After Emperor Hirohito had vented enough, Kanin Gongzai Rencai whispered: "Your Majesty, it is said that a country cannot be without a king for a day, and the three armies cannot be without a commander for a day. The top priority is to quickly select the Central China faction from among the suitable candidates in the country. Condemnation Army, as well as the selection of the commander of the Eleventh Army, and then rush to the Chinese battlefield as soon as possible to stabilize the war situation."
Hirohito heard the implication, frowned and said, "Has the war situation in Wuhan changed?"
"Hai." Xianyuan Gong Zairen said after a heavy pause, "According to information provided by insiders lurking at the top of the National Government, Xue Yue, commander of the First Corps of the National Army, has mobilized troops from four armies and ten divisions. They rushed behind the Eleventh Army from the north and south in an attempt to cut off the Hunan-Jiangxi Highway."
Emperor Hirohito said solemnly: "Hunan-Jiangxi Highway?"
"Hai." Xianyuan Gongzai Renton said, "Once the Hunan-Jiangxi Highway is cut off by the National Army, the 3rd and 101st Divisions will immediately be surrounded by the Nationalist Army. During the Xuzhou Battle, the 9th and 13th Divisions The scene where the regiment was surrounded by the National Army on the front line of Huainan is very likely to happen again, and this time the situation is even more dangerous."
The current situation is completely different from that of the Battle of Xuzhou.
During the Xuzhou Battle, the scale of the war was still within the range of the Japanese army. Even if the 9th and 13th Divisions were encircled, the Japanese army could mobilize sufficient troops for rescue and response in a short period of time. However, now, the Japanese army's military strength has already been reduced. Use enough force. Once the 3rd and 101st Divisions really fall into a tight siege, it will be dangerous.
Emperor Hirohito took a deep breath and asked in a deep voice: "Is the information reliable?"
"Hai, it's absolutely reliable." Xianyuan Gongzai Renton responded, "Because the intelligence provided by insiders has been verified from the frontal battlefield, the National Army on the battlefield in Hunan and Jiangxi has already launched an offensive."
"Baga, this is really fatal." Hirohito's face changed with anxiety, "Xue Yue is really good at picking the time, but he chose to counterattack at such a juncture. But what confuses me is that if he wants to mobilize four armies, It is absolutely impossible to launch an attack without more than five days of preparation time. Could it be that Xue Yuehui had no foresight? Five days ago, we knew that Okamura-san would be assassinated and that Hata Shunroku would vomit blood and die?"
Xianyuan Gong Zairen sighed: "Based on the judgment of the Special High School, Xu Rui probably had an affair with Xue Yue before going to Jiujiang to assassinate Oka Cun. As soon as Oka Cun was assassinated, Xue Yue immediately counterattacked."
"Xu Rui?" Hirohito said, "It's Xu Rui again, it's Xu Rui again, it's Xu Rui again!"
"Hai." Xianyuan Gong Zai Renton said, "This Xu Rui has indeed become the sworn enemy of the empire."
After a pause, Xianyuan Gong Zairen continued: "However, according to the information provided by the Central China Condemnation Army, although Xu Rui assassinated Okamura this time, he himself seemed to have been injured and is currently trapped near Jiujiang. , Jiujiang is far away from Anhui, and Xu Rui’s Dameishan Independent Regiment cannot save the fire from far away, but this gives the imperial army a god-given opportunity to hunt Xu Rui!”
"Yoshi, this is indeed a good opportunity!" Hirohito suddenly became energetic after hearing this.
Hanyuan Gong Zairen continued: "Therefore, the top priority is to select the commanders of the Central China Condemnation Army and the Eleventh Army, not only to defuse the offensive of the National Army, so that the Third Division and the 101st Division can turn the crisis into safety, but also We must continue Okamura’s plan and strive to end the Wuhan War in September, and one more thing, we must take this opportunity to kill Xu Rui!”
"Yoshi." Hirohito said, "So, does the emperor have a suitable candidate in mind?"
At this time, Ishihara Wanji, who was standing on the side, couldn't hold back anymore, stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, I think I am qualified to be the commander of the Eleventh Army!"
That is Ishihara, others really don’t dare to recommend themselves like this.
"Just you?" Hanyuan Gong Zairen looked at Ishihara Wan'er and said, "Your qualifications are too junior!"
Ishihara Wanji retreated somewhat awkwardly, because from the perspective of qualifications, Ishihara Wanji did belong to the junior generation. Even Okamura Neji, a 24th-generation student of the 6th University, was rejected by Kanin Miya Zaijin for being too junior. Ishihara Wanji belonged to the junior generation. Not to mention the 30th issue of the 6th Congress, and Ishihara Wanji was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general not long ago.
Hirohito's eyes narrowed into a thin line, staring at Ishihara without saying a word.
Although Hirohito hates Ishihara, he recognizes Ishihara's ability.
In particular, the September 18th Incident planned by Ishihara expanded the empire's borders thousands of miles.
Therefore, in terms of ability alone, Ishihara Wanji has absolutely no problem.
Noticing the difference in Hirohito's expression, Hanin Gong Zaihi's eyes fell on Ishihara Wanji again. Ishihara Wanji quickly raised his chest and said to Hanyuan Gong Zairen: "Your Highness, I am humble enough to ask you I guarantee that when I take office as the commander of the Eleventh Army, I will definitely achieve the points you mentioned."
Hanyuan Gong Zairen frowned and said: "Ishihara-san, can you please step aside?"
"Hai." Ishihara smiled and paused again, then turned and walked out of the study room.
