Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

At this moment, the conference room of the Japanese Army General Staff Headquarters was filled with smoke.

Matsui Iwane's Central China Expeditionary Army was besieged in Nanjing by the Kwantung Army, the North China Area Army, and even the navy.

At the conference table, the generals representing the highest authority in the Japanese army sat on both sides, their faces filled with anxiety and anger.

"This is an unprecedented disgrace in the history of the Imperial Army!" Director of Education Shunroku Hata slammed his fist on the table, his voice echoing in the conference room.

Major General Akira Muto, Director of the Military Affairs Bureau of the Army Ministry, took over the conversation, speaking in a relatively calm tone: "General Hata, I understand your anger."

But we must face reality. Currently, around Nanjing, the Kwantung Army, the North China Area Army, a total of seven divisions, and the Third Fleet of the Navy have formed an encirclement of the Central China Expeditionary Army.

He stood up and walked towards the huge map of Central China: "If we forcibly order the suppression of the 'rebels' now, the result may be the collapse of the entire China front. More importantly, who can we send to rescue Matsui Iwane? The North China Area Army? Or should we transfer new divisions from the mainland?"

Muto Akira's words resonated with the pragmatic generals.

Lieutenant General Yoshijiro Umezu, Vice Minister of the Army, nodded slightly: "Mr. Muto is absolutely right. Seventy percent of our forces in China have been drawn into this conflict. If we do not handle it properly, all our efforts in the war in China may be in vain."

However, hardliners completely dismissed this.

Military Advisor General Sadao Araki sneered: "According to your logic, should we submit to these traitors?"

Today they can besiege the Central China Expeditionary Army, tomorrow they could march on Kyoto!

The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly became tense.

The two sides held diametrically opposed views, and the debate intensified.

Army senior general Shigeru Honjo raised a crucial question: "What exactly enabled Takuto Takasaki to mobilize the Kwantung Army and the North China Area Army?"

He was just a military police commander.

This question touched a nerve with everyone present.

No one answered.

It's not that I don't know, but I can't say it too clearly...

In the awkward atmosphere, Muto Akira stepped forward and vaguely explained, "According to the intelligence we have, Takasaki has established contact with the Kwantung Army through some channel. More importantly, he controls a secret supply distribution channel from which each division can profit."

Vice Chief of the Naval General Staff, Lieutenant General Mineichi Koga, steered the conversation in the direction of the Navy's warning: "The Navy's Third Fleet has clearly supported Takasaki's side. If a full-scale conflict breaks out within our Army, the Navy may take the opportunity to expand their influence."

Amid this controversy, Major General Hitaro Kurai, Chief of Operations of the General Staff, made a shocking statement: "I believe that Iwane Matsui disobeyed military orders and privately placed a military police officer under house arrest, and was the instigator of all this chaos."

I support Takasaki Takuto; Matsui must be court-martialed!

Kurai's statement sparked even greater controversy.

Lieutenant General Anami, Director of the Personnel Bureau of the Army Ministry, immediately retorted: "Mr. Kurai, you are defending treason! Whatever Matsui did should be dealt with by the military according to the law, not through a mutiny!"

As the debate deepened, the main arguments of both sides gradually became clear.

Hardliner Shunroku Hata insisted that "authority cannot be challenged and military discipline must be maintained with an iron fist."

If we back down this time, there will be more instances of subordinates overthrowing their superiors in the future.

Sadao Araki supports this view: "The Imperial Army is powerful because of its strict discipline."

Anyone who violates this discipline must be severely punished, even if it means paying a price in the short term.

Meanwhile, the pragmatic Muto Akira warned: "Currently on the front lines, Takasaki Takuto's side has gained the support of the Kwantung Army, the North China Area Army, and the Navy, while the Central China Expeditionary Army has basically lost its combat effectiveness."

If we order a crackdown now, it could trigger a full-blown civil war.

Yoshijiro Umezu added, "More importantly, the international community is closely watching our actions in China."

If a large-scale conflict were to break out within the Japanese army, the Western powers might seize the opportunity to intervene, and all our efforts in China could be in vain.

Just as the stalemate reached its climax, General Yu Heng, who had been observing from the sidelines, finally spoke up: "Gentlemen, shouldn't we consider a deeper question: why are so many troops standing with Takasaki against Matsui?"

Ukō Kazunari's problem touched upon long-standing factional conflicts within the Japanese Army.

In fact, the conflict between Matsui Iwane and Takasaki Takuto was far more than just a personal grudge.

The long-standing antagonism between the Imperial Way faction and the Control faction played a key role in this crisis.

As an important figure in the Imperial Way Faction, Matsui Iwane had a long-standing conflict with the Control Faction.

The conflict between Takasaki Takuto and Matsui Iwane happened to coincide with this opportunity, which helped them gain the support of the Control Faction generals.

The deeper reason was the redistribution of power within the Japanese Army.

As the war of aggression against China expanded, various factions within the army vied for control of the occupied territories in China.

The Central China Expeditionary Army, led by Matsui Iwane, controlled the wealthy Central China region, which had long aroused the jealousy of other factions.

Araki Sadao pointed out: "According to the intelligence we have obtained, the reason why the commander of the North China Area Army, Terauchi Hisaichi, sent troops south was because he coveted the resources and control of the Central China region."

As the debate reached its climax, the side door of the conference room was pushed open, and Prince Kan'in Kotohito slowly walked in.

As the person in charge of the army sent by the royal family, his arrival immediately silenced the entire room.

"Gentlemen," Prince Kan'in Kotohito's voice was calm yet full of authority, "I have already heard your discussion in the next room. This is an extremely serious situation that involves the very foundation of the Imperial Army."

He looked around the room and continued, "I don't think the military should make a final decision on this matter."

I will recommend that His Majesty the Emperor make a personal decision.

This suggestion surprised everyone present.

General Yu Hengyi immediately expressed his support: "Your Highness is wise. Such an important matter should indeed be decided by His Majesty."

Prince Kan'in then proposed a specific plan: "The military will remain silent and not issue any orders to either side until His Majesty makes a decision."

At the same time, Prince Asaka Yasuhiko was dispatched as a special envoy to Nanjing, demanding an immediate ceasefire from all parties and temporarily assuming command of the Central China Area Army.

“However,” he said, his tone suddenly turning stern, “the military must learn a lesson from this incident.”

After the war, we must carry out thorough reforms, eliminate insubordination, and restore discipline to the army.

This decision effectively meant that the military relinquished its initiative in handling the crisis, but it also prevented the immediate need to make difficult choices.

Most of the generals present agreed, except for hardliners like Hata Shunroku, who showed dissatisfaction, but dared not openly oppose it in the face of Prince Kan'in Kotohito's authority.

This decision by the military headquarters marked a significant change in the power structure within the Japanese Army.