Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

At the same time, in the 13th Division, Ogisu Rikuhei received a reply from the expeditionary force headquarters.

Matsui Iwane had no idea about the military police mobilization and was urgently verifying the situation.

"It seems this wasn't planned by the expeditionary force headquarters," Ogisu Rikuhei told his chief of staff. "This is an independent action by the military police system, which is very unusual."

. . . . . . . . . .

"I heard the military police have withdrawn." A veteran from the 149th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Division said as he checked his rifle, "Is something big going to happen?"

The young soldier beside him asked nervously, "What's going on? Are we retreating?"

"Retreat? The Imperial Army never retreats!" a sergeant interrupted. "Maybe they're reorganizing their attack sequence. I heard the military police from the 9th and 13th Divisions are also converging on us."

"That's strange." The soldier narrowed his eyes. "Why are the military police gathering together when they're not on the front lines maintaining discipline?"

Not far away, several soldiers watched a team of military police driving away from the front line with complicated expressions on their faces.

Military police are both supervisors and symbols of fear on the battlefield, and their sudden departure brings a sense of relief and unease.

"Maybe they're going on a special mission," a soldier speculated. "Maybe they're infiltrating behind enemy lines or capturing an important figure."

"Anyway, without them staring at me, I feel like I can breathe a little easier," another soldier whispered, causing some suppressed laughter.

However, the officers' concerns were more practical.

After learning of the unusual movement of the military police, Colonel Tatsuhiko Tsuda, commander of the 149th Regiment, immediately called the division headquarters to inquire about the situation, but was told that communications were temporarily restricted.

"This is totally abnormal," Ma Yuan said to his adjutant. "I must go to the division headquarters myself."

At this time, the 9th and 13th Division military police had basically completed their assembly and were advancing towards the 101st Division headquarters from different directions.

They marched in the dark, avoiding main roads and choosing relatively safe routes.

During the march, we received constant inquiries from various regiments, and we simply responded by saying that we were "carrying out special missions."

But they were also filled with questions: why were all the military police concentrated in the 101st Division at this critical moment? What happened there?

At dawn, the Yunzaobang front was shrouded in an eerie silence.

The fierce fighting that had lasted for several days seemed to suddenly stop at this moment. Only sporadic gunshots occasionally broke through the morning mist, reminding people that this was still a battlefield where life and death were at stake.

At the 101st Division headquarters, in a half-collapsed farmhouse, Division Commander Masayoshi Ito had not slept all night.

His eyes were bloodshot, and the map in front of him was densely marked with the positions of various troops and their casualties.

The most worrying report is from the 101st Wing. The wing currently has less than 400 combat personnel, and more than half of the officers at the battalion commander level have been killed or wounded.

"Mr. Division Commander, you should rest for a while." Chief of Staff Colonel Sato brought a cup of hot tea, his tone full of concern.

Ito Masaki shook his head, pressing his fingers to his temples. "How can I rest at a time like this? The soldiers are fighting so hard on the front lines, and I, the division commander, can't even give them a chance to rest."

He was referring to the request for rest and recuperation which was again rejected by the expeditionary force headquarters yesterday.

Commander Matsui Iwane's attitude was extremely tough, and he even threatened that if he mentioned retreat again, he would be held accountable for his command.

At this moment, the sound of car engines and dense footsteps suddenly came from outside the command center.

Masayoshi Ito thought they were wounded soldiers or reinforcements sent from the front line, but soon discovered that something was wrong.

"What's going on?" he asked with a frown, walking towards the entrance of the command center.

The scene before him made him stop in shock.

Hundreds of military police were quickly deployed to surround the headquarters. Some of them were from the 101st Division, but more of them had markings on their uniforms indicating they were from the 9th and 13th Divisions.

These military police acted professionally and efficiently, quickly establishing a three-layer cordon and even taking over the communications room and main entrances and exits.

"What are you doing?" Ito Masayoshi asked harshly, with suppressed anger in his voice.

Lieutenant Colonel Sato, the captain of the 101st Division's military police, walked over quickly, saluted, and replied with a complicated expression, "Your Excellency, we have received direct orders from the Tianjin Military Police Headquarters to cooperate with other divisional military police to ensure the safety of the division headquarters and welcome special observer Staff Officer Mitsuda Shoma."

"Tianjin Military Police Headquarters? Staff Officer Mitsuda?" Ito Masaki's brows furrowed even tighter. "Why didn't I receive any notification? What does this mean?"

Lieutenant Colonel Sato maintained his usual composure. "The order was issued solely through the military police system. Communication lines have been temporarily controlled to ensure the safety of its execution."

Masaki Ito felt that something was wrong.

Although the military police system is independent, it is still rare for it to be directly deployed to the front line during wartime, let alone take over the division headquarters guards and communications.

"Restore communications immediately!" Ito Masaki ordered, "I want to speak directly to the Expeditionary Force Headquarters!"

However, his orders were met with silent resistance.

Major Jiro Yamaguchi, the captain of the 9th Division's military police, stepped forward and said politely but firmly, "Excuse me, Division Commander, before Staff Officer Mitsuda arrives, all external communications must be reviewed by the military police. This is for your safety, and you cannot initiate any external communications."

"My safety?" Ito Masaki almost exploded. "What special protection do I need at my own headquarters? From whom?"

Before he could finish his words, a communications officer came running over: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, there's an urgent message from the Expeditionary Force Headquarters! They seem to have learned of the unusual situation here."

Ito Masaki looked at Yamaguchi Jiro and said, "Humph, I haven't contacted anyone, but as the division commander, the expeditionary force commander is looking for me. Do you dare to stop me?!"

Yamaguchi Jiro quickly bowed and said, "Smith, we have received orders to prevent any external contact. You can go and answer the phone."

"Hmph..." Ito Masaki raised his head, snorted in disdain, walked quickly into the communication room and picked up the microphone.

Commander Matsui Iwane's voice roared from the other end: "Ito-kun, what on earth are you doing? If your troops are afraid of fighting, commit seppuku to apologize! Don't play such tricks!"

Ito Masaki explained bitterly, "Commander, I have just learned about this as well. This is an independent action by the military police system. I am also shocked and puzzled."

"I don't care about the military police system!" Matsui Iwane's voice was as cold as iron. "If we miss the opportunity for a general attack, even seppuku wouldn't be enough to atone for your sins! Organize an attack immediately!"

Ito Masaki gripped the microphone, his fingers exerting force as he spoke in an urgent voice, "Sir, my division has lost two-thirds of its soldiers, and more than half of its officers have been killed or wounded.

If we continue to attack with all our might, not only will all our soldiers be annihilated, but even the imperially bestowed regimental flag may be captured by the Chinese army!"

He specifically mentioned the regimental flag, the soul of the troops bestowed by the Emperor himself, whose loss would mean the destruction of the organization and eternal shame.

Matsui Iwane roared, "Imperial soldiers must die for the flag! This is honor! Organize an attack immediately, this is the final order!"

The call was rudely hung up.