Chapter 339: Enmity with MacArthur

The speech is over.

Hardy led an economic guidance group of more than 40 people to leave the airport and stay at the Tokyo Imperial Hotel.

The Imperial Hotel Tokyo was built in 1923 and is the highest-level hotel in Japan. MacArthur also lived here when he first arrived. Later, the Allied Headquarters was located in the First Building, and a Japanese-style manor was built for MacArthur, so MacArthur moved out.

For safety reasons,

Hardy also specially dispatched HD security personnel to Japan to be responsible for security. They did not come with Hardy, but were sent to Japan two months in advance. There are more than 200 people in total. They have already purchased a place in Japan to establish a HD security branch.

The safety of the economic guidance group members is the responsibility of HD Security, and the expenses are naturally borne by the government. After all, Hadi and his team are a government action.

After flying for more than ten hours, the delegation members are tired. Today everyone will rest. The welcome reception organized by the Japanese government will be held in two days.

And at this time.

The reporters returned to their respective newspaper offices and got busy.

The economic guidance group came here today, and Hadi’s speech at the airport revealed a lot of important information.

The next morning.

The front pages of newspapers were all about the arrival of the economic guidance group in Tokyo and Hardy's speech.

Yomiuri News:

"Yesterday, the US Economic Guidance Group arrived in Tokyo and began to provide guidance on Japan's economic development. At the airport, the Economic Guidance Special Envoy delivered a speech,..."

This is followed by the original text of Hardy's speech.

But some parts are bolded, such as Hardy said: "President Johnson said that Japan must completely get rid of the influence of imperialism and militarism before it can return to the international community."

A commentary and analysis article was added after the original article.

"Special Envoy Hadi's words show that Japan still has the possibility of returning to the international community. The obstacle is those who started the war. Their imperialist and militarist ideas led Japan into the abyss, and now they are still a stepping stone to Japan's revival."

Nikkei Shimbun:

"Special envoy Hadi brought the latest aid and is ready to completely abandon the military industry and vigorously develop the people's livelihood industry. If Japan can become an industrial base, it will solve the employment problems of millions of people and quickly restore the Japanese economy."

Hardy's Global Times is now doing well in Japan.

It has become a national newspaper.

The main reason is that other newspapers are under pressure to make profits, but the Global Times does not. During its development period, it even received a lot of subsidies from the group, which allowed it to develop so rapidly.

The Global Times's point of view is very different from the focus of Japanese newspapers, or rather, the Japanese newspapers are unwilling to mention it, but the Global Times helps them to do so:

"Special Envoy Hadi once again criticized Japan for launching the war, demanding that Japan must recognize its mistakes and sincerely apologize, so that it can fundamentally break with the old imperialist and militarist factions that launched the war and achieve the reform goals set by the United Nations."

"Afterwards, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru said that Japan sincerely admitted that it was wrong to start the war, and on behalf of Japan, the Japanese Prime Minister expressed regret for the war."

On the back of the newspaper was a photo of Yoshida Shigeru bowing.

As soon as the report came out, it caused a great response in Japanese society. In fact, Japan's economy is now in a state of collapse, and people cannot even achieve the minimum living security. Many people are hungry, and some even starve to death.

They hope someone can come and help them out of their predicament.

The Japanese people welcomed Hadi's arrival. According to reports, Special Envoy Hadi has made great efforts to change the current situation in Japan, selling off useless military enterprises in advance and bringing back much-needed cash.

In the eyes of many Japanese.

Hardy's behavior is just like an angel saving people from distress.

People have a very good impression of Hardy.

What's the point of selling off Japanese assets? He is thinking about us wholeheartedly and turning waste into treasure. There are not many people who are so sincere in helping Japan. We misunderstood him before. This makes many people feel ashamed and respect Hardy more from the bottom of their hearts.

As for the reform strategy Hadi is going to implement on Japan, it is to completely transfer the military to civilian use, vigorously develop the people's livelihood economy, completely abandon the military industry and resource-based industries, slow down the manufacturing industry, solve the people's survival problems first, and then consider industry after the economy improves a little.

Countless Japanese people think this is the way it should be.

Why bother to rest the expensive and labor-intensive heavy industry when the country can't even get enough food to eat? The top priority now is to get the Japanese economy back on track.

What the people think.

Of course I want to survive and live well.

What do those politicians think has nothing to do with me. I just want to ensure that my family and I can survive and live a better life.

Seeing Hardy's reform direction, both Americans and Europeans feel that Hardy's direction is correct.

Let’s not talk about anything else for now.

If Japan loses its heavy industry and all military industries, it will naturally become less offensive, which is very consistent with the requirements of the United Nations.

No matter what.

