Chapter 37 Seven meets Itagaki

Seishiro Itagaki was transferred to the Kwantung Army as a staff officer in 1929. According to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, he told people in May 1930 that he had a "clear idea" about solving the "Manchuria Question". idea”, he believed that the problems between China and Japan must be resolved by force.At least one year before the "September 18th" Incident, he advocated the expulsion of Zhang Xueliang and the establishment of a "new country" in the Northeast.The verdict stated: "Since 1931, he participated in a conspiracy with the direct aim of occupying Manchuria by force at the Kwantung Army Staff Headquarters as a major resident, he carried out incitement to support this objective, and he assisted in creating The pretext of the so-called 'Manchurian Incident', he suppressed several attempts to prevent this military action, which he agreed to and directed. Later, in his deceitful campaign to promote 'Manchurian Independence' and to establish a puppet 'Manchurian Independence' In the country's conspiracy, they all took on the main task."

He served as the deputy chief of staff of the Kwantung Army in 1934, the commander of the division after the "July 7" Incident in 1937, the Minister of War in 1938, and the chief of the Chinese Expeditionary Army in 1939. Chief of staff, later served as the commander of North Korea and the commander of the Seventh Front Army stationed in Singapore.He played an important role in major events such as the establishment of the puppet regime in Inner Mongolia in North China, the attack on the Chinese mainland, the establishment of the Wang Jingwei puppet regime, and the launch of Hassan Lake’s attack on the Soviet Union.

On the afternoon of February 23, I met with Itagaki, who was interpreted by Nakajima Hidaki, the Kwantung Army interpreter.Itagaki was a short man with a shaved head, a clean-shaven bluish-white face, and the black eyebrows and mustache were particularly conspicuous.Among the Japanese officers I have seen, his attire is considered to be the neatest, with the cuffs revealing a blindingly white shirt, the corners of the trouser legs are very conspicuous, and his habit of rubbing his hands gently gave me a feeling Quite a gentle and chic impression.Itagaki first expressed his gratitude to me for giving him a gift, and then stated that he was ordered by the commander of the Kwantung Army Honjo to report to me on the issue of "establishing a new Manchurian country".

He slowly started talking about "Zhang's tyranny is unpopular, and Japan's rights and interests in Manchuria are not guaranteed at all", and talked about the "justice" of the Japanese army's actions for a while, and "sincerity in helping the people of Manchuria to establish a kingly land".I listened to his words and kept nodding, but I hoped in my heart that he would give me the answer I cared about soon.Finally, he finally got to the point: "The name of this new country is 'Manchuria', and the capital is located in Changchun, so Changchun was renamed Xinjing. This country is composed of five main ethnic groups, namely Manchu, Han, Mongolian, Japanese and Korean. The Japanese Manchuria has spent decades of painstaking efforts, and its legal status and political status are naturally the same as other ethnic groups, for example, they can also serve as officials in the new country.  …”

Before Nakajima finished translating, he took out the "Manchurian and Mongolian People's Declaration" and the five-color "Manchurian National Flag" from his purse, and put them on the coffee table in front of me.I was so angry that my lungs were going to explode.With trembling hands, I pushed the pile of things and asked: "What kind of country is this? Could it be the Qing Empire?" My voice shifted.Itagaki replied unhurriedly as before: "Of course, this is not the restoration of the Qing Empire. This is a new country. The Northeast Administrative Committee passed a resolution unanimously electing Your Excellency as the head of the new country, that is, 'rule'."

Hearing "Your Excellency" from Itagaki's mouth, I felt the blood all over my body rushing to my face.This is the first time I have heard Japanese call me that! The titles of "Emperor Xuantong" or "His Majesty the Emperor" were originally canceled by them. How can this be tolerated?In my heart, the 2 million square miles of land and 30 million people in the Northeast are not worth the "Your Majesty"!I was so excited that I could hardly sit still, and said loudly: "If the name is not right, the words will not go well, and if the words don't go well, nothing will happen! What the people of Manchuria want is not me, but the emperor of the Qing Dynasty. If this title is abolished, the hearts of Manchuria will be lost. This issue must be reconsidered by the Kwantung Army .”

Itagaki gently rubbed his hands together and said with a smile on his face: "The people of Manchuria recommend you as the head of the new country. This is what the hearts of the people belong to, and it is also agreed by the Kwantung Army." "But Japan is also an empire under the emperor system. Why did the Kwantung Army agree to establish a republic?" "If your Excellency thinks a republic is inappropriate, don't use that word. It's not a republic, it's a governing system." "I am very grateful for your country's sincere help, but everything else can be said, but this ruling system is unacceptable. The title of emperor is left by my ancestors. If I cancel it, it will be disloyal and unfilial. "

"The so-called governance is nothing more than a transition," Itagaki expressed his sympathy, "Emperor Xuantong is the twelfth emperor of the Qing Empire. constitution, and therefore the present administration, is nothing more than a transitional method.” When I heard the word "parliament", I felt as if I had been scalded, and I quickly shook my head and said, "The parliament is not good, and besides, the emperor of the Qing Dynasty was not appointed by a parliament at the beginning!" We fought back and forth, but we couldn't get together.Itagaki's attitude was calm, not in a hurry, with a smile on his pale face, rubbing his hands together; I repeated the twelve reasons that had to be orthodox, over and over again, expressing that I could not give up the status of the emperor.We talked for more than three hours. Finally, Itagaki packed his bag and expressed that he did not want to talk any more.His tone of voice remained the same, but his face became greener and whiter, his smile disappeared, and the title of Emperor Xuantong that once returned to his mouth became Your Excellency again: "Your Excellency, think about it again, and we will talk tomorrow." He said coldly After speaking, he said goodbye and left.

