Chapter 117
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Mr. Sunset (4)
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My schedule in Japan was incredibly varied.
The first thing on the agenda was... the idol world tour itself.
"Kin Shogun-samaaaaa!!"
"Hero of Asia! Beacon of Asia who showed the power of the yellow race!!"
"Long live the Japanese Empire! Long live General Kin!!"
I'm not from your country... don't get so immersed.
Of course, I could say the only good Jap is a dead Jap, that every grain of rice going into your mouths is the product of exploiting Koreans! That your very existence is original sin! But as I barked that out in my mind, I realized I was a soldier of the imperialist era too. I couldn't exactly claim to be free of original sin myself.
Even in 2020, how many people felt guilt over phones made from exploited labor, coffee beans harvested by child workers, or sugar from plantation exploitation? Hell, in this era, the U.S. itself had the Philippines colony as a shining symbol of hypocrisy and deception.
Seeing their fervent cheers like this left me with an utterly ambiguous feeling.
There was only one solution for times like these. Just shut up and do my job. Worrying about it wouldn't change a damn thing.
The answer to all my dilemmas would come around 1945 anyway. As always, my unwavering conclusion was to postpone judgment. If I'm still alive, we'll settle it then, folks.
Naturally, issues related to Koreans were also up for discussion.
The Japanese side didn't want me stirring up patriotism among Koreans with careless remarks and turning the entire peninsula into a blazing inferno. And I didn't want the Japs begging me to make some pro-Japan statements only for a hail of angry lead to come flying my way.
With both sides' interests aligned, my speeches ended up as the most apolitical, boilerplate platitudes possible.
"The future will be the era of Asia! People of Asia, hold onto hope. Skin color is no measure of superiority. You can do it!"
"If you wish for it earnestly enough, it will come true. Keep thinking about what you want to achieve, over and over. If you truly desire it with all your heart, the universe itself will conspire to help you!"
"They say it takes 10,000 hours to become a master in any field. Have you devoted 10,000 hours to your work with the discipline of tempering yourself? Not just scraping by day to day for food, but with the artisan's mindset of becoming a true master? Effort! More effooort! Effort will never betray you!"
"Waaaaaaah!!!"
"Long live General Kin!!"
But if I stuck to pure platitudes, it'd be a total snoozefest.
Running short on material, I dusted off every self-help book trope that clogged up 21st-century bookstores and even overflowed into military libraries, spewing them out like there was no tomorrow.
To people from a century ago, though, my words apparently came across as pretty fresh and novel.
"Thank you for such an uplifting speech!"
"Haha, thank you."
"I was here last time too, and came back with more friends! I was so moved I bawled my eyes out. Truly inspiring!"
"We've lacked that earnest desire. You're truly great, General Kin!"
"Thank you, thank you, comrades! Students, you are Asia's future! Bring more friends and comrades!"
"Waaaaaaah! Kin Eugene! Kin Eugene!!"
This isn't what I meant.
Even as I responded, visions of getting shot in the balls flickered in my mind, making my groin ache preemptively.
And the slightly disconcerting part? It wasn't just the students hanging on my every word.
"Truly moving. Our army has lacked effort too. From now on, the Imperial Army will set the example for the prosperity of Greater East Asia!"
"The Navy as well will take this teaching to heart with the spirit of 'renewal every day, and again the next'."
Don't compete like that. You're making me nervous.
After wrapping up the day's schedule, I returned to the house provided by the Japanese government.
I'd originally planned to just rent a modest place since I lived alone anyway, or maybe go the long-term hotel guest route.
"Absolutely not! We insist! We'll rent a house for you, so please stay there!"
"Is there some issue?"
"Forget the prestige of the Empire—security would be nearly impossible."
What could I say to that?
And so I ended up in a grand mansion complete with towering walls, a brand-new guard tower, and even annexes for the security team's quarters.
It was bigger than Ambassador Warren's residence, which made me a bit self-conscious. You know that feeling—picking a car just a notch cheaper than the boss's to show some tact.
No sooner had I gotten home than I met with a guest: Viscount Kaneko.
"I've heard you've been sharing wonderful advice with the young people lately, Lieutenant."
"Hoho, it's nothing."
"As an individual, I know it's just kind words, but some fools are misinterpreting your intent, forcing me to pay you a visit."
Misinterpreting my intent? What the hell is this now?
Everything I said was the purest boilerplate—nothing opinionated at all—and I couldn't make heads or tails of it.
