Chapter 769: Choice (End)

After being recognized by Yamamoto, Nagumo Tadashi felt a big stone in his heart. He hurriedly expressed his gratitude and said that he would come to ask for advice frequently.

Ryunosuke Kusaka next to him was dumbfounded when he heard this. He never dreamed that Nagumo Chuichi would one day turn around, and he never expected that Yamamoto Isoroku not only did not firmly oppose the appointment, but actually encouraged him. For a moment, he thought he had found the wrong person - was this still the Commander Yamamoto he was familiar with?

"Kusaka-kun, times have changed. Let the past go by." Yamamoto comforted him, "I know you all don't like Nagumo Chuichi and look down on him, but to be honest, only he can save the fleet now. Ensure a smooth transition, otherwise Tsunoda and Nishimura will be in trouble. In this troubled time, you must stay calm and united! What’s more, it’s impossible for Horikichi not to step forward and take responsibility for such a big incident. His Majesty just dismissed his commander. If he is not allowed to retire, he will still have a chance to take charge of the fleet in the future. If you meet other admirals, you might as well tell them what I mean."

"Okay, I've learned my lesson."

That night, Matsuda Chiaki and Horitsukichi, who had no official position and were young, were having a drink together.

"Sir, I heard that Chuichi Nagumo is going to be the commander of the mobile fleet. Everyone below is going crazy."

"That's right..." Horikichi smiled faintly, "Won't Yamamoto stop him?"

"No, your old classmate probably achieved new coordination with the Military Command, and this appointment was quickly approved."

"Sure enough, once you become an official, your personality will be different. People will change, and their perspective on problems will also change." Horikichi laughed, "He is also in charge now, right?"

"I met Kusaka-kun. He met with Commander Yamamoto today, and I heard him comfort Nagumo Chuichi on the phone. He even asked Kusashik Ryunosuke to come forward to reassure the admirals not to cause trouble and to focus on the overall situation. It made him I have a lot to say and don’t know who to talk to.”

"That's what the palace means... Hahaha, Kidouchi Minister is still talking nonsense to me: His Majesty supports me in his heart, but there are too many opponents, and it is not appropriate to deal with Su. I hope I can calm down. , have a good New Year, and wait a while before leading the fleet to go out again." Horikichi laughed so much that he burst into tears, "Do they think I am so easy to deceive?"

"Sir, time waits for no one. We must make up our minds..."

Horikichi nodded: "The heat seems not yet mature."

"In your judgment, when will it be mature?"

"Let's see how the wind blows. Wait for me to write a report in two days..."

"Okay." Matsuda Chiaki said goodbye. Before leaving, he came back and said uneasily, "Sir, please take care. I see that the number of military police and policemen near your apartment has increased significantly. Beware of them jumping over the wall. What's going on in the hospital? It can be done.”

"It's okay, they don't dare to touch me." Horikichi said unconcernedly, "At least you have to convict me first."

That night, Matsuda Chiaki secretly met with a group of people and a group of staff officers who came out of the fleet. Everyone went to drink and party first. When it was about time, Matsuda Chiaki's eyes became serious, and the guards outside nodded to him, meaning With no one watching, he looked around, cleared his throat, and said, "Everyone, sir, I was framed by Xiao Xiao and was in a difficult situation. He was manipulating power, excluding loyal people, and deceiving His Majesty. What do you think we should do?"

"Fight them! One life for another, I will deserve to die."

"It's not worth it and it's overestimating one's capabilities."

"Then what do you think we should do?"

"We will do whatever you say!" Under the influence of alcohol, a group of drunken staff officers became excited.

"The chief is kind and has the overall situation at heart. He does not want to take drastic measures. Instead, he hopes to go abroad and make concessions. We should sign the petition to build momentum."

Some staff members objected fiercely: "Of course this is a way out, but it is too weak and too pessimistic. What should Japan do? What should we do with the fleet? Are we going to watch these **** ruin the country's destiny and ruin the navy? We must take action. It’s not enough to just sit back and talk, you have to have means.”

"I plan to see which direction the wind blows first. If it doesn't work, we will call together knowledgeable people to fight against the national crisis. However, no matter what, we cannot trap the commander into disloyalty and injustice..." Matsuda Chiaki said this "concern" deliberately.

"The chief is aboveboard and dedicated to the country. To this day, I have not heard any complaints from him. Instead, he requires us to fulfill our duties and serve the country bravely. Since ancient times, loyal ministers and good generals have been held in this position. It is rare if not unique!"

"No, we can't just watch the **** ruin the overall situation. We have to stand up and fight! Fight!" Yamamoto Chiao, a close confidant of Horikichi and senior fleet staff officer, stood up angrily, pulled out his saber and cut off a corner of the table, "You guys If you don’t do it, I will do it alone! If you break this oath, there will be such a table!”

Everyone's expressions suddenly changed, and they gritted their teeth at the end: "It's done! We will follow the commander to the death! We don't seek to be famous forever, but we seek to be famous!"

