novelAbuy Chapter 2094 Devastated
Chapter 2094 Devastated
Chapter 2094 Devastated
"The Soviets are treacherous and have broken their promises," Cheng Qianfan said angrily. "The Empire's nearly one million Kwantung Army will give the foolish and arrogant Soviets a good beating."
“Clown, despicable clown,” said Shogo Onodera.
Four years earlier, the Empire had signed the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact with Soviet Russia, which stipulated that war should not break out between Japan and the Soviet Union.
However, just four months earlier, on April 5th, Soviet People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Molotov summoned Japanese Ambassador to the Soviet Union Sato and issued a statement:
The Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact was signed before Germany attacked the Soviet Union. After Germany attacked Soviet Russia, Japan aided Germany and fought against Soviet Russia's allies, Britain and the United States, rendering the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact meaningless. Therefore, Soviet Russia announced the abrogation of the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact.
The Soviet Union's announcement of the abrogation of the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact was seen by other Allied nations as a strong signal that the Soviet Union was about to wage war against Japan.
"In fact, when Soviet Russia announced the abrogation of the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact, many people within the Empire still insisted that Soviet Russia would not take action against the Empire," said Heitaro Imamura.
Cheng Qianfan stood respectfully at attention. After learning from Onodera Shogo of the Military Police that the Soviet Union had declared war on Japan, he visited Imamura Heitaro the next day.
"In order to avoid Soviet Russia declaring war on the Empire, the Empire made considerable sacrifices and was prepared to make concessions to Soviet Russia," said Heitaro Imamura.
After Germany's surrender, the General Staff held a secret meeting. The meeting concluded that it was essential to win over Soviet Russia, at the very least to ensure that Soviet Russia would not attack Japan. The meeting unanimously passed the "Agreement on Matters of Mutual Understanding":
First, to prevent Soviet Russia from participating in the war against Japan.
Secondly, efforts were made to persuade Soviet Russia to adopt a friendly attitude towards Japan.
Third, to get Soviet Russia to mediate in a favorable manner on the issue of ending the war.
At the same time, in order to restore the Soviet Union-Japan Neutrality Pact, Japan was prepared to return southern Sakhalin Island, as well as the lease rights to Port Arthur and Dalian, to the Soviet Union in exchange for relinquishing the fishing lease agreement and the rights to two railways in "Manchukuo".
Japan even pledged to disarm in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia and open the Tsugaru Strait to Soviet/Russian ships.
In an extremely necessary situation, the cabinet was even prepared to agree to transfer the northern Kuril Islands to Soviet Russia.
According to secret intelligence obtained by the Empire, these exchange terms were almost identical to those given to Soviet Russia in the Yalta Agreement.
The cabinet was confident at the time that these conditions would be enough to persuade Soviet Russia.
"Now I'm going to test you." Imamura Heitaro looked at Miyazaki Kentaro and said, "Now that the Soviet Union has declared war on the Empire, why do you think the Soviet Union still insists on using force and declaring war on the Empire when faced with these readily available benefits?"
“Because the Empire has no allies now.” Cheng Qianfan said dejectedly, “There is an old Chinese saying, ‘When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down.’ Although it’s a harsh saying, in the eyes of the Soviets, the Empire is just a wall they can push over.”
“Yes, when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down.” Imamura Heitaro sighed and said, “You’re right.”
“Teacher,” Cheng Qianfan said.
"what?"
"Aren't they worried at all about the nearly one million elite Kwantung Army troops the Empire has in Manchuria?" Cheng Qianfan asked.
Heitaro Imamura did not answer the question.
The nearly one million elite troops of the Kwantung Army, if deployed on the Chinese battlefield, could have easily fought their way from Manchuria all the way to Chongqing. However, the Battle of Khalkhin Gol against the Soviet army seems to have already illustrated some points:
The Kwantung Army was no match for the Soviet Russian army.
“I know the reasons for the Nomonhan Incident. Many people believe that the Imperial Kwantung Army is no match for the Soviet Russian army,” Cheng Qianfan said. “However, with nearly a million elite Kwantung Army soldiers, even if the Soviets were to win, they would have to be prepared for at least hundreds of thousands of casualties.”
"Well, we who are far away in Shanghai are powerless to do anything about the war in the north. We can only pray that the brave warriors of the Kwantung Army can stop the Soviet invasion," said Imamura Heitaro.
"I haven't congratulated you yet, teacher," Cheng Qianfan said to Imamura Heitaro with a forced smile.
Consul General Eiichi Iwai was transferred to the position of Consul General of Japan in Guangdong at the beginning of the month. In Shanghai, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed Heitaro Imamura as Deputy Consul General of Japan in Shanghai, and he will temporarily assume the duties of Consul General in this capacity.
