Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 178

The fact that the Japanese navy acted alone was indeed a bit beyond Zheng Yi's expectations, but when he thought about it carefully, it was not surprising.

After all, the relationship between Japan's navy and army is world-famous, and the screws have to be turned in reverse.

Going north to Outer Mongolia, the scale of the war has become so large, this is naturally the so-called northward strategy.

To go north, we need to use the army.

At present, the Japanese army has dispatched four elite divisions in the Bayinzong area. If the scale continues to expand, how can their navy hold its head up in the future?
Besides, what's the point of going north? Even if Outer Mongolia has oil, that broken place has no industry and no agriculture. Can it solve the basic problems facing the Empire of Japan?

Therefore, taking advantage of the opportunity before the Soviet-Japanese War continued to expand, the navy took the initiative to attack, provoke Britain and the United States, resolutely implement the plan to go south, and enhance the importance of the navy. Their motivation was.

As for the little Japan, whether its army went to war with the Soviet Union and its navy went to war with Britain and the United States or not was like looking for death by holding a lantern in the toilet, that is not our business.

This is even crazier than Japan in history!
You, Wu Dalang, drink the giraffe's milk, jumping high and sucking it.

Wu Dalang married Kardashian, he doesn't know his own limits.

Zheng Yi speculated that because of himself, the Imperial Way faction in Japan in this time and space should be much more powerful than in history. Otherwise, if the Control Faction was still in power within the military, they would not be able to do such an abstract thing.

The essence of the Imperial Way Faction is actually a revolutionary faction. The soil for its emergence is actually the dissatisfaction of the lower-level military personnel with the upper-level powerful people's monopoly of social wealth, resources, and power, and it is a product of Japan's unique militarism.

In history, the Imperial Way Faction was never really suppressed, but rather merged with the Control Faction. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been so many independent figures in the Japanese army that Hirohito couldn't control.

And in this time and space, because of Zheng Yi, Japan's aristocrats, chaebols, and capitalists actually lived better than in history, even much better.

It is no exaggeration to say that at least one-third of the chaebols and aristocrats are connected with Zheng Yi. Most of them would not be able to move all their factories and fortunes to Penang as high-profile as Toyota Risaburo did.

But he secretly sold some things to Zheng Yi, secretly deposited some money in the Yasuda Bank in Penang, or secretly smuggled some civilian products and luxury goods with Zheng Yi.

Aren’t most of those in Tokyo, Manchukuo, and the anti-smuggling brigades children from Edo and Tokyo?

In addition, there is Zheng Yi’s tireless promotion by the Voice of Freedom.

The gap between the rich and the poor in Japan did not decrease because of the war, or rather, it did decrease, but the soldiers at the bottom of the society could not feel it at all.

The spread of the voice of freedom will have only two results when heard by the lower-class people in Japan.

One is envy, reflection, and the move towards the left, or perhaps they will secretly find a way to surrender in Penang.

In the war in Pattani, the Japanese army's capture rate was much higher than that of the Japanese army in the Chinese battlefield, and after being captured, they were often very cooperative and answered whatever was asked. This was all thanks to the Voice of Freedom.

There were even some squadrons and even companies that would actually surrender as a whole, hoping to stay in Penang and live a happy life.

Of course, most of these soldiers were sent to Rangoon, and it was impossible for them to enter Penang. Moreover, they were only allowed to surrender voluntarily. After laying down their guns, Zheng Yi could let them find jobs.

No matter how well-behaved the prisoners were, they would be sent to a prisoner-of-war camp and sent to Yangon to build the railway, and the railway would be built on the most dangerous sections.

The second is hatred.

This hatred is not just directed at Zheng Yi. In addition to their hatred for Zheng Yi, they actually still have some respect for him.

But for those capitalists who secretly smuggled second-hand textile machines to Zheng Yi, for those nobles who deposited money in Penang, for those chaebols who moved to Penang, and for traitors like Toyota Risaburo.

I'm so angry that my teeth are itching!
While we were fighting hard on the front line, you were colluding with our enemies in the back, selling the precious textile machines that should have been used to earn foreign exchange to our enemy Zheng Yi, and depositing the foreign exchange that should have been used to purchase strategic materials such as steel and oil in the Penang Bank.

These are a bunch of traitors!

But they don't have a goal yet.

But as their lives became worse and worse, social mobilization increased, each person received fewer and fewer bullets, ate less and less rice every day, and the side dishes became saltier and more monotonous.

This anger is all suppressed here.

Naturally, they would become more and more disdainful of the orders from the headquarters. The Imperial Way faction, which shouted slogans of loyalty to the emperor but actually wanted to kill any noble they saw, returned.

Although we haven't yet sent troops to Kyoto to punish the traitors, that's mainly because we don't know who to punish. We can't kill all the nobles in Edo Castle.

However, there are indeed more and more cases of people disobeying orders and walking around on their own.

Coupled with the hatred towards Zheng Yi, it is not surprising that he attacked Britain and the United States.

To put it bluntly, the core logic of the Imperial Way Faction is: [If I cannot achieve class transition through war, then I will drag you upper-class people to death with me.]