After Ishihara Kanji's figure disappeared, Hanin Miyazai Rencai said: "Your Majesty, there is no doubt about Ishihara Kanji's military ability, but his qualifications are indeed a little lower. If he is promoted to the commander of the 11th Army, he will be promoted to commander of the 11th Army. , what will those veteran division commanders think? Once the generals are brought into discord, the situation will be out of control. "
Hirohito nodded slightly when he heard this. Kanin Miyazaihito's worry was not unreasonable. Ishihara Wanji was in the 6th and 30th period, while the commander of the 13th Division, Kaozhou Rihei, was in the 28th period. The division commander of the 17th Division, Honma Masaharu, is in the 27th period. They are all seniors of Ishihara Wanji. Now that Ishihara has climbed on top of them, they will definitely be extremely unhappy. On the battlefield, if they refuse to carry out orders or do anything inappropriate What you do is likely to happen again and again.
But soon, Hirohito made up his mind again, raised his head and said: "Uncle Emperor, what you said makes sense. When we selected candidates for front army and group army commanders before, it was because of this factor that we focused on qualifications, but The previous defeats of the Central China Condemnation Army fully proved that seniority-based ranking is really outdated."
Kanin Gong Zaijin could only keep his mouth shut, because what Hirohito said was also true.
The previous three commanders of the Central China Sentence Force, from Matsui Iwane to Sugiyama Moto, and then to Hata Shunroku, were all selected based on seniority rather than military ability. The final results were also quite dismal. Matsui Iwane was selected because of Emperor Toshihiko. His uncle's army was shattered and the Shigeto detachment was destroyed. Sugiyama Gengara committed suicide by caesarean section due to the collective destruction of the Kawaguchi detachment and the disastrous defeat of the Sixth Division. Shunroku Hata, the samurai swordsman, is now dying of vomiting blood!
Facts have proved that the performance of the three commanders who came up in terms of seniority was unsatisfactory.
Now that Emperor Hirohito insists on making appointments based on ability, Kanin Palace Zaihito has nothing to say.
However, Hanyuan Gong Zairen was still not willing to accept it. After a moment of silence, he continued: "Your Majesty, Ishihara Wanji has just been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general less than two months ago. Now he will serve as the commander of the group army. It is too hasty. The veteran has a A more suitable candidate can be qualified for the position of commander of the Eleventh Army."
Hirohito asked: "Uncle Emperor, who is this?"
Hanyin Palace Zai Ren said: "Minister of the Army, Sakagaki Seishiro."
"Sakagaki Seishiro?" Hirohito pondered, "Well, this man is a good fighter, and I remember that he is a student of the 28th batch of the 6th University, right? His qualifications are barely enough. He is the candidate for the commander of the 11th Army. Him."
After a short pause, Hirohito continued: "So, who is the candidate for the commander of the Condemnation Army in Central China?"
Xianyuan Gong Zairen said: "As for the candidate to be the commander of the Central China Condemnation Army, it can only be Nishio Hisao."
"Nishio Hisao?" Hirohito Hiroben forced his memory, and the resume of Nishio Hisao immediately came to mind. This person and the former commander of the Central China Condemnation Army, Hata Shunzou, were classmates at the same time at the 6th University. During the graduation season, Hata Shunzou was the president. The result was first place, and thus earned the reputation of Xi Saber. Nishio Hisao ranked second, beaten by Shunroku Hata.
After a while, Hirohito finally nodded and said: "Yoshi, it's settled. Immediately promote Nishio Hiszog to the rank of General of the Army, and ask him to take over the affairs of dispatching the Condemnation Army in Central China as soon as possible. And Sakagaki Seishiro, ask him to immediately take charge of the General Department." The matter was handed over to Hideki Tojo, who flew to China within two days and assumed the post of commander of the Eleventh Army."
"Hai." Hanyuan Gong Zairen paused heavily, turned around and was about to leave, but Hirohito called him back.
"Wait a minute." Hirohito called back to Kanin Gong Zaijin, and continued, "And Ishihara, after all, is a capable person. It would be a pity to be idle in the country like this. He should be sent to the Kwantung Army as chief of staff. .”
Before Ishihara Wanji was transferred to the commander of Hewu Fortress, he was the director of the Kwantung Army Staff Department.
At that moment, Xianyuan Gong Zai Renton said: "Hai, then transfer Ishihara to serve in the Kwantung Army."
"There's more." Kanin Gongzai Ren just turned around to leave, but was stopped by Hirohito for the second time, and said, "Uncle Imperial, before I ask Sakagaki to take office, you should take the time to visit the Imperial Palace anyway. I have something to say. You must tell him with your own mouth.”
"Hai." Xianyuan Gong Zairen paused again, turned around and left. This time he was not stopped again.
After leaving the Imperial Palace, Kanin Gong Zaijin immediately saw Ishihara Wanji standing at the gate of the Imperial Palace and refusing to leave.
Seeing Hanyuan Gong Zairen, Ishihara smiled quickly and took two steps forward to greet: "Your Highness the Prince!"
"Ishihara-san." Hanyin Gong Zairen waved his hand and said with a smile, "I would like to congratulate you. His Majesty has appointed you as the Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army, and you will take office within half a month."
"Hai!" Ishihara smiled and paused, feeling ecstatic in his heart.
Ishihara Kanji was a little disappointed when he failed to become the commander of the Eleventh Army and cross the threshold of division commander. However, being able to return to the Kwantung Army as chief of staff was also a good result, because in Ishihara Kanji's heart There is another plan, a plan even bigger than the September 18th Incident! (To be continued.)