Canteen System Assistance Notes

Sergeant Okubo, who was stationed at the Banbi Mountain stronghold, had always thought so.

"Sergeant Okubo, who on earth did the higher-ups send over here this time?"

Looking at the soldiers who were sent to water and sweep the floor, another sergeant and Sergeant Okubo were smoking and chatting casually. Sergeant Araki took two deep puffs, put out the filter-tipped cigarette, and put it back into the cigarette box. He took a long breath and said slowly,

"Things like this are decided by the superiors. How would I know?"

Glancing at the cigarette the sergeant handed him, he lowered his voice and whispered, "Araki-san, it is said that a staff officer personally led the team. If he is a staff officer, he must be at least a major!" "Oh! In that case, such a cumbersome cleanup is understandable," Sergeant Araki showed an expression of understanding and nodded, "Should we report this to the squadron leader..."

Araki and Okubo both smiled awkwardly at this remark. The squadron leader, the highest-ranking lieutenant, who was supposed to be in charge here, was still in office, but now he was completely unable to perform his duties.

Just a few months ago, Ishibashi-san, the newly promoted lieutenant who replaced the martyred squadron leader, was leading a grain collection operation when he was attacked by the Eighth Route Army due to a reckless advance. It's said that a single mine explosion killed at least a dozen men before his eyes, leaving him covered in blood and flesh. He went completely mad, and now the entire squadron's authority is divided among several sergeants, warrant officers, and the like.

Fortunately, as a reserve division, the sergeants in the squadron are all 40-year-old veterans who are about to retire, so they have no problem managing the daily affairs.

Including this time for the shelter of an army pilot, they

It's also done well.

After verifying the other party's identity, Sergeant Okubo immediately thought of what happened almost a month ago - because someone attacked the forward airport in Shimen, he also received an order to "be more vigilant, move out more frequently, and strictly clear out the Eighth Route Red Army in the jurisdiction."

The sergeant, who accurately ignored the half-command at the back, realized that this pilot might have fallen into the hands of the enemy because of that incident - although the battle report did not mention that anyone was captured, Sergeant Okubo was an old soldier and he knew very well how much water was in the post-war situation report.

"However, if a soldier disappears for seven days and then returns to the unit, he will be considered a deserter and arrested by the military police."

Sergeant Araki also lit a cigarette for himself and pointed to the room where the pilot was resting. Now the guy named Saburo Sakaki was living in it very cooperatively.

The food and drinks were delivered by the orderlies, and it didn't cause them any trouble.

To be honest, Sergeant Araki had a good impression of him. "It's been almost a month. Is he okay?"

"Hey, he's a pilot, different from the rest of us. The Infantry Drill Manual doesn't cover pilots—even if it does, it's the responsibility of the Military Police and that lieutenant colonel." "But..."

"Hey! Araki-san, we're all about to retire, so stop meddling in other people's business!"

In the room, Saburo Sakaki was unaware that the two seemingly friendly sergeants were talking about him behind his back. After settling in, he asked the orderly to buy a can of ink, filled his pen, and then wrote in his diary or chatted with the curious soldiers.

During this period of time, Saburo Sakaki had too many things he wanted to record and share with others. Unfortunately, the Japanese soldiers who tried to communicate did not have much time to think about what they said. At the beginning, everyone just listened to it as a novelty and marveled at it. No one went to investigate the behavior of these Eighth Route Army soldiers - in their eyes, the Eighth Route Army soldiers were more like ghosts.

A merciless, frustrating, and terrifying enemy—after a while

After a while, no one came to chat with me anymore.

As a result, Sakaki could only write in his diary.

However, Sakaki was not surprised by this mentality: when he was first captured, and even when he was being chased relentlessly by villagers in the village late at night, he also regarded the Eighth Route Army as a terrifying enemy. When they had the opportunity to communicate in depth with the Eighth Route Army later, they would probably agree with his own thoughts.

