Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

Okabe Naosaburo's opposition was resounding, clear, and to the point! He was like a bucket of cold water, pouring it harshly on the blazing fire of Itagaki Seishirō's ambition!

Itagaki Seishirō's face instantly turned livid! He stood up abruptly, his eyes burning with anger and dissatisfaction at being questioned: "Chief of Staff Okabe! You are too conservative! How can war be without risks?!

The opportunity for battle is fleeting! Yan Xishan and the Nanjing government are at loggerheads! This is the perfect time to defeat them one by one!

As for logistics! Although the Zhengtai Railway is not completely under our control, the main strongholds along the line are in our hands!

As long as we act quickly and capture Taiyuan with lightning speed! Open up the Tongpu Railway! Logistical problems will naturally be solved! As for mountain warfare!

"Our Fifth Division is the most elite division of the Imperial Army! Overcoming adversity and invincibility, we are invincible! How can we compare to the mere Shanxi-Suiyuan Army?! With the right tactics and concentrated firepower, we will surely be able to crush our enemies!"

He waved his arms excitedly: "Chief of Staff Okabe! You only see the difficulties! You don't see the huge fruits of victory! Take Shanxi! Open up the way for Mongolia to destroy the Song Dynasty!

This is a feat that could change the entire course of the war! It's a crucial step in the Empire's conquest of China! A few minor difficulties are no reason for us to hesitate! "With that, he turned to Terauchi Juichi and said, 'Commander! Please trust me! Trust the Fifth Division!'"

"General Itagaki! This isn't about standing still! This is about assessing the situation!" Okabe Naozaburo didn't back down, his voice rising a few notches: "No matter how strong the Fifth Division is, it's not a formidable force! Shanxi has a complex terrain, and Yan Xishan has been operating there for years. How can he easily conquer it?

Once the war becomes stalemated and becomes a quagmire!!

The Pinghan and Jinpu fronts are undermanned! The consequences are disastrous! We cannot gamble with the fate of our empire!

The two exchanged sharp words, exchanging sharp attacks! Itagaki Seishirō, like an enraged lion, his eyes red and his imposing manner intensifying, constantly emphasized the strategic opportunities and prospects for victory!

Okabe Naozaburo, however, remained unyielding, repeatedly stressing the practical difficulties, the enormous risks, and the logistical challenges. The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.

Terauchi Hisaichi frowned, and his fingers tapped the table faster and faster.

He was attracted by Itagaki's ambition and strategic vision, but felt great pressure from Okabe's calm analysis and realistic considerations.

He was in deep conflict.

Zhou Zhengqing still sat quietly by the side, like an outsider.

He picked up the wine glass and took a sip of sake. The wine was cold and slid into his throat, but it seemed to have a hint of rusty blood.

His eyes were lowered, as if he was admiring the amber luster of the wine in the glass, or as if he was in deep thought.

At this moment, Sakurako, the maid standing behind him, took another extremely slight half step forward.

She leaned slightly to the side and gracefully filled Zhou Zhengqing's empty glass with sake.

The moment she leaned over, her eyes quickly and imperceptibly swept over the quarreling Itagaki and Okabe, and then she quickly lowered her eyes and resumed her submissive look with lowered brows.

The corners of her mouth curled up in an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible arc, with a hint of sarcasm as if she saw through everything.

Zhou Zhengqing caught Sakurako's fleeting change in expression.

It was clear in her mind that Sakurako was silently expressing her opinion.

Two clowns...

Itagaki's ambition is like a raging fire, seemingly brilliant but actually dangerous. Okabe's caution is like a rock, seemingly conservative but actually prudent.

In Sakurako's eyes, this argument was nothing more than the friction and collision between two parts of the crazy chariot of the empire.

Zhou Zhengqing put down his wine glass and looked at Terauchi Hisaichi calmly, his voice gentle but with just the right amount of "concern": "Commander, General Itagaki is determined to make progress, and his heart is commendable.

This route... indeed, as he said, goes straight to the heart of the matter. If successful, the Empire will gain a decisive advantage in the war in China."

Then he changed the subject slightly, his tone a little cautious: "However, as Chief of Staff Okabe said, Shanxi is not an easy place to conquer. Yan Xishan has been managing the country for many years, and he has the advantage of both the terrain and the people.

