Chapter 770 Ah! Navy (1)

"This morning, Horikichi used the power of memorial on the curtain to deliver the paper directly to the palace." Yamamoto Isoroku looked very anxious. "It was nothing at first. It would have been fine if I had left it in the country without sending it or without approval. However, the German special envoy Cole Noisy not only expressed welcome immediately, but also took advantage of the current opportunity for German naval officers to contact our military to woo our officers and asked them if they were willing to serve in Germany. If they were willing to go, they would give high-ranking officials generous salaries. The news has spread throughout the base camp, the Army Ministry, and the Military Command..."

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to protest. This involves my country's internal affairs."

"If the protest is useful, then let's not say these words." Yamamoto Isoroku smiled bitterly, "The German ambassador said that Berlin had given him instructions to act as a special envoy during Cole's stay in Japan. If the head of state came in person, how could he dare to control Cole? ? What's more, Cole not only has good relations with Horikichi and others, but also hangs out with the top figures in the army. Ishihara Wanji is often seen drinking with him. Who dares to touch him? "

"Is Your Majesty going to be furious with thunder?"

"I don't know whether I'm angry or not. The call just now was from His Highness Prince Minuhiko Higashikata. He asked me to come forward to comfort him, saying that it's okay for a few people on the list to leave quietly, even if Tsukahara wants to leave, but How can Horikichi go to Germany? He is a military counselor and the current marshal of the navy. Going to Germany is like a slap in the face of His Majesty. Does the empire still have dignity? "

"Oh...he's not willing to be employed here, but you're not letting him go if he's being employed over there?" Narumi Inoue said sarcastically, "Isn't this the worst of split personality and double-faced tactics? Why don't we just arrest him and forget about it? It'll be over. ?”

"What nonsense are you talking about? Who dares to touch him now? If he touches him, even His Majesty's place will have no peace." Yamamoto Isoroku said displeased, "Now I want you to find a way to control the situation, not for you to complain or say weird things." time."

"Why don't you ask Horikichi yourself how to stop him from leaving?"

"I asked. Ito Zhengyi went there this afternoon. He kept his posture very low, almost begging in a low voice."

"He was kicked out by Horikichi?"

"That's not true. The attitude was still very polite, but Ito came back and told me that things had not turned around at all."

"He wants His Highness to resign?"

"That's not it, but the conditions he proposed are more difficult to handle." Yamamoto Isoroku smiled bitterly, "He wants His Majesty to agree to the reform memorial."

"Crazy, this must be crazy!" Inoue Narumi gasped, "How could he agree, and even if he agrees, he would lose his position as commander?"

"So this is basically a dead end."

"That's not right. Hasn't Horikichi always been loyal to the emperor and patriotic? Why is he starting to force the emperor to marry him now? This is a treasonous plan. He doesn't even want to lose his own image and reputation..."

Isoroku Yamamoto knocked on the table and said distressedly: "That's the problem. Others who know the news and don't take a stand on the whole thing, such as most of the young army generals and even the mid-level officers of the Navy Ministry, sympathize with him. No one thinks that Horikichi is arrogant and domineering and has no superiority. On the contrary, they think that my old classmate is heartbreaking and candidly said - "With the status and reputation of General Hori, if he continues to work smoothly, he will be famous throughout the ages." , He will be remembered forever, why is he doing these thankless things? Isn't it for the thousand-year legacy of the empire? As the ancients said, even if there are thousands of people, I will go! Can a hero do it? 'Listen, what are you talking about? Your Highness is called a bastard by them, and I am just a bastard bureaucrat in their eyes..."

"He is the only one in Japan who has someone to say good things to him despite being forced into the palace." Inoue Narumi sighed, "Is Your Majesty still thinking about it? If you don't come forward to appease him, I'm afraid it will cause a big mess. In fact, His Majesty and the I have a very good relationship with Horikichi. We even rode together in the same car during the review. Since ancient times, I have been treated as a minister and given what I deserve. I actually don’t think there is anything wrong with the palace’s response. The young generals who are familiar with the world are excited. The older ones, especially those with the rank of major general and above, know that reform is not easy. Otherwise, it would have been changed long ago, so why not change it? "

"The problem is that the Minister of Internal Affairs said that when he sent the message, he actually said that His Majesty was in favor of the reform, but Horikichi caught him and made him disgraced. Who knows if he was pretending to pass on the imperial edict or if it was true."

"Okay!" Inoue Narumi sneered, "Then I agree. You can't lie to both sides in life. Now the secret is exposed, right?"

"So...the two sides are now at a stalemate. Although the memorial has been rejected, how can people's hearts be restored?" Yamamoto Isoroku waved his hands distractedly, "Now all parties are doing ideological work for others except Horikichi, but this group of The bastards are indifferent and have only one attitude. They will go wherever Horikichi goes."

"Didn't you ask Kusaka Ryuunosuke to say hello?"