I really wish the Eighth Route Army and the Imperial Army weren't enemies... Thinking of this, Sakaki Saburo put his pen on the table and stretched out his arms. It was such a shame that such a charismatic group could be his enemy. His sense of duty as an Imperial Army soldier still held him back, clouding his judgment.

Even in Saburo Sakaki's subconscious, there was a strange wish that the Eighth Route Army could survive the fierce offensive of the Imperial Army. There was a knock on the door, and the Sergeant Araki walked in, this time with two soldiers.

"Sakaki-san! Come out quickly, someone is here to pick you up!

"They are from the division headquarters, we must welcome them well!" "Hey, no problem!"

Sakaki put on his coat and walked out the door together.

Chapter 125 Return to Humbleness

Saburo Sakaki had expected his fetcher to meet him at the base, bring a horse or a motorbike, and lead him back to the group. With any luck, he might even receive some consolation for surviving. While reprimands and punishments were inevitable, he hadn't anticipated meeting him directly in the dungeon—as interrogator and interrogated, of course.

The dungeon in the Salt Administration's basement was devoid of electricity, lit only by kerosene lamps. The air was thick with smoke and fire, making it increasingly oppressive. Sakaki's mind had returned to a state of grogginess from lack of oxygen. He was tied to a chair, his face still burning with pain—several San Pende hits had landed on it, leaving it swollen.

"Again, what's your name?"

"Sakaki... Saburo, I'm... Second Class Flight Sergeant of the 2nd Squadron of the 7th Air Wing... Machine Gunner..." "Tsk..."

The man's voice was filled with impatience. He emphasized: "Sakaki Saburo died a long time ago. Who are you and why are you stealing the title of the Imperial Warrior?

What is your intention?!"

“I’m not, I didn’t…”

Half asleep, Saburo Sakaki denied the absurd accusation. He fought against his increasingly heavy eyelids, and the figure before him seemed to double, multiplying. Soon, the figures multiplied. "Sergeant Okubo, please excuse me, I'll take care of this prisoner next." A new voice called out.

"Lord Oda! You must be careful, this must be a spy trying to sneak into the Imperial Army!" "I know, you go out first, Sakaki Saburo is the elite of the Imperial Army, I will make a good distinction." "Hai!"

The opening of the dungeon door brought a long-awaited breath of fresh air into the room, and the nearly semi-conscious Sakaki Saburo finally regained some consciousness. The double image before his eyes reunited, revealing a tall soldier in a neatly trimmed uniform and leather boots. Following him were several soldiers wearing sleeves.

Sakaki recalled that these people were military police from the 109th Division, and the leading officer was the tall man in front of him - Staff Officer Oda. He was a lieutenant colonel,

He is the personal adjutant of the division commander.

Afterwards, these military police seized him without explanation, and then, several sergeants from the Banbishan garrison took over the interrogation. Although the questions varied, the theme was consistent: Sakaki Saburo is dead, who are you?

Saburo Sakaki is me!

With a look asking for help, Saburo Sakaki looked at Staff Officer Oda. He did not attack him right away, but instead looked at a notebook carefully, pacing back and forth in front of him.

"Your Mightiness...…"

He stammered and tried to speak, but the other party made a gesture to silence him. Sakaki was so frightened that he immediately shut his mouth. Staff Officer Oda maintained a leisurely pace, flipping through the notebook in his hand and reading slowly:

June 20, 1949. In a few days, we'll be conducting a relocation mission to an airfield further north. "Please rest assured, Shigeko, this mission is perfectly safe. We'll be flying within Imperial Army-controlled territory. There are no enemy aircraft in the sky, and our planes aren't even carrying bombs. We won't know the true mission until we reach our destination. I'll protect myself, just like Mom told us before we left."

"Brackets, let's talk about this after the war. Only after the war is over can these things be decrypted. End of brackets..." He wet his fingers with saliva with great interest.

Turning the pages, he laughed out loud, "This is such a sincere emotion,

The reserved true feelings are revealed...For the family far away in Japan, for the beloved childhood sweetheart, only the brave warriors of the Empire can have such deep feelings, you say,

Isn't that right, Sakaki-san?"