That night, according to the opinions of Zheng and his sons and Shangjiao, I held a banquet just for Itagaki at the Yamato Hotel.According to them, this is to connect feelings. I had mixed feelings at the banquet.The reason why I dared to refuse to be in power was more or less influenced by people like Hu Siyuan and Chen Zengshou, who believed that the Japanese made the Northeast into the current situation, and they couldn’t clean it up unless I came out. Therefore, as long as I persisted, the Japanese would will back down.However, after I rejected Itagaki, Zheng Xiaoxu reminded me that no matter what, you can’t hurt your relationship with the Japanese military. It’s definitely not good to hurt your relationship. Zhang Zuolin’s fate is Yin Jian.When I heard this, I was afraid again.I used to think that Zhang Zuolin, who was born as a bandit, and my "dragon species" who are "different from ordinary people" should not be juxtaposed. Now I see that the Japanese do not regard me as a "dragon species", so I have to From time to time, he paid attention to Itagaki's pale face.That face is actually a face without spring, summer, autumn and winter.He gulped down his drink, was very open to anyone's toast, and never mentioned the day's arguments as if nothing had happened.This night seemed to be a promise, and no one at the banquet said anything except romance, smoking, drinking and eating.Until the end of the banquet at ten o'clock in the evening, I still haven't seen the weather on Itagaki's face.

But I didn’t need to spend much time trying to find out. The next morning, Itagaki called Zheng Xiaoxu, Luo Zhenyu, Wansheng Mushi and Zheng Chui to the Yamato Hotel, and asked them to convey his “climate” to me: "The request of the military department can no longer be changed. If it is not accepted, it can only be regarded as a hostile attitude, and the only answer is to use the means to treat the enemy. This is the last word of the military department!" Hearing this answer, I was stunned.My legs went limp, and I fell down on the sofa, speechless for a while. Luo Zhenyu was downcast and didn't say a word, Wan Shengmu stood aside in panic, and the others didn't speak.After a while of silence, I heard Zheng Xiaoxu say: "I said earlier that you should not hurt Japan's feelings...but it's still too late, and I have tried my best to bear it in front of Itagaki, saying that the emperor will be able to make decisions arbitrarily."

I didn't make a sound. "How can you catch tiger cubs if you don't live in a tiger's den?" Zheng Chui came over and said with a smile on his face, "He who knows the current affairs is a hero. Our monarchs and ministers are now in the hands of the Japanese, and we can't suffer from immediate losses. Instead of breaking with them, we should simply follow the plan. Use the method of unifying power to achieve change, and seek great achievements in the future." Last night at the banquet, Zheng Chui was the most active one. Chi and Itagaki toasted again and again, and after the banquet they took Itagaki to drink.Today he talked so eloquently about how to control the power and make changes, and how to deal with the plan. I didn't connect it with the special action last night. I just wondered that before he and his father went to Shenyang, he said that he would not do anything unless the Qing Dynasty was restored. Why? How did it change so quickly? Zheng Xiaoxu kept me silent, and then changed into a passionate voice and said: "The Japanese can say what they say, but they can't bear this loss. Besides, the Japanese have good intentions, let the emperor be the head of state, which is the same as being the emperor. I have served the emperor all these years, isn't it for today? If I must refuse, I can only pack up and go home." Hearing what he said, I panicked.His son went on to say: "Now I have agreed to the Japanese military department, and we will build up our strength in the future. I don't worry that there is no way to do what we want." It will be set for a period of one year, and if the monarchy is not implemented after the time limit, he will abdicate at that time, and see what Itagaki will say on this condition." I had no choice but to sigh, and asked Zheng Xiaoxu to talk to Itagaki. Not long after, Zheng Xiaoxu came back with a flash of light above his head, saying that Itagaki had agreed, and that tonight he would "hold a small banquet for the future ruling party!" That's how I am. On the one hand, there is not a single bone in my body that is hard. On the other hand, I still fantasize about the future "return to the throne". I openly embarked on this despicable and shameless road. Those who acted as a fig leaf.Under this cloth, from February 23, 1932, the northeast of the motherland was completely turned into a colony, and 30 million compatriots began a miserable life stained with blood and tears.At the same time, I also added confidence to Honjo, Itagaki and the like, laying the cornerstone for their "prosperity".In Zheng Xiaoxu's diary, he recorded the fate of Honjo, Itagaki and others like this: