Chapter 143 – Late 1929 Status Report (2)

(That reminds me, well, I, or rather the Ootori group, had been sending ‘sweets’ to Ishihara-san, and that money was apparently being distributed to Kawashima and the others… I should verify if that’s true, and if so, maybe increase the financial support.)

As I listened, I remembered that before Ishihara Kanji was assigned to Manchuria, there was an agreement to regularly send him ‘sweets.’ This literally includes actual sweets, after all, Ishihara Kanji was a huge fan of desserts.

But since Ootori is a shrewd merchant, we haven’t forgotten the ‘golden-colored sweets.’ Of course, this is the main purpose.

Officially, it’s supposed to be for guarding the Liaohe oil fields and other duties, but even for just that, an excessive amount of money is being sent.

Personally, I also feel that financial aid is necessary because I don’t want the infamous Kanto Army opium trade to expand, but naturally, no one would see it that way.

And when it comes to opium, Ootori can’t exactly lecture anyone either.

Putting opium aside, the Kanto Army faction led by Ishihara Kanji has slightly more funds than in my previous life. And since Zhang Zuolin isn’t dead (though his eldest son died in his stead), they’re presumably beginning to explore alternative strategies.

“So, in other words, the Manchurian faction of the Japanese Army isn’t just the Kanto Army, they’re planning to create a puppet regime and seize actual power?”

“Now, at present, it looks that way, but we can’t assume Zhang Zuolin will just sit still, and northern Manchuria falls under Russian interests.”

“But once the Soviet Second Five-Year Plan is completed, Japan won’t be able to make any major moves in Manchuria, right?”

“Indeed. Currently, the Russians have about 200,000 troops, including the Baikal region. The Kanto Army has only one division in peacetime, and the Korean Army two divisions. Even if fully mobilized for wartime, it totals around 60,000. With a fivefold peacetime disadvantage, if they equip themselves with tanks, heavy artillery, and aircraft through this Five-Year Plan, neither the Kanto Army nor the Japanese Army could handle them. In five years, Japan might even have to sell southern Manchurian interests to the Russians.”

“Well, if the Soviets attack in a few years, Britain and the U.S. will probably back us, right?”

Commander Donrou snorts at my half-resigned comment.

“What can Britain and the U.S. do in the Far East? Britain has no proper army east of Singapore. Even if they come, it would only be Indian troops, useful against mainland ruffians, perhaps, but worthless against the Red Russians.”

“And the U.S.?”

“Those Boy Scouts? The French forces in Indochina would be more effective. Or maybe the Italians in Shanghai are stronger. Do you, Ojou-sama, really know what the American Army is like?”

“A poor army whose money is sucked up by its nemesis, the Navy.”

“Exactly. Even though the authorized strength is 180,000, in reality it’s full of officers who can’t be dismissed. The actual combat force is only five divisions in peacetime. Most of the weapons are still from the last great war. I’ll say it plainly, as a peacetime army they’re the weakest of the great powers. Unless there’s a huge mobilization like in the previous great war, they’ll be completely useless. The Siberian Expedition, which was just a Boy Scout field trip, is a perfect example.”

At such harsh words, I couldn’t help but smile wryly and raise both hands in surrender.
It was too accurate for me to argue or defend. Having known the very strong U.S. military in my previous life, I was shocked to learn what the U.S. Army was like in this era.

The navy’s ships were fine in performance and numbers, but America at this time, as a healthy democracy, simply didn’t spend money on armaments.
So the army was in a pitiable state.

Some sunglasses-and-pipe cosplay hats had gone off to the colonies, which made sense, if you live in such places you’d assume there are no enemies, and when you’re extremely wealthy, “rich men don’t fight” is a perfectly rational strategy.

“I won’t argue with that either. And precisely because of that, the Imperial Army is trying to carve out Manchuria within a few years. They’ve already begun to move. But the West is no longer in the age of imperialism. They must know what kind of reaction that would provoke, surely.”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures, I suppose. The Imperial Army’s natural enemy is the Russians, and they’re Communists. If you don’t push through a bit of recklessness to deal with them, Japan will be crushed. At least, that’s how they see it. By the way, milady, I heard you’ve started anti-Communist propaganda in America?”

He abruptly changed the topic, but as far as I knew, this hadn’t been circulated much through the lower channels yet. When I glanced at Tokita, he just shook his head ever so slightly.

“I just asked Mr. Hearst to fund it. It’s better than doing nothing. But if you’ve heard about it, does that mean he’s already acting?”

“Yes. As part of calming the chaos after the stock market crash, he’s running flashy newspaper and film advertisements warning, ‘It’s precisely at times like this that Communists approach you with sweet words.’”

“And Japanese enlightenment propaganda?”

“That cannot be seen. It’s all propaganda urging awareness of the dangers of Communism and the unity of capitalism.”