It may be difficult for modern people, especially Chinese, to understand how powerful energy a society will unleash when the gap between the rich and the poor in the society becomes too huge.

The Japanese army must have known that just firing two artillery shells at Penang, or even two artillery shells at the west coast, would have little impact on Penang and Zheng Yi.

Everyone has already torn their faces apart from each other, and even the declaration of war now is actually just that. It is not easy for the relationship between SAARC and Japan to get worse, because there is really no room for it to get worse.

However, this thing was still done, and through Zheng Yi's information channels, it was learned that for a full half month, the cabinet did not impose any substantial punishment on the naval officers involved in this incident.

On the contrary, there is a tendency within the navy to heroize him.

He actually knew that the Japanese cabinet had completely lost the reins of the military, and that the Imperial Way faction must have made a comeback, or even completely seized control of the control faction.

The attack on Penang was to vent anger, but the real purpose was to provoke Britain and the United States.

The Pacific War was inevitable.

Britain and the United States did not directly declare war on Japan, but actively increased their armaments and began to send more navy and air force to the South Pacific region. Britain even announced that it would send the legendary "Z Fleet" to Singapore.

The US military dispatched an additional 400 aircraft to Penang and Manila at once, and increased troops in Pearl Harbor. In just three months, an entire aircraft carrier formation was added. It is said that this is just the beginning, and more aircraft carrier formations are actually on the way.

It would be a bit difficult to ask them to directly attack the Japanese mainland and make a choice with Japan like Zheng Yi, mainly because many people think that there is no need for this.

Both Britain and the United States made a joint decision to respond to the call of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and completely impose a freight blockade on Japan, making it impossible for Japan to buy any supplies even if it spent money, and no one was allowed to buy supplies looted by Japan from China.

During these three months, after many twists and turns and the sacrifice of thousands of migrant workers, the Yunnan-Burma Railway was finally officially opened, and Zheng Yi finally ate the Yunnan potatoes he had been longing for.

Potato chips made from Yunnan potatoes are particularly delicious, and Zheng Yi even sent a large batch to the US and British troops for tasting.

Zheng Yi no longer cared about the task of aiding the war. All the guns and shells produced in Yangon were supplied to the local armed forces in Southeast Asia first, because the priority transportation capacity had now been contracted by the United States, and the United States officially began to provide military aid.

In addition to potatoes and minerals, Zheng Yi even gained a large population through the Yunnan-Burma Railway.

A rope to strangle Japan has been firmly placed around the neck of Japanese militarism, and both Britain and the United States are extremely tough, stating that there is no room for negotiation except unconditional surrender and complete withdrawal from Chinese territory.

In fact, if the Japanese government at all levels had their heads held high at this time, they could have waited for victory.

But unfortunately, among the nuclear recruits in the Showa era, there were very few normal people.

And those normal people all came to Zheng Yi.

"Mr. Zheng, Mr. Toyota is looking for you. He's brought a strange Japanese man with him. Do you want to meet him?"

In the laboratory, Zheng Yi was working tirelessly to help design and improve rocket weapons, but Li Lili suddenly came to him.

"Toyota Risaburo brought people to see me? Is there another big fish? Have you searched them?" "Yes, Ma Kui took them to the reception room."

"I wonder who it is?"

"I don't know, but looking at the Japanese man, he's very polite and he's carrying a gentleman's stick, which is quite unique."

"And he's carrying a gentleman's stick? Come on, I'll go see who this guy is."

Zheng Yi's laboratory is at the foot of Penang Hill, very close to the City Hall. The tunnels are connected, and he returned to the City Hall in less than fifteen minutes.

Toyota Risaburo and the strange Japanese man were drinking tea. Toyota Risaburo was now a prominent figure in Penang, the president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce. If it were not for his special and embarrassing identity as a Japanese, his status in Penang might not be much lower than that of Tan Kah Kee.

He was the host of Penang, and he personally made tea to entertain the guests with a smile on his face. On the contrary, the person opposite him looked sad and unhappy.

As soon as they met, Toyota Risaburo immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Mr. Zheng."

"I've already told you're from Penang, no need to be so polite. This is..."

"Let me introduce you, Mr. Zheng. This is my old friend, Yoshida M., who was once the Japanese ambassador to the UK."

"Brother Yoshida, this is the master of our Penang, and even the Southern Alliance, Zheng Yi, Mr. Zheng."

"Hi! Ariaduo, Mr. Zheng, please take care of me."

After Yoshida M introduced himself to Zheng Yi, he immediately did a standard 90-degree bow and stuck his butt high.

After sitting down, Zheng Yi couldn't help but be stunned for a moment: "Who? What's his name?"

Zheng Yi spoke in Chinese, but the man responded in Chinese as well: "Mr. Zheng, my name is Yoshida M. I have long heard of your great name, Mr. Zheng. I am very grateful to meet you today."

"Ah...Mr. Yoshida, can you speak Chinese?"

"Hi! Before the September 18th Incident, I served as Consul in Tianjin and Consul General in Shenyang."

"Ah... He was the Consul General in Shenyang before the September 18th Incident. I imagine Mr. Yoshida must have had something to do with it."

"Hi!"