When he heard Staff Officer Oda calling out his name, Saburo Sakaki was startled and reacted.

He recognized me! Sakaki's desire to survive erupted like a volcano. Regardless of how ridiculous the logic of this idea was, he struggled

He twisted his body so much that the military police rushed over and held him down.

he.

He fell to his knees with a thud, carrying the chair tied to his back, and yelled at the top of his lungs: "Lord Oda! Lord Oda! You recognize me, right? You must have recognized me as Saburo Sakaki! I am Saburo Sakaki! A pilot of the Imperial Army! How could I be a spy for the enemy? Please! Please prove my identity and save me!"

Somehow, the two strong soldiers couldn't control Banmu, whose hands were tied behind his back. One of them raised his rifle, turned the butt, and was about to strike him hard. But Staff Officer Oda put his hand in front of the military police's rifle butt.

"Wait, don't use violence."

A flicker of disgust flashed across his face, and he brushed off the dust from Sakaki's struggles, but his expression was affable, the kindness and forgiveness of a superior towards an inferior. "Sakaki-san is a warrior of the Empire. You must be treated with the courtesy of a samurai." He calmly took a step back. "Sakaki-san, you've suffered. Sit down. Come, untie him." "Hai... Hai!"

Saburo Sakaki sat down gratefully. At that moment, the staff officer before him seemed like a god, aloof and unstoppable, making him harbor a fondness and... fantasies. However, while Sakaki should have followed his honed soldier's instincts and groveled at his feet, he felt a strange sense of discomfort.

Aren't people supposed to be equal?

"Banmu-san, you disappeared after the airport attack. Many people assumed you were dead. Even during the unit reorganization, they recorded you as missing." Staff Officer Oda spoke slowly, like a spectator admiring a caged bird. "According to the regulations, you are indeed considered dead."

"But," he said, changing the subject,

"You must have suffered a great deal of abuse while imprisoned by the Red Army, and only now have a chance to escape. Tell me, if there's a chance, the General will consider the Red Army's brutality and the fault not yours, and grant you amnesty."

"Thank you... Thank you! Thank you!" Sakaki thanked him subconsciously, without realizing how cheap this promise was. Then, the experience of this month flashed through his mind, and he said without hesitation, "They are actually quite good to me. They didn't take my things, they treated me, and fed me the same food as them. They didn't beat or scold me. I heard that they treated prisoners well.

The policy of equal treatment.....please worry about it..."

"Sakaki Saburo!" Staff Officer Oda interrupted him, his voice rising several degrees, "Watch your words!"

"Ah, ha!" Sakaki, who was immersed in his memories, was suddenly interrupted. He raised his head in confusion, but lowered his eyes. "Lieutenant Colonel! I'm sorry! Did I say something wrong? Or are you dissatisfied with something? I..." "Sakaki-san! I remember the warriors of the Empire, they weren't people who couldn't tell right from wrong?!"

Staff Officer Oda's tone was no longer so calm, but now tinged with anger, perhaps even fear. He paced back and forth in front of Banmu. "How could the Red Army treat someone like you so well? They're even treating you, huh? Treating someone who might be captured? You're kidding!"

Suddenly, he stopped, nodded heavily, and made a meaningful sound, "Oh! I understand, Sakaki-kun.

"Your words, like Sergeant Okubo's, are unbelievable. The General once told me that the Red Army's 'ideological warfare' is all deceptive propaganda, and not a single word of it can be believed." He leaned closer and whispered, "Sakaki-kun, you haven't been converted to the Communist Party, have you?"

Chapter 126: The Imperial Army's Respect

Sakaki vaguely remembered the speech he received when he left Japan and flew to the battlefield.

The Imperial Army fought to build the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Map and prevent East Asia from becoming communist. Beyond the illusory dream of a "one world, eight stations," preventing communism was a crucial goal. Once communistized, a person would become a monster, uncaring and half-human, half-ghost... At least, that was what he had been taught.

