Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

Chapter 1048 I am not unaware of this heart and this will, nor am I unconcerned.

“Of course.” Jing Ren suddenly resumed his playful tone and winked: “If you feel you owe me a big favor, then in the future, show me more respect and treat me to a few more cups of this good wine, and I won’t refuse.”

Zhou Zhengqing understood.

"Your Highness's kindness is appreciated." Zhou Zhengqing raised his wine cup, which had been refilled at some point, and gestured to Prince Jingren. "As for personal relationships... Your Highness seems to have forgotten that, according to the marriage alliance, I should be showing you, my 'Imperial Uncle,' respect."

Jingren curled his lip, inwardly despising his friend's perfunctory words. Respect? Ha! Respect? Would it get him a beating from a maid?

Prince Jingren took a sip of wine and resumed his casual conversation: "Prince Jiuyan, although he is sometimes not very bright and stubbornly endearing, is still a special person. When you meet him, you still have to be very polite."

For example, if he mentions your father, you might as well take the opportunity to show some nostalgia and respect; he'll definitely love to hear that.

If he acts like a senior and lectures you about your "excessive use of force" in Central China, just listen and don't argue back. After all... the decision of what to do is in your hands, isn't it?" He seemed to be imparting some secret to dealing with a difficult elder.

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness." Zhou Zhengqing bowed slightly. "I know what I'm doing. I will make Uncle Jiuyan feel the respect of a 'junior,' and at the same time make him understand that the younger generation surpasses the older."

"Haha, good! That's what I admire about you," Prince Jingren laughed.

The pine wood in the fireplace crackled softly, sending sparks flying that were quickly swallowed by the thick ash.

The study was warm and cozy, with the lingering aroma of whiskey and the subtle tension from the conversation just now.

The playful expression on Prince Jingren's face vanished as quickly as the tide receded.

He finished the last bit of wine in his glass, and the bottom of the crystal glass made a crisp, restrained "tap" sound as it touched the mahogany coffee table.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like an invisible signal, instantly wiping away the last trace of tranquility from the room.

"Alright, enough of the small talk." He spoke, his voice still steady, but all the teasing had been filtered out, replaced by a formality befitting a core member of the royal family.

He turned around and picked up an exquisitely crafted black leather briefcase from the single sofa beside him.

The briefcase has a classic design with a subtle sheen from use. The only decoration is a simple sixteen-petal chrysanthemum pattern outlined in gold thread in one corner.

Open the brass clasp and take out a document from the inner layer.

The way the document was packaged was completely different from any ordinary official document circulating in this study.

The outer layer is a crisp, dark blue specialty paper slipcase. In the very center of the slipcase, a complete, clear, and meticulously hot-stamped "sixteen-petaled eight-layered chrysanthemum pattern" is prominently displayed.

That is the highest-level coat of arms that can only be used by the Emperor himself and his direct subordinates, indicating that this document comes from the Emperor's personal court, and its significance is self-evident.

In the dim light, the chrysanthemum pattern reflected the flickering firelight from the fireplace, presenting a silent majesty.

Prince Jingren gently pushed the document across the large mahogany tea table between the two of them.

The edge of the document rubbed against the smooth desktop, making a soft rustling sound, and finally stopped about a foot in front of Zhou Zhengqing, perfectly positioned, like a carefully placed chessboard.

"Take a look, Tuo Ren." Prince Jingren's tone was so calm it was almost deliberate. His gaze was on the documents, and he did not immediately look at Zhou Zhengqing.

But every word he spoke seemed to be weighed down by an invisible hammer, falling heavily and striking the thick carpeted floor, and also striking the hearts of the listeners.

"This is a letter sent to you by the Emperor on urgent occasion. It was brought from the mainland by Hasunuma, a military officer from the Imperial Household Ministry, and I was asked to hand it to you personally."

He paused briefly, then finally raised his eyes, his gaze clear and devoid of any extraneous emotion, simply stating a fact: "Some things cannot be explained over the phone, and telegrams are even less secure."

Some things need to be said face-to-face, seen with one's own eyes, and heard with one's own ears to be considered valid.

Zhou Zhengqing shifted his gaze from the flickering flames of the fireplace to the dark blue document.

The usual look on his face, a mixture of languor and sharpness, receded like the tide, leaving only a deep, calm sea.

He didn't take it immediately, but just watched the golden chrysanthemum pattern flicker in the firelight, as if weighing all the meaning it represented.

After about three breaths of silence, he slowly reached out his hand. His long, steady fingers paused almost imperceptibly just before touching the document, then firmly picked it up.

What you feel at your fingertips is the coolness and crispness unique to this special paper, but deeper still, there is an invisible, heavy pressure, as if these few thin pages embody the will, the balance, and the storms within the imposing palace of Kyoto, thousands of miles away.

Zhou Zhengqing moved calmly, untying the silk thread on the slipcase, which was also embossed with small chrysanthemum patterns, and took out the neatly folded papers inside.

The paper is specially made for the imperial court, with a soft and resilient texture, a warm color, and a faint sandalwood fragrance.

Unfolding the book, the golden chrysanthemum pattern, identical to that on the slipcase, once again comes into view, below which is the elegant and dignified Japanese text.

The handwritten characters, each kana and kanji, are clear and powerful, exuding an unquestionable sense of order and authority.

The wording is rigorous and meticulous, and the format is impeccable, perfectly matching the tone of the Emperor's edicts or important decrees.

"Takazaki Takuto's guide:

I am fully aware of the recent events in Central China. As a member of the military police, you have diligently upheld military discipline, and I am not unaware of your efforts. The pacification of Nanjing has served as a deterrent to all divisions and regiments, and this was also due to the efforts of you and the military police.

However, your methods were excessive, resulting in heavy losses for the dispatched army. Elite squads were almost completely wiped out, the combat power of the regiments was greatly reduced, and the divisions suffered serious damage. When this news reached Kyoto, it shocked the court and the public, and caused a great uproar.

In recent days, many senior military officials, including Sugiyama Gen, Prince Kan'in Kotohito, and even retired marshals and generals who had been out of the public eye for many years, such as Kazushige Ugaki, have gathered before the Emperor to express their grief and indignation, despite their advanced age and frail health.

They said that the empire's elite troops, instead of being defeated on the battlefield, were lost in internal conflicts. This was an unprecedented internal strife. The soldiers' blood was stained with blood in China, and they were attacked from behind. It was hard to accept and deeply wounded their feelings.

Although they did not explicitly ask for punishment, their demeanor was mournful and their emotions were earnest. They knelt in the council hall for a long time, all wanting me to strictly discipline them and give the world and the spirits of the fallen soldiers a clear explanation.

I know that you and Ueda Kenkichi of the Kwantung Army are plotting something, intending to use this incident to check the increasingly arrogant and radical faction in the military who advocate for the unlimited expansion of the war.

I am not unaware of their intentions and aspirations, nor am I unconcerned about them.