Now Hardy has become completely famous in Japan. Many people privately call him the "new economic czar of Japan" who has the power of life and death over the Japanese economy.

Many people agree with this statement.

However, it also angered another person, that is MacArthur. MacArthur was originally in charge of all affairs in Japan, including military, economy, and cultural life. He was the real emperor of Japan and could control everything.

But now Hardy came and took away his control over the Japanese economy, which invisibly weakened MacArthur's power. No matter who it was, no one would be happy to have the benefits taken away from them.

After Hardy came to Japan, his first speech mentioned that "Japan may return to the international community." This gave the Japanese hope that MacArthur had not given them before, but Hardy brought them hope. It is believed that the Japanese will definitely listen to Hardy's words and try to find a gap with Hardy to help Japan regain its independence.

And who controlled Japanese politics in the past?

He is MacArthur.

So now MacArthur became the big devil in people's minds, and Hardy became the savior.

Thinking of this,

MacArthur became even angrier.

Mac Arthur didn't care about Hardy before, and after a day and a night, Hardy still hasn't called Mac Arthur, which shows that Hardy doesn't care about him either.

He was the Allied Commander-in-Chief.

Although he was the highest authority in Japan among the Allied Forces or the United States, Hardy did not show due respect to such an authority.

You are indeed from a consortium, but without my support, I believe your economic reforms may not be carried out smoothly.

MacArthur, holding a pipe in his mouth and twisting his lips, ordered his adjutant: "Go, tell the people below that without my warrant, no one is allowed to deal with the seized military industrial enterprises privately."

The adjutant was slightly stunned. "Commander, haven't those sealed factories been sold by the special economic guidance envoy? "

MacArthur snorted, "I am the commander-in-chief of the Allied forces, responsible for all matters in Japan. Everything must be approved by me. Even if Congress approves it, it must be approved by me. When Hardy comes to visit, tell me. I am going to inspect the troops."

The adjutant understood that Hardy had sold the seized factory without consulting MacArthur, and that the commander-in-chief was deliberately making things difficult for him.

"Okay Commander."

The adjutant went down to inform the troops in charge of guarding the factory.

......

After a day's rest, everyone adjusted to the jet lag and recovered some of their spirits. They booked the conference room of the Empire Hotel, and Hardy held a meeting with people from the seven major conglomerates to discuss what to do next.

First, we will take over the purchased military industrial enterprises, and then send management teams to check on the conditions of these enterprises. If they can resume work, we will be ready to take them over for resumption of work.

The seven major conglomerates cover almost everything, so it is not difficult to allow these companies to resume work, and the specific work can be undertaken by the corresponding companies.

The second is to continue to acquire Japanese private enterprises, either through full acquisition or capital injection to hold controlling stakes, including banking, finance, agriculture, infrastructure such as water, electricity, gas, roads and railways, manufacturing including oil, automobiles, real estate, catering and hotels, tobacco and alcohol, textiles, wood processing, and the pharmaceutical industry, etc.

The seven major conglomerates have huge appetites. The strategy they had previously formulated privately was to completely control the Japanese economy. They did not need to take over the entire thing, but only needed to control the leading role to reap the greatest benefits.

Moreover, according to Hardy's idea, he would develop the people's livelihood industry, continue to squeeze the military and heavy industries, and allow Japan's industrial capacity to continue to shrink.

This strategy is also in line with the current US policy of controlling Japan.

This time, Hardy brought with him a team of lawyers, a financial team, and a management team, all of whom were drawn from Wells Fargo and Hardy Group.

At the meeting, Hardy instructed them to take over those enterprises and factories from the military with American materials and contracts.

Give the order.

Hardy returned to his room, and his assistant brought him a telegram. "Boss, this is a telegram from Hong Kong."

Hongkong?

Hardy took the telegram and read it, a smile appeared on his face. The telegram was sent by Han Ye-jin. Han Ye-jin read the newspaper and knew that Hardy was in Japan, so she sent the telegram specially to express her longing for him and asked him to go to Hong Kong if he had time, or she could come to Japan to visit him.

Hardy smiled and said, "Call me back and tell her that I will go to Hong Kong to see her after I am done with the initial period." Japan is so close to Hong Kong that it only takes more than an hour by plane to get there.

The assistant went out to send a telegram.

There is a special radio room in the hotel.

The people who stayed at the Empire Hotel were either rich or noble, many of them were ambassadors or big entrepreneurs. A telegraph room was specially set up for the convenience of customers.

After sending the telegram, the assistant brought in a person, the Japanese cabinet foreign minister, who was visiting. "Mr. Hardy, this is an invitation to you and your team to attend a welcome dinner at the Prime Minister's residence tomorrow."

Hardy took it with a smile.

