Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

Zhou Zhengqing actually doesn't like crowds, so he rarely talks to people at banquets. Even if he occasionally chats with people, he only says two or three sentences before he stops talking.

However, the more he acted like this, the more others felt that this was due to the arrogance cultivated by top aristocrats. No one even thought that Zhou Zhengqing was unkind. Instead, they felt that top aristocrats should be like this and keep strangers away.

Just when Zhou Zhengqing felt bored and was wondering when the banquet would end.

Terauchi Juichi came up again...

The hustle and bustle of the banquet hall came to an abrupt end at the door of a Japanese-style room called "Kiku-no-Ma" at the end of the corridor, as if separated by a thick layer of frosted glass.

The sliding door slid open silently, and a mixture of fine incense sticks, the fragrance of tatami mats, and an invisible pressure blew in the air.

The interior is minimalist, with only a large rosewood low table and a few elegant paper lanterns emitting a soft glow. Terauchi Juichi and Zhou Zhengqing (Takazaki Takuto) have just taken their seats when hurried but deliberately quiet footsteps sound outside the door.

"Commander-in-Chief! General Takazaki! I'm so sorry! I'm late!"

Itagaki Seishirō's figure appeared at the door.

He was wearing a neat uniform of a lieutenant general of the army, with his discipline buttons fastened meticulously, but beads of sweat were oozing from his forehead and his breathing was a little rapid, obviously he had been running all the way.

Behind him followed two staff officers with equally tense expressions and thick briefcases tucked under their arms.

Itagaki's eyes quickly swept across the room, lingering briefly on Terauchi Juichi. Then, he turned solemnly to Zhou Zhengqing, bowed deeply, and lowered his posture very low. "General Takazaki! It is my fault that I was unable to attend the banquet in time to listen to your great achievements and profound remarks on the affairs of the concession. I sincerely ask for your forgiveness!"

Zhou Zhengqing sat on a cushion to the side of the main seat, with a relaxed posture, playing with a warm jade wine glass in his hand.

She raised her eyes slightly and her gaze fell calmly on Itagaki Seishirō's face, which was tense with anxiety but trying hard to force an apologetic smile.

He maintained a gentle smile and said, "General Itagaki, your words are too serious. I am busy with military affairs, so it is understandable. Please take a seat."

"Hey! Thank you for your understanding!" Itagaki Seishirō bowed again as if he had been pardoned, and then sat down opposite Terauchi Hisaichi a little awkwardly.

The two staff officers stood behind him like javelins, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Terauchi Juichi frowned slightly, clearly displeased with Itagaki's lateness and his impatience. However, due to Zhou Zhengqing's presence, he couldn't get angry. He simply asked in a deep voice, "Itagaki-kun, what's the rush?"

Itagaki Seishirō took a deep breath, his eyes flickering between Terauchi Juichi and Zhou Zhengqing. A hint of hesitation flashed across his face, and then, as if he had made up his mind, he leaned forward slightly, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitement and eagerness: "Your Excellency, Commander! I'm here to discuss the next steps in the Empire's war in North China. I have an extremely important operational plan that I urgently need to report to Your Excellency the General!"

This matter... is crucial to whether the Empire can completely defeat the main force of the Chinese army within the year and force the Nanjing government to surrender!

Hearing this, Zhou Zhengqing prepared to get up.

"Hey, General Takazaki, what are you doing?" Itagaki Seishiro quickly grabbed Zhou Zhengqing's hand and said.

"Well, aren't you going to discuss important matters with General Terauchi? Would it be inappropriate for me to stay here? After all, I'm not from your army." Zhou Zhengqing explained.

When Itagaki Seishirō heard Zhou Zhengqing say this, a respectful smile instantly spread across his face. "General Takazaki, you're too kind! These are just some of my ideas. With your input, they will surely be more perfect!" After saying this, Itagaki Seishirō looked at Terauchi Hisaichi and said, "Commander-in-Chief, please take a look..."

Terauchi Hisaichi looked at Zhou Zhengqing deeply and laughed.

I clearly just said that I invited him here to listen to what Itahune Seishiro was anxious to say, but now I have to act as if I am trying to avoid suspicion. It's really...

He glanced at Itagaki Seishirō's unconcealed anxiety, and understood, nodding slightly: "Alright, General Takazaki is not an outsider, Itagaki-kun, you can talk here."

"Hi!" Itagaki Seishirō's spirits lifted, like a beast about to start hunting, a sharp light suddenly burst out in his eyes!

He suddenly took a scroll map from the staff officer behind him and spread it out on the rosewood low table with a "swish"!

It was an extremely detailed military map of northern China, with densely packed troop numbers, defense lines, and transportation lines marked on it with pencils and inks of different colors.

"Your Excellency, Commander! Your Excellency, Takazaki!" Itagaki Seishirō's finger, like an eagle's claw, jabbed heavily at the "Nankou" location northwest of Peking on the map. "Ever since late August, when our Fifth Division defeated Tang Enbo's elite troops in the Battle of Nankou and opened up the eastern section of the Pingsui Road, I have been stationed in Huailai and Xuanhua!"

His finger slid westward along the Pingsui Railway, stopping at the border between Shanxi and Hebei. "I'm not slacking off! I'm constantly observing and studying! Studying the entire North China! And even the entire war situation in China!"

He raised his head, his eyes swept over Terauchi Juichi and Zhou Zhengqing, and his voice was filled with the confidence and enthusiasm unique to strategists: "At present, the 6th Division, 14th Division, and 20th Division of the First Army of the North China Front Army have moved south along the Pinghan Road.

The spearhead is pointed directly at Baoding and Shijiazhuang! Its momentum is unstoppable! However...

Itagaki Seishirō suddenly changed the subject, pointing his finger at Shanxi on the map, his voice becoming serious: "Your Excellency! The main forces of our Second Army's 10th, 16th, and 108th Divisions are still assembling and have not yet been fully deployed to the battlefield!

At this moment, the main force of our North China Front Army is like a huge fist, punching southward along the Pinghan and Jinpu railway lines! But!

His fingers tapped hard on the border between Shanxi and Hebei on the map! "Our flank! Our weak spot! Right here, Shanxi!"

Itagaki Seishirō's voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable sense of urgency: "Commander! General Takazaki! Please look!

Shanxi! Its terrain is dangerous! Its overall altitude is much higher than the North China Plain! In military geography, it is known as a "scenic spot"!

If the Chinese army uses Shanxi as a base and concentrates its forces in the Taihang and Luliang Mountains, it can advance from a high position and swoop down at any time.

Attack our Pinghan Road and Zhengtai Road supply lines! Cut off our southward army's retreat! If we retreat, we can rely on the strong passes and dangerous passes to hold our ground!

If our army attempts to attack by force, it will pay a heavy price! This is a serious threat!"

He took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a venomous light: "This is just from a defensive perspective! If we look at it from an offensive perspective..."

Commander! Lord Takazaki! Shanxi's strategic value is immeasurable!"