1932: Playing with the Japanese Communist Party with a doll

Hirohito's chest heaved violently, and his eyes were filled with a mixture of greed, excitement, and twisted pleasure.

He seemed to have seen the sensational headlines in major newspapers around the world, the panicked and frustrated faces of Western ambassadors, and the flag of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" fluttering in the smoke of Macau!

Hahahahaha...this is absolutely perfect!

"This plan of Hachiman Palace is very much to my liking!"

Hirohito stood up suddenly, forcibly suppressing the slight dizziness, and looked at Fujiwara no Kanezane, who was reporting with his head down and waiting for his orders obediently, and whispered something:

"Army and navy, listen to my orders!"

"ha! !"

"The Korean turmoil is now fully under the jurisdiction of Hachimangu! I have only one request!"

Hirohito raised a finger:

"The situation in North Korea must not be repeated! The news of Macau's victory must spread throughout the world as quickly as possible!"

The meaning of this statement is clear - North Korea cannot cause any more trouble, and Macau must be taken over as quickly as possible!

3

The army remained silent, while the others bowed their heads and accepted the order:

"I will obey your majesty's orders!"

"Well, you can discuss the rest of the matter among yourselves! I'm tired."

Under the respectful gaze of everyone and with the help of the eunuchs, Hirohito left the imperial conference room with satisfaction with his courtiers.

"Everyone."

As soon as Fujiwara no Kanezane's voice rang out, all the noise in the conference room instantly disappeared: "For this battle, within the will of Your Majesty, I have three more requests." "Please clarify, Your Highness!"

"1. This battle must be fought with unstoppable force, completely resolved before the Portuguese and other Western nations can react! I want the battle to end on the day our troops arrive! Complete control of Macau by sunset the next day!"

"Yes!"

certain.

If it drags on into a protracted quagmire like the one with North Korea, then we will lose even if we win.

"2. In this battle, all participating troops must strictly observe military discipline, refrain from harassing the civilian population, and refrain from causing harm to the local area. We must demonstrate to the world the absolute prowess of our army! Show the mighty and benevolent image of the 'Liberators of Greater East Asia'!"

"Yes!"

This is also inevitable.

How can it be said that under the banner of "liberation" they ended up causing chaos in the local area?

The navy is not like the uneducated roughnecks in the army. They will be sensible when they need to be.

Besides, this time, the Japanese Navy certainly wasn't responsible for the landing operation. "3. This battle is a legitimate act for the Five-Star Eastern Republic to recover its territory! No troops may fly the Japanese military flag! Nor may they publicize their participation in the war! Remember! No Japanese!"

“…Ah…yes!”

Everyone was stunned for a moment, but quickly reacted.

Right!

In name, who is the country that leads the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere"? The Five-Star Eastern Republic!

The Japanese government has long stated that any struggle between the Five-Star Eastern Republic and other Chinese forces is China's internal affairs and Japan will not interfere, thus distancing itself from the issue.

Although everyone knows what is actually going on, face is face. Doing so can effectively shut up certain countries and they lack sufficient excuses to interfere.

Besides, even if the "Five Republics" take the lead, does the navy still need to worry about anything?

It's all in the same pot.

After stating the three demands, Fujiwara no Kanezane said nothing more and just made a simple pre-war mobilization:

"Since that's the case, everyone, go back and prepare! Offer Macau to His Majesty, to the Empire, and to the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere! Raise our nation's prestige! I want Macau to be all over the world's news for the next week. Let all that Kim Gu and North Korea nonsense go to waste!"

"Hey! I will obey your highness's orders!"

"Alright, everyone, please step aside, General Araki... All Army personnel, please stay. I have something else to say."

Amid the gloating and angry gazes of the naval generals, the army generals, as if bereaved, looked dejectedly at the "culprit" who had in a sense caused them great losses, not knowing what to say.

Unexpectedly, the other party actually scolded:

"The Army still doesn't want to find a way to save itself, waiting to be completely abandoned by the Empire!"

607 You are robbers! You are robbers!

September 22, 1933, Macau.

The salty sea breeze rolled up the waves, which slammed hard against the mottled rocks of Coloane Island.

Before daybreak, the young fisherman Ah Hai and the old fisherman Ah Rong were already up, paddling their battered little boats, gently swaying with the tide, ready to go fishing. If they returned quickly, they might even be able to catch the morning market.

Chanban hadn't reached his usual destination yet, and the two of them were chatting casually.

"...Uncle Rong, have you heard? That 'Five-Star Nation' to the north is working on the 'Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere' again!"

