1932: Playing with the Japanese Communist Party with a doll

However, Fujiwara Kanezane shook his head:

"Your Majesty, I said last time that I don't have the energy to take over North Korea affairs until at least the end of this year. No, judging by the situation, it's hard to say until the middle of next year..."

"you..."

"...Besides, I don't think the situation in North Korea has reached a point of no return."

"Um?"

This made Hirohito, who had been blinded by anger for a long time, relax his brows slightly:

"What do you mean? It's already like this, is there still room for redemption?"

"Yes, this incident isn't like the one at Hongkou Park in Shanghai. Anyway, no one saw it with their own eyes. All we have to do is deny it!"

33

Oh, yes.

The explosion Yun Bong-gil created in Shanghai's Hongkou Park took place in public, under the watchful eyes of the public, with foreign journalists present, so it was impossible to conceal it.

But this time, Kim Gu is the only one shouting in the North Korean news. The information from the North Korean side is still tightly blocked by the army. As long as they don't say it, who will know?

but...

"After all, Kanin-no-miya and the others are still..."

"This is also very simple. His Majesty Xianyuan has been in poor health for some time, and the newspapers have reported it. We can find someone who looks similar to him to attend the interaction, or have 'His Majesty Xianyuan' himself speak out. Then the public will not easily question him."

"Where to find..."

After another pause, Hirohito finally remembered that a similar incident had occurred in Shenyang over a year ago. Puyi had come out to appease the people, and he was immediately overjoyed.

"Good, good, good! As expected of you!"

Many people at the scene were speechless in their hearts.

In fact, such a simple thing had already been thought of by the senior Japanese officials, but because of Hirohito's rage or other ulterior motives, no one dared or was willing to say it.

Although both are "Dictatorship of the Sacred Heart", the difference is obvious.

So let me emphasize again, dictatorship is not wrong, the food is wrong.

Although the public opinion problem has been temporarily resolved (just save face, it doesn't matter whether the people believe it or not), the chaos in North Korea is still there.

Hirohito had a gentle and amiable expression, which surprised the ministers around him:

"Kenshi, I still hope you'll go to Korea and quell the chaos for me and the empire. If you have any requests, just mention them, okay?"

A group of people looked at Fujiwara Kanezane eagerly, worried that he would agree, but also worried that he would not agree.

If they agreed, Japan would have a "regent" who commanded both the army and navy, with immense power and an unshakable position—a hundred times more powerful than Taira no Kiyomori, Minamoto no Yoritomo, Tokugawa Ieyasu, or even Fujiwara no Michinaga, the Fujiwara clan's own "regents";

No, to be honest, with the current chaos in North Korea, no one knows what to do - more than 100,000 people are unable to suppress the resistance, and the casualties are so heavy. This is not something that can be solved by adding more people.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, can you at least treat me like a human being?" Fujiwara Kanezane rolled his eyes.

"I'm really overwhelmed by a ton of issues here, so how can I worry about something as trivial as North Korea? The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Conference just concluded, and the construction of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere has just begun. Shouldn't we continue to push forward with it?"

"...Well.…."

This is true.

The "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere", which has earned huge face for Japan and will bring unlimited benefits in the future, is indeed much more important than just North Korea.

His Majesty the Emperor was choked, but not angry:

"Then... tell me, if it were you, what would you do? Sooner or later, Korea will be brought under the rule of Greater East Asia. The sooner it is pacified, the better."

Hirohito's words were extremely overbearing, and they directly cut off the Japanese army's hope of using Korea as its back garden.

What this means is that your army still has to pacify North Korea, but you don't have to enjoy the results.

It's a very typical "you do the work, I eat the fruit", and it even has the meaning of "repaying the debt later".

But people like Sadao Araki didn't dare to say a word about it.

Because if they don't do it, it will be the turn of the 129th Division under Fujiwara no Kanezane to do it, and the consequences will only be more serious.

With the loyalty of the top royal family who hold heavy troops and occupy an entire country, His Majesty the Emperor is more confident than ever.

If it was Hirohito or Emperor Taisho ten years ago, would you ask him to slap the Minister of War?

Simply saying he "died of illness" would be considered polite by the local military leaders. "Well... the best solution would be to withdraw most of the army from Korea and implement benevolent policies towards the local people..."

Can't!! !

