Iron Cross

Two clear horn sounds of "Didi" sounded at the door of Topo Naval Aviation School (formerly Yokosuka Air Force), ending a week of training. Akamatsu Sadaki drove his signature Mercedes-Benz car to the door and said enthusiastically He helped Saburo Sakai carry his luggage and put him in the car.

After the combined fleet returned to China, according to the instructions of Horikichi and Tsukahara, all outstanding carrier-based aircraft pilots, including Akamatsu Sadaki, entered various air fleets for training. Akamatsu Sadaki and Sakai Saburo were assigned to a local training center mainly for training fighter pilots. He served as an instructor at the Pu Naval Aviation School. Although the school training was very tight, compared with the front-line troops who implemented the "monthly, water, fire, wood, metal, and gold" training method, the aviation school still left one day of rest per week.

Just as Akamatsu Sadaki was about to return to the cab, he suddenly saw two students approaching and greeted him warmly: "Ohta, Takagi, didn't you two ask for leave to go to the city? Get in the car and go together."

"Yes..." Ohta and Takagi, who had the rank of trainees, got into the car at a loss, and then said anxiously, "Well, how can we let the commander drive for us?"

"You think too much. Although you are good at flying airplanes, you can't drive a car." Akamatsu Sadaki laughed, "My driving skills are very good. If you really want to, practice your combat skills well and wait for the future. After you get on the ship and have achieved military exploits, you can ask the head of state to give you a car when you go to Europe. Maybe when I get old and can't drive a car, I can benefit from you two..."

The two of them were very excited: "Yes! We will definitely train hard, master the tactics and techniques taught by our superiors, and make contributions to the empire in the future!"

All the students and instructors at the base knew that Akamatsu Sadaki had a Mercedes-Benz sedan brought back from Europe, which was specially presented to him by the German head of state in recognition of his outstanding military exploits. The "No. 1 Ace of Hainan Airlines" coupled with his background as an imperial officer made this even more special. An instructor has a revered status among students. Akamatsu Sadaki first sent Sakai Saburo to the place, and then said: "I will pick you up on Sunday night, or at the same time?"

"Okay, I'm sorry to trouble you."

"Where, where, should, should."

"Sir, I see that you are very polite to Chief Sakai. You often pick him up and drop him off."

"Unusual?"

"Well, indeed, in terms of qualifications, status, and military rank, you..." Ota is a student directly under Akamatsu Sadaki. In comparison, he is more affectionate and doesn't have so many scruples in speaking.

"It's superficial to look at the problem this way."

"Is it because you have a particularly good relationship?"

"Actually, he and I didn't know each other before. He was from Kasumigaura Air Force, and then went to Kaohsiung Air Force as a land-based pilot, and later transferred to a carrier-based aircraft pilot..." Akamatsu Sadaki said with a smile, "You are very Want to know?"

"Yes, many people in the school want to know, but they don't dare to ask. I'm a very outspoken person and can't hide my words. Wouldn't the superior dislike me?"

"It's because he is an instructor."

"What...what's the reason for this? Aren't you also an instructor?"

"I am different. I will return to the army in a few months, but he will stay in the Air Force Training Preparatory Section forever." Akamatsu Sadaki said solemnly, "You know what Chief Sakai did during his trip to Europe "?"

"I don't know. The commander is very low-key and doesn't say much. He only said that he has participated in several battles and has not made many meritorious deeds. He is far behind you."

"That's because he is humble and low-key. Did you know that Commander Sakai's skills are no worse than mine? Although he is blind in one eye, he still shot down 11 aircraft with his other eye in air combat and even protected me several times. , once he even risked his own life to attract enemy firepower to help me escape. Otherwise, there would be no HNA number one trump card, and I would have been soaked in the sea water..." Akamatsu Sadaki recalled with emotion, "Sakai-kun at the time While he was at home due to illness, Commander Horikichi entrusted Chief of Staff Kusuka to personally write a letter asking him to transfer from a land-based pilot to a carrier-based aircraft team. In just 2 weeks, he mastered all the skills of boarding a ship. What kind of genius is this? He was the first to create the trio’s special moves.”

"Wow!" the two exclaimed.

"Such an outstanding soldier chose to teach in the rear. Do you think he is evading responsibility and afraid of sacrifice? But for the benefit of the entire empire and fleet, he gave up the opportunity to shine personally and was not even willing to publicize his achievements in front of you. , silently launched the training mission. Only a good instructor can bring out outstanding students, and in the future I will have a steady stream of outstanding soldiers to lead the army, so I want to thank him very much - what's the point of transporting him back and forth? What's more? Not much more.”

"Been taught a lesson."

"It is estimated that when the commander goes into battle again, the United States will be completely defeated and surrendered... I am really looking forward to it, but it is a pity that we are not good at learning and may not be able to catch up." Da Tian showed a look of infinite longing and admiration.

"Not even close."

"What?"

"You basically don't know how to drive, right?"

"No." The two shook their heads, "Not only do we not know how to do it, but almost all the students don't know how to do it."

