Chapter 38 Seven meets Itagaki

Seishiro Itagaki was transferred to the Kwantung Army as a staff officer in 1929. According to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, he told people in May 1930 that he had a clear idea of ​​how to solve the Manchurian problem. He believes that the problems between China and Japan must be resolved by force.At least one year before the September 18th Incident, he advocated the expulsion of Zhang Xueliang and the establishment of a new country in the Northeast.The verdict stated: Since 1931, he participated in a conspiracy with the direct aim of occupying Manchuria by force in the Kwantung Army Staff Headquarters with the position of Major General. As a pretext for events, he suppressed several attempts to prevent this military operation, which he approved and directed.Later, he played a major role in the deceitful campaign to agitate the independence of Manchuria and in the conspiracy to establish a puppet Manchukuo.

He served as the deputy chief of staff of the Kwantung Army in 1934, the commander of the division after the July 7th Incident in 1937, the Minister of War in 1938, and the chief of staff of the Chinese Expeditionary Army in 1939. , and later served as the commander of North Korea and the commander of the Seventh Front Army stationed in Singapore.He played an important role in major events such as the establishment of the puppet regime in Inner Mongolia in North China, the attack on the Chinese mainland, the establishment of the Wang Jingwei puppet regime, and the launch of Hassan Lake’s attack on the Soviet Union.

On the afternoon of February 23, I met with Itagaki, who was interpreted by Nakajima Hidaki, the Kwantung Army interpreter.Itagaki was a short man with a shaved head, a clean-shaven bluish-white face, and the black eyebrows and mustache were particularly conspicuous.Among the Japanese officers I have seen, his attire is considered to be the neatest, with the cuffs revealing a blindingly white shirt, the corners of the trouser legs are very conspicuous, and his habit of rubbing his hands gently gave me a feeling Quite a gentle and chic impression.Itagaki first expressed his gratitude to me for giving him a gift, and then stated that he was ordered by the commander of the Kwantung Army Honjo to report to me on the establishment of a new Manchurian state.

He slowly started talking about Zhang's tyranny that was unpopular and that Japan's rights and interests in Manchuria were not guaranteed at all. He talked for a while about the justice of the Japanese army's actions and his sincerity in helping the people of Manchuria to build a kingly paradise.I listened to his words and kept nodding, but I hoped in my heart that he would give me the answer I cared about soon.Finally, he finally got to the point: The name of this new country was Manchukuo, and its capital was located in Changchun, so Changchun was renamed Xinjing. The country was composed of five main ethnic groups, namely Manchu, Han, Mongolian, Japanese and Korean.The Japanese have spent decades in Manchuria, and their legal status and political status are naturally the same as those of other nationalities. For example, they can also serve as officials in the new country.

Before Nakajima finished translating, he took out the "Manchurian and Mongolian People's Declaration" and the five-color Manchurian national flag from his purse, and put them on the coffee table in front of me.I was so angry that my lungs were going to explode.With trembling hands, I pushed the pile of things and asked: What country is this?Could this be the Qing Empire? My voice shifted.Itagaki answered unhurriedly as usual: Of course, this is not the restoration of the Qing Empire, this is a new country, and the Northeast Administrative Committee passed a resolution unanimously recommending Your Excellency as the head of the new country, that is, to be in power.

Hearing "Your Excellency" from Itagaki's mouth, I felt the blood all over my body rushing to my face.This is the first time I have heard Japanese call me that!The title of Emperor Xuantong or His Majesty the Emperor was originally canceled by them. How can this be tolerated?In my heart, the two million square miles of land and thirty million people in the Northeast are not worth the sound of His Majesty!I was so excited that I could hardly sit still, and said loudly: If the name is not right, the words will not go well, and if the words don’t go well, nothing will happen!What the people of Manchuria want is not me, but the emperor of the Qing Dynasty. If this title is abolished, the people of Manchuria will lose their hearts.This issue must ask the Kwantung Army to reconsider.

Itagaki gently rubbed his hands together and said with a smile on his face: The people of Manchuria recommended you as the head of the new country. This is what the hearts of the people belong to, and it was also agreed by the Kwantung Army. But Japan is also an empire ruled by the emperor. Why did the Kwantung Army agree to establish a republic? If your Excellency thinks that a republic is inappropriate, do not use this word.This is not a republic, it is a governing system. I am very grateful for your country's sincere help, but everything else can be said, only this ruling system is unacceptable.The title of emperor was left by my ancestors. If I cancel it, it will be disloyal and unfilial.

The so-called governance is nothing more than a transition. Itagaki expressed his sympathy. Emperor Xuantong is the twelfth emperor of the Qing Empire. This is very clear. After the establishment of the parliament in the future, I believe that the constitution for restoring the monarchy will be passed. Therefore, the current administration is nothing more than a transitional method. When I heard the word parliament, I felt as if I had been scalded, and I quickly shook my head and said: The parliament is not good, and besides, the emperor of the Qing Dynasty was not appointed by a parliament at the beginning!