"Oh."

Rong Bo didn't even raise his head, his skinny fingers deftly mending the torn fishing net.

"The last time I went on a ship to Shantou, Brother Qiang came back and heard that the Five-Star National Torch Land Soldiers were burning the landlords' land deeds in the streets of Northeast China and giving the tenants red paper deeds on the spot! Is this true?"

"Do you believe in living on the mountain?"

Rong Bo snorted, glanced at Ah Hai with his cloudy old eyes, and said disdainfully: "When the Portuguese masters collected 'protection fees' (fishing taxes) from me, they talked sweetly! But what's the result? Last month, British gunboats rammed and sank three ships out at sea, and did you see the Portuguese soldiers fire a single shot? They didn't even fart!"

He paused, his voice filled with the weariness of someone who had seen through the world:

"In this world today, the bigger the fist, the more power! The Portuguese, the Five-Star Republic, the Kuomintang, they're all just talking nonsense, but the substance remains the same!"

Ah Hai was choked and speechless. He spat out the grass stem in his mouth in frustration and looked at the twinkling lights of the Macau Peninsula in the distance on the dark sea. He muttered softly:

"That's true... but he seems to be quite fair in his dealings. Brother Qiang buys seafood without hesitation, and the price is a full 20% higher than the Portuguese guild! Cash on delivery, no delays or debts!"

"Twenty percent?"

Rong Bo's hand finally stopped mending the net. A faint light flashed in his cloudy old eyes, like a spark, then disappeared and dimmed again.

"Money is good, but I'm afraid you won't be able to earn it and spend it... Let me see, even the north is talking about the 'Co-Prosperity Sphere,' so what's the fear..."

Before he finished speaking, Ah Hai suddenly straightened up, squinted his eyes and looked towards the southeast horizon, his voice filled with doubt:

"Eh? Uncle Rong, look! Is that the exercise fleet back again? Why are they so close this time? It's like... like they're about to invade the Inner Harbor?"

"Um??",

Uncle Rong suddenly looked up and looked in the direction of Ah Hai's finger.

In the dim morning light, the outlines of several huge steel warships are tearing through the mist and approaching Macau at high speed! The white waves split by the ship's channel are extremely dazzling on the gray-blue sea, and the roar of the engine can be heard faintly.

That familiar fleet with its red, gold five-star flag has been lingering around the coast of Guangdong for the past few months, conducting "exercises" and even occasionally firing a few shots at the Nationalist government seat at the border between Fujian and Guangdong. Everyone has become numb to it.

Anyway, we are not at war with Macau. We occasionally send people ashore to buy supplies. When we find that we are being taxed, we just buy directly from the fishermen. We are doing business honestly. Why should we care about them?

But this time, it was completely different! The fleet was practically rubbing up against the channel buoy! They were so close that even the figures walking on the bridge could be vaguely seen! Their momentum was unequivocally and directly heading towards Macau's Inner Harbor!

"Fuck! Something's going to happen!"

The atmosphere inside the Macau Governor's Palace was so solemn that it could be squeezed out of water.

The Portuguese Governor of Macau, Edgar Augusto Santos Ávalo de Aquino y Meillande (what a long name), was pulled out of bed in the middle of the night. He was wearing wrinkled pajamas, his sparse hair was standing on end, and his face was uglier than a dead person.

Because, opposite him stood three young men in the neat uniforms of the "Five-Star Eastern Republic" naval officers. The leader was holding a hastily written notice, the ink still wet, and reading it emotionlessly:

"...Based on the fact that the Portuguese colonial authorities have long been illegally ruling Macao and have seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and the well-being of the people of Asia, I, Liu Yalou, under the orders of the Supreme Command of the Five-Star Eastern Republic and the Provisional Steering Committee of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, hereby issue you an ultimatum:"

"Within one hour, the Governor's Office and all colonial administrative agencies must cease operations and await takeover!"

"Within one hour, all Portuguese troops and armed police stationed in Macau must immediately lay down their arms and surrender unconditionally!"

"Within one hour, all administrative and defense powers of Macau will be transferred. The government of the Five-Star Oriental Republic will immediately exercise sovereignty!"

"If you fail to surrender within the deadline, or engage in any form of resistance, sabotage, or lip service, our army will immediately launch an attack. You will bear all consequences!"

The words and attitude are so harsh that it seems like they don't treat the person they are talking to as a human being.

