PFC Chapter 1059 is both a reminder and a test.
Chapter 1059 is both a reminder and a test.
While Zhou Zhengqing was in a state of shock, the conversation continued.
"The general is wise and considerate of the overall situation." King Kyohiko nodded slowly, raised his refilled sake cup, and the sake swirled slightly in the cup: "North China and Central China are both under the command of the China Expeditionary Army. We should support each other and overcome the difficulties together."
Regarding the military, I will do my best to mediate on the matter of resource allocation.
Please arrange the handover of command of the 16th and 14th Divisions as soon as possible, General.
He didn't say "do your best," but rather "do your best to mediate," a subtle difference that suggests a more proactive commitment.
Instead of saying "Please cooperate, General," they said "Please make arrangements, General," giving the other party control over the handover process. This was a tacit concession.
"Then thank you very much, Your Highness!" Terauchi Hisaichi smiled even more broadly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes as deep as if carved by a knife. He raised his cup and gently touched it to Prince Yasuhiko's cup in the air, making a crisp "ding" sound, and then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.
The amber liquid slid down his throat, and a political deal involving tens of thousands of troops, countless resources, and the future course of the war was quietly struck amidst laughter and clinking glasses.
There was no written agreement, and no third party was present, but both of them knew that what they said tonight was a contract, and the consequences of breaking it were something neither of them could afford.
As Zhou Zhengqing observed coldly, a single word popped into his mind: "As expected..."
. . . . . . . . . . .
“Speaking of the military,” Zhou Zhengqing suddenly spoke, his voice calm. Although his heart was churning, he had to pretend he knew nothing and hadn’t thought of anything, and continue his act: “Commander Ueda Kenkichi is also very concerned about the situation in Central China.”
He put down the wine glass he had been playing with; the sound of the bottom of the glass hitting the table was very soft, yet it made both Prince Yasuhiko and Terauchi Hisaichi involuntarily turn their gazes to him.
Zhou Zhengqing deliberately mentioned the name of Ueda Kenkichi, the commander of the Kwantung Army, which made both Prince Yasuhiko and Terauchi Hisaichi look serious.
The Kwantung Army, the most elite, unruly, and independent force in the Japanese Army, has always been regarded as the "army within an army."
Kenkichi Ueda was a veteran of the military with extensive experience, and his influence extended beyond Manchuria to the entire war against China.
In a sense, Zhou Zhengqing represented not only an independent military police system, but also the Kwantung Army and Ueda Kenkichi behind him.
Now that Terauchi Hisaichi and Prince Yasuhiko are discussing interests in Central China, he must mention Ueda Kenkichi, both as a reminder and as a test.
"The Nanjing Incident was a complex affair, and it did indeed involve the issue of temporary reinforcements of the Kwantung Army," Zhou Zhengqing continued in his calm and even tone, as if he were stating a matter of official business that had nothing to do with him.
"The incident must be thoroughly investigated and the responsibilities must be clarified, but the reconstruction of the Central China Expeditionary Army and the continued advance of the war are even more urgent tasks."
I believe General Ueda also hopes that all parties can set aside their prejudices and cooperate fully.
King Kyohiko immediately sat up straight, his tone becoming much more serious: "Please tell Commander Ueda that I am aware of his concern."
I deeply understand the criticism the Kwantung Army has suffered in this incident.
I will personally call Commander Ueda soon to discuss the reorganization of Central China.
Zhou Zhengqing nodded almost imperceptibly, seemingly agreeing with the answer.
He then changed the subject and made a decision that surprised all three of them. His tone remained calm, but carried an undeniable decisiveness: "In addition, I also have some ideas for adjusting the deployment of the Military Police Headquarters, and I would like to take this opportunity to inform you all."
The word "report" rather than "discuss" is used subtly.
Prince Yasuhiko and Terauchi Hisaichi exchanged a glance, both seeing wariness in each other's eyes.
Prince Jingren raised his eyebrows slightly, revealing even greater interest, and leaned forward slightly, adopting a listening posture.
Zhou Zhengqing put down his wine glass and sat up straight. This simple action instantly transformed his entire aura, turning him from a silent bystander into the host of the meeting.
His gaze calmly swept over the three people, finally settling on a point in the void, and he began to speak, his words clear, logical, and well-organized:
"As the holy war extends into central and southern China, the empire's controlled territory in China is expanding rapidly."
From Manchuria to North China, and now to Central and East China, the battlefront stretches for thousands of kilometers.
Tianjin's geographical location has made it increasingly difficult to effectively monitor military discipline, security, counter-espionage, and the flow of supplies across the entire occupied territory, especially the newly occupied vast areas of Central and Southern China.
Zhou Zhengqing paused for a moment to observe the audience's reaction, and then continued: "Many matters originate in Central China, are reported to Tianjin, are assessed and approved by the headquarters, and then sent back to Central China for implementation. This back-and-forth process wastes too much time."
In wartime, the situation changes rapidly. Such inefficiency can easily lead to missed opportunities and provides a chance for unscrupulous individuals to violate military discipline, enrich themselves, or otherwise exploit the situation.
When he spoke of "certain people," his tone remained calm, but both Prince Kyohiko and Terauchi Hisaichi could sense the cold sharpness in his voice.
This "certain people" could refer to resistance fighters against the Japanese, or to opportunistic merchants taking advantage of the chaos, but the two sensed from Zhou Zhengqing's expression that it was more likely referring to others.
“Therefore,” Zhou Zhengqing raised his voice slightly, with the decisiveness of announcing a decision, “I have decided that while retaining the existing structure and functions of the Tianjin Gendarmerie Command, a new Gendarmerie Command will be established in Shanghai.”
Shanghai is located in the center of East China, at the mouth of the Yangtze River, and is a hub for water and land transportation, connecting Central China and South China, with a wider reach.
The new Shanghai Gendarmerie Command will serve as the highest gendarmerie command of the Empire throughout the entire China war zone, unifying and coordinating the affairs of the gendarmerie, Special Higher Police, police, and all other security and discipline forces in Central China, South China, and potentially future occupied areas.
Zhou Zhengqing deliberately emphasized the words "highest" and "unified coordination," each carrying immense weight.
This effectively transferred the command center and greatest power of the military police system from Tianjin in North China to Shanghai in East China.
This also emphasizes the rights of the military police!
Then, he looked at Prince Kyohiko and Terauchi Hisaichi respectively, and in a slightly gentler tone, gave a seemingly reasonable explanation and reassurance: "The task of reorganizing the army and strengthening military discipline in Central China, restoring order, and eliminating scoundrels is arduous."
The military police system naturally had to fully cooperate, clear obstacles, and provide protection.
"With the establishment of the Shanghai Command, we can provide more timely and effective support, supervise military discipline nearby, reorganize the troops, and ensure the stability of the rear." These words were spoken to Prince Kyūhiko, and sounded like a solution to his problems, offering him a powerful tool.