Am I reddened? Sakaki began to tremble like a sieve.

It's said that communists don't recognize their friends and family, have no sense of shame, don't respect the emperor or their superiors, have no sense of morality or discipline, and are filled with incomprehensible gossip, yet it's extremely contagious. I'm turning into a monster! I'm turning into a monster, I'm turning into a monster...

Sakaki regained his composure. He hadn't been brainwashed by some strange technique, nor had he been forced to read any forbidden knowledge, nor had he even been threatened. He had just recounted what he had seen and heard in the Red Army's territory, speaking the truth. Why had Staff Officer Oda suddenly switched to "honorific language" and said he had become a red demon?

I am completely normal! Why, why do you say I am radicalized?

"Mr. Oda...I...I didn't...I'm an army pilot, a soldier of His Majesty the Emperor. I will never turn into a crimson monster!"

Sakaki Saburo mustered up the courage to argue, "These are all things I've experienced in the Red Army over the past month. Otherwise, why would I have the chance to come back?"

Unexpectedly, after hearing this defense, Staff Officer Oda laughed, as if all of Sakaki's reactions were within his expectations and fell right into a trap.

"Anyone who has been communistized, no matter who they were before, is a non-national!" He gazed into the distance, as if fanatically worshipping some great being, unable to hear a word. "Mr. Panmu, are there any communists who would honestly admit they've been communistized? Hahahaha!"

"No! No!" Sakaki Saburo was utterly shocked. He wanted to reach out and grab the other man. "Everything I said is true! How could I be converted to the Red Army? These are just things I saw in the Red Army..."

A rifle butt flew across, striking Sakaki hard on the back of his knee. Instantly in pain, he fell to his knees with a thud. Two military policemen rushed over and pinned Itaki Saburo down. This time, no one intervened. Sakaki's face was pinned to the ground, his mouth filled with the smell of iron.

"Mr. Oda, Mr. Oda! I really didn't..."

While struggling hard, Saburo Sakaki saw the face of Staff Officer Oda. On that fanatical face, there was an expression as if he was looking at someone like unapproachable and untouchable garbage.

"soldier!"

Staff Officer Oda suddenly shouted loudly, shocking Sakaki so much that he even forgot his movements for a moment, "A soldier should be loyal and righteous! Since we were born in our country, who can not have the heart to serve the Empire, let alone a soldier!" He spoke quickly and urgently, his sentences fluently and skillfully, as if he had practiced it thousands of times.

If your loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor is not unbreakable, even if you possess great skills and scholarship, you are still just a puppet. What good are you? An army, however well-organized and disciplined, is but a mob without such loyalty.

This is the first of the five articles of the Imperial Army! "Staff Officer Oda turned his head with satisfaction, as if looking at a corpse that was still able to speak and breathe, "Sakaki-kun, if you still call yourself a soldier of the Imperial Kingdom, then why would you disobey the loyal imperial order and speak for the Red Army?"

Without waiting for Saburo Sakaki's answer, he narrowed his eyes, enjoying the moment when he could influence the fate of others.

"The real Sakaki-kun must have been a warrior of the Empire who, despite being outnumbered, bravely charged the enemy lines to resist the Eighth Route Army's shameless and unjust artillery attack on our airfield. He was pierced by the enemy's vicious gunfire and, after being struck several times, bowed three times towards the Imperial Palace before dying a glorious death!"

"So, for the honor of the Imperial Army," Staff Officer Oda lowered his voice, as if making a solemn request, "Sakaki-kun, for the honor of the Imperial Army, please die with honor and become a military god." No...what, why, how could this be?!

Amidst the absurdity and shock, Saburo Sakaki was not angry at all. Instead, he smiled, a twisted and miserable smile, the pain even worse than being blown away by the explosion and rolling down the hillside.

