Chapter 656 Ambition (1)
Just as the German and Italian fleets were stirring up trouble in South America, the initiator of the harassment tactics, the combined fleet that had completed the Australia-New Zealand harassment war and the Battle of Tarawa, was about to return to the Japanese mainland after a long journey after a short rest in the Marshall Islands.
After three weeks of recuperation and treatment, all 23 officers and soldiers who survived on Tarawa finally survived. Only a few of them were malnourished and weak, and the rest had more or less various inflammations. In the past, at least half of them would have died. But this time, with the special medicine imported from Germany, with a penicillin injection in the morning and evening, the lives of these people were finally saved, and even no one needed amputation. Even the military doctor on board felt that it was a miracle and a magic medicine! This was also thanks to the good luck of these people. At this time, penicillin had just taken effect on the human body, and they had no idea about allergies. If they were allergic to penicillin, even Amaterasu could not save them.
The Tarawa survivors were very impressed by the magic of the special medicine, but when they heard that one bottle was equivalent to a corporal's annual salary (about 150 yen), and each of them had to use two bottles a day, their faces turned pale. Even Shibasaki Keiji, who earned 5,000 yen a year, felt that this thing was too harsh to use.
"It's nothing. You are all meritorious people. The commander has told us to take good care of you."
When he was with Shibasaki Keiji in private, Kusaka Ren said: "150 yen is the special preferential price given to us by the German side. If you sell it on the black market, the price is at least 500 yen per stick. There are countless people who are jealous. So you have to tell your subordinates to be careful in what they say and do after returning to China. Don't reveal it. Otherwise, it will not only bring endless trouble to yourself but also to the commander."
Shibasaki Keiji is a smart man. He understood this matter at once: "The commander's great kindness is beyond repayment. I will never forget it."
"You must report your achievements when you return to China. The commander has also reported your name. It is estimated that the rank of lieutenant general is just around the corner. Congratulations."
"I will ask the chief of staff to take care of me in the future!" Shibasaki Keiji has also heard a little about the promotion news in the past two days. I heard that Hori Teikichi listed a long list of names in the report, especially hoping to promote Kondo Nobutake, Takasu Shiro, Tsukahara Jishizo and Kusaka Rento to generals.
In his opinion, Kondo Nobutake's promotion is no problem, as his qualifications and achievements are here. Takasu Shiro is a veteran of the 35th term, and Hori Teikichi is embarrassed to leave him behind. As for the commander of the mobile fleet with the most outstanding performance, Tsukahara Jishizo's promotion is probably no problem. He thinks the only one who is a little mysterious is Kusaka Rento, because the latter is only the 37th term of the Marine Corps, and there are a lot of seniors in the 35th, 36th and even 34th terms ahead of him. Even with Hori Teikichi's support, it can't be too extraordinary, so Shibasaki Keiji was very cautious not to wish him a promotion, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble. However, looking at Kusaka Rento's smug look, it seems that he is not affected.
In fact, Kusaka Rento himself is also very puzzled about the nomination for promotion: although he is a very important position within the Combined Fleet, in the entire naval system, he is not qualified for promotion now according to his qualifications. According to the position, the chief of staff does not seem to be as important as the admirals in the Combined Fleet. Why does the commander have to nominate himself? He had asked Hori Teikichi about this question, but the latter just smiled and said, "This is politics, you don't understand, just follow my advice first."
No matter whether he can be promoted in the end, at least one thing is very clear-I am very important in the eyes of my superiors. With this premise, Kusaka Renji felt that everything was worth it, and whether he was a general or not was secondary. It has always been very pleasant to fight and do things with Hori Teikichi. He has a superior who is resourceful and does not do everything himself. He enjoys being the chief of staff. To be honest, if he is really given a sinecure as a general in China, he might as well continue to stay as the vice admiral chief of staff of the Combined Fleet.
Taking advantage of Kusaka Renji's happiness, Shibasaki Keiji quietly told everything that happened on Tarawa Island. How to defend tenaciously was just a passing mention, but he tried his best to encourage his subordinates to persist, especially the section of eating human flesh, which was described in great detail. He knew that these situations could not be concealed. Eating the corpses of the enemy was secondary, and even eating the corpses of his own side was a huge psychological burden (Japanese culture attaches great importance to corpses). As time goes by, it may become a time bomb - it doesn't matter to ordinary officers and soldiers, but for a general like him, it may go wrong at a critical moment.
Kusaka Renji was silent for a long time: "Your concerns are right. I will report to the superior once. Don't say more in other occasions. You can't admit it or deny it categorically. It's best to be vague."
After listening to the inside story, Hori Teikichi sighed: "In fact, I have guessed some of it, but I just don't want to break this window paper. Since Shibasaki himself said it, let it go. I believe it will not affect his future."
When Shibasaki Keiji and his surviving officers and soldiers heard Kusaka Renji convey Hori Teikichi's opinion that "there are reasons, excusable circumstances, and it will not happen again", they were all excited and burst into tears.
The main force of the Combined Fleet sailed slowly towards the mainland. On September 27, when it was nearly 500 kilometers away from Tokyo Bay, it encountered the escort fleet and transport ships waiting nearby. They had been waiting there for 3 days. Some staff officers once asked the leader of the team, Takeo Kurita, why he did not go to land and unload first as ordered by the superiors, but stayed and waited instead? This question was ruthlessly scolded by Takeo Kurita: "The Combined Fleet returned triumphantly from Europe and the United States, bringing countless supplies and numerous victories. Tokyo was deserted, millions of people celebrated the victory, and His Majesty personally welcomed it. How glorious it is? What face and merit do we have to accept the cheers before the superiors?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, and they admired Takeo Kurita's comprehensive consideration.
After the meeting, Hori Teikichi also asked curiously: "Why didn't Kurita go to the country to hand in the order first?"
Kurita Ken'ao replied respectfully: "I dare not go first before the commander."
"Have all the delivery tasks to the South Pacific islands been completed?"
"All completed, the island defense units are very grateful for the commander's care; as for the most valuable industrial machinery, they have returned to the country via the Taiwan Strait and the inland sea, without any loss on the way."
Although Kurita Ken'ao is usually regarded as timid, overly cautious, and lacking in courage by senior generals, and is not as highly regarded as Kakuda Kakuji, Kusaka Renji himself also holds a similar view, but now it seems that Kurita Ken'ao is very good at transportation and escort, and Kakuda's performance is also very good when it comes to hard battles and difficult battles, but if the two swap positions, I'm afraid neither of them can do a good job - the commander's level of knowing people and assigning them to positions can be seen.
"Thank you for your hard work, let's go back home now. I'll treat you all to a drink after we get back to Tokyo." Hori Teikichi said with a smile, "This time we'll only drink the foreign wine we brought from Europe!"