1932: Playing with the Japanese Communist Party with a doll

"Everyone thought I was secretly attacking Chengde with my men, but that wasn't the case. I flew over Chengde and then jumped directly from there with my troops!"

The scene suddenly fell silent, everyone's mouths opened wide, and no one understood what this meant.

Only Hirohito looked at everyone's dazed faces calmly, quite enjoying the feeling of "everyone is drunk but I am sober, I am the Holy Emperor".

In fact, when he first heard the reason for taking Chengde, he behaved even more unbearably, and was even angry that Fujiwara no Kanezane was playing tricks on him.

After a long time, someone finally stammered, "Your Highness? What does this mean?"

"Haha, Your Majesty, you already know the reason. How about you condescend to explain it to them?"

"hehe..."

Hirohito was very satisfied with Fujiwara Kanezane's favor. Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, he proudly raised his head and began to explain enthusiastically:

"Everyone, Prince Kanezane has established a brand new military unit in Manchuria, called the Airborne Troops! They'll carry parachutes, board planes, and leap from 10,000 meters..."

After showing off his newly acquired knowledge, Hirohito also took the opportunity to reprimand the military leaders present:

"The Russians established and tested this type of unit two years ago, and the Imperial soldiers were completely unaware of it! If it weren't for Prince Kanezane, would you have waited until Russian paratroopers descended upon the Imperial Palace before you considered changing course?"

(Note: Japan did not begin planning to build a paratrooper unit until 1940, and at one point they even wanted to equip their paratroopers with Type 38 rifles...)

These words were too harsh. Even though everyone was still in shock and knew that this was a warning from Hirohito, they still had to stand up immediately and apologize to the Emperor, including the navy which had nothing to do with the matter.

Of course, whether these navy officers stood up to apologize because they were forced by the situation or because they wanted to take this opportunity to trick the army and make the other side lose face even more is a matter of opinion.

Anyway, the eyes of several army soldiers were spitting fire, staring at the navy opposite.

However, as Fujiwara no Kanezane stood up and began to explain the details of the battle process, they no longer paid attention to each other.

Because the Chengde airborne operation provided Japan with a brand-new decapitation tactic that had never been used before, with extremely low investment and extremely high returns (at least on the surface)!

Therefore, this force must be in the hands of our navy/army!!

Do you really think that all Japanese people are stupid idiots with lumps in their heads who like to make losses?

The country is small and the people are poor, the margin of error is too low, and the options are too limited, so gambling on the country's fate is precisely the option that may bring the greatest benefits!

Almost immediately, the ministers of the navy and army jumped out at the same time:

"Your Highness, please be kind enough to teach me! Train airborne troops for our navy/army! Hey??? Araki, you old scoundrel! / Big Horned bastard!"

Naturally, the two old enemies, Sadao Araki and Tsuneo Osumi, started arguing again, as both of them wanted to bring this unit under their own command.

But Fujiwara Kanezane shook his head and said:

"Don't over-mythologize airborne operations. I was able to succeed because Tang Yulin was incompetent and the Chinese military lacked air power and air defense capabilities. If I were in Europe or other countries, I would have been shot down long ago."

Being in the Asian server with a lower difficulty level, Fujiwara Kanezane knew that he was telling the truth, but this did not affect the enthusiasm of the Japanese Navy and Army to seize ownership of the airborne troops.

Seeing that the scene was getting more and more intense, and the imperial ministers on both the land and sea sides (Prince Kan'in and Prince Fushimi) were about to leave, Hirohito leisurely interrupted:

"Alright, stop arguing and listen to what King Kanezane has to say! Kanezane, which side do you think this army should belong to?"

"Your Majesty will make the decision. I am only responsible for construction, training, and providing advice and technology. I will not be involved in other matters."

"...Well...in that case, let's discuss this matter later!"

Seeing that Fujiwara no Kanezane was so sensible and gave him the opportunity to control both the navy and the army, Hirohito became more and more satisfied.

This guy is really open-minded and doesn't interfere in politics. He is loyal to himself and has strong abilities.

As expected, both Kanin-no-Miya and Fushimi-no-Miya are unreliable. Only Hachiman-no-Miya can truly control the army for me!

And most importantly... make money!

Thinking of the huge amount of money and jewelry that Fujiwara no Kanezane had been sending him since he took office, Hirohito, who was many times poorer than the King of England, became more determined to support the other party.

Others at the scene were also amazed and shocked to see Fujiwara no Kanezane so generously giving up power and handing over the paratroopers without saying a word.

If either the navy or the army had such an achievement, they would probably hide it tightly and never reveal it to anyone else.