Moreover... this plan has a far-reaching impact on the entire system. It requires mobilizing the main force of the front army to advance westward. The pressure on the Pinghan and Jinpu fronts will be suddenly reduced, which may give the Chinese army a chance to breathe.

Logistical support is of paramount importance.

How to choose and strike a balance requires careful consideration by the Commander and his colleagues in the General Staff."

Zhou Zhengqing bowed slightly as he spoke: "My duties are limited to the security and intelligence support of the Tianjin Garrison. I dare not make any rash remarks on such major strategic decisions.

I only hope that His Excellency the Commander will be able to plan and win the battle thousands of miles away."

Zhou Zhengqing spoke some ambiguous nonsense, which not only affirmed the strategic value of the Itagaki plan, but also matched his identity as an "imperial aristocrat".

He also emphasized the risks and difficulties pointed out by Okabe, which was in line with his position as a "bystander who sees more clearly". Finally, he pushed the decision-making power back to Terauchi Hisaichi with a humble and appropriate attitude.

Terauchi Juichi looked at Zhou Zhengqing deeply, with a glimmer of admiration in his eyes.

"This kid is growing up so fast. He's very deep-minded and hard to understand."

Nodding, Terauchi Juichi said softly, "You're quite right. This matter...really requires careful consideration. After I return, I'll inform the country and get the General Staff's opinion."

Turning to Itagaki and Okabe who were still arguing, his voice regained its usual calm and authority: "Itagaki-kun! Okabe-kun! Calm down!"

Itagaki Seishirō and Okabe Naosaburo immediately stopped arguing, as if the pause button had been pressed, but their eyes were still full of defiance and persistence.

Terauchi Juichi's eyes swept across the exciting route on the map, then across the complex topographical markings of Shanxi, and finally landed on Itagaki Seishirō's face, which was flushed with excitement: "Itagaki-kun, your concept is of great strategic value.

The Front Command will study it carefully, but!"

Terauchi Juichi's voice suddenly became more serious: "As Chief of Staff Okabe and General Takazaki said, the risks are enormous! Logistics support is the top priority! We must not fight an unprepared battle!

You must go back immediately and submit a written report of your detailed battle plan, including troop deployment, logistics support plan, especially the control and transportation guarantee along the Zhengtai Railway, estimated timetable, risk assessment and response plan!

Send it to my office tomorrow morning! I'm going to call in the Chief of Staff, the division commanders, and the head of the logistics department for a detailed evaluation!

Before the assessment results come out, no troops shall act on their own!"

"Hey!" Itagaki Seishirō's eyes flashed with resentment, but facing Terauchi Juichi's order, he could only straighten his back and shout, "As you command! I will do my utmost to perfect the plan! I will sacrifice my life for the great cause of the empire!"

Okabe Naosaburo also breathed a sigh of relief and bowed, saying, "Hey! Commander, your Excellency is wise!"

. . . . . . . . . . . .

The sliding door of "Jujian" opened, and the noisy sounds from the banquet hall outside instantly poured in.

Zhou Zhengqing stepped out, and the gentle smile on his face disappeared instantly, leaving only coldness and indifference in the depths of his eyes.

Shi Yingzi followed him silently like a shadow.

Zhou Zhengqing walked towards the door of the banquet hall, passing through the officers and overseas Chinese leaders who were toasting each other and immersed in the frenzy of victory.

Behind him, the door of "Kiku-no-Ma" closed silently, isolating Terauchi Juichi and his chess game full of blood and ambition into another world.

As I walked out of the door, the cool night wind blew on my face.

Zhou Zhengqing looked up at the lead-gray night sky of Tianjin City, with a cold arc at the corner of his mouth.

"Yingzi," Zhou Zhengqing's voice was low and calm, as if he was talking to himself, "Tell me... can Itagaki Seishiro's fire be ignited?"

Yingzi bowed slightly and said softly, "Master, the fire has been ignited and the ambition is hard to extinguish. I think Itagaki Seishiro is not someone who gives up easily."

Zhou Zhengqing smiled silently, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "Yes... But, if they can light the fire themselves and burn it more vigorously... that's also good.

"It's just that... the rocks of Taihang Mountain are probably much harder than Itagaki Seishiro imagined."

He walked down the stairs, and his figure blended into the dark night of Tianjin City.

An even more bloody and cruel stranglehold surrounding Shanxi has quietly begun in the debate just now in "Chrysanthemum".