"It didn't work at all, he just jumped as high as he could!" Yamamoto Isoroku grabbed his bald head in distress, unable to do anything. Little did he know that Ryuunosuke Kusaka wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with him yesterday, but when he heard that Yamamoto not only agreed but also encouraged Chuichi Nagumo to do a good job, he felt as if he had had a bucket of snow poured on his head, and he completely treated Yamamoto Disappointed, there is no way to appease everyone. All I have to do is to exaggerate it. For these aviation factions in the fleet, Nagumo Chuichi is simply the mortal enemy of the mobile fleet. Even if all Japanese naval admirals are dead, it will not be Nagumo Chuichi's turn to come again. Be the commander of the mobile fleet.

Is this fair to Nagumo Chuichi? Of course it's not fair. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, not to mention Nagumo Chuichi who has never won a battle. He did well in the first battle of Ceylon. But Japan’s culture and system are like this. Losers never get a second chance. Not to mention Chuichi Nagumo, the commander who lost four aircraft carriers in one breath at Midway, even the captain Taijiro Aoki who lost the Akagi. On the never-used list - what does the sinking of the Akagi have to do with him? He has fulfilled his responsibilities, but he still has no place in the country and can only use his remaining talents in Germany. Fortunately, the Germans do not care about this and continue to let him be the captain. After the Skyhawk sinks this time, they will probably find another warship to continue. Be a captain.

A situation like Spruance's repeated defeats and repeated use in the United States is simply not possible in Japan. Nagumo Chuichi was also unfortunate to encounter a comparison - Tsukahara Tsukahara. The latter led the fleet to win consecutive battles and killed more than 10 British and American aircraft carriers. Isn't this praised to the sky? Shouldn't the commander who won the battle be spared and the one who lost the battle be used instead? No officer or soldier would approve of it!

Narumi Inoue commented: "Finally, Horikichi saved face for the palace and did not go that far."

"Which step?" Yamamoto Isoroku was confused by what the other party said.

"Imitate those 'patriots', wear a kimono, geta geta, carry a samurai sword and walk outside the Niju Bridge (the emperor's residence), kowtow three times, sing a death song, and then..." He gestured. An act of seppuku.

Yamamoto Isoroku angrily said: "How long has it been, and you still have the heart to watch the fun and make sarcastic remarks? Why don't you quickly come up with a solution for me?"

Inoue Narumi spread her hands and said helplessly: "What can I do? Why don't you come forward to persuade him? At least I will give you some face, right?"

"Okay, I'll go find him tomorrow. There are too many people looking for him today. I have to let him take a break. Tell me, how can I impress him? Just relying on friendship from classmates won't do."

"Since he is so insistent on reform, at least you should give him a little hope..." Narumi Inoue pondered, "The fastest-effective way and the one that is in line with your wishes is to immediately order the award of the rank of pilot officer. In the past, it was awarded based on seniority. In the future, it was awarded based on seniority. It is given based on the naval school, and it does not need to be given to all, it is enough to only give it to the best one-third of the graduates.”

"This..." Yamamoto Isoroku hesitated, "I also want to change it, but it involves the system. How can there be any reason to change it? At least we must discuss and discuss it and then..."

"Look, if you are unwilling to make even the slightest concession, how can it be hard for you to give the pilots an officer's hat?" Inoue Narumi scolded her superiors without mercy, "I see, you don't have this at all." Think about it, you just want to lie and suppress the matter - if it is so easy, will he still be the chief of the 32nd period? Or the marshal admiral?"

"Okay." Yamamoto Isoroku sighed, "I'll call Ito Seiichi and ask him to talk to His Highness. Anyway, I have to give people a little hope, so that there is room for change."

But Inoue Narumi's proposal was quickly shattered. Ito Zhengyi himself agreed with this policy. However, when he went to the hospital to talk about it, Fushimi Miyahiro Kyouwang did not agree at all.

"Childish! How could you come up with such a bad idea?" Fushimi Miyahiro Prince Kyoto scolded him from his hospital bed. "Now the aviation force is not even an officer, but there are already a large number of people who are following Horikichi wholeheartedly. If this policy is implemented, people must be I think Horikichi's struggle has worked, and I will only accept his sentiments. In the future, his team and momentum will become even bigger and more powerful. Will anyone listen to what you say? I have to wait until you become the commander of the combined fleet to implement it? Move and let the people below read your blessings, do you understand?”

After thinking about it, he probably felt that his attitude just now was too extreme. Prince Fushimi Miyahiro's tone softened again: "Ito, don't think I'm confused. I'm very clear-headed. Everything I do is for you and long-term considerations. I am old and will retire in a year and a half. Oikawa will probably not be able to control the fleet, let alone Nagumo Chuichi. I will put you in the mobile fleet and get rid of you in another year. With a group of old guys, you can become the commander of the combined fleet. When the time comes, I will support you. Oikawa will do nothing. Yamamoto Isoroku also thinks highly of you and will support you, and you can start your own business... …”

Ito Zhengyi smiled bitterly: If you can't maintain it now, how can you talk about the future? But Fushimi Miya has this attitude, saying more is useless.