“Given the current situation…” Imamura Heitaro sighed, shook his head, and said, “There’s no point in congratulating him.”
China expressed a warm welcome and heartfelt gratitude to the Soviet Union for its support of the empire.
Just today, Chiang Kai-shek publicly called a Moscow blacksmith:
The declaration of war by Soviet Russia against Japan has greatly inspired the Chinese people. On behalf of the Chinese government and all its military and civilians, I would like to express my sincere admiration to Your Excellency, your government, and the heroic Soviet military and civilians. It is a great honor for our country's army to fight alongside your army.
In Yanzhou, two leaders of the Red Party sent a telegram to Moscow:
On behalf of the Chinese people, we warmly welcome the Soviet Russian government's declaration of war against Japan. The one hundred million people and their army in the liberated areas of China will fully cooperate with the Red Army and other Allied forces to annihilate the heinous Japanese aggressors.
Most importantly, the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan was like setting off dominoes, directly igniting a frenzied counter-offensive by the Chinese army against the imperial-occupied territories.
According to intelligence gathered by the Empire, the Red Party's General Headquarters has issued orders to its subordinate units:
"An ultimatum was issued to the enemy forces and their leadership in the surrounding towns, ordering them to surrender their weapons and accept their capitulation within a specified period; those who refused to surrender were to be resolutely annihilated. The Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army were ordered to launch a full-scale counter-offensive against the enemy, in coordination with Soviet Russia's war against Japan."
It can be said that the entire North China Plain is now filled with the sounds of gunfire.
……
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Heitaro Imamura's expression changed. He knew Kogoro Imamura very well. When Kogoro Imamura came to his study, he always moved quietly, afraid of disturbing him. He was rarely so noisy and impolite.
"Sir!" Kogoro Imamura called anxiously from outside the door.
"Come in," said Heitaro Imamura.
Kogoro Imamura pushed open the door. Without saying a word, he bowed and handed a telegram to Heitaro Imamura with both hands. "Sir, urgent telegram from Tokyo."
After saying that, Kogoro Imamura left and closed the door behind him.
Heitaro Imamura took the telegram, looked down at it, and after just one glance, his face turned deathly pale, and he swayed, almost collapsing.
"Teacher!" Cheng Qianfan said urgently, stepping forward to support Imamura Heitaro. "Teacher, what happened?"
"The Americans, they, they dropped atomic bombs on Nagasaki," Heitaro Imamura murmured, his face filled with terror.
"What?!" Cheng Qianfan's expression changed drastically. He no longer cared about manners and snatched the telegram from Imamura Heitaro's hand.
After reading the contents, he knelt down on the ground with a thud and burst into tears, crying, "American devils! How dare they! They are inhuman devils!"
“Wrong,” Imamura Heitaro muttered to himself.
Cheng Qianfan subconsciously looked at Imamura Heitaro.
“You’re wrong,” Heitaro Imamura said with a miserable expression. “After the bombing of Hiroshima a few days ago, the cabinet held an emergency meeting. Those people believed that the Americans most likely only managed to create one atomic bomb and did not have the capability for a second attack in the short term. Furthermore, given the bomb’s terrifying destructive power, the Americans would not dare to continue using it.”
He shook his head. "Wrong, all wrong."
"Kill all the American devils!" Cheng Qianfan shouted hoarsely. "The 100 million people of the Empire would rather die than live in dishonor. We will make those American devils pay for their blood debts."
"Kentaro." Imamura Hyoutarou suddenly looked at his student.
“Teacher,” Cheng Qianfan quickly said.
"You need to prepare in advance," Heitaro Imamura said.
"What does 'teacher' mean?" Cheng Qianfan frowned, looking puzzled.
“The Soviet Union has declared war on the Empire, and now Nagasaki has been bombed by the Americans with atomic bombs. Under these circumstances…” Heitaro Imamura sighed and said, “I’m afraid the Empire can no longer hold on.”
He looked at Kentaro Miyazaki and said, "Kentaro, you should be prepared for the Empire to admit defeat."
“That’s impossible!” Cheng Qianfan shook his head, his eyes fierce, and shouted, “The Great Japanese Empire is invincible, His Majesty the Emperor is inviolable, the Empire has 100 million subjects, and 100 million subjects will die for the Emperor. Even if the Empire is wiped out, we will drag the Americans down to hell with us.”
"You can leave now," Heitaro Imamura said suddenly, looking at Kentaro Miyazaki.
Cheng Qianfan was taken aback.
"You should go back first," Heitaro Imamura said. "I want to be alone for a while."