"Okay, I will bring the guidance team tomorrow night." Hardy said.

"Excuse me, Mr. Special Envoy. We still have a lot of time. We can talk in detail tomorrow night," said the Foreign Minister.

"Okay, see you tomorrow night."

The Foreign Minister bowed and left.

Not long after, the people Hardy sent to take over the sealed factory came back. The vice president of Hardy Group, who led the team, said angrily: "Those soldiers are very unreasonable. I showed them the documents from the US government, but they said they must have MacArthur's order documents."

Hardy thought about it.

"They are right. Contact MacArthur and tell him that I plan to visit Commander-in-Chief MacArthur."

Hardy planned to meet MacArthur. After all, he was the commander of the garrison here and many things would definitely involve him. He wanted to say hello and get his signature back.

But not long after, the vice president came back and said, "Boss, the military said MacArthur is out inspecting the troops and is not in Tokyo. They have already notified MacArthur, and MacArthur said he will meet you when he comes back."

Hardy frowned slightly.

He remembered that when he was chatting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru yesterday, the two talked about MacArthur. Yoshida Shigeru even said that MacArthur was in Tokyo, so how could he go out for an inspection today.

Moreover, the army took a tough stance and prevented them from taking back the sealed factories. Their attitude was firm and they seemed to have been prepared for this. Maybe there was something fishy going on here?

Thinking of MacArthur's rumored character.

MacArthur was arrogant and showy. After arriving in Japan, he became self-centered and arrogant, offending all his colleagues and the president.

During World War II, MacArthur ignored Marshall and other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and openly criticized his commander-in-chief. Senior officials in Washington were fed up with MacArthur.

Henry Stimson, then Secretary of the Army, publicly stated, "MacArthur had a nasty character and offended everyone he worked with in the Army and Navy. He didn't even trust his own subordinates."

Hardy suspected that

MacArthur was targeting himself.

He sent someone out to call Duncan, the intelligence company that had been sent to Japan. After the call was connected, Hardy asked Duncan to investigate MacArthur's current location.

Not long after, Duncan called back, "Boss, Michael Arthur's car drove out of his residence and headed towards Yokosuka Base. Our people saw Michael Arthur sitting in the car."

have to,

I am 100% sure.

MacArthur was targeting himself.

A smile slowly formed at the corner of Hardy's mouth.

He didn't care about being targeted by MacArthur. Although MacArthur was the current emperor of Japan, he had no control over Hardy because Hardy was only in charge of the economy.

MacArthur's actions could only annoy Hardy and had no other effect.

In that case.

Hardy decided not to take it for the time being. He convened a meeting of the seven major conglomerates again, informed them of the current situation, and even revealed the news that MacArthur did not want to see him, claiming that he was out inspecting the base, and then left.

The people from the seven major conglomerates were somewhat angry after hearing this.

"Our acquisition has been approved by the President and Congress. Why is MacArthur blocking it?!" someone said angrily.

"MacArthur has always been a rebellious person. Perhaps he is angry that we operated these factories without consulting him."

"But this is an economic issue. There is no need to ask for his opinion."

"Because of this, he may feel that we are challenging his authority in Japan."

The guesses were almost correct, and then MacArthur did something difficult. Everyone present found it ridiculous. This was definitely not the move a mature politician should make, and this would inadvertently offend the seven major conglomerates.

But considering MacArthur's character, he could definitely do it.

"What happens next? He may be away for a while, maybe one or two months, or even two or three months?" asked the vice president of Morgan Stanley.

Hadi said calmly: "We can only wait for him to come back. We can't possibly have a conflict with those soldiers. That would be a joke."

"The Japanese Prime Minister sent the Foreign Minister an invitation. A welcome reception will be held at the Prime Minister's residence tomorrow. After the reception, we will directly start the second step and start the acquisition plan of other companies. I don't believe that MacArthur will never come back."

"This is the only way." Someone said helplessly.

"That MacArthur once threatened to run for the presidential election. A man like him, who acts impulsively and is self-willed, is definitely not a good president," someone said.

"Haha, anyway, I won't support him."

Hardy felt amused. This time MacArthur had offended all seven major conglomerates. He was really a weird character.

After the meeting.

Hardy was afraid that his phone call was being tapped, so he asked Duncan to come to the hotel to meet him. "Duncan, I have a difficult task for you. You must be careful and cautious in doing this!"

Duncan's expression didn't change at all, he remained calm.

"Boss, you say."

"Investigate MacArthur's situation. He must have received a lot of bribes during his years in Japan. Investigate who bribed him, what he did for others, how much national interests he sold out, and where he kept all his money."

Duncan nodded.

"I understand, boss. I will investigate this matter carefully."

.......