"I have asked captured American pilots, they all know how to drive, many of them have touched a car since they were teenagers, they have driven cars, trucks, and the brave ones have even touched a tank. Many of them even used to drive pesticide planes to spray pesticides on the fields. There are at least 20-30 million people who can drive a car in the United States, but in Japan, let alone driving, it is unknown whether there are 20-30 million people who have ridden in a car. Do you think it is easier to select pilots from those who can drive or from those who can't drive?"

"But..." Takagi asked doubtfully, "Everyone admits that the United States is very strong, with a developed industry and abundant materials, Even so, the Imperial Navy still beat them badly. "

"That's because the Americans encountered Commanders Hori Teikichi and Tsukahara. It's easy to get thousands of troops, but it's hard to get a general! Otherwise, why did the Battle of Midway suffer a disastrous defeat? Later, the South Pacific, East Africa, and the Caribbean were won, with the same warships and the same people. They won with a different commander. Do you understand the difference..." Akamatsu Sadaaki sighed, "It's just that now the storm is coming!"

None of Ota and Takagi dared to say anything about this. The pilots were not blind. They could see and hear many things, and they also understood the interests involved. The so-called storm is not just happening, but is already ongoing.

Soon after Akamatsu Sadaaki joined the Tsuchibu Naval Aviation School, he frequently drove this Mercedes-Benz in and out of the school, which made the principal, Colonel Matsushita, jealous and openly asked for it. Of course, the name sounded good - "borrow it for a few days". According to the past, low-ranking officers like Akamatsu Sadaaki could only swallow their anger and hand it over, but Akamatsu Sadaaki refused to hand it over, and even argued, saying publicly, "This is the car given to me by the head of state. I earned the car with my own ability. Why should I lend it to you? Even the chief of the aviation headquarters, Onishi, didn't have such an idea!"

Colonel Matsushita tried to find Akamatsu Sadaaki's braids to convict him, such as "disrespecting elders", "taking credit for oneself", "confronting superiors", and tried to take credit for the chief of the military general staff, Prince Fushimi Hiroyoshi - he knew that at the welcoming ceremony that day, Hori Teikichi used Akamatsu Sadaaki's use of the German military rank to satirize Prince Fushimi Hiroyoshi.

The news soon reached Hori Teikichi and Yamamoto Isoroku. Yamamoto was furious. Hori Teikichi found Onishi Takijiro and was very kind, but the words he said made the latter's face change drastically: "Onishi-kun, on the one hand, you instigated young soldiers to sacrifice their lives for the country and fight to the death, and on the other hand, you let your subordinates snatch rewards from frontline soldiers... If this continues, will you live in peace in the second half of your life?"

According to witnesses, Lieutenant General Onishi Takijiro walked out of the superior's office in tears. An hour later, the furious Onishi flew to the school, not only directly stripped Matsushita of his position and ordered him to transfer to the reserve, but also slapped him dozens of times in public, making his face look like a pig's head.

But Matsushita has a backer. His backer is Admiral Ikawa Koshiro, who used to be the head of the aviation headquarters and is now the chief of the Yokosuka Naval District. He went to Ikawa Koshiro that night to cry and complain, saying that "you have to look at the owner before beating the dog". Ikawa was originally fighting over Hori Teikichi's thorough reforms. Now he thinks that the other party is taking advantage of the issue and deliberately trying to embarrass him, so he came forward to ask Onishi to withdraw his order. Onishi refused, and the two quarreled. Then the quarrel escalated to the level of Hori Teikichi and Yamamoto, and finally nothing came of it.

Ikawa, who didn't win the quarrel, was furious and simply took the dismissed Matsushita to the Yokosuka Naval District to reassign his position, and the whole thing caused a sensation. The incident was supposed to continue to ferment and brew, but it was suddenly replaced by the Tsukahara political donation incident (Navy B incident) that suddenly appeared, and the focus was shifted all of a sudden.

After returning to Japan, Tsukahara Jishizo received a large sum of extra money from Germany and bought a luxurious villa in the suburbs of Tokyo according to Hori Teikichi's arrangement. Tsukahara himself didn't care, but since it was Hori Teikichi's arrangement, he certainly followed his orders.

Some people advised Hori Teikichi not to do this, but the latter retorted: "Why can some senior military generals embezzle and accept bribes and squander money, but my subordinates can't even use the rewards received through formal channels? Generals like Tsukahara, who have made great contributions to the empire, live such a hard life. Why should I let other subordinates work hard? Is it just to become a general or a vice general and live a hard life?" Prince Fushimi Hiroyoshi seized this point to attack Tsukahara for accepting "political donations". Tsukahara Ken did not admit it, nor was he willing to let Hori Teikichi take the responsibility. He chose to suspend his post for investigation. In order to achieve its goal, the Military General Staff even went to Kohl, hoping to open a gap from the German side. Kohl would certainly not admit it, so the investigation could not proceed. But Prince Fushimi Hiroyoshi refused to announce the end of the investigation, so Tsukahara's de facto suspension continued, which also made Hori Teikichi feel that his days as the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet would not be long...