PFC Chapter 1053 Still Has Some Face!
Chapter 1053 Still Has Some Face!
King Kyūhiko continued, his tone becoming more forceful: "His Majesty and the military are extremely furious about this incident."
My primary task in coming here is to take over command of Nanjing and the Central China region, restore military discipline, and restore order.
A thorough and severe crackdown and purge of Nanjing must be carried out to serve as a warning to others, to restore the invincible image of the Imperial Army, and to consolidate the foundation of our Empire's rule in Central China.
As soon as King Kyūhiko finished speaking, the air in the restaurant seemed to freeze.
The fire crackled in the fireplace, but it couldn't dispel the pervasive chill.
The word "cleansing" struck Zhou Zhengqing's heart like a hammer blow, carrying a bloody stench. Did this Prince Asaka Yasuhiko still intend to...?
After a long while, Zhou Zhengqing reacted, putting down his chopsticks very slowly, as if performing some kind of ritual.
The ivory chopsticks touched the edge of the porcelain plate, making a crisp sound that was particularly jarring in the deathly silence.
He picked up a napkin and meticulously wiped his mouth, his movements so elegant they seemed out of place, as if he were in a high-class restaurant in Kyoto, rather than the headquarters of the Japanese military police in Tianjin.
Raising his eyes to meet King Jiuyan's aggressive gaze, Zhou Zhengqing's lips curled into a faint smile, a smile that seemed to be mockery, or something else entirely.
“Complete suppression? Purge?” Zhou Zhengqing repeated, his voice as calm as if discussing the weather: “Your Highness Prince Jiuyan, may I ask how you intend to ‘purge’?”
Is it to purge the remaining hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians in Nanjing in front of reporters from various countries?
Or should we execute all the decimated soldiers from the various divisions?
His words were full of sarcasm and showed no mercy.
King Kyohiko's face darkened noticeably, and the veins on his forehead throbbed slightly.
Under the light, the old scar on his face glowed dark red, like a lurking centipede.
"You understand what I mean, I'm referring to those Chinese people, of course! Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures." King Kyūhiko said coldly, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth: "In order to completely eradicate the hidden dangers and restore order, necessary sacrifices are inevitable."
"Takuto, you are the head of the military police. You should understand that mercy towards the enemy is cruelty towards the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor."
“Of course I understand.” Zhou Zhengqing nodded, but then changed the subject, leaning forward slightly and placing his hands crossed on the table. It was a subtle change in body language, from passive to active: “But I understand even more that Nanjing is now my military police force, maintaining basic order.”
My people are taking inventory of the warehouse, tallying supplies, screening personnel, and trying to establish a working management system.
Although it's rough around the edges, it's getting back into operation.
He paused, then raised his voice, letting the weight of his words settle: "You're now saying you want to take over, to carry out a 'thorough cleansing'."
So, I ask you, what happens after the purge? A true ghost town? Or a hell where hatred boils over and the flames of resistance never die out?
Zhou Zhengqing's gaze swept over Jing Ren's spectator-like face before returning to Prince Jiuyan's face: "Your Excellency, Nanjing is not merely a military target that needs to be 'deterred,' but also the future center of the Empire's rule in Central China, a place from which grain, minerals, and manpower need to be extracted."
What good would it do for the empire's long-term interests to kill everyone or force everyone to take up arms?
The west-facing window was blown open a crack by the wind, and the cold wind slipped in through the gap, causing the candlelight to flicker and casting distorted shadows on the wall.
The soldiers' changing of the guard command came from outside, short and cold, echoing the standoff inside.
"You...!" A flash of anger crossed King Jiuyan's eyes as he gripped the armrest of the chair with his right hand, his knuckles turning white.
He didn't expect Zhou Zhengqing to dare to refute him so directly, even provocatively.
"Takumi, are you questioning the military's decision?"
"The military is nothing to me!" Zhou Zhengqing leaned back in his chair. This action seemed relaxed on the surface, but in reality, all the muscles in his body were subtly tense.
His voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a nail driven into the air: "I am stating a fact."
Nanjing is now the territory that I, Takasaki Takuto, and my military police have initially controlled with blood and lives.
Its order, though fragile, was one I established.
The "meat" here is already in my mouth.
He tilted his head slightly, the candlelight casting a shadow on half of his face, making his expression even more enigmatic: "Your Excellency has come not to 'assist' or 'guide' me."
Instead, it means "taking over" and "cleansing," which means negating all my previous efforts and breaking the fragile balance that has just been formed.
Please forgive my bluntness, but there's no reason to spit out meat that's already in your mouth.
At the very least, it shouldn't be so easily and completely revealed.
"Insolence!" King Jiuyan slammed his hand on the table, making the cups and plates clang loudly.
Sake spilled from the glass, spreading a dark stain on the snow-white tablecloth.
He stood up abruptly, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a screeching sound that echoed in the silent room.
His face flushed red with anger, and his eyes were blazing with fury.
"Takasaki Takuto! Don't think that just because His Majesty values you and you have the privileges of the military police, you can be so arrogant and domineering! Nanjing is the Nanjing of the Empire, not your private territory, Takasaki Takuto!"
King Kyūhiko's voice echoed in the restaurant, causing the candlelight to flicker.
A series of hurried footsteps came from outside, and the guards outside the door had obviously heard the noise, but no one dared to break in without orders.
Faced with this outburst of rage, Zhou Zhengqing suddenly laughed.
The smile was faint, like thin ice in winter, seemingly transparent, but underneath it was bone-chillingly cold.
“Your Excellency is too kind. I never said that Nanjing was my private territory.” He slowly stood up, his movements calm and unhurried, a stark contrast to Prince Jiuyan’s rage: “I was merely fulfilling the duties His Majesty had entrusted to the military police, maintaining discipline and order in the occupied territories.”
Currently, order in Nanjing is being maintained by my people.
He walked to the fireplace, picked up the fire tongs, and gently stirred the firewood in the stove, sparks flying everywhere: "If Your Excellency feels that I have not done well, you may impeach me to His Majesty or to the military and see if you can remove me from my post."
Perhaps you could go and complain to my grandfather, the head of the Takasaki family, and see how much face you, a "king" who has been removed from the royal family's register, still have!
But before that… He turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife: “Within Nanjing, I, Takasaki Takuto, still call the shots. Whether it's the divisions of the North China Area Army or the Kwantung Army, they all obey my command. Please think carefully about how you intend to speak to me!”