Chapter 1412: The Gate of Glory (Second update, please subscribe)

"My dear little official, what is that in front of your horse? It's flashing and fluttering. Isn't that the banner of the conquest of Africa? Conquer, conquer, conquer to the end, conquer, conquer, conquer to the end..."

In various provinces of Japan, military songs are played on the radio every day. They are passionate, heroic, and full of emotion. Compared with other regions, after the empire mobilized and declared war, this place has fallen into a kind of extreme frenzy. For the young people of Japan who grew up under the rule of the empire, they are eager to make meritorious deeds on the battlefield, eager to prove to the world that they are also subjects of the empire, willing to sacrifice themselves for the empire and willing to be loyal to His Majesty.

Countless people wrote blood oaths to express their will. In their view, this was a rare opportunity, a chance for them to demonstrate their unswerving loyalty to the empire.

How many people have dreamed of such an opportunity for many years.

Of course, being able to become a soldier of the empire is itself a supreme honor!

After all, for many years, only people from noble families could serve as soldiers in this land. As warriors of the empire, they went on expeditions to Africa to expand the territory for the empire and the emperor, and made great contributions.

For ordinary people, they don't even have the qualifications to be soldiers. After all, in Japan, only samurai can become soldiers. But now with the mobilization order of the empire, everything is different. Everyone has the opportunity to become an imperial soldier and be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor.

Become a soldier of the empire!

What an honor!

After leaving the military service office, when Itagaki Seitaro passed by a clothing store nearby, he couldn't help but stand in front of the glass display window again - behind the window was a wooden military model. The beautiful military uniform on the model had appeared in the dreams of young people like Abe countless times.

Standing in front of the glass window, I saw the young man reflected in the glass. Although he was thin and his clothes were shabby, his posture was much taller.

As his reflection overlapped with the model in military uniform behind him, Itagaki Seitarou felt a force pouring into his body from his head.

strength!

Is this... what it feels like to be a soldier of the Empire?

Or is it the power that one possesses after becoming a successful soldier of the Empire?

Yes, Imperial Soldier... Just these four words symbolize infinite power!

When he returned home with a cheerful step, Itagaki Seitaro did not push the door open immediately, but took a deep breath before walking into the yard.

"Mother, I'm back!"

Seeing her son return, Huizi came out in wooden clogs, looked at him expectantly, and asked with some concern.

"How's it going, Taro..."

No

"Mom, I succeeded, I succeeded!"

Itagaki Seitarou shouted excitedly as he took out the thin enlistment notice.

"Mother, look, this is the imperial enlistment notice. In three days I will be a member of the imperial army!"

When Itagaki's excited shout rang out in the courtyard, his grandfather came out of the house. This well-known Sinologist in the county also spoke excitedly after hearing his words.

"Hey, hurry up and show me the enlistment notice!"

Wearing reading glasses, he looked at it solemnly, then looked at Itagaki with considerable pride and said.

"My eldest grandson! You have made it! Huizi, you are the pride of our whole family, my..."

He patted his chest.

"He was a Chinese studies lecturer in the feudal lord's house, and taught Chinese studies all his life. Your father did the same. Now our Itagaki family finally has a soldier!"

Patting Itagaki's shoulder hard, he said excitedly.

"You are the pride of our whole family!"

"Yes, yes, he is the pride of the Itagaki family!"

Huizi hugged her son, her eyes also red.

Honestly, as a woman, what does it mean to have a son join the army during a war?

It means being loyal to the empire and His Majesty the Emperor!

Being loyal would kill you! It's impossible to say that I don't feel bad.

However, what an honor it is to be a soldier of the empire!

Soon, Itagaki's father, Masatoku, a Chinese teacher at a local middle school, returned with his younger brother, Shiro. As soon as Masatoku returned home, he heard his father say:

"Zhengde, go buy some braised meat and wine."

"Father, what day is today?"

Zhengde asked.

"Haha, Taro is a soldier of the Empire!"

"Brother is a soldier of the Empire now!"

Before his father could answer, Shiro, who had just entered the house, shouted excitedly.

"Really? Brother, are you really a soldier of the Empire?"

After receiving a positive answer, Itagaki Seishirō shouted excitedly.

"My elder brother Taro is a soldier of the Empire. My elder brother Taro is a soldier of the Empire."

While shouting excitedly, Itagaki Seishirō excitedly ran to his mother and said.

"Mother, mother, when I grow up, I want to be a soldier of the empire, I want to be..."

"Then you have to learn more. Otherwise, the imperial army won't want you because you are too short. Besides, imperial soldiers must be educated. You have to study harder in the future..."

Huizi stroked his son's big head. This youngest son was short but had a big head. Moreover, his academic performance was not very good because he did not study hard. Then he said,

"Go, go buy some wine, let's celebrate for Taro today..."

Just as Itagaki Seishirō was about to go out, he heard the sound of firecrackers outside.

Itagaki Masanobu seemed to have remembered something.

"Haha, I know why so many people are setting off firecrackers today. It turns out they are celebrating! Shi Lang, buy another string of firecrackers. We must celebrate well today!"

On this day, many Japanese people were celebrating. They bought braised dishes, drinks, and of course firecrackers to see off their children who were joining the army. At the dinner table, these young men sat on an equal footing with their fathers for the first time. The same was true in the Itagaki family. As they chatted, they talked about their expectations for the future.

"In the future, when Taro enters the military, the Itagaki family will change their surname to Itagaki!"

Old Master Itagaki said directly.

"Although the surname Ban is a relatively rare surname in China, it does exist. I specifically looked up the name Ban Shaozheng in the Ming Dynasty. It is very likely that our Ban Heng family is descended from him. With Taro's military achievements, we may be able to legitimately recognize our ancestry!"

In the past nearly twenty years, the most popular term in Japan is "returning to one's roots". To put it simply, it means finding a Chinese ancestor. Of course, this ancestor cannot be recognized casually, and it needs to be recognized by the family ancestral hall.

Although Itagaki was a sinologist, it was easy for him to pass the naturalization test, but he was stuck on "recognizing his ancestors" - he needed to provide recognition from the Itagaki ancestral hall, which meant he needed to go to China, which would cost a lot.

However, now that Taro has become a soldier of the empire, he naturally has to use a Chinese name in the army. The Ban family can directly trace their ancestry to the Affairs Bureau. As for the recognition of the ancestral hall, it will naturally be handled by the official authorities.

"Fifteen years ago, I passed the naturalization test because of my outstanding teaching skills, but was stuck in the ancestral hall's recognition. Now, my eldest grandson..."

After taking a sip of wine, Mr. Itagaki said a little excitedly.

"You are a soldier of the Empire now. Our family can now trace our roots back to our roots! Haha..."

While sighing, Mr. Ban looked at his eldest grandson and said.

"Taro, when you get to the front line, you must be brave and kill the enemy!"

The old group is down, so I created a new book club group: 739209015. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.

(End of this chapter)