Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

The news that Matsui Iwane's temporary command post had been completely destroyed and that the commander himself was missing spread at an alarming speed among the remnants of the Central China Expeditionary Army who were still putting up a last stand outside Nanjing on January 29, 1938, through word of mouth among the defeated soldiers, the unusual silence on the radio, and the psychological warfare deliberately launched by the attacking side.

Initially, there were only scattered, fleeing soldiers, like frightened birds, spouting incoherent messages.

"Headquarters... has been overrun! It's all enemy territory! His Excellency the General... has disappeared!" Immediately afterward, the usual radio communications between the divisions, regiments, and headquarters fell into a long, unsettling silence.

In the past, even when the fighting was intense, the orders or inquiries that were received regularly were all interrupted at this moment.

Even more fatally, the attacking Kwantung Army and North China Area Army troops began repeatedly shouting into loudspeakers at the Central China Expeditionary Army's positions: "Matsui Iwane is dead! The Central China Expeditionary Army Headquarters has been destroyed! Resistance is pointless! Lay down your weapons immediately!"

These fragments of information, like heavy hammer blows, struck the already jittery defenders. Panic, like ripples, quickly expanded into a monstrous wave.

At the Mufushan position north of Nanjing, relying on the strategic terrain and strong permanent fortifications, the remaining 2,000 men of the 9th Division, under the command of Lieutenant General Yoshizumi Ryosuke, were still stubbornly resisting the fierce attack of the 2nd Division.

Although the artillery was running low on ammunition, it was still able to pose a threat to the attackers. The infantry, relying on tunnels and bunkers, repelled several assaults by the Sendai Division.

At around 7:40 a.m., Colonel Hiroshi Nakagawa, the division chief of staff, rushed into the division headquarters, his face pale and his steps unsteady.

He held in his hand an urgent intelligence report that he had just verified from the defeated soldiers and combined with assessments from various parties.

"Division Commander!" Hiroshi Nakagawa's voice trembled uncontrollably: "Headquarters... something terrible has happened."

Based on confirmation from multiple fleeing soldiers, and... and the complete loss of all communication with headquarters, it is determined that Commander Matsui's command post... may have been infiltrated and captured by enemy forces.

"Commander... his fate is unknown, it's very likely... he really died in battle!"

Standing in front of the battle map, Yoshizumi Ryosuke, his brow furrowed, suddenly swayed and had to brace himself against the table to avoid falling.

All the staff officers in the command post stopped what they were doing and stared in disbelief at their division commander.

The air froze instantly, leaving only the dull echo of shells exploding in the distance.

Yoshizumi Ryosuke slowly turned around. His face, which had been haggard from days of fierce fighting, was now completely drained of color, leaving only a deathly despair.

He stared blankly at Nakagawa Hiroshi, as if he hadn't heard clearly, or perhaps he simply didn't want to believe it.

A full minute passed before he asked in a hoarse, broken voice, "Is the news... accurate?"

“Based on intelligence from all sides… the probability… is extremely high.” Hiroshi Nakagawa lowered his head with difficulty: “The soldiers on the front lines have begun to stir. Although the 2nd Division’s offensive has been temporarily halted, their broadcast announcements… are consistent with this.”

Yoshizumi Ryosuke waved his hand weakly, signaling the staff to temporarily withdraw.

In the empty command post, only he and Hiroshi Nakagawa remained.

He walked to the observation hole and looked out at the mountains shrouded in smoke. That was once the battlefield where his 9th Division had "made great achievements," but now it had become the graveyard that buried the entire Central China Expeditionary Army.

He recalled his "illustrious achievements" in this battle, the soldiers who died on the Shanghai battlefield, and the triumphant spirit he felt when he captured Nanjing.

A chill ran down my spine and straight to the top of my head.

Without Matsui Iwane and the headquarters, the fate of the Central China Expeditionary Army was predictable; the achievements of these division commanders... would ultimately vanish like a bubble.

After a long while, he turned around, the last trace of fighting spirit in his eyes extinguished, replaced by utter exhaustion and resignation.

He sighed deeply to Nakagawa Hiroshi, his voice filled with endless sorrow: "The tide has turned... What's the point of continuing to resist if it's just to send these thousands of Kanazawa disciples to their deaths in vain?"

Inform Major General Yoshiyuki Akiyama of the 6th Brigade and Major General Noritoshi Ide of the 18th Brigade that, to save the lives of our soldiers... Pass on my order: All units... Cease fire, raise white flags, prepare... Lay down your weapons.

This order was like pulling the last backbone out of the 9th Division.

When the news spread, some of the remaining Japanese soldiers on the position collapsed to the ground with relief, some wept bitterly, and some even committed suicide out of despair.

The once invincible "Kanazawa Division" saw its beliefs crumble.

Meanwhile, the fighting was even more dire at the Yuhuatai position south of Nanjing.

This place was once the site of fierce battles fought by the Chinese defenders, but now it has become the burial ground for the 6th Division.

Division Commander Hisao Tani was also in dire straits at this moment.

His troops suffered more than 60% casualties, and their ammunition was long gone.

The soldiers were starving and freezing, many were fighting with injuries, and almost all of their heavy weapons had been destroyed. They could only rely on rifles, grenade launchers, and grenades to resist.

On the opposite side, the 7th Division, under the cover of tanks, launched wave after wave of fierce attacks.

When news of Matsui Iwane's disappearance reached the Yuhuatai command post through battlefield announcements and deserters, Tani Hisao was frantically hacking at the only intact chair in the command post with his military sword.

He resembled a trapped wild beast, his eyes bloodshot and bloodshot, his military uniform open, exuding a violent aura.

"Baka yarou! Nonsense! This is a rebel trick! How could headquarters be in trouble? Send someone to contact them personally immediately!" Tani Hisao was furious. He grabbed a major who came to report by the collar and spat in his face: "If you dare to undermine morale again, I'll chop you up!"

He smashed everything he could in the command post—radio, telephone, map board, kettle—his destructive urges seemed to want to destroy the whole world.

The staff officers remained silent, keeping their distance.

However, the reality is cruel.

Chief of Staff Colonel Shimotsuke risked incurring the wrath of the commander and stepped forward to earnestly advise, "Division Commander! Please calm down! The news... is probably true! Headquarters communications have been cut off for more than two hours, and all units at the front have reported hearing the same message."

Our ammunition is exhausted, our soldiers are weary, and the tanks of the 7th Division are closing in on our main positions! Continuing to resist means only... only total annihilation!

For the sake of leaving some seed for the 6th Division, for the sake of the people of Kumamoto, please... please consider the lives of our soldiers!

"The entire army was wiped out?" Tani Hisao gasped for breath, glaring fiercely at the deserter. "To die for His Majesty the Emperor is the glory of a soldier!"

"But Your Excellency!" Shimono knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face, "Even if it's shattered jade, it should have value! What is this now?"

To die at the hands of one's own people? Is that what His Majesty would want to see?

We...we've been abandoned!