Chapter 142 – Late 1929 Status Report (1)

“So, why did we move to such a cramped, dark room?”

Considering it was supposed to be a villain-style secret meeting, I thought we’d be moving to a suite upstairs, but instead, I was led to a small, supposedly finished room on the third basement floor.

It was a bare concrete room with only a ventilation duct. There were chairs and a table, but the space was about four and a half tatami mats in size. With four people inside, it felt cramped, and being underground only added to the sense of pressure.

I hadn’t been in such a confined space since the airship trip to America.

“My apologies. The other rooms are either unfinished or cluttered. However, in terms of counterintelligence, there is no room more secure than this one.”

“Well, as long as there’s a reason, that’s fine. Ah, thank you, Shizu.”

“I feel terrible for only being able to prepare something this modest.”

“It’s fine. It suits this room perfectly.”

What Shizu had managed to procure halfway through was a simple tea set found in a break room for the construction workers. No sweets. She had tried to get some from the Ootori Hotel next door but gave up after Tokita stopped her.

“Well then, let’s begin. But before that…”

Saying so, he picked up a piece of chalk and began writing on a movable blackboard in the room, producing a pleasant kak-kak-kak sound as it hit the surface.

If this were the 21st century, he’d be using a whiteboard or a digital display, but since it was only the early Showa era, this was normal.

When he finished writing, Commander Donrou turned back toward us. On the blackboard, it said:

• International Situation
  　- U.S. Stock Decline
  　- London Naval Disarmament Conference 
• Continental Situation
  　- Sino-Soviet Conflict 
• Domestic Situation
  　- Movements within the Army 

“Well, that about sums it up. I’ll proceed on the assumption that you’re both already familiar with the general picture. Any objections?”

Both Tokita and I lightly shook our heads. Commander Donrou nodded in acknowledgment.

“As for the international situation, the matter with America is something you two have probably felt firsthand, so honestly, I’d rather hear your impressions later.”

“I don’t mind that, but what about its effects on other countries?”

“Nothing too drastic yet. However, companies and investors all across America are greedily sucking up dollars from every corner of the world. Fools.”

He muttered the last word quietly, but with a sharp tone.

Probably, I thought, this was the kind of attitude that made him leave the military.

“You always have one word too many. Still, I did warn a few people, you know.”

“Anyone who ignores the words of the young lady is not just a fool, but an utter idiot.”

“Everyone just wants something to cling to. Anyway?”

“Yes. Following your warning, we’ve taken the highest precautions. Still, aside from those who’ve already had their money stripped away, most remain optimistic, saying, ‘it’ll go back to normal soon enough.’”

 

“Three billion dollars vanished in an instant, yet they can still think that way? They must be dreaming some really pleasant dreams.”

“Or perhaps, they just want to believe it’s a dream.”

“True, I’d want to think it was a dream too.”

(And unlike in my previous life’s history, it’s a relief that Mr. Takahashi has stayed as Finance Minister longer this time. If things had gone as they did in the real timeline, Japan would have already lifted the gold embargo by now. Yikes, that would’ve been scary.)

While I was thinking that, the kak-kak sound of chalk brought me back to reality. There was something I needed to say.

“Anyway, keep your ears open toward the U.S. government.”

“Of course.”

“In about six months, there’s a high chance they’ll put up an outrageous tariff barrier.”

“That would make sense, given the coming recession. Do we know any details?”

Tokita’s voice carried a slight edge of tension, he was clearly concerned. But as for the details, I didn’t have much information even in my previous life.

“Not really. But when that happens, the global depression will only get worse. I’d like to do something to ease it at least, but there’s not much we can do.”

“Indeed. The Americans themselves will likely consider that the right course.”

“So, do you know how Japan responded to that?”

“A massive devaluation of the yen.”

“That in itself would provoke backlash from other countries, wouldn’t it?”

 

“The whole world will be forced to choose survival over pride. But for now, just focus on gathering information. And if there’s anything we’re planning to export, make sure it’s shipped out early.”

“Understood.” Tokita gave a short bow and said, “Then, next, ” letting the conversation move on.

Yes, this wasn’t the time to plan countermeasures, but rather to listen and take in information.

“The London Naval Disarmament Conference, huh? We’re just missing the delegation, aren’t we?”

“That’s correct. But you had no intention of getting involved?”

“Ootori doesn’t have much connection with the Navy aside from the oil matter. And honestly, I don’t know much about the military.”

At those words, Commander Donrou gave a small nod in response.

Beside him, Tokita lightly shrugged his shoulders. The Ootori family wasn’t on particularly friendly terms with the Navy, mainly because the family head and most of the elite officers were from the Army.