Yoshida did not deny it, but simply admitted it, saying: "It is indeed true. I am guilty of the Northeast and I am guilty of China."

After saying that, he actually knelt down in front of Zheng Yi, and kowtowed to Zheng Yi.

"If Mr. Zheng is dissatisfied with me, I can commit suicide by disembowelment!"

Toyota Risaburo sat in the back like a transparent person, not saying a word, but patiently waiting for Zheng Yi's decision.

"Hey~"

Zheng Yi sighed and said, "Forget about committing seppuku. Considering your status, you've actually come to Penang on your own initiative, and even persuaded Brother Toyota to bring you to see me. I guess you've brought some useful information."

To be honest, Yoshida X, this person is not very famous in this era, but Zheng Yi really knows him. This person is very famous in the history after World War II.

In fact, even in this time and space, he is not a small character. After the February 26 Incident, he was supposed to be Japan's Foreign Minister, but because of his overly pro-European and American stance, he aroused opposition from the military, so he had to give up.

After all, Japan's society was crazy. The Minister of the Navy was robbed and beaten to death simply because he abided by the Washington Convention. As a pro-European and American representative, he was naturally marginalized.

But no matter how marginalized he is, as a person who almost became the foreign minister, he is at least one of the top politicians in Japan's diplomatic system.

Why did you come to Penang?
In a vague way, Zheng Yi actually had some idea of ​​why he came.

"Mr. Zheng, I came to you alone today not to betray my country. On the contrary, I believe I am saving Japan and His Majesty the Emperor. Only you, Mr. Zheng, can save the lives of our 60 million people. Penang is the future of the Japanese people."

"hehe."

Zheng Yi sneered but did not comment.

After that, Yoshida knelt on the ground, bowed deeply, and said, "I have no choice but to resort to this last resort. Those idiots in the army are too aggressive. Oshima, the bastard, dared to force the cabinet and the emperor to sign a military alliance treaty with Germany and Italy.
Mr. Zheng, once the contract is signed, Japan will be doomed, and Penang will probably become a battlefield."

This news certainly did not surprise Zheng Yi at all. However, Zheng Yi did not understand the details of Japan's internal affairs, and did not quite understand who the "Oshima thief" he was talking about was, and he did not understand how this became the army's idiot threatening Hirohito.

But this news is actually of no value to him.

He couldn't help but laugh. "I'm not surprised by this, Mr. Yoshida. You must have read my Japan Threat Theory. I've always believed that the Japanese army would definitely attack Southeast Asia, including Penang. That's how I convinced Mr. Toyota to build a factory in Penang."

"To be honest, I've been preparing for this day for a long time. I could even say I've been preparing for it all along. Your information is of little value to me."

"Could it be that you want to pass this secret information on to Britain, the United States, and other countries through me? With Mr. Yoshida's connections, there must be a way to contact Britain and the United States. Why go through me?"

"Mr. Yoshida, you're useless to me. Honestly, I don't even know why Brother Toyota brought you here to see me. Isn't this... a bit of a waste of my time?"

In fact, Zheng Yi looked down on him a little.

To put it bluntly, since the Japan-Germany Alliance was signed, these pro-European and American people were completely marginalized in Japanese politics.

In Zheng Yi's eyes, he was different from Toyota and others. Toyota Risaburo and Toyota Kiichiro were all capitalists and entrepreneurs who just wanted to do business well, especially the textile industry. In fact, they were all victims of militarism's foreign wars.

As for capitalists, in their worldview, relocating factories in order to make money is actually nothing wrong, and it is actually saving Japan.

But Yoshida is different. No matter what his personal political stance is, he is an official after all, and a senior official at that.

Someone who betrayed his own country just because he lost political power, and he was a high-ranking official at that, was such a person. Even Zheng Yi, who had been trying to steal Japan's talents, would look down on him from the bottom of his heart.

Yoshida was slightly surprised when he saw this. He didn't expect that Zheng Yi was completely uninterested in such top-secret information.

However, he was not disappointed, but continued: "Hey! Mr. Zheng is right. As a diplomat, I am actually not very useful.
However, today, I am not here to commit treason as an individual, but to bring the people behind me, the knowledgeable people in the navy, to negotiate with Mr. Zheng."

Zheng Yi was even more surprised when he heard this. "A knowledgeable person in the navy? Wasn't my Penang bombed by your navy?"

Yoshida: "Mr. Zheng, you don't know that the top brass of the Japanese Navy were unaware of this incident. It was entirely the work of the grassroots troops on the front lines."

"hehe."

Zheng Yi sneered at this and didn't believe it at all.

"Mr. Zheng, I'm here on behalf of the senior navy officers to apologize to you. If you are willing to accept our terms, we can secretly join the Southern Alliance."

"Huh? Joining the Southern Alliance? And in secret? And the leader is a high-ranking naval officer? Who? How high up? As high as a three or four-story building?"

"It's our Empire's Navy Minister, Mitsumasa Yonai."

"what?"

Zheng Yi even spat out the tea in his mouth.

"Who the hell are you talking about? Mine Mitsumasa? He's going to secretly join the Southern Alliance?"

(End of this chapter)