Holding the original shares, they fought all the way to the Korean War!

After putting down the microphone, Ichiro Oshima let out a long sigh of relief.

He put the two spent cartridge cases into his pocket.

Then he straightened his uniform and strode out of the office.

"Yamamoto-kun!"

"arrive!"

Kazuo Yamamoto ran over from the other end of the corridor and stood at attention.

"Continue the search in the hilly areas to the north."

"Send as many people as you can."

"Hi!"

Kazuo Yamamoto stood at attention and saluted.

Ichiro Oshima patted him on the shoulder and turned to walk towards the parking lot.

......

Taiyuan Headquarters.

Commander's office.

After hanging up the phone, Yoshijiro Umezu leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

He didn't care whether Kiyoshi Kazuki lived or died.

He and Kiyoshi Kazuki didn't have much of a relationship, and they even had some differences in their factions within the military.

What he cared about was the timing of Kiyoshi Kazuki's death.

What a coincidence!

He was killed today, just after the handover was completed and before he could even leave Taiyuan.

If he were one of those people in headquarters, what would he think?

Wouldn't you think it was Yoshijiro Umezu who did it?

Could it be that he sent someone to assassinate his predecessor in order to secure his position?

After all, this kind of thing has happened before in the history of the Imperial Army.

Yoshijiro Umezu opened his eyes and his gaze fell on the resignation order of Kiyoshi Kazuki on his desk.

His jaw clenched.

He can't take the blame for this.

But he knew that no matter how he explained, those people at headquarters would still suspect him.

They would suspect that he sent someone to do it.

They might even suspect that he instructed someone else to do it.

The timing was too coincidental, so coincidental that it made one suspicious.

"Damn it!"

Yoshijiro Umezu muttered a curse under his breath, but it was unclear who he was cursing.

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, one can see the sentries at the main gate of the headquarters, their eyes alert.

But in Yoshijiro Umezu's view, those sentries were nothing more than decorations.

A real killer doesn't need to come in through the front door.

Instead, they chose to shoot from a distance, killing him with a single shot.

This enemy action was premeditated.

It was meticulously planned.

Someone knew in advance about Kiyoshi Kazuki's schedule for today.

Yoshijiro Umezu turned around, walked back to the table, sat down, and picked up another telephone on the table.

"Connect me to the Taiyuan Garrison Command."

"Hi."

A moment later, a rough voice came from the microphone.

"I am Yamaguchi Tsugio."

"Yamaguchi-kun, I am Yoshijiro Umezu."

The voice on the other end of the phone immediately became respectful.

"Commander, what are your instructions?"

Yoshijiro Umezu spoke calmly.

"Martial law is now in effect throughout Taiyuan."

"All roads, checkpoints, and stations leading in and out of Taiyuan are completely blocked."

"No one is allowed to enter or leave."

"Hi!"

Yamaguchi Tsuyoshi's voice was very loud.

"Dispatch all available troops to search the area surrounding Taiyuan."

"Especially the hilly areas in the north, search every inch of them."

"Arrest any suspicious persons immediately."

"Any resistance will be met with death."

"Hi!"

"Go."

Yoshijiro Umezu put down the phone and leaned back in his chair.

He closed his eyes and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

The Taiyuan Garrison Command consisted of a regiment, plus the airport military police, and the First Army's directly subordinate units.

The total number of troops that can be mobilized is at least five or six thousand.

With so many people, searching for just one person should be enough.

But Yoshijiro Umezu knew the truth.

Searching for a single person in such complex terrain is pointless, no matter how many people are there.

He knew that from this day forward, his days would not be easy.

Those people at headquarters will definitely make a fuss about this.

Those who compete with him, those who dislike him, and those who want to see him fail will all jump out.

They would say that Yoshijiro Umezu was killed as soon as he took office.

This shows his incompetence, his inability to control the situation, and his poor command.

Some people might even say that he was the one who did it.

Even if it turns out he wasn't the one who did it, the blame will still be placed on him.

It can't be washed off.

Today is his first day in office.

He waited so long, longed for so long, and finally got this position.

Such a big thing happened on his first day in office.

This is not a good sign.

Yoshijiro Umezu thought about it for a long time.

They couldn't figure out which faction the enemy belonged to.

He had to give an explanation to headquarters and to the Imperial Army.

Otherwise, his position as commander of the First Army would be unstable.

Then, the door opened.

The adjutant walked in, stood at attention, and saluted.

"Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Oshima has arrived."

Yoshijiro Umezu looked up, his gaze falling on the doorway.

"Let him in."

"Hi."

The adjutant turned and walked out.

A moment later, Ichiro Oshima walked in.

He walked to the desk, stood at attention, and saluted.

"Your Excellency Commander."

Yoshijiro Umezu looked at him with icy eyes.

"Where are the cartridge cases?"

Ichiro Oshima took it out of his pocket and carefully placed it on the table.

Yoshijiro Umezu picked up a bullet casing, held it up to his eyes, and examined it closely.

7.62 mm, armor-piercing projectile.

The engraving on the bottom is clearly visible.

They are American-made bullets, that's for sure.

He put down the spent cartridge and his gaze fell on Ichiro Oshima's face.

"Does anyone else know about this?"

"It was just me and a few soldiers who found the shell casings."

Ichiro Oshima answered very decisively.

"Are those soldiers reliable?"

"reliable."

Ichiro Oshima nodded.

"They're all veterans, they've been with me for years, they won't talk nonsense."

Yoshijiro Umezu nodded and leaned back in his chair.

"From today onwards, I will be in charge of keeping these two shell casings."

"Without my order, you are not to mention this to anyone."

"Hi!"

Ichiro Oshima stood at attention and answered.

"Go."

"Continue the search, don't overlook any clues."

"Hi!"

Ichiro Oshima stood at attention, saluted, turned around, and strode out.

Yoshijiro Umezu was left alone in the office again.

He picked up the phone on the table.

"Connect me to the North China Area Army Headquarters, to Commander Terauchi's office."

The operator's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Hi, please wait a moment."

A moment later, an aged voice came from the microphone.

"I am Terauchi Hisaichi."

Yoshijiro Umezu's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Commander, I am Yoshijiro Umezu."

"There is something I need to report to you immediately."

"Speak."

Terauchi Hisaichi's tone remained completely unchanged.

"At approximately 11:00 AM this morning, Lieutenant General Kiyoshi Katsuki was attacked by unidentified enemies while boarding a plane at Taiyuan Guangshe Airport. Lieutenant General Katsuki was killed on the spot."

Several seconds passed before Terauchi Hisaichi's voice rang out again.

"Where is the enemy?"

"In pursuit."

"Where are the weapons?"

It's not clear yet.

Yoshijiro Umezu tried to keep his voice steady.

"But judging from the shell casings found at the scene, they are likely American-made weapons."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"Continue the pursuit."

Terauchi Hisaichi's voice finally rang out again.

"No matter what it takes, we must find the murderer."

"Hi!"

"Also, this matter should not be announced to the public for the time being."

"Let's wait for headquarters' decision."

"Hi!"

Yoshijiro Umezu put down the microphone and let out a long sigh of relief.