Chapter 1413 The Filial Son of the Empire (Third update, please subscribe)
7:00 AM on April 22nd.
On this day, like many conscripted soldiers, Itagaki Seishirō, no, it should be called Itagaki Seii, had already put on a military uniform. However, there was no rank on his uniform because he had not officially joined the army yet and had just received a month of training.
According to orders, they were going to set out and sail to the United States - the empire had declared war on the United States.
Like many people, Ban Zhengyi set off with his comrades as if nothing had happened.
In the training camp, Ita Masaoki saw his father Ita Masaotoku. Except for his grandfather who did not come to see him off due to health reasons, all the family members came, including Jiro, Shiro and others who also came on the pretext of pretending to be here.
Looking at his son, Ban Zhengde looked very serious, he just gave instructions.
"Since you are already a soldier of the Empire, you must serve His Majesty with all your loyalty! Do not bring shame to the Empire! Do not let your family be ashamed because of your actions."
The mother also seemed very calm. She first asked her son whether he had adapted to life in the army and how the food was. Then, Huizi looked at her son and said:
"Taro, this is a battle worth a fortune. Go happily! If you are caught by the American soldiers, just commit suicide by disembowelment! Don't let the imperial flag bring shame on you! Because I have three sons, and it is the honor of the Ban family to have sons who are loyal to the emperor!"
Then, she gave her son a sword with the words "Jade Shattering" engraved on it, which was of course her earnest hope for her son.
His mother's words made Ita Seii laugh. He looked at the words on the knife and felt happy.
"It is better to die in glory than live in disgrace. Mother, your son understands!"
At this moment, Ita Seii only felt that his mother was extremely great. There was no time like this when he realized how great his mother was. In his heart, he also swore firmly: I must die with joy!
His mother said goodbye to him with a smile and encouraged him to die resolutely for the empire and for His Majesty the Emperor!
Looking at his mother, Ita Seii said:
"Mother, if I die, please live a good life."
"I have three sons! Go without worries, Taro!"
His mother happily agreed. After receiving his mother's happy and straightforward promise, Ita Seii felt that he no longer had any regrets in his heart.
You can die with peace of mind!
"Everyone, assemble!"
Finally, at the officers' shouts, more than a thousand local soldiers in training quickly formed neat lines. At the command of their superiors, they saluted the national flag and the military flag at the same time, looking at the fluttering imperial sun and moon flag.
An idea popped up in Ita Seii's mind—I could die bravely!
His mind once again recalled the speech given by the imperial soldiers in the school auditorium when he was a teenager.
"The most loyal and brave soldier is not a private first class, nor a private first class, nor a private second class, but a soldier who bravely dies in battle without hesitation when facing death as a soldier of the empire! This is the most loyal and brave soldier!"
Guandi testified!
I will definitely be able to become such a loyal and brave soldier! Serve the empire and His Majesty the Emperor!
Thinking of this, Ban Zhengyi felt an indescribable joy in his heart!
This kind of joy comes from the heart! It is also a kind of expectation from the heart, that is the expectation of honor.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, 1,600 local soldiers in training set out from the camp.
When they set off, the people who came to see them off had already crowded on the roadside, and even the school was closed to see them off.
In order to respond to the patriotic people, the troops took a long detour to the station. The people on the roadside crowded and cheered them off. Soldiers who found familiar faces among the people would leave the team and say goodbye to everyone one by one, and no officer would stop them.
Ita Seii was completely immersed in his loyalty to his country. Therefore, he watched the people's gatherings, cheers, and boiling enthusiasm calmly and smiled.
Finally, they arrived at the train station. After getting on the train, the soldiers stuck their heads and arms out of all the windows of the train. The platform was crowded with people. Among the crowd, there were some women running around, apparently looking for their husbands.
This kind of farewell feeling is very common on the platform.
"beep……"
The whistle sounded, and the locomotive began to rumble, puffing white smoke. The train started moving. The shouts of the crowd resounded through the sky like a wave.
"Hurray! Hurray!"
In the end, all the shouts converged into this sentence.
These two simple words have become a great symphony, a passionate symphony, spoken by thousands of people.
In this symphony filled with many emotions such as love, separation, encouragement, and longing, the train drove out of the platform, leaving people's enthusiastic cheers far behind.
However, even so, the symphony did not end. Along the way, whether it was in the evening, late at night, or even at one or two in the morning, there was an endless stream of people seeing them off. They lit red bonfires and stood by the road, waiting for the brief moment when the train passed. They lit red bonfires next to the railway and cheered to encourage their soldiers from the bottom of their hearts.
Cheers mixed with numerous emotions rang out again and again on both sides of the railway.
Finally, two days later, when the train arrived at Edo Port, the soldiers were greeted with the same cheers and encouragement. When Ita Seii and his men got off the train and lined up to board the ship, Tang naval officers and soldiers were also watching them from a cruiser from Tang in the berth area.
"Oh, I can't believe it!"
Standing on the bridge of the cruiser "Zhiyuan", Captain Deng Shichang looked through a telescope at the Japanese people on the dock waving ribbons to see off the soldiers, and couldn't help but sigh.
"The enthusiasm of people from all over Japan to join the army is so high. They are truly worthy of being called filial sons of the empire!"
Many people call Japan filial sons, because in the past twenty years, they have indeed shed blood and sweat for the empire time and time again.
"Haha, Captain, if the North Koreans hear you say that, they will definitely be unhappy. They claim that North Korea is the true filial son of the Ming Dynasty!"
Deng Shichang laughed at the joke made by the first mate Liang Zekuan.
"North Korea is only filial in words, but not honest in actions. If we want to talk about filial piety..."
Pointing to the new recruits lined up at the dock waiting to board the ship, Deng Shichang said solemnly.
"With a population of 24 million, Japan was able to mobilize 600,000 troops within a month, and those who failed to join the army all cried bitterly, wishing they could serve the country with all their heart. This is what it means to be a true filial son of the empire. As for Korea... it is short-sighted. It has been mourning for the Ming Dynasty for more than 200 years. It should have devoted itself to the empire with a sincere heart. Unfortunately, its monarch was short-sighted and failed to seize the opportunity. Like Japan, it became a province of the empire! What a pity, what a pity..."
The reason why Deng Shichang sighed like this is that until now North Korea is still outside the empire. On the one hand, it claims to be a "filial son of the Ming Dynasty", but on the other hand, it is unwilling to open its doors.
It is easy to tell at a glance who is truly filial and who is pretending to be filial.
"Over time,"
When the captain lamented the pity of North Korea, Liang Zekuan said.
"Don't even mention North Korea. North Korea is just a tiny country and has no impact on international affairs. But we..."
After a pause, Liang Zekuan said.
"What should we do? Should we stand with the Empire? Or... Captain, I heard that the British ambassador has been in and out of the palace frequently recently. I'm worried that..."
Without waiting for Liang Zekuan to finish, Deng Shichang spoke.
"Don't worry, there may be many insects in the capital, but they won't dare to collude with the British and stab the empire in the back. Besides, even if they are willing, we won't agree!"
After saying that, Deng Shichang gave another order.
"Have everyone ready to set sail. Once the Imperial military transport ships have boarded, we will visit Xia Weiyi as planned..."
What is a visit? It's clearly an escort...
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)
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