Unless the Navy made the first move, there was an unspoken rule within the Ootori household to avoid involvement with them.

After that came the explanation about the “London Naval Disarmament Conference,” but the Japanese side’s situation was quite different from the history I knew from my previous life.

After all, the Seiyukai cabinet led by Tanaka Giichi was still in power.

I was surprised that the Seiyukai government, often criticized for its extravagant spending, had decided to join a disarmament conference. But then again, the failed Geneva Naval Disarmament Conference in my previous life had also taken place under Tanaka’s cabinet, so perhaps it was only natural for them to participate.

Besides, in this world, the Huanggutun Incident never happened, and public sentiment was somewhat more stable.

 

And since the Seiyukai Party holds power, the chief plenipotentiary isn’t Reijirou Wakatsuki from my previous life, but former Prime Minister Hara Takashi.
Additionally, the government representative is Hiroshi Saitou, the Director of the Information Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is widely known as a brilliant diplomat. 

Saitou Hiroshi wasn’t a politician, so he’s probably the same person who held that role in my previous life. 

The Navy members are also the same. Both Isoroku Yamamoto and Tamonmaru are attending as delegates.

But the chief plenipotentiary being Hara Takashi, he had been traveling all over the country even before the conference began, energetically building connections and laying groundwork. His efforts even reached the Navy directly, where he seems to have arranged matters personally with Marshal Togo.

However, since the negotiations began on January 21 and it’s only mid-February now, they’re still ongoing. The talks will likely conclude around April, and if the “Supreme Command Interference Issue” arises, it will be after that. So there’s no point in speculating too much right now.

For the moment, though, former Prime Minister Hara Takashi is maintaining perfect coordination between London and Japan, and except for the Navy’s fleet expansion faction, most domestic groups support the ongoing negotiations in London.

The actions of the Navy expansionists and the opposition party are concerning, but since in this world the ruling and opposition parties are reversed compared to my previous life, even I can’t predict what will happen next.

So for now, all I can do is listen and let the discussion flow.

“Now then, regarding the situation on the continent, there’s no need to go over developments up to summer, I presume?”

Saying that, Commander Donrou moved on to the next topic without hesitation.

 

And as for the situation on the continent, I don’t know all the details about this period, but I can tell one thing for sure, it’s completely different from what I remember.

For one, Zhang Zuolin is the leader of the Republic of China. And relying on support from the Western powers, Zhang Zuolin actually picked a fight with the Soviet Union.

In response, the Soviets couldn’t move much during 1928 due to domestic issues, but it’s impossible for Russians not to snap eventually. Especially when their leader is none other than the dictator Stalin.

Naturally, when the Soviet army got serious in the summer of 1929, Zhang Zuolin’s forces were utterly crushed. What’s more, Zhang Xueliang, who, in my previous life’s history, was supposed to live much longer, was killed in battle. Zhang Zuolin was enraged at first, but soon lost his will to fight.

By October, the conflict had ended with a one-sided Soviet victory. In November, the Republic of China and the Soviet Union signed the Khabarovsk Protocol. However, since the Chinese world has never been good at following Western diplomatic rules, the whole situation has begun to fall into chaos.

Meanwhile in Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek has finally begun to consolidate his regime. But unlike in my previous life, his influence is still quite limited.

Moreover, with Zhang Zuolin’s overwhelming dominance now broken, other warlords besides Chiang Kai-shek are also becoming unstable. Some even predict that the situation may soon revert to the chaotic state of the mid-1920s.

But the most surprising development of all was what happened in the north.

“What? Aisin-Gioro Kenshi?”

“Yes. Her Japanese name is Kawashima Yoshiko. Centered around the Kwantung Army, our country has begun shifting its focus toward her and the Manchu royal and noble families connected to her, in order to stabilize southern Manchuria.”

(Here we go, the super-famous Aisin Gioro Xianyu, Kawashima Yoshiko. The dashing, cross-dressing princess. For her to appear at this point means that history really is diverging from the one I knew.)

“May I continue?”

“Oh, yes, please. Another big name has shown up, hasn’t she?”

“Indeed. You seem quite well-informed.”

“Well, we’re both women, after all.”

“I see,” he said, acknowledging that with words, but after that, Commander Donrou resumed his explanation without showing any emotion.

It must have surprised him that I knew about her, since Kawashima Yoshiko became something of an idol in Japan right after the Great Kanto Earthquake, back when I was still far too young to know much about anything.

In any case, after Zhang Zuolin and his faction weakened, public order in Manchuria worsened. So Japan began seriously using the last emperor of the Qing dynasty, Puyi, to create a kind of watchdog state in Manchuria. 

