Trust crisis
Volume 3, Chapter 7
Fine cracks began to appear on Takeshita Hiroki's "appeasement" mask.
The "Reverse Scale Plan" was like an invisible file, relentlessly and precisely scraping away at the carefully constructed facade of "goodwill." The stories and slogans circulating in the shadows spread like a virus, constantly shaking the already fragile foundation of trust. What angered him even more was that some officials of the puppet regime and local gentry, who had previously been ambiguous or even inclined to curry favor, had become hesitant and distant again.
"Mr. Takeshita, it's not that we haven't tried our best." The fake mayor of Heihe Town, a chubby, opportunistic middle-aged man, rubbed his hands together, a troubled smile plastered on his face. "It's just that... some troublemakers down there have been misled by treacherous people, spreading nonsense and causing widespread panic. Should we... postpone the selection of this 'model village'?"
Takeshita Hiroki adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze behind the lenses icy, yet a forced, gentle smile remained on his lips: "Mayor, building a new order will always encounter obstacles. This is precisely why we need to work even harder and educate the people. The Imperial Army will be your strongest support." He deliberately emphasized the word "support," carrying an unspoken threat.
The fake town mayor, sweat beading on his forehead, nodded repeatedly in agreement, but inwardly he was groaning. He was caught in the middle, pleasing neither side. The Anti-Japanese United Army was elusive and ruthless; the Japanese were outwardly polite, but their true colors were more ruthless than the King of Hell. This job was getting increasingly difficult.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere was equally tense inside the Japanese military's Heihe intelligence agency.
Onizuka Ichiro sat behind his desk, his face grim, listening to his subordinates' reports on the recent "security situation" and "public sentiment." Takeshita Hiroki's cultural infiltration efforts had stalled, and his planned "Iron Wall Encirclement" military operation was also facing skepticism from his superiors—why were the resistance forces still active despite the enormous manpower and resources being expended? And even able to stir up trouble in the rear?
“Your Excellency, Chief of Staff,” an intelligence analyst said cautiously, “according to our investigation, the source of many recent rumors circulating among the public that are unfavorable to the ‘appeasement policy’ seems to be related to some members of the puppet army, as well as some clerks in the town and village offices. They may be… perhaps secretly passing on messages, or passively carrying out orders.”
"Baka!" Onizuka Ichiro slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups bounce. He didn't need concrete evidence; the suspicion itself was enough to enrage him. He already harbored a deep-seated distrust of those who were not of his kind, and now he attributed part of the setbacks in the military operation to these "unreliable bastards."
"Investigate! Conduct an internal investigation immediately!" Onizuka Ichiro roared, his eyes flashing with a venomous light. "Everyone who may have had contact with the Anti-Japanese United Army, everyone who failed to carry out orders effectively, everyone whose relatives have Anti-Japanese United Army backgrounds—all of them must be put on a list and closely monitored! If necessary, it is better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free!"
This order immediately created an atmosphere of panic and fear within the puppet army and puppet regime. Those who already harbored ulterior motives and were only working for the Japanese out of necessity became even more disloyal. Wang Degui, in particular, was like a frightened bird; he felt as if he were being watched every time he went out. The risks of transmitting intelligence increased exponentially.
The subtle rift between Takeshita Hiroki and Onizuka Ichiro, which already existed due to their differing strategies, gradually widened under pressure.
At an internal meeting regarding the next steps, Takeshita Hiroki insisted that efforts to "appease" should be intensified, supplemented by more refined screening and courting, to undermine the will to resist from within. "Military conquest can only gain land, while cultural education can win hearts and minds," he argued, citing classical texts in an attempt to persuade Onizuka.
However, having suffered repeated setbacks and eager to save face, Onizuka Ichiro had long lost patience. He rudely interrupted Takeshita: "Takeshita-kun! Your approach is too slow! Facts have proven that only iron-fisted ruthlessness and terror are the most effective language against these stubborn resisters! I suggest we immediately implement the 'Three Alls Policy' on several 'seriously problematic' villages as a warning to others! Let everyone see clearly the consequences of resisting the Imperial Army!"
"Absolutely not!" Takeshita Hiroki stood up abruptly, his face flushed with excitement. "Such indiscriminate killing will only incite stronger hatred and push more people to the side of the Anti-Japanese United Army! All our previous efforts will be in vain! This is the most foolish thing to do!"
"Baka! What did you say?!" Onizuka Ichiro also stood up abruptly, his hand on the hilt of his military knife, glaring fiercely at Takeshita. The atmosphere in the conference room instantly plummeted to freezing point, and the other officers fell silent in fear.
Ultimately, the meeting ended in discord without reaching any consensus. Takeshita Hiroki left in anger, while Onizuka Ichiro became even more convinced that these cultural types were too idealistic and simply didn't understand how to operate in Manchuria.
A crisis of trust was quietly brewing and spreading not only between the Japanese puppet regime and the people, but also among different factions within the aggressors themselves. This, in turn, created an unexpected opportunity for Gu Tieshan and Shen Lanjun's subsequent actions.
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