"They're concerned that 'if you wish earnestly, the universe will help' might be sending the wrong message to malevolent spirits."
"So, in other words, it sounds like 'wish earnestly for Korean independence' or something."
"Erm... yes. I'm too old and retired to convince those fellows anymore; my words just don't land."
Don't lie, you con artist. This isn't even the Pacific War—what do you mean they won't listen?
Actually, perfect timing. If I can shut that mouth now, maybe I'll hear less petty nonsense.
"I'm a bit perplexed, myself."
"I understand. But words like that can be twisted depending on who's listening—"
"The line about the universe helping earnest wishes? I was actually thinking of the Meiji Restoration."
"......Is that so?"
Whoa, the poker face on this seasoned diplomat.
He was trying to play it cool, casually sipping tea, but I could see right through him.
And this Eugene Kim? My combat power triples when cornered, but jumps sevenfold when cornering others.
"The Meiji Restoration was the great achievement of all Japan's heroes uniting, wasn't it? I drew inspiration from that—"
"We're grateful you think so highly of it."
I was thinking of you guys, so what malevolent spirits? They probably look at your Restoration and think, 'We can do that too.' Feel a bit sore about it, huh?
After that, the Japs stopped nitpicking my speeches.
Great news! Hooray!
The next item on the agenda was, of course, tank sales. That was my core mission, after all.
The Japanese army had already imported about ten M1917s in 1919 and adopted them as the Type A tank.
But that was just "Europe's using tanks, so let's check 'em out~" level curiosity, with their understanding of tanks and armored tactics still pretty shallow.
So it was up to this Eugene Kim to give them the hard sell.
What really pissed me off, though? They'd also imported British Mark tanks. The nerve! Choosing stinky tea-flavored tanks over my cute little babies!
The Japanese military was already showing some interest in tanks.
Even if I didn't sell, they wouldn't just abandon them. So obviously, I had to push my tanks as hard as possible. Use the profits for patriotic deeds, right?
The Japanese army's real problem wasn't whether to adopt tanks—it was their national industrial capacity being utter crap.
Could the Empire of Japan in 1941 have whipped up Tigers or Panthers even with blueprints? No way. Why tear out the nation's roots over it?
In original history, the Japanese 'Chi-Ha' tank was a joke, but the British who lost Singapore to it weren't clowns. Wars are ultimately about how efficiently you use the weapons your situation demands.
"It's an honor to meet General Kin here in the Empire!"
"Thank you. I'd like to discuss your tank requirements."
And surprisingly, the Japanese army in 1922 had made decent progress in tank research—more than I'd expected.
"We can't keep chasing Europe's military systems forever. The Empire needs a military befitting the Empire."
"In that regard, the tactics of General Kin—the shining star of East Asia—are precisely the model we should emulate. Your Amiens battle is already a constant subject of study in our Imperial Army."
Is this the butterfly effect?
The Japanese army, especially the land forces, seemed genuinely captivated by the miraculous feats of the once-mocked yellow monkey.
A victory smashing the invincible German army that Japan had idolized—at a single blow. Add in the embarrassing title of 'Asia's Great Hero,' and voices in the army were crying, 'This is the Imperial Army's future!'
"British tanks and American ones differ quite a bit in design philosophy, I believe. As the father of the tank, General Kin, you must see things differently from the British."
"Indeed. Think of British heavy tanks as mobile flamethrowers for covering infantry in trench warfare. The M1917, on the other hand, was built for broader tactical uses."
"Ooh! As expected!"
"So, for protecting Imperial soldiers on the battlefield, British models are more suitable?"
What? Daring to praise the British in front of me?
Spewing such heresy—you're either on British payroll or an outdated infantry worshipper! Foolish barbarian.
"Why charge headfirst into enemy trenches and spill blood in the first place? As soldiers paid by the people's taxes to train and live, that's dereliction of duty."
"Khm!"
"Sure, from a grunt's perspective, tanks are reassuring company. But even better is neutralizing the enemy's defenses entirely, so you don't send precious troops charging into bullet hell."
"Well said indeed. The Empire lacks population but boasts fine industry, so the Imperial Army's future surely lies in swift maneuvers through full mechanization."
No, don't learn so well.
Or maybe? Against Manchurian warlords or Chinese troops, sure—but against the U.S. military? Even with fancy mechanized units, they couldn't win. They'd just get wrecked faster.
Japanese mechanization, huh.
At first I worried they'd get stronger, but if it means stronger against Chinese forces and weaker against Americans?
That's way too sweet.