The one serving as intermediary between Japan and Manchuria in this effort was none other than Kawashima Yoshiko.

At this point, things were already quite different from the history I knew.

(Well, that’s only natural, since Zhang Zuolin still holds power and there was no assassination incident. But still, I don’t know much about this part of history…)

Since I don’t really understand it well, I can only listen to the explanation, but apparently, the Japanese side is supporting Kawashima Yoshiko and her husband’s faction, or rather, their warlord group, and has effectively begun carving out control over southern Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia.

Including Inner Mongolia makes sense for the Kwantung Army and a faction of the Japanese Army, it’s practically a set deal for them, but it’s also because her husband happens to be one of the tribal chiefs of the Mongolian clans.

So Japan provided them with funds and weapons, and before long, it seemed the most powerful armed group in Inner Mongolia was taking shape.
After all, when you think of Mongolia, you think of cavalry. 

If you equip those old-fashioned horsemen with modern firearms and other simple weapons, you get modern cavalry just like that.

Since Mongolian troops of this era still use outdated equipment, they would hardly lose in skirmishes against other bandits.

However, they are not an easy bunch to deal with. They constantly demand money. It’s a world where bribes decide everything.
Kawashima Yoshiko herself even asks for bribes, not for personal luxury, but to distribute them to maintain control over her subordinates. 

Still, in that world, once the money stops, so does the relationship. Taking bribes is expected; those who refuse are seen as untrustworthy. 

That’s just how it works.

In actual combat, they often scatter and flee, yet they still demand money, and endlessly so.

Because of that, the Japanese side, mainly the Kwantung Army running the operation, already realized from the start that this approach was going nowhere.
So instead of treating them as a mere warlord faction, they had them form a political party, dispatched military advisors from the Army, and began training them as modern soldiers.

However, their activities have only just begun, so everything is still in the early stages.

(Wait, could it be that Ishihara-san has actually put some of my words into action? But then again, Ishihara Kanji is an advocate of Asianism, so maybe this is normal for him? Still, creating a local force that moves in line with Japan’s interests isn’t a bad move. Even if something like the “Manchurian Incident” were to happen, it could at least serve as a partial justification.)

Thinking that far, I realized the course of events here is different from my previous life.
The radical officers in this world haven’t carried out the unilateral “Zhang Zuolin assassination,” so instead, they seem to be trying to secure Manchuria by establishing a legitimate pretext.

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Gold Embargo Lifted:
In actual history, on January 11, 1930, the Hamaguchi Cabinet lifted the ban on gold exports, leading to the “Showa Financial Crisis.”

Showa Financial Crisis:
The global depression also struck Japan, driving the Japanese economy into a critical state between 1930 (Showa 5) and 1931 (Showa 6). The crisis continued until Finance Minister Takahashi Korekiyo’s active fiscal policies revived the economy.

Geneva Naval Conference:
Held from July to August 1927.
Collapsed due to disagreements between Britain and the United States over cruiser ratios.

London Naval Disarmament Conference:
A conference on naval armament limitation held in London from January 21 to April 22, 1930 (Showa 5), attended by five nations: the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Italy.
At the time, Japan was under Prime Minister Hamaguchi Osachi of the Constitutional Democratic Party.
The plenipotentiary representative was former Prime Minister Wakatsuki Reijirou.
Due to poor negotiation handling and the opposition’s nitpicking, the “Issue of Violating the Supreme Command Authority” arose.

Saito Hiroshi (Director of the Information Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs):
A highly capable pro-British and pro-American diplomat, trusted even by the U.S. government.
He had strong family ties with Japan’s top elite circles.
He died of tuberculosis in 1939, so in this world, there’s a good chance he may still be alive.

Tamonmaru:
Yamaguchi Tamon. Distinguished himself in the Pacific War.
Killed in action during the Battle of Midway.

Aisin Gioro Xianyu (Aishinkakura Xianyu):
Japanese name: Kawashima Yoshiko.
The fourteenth daughter of Prince Su, Shanqi, of the Qing imperial family.
She moved between Manchu and Japanese circles, often engaging in espionage and dressing as a man, attracting constant public attention.
She was sometimes called the “Mata Hari of the East” or the “Joan of Arc of Manchuria.”
As a beautiful cross-dressing woman, she once became an idol among Japanese girls.

Kawashima Yoshiko’s husband:
Ganjuurjab, a bandit lord (chieftain) from eastern Mongolia.
A Mongolian-born officer of the Manchukuo Army who was hostile toward Zhang Zuolin.
He was married to Kawashima Yoshiko for a period of time.