The Japanese Standing Army was once composed of 19 divisions and 4 independent brigades, with a total number of around 500,000 men. This was the "former" figure. After a series of defeats and financial problems, this number had been reduced to 12 standing divisions, and the total number of personnel had dropped to 300,000. After losing nearly three divisions of troops in Taiwan this time, the Japanese Army Ministry had absolutely no way to explain this to the Showa Emperor. Hirohito himself might not have sincerely supported a major fight with China in Taiwan; the ones holding the hardline attitude were the people in the Army Ministry, and the Navy Ministry was even more hyped up, stirring up trouble at the front. Neither Hirohito, the Army Ministry, nor the Navy Ministry expected China's military power to have become so strong. The already fierce Chinese army saw its combat effectiveness soar with the help of the air force.

This couldn't be blamed on Japan's lack of insight; one could only say that Chen Ke was "knowledgeable and experienced." Even if he was a complete layman regarding modern warfare, it didn't mean Chen Ke didn't know the military characteristics of World War II. In terms of theory on how to build a powerful air force, Chen Ke was inferior to great military strategists of this era like Douhet. But at least Chen Ke had read WWII memoirs like *Panzer Leader*, and had seen so many documentaries and articles on war history. He knew how air force combat was actually fought during WWII and even after WWII, and he also knew some design characteristics of relevant weapons in war.

This was the reason why the People's Party could far surpass the world. From theory to practice, no one knew what development would occur. So when theory turned into practice, there usually existed multiple design ideas simultaneously. The debates in this aspect alone would consume a large amount of time and cost. Chen Ke directly took out the systems and even hierarchies summarized after being tempered by practice, and then, in the spirit of "拿来主义" (taking what is useful), applied the theories directly to the mature practical methods, which also made sense. Coupled with his status, as long as Chen Ke wasn't talking nonsense and the theory was self-consistent, the comrades would execute it.

The things Chen Ke used were all things proven by countless lives through thousands of temperings. Moreover, as an existence from the downstream of history, the more advanced the technology, the stronger his guiding role. For example, the air force was like this. The People's Party Air Force had many combat examples of strategic bombing and tactical bombing. Among them, there was no lack of examples where the National Revolutionary Army was strafed longitudinally by Japanese planes while marching, suffering heavy casualties. Using these things on the Japanese army, which had not yet groped out a systematic way of fighting, was naturally handy.

The Japanese high command naturally didn't know these inside stories, nor did they go to the front lines to participate in the war personally. Since they couldn't imagine the Chinese Air Force's elusive combat methods and the myriad of functions on the battlefield, the Japanese high command absolutely could not "believe" that just a few airplanes could completely change the form on the battlefield. At least on the surface, they absolutely could not express any belief. With an army twice the size of the People's Party's, plus a navy superior in tonnage and training, they were actually beaten to a pulp in Taiwan. If anyone "dared to believe" at this time, they would have to bear the responsibility for it.

Okamura Yasuji's disgust for the upper echelons of the military was unparalleled. Just as Kita Ikki had analyzed, it wasn't that the Japanese upper echelons didn't talk about science, but that when facing problems, their first consideration was shifting responsibility. Only when the upper echelons finished shifting responsibility and held subordinates accountable did the possibility of science existing appear.

If it were a benevolent superior, they would allow subordinates to use science to explain failure, to use science to prove that there were reasons for the failure. If it were a brutal superior, they wouldn't give subordinates such a chance to explain at all. The problem was that when the starting point was wrong, even with the intervention of science, what use was it?

Okamura Yasuji knew that failure in China might not necessarily lead to punishment. The prerequisite was that the process of failure had to be recorded in detail, including subjective attitudes and objective facts, especially objective facts. China talked about science first, facts first, and discussed responsibility only after these were clarified. Instead of Japan, where everything operated around responsibility and results.

"We must get rid of these guys!" Okamura Yasuji once again determined his stance. With such a group of people controlling Japan's political power, Japan's future would forever be dark. No matter how anti-democratic Okamura Yasuji was, he also established the thought that he absolutely could not be anti-science.

After the Emperor intervened, things finally proceeded in a relatively good direction. Takahashi Korekiyo bravely shouldered the responsibility. This 79-year-old man firmly opposed continuing the war in Taiwan and advocated immediate withdrawal. The Army Ministry released a few harsh words, "If Excellency Takahashi is determined to decide this way, then we don't know about future matters!"

However, Takahashi Korekiyo was completely unmoved and stuck to his decision. Under the lobbying of Okamura Yasuji and others, Hirohito also believed that a "temporary withdrawal" was needed now, so he also supported Takahashi Korekiyo's view. Since the Army Ministry and Navy Ministry already "didn't know anything," they no longer made any obstruction. The order to withdraw was successfully sent to the front line.

Okamura Yasuji was very clear that the upper echelons of the Army Ministry were secretly relieved. They knew very well in their hearts that the war really couldn't be fought anymore. Not only because military funds had long been exhausted, but the Army Ministry had lost confidence in defeating China. With Takahashi Korekiyo giving everyone a way out, the Army Ministry and Navy Ministry hurriedly climbed down the steps. If it were any later, these big shots really wouldn't be able to step down.

"Let these guys be smug for a few more days!" Nagata Tetsuzan, who confirmed the news, said viciously. "No one in the military committed seppuku, and they actually brazenly accepted the fact of defeat. Since these people refuse to shoulder the responsibility, then let others judge the fate of these guys next."

However, Okamura Yasuji had a different opinion. "Nagata-kun, I think on this matter we really have to learn from China. They never engage in seppuku suicide, yet they still win battles. Japan values spirit and despises science, despises progress. The result now is that the Chinese win every battle. I don't oppose spirit, but just as Kita Ikki said, science is the foundation of everything. Nothing can override science."

"Wait until the innovation of the upper echelons is completed, Kita Ikki must be eliminated!" Nagata Tetsuzan didn't refute Okamura Yasuji's words, but simply stated his attitude towards Kita Ikki calmly.

Okamura Yasuji had no objection to this; he held the same understanding. Kita Ikki's existence was more dangerous than those people in the military. That bunch in the military were true bastards and fools. Kita Ikki was neither a bastard nor a fool. The future Japan could eliminate the feudal system, but there absolutely could not be a place for this guy Kita Ikki. Originally, Okamura Yasuji himself wasn't actually very clear why he had the idea that Kita Ikki must be eliminated. After listening to Kita Ikki preach the *Communist Manifesto*, Okamura Yasuji understood the real reason. In his discussion on "Reactionary Socialism," Marx said, "The chief accusation which they bring against the bourgeoisie is exactly this: that under the sway of the bourgeoisie a class is being developed which is destined to cut up root and branch the old order of society. What they upbraid the bourgeoisie with is not so much that it creates a proletariat as that it creates a revolutionary proletariat."

Okamura Yasuji knew Marx wasn't wrong. Kita Ikki wasn't "merely" preaching revolution to the Japanese ruling class, but preaching revolution to the common people of Japan, inciting revolution. This was exactly where Kita Ikki deserved to die the most!