allonlinenovel Chapter 1100 His Next Starting Point
Chapter 1100 His Next Starting Point
The Emperor paused, a fierce glint in his eyes: "Isn't Matsui Iwane in China a cautionary tale? He relied on his high achievements and wanted to act arbitrarily, even daring to touch my military police!"
Hideki Tojo wielded even greater power in the Kwantung Army. Without checks and balances, who could guarantee he wouldn't become a second Matsui, or even worse?
As the story neared its end, a slight chill crept onto his vest.
He fully understood the Emperor's deeper meaning. This was not only aimed at Hideki Tojo personally, but also as a preventative check on the increasingly powerful army, especially its overseas expeditionary forces.
By exploiting factional conflicts, they can monitor and check each other, thereby ensuring that the authority of the central government, especially the Emperor himself, is above any faction or individual.
"As for Ishihara Kanji," the Emperor continued, his tone slightly softening, "this man is talented, but he is arrogant and not good at socializing. He almost ruined his future because of the attack on Takuto. Fortunately, he was clever enough to change sides and save his life."
However, its advocacy of "not expanding" does indeed conflict with the empire's current national policy.
Using him to counterbalance Tojo is just right.
He previously lacked a large faction to support him, and only had a few like-minded individuals, so he couldn't cause much trouble.
But now we are giving him support, and given his seniority and prestige among the lower-ranking officers and soldiers of the Kwantung Army, his "no expansion" theory also has a market among some officers who are tired of the endless war.
Let him cause some trouble for Tojo, so that Tojo can't do whatever he wants, that's enough.
If their conflict escalates and becomes unbearable, wouldn't it better demonstrate my authority if I were to step in to "mediate"?
Jinwei Wen was deeply impressed and bowed deeply, saying, "Your Majesty's wisdom is profound, beyond my ability."
The key to maintaining balance lies in this: letting Ishihara know the Emperor's intentions, thus daring him to contend with Tojo, is indeed a brilliant move.
However... this matter must be handled with utmost secrecy. Naturally, Tojo must not discover that it was His Majesty's order, otherwise it might lead to rebellion.
The Emperor nodded approvingly: "You shall handle this matter. You and Ishihara are old acquaintances, so find a pretext to give him some pointers in private. As for Tojo, I have my own plans."
He then looked at Takasaki Motonori: "Motonori, you should also pay close attention to the movements of the Kwantung Army, especially Hideki Tojo and Kanji Ishihara."
"When it's time to extend the 'cherry blossom's' reach, don't hesitate. I need to know at all times what those two are doing and thinking."
Takasaki Motonori abandoned his nonchalant expression and bowed solemnly: "Yes, Your Majesty, rest assured."
The people around Tojo and Ishihara are no longer a monolithic entity. Whom they meet, what they say, what they eat—if Your Majesty wishes to know, I can present them to you in detail.”
The Emperor gave a satisfied "hmm," leaned back slightly, seemingly a little tired, yet also as if he had completed an important strategic plan.
He glanced again at Matsui Iwane's letter, which was full of resentment and accusations, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes. He called over a servant outside the door and casually handed it to him: "Archive it, classify it as top secret. No one may access it without my order."
The servant silently accepted it, as if it were a hot potato, and quickly retreated.
"Matsui Iwane..." the Emperor murmured, as if speaking to the two of them, yet also as if talking to himself: "His letter wasn't entirely useless."
At least, it has made me see more clearly that some people are almost forgetting their own identities.
To preserve some dignity for his family, publicly state that Matsui Iwane died fighting for his country.
Ayako and Motonori Takasaki exchanged a glance, both seeing a deeper meaning in each other's eyes.
Matsui Iwane is finished. The Emperor has given up on him and has no intention of getting him out of Takasaki Takuto's hands.
His letter, filled with resentment, was like a pebble thrown into calm water, creating ripples that, under the Emperor's will, were quietly spreading to the Kanto region, to Hideki Tojo, and even to the seemingly monolithic interior of the Imperial Army.
A new, silent balance of power and power struggle has begun with just a few casual words from the Emperor.
Having said that, the important matter was concluded, and the Emperor waved his hand, looking slightly weary.
"Go, Wenmao. I'll leave the aftermath of the war in North and Central China and the dealings with Britain and the United States to you. Yuande, take care of your 'Cherry Blossom' and your troublesome son."
The two bowed deeply and silently withdrew from the palace, which was filled with the scent of agarwood and the scheming of power.
As dusk settles outside the corridor, the Kyoto twilight slowly creeps over the palace walls, while thousands of kilometers away in Shanghai, lights will gradually illuminate the city, like newly placed pieces in a silent game of chess, awaiting the young and dangerous hand reaching out from the north.
"I'm waiting to retire."
Kin'o Fumio and Takasaki Motonori bowed respectfully once more and slowly withdrew from the "Wutong Room".
The paper door closed silently behind them, shutting off the space that had been filled with a thousand years of power struggles and bloodshed.
After leaving the "Omote no Uzasho" and passing through the long corridor, you will arrive at a side hall where you can stop for a while.
The cold autumn wind swept over us, carrying the unique chilly scent of the plants and trees in the Imperial Palace Garden.
Aya stopped, gazing at the withering maple tree in the courtyard. After a long silence, she whispered, "Takasaki-kun, what we did back then... was it right or wrong?"
Takasaki Gentoku lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and the smoke quickly dissipated in the cold wind.
The usual lazy smile on his face disappeared, leaving only a deep, worldly indifference.
“Wenmao, in this world, what is there that is absolutely right or wrong?” He exhaled a smoke ring and said slowly, “We are merely pawns in His Majesty’s hands, and also the ones who wield the pieces.”
For the sake of this country, for His Majesty, there are some things that must be done, even if it means getting blood on your hands and going to hell after death.
People died on February 26th, and now people have died in Central China again.
But if these people don't die, even more people might die in the future, and the country might be doomed.
Politics has always been about using the blood of one group to save another, or even the life of an entire nation.
We had no choice.
Near the end, Wen smiled bitterly: "Yes, there was no choice, but sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, I always feel... uneasy."
Takuto, that kid, has been dragged into this too, and so deeply at that. He's only twenty years old.
Looking at the dark clouds gathering on the distant horizon, Takasaki Gentoku's eyes were filled with complex emotions: "This is his fate."
Born into the Takasaki family and becoming the son of me, Takasaki Motonori, his life was destined to be anything but ordinary. Whether he becomes a dragon or a worm, a pillar of the empire or a grave, depends on his own destiny.
As his father, all I can do is secretly clear away the venomous snakes from his path and prepare more... life-saving medicine for him.
He paused, stubbed out his cigarette, and said in a low voice, "Konomi-kun, a new storm is coming, I can feel it."
At that time, it won't just be the Chinese who bleed, nor just those tens of thousands of army idiots.
Tuoren... must become stronger, possess more self-defense capabilities and... leverage to influence the situation, before that happens.
Shanghai is just the starting point for him.