Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

Chapter 983 Confiscating the Military Flag!

Immediately afterwards, as arranged beforehand, Hisao Tani, as the representative of the main division commanders, was also asked to step forward and sign.

At this moment, Tani Hisao's face was ashen, and his signing movements were stiff like a puppet, his former fierce aura completely gone.

Following the signing ceremony, a more symbolic and humiliating moment ensued.

A military policeman shouted the order: "Confiscate the military flag!"

The flags of each division and regiment of the Central China Expeditionary Army were carried by their flag bearers as they walked in turn to the wooden platform.

These flags, which once symbolized the soul of the troops on the battlefield and were considered more important than life itself, were now piled up like rags on the open ground next to the wooden platform, quickly forming a small heap.

When the flag bearers handed over the military flag, some couldn't help but burst into tears, while others remained expressionless.

The military police stepped forward, gathered up the military flags, and carefully placed them into a wooden box.

The regimental flags of the Japanese army regiments were granted by the Emperor and were ultimately to be disposed of by the Emperor. Whether to return them or to reissue them was entirely up to the Emperor.

But those who are defeated at this moment are not entitled to possess these military flags.

Then came the confiscation of the military knives.

Starting with Heisuke Yanagawa, every general was required to remove his command sword and personally hand it over to the designated officer of the winning side.

Yanagawa Heisuke's movements as he removed the sword were slow and heavy. The moment the exquisite lieutenant general's sword left his waist, he felt as if his last backbone had been pulled away. He swayed and almost fell, but was fortunately caught by the military police next to him.

Hisao Tani, Ryosuke Yoshizumi, and others stepped forward one by one, handing over their swords. Each sword that left their hands represented the complete loss of power and the shameful end of a military career.

The confiscated swords were neatly stacked in another wooden box, where they would become the spoils of war and proof of merit for the "rebel" generals.

There was also an unusual presence at the scene.

That was the 16th Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Nakajima Kesago.

This ally, which initially shared weal and woe with the Central China Expeditionary Army, now stands beside the victorious side.

Hisao Tani, Ryosuke Yoshizumi, and others would always cast their gazes over, intentionally or unintentionally. Their piercing gazes made Nakajima Kesago feel like he was being pricked by thorns.

Finally, Nakajima Kesago simply closed his eyes and stood motionless to the side.

The entire ceremony was breathtakingly brief, lasting less than thirty minutes.

There were no cheers, no speeches, only an awkward silence and the howling of the cold wind.

After the ceremony, the surrendered officers and soldiers were ordered to line up and, under the escort of "rebel" soldiers, were loaded onto trucks in batches and sent to unknown prisoner-of-war camps or "reorganization" locations.

Many veterans of the Central China Expeditionary Army couldn't help but turn back as they left, gazing at the fields that bore the marks of shame, and sobbing softly.

Some of the "rebel" soldiers pointed at their backs, their faces full of contempt and mockery.

Former comrades-in-arms who fought side by side are now like strangers, even sworn enemies.

The wooden platform was quickly dismantled, and the fields returned to their open state, as if nothing had ever happened.

But the humiliation, hatred, and heavy stench of blood that filled the air lingered for a long time.

. . . . . . . . .

In the afternoon, in Chunhua Town, a southern suburb of Nanjing.

The humiliating surrender ceremony had just ended hastily in an atmosphere of oppression and humiliation.

A cold wind swept across the empty fields, stirring up clouds of dust, as if trying to cover up everything that had just happened there.

The senior officers of the Central China Expeditionary Army were like stray dogs. After being disarmed, they were escorted by soldiers of the Kwantung Army, dejectedly boarded trucks, and headed to unknown prisoner-of-war camps or "reorganization" locations.

In the fields, only piles of military knives like trash and boxes full of military flags remained, silently telling the final story of this infighting.

Colonel Yusuke Ichijo did not indulge in the illusory joy of "victory".

As the core executor of the military police system on the Nanjing front, he knew that the apparent military victory was only the beginning. The real challenge was how to take over this chaotic and fragmented capital city, where various forces were intertwined, and firmly control it under the command of the military police headquarters.

Standing beside the simple wooden platform that had just witnessed the humiliating signing, he stared coldly at the dust kicked up by the convoy, calculating his next move.

Just then, a communications officer came running up, panting, clutching a newly translated telegram in his hand.

The staff officer, his face a mixture of tension and excitement, stood at attention, saluted, and handed over the telegram: "Captain! Urgent telegram from Tianjin!!"

Yusuke Ichijo felt a chill run down his spine and quickly took the telegram.

On the paper was Japanese text converted from a familiar codebook, but the forceful wording and direct intent still made him feel an invisible pressure.

The telegram directly addressed itself as "Takasaki Takuto, Tianjin Gendarmerie Headquarters," omitting all unnecessary formalities and bureaucratic jargon, and getting straight to the point:

To Lieutenant Yusuke Ichijo, Commander of the Nanjing Special Military Police:

Order:

First, the entire unit is to immediately deploy and enter Nanjing city to take full control of all defense and security affairs in the city. This authorization is of the highest priority and supersedes any local army military unit.

Second, from the time this order takes effect, all Imperial Army units stationed in Nanjing and its surrounding areas, regardless of their affiliation, shall not be mobilized or enter the city of Nanjing without a direct order issued by this Command, nor shall they be subject to any form of requisition, grain collection, or military action.

Third, the primary task of the military police is to quickly restore basic order within the city and strictly prohibit all illegal acts such as looting, arson, and rape.

Special attention must be paid to maintaining the image of the Imperial Army. Journalists, diplomats and expatriates from various countries who may still be in the city must be protected, and the strict discipline of the Imperial Army must be demonstrated.

Any event that damages the reputation of the Empire must be dealt with in the most decisive manner.

Fourth, reinforcements: two fully equipped military police battalions have departed from Tianjin by ship and are expected to arrive in Nanjing no later than three days.

At that time, the Nanjing Garrison Command will be officially established, with Chief of Staff Shunsuke Nakamura temporarily serving as commander.

This order is from Takazaki Takuto. "

Although the telegram was short, every word carried immense weight, filled with unquestionable authority and the absolute will of the commander far away in Tianjin.

Yusuke Ichijo read it twice, memorizing every word.

This order not only granted the military police supreme power in Nanjing, but also served as a clear signal from Takasaki Takuto to all factions within the army.

The true ruler of Central China has changed hands.

The ultimate winner of this internal power struggle was not the Kwantung Army or the North China Area Army fighting on the front lines, but him, the strategist and commander of the military police.

Yusuke Ichijo dared not delay for even the slightest moment.

He carefully folded the telegram, put it in his inner pocket, took a deep breath, and led a few of his personal adjutants straight toward a group of generals who had not yet left and were talking.