Hachimangu Shrine is so wise, brave, courageous, and has a broad mind? It is indeed worthy of being called...

Some people secretly looked at the smug Hirohito, and some inappropriate thoughts began to arise in their hearts:

Although this person has said that he intends to let Fujiwara no Kanezane inherit the throne in the future, is it better for him to abdicate early?

No matter how you look at it, His Majesty Kanezane is more wise and more capable of leading Japan forward.

Forget it, Hachimangu Shrine is still a little too young, let’s wait a few more years!

Many people, especially those from the constitutionalist camp and the Seiyukai, are full of confidence in Japan's future.

After temporarily skipping the airborne troops, it is time to move on to another important matter:

What happens next?

The capture of Rehe was part of Japan's plan, but the rapid fall of Rehe was beyond everyone's expectations. So the next step was to stop the war, or...

"Zhang Xueliang has not yet been executed! How can the Great Empire of Japan stop the war?"

Araki Sadao of the Army was the first to come out and clamor for further expansion of the war:

"Everyone! The Great Wall is right before our eyes! Peking is right before our eyes! If we miss this golden opportunity to conquer northern China in one fell swoop, we will be punished by Heaven!"

It was not surprising to others that Sadao Araki would say such things.

In January of this year, when Araki was questioned by the Privy Council, he declared, "We will seize all the land claimed by Zhang Xueliang (the four eastern provinces), and we will fight wherever Zhang Xueliang is." This clearly indicated that he wanted to escalate the situation.

However, the army had previously insisted that "the situation will never be escalated" and "taking over the four eastern provinces would be considered a victory", so his words gave people a handle to attack him.

Dajiao Tsuneo immediately retorted sarcastically:

"Didn't you say the Manchurian Incident was limited to the four eastern provinces? Now that Rehe has been taken by His Majesty Hachiman-no-Miya, you're still trying to expand the war. It seems everything the Army says from now on will be nothing but lies!"

"you!!"

Before Araki Sadao could lose his temper, the Vice President of the House of Peers, Duke Konoe Fumimaro, threw out a sentence:

"Mr. Araki, all your speeches in the parliament are recorded. Please be careful with your words and do not do anything that would deceive the emperor."

"???"

Araki Sadao was stunned.

It was expected that Osumi Tsuneo would oppose him, but why did Konoe Fumimaro also oppose him? Hadn't the Duke always supported the army?

"The direction we have taken since the Manchurian Incident is the path of destiny that Japan must take," these are the words of Konoe Fumimaro!

What surprised the Army even more was that even Mori Takeshi, the former Secretary-General of the Seiyukai, who had always been extremely disappointed with party politics and had a close relationship with the Army, tried desperately to suppress a cough brought on by pneumonia and said:

"Mr. Araki, Mr. Konoe is absolutely right. A man without integrity cannot stand. If the army is unable... unable... to fulfill its promises, it will be impossible to win the support of the people."

In addition to these two, many senior officials of "political parties" who previously favored the army have expressed similar views and criticized the army.

“? !”

Araki Sadao and other high-ranking military officials were completely unable to understand this "sudden" change, but they had no idea:

Konoe Fumimaro, Mori Takeshi and others were willing to support the army because they saw no hope in party politics, as they could not change Japan.

But now, Fujiwara no Kaneshige's actions and final results in the Northeast have made them see a new and feasible way of playing:

To occupy China, we must occupy it;

We must expand outwards;

However, not only is the cost low, but it is also controllable. The word "controllable" is very important.

These people are all "parliamentarians", and "political stability" and "everything serves the country as a whole" are beliefs engraved in their bones.

In fact, everyone was very dissatisfied with the army's reckless behavior and its arbitrary involvement of the entire country in a large-scale war, but there was no better way, so they had to support the army.

Now...

Therefore, not only were all the bigwigs of the Seiyukai present, but even Senge, who had pneumonia caused by an asthma attack and was seeing that his time was running out, forced himself to come and suppress the army.

If the Seiyukai faction, which is intertwined with money and loyalty, behaves in this way, then it is even more impossible for the traditional bureaucrats, who are based on traditional ethics and logical reasoning, to support the army.

So, others jumped out one after another.

Finance Minister Takahashi Korekiyo not only openly criticized the army, but also threw out a bunch of data, detailing the current and future benefits that Fujiwara no Kanezane's policies had brought to Shiramoto;

Minister of Commerce and Industry Hisahito Nakajima cited data on Japanese companies' (planned) investment in Manchukuo in recent months, demonstrating how favorable the investment environment in Manchukuo is.