During this period of nearly a month, he was captured and taken away from the airport by the Eighth Route Army. He sat in the Eighth Route Army camp to eat with their officers, soldiers, and local people, enjoying a moment of peace and tranquility. After escaping in the chaos, he was chased by angry villagers, but was rescued by the Eighth Route Army who also harbored hatred, saving him from the danger of infection and death. In the end, the Eighth Route Army respected his wishes and not only helped him find his pen and diary, but also sent him back to the Japanese stronghold.

And now, the army that he desperately wants to return to wants to make himself a "god".

After all, it was most convenient for Saburo Sakaki to die in that attack, which was the most suitable for the Imperial Army. But I didn't want to die.

I still have a family to take care of, a childhood sweetheart to marry, and I'm still waiting to return home from retirement, collect my savings, find a job, and live a stable life with Shigeko. So now, no matter what, even lying, even giving in, even enduring humiliation, even going against my conscience, it's all fine. What about the integrity of the Imperial Army, the loyalty of a soldier...

I must leave this damn battlefield and survive!

Tied back into the chair, Sakaki stared at Staff Officer Oda, who had also sat back in his chair, and made up his mind. However, as if it had been planned, Lieutenant Colonel Oda seemed to have already thought of this problem. He snapped the diary shut and slowly added to Sakaki.

"Sakaki-kun, how many years have you been away from home? Are your parents in good health, financially comfortable, and living a happy life?"

He clapped the notebook in his hand, as if beating Sakaki's heart: "And your fiancée, her name is Shigeko! That's great, what a nice name!

She must have been a very beautiful person. How is she now?"

With a bang, the two strong military police were unable to control Sakaki for a moment, and he broke free from his restraints. However, human strength, even in extreme anger, could not transcend the laws of physics. The thick and heavy rope was tied tightly after all, and his sudden momentum was forcibly pulled back, and he was stuck in mid-air, like a poor man in a noose.

"You bastard!" Sakaki Saburo completely disregarded military rank and etiquette. "You bastard!!!"

"Sakaki-kun, the 7th Flight Wing you were in has been reorganized and rebuilt. I heard you were the only survivor of the 2nd Squadron."

Staff Officer Oda gently patted Sakaki, who had jumped up before the attack. "During that Red Army attack, our report said the Second Squadron was completely wiped out. Reporting your current situation accurately might be a bit troublesome, but it's not impossible. But then, will Miss Shigeko and Jing's father and mother be waiting for news of a triumphant return of a military hero, or news of a coward and traitor in their family?"

"Do we have the ability to revive your comrades, restore their military status, and allow them to fight again?"

"I'm afraid this won't be good for your family and your fiancée, right?"

He spoke slowly, reaching out to hold Sakaki's head, and letting him sit back in his chair. "Sakaki-kun, as your predecessor, I have fought for the Empire for many years, and it's been a long time since I've been home... Who wouldn't miss home? I miss home too, and I miss my parents, wife, and children. I'm sure you do too."

"Sakaki-kun, don't get excited, don't get angry, don't you want to bring them some good news?

"Even if we wanted to help you again, you're already a dead person in the military register, intelligence, and archives. Your glorious ascension to godhood is beneficial to everyone and poses no problem at all. Why are you so stubborn?"

"Well, I don't need to explain. You know best what those enthusiastic innkeepers and local tycoons back home are like. The comfort center run by the Army in Shanghai is now widely praised, and many people want to make a fortune from it... If the death of a dead person can bring blessings to the living, how valuable would that be?"

Saburo Sakaki could no longer hear anything. The flames of emotion had consumed everything in him, leaving him only a scorched body of despair. He froze in vain until his vision blurred and everything around him receded, as if the life had been drained from his body.

"Military God Panmu, if you continue to cause trouble, you will only cause trouble to us and your parents. I think you have thought it through. Stop causing trouble for everyone." Staff Officer Oda leaned close to Sakaki's ear, his eyes filled with love, pity, and compassion - as if letting people die was a matter of course.

"So, for the sake of the Imperial Army's dignity, please become a military god."