We fought back and forth, but we couldn't get together.Itagaki had a calm attitude, not in a hurry, with a smile on his pale face, and rubbed his hands together; I repeated the twelve reasons that had to be orthodox, over and over again, expressing that I could not give up the identity of the emperor.We talked for more than three hours. Finally, Itagaki packed his bag and expressed that he did not want to talk any more.His tone of voice remained the same, but his face became greener and whiter, his smile disappeared, and the title of Emperor Xuantong that once returned to his mouth became Your Excellency again: Your Excellency, think about it again, and talk about it tomorrow.After he finished speaking coldly, he said goodbye and left.

That night, according to the opinions of Zheng and his sons and Shangjiao, I held a banquet just for Itagaki at the Yamato Hotel.According to them, this is to connect feelings. I had mixed feelings at the banquet.The reason why I dared to refuse to be in power was more or less influenced by people like Hu Siyuan and Chen Zengshou, who believed that the Japanese made the Northeast into the current situation, and they couldn’t clean it up unless I came out. Therefore, as long as I persisted, the Japanese would will back down.However, after I rejected Itagaki, Zheng Xiaoxu reminded me that no matter what, you can’t hurt your relationship with the Japanese military. It’s definitely not good to hurt your relationship. Zhang Zuolin’s fate is Yin Jian.When I heard this, I was afraid again.I originally thought that Zhang Zuolin, who was born as a bandit, and myself, a dragon that is different from ordinary people, should not stand side by side. Now I see that the Japanese do not regard me as a dragon in their hearts, so I have to pay attention to Itagaki all the time. Zhang Qingbai face.That face is actually a face without spring, summer, autumn and winter.He gulped down his drink, was very open to anyone's toast, and never mentioned the day's arguments as if nothing had happened.This night seemed to be a promise, and no one at the banquet said anything except romance, smoking, drinking and eating.Until the end of the banquet at ten o'clock in the evening, I still haven't seen the weather on Itagaki's face.

But I didn’t need to spend much time trying to find out. The next morning, Itagaki called Zheng Xiaoxu, Luo Zhenyu, Wan Shengshi and Zheng Chui to the Yamato Hotel and asked them to tell me about his climate: The requirements of the military department can no longer be changed.If you don't accept it, it can only be regarded as a hostile attitude, and you can only answer with the means of dealing with the enemy.These are the last words of the military department! Hearing this answer, I was stunned.My legs went limp, and I fell down on the sofa, speechless for a while. Luo Zhenyu was downcast and didn't say a word, Wan Shengshi stood aside in panic, and no one else said a word.After a while of silence, I heard Zheng Xiaoxu say: I said earlier that you should not hurt Japan's feelings, but it is still too late, and I have already tried my best to bear it in front of Itagaki, saying that the emperor will be able to act arbitrarily. I didn't make a sound. How can you get a tiger cub if you don't enter the tiger's den?Zheng Chui came over and said with a smile on his face that those who know current affairs are outstanding.Our monarchs and ministers are now in the hands of the Japanese, and we cannot suffer immediate losses. Instead of breaking with them, it is better to simply use the tricks, and use the way of power to achieve changes to make great achievements in the future. Last night at the banquet, Zheng Chui was the most active one. He and Itagaki toasted repeatedly, and after the banquet, he took Itagaki to drink.Today, he talked so eloquently about how to use power to make changes, and how to deal with tricks. I didn't connect it with the special actions last night. I just wondered that before he and his father went to Shenyang, he said that he would not do anything unless the Qing Dynasty was restored. Why? How did it change so quickly? Seeing that I was silent, Zheng Xiaoxu changed into a passionate voice and said, "The Japanese can say what they say, but they can't bear this loss. Besides, the Japanese originally had good intentions and let the emperor be the head of state, which is the same as being the emperor."The minister has served the emperor all these years, isn't it for today?If he refuses, I can only pack up and go home.After hearing his words, I panicked.His son went on to say: Now that I have agreed to the Japanese military department, I will build up my strength in the future. I don’t worry if there is no way to do what we want.At this time, Luo Zhenyu said dejectedly: "This is the case, and it is too late to regret. There is only a tentative one-year period. If the monarchy is not implemented after the deadline, he will abdicate at that time. It depends on this as a condition. What else can Itagaki say?"I had no other choice, so I sighed and asked Zheng Xiaoxu to talk to Itagaki. Not long after, Zheng Xiaoxu came back with a flash of light above his head, saying that Itagaki had agreed, and that tonight a small-scale banquet would be held for the future ruling party! I am like this, on the one hand, I have no hard bones in my body, and on the other hand, I have fantasies about the future restoration of the throne, openly embarked on this despicable and shameless road, confirmed the status of the number one traitor, and served as the bloody ruler. A fig leaf.Under this cloth, from February 23, 1932, the northeast of the motherland was completely turned into a colony, and 30 million compatriots began a miserable life stained with blood and tears.At the same time, I also added confidence to Honjo, Itagaki and the like, and laid the foundation stone for their fortune.In Zheng Xiaoxu's diary, he recorded the fate of Honjo, Itagaki and others like this: Shang Naijue ordered Wan Shengshi to summon Banyuan.So it was temporarily changed to maintain four characters.Itagaki retreated and was overjoyed.Ben Zhuang called twice yesterday to inquire about the situation, and Ban Tan should go there at eleven o'clock today.The temporary agreement will be decided at ten o'clock.There is no time for a dangerous opportunity.If this discussion fails, both Honjo and Itagaki should take the blame and resign, and the Japanese Army's strategy of aiding the establishment will fail.