“I see. Well, it’s good they’ve at least started on one side. And if the anti-Communist campaign goes well, we’ll also need to do donations and lobbying with their politicians. I’ll add to the budget, so handle that.”

“Understood, milady. By the way, how much is the advertising budget for Mr. Hearst?”

“One million dollars each year, for anti-Communism and Japanese promotion, respectively.”

“That is quite resolute.”

“In Japan, yes. But we’re talking about the American newspaper king. Even a million dollars is pocket change for him. I just think it’s remarkable he agreed at all.”

“Indeed. He probably saw a convergence of interests, or he’s simply interested in you, milady.”

“That was said to me directly. But even with the stock market crash causing him trouble, he’s still honoring the contract, so we have to give him credit.”

“Perhaps a letter from you would be appropriate. Now, connected to anti-Communism, may I continue with the mainland situation?”

“Go ahead. I’d be very happy if you could say the Chinese Communist Party has been completely eradicated.”

“Unfortunately, no. However, Chiang Kai-shek, having regained a certain amount of power, is focusing on the Kuomintang’s left wing and the Communists who fled to the mountains, in a ‘sweeping Communists’ operation.”

“Continue.”

As Commander Donrou’s explanation went on, the mainland situation, which had diverged significantly from my previous life’s history, seemed to be gradually returning to a form I could recognize.

With Zhang Zuolin defeated, the political and military structures that had been formally established were partially reverting to the conflicts between warlords.
Within the Kuomintang, Chiang Kai-shek’s faction, the right wing of the former Kuomintang, controlled the Yangtze River basin. 

Yet, in the North China Plain, where Zhang Zuolin and his nominal central government still held sway, they could not exert military influence.

They also could not intervene in much of southern China or the remote interior warlord territories. On the contrary, their disadvantages continued.

Chiang Kai-shek apparently wants to regain control over Manchuria, or at least the Beijing area, but he resents Japan, which is secretly backing Zhang Zuolin and the remnants of the old Manchurian Empire.
Since Japan is supporting Zhang Zuolin both materially and politically, local financial groups (like the Zhejiang cliques) cannot compete.

Knowing that the Ootori Group, which has a large branch in Shanghai, has money, they even come begging for funds.
But Ootori has a poor relationship with the Song family of the Zhejiang clique, so, as usual, they are turned away at the gate.

That’s fine for Ootori, but the relationship between Japan, which sides with Zhang Zuolin, and Chiang Kai-shek is gradually deteriorating.
However, the Kuomintang right wing led by the still-weak Chiang Kai-shek has no choice but to focus on dealing with the Communists hidden in the mountains of central China and conflicts with surrounding warlords, in order to secure financial aid and support from the great powers entrenched around the Yangtze River, like Britain and the U.S.

Moreover, the Kuomintang left wing led by Wang Jingwei has allied with many warlords, opposing Chiang Kai-shek.
Naturally, Chiang Kai-shek cannot send troops to North China.
On top of that, the scrutiny of Britain and the U.S. is strict, so he cannot act independently.

Although the situation is slowly moving toward a form somewhat closer to the history of my previous life, Chiang Kai-shek’s struggles are expected to continue for the time being.

“So in the end, Japan is playing both sides?”

“Essentially, yes. Manchuria and Mongolia are under Manchu influence, while north of the Great Wall is for Zhang Zuolin. Japan will no longer actively support Chiang Kai-shek.”

“Even if you pacify all of the Republic of China?”

“If the flag is restored, the government and the military may reconsider. But either way, the plan is to deal with the Communist Party first.”

“Deal with them? They’re persistent, you know.”

“However, they are not much different from mountain bandits hidden in the mountains. Do you consider them a threat?”

“I do. Oh, by the way, there’s something I want you to convey to the people in Shanghai and those on the continent connected to Ootori.”

“Anything, ma’am. I will convey everything.”

“Okay. Tell them as strongly as possible that the Communist Party operates on the principle of destroying all existing society and sitting on top of it, so their approach is completely different from any previous power grab.”

“As strongly as possible, understood. Indeed, we’ve received reports that they’re making outcasts of villages kill village heads or landlords, performing so-called ‘liberation’.”

“That’s exactly it. If we don’t crush the sprouts while they’re small, it will be impossible to stop them once they spread.”

“Using outcasts in villages is common even among warlords, but while they may seize property, they generally won’t kill unless opposed. You expect the Kuomintang to handle them?”

“They may eventually lose control, so at least let all sides know to be cautious. Also Zhang Zuolin and Chiang Kai-shek.”

“Understood.”

A small bow was made while seated, but on reflection, I realized I was the one listening.

“Oh, I’ve been talking this whole time, but is that the end of the discussion?”

“Next is domestic affairs. Although I’ve already covered about half, shall I continue?”

“Yes. I’ll listen to the end. I don’t want to miss anything and regret it later.”

“Very well, then.”

With that, he resumed, focusing mainly on the movements within the Japanese Army.