Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

Chapter 1213 is the chapter that allows people to grow up quickly.

Terauchi Hisaichi spoke casually, as if he were not discussing the life or death of a group of high-ranking officials, nor adding another stain of blood to this fallen land, but rather discussing with those around him whether to have Japanese or Chinese food for dinner, and whether to pair it with sake or whiskey.

This is not indifference or numbness, but the confidence of a field army commander who holds the power of life and death. With a large army in hand and entrenched in North China, he can feign compliance with the cabinet and general staff in Beijing, and decide the life and death of the people and puppet officials in the occupied areas.

In his eyes, those sycophants who were willing to join the Japanese army for wealth and glory were nothing more than pawns that could be discarded at any time.

Those Chinese sons and daughters who rose up in resistance were nothing more than ants that needed to be suppressed.

This is the inevitable tragedy of all puppets in chaotic times. They thought that by clinging to the Japanese army, they could gain a lifetime of peace and wealth, but they did not know that from beginning to end, they were just pawns on someone else's chessboard. When they were useful, they could enjoy temporary glory, but when they were useless, they were nothing more than dust that could be killed with a single shot.

"No need," Zhou Zhengqing said calmly, swirling the wine in his glass.

Terauchi Hisamoto believed that Zhou Zhengqing would agree to the proposal, and might even take the initiative to expand the scope of the cleanup.

In his mind, Zhou Zhengqing was extremely ruthless towards those who sided with the empire, his "own people"—the Harbin police force had seen its ranks change time and again.

"Oh?" Terauchi Hisaichi seemed somewhat surprised, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

"Tuoren, do you think they're not powerful enough, and killing them wouldn't deter those with ulterior motives, or... do you have other concerns?"

If you have any concerns, there's no need to. Just kill those Chinese people; it's no big deal. If you're happy, you could kill them all without a problem.

“Too much is as bad as too little.” Zhou Zhengqing’s tone remained calm as he slowly raised his head to look at Terauchi Hisaichi: “Killing Wang Kemin alone is enough to deter villains and also to show Kyoto my attitude.”

If the matter is further implicated and too many people are killed, it will make me appear weak and insecure, and that I only know how to cover up the problem with killing.

It would also make outsiders feel that you, Uncle, lack control over North China.

Secondly, the puppet government had only been established for a short time, and the people's hearts were already unstable. The officials were all harboring their own evil intentions, fearing that they would become the next pawns to be discarded one day.

If the purge at the top is too thorough, it will inevitably cause greater panic. Those officials who were originally willing to cooperate with us will either be so frightened that they will resign and go into seclusion, or they will secretly seek refuge with other forces, or they may even unite to resist us. At that time, the pseudo-government will inevitably be paralyzed.

This is detrimental to the Empire's rule in North China, and even more so to our ability to extract resources from this land to support the holy war on the front lines.

After a pause, Zhou Zhengqing held the glass but didn't drink. He gently brought it to his nose and sniffed, the rich aroma of whiskey filling his nostrils.

Then, he slowly turned his head to look at the Forbidden City outside the window as dusk fell. His voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible emotion, as well as a touch of cold calculation: "After the empire militarily occupied North China, it did not directly implement pure military control, but instead adopted a strategy of 'using Chinese to control Chinese,' quickly establishing a puppet regime."

Commander, you understand the reasons behind this better than I do. North China is a vast region with a large population. If we rely solely on the Empire's military strength to achieve complete control, it will not only require a massive investment of manpower and resources, but will also face fierce resistance from the Chinese people, making it a losing proposition.

Outside the window, dusk, like a giant curtain, slowly descended, enveloping the entire city of Beiping.

The glazed tiles of the Forbidden City lost their former brilliance in the twilight, leaving only blurred outlines, silent and solemn, like an old man who has witnessed the vicissitudes of life, silently watching all the suffering and evil that has occurred on this land. In the distance, the bell tower tolls with a deep, resonant sound.

"Thump—thump—thump—", seven sounds in total, dull and long, echoing in the silent twilight, carrying a sense of apocalyptic desolation.

"Wang Kemin's provisional government was a banner under this strategy of 'using Chinese to control Chinese'."

Zhou Zhengqing's gaze remained fixed on the Forbidden City outside the window, his voice low and firm: "The flags are old and dirty, we can replace them, but we can't cut down the flagpoles too."

We need this banner to reduce the cost and resistance of direct rule, to win over a group of Chinese willing to cooperate, to maintain a semblance of order and legitimacy, and to make it appear to outsiders that the rule over North China is legitimate and supported by the Chinese themselves.

Making an example of someone is enough; if you kill all the monkeys, there will be no one to perform the play.

At that point, we'll have no choice but to personally confront all the conflicts and resistance, which is far from a wise move.

These words were insightful and calm, showing a complete transcendence of personal grudges and momentary impulses, and a perspective from a higher strategic level, demonstrating both an accurate assessment of the current situation and a long-term consideration for the future.

Sure enough, upon hearing Zhou Zhengqing's words, Terauchi Hisaichi's face was filled with relief, and his smile became even more sincere.

He picked up his glass, took a sip of whiskey, and felt the cool liquid slide down his throat, bringing a slight burning sensation and making his mind even clearer.

“Takuto.” Terauchi Hisaichi spoke slowly, his tone filled with undisguised praise and a hint of the vicissitudes of time: “You have grown faster and become more profound than I imagined.”

He put down his wine glass, his fingertips tapping lightly on the sofa armrest again, his gaze drifting into the distance, as if he had returned to Kyoto a few years ago, recalling the scene when he first met Zhou Zhengqing.

"I remember the last time I saw you in Kyoto a few years ago, you were just a young man who had just left the Army Officer Academy for Nakano. Although you were sharp and arrogant and had a lot of drive, you were still a greenhorn. You acted recklessly and without considering the consequences. When faced with a problem, you would only rush forward with enthusiasm and did not know how to be flexible or how to hide your sharpness."

"Uncle, are you trying to say that I'm a spoiled brat?" Zhou Zhengqing asked with a smile.

Terauchi Hisaichi couldn't help but chuckle, pointed at Zhou Zhengqing, and then continued, "Back then, all the major families in Kyoto had heard of your great achievements. I remember that I was invited by your family to attend your eighteenth birthday banquet."

Watching you argue with your grandfather at the banquet, I thought you were ultimately just a spoiled aristocratic scion, destined for mediocrity.

At this point, Terauchi Hisaichi's lips curled into a faint smile, a smile devoid of sarcasm, only the affection and sentiment of an elder for a younger generation.

"Later, when you came to China and caused so much trouble in Harbin, it further confirmed my thoughts."

But I never expected that after getting to know you a few times, I would realize that I was wrong. In just a few years, you have changed so much.

Shedding his youthful naiveté and arrogance, he has become calm, reserved, meticulous, and thorough in his work, even more composed and strategic than many veterans who have fought on the battlefield for decades.

It seems that China, though chaotic, is the land that best tempers people and allows them to grow rapidly.