The light-hearted words "withdraw from Korea and implement benevolent policies" made Araki Sadao and other high-ranking army officers scream wildly in their hearts.

Withdraw from North Korea?

What's the difference between this and the Emperor ordering them to commit seppuku collectively to apologize?! Because, if they do that, they will really die.

Not only death in the political sense, but also death in the physical sense.

Withdrawing from Korea meant that the Japanese Army's "Korea Strategy" had once again failed completely after losing the three northeastern provinces.

Putting aside the question of responsibility, what do you think the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who were driven mad by the resistance, the harsh environment, the foolish orders of their superiors, and the continuous attacks and defeats in North Korea will do once they return home?

Shouldn't there be an outlet for that pent-up anger and that overwhelming resentment? Should we blame the North Koreans?

Do you blame His Majesty the Emperor? Do you blame His Majesty Hachiman-no-miya?

No, they will immediately point their spearheads at the "incompetent top brass"! Araki Sadao and his group of military leaders are the best and most recent sacrifices!

Therefore, for the sake of his own life, Fujiwara no Kanezane's suggestion must be rejected.

Fortunately, His Majesty the Emperor was also not satisfied with this proposal:

"While benevolent governance is certainly a long-term strategy, the Korean Peninsula is currently engulfed in flames. How could the rebels be grateful for our retreat? They would only see it as weakness and intensify their attacks!"

The current meaning is that benevolent governance is a matter for the future. If we give in now after being slapped in the face, it will only make the resistance more arrogant. Will the empire still have any face?

Moreover, if we withdraw from North Korea now, wouldn't that just confirm Kim Gu's attack statement?

As if he had anticipated being rejected, Fujiwara Kanezane walked slowly to the map and clicked on a location:

"Your Majesty, please understand... Then there is only one other option—do something even greater. Take this place, so that everyone will forget the tragedy that happened in Korea while still feeling the might of your Majesty and the Empire!"

Everyone's eyes followed Fujiwara Kanezane's finger, and the deathly silence in the Imperial Conference Room was suddenly broken, followed by the sound of suppressed gasps.

It’s actually here!

Macao!

"Macau, a tiny place, has been occupied by the Portuguese for over 300 years." Fujiwara no Kanezane casually tapped the dot on the map.

"Currently, their garrison consists of only a few hundred troops, and their ships are as old as scrap metal. Not to mention our army, even the feeble Nationalist army could easily capture them. Their survival is nothing more than the so-called 'lease instruments' and treaties from the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as the weakness of the current Chinese government!"

"And it is precisely this obstacle and sacrificial target for Japan's realization of the 'Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere'! If such a colonial cancer still exists even in China, which we are bound to conquer, what is the point of talking about 'Asian Co-Prosperity'?"

"Therefore, taking Macau will not only help encourage Asian countries and regions to rise up in resistance, but will also be conducive to the formation of the 'Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere' and help us unite the people!"

"Besides, Macau is now at its weakest, and the British are too busy with European affairs to pay attention to this place. If we don't take action now, when will we take action?"

As an important participant in the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere", Japan's top leaders must have read Fujiwara no Kanezane's speech and related plans for the Greater East Asia strategy.

If the Five-Star Eastern Republic/Japan wants to truly realize this strategy and become the undisputed leader in Asia, it must expel the Western colonial forces that have been entrenched in Asia for hundreds of years.

As we all know, you should pick on the weak ones. Among all the colonial powers, which one is the weakest one?

Regardless of countries like the Netherlands, Portugal is definitely on the list.

only...

There was hesitation in Hirohito's eyes.

The sudden attack of the Japanese army on Macau was definitely a big news among big news, which could perfectly cover up everything that happened in Korea;

but!

Attacking Macau would mean the risk of an all-out war with the West. Is Japan prepared for this?

Wouldn't that irritate them too much?

Or, another way?

""

Fujiwara no Kanezane saw Hirohito's hesitation and sneered. He forgets his principles for the sake of small gains and cherishes his life for the sake of great things...

As he said, Macau is indeed at its weakest at this moment.

Before the outbreak of the July 7 Incident, there were less than 500 garrisons in the entire Macau, half of whom were Chinese light infantrymen whose loyalty was questionable. There was only one artillery company, one heavy machine gun company and two Italian-made light armored vehicles.

As for the most critical naval and air force, due to the civil unrest and economic crisis in Portugal, only three "Little Goblin ID" seaplanes and five small gunboats were retained, and the rest of the equipment was sealed or destroyed because they could not afford to maintain it (or because it was unnecessary).

With this little bit of strength, really, let alone the 129th Division or the Japanese army, even if the Kuomintang pulled out a Central Infantry Regiment, it would probably be easily defeated.

If we don't act now, do we have to wait until Portugal receives news of the "Greater East Asia Conference" and reacts, joining forces with Britain and France to put pressure on and increase troops before foolishly launching a war?

Of course, as a loyal minister, Fujiwara no Kanezane would never accuse Hirohito of being as weak as a navy. Seeing that Hirohito did not speak, he turned directly to the naval officers present:

"Gentlemen! I'm asking you, where are the main force of the Five-Star Eastern Republic Navy and part of the Japanese Navy now?!"

Prince Fushimi Hiroyoshi, Osumi Tsuneo and other Japanese naval generals were stunned, and then

Understanding Fujiwara Kanezane's meaning, their eyes flashed with a wolf-like gleam, their bodies involuntarily leaned forward, and they all said something nonsense in unison:

"Your Highness, please explain!"

Where is the Navy?

Of course, they are conducting military exercises in the waters near Taiwan, Fujian, and Guangdong! It’s only a stone’s throw away from Macau!

Good guys!

His Majesty Hachiman-no-Miya must have had plans for Macau long ago, otherwise how could such a coincidence have happened? Of course, the best part isn't this, it's not the easy military merit that would come from taking Macau, nor is it the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.

The best part for the Navy was that, because of the Korean Incident, the occupation of Macau had become a perfect opportunity to completely rip the Army's skin off, throw it into the toilet, and then have it trampled on by ten thousand feet!

why?

Looking at the faces of army generals like Araki Sadao, who looked as if their blood pressure had soared, one could understand:

The attack on Macau was a "liberation operation" against Western colonizers, led by the navy and destined to succeed!

What is the Army doing in comparison?

This has caused a huge mess for North Korea and caused trouble for His Majesty the Emperor!

Damn it, it's our Navy that's cleaning up the mess your Army has made!

But the navy guys were so happy cleaning up this mess!

Although, in fact, attacking Macau did save the army's "ground", it also used a "glorious victory" against Western colonizers to highlight the army's "humiliating defeat" in Korea as even more incompetent and unforgivable!

On the one hand, there are the superheroes who expanded the empire's territory, expelled the White Invaders, promoted the country's prestige, and shocked East Asia;

On one side, there are the useless ones who are trapped in the Korean quagmire, have lost many soldiers and generals, and can't even protect their own princes and marshals;

From now on, who in the empire will remember how many soldiers died in Korea? The people will only see the navy's heroic "liberation" of Macau! The army will be forever nailed to the bottom of the pillar of shame in the imperial military honor!

Fujiwara no Kanezane's wicked scheme of "attacking instead of defending" and "shifting the blame to Koto" was ruthless to the extreme. He used the navy's sharp knife to cut a piece of flesh from the army's bloody wound, and then made this piece of flesh into a medal to be hung on the navy's chest!

But the most frustrating thing is that the army can't blame him!

Because the mess in North Korea was created by the army itself, and even now, they still need to beg Hachiman Palace to clean it up!

If the army dares to complain about this, they will instantly be labeled as "national traitors" and "punished by heaven"!

After realizing this, Sadao Araki felt dizzy and a fishy-sweet taste rushed up his throat. He clenched his teeth tightly to prevent himself from spitting out blood.

His Majesty!

His Majesty!

You absolutely cannot agree to this!

Fujiwara Kanezane waved his hand:

"Hey, how can you talk like that! Everything must obey His Majesty's will!" He then turned to Hirohito, who was clearly moved:

"Your Majesty! Eliminate the poisonous influence of Western colonialism! Maintain order and dignity in East Asia! Fulfill the sacred aspiration of 'Eight Cosmos, One Universe'! Repay the blood debt of our Asian compatriots who have been enslaved, plundered, and trampled upon by the West for centuries! Hold our heads high! This is our duty as Japan!"

Finally, fearing that Hirohito might not understand, he added:

"Ms. Field has always been extremely disgusted with colonization and extremely tolerant of the greed of the British and French. She will not support Portugal or even Britain and France in this matter. We must seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"