.

Attacking Manchuria like that would mean… … .

“Are you saying we should start a war with China?”

“There is nothing that cannot be done… … I can say that.”

“… … .”

Commander Honjo turned his head as if he did not want to answer Mutaguchi’s words.

“We decided not to talk about that.”

“Your Majesty, if we miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, our Empire of Japan will lose its chance to aim for the continent.”

“Aiming for the continent… … is nothing but a vain fantasy.”

“It’s not a delusion. I have looked into it closely and found that… … .”

Commander Honjo’s sharp gaze fell on Mutaguchi’s shiny hair, rendering him speechless.

“I have to get this straight. Wasn’t that plan from last time planned by Lieutenant Colonel Ishiwara?”

“Oh, no.”

“No… … Did you think I didn’t know, Mutaguchi?”

“… … .”

Commander Honjo continued speaking with a light sigh.

“Whew… … I understand that you’ve been getting along well with Ishiwara lately, it’s nice to meet your seniors and juniors from a different place… … But if possible, I’d like you to not get too close to that guy.”

“… … .”

“As you know, Major Ishiwara is a man with a lot of thoughts in his head. He is more suited to holding a picket sign and protesting on the street than to being a soldier.”

“… … .”

“Do you understand what I am saying?”

“… … Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then go and check on the soldiers’ situation and make a list of the items we absolutely need right now.”

Commander Honjo waved his hand as if to tell them to leave, and gave the order to leave, and Mutaguchi left the command center with a bitter expression.

As Mutaguchi left the command center, Major Ishiwara, who had been waiting at the entrance, asked him.

“What happened?”

Mutaguchi answered by shaking his head.

Ishiwara clicked his tongue lightly upon seeing that sight.

“Tsk… … You seem so stubborn. I don’t understand why you don’t grab the opportunity when it comes.”

“That’s true.”

Mutaguchi let out a deep sigh.

“Now is the time when Fengtian is preparing for a battle with Chiang Kai-shek and an expedition to the continent… … .”

“Commander Honjo is a man who won’t move unless there’s a clear opportunity, so there’s nothing we can do.”

“Lieutenant Ishiwara, is there no way?”

“I can’t think of any other method yet.”

Ishiwara and Mutaguchi put their heads together to figure out how to persuade Commander Honjo.

“What could be the reason Commander Honjo is worried?”

“I guess that’s because the Kwantung Army’s current strength is inferior to that of Zhang Zuolin’s army.”

“Is it because of a power shortage… … .”

“Will it be difficult to get support from your home country?”

“It’ll be difficult… … It seems like things aren’t so good there either.”

It was a really difficult situation.

Since the last attack, the Kwantung Army had been reduced to a single regiment.

Not only was the number of troops reduced, but a significant amount of equipment was also captured by the independence army, making it difficult to even provide rifles to the soldiers.

“Well… … In this situation, it seems that you, who came up with the grand strategy of invading Manchuria, are not in your right mind.”

“Isn’t it strange to maintain one’s sanity in an age that is going mad?”

Mutaguchi recalled the last battle in Gando.

In his mind, he imagined the incompetent command shouting to charge without any plan while friendly soldiers continued to die endlessly.

Enemy tank units advancing with a loud noise, enemy cavalry units charging in from the side, and even brave soldiers who kept falling while charging toward the solid enemy defense line… … .

They all died meaninglessly.

And none of these things could be done in one’s right mind.

So, I can understand to some extent what Ishiwara meant when he said that this was a crazy era.

“These are crazy times… … I guess that could be the case.”

“When Zhang Zuolin vacates Manchuria, that will be the first and last opportunity.”

“… … I don’t know if I can take advantage of that opportunity.”

Mutaguchi and Ishiwara’s worries deepened.

“If we could just solve the weapons problem right away, it wouldn’t be a big deal to call in the Joseon (Japanese) army.”

“You’re calling in the Korean army (Japanese army)? How?”

The corners of Ishiwara’s mouth twitched at Mutaguchi’s question.

“There is a way to do everything.”

“hmm…….”

“Is there any way to get a weapon from somewhere?”

“A weapon… … a weapon… … .”

Mutaguchi thought about how to get the weapon.

But, no clear method comes to mind… … .

“ah!”

At that moment, a crazy thought crossed Mutaguchi’s mind.

“Weapons… … I think there might be a way to get weapons… … .”

“Yes? Where?”

* * *

An urgent telegram arrived from Shanghai.

The contents of the telegram sent from the Shanghai mansion were… … .

“The Kwantung Army Chief of Staff contacted you?”

“Is that so?”

It was a rather sudden call while I was enjoying a leisurely rest at Byeoksusanjang, the private residence of Daegal Daegam.

“The Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army… …sent a request for a large-scale arms purchase?”

“That’s right.”

The Kwantung Army sent a telegram to the Shanghai Armory, which was now operated as a counterfeiting factory and Keijo No. 1 Factory, expressing its intention to purchase weapons.

The funny thing is, neither I nor the staff there went around talking about the existence of the Shanghai arsenal, so this information was known only to those in the know.

That meant that few people knew that it was my mansion.

“Haha… … Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army… … Who is the Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army now?”

“Let’s see… … It’s Lieutenant Colonel Renya Mutaguchi.”

“Mutaguchi!”

It was a familiar name.

After being captured as a prisoner of the Korean Independence Army last time, I thought he would disappear into the back alleys of history, but it seems he managed to survive with great tenacity.

“You crossed Manchuria alone? Wow… That’s amazing.”

It was entirely my will that Mutaguchi was released.

When I left Yeonil, I told him to let go of Mutaguchi at the right time, but even then, I didn’t have high expectations of him.

It was almost a miracle that he managed to get to the Liaodong Peninsula on the opposite side of the country with his bare hands, through the numerous bandits, wild animals, and difficult terrain of Manchuria.

So, letting him go was kind of a test.

This is a test to see if Mutaguchi can overcome this difficulty.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Mutaguchi passed my test with flying colors.

And he remembered the few conversations I had with him during his time as a prisoner, so he sent a request to buy weapons to the Shanghai mansion.

That is to say.

“He said he was going to attack Manchuria so he asked me to lend him weapons… … .”

It was really fun.

Although I have proposed deals to others first, it is rare for the other party to propose deals to me in return.

It is also the first time that an individual, rather than a country or any organization, has proposed it.

“Your Majesty, what kind of weapons does our Chief of Staff Mutaguchi want?”

“Uh… … Almost enough to arm an entire division?”

“Really? It looks like they’re going to start a war.”

“I think so.”

“Heh heh.”

It was unclear exactly what would happen when he handed the weapon over to Mutaguchi.

But if we piece together the information that came in, we can deduce his plan.

“When did Zhang Zuolin say he would be dispatched?”

“It’s mid-October. They said they’ll declare an expedition right after the harvest season.”

“Mid-October… … .”

It’s late June now.

The deadline itself was generous.

“Your Majesty, can you prepare it according to this list?”

“That’s not difficult… … Is that okay?”

“Yes, if we’re going to do it, we should prepare a large boat with the symbol of the Great King Daegal firmly engraved on it.”

“?”

If he had asked the Ghost of Gyeongseong for help and a ship bearing the symbol of Yun Deok-yeong, the highest authority in the Japanese Empire, had arrived, what kind of expression would Mutaguchi have made?

I was really curious.