Minister of Railways Mitsuchi Chuzo took out the "Manchukuo Railway Network Construction and Operation Plan" given to him by Fujiwara no Kanezane and roared that anyone who dared to disrupt this plan would be his lifelong enemy.

Foreign Minister Yasuya Uchida and Vice Foreign Minister Koki Hirota briefly outlined the Lytton Commission's findings and the lukewarm response of various nations to the Jehol Campaign.

The Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Colonial Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the National Police Agency... everyone, from their own perspective, presented facts and arguments to oppose the army's foolish behavior of continuing to expand the war.

The Army became the one that was completely isolated!

This was certainly due to the Emperor's secret instructions, but it was also because Fujiwara no Kanezane's achievements shattered the army's long-held lie that "Japan can only benefit by continuously invading China":

If we continue to play by the Army's rules, no one here will gain much benefit except the Army itself, and we may even be dragged into the water!

So, will you follow me, His Majesty Fujiwara, and share the spoils, or continue to follow that idiotic army and rely on them for scraps?

This is a good choice.

Anyway, "the law does not punish the masses", so if we all join in condemning the army, can the army still kill everyone?

Even if the army idiots went crazy, their first target would definitely not be me!

As a result, the royal family, political parties, parliament, business enterprises... worked together to severely attack the army at this enlarged imperial meeting deliberately convened by Hirohito.

The world where only the army's red deer were injured was completed.

394 His Majesty Kanezane... His Highness stood up

"...Therefore, after careful discussion, we believe that after occupying Rehe, our country... Manchukuo should cease further expansion of the war and focus on construction, rest and recuperation, and plan for the future."

Admiral and Prime Minister Saito Makoto finished his report, which had previously been described as "extremely bold" and "truly suicidal," and bowed to Hirohito, who was sitting in the front seat.

"Your Majesty, please make your decision."

"...Uh...ah...ok..."

Because the army had been suppressed by the ministers and couldn't even fart, Hirohito was already yawning in boredom. After hearing this, he cheered up, waved his hand, and made the final decision:

"Since the cabinet and you have decided, let's do it!" "Yes, Your Majesty!"

After a pause, Hirohito added:

"From now on, Manchurian affairs will be decided by Hachimangu and the Cabinet through consultation. If there is too much disagreement, I will handle it... I am exhausted. The Prime Minister will preside over the subsequent meetings, with Hachimangu assisting!"

I don’t know if it’s because of poisoning or because he’s been expending too much energy recently, but acting in today’s scene felt a bit tiring for Hirohito, and he just wanted to go back to sleep.

Since Xiao Jianshi can do it, let him do it himself!

Hirohito thought he knew Fujiwara no Kanezane's character very well, so he deliberately glared at him before leaving. His intention was:

Sit still and listen, don't run away!

Fujiwara no Kanezane really intended to leave, so he deliberately curled his lips with a look of dissatisfaction, but he almost made Hirohito laugh.

"hiss..…."

The other people in the audience were unaware of the interaction between the two, and when they heard this "instruction", they all gasped slightly.

The titles of "King of the Northeast" and "the next emperor" that were vaguely circulated among Fujiwara no Kanezane were now completely confirmed by high-ranking Japanese officials.

If it was Hirohito who had just ascended the throne or a few years ago, he would probably get a retort from the army if he said something like this, and whether he would show mercy or not would depend on their attitude.

But now, he has made his word count. If the army dares to make any moves without finding a suitable reason, they will really be punished.

Why?

Because Fujiwara no Kanezane, a member of the imperial family elite, became increasingly powerful and even gained control of the military.

He was loyal to Hirohito, so he was able to help His Majesty the Emperor suppress the powerful factions in various places and departments;

The greater the authority of the Emperor, the more legal support and authorization he could provide to Fujiwara no Kanezane.

The more support and authorization Fujiwara Kanezane receives, the more opportunities he will have to expand his power.

The stronger he becomes, the more secure his position under the Emperor becomes; the more secure his position under the Emperor becomes, the more he can serve Fujiwara-dono... As long as no one takes the initiative to break it, it's a dead end. But some bold individuals are thinking one thing:

If His Majesty Hirohito wasn't in this vicious cycle, it would seem to flow more smoothly? Huh?

Wait, let me go back and sort this out. "Farewell, Your Majesty!"

After everyone respectfully saw Hirohito and his close ministers off, Prime Minister Saito Makoto, who nominally presided over the meeting, asked Fujiwara no Kanezane for instructions:

"Your Highness, please tell me the next topic. Which one should we discuss first?" 74-year-old Saito Makoto put himself in the right position.