At the moment when they were secretly discussing, the second flight battle, which had completed unloading, was returning to the country.

"Matsuda-kun has initially completed the series connection. Now it's up to us." Shoji Nishimura burned the secret power first, and then said to Kakuji Tsunoda, "When I think about doing such an unprecedented event, I am so excited that I can't control myself."

Kakuji Tsunoda smiled slightly: "We have to do it, otherwise we will be ****."

"Well, what's the big deal? I will probably be punished when I return." Nishimura said angrily, "I have never regretted this matter. I only regret that I was soft-hearted when I returned to my country. There would not be so many things that happened later if I suddenly started to revolt at that time?"

"This is different. It requires a transformation process. At that time, everyone did not see it so thoroughly and still had unrealistic fantasies about the authorities. Now I finally understand that as long as these old stubborn people are here, Japan will not be good at all, and the end of the Combined Fleet will not be good! You see, Commander Yamamoto also kept saying that he wanted to reform, but when he became the Minister of the Navy, Once they become bureaucrats, their tone immediately changes to "take it slow, wait and see, don't rush, be cautious", where is the sharpness left?" Kakuta sighed, "Only the superior is different, he is really risking his life to do it, otherwise, with his merits, he would have been able to go ashore and enjoy his life comfortably long ago, why would he be like this now? The so-called "where there is justice, even if there are ten thousand people, I will go" is probably the state of mind. "

"Do it!" Nishimura Shoji clenched his fist, his eyes shining, "I don't want to leave any regrets for myself!"

"Do it!" Kakuta Kakuji's fist bumped tightly with his.

The fleet slowly passed through the Tsushima Strait and headed for Tanegashima...

Late at night on December 23, German envoy Kohl met Matsuda Chiaki, who came to the door in disguise, in the hotel, and he was very surprised.

"Mr. Matsuda, what's wrong with you?"

"I'm here to ask for help. I remember the Führer said in Europe that as long as we ask, you will provide all the necessary help, right?"

"Yes, what do you need? As long as I can give it, I can agree. If I can't, I will ask the Führer for his opinion."

"No need, you can definitely give it." Chiaki Matsuda panted, as if he had made a great determination, "I want two submarines, the kind that can sail long distances, at least to ensure that they can safely reach Ceylon!"

"What do you want this for?"

"Don't ask what it's for. In short, these two submarines are to evacuate personnel."

"General Hori Teikichi?" Cole guessed it immediately and asked in surprise, "Someone wants to harm him?"

Chiaki Matsuda nodded in silence.

"Okay, I promise you, but you have to give me some time, three days later, okay?"

"Sure, please wait off the coast of Tokyo, and let me know when you can contact me." Matsuda Chiaki thought for a while, "To ensure safety, the crew must be German."

"Of course!" Cole thought for a while and said, "If there is not enough time or the situation is special, please retreat to the German Embassy. I have a way to protect you, but it is limited to 5-7 people, too many will not work."

"Sorry to trouble you." Matsuda Chiaki bowed deeply, and then disappeared into the night.

December 24, 1943, Christmas Eve - although Japan does not celebrate Christmas.

A staff officer ran into Inoue Narumi's office like the wind, panting without knocking on the door, "Sir... Sir, no... It's not good, it's not good."

"The US military can't beat us again, why are you panicking?" Inoue Narumi was reviewing official documents, stopped writing unhappily, and scolded, "What happened again."

"Just received news..." The staff officer panted and said, "General Hori... Hori Teikichi and others... etc. jointly wrote to His Majesty, requesting to resign from all military positions and prepare to go to Germany as an advisor..."

"What?" Inoue Narumi felt dizzy and terrified, his hands couldn't help shaking, and without saying a word, he ran to Yamamoto Isoroku's office.

Entering Yamamoto's office, the latter was answering the phone, his face was solemn, and he was so gloomy that he almost dripped water. He only said a few words: "Okay, okay, I will find a way..." and hung up the phone.

At this moment, Inoue Narumi had figured out the whole story: including Hori Teikichi, Tsukahara Jishisan, Takasu Shiro, Kusaka Rento, Kusaka Ryunosuke and a long list of people signed the letter, preparing to go to Germany as consultants. Although the positions and personnel were different, they had one thing in common: they were all people who had participated in the European campaign, including 3 generals (regardless of active or retired), 4 lieutenant generals, 6 major generals, and 34 mid-level officers above the rank of major - all front-line officers with rich combat experience.

Even if his political sense was dull, Inoue Narumi understood what this letter meant at this time. It was not all of Hori Teikichi's team, but it was enough, almost equivalent to the total number of backbone officers of half of the Combined Fleet. Although there were many talents in the Japanese Navy, this kind of collective resignation was rare, not to mention going abroad.

Coincidentally, Yamamoto's gaze also turned over, and after the two looked at each other, they nodded at the same time, and their judgment on this matter was the same - Hori Teikichi forced the emperor to abdicate!