Governor Meilande was shaking with anger, waving his fat arms and roaring in a mixture of Portuguese and stiff Cantonese:

"Absurd! Shameless aggression! Macau is the sacred and inalienable territory of Portugal! We have a treaty of 1557! It is recognized by international law! You are committing naked robbery!

E"

After hearing this, Liu Yalou felt dazed.

Um?

Being called a robber by...Western colonizers? This feeling...is really fucking new.

As expected, Fujiwara no Kanezane was right. Strength is the foundation of national dignity. "I will protest to Lisbon! Complain to the League of Nations! Ask for help from our British friends! You... you will never succeed! I order you to leave Macau waters immediately!"

otherwise..."

Before coming here, Liu Yalou was told by someone via telegram:

"Liu Yalou, remember this. I'm making the following arrangements... Um... Just one word: Don't give them a cold shoulder! Don't you have a fucking bad temper? If they're ungrateful, I'll even give them a slap in the face!"

Therefore, Liu Yalou was too lazy to listen to Meilande's whining and hysterics. He looked down at his watch and decided to save the slapping for later. He interrupted without hesitation:

"Your Excellency, Governor, you have fifty-seven minutes left. Please cherish your time, or rather, your life."

After saying this, he turned around and left with the two naval soldiers behind him, striding out of the Governor's Palace, leaving behind the Portuguese guards who didn't even dare to stop him and Melander who stood there, croaking in vain like a rooster with its neck strangled.

surrender?

Absolutely not!

To China...Japan...Huh?

Who are we supposed to surrender to?

Meillander's mind was a mess, but at least he still had some basic qualities of a governor:

"Send a telegram! Send a telegram to Lisbon!"

Miranda also hoped that Lisbon could quickly contact Britain, France and the United States to find a way to intervene in this matter.

As for Macau’s local army?

Haha... Maybe when the enemy lands, half of them will still be asleep, and the other half may be planning how to surrender gracefully or even change their clothes to become "five-star soldiers."

I hope the damn Japanese are just bluffing and not serious...

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Dozens of minutes later, without any warning, the artillery fire, along with the rising sun, tore apart the tranquility of Macau.

"Your Highness has an order! When the fleet approaches, no warnings or negotiations are necessary! All main and secondary guns, immediately aim at all designated targets! Blast them flat!"

"Your Highness has an order! Marines, immediately seize the beaches from A-Ma Temple, the Inner Harbor, and Green Island! Control the entire territory as quickly as possible and disarm all armed forces! Kill anyone who resists! If you still can't do this after all this training in Fujian, you will all commit seppuku!"

"Your Highness has ordered! After taking control of Macau, immediately issue a public announcement! Completely end Portugal's illegal colonial rule in Macau! Reclaim Macau's full sovereignty!"

"Your Highness has issued an order! All units must strictly observe military discipline and maintain peace in the region! Anyone who disobeys this order will be executed without mercy!"

e，

Accompanied by orders, shells tore through the air, with shrill death screams, like a violent meteor shower, accurately smashing into the Gaslan Fort, Mong Ha Fort, and Guia Fort that were the first to bear the brunt.

Those centuries-old granite fortresses that had once defeated the Dutch were as fragile as sand castles on the beach before the terrifying power of modern naval guns. Ancient artillery parts and the broken limbs of Portuguese soldiers were thrown high and then smashed to pieces.

Then, the artillery fire began to spread, including the Governor's Palace, the Portuguese Army Headquarters in Macau, the police headquarters, and the barracks...

Although the artillery fire in these densely populated areas was not as fierce as the fire attacking the artillery positions in consideration of possible casualties, and could even be said to be symbolic, it still caused the Portuguese army, which had not seen a battle for a long time, to collapse on the spot.

This level of morale was probably even lower than that of new recruits trained by the current government for a month or two. Therefore, the bombardment lasted only twenty minutes before it was declared over. Before the echo of the last shell had completely faded, dozens of landing craft loaded with marines had arrived at the landing site.

resistance?

nonexistent.

Whether it was the A-Ma Temple that witnessed the initial landing of the Portuguese, the Green Island reefs where the Dutch suffered heavy losses, or the bustling Inner Harbor, almost all of them were conquered in one battle;

A few Portuguese resistance soldiers, perhaps stunned by the shock, actually tried to raise their guns to resist. However, under the fierce firepower of the Marines, they were instantly shot to pieces before they could even shout "surrender"!

When the leather boots of the Marines, mainly Chinese, set foot on the land that was once touched and fought for by Western colonists, a strange sense of destiny and the pleasure of conquest rose in the hearts of the soldiers.

So, foreigners have also come to this day?