"Hai." Cheng Qianfan sighed, bowed to Imamura Heitaro, and then left.
……
August 14th.
"The Japanese Kwantung Army, the most elite force of a million men, was so utterly defeated," Liu Xia said in surprise as she clinked glasses with Cheng Qianfan.
Six days have passed since the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. In the six days of fighting, the Kwantung Army's defense system in the northeastern border region has completely collapsed, except for a few major central cities in the northeast.
In the six days of fighting, the Kwantung Army suffered heavy losses, and the Soviet Russian army was invincible.
The Transbaikal Front advanced nearly 400 kilometers and appeared along the line of Dolon, Linxi, and Wangye Temple.
The Soviet 1st Far Eastern Front advanced 150 kilometers and appeared along the line of Linkou, Muling, and Nancha.
The Soviet 2nd Far Eastern Front advanced 200 kilometers and appeared along the line of Heihe, Haolizhen, and Baoqing.
It can be said that the performance of the million-strong Kwantung Army, which has always been considered the most elite force of the Japanese army, was quite surprising.
It should be noted that over the years, even when the China Expeditionary Army was short of troops, the Kwantung Army only transferred a small number of troops to fight in Manchuria, maintaining a standing force of at least 600,000, and even close to one million troops now.
These were the most elite troops in the Japanese army's order of battle. Apart from being transferred to the Southeast Asian battlefield, they still maintained a powerful pressure on Soviet Russia in Manchuria with nearly a million soldiers. Unexpectedly, they were so vulnerable after the outbreak of war.
"This is a contest of national strength," Cheng Qianfan said. "Under the rolling tide of Soviet tanks and aircraft, the Kwantung Army had no way to resist."
He told Liu Xia, “Compared to the ‘Little Boy’ and ‘Fat Man’ that the Americans threw at the Japanese, the Soviet Union’s declaration of war against Japan put more direct pressure on the Japanese, especially the Japanese high command, particularly since the Kwantung Army, on which they had placed so much hope, turned out to be so vulnerable.”
"So, the Japanese are going to surrender?" Liu Xia asked.
“In the long run, the Japanese have no other choice but to surrender unconditionally,” Cheng Qianfan said. “However, according to the intelligence I obtained from Imamura Heitaro, there are actually huge differences within the Japanese cabinet regarding whether to accept the Potsdam Declaration and whether to accept unconditional surrender.”
“This means they haven’t been hurt enough yet.” Liu Xia sneered. “If the Allies drop another atomic bomb on Tokyo, preferably centered on their Emperor’s palace, then everything will be solved.”
“That’s not necessarily a bad thing,” Cheng Qianfan said, stroking his chin. “It would be a permanent solution.”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
The progress of the war and the changes in the situation were more exciting than they could have imagined, even with the most optimistic expectations.
Although the Japanese were still putting up a stubborn resistance, unwilling to accept the Potsdam Declaration or surrender unconditionally, Cheng Qianfan and Liu Xia both knew that the Japanese surrender was inevitable. The only question was how long the Japanese could continue to linger on.
……
Special High Section.
Araki Harima has locked himself in his room for five days.
He doesn't want to see anyone.
Even though his good friend Kentaro Miyazaki had come to see him several times in the past few days, he had not met with him.
"Dead, all dead, all dead!"
Araki Harima was unshaven, his eyes were terrifyingly gloomy, and he was gritting his teeth.
When the news arrived that the Americans had bombed Nagasaki with those horrific atomic bombs, Araki Harima suffered a complete mental breakdown.
His wife, children, and relatives are all in Nagasaki.
For the past few days, Araki Harima has moved the radio into his office. He's been almost frantically calling Nagasaki, hoping to get news of his family.
There was no response from Nagasaki.
He learned about the tragic situation in Nagasaki from his classmates and friends in Tokyo.
Everyone advised him not to have any more hope.
Araki Harima gritted his teeth, muttering a name under his breath:
Shogo Onodera!
It's all Onodera Shogo's fault!
If Onodera Shogo hadn't advised Kawada Atsuto on suspicions, leading to his arrest, interrogation, and imprisonment, he would have been preparing to bring his wife and family out of Nagasaki at that time.
He realized at that time that the empire's mainland was not as safe as Shanghai.
However, his suspicion, detention, and interrogation directly disrupted the entire plan.
Once he was released, his authority was immediately stripped away.
Furthermore, at that time the Americans had already blockaded their homeland, and citizens of the Empire who wanted to leave the country faced the constant danger of being devoured by fish.
It's no longer possible to bring my family out of Japan.
So, it's all Onodera Shogo's fault!
It's all Onodera Shogo's fault!
Araki Harima let out a low growl from his throat!
He wants revenge!
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