Chapter 182: The Incredible Telegram

May 3, 1942, early morning.

On the streets of Mandalay, Japanese Army soldiers patrolled from time to time; in the darkness, the wailing of women could still be heard. The Burmese civilians who had just days ago welcomed the Japanese Army were now deeply frustrated, but what could be done— the incident had already occurred.

The Japanese Army's brutality also manifested: the men were killed outright, and the women were taken in turn.

Qing Shui Xiao Jian, Director of the Intelligence Department, stared at the telegram in disbelief; the telegram had been delivered by his subordinates just a minute earlier.

"Nani?"

At this moment, he was no longer able to sleep.

The telegram contained a simple line: Coral Sea, United States Navy, CV-10, CV-16.

The numbers thereafter represented the United States Navy's Yorktown-class aircraft carriers, the Yorktown and the Lexington.

He rubbed his eyes to confirm there was no mistake on the telegram.

The telegram made it clear: near the Coral Sea, two United States aircraft carriers were cruising, inevitably accompanied by a massive task force of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers.

The real issue was the telegram's source—it actually came from the 56th Division, and Qing Shui Xiao Jian was naturally aware of the 56th Division's movements.

But the 56th Division... wasn't it already in chaos?

The key now is that there is much discussion about the 56th Division, because Watanabe Masao has mysteriously disappeared, and that disappearance is the best.

Of course, if he were to sacrifice himself for Imperial Japan, that would be ideal; the only fear is that he might be captured by the Expeditionary Force.

If true, this would be an unprecedented humiliation for the Imperial Army in a hundred years!

"Director, how should we handle this telegram?" Deputy Sasaki asked, his voice tinged with unease.

Qing Shui Xiao Jian sprang to his feet, barely having time to straighten his uniform, and said, "I will personally report to the Commander!"

The commander Qing Shui Xiao Jian referred to was not Iida Shojirou, commander of the 15th Army, but Terauchi Hisaichi, Supreme Commander of the Southern Army, who had captured the British Army commander Yalishanda and tens of thousands of British prisoners.

This delighted the Japanese; a few days earlier, Terauchi Hisaichi had organized a grand entry ceremony in Mandalay to showcase Imperial Japan's prestige, and simultaneously "invited" the British Army commander Yalishanda to Mandalay to sign a surrender document.

It further disgraced the British Empire!

It also signaled that the Southern Army had successfully achieved its staged objective; now, the Japanese Army in Southeast Asia faced no opposition, the American Army in the Philippines was conducting the Bataan march, and, like the British Army in Myanmar, they were being escorted by the Japanese back to Mandalay, suffering countless casualties along the way.

Terauchi Hisaichi did not rest; he was also worried about the 56th Division, but now he had already prepared for the worst.

He hoped that a great victory would secure his entry into the Cabinet, and for that reason he had agreed to let the 56th Division advance alone to capture Lashu; now it seemed his chance of joining the Cabinet was fading.

Now he could only hope that the 56th Division's losses could be minimized.

Earlier he had received news that the 56th Division was preparing to retreat to Tonggu; Watanabe Masao had also fallen into a coma due to Chinese artillery fire, and in the farewell telegram finally sent by the 146th Regiment commander Jin Gang Zong Si Lang, Terauchi Hisaichi felt immense anger—Watanabe Masao had been captured by a small detachment of the Expeditionary Force.

Why didn't he apologize profusely for the Greater East Asia Co‑Prosperity Sphere? That should be his destiny.

The 56th Division's solo advance into Lashu was originally his "road to merit" for advancing to the Cabinet. Now, with Watanabe Masao missing, the troops scattered, and even the radio cut off, if the division commander were truly captured, not only would his Cabinet aspirations be doomed, but he might even lose his military position.

"Report! Intelligence Department's Qing Shui Xiao Jian requests an audience!" The guard's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Terauchi Hisaichi frowned, "This late? Let him in."

Qing Shui Xiao Jian hurried in, bowed deeply, and presented the telegram with both hands: "Commander, the 56th Division has just sent urgent intelligence!"

"56th Division?" Terauchi Hisaichi sneered, "Do they still have a functioning radio? Could it be the spirit of Jin Gang Zong Si Lang generating power?"

"The telegram content... please review, Commander," Qing Shui Xiao Jian said without daring to look up.

Terauchi Hisaichi took the telegram, glanced at it once, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

"Nani?!" He snatched the telegram paper, repeatedly confirming, "CV-10? CV-16? Two American aircraft carriers in the Coral Sea?"

He placed the telegram on the table and asked, "Where did this telegram come from? Is its content trustworthy?"

"Commander, this telegram was sent by the 56th Division's radio," Qing Shui Xiao Jian said, lowering his head, unwilling to look at Terauchi Hisaichi.

Terauchi Hisaichi grew even more puzzled; after such a major incident involving the 56th Division, why would its radio send such a strange and important document?

There must be some conspiracy inside.

Time passed minute by minute, and one after another, many people arrived.

Chief of Staff Tsukada Gou said, "Our fleet indeed has major movements in the Coral Sea; if the American forces truly have two aircraft carriers there, our advantage disappears."

They all knew one thing: at Pearl Harbor, Imperial Japan's navy had not sunk any American aircraft carriers.

Because of this, in subsequent operations the Japanese navy was somewhat hesitant, and due to the need to split forces to attack Midway, the number of Japanese aircraft carriers in the South Pacific region was also limited.

If a 2‑versus‑2 situation arose now, the Japanese would lack confidence.

Terauchi Hisaichi spun around sharply and asked, "Is this telegram's source reliable? Could it be a forgery by the Chinese army after seizing our radio?"

"The code sequence, call sign, and encryption method all match the 56th Division," Qing Shui Xiao Jian said, his voice tightening, "but... the content is indeed suspicious."

As he spoke, Chief of Staff Tsukada Gou also arrived upon hearing the news. After hearing the report, his expression grew grave: "Commander, if the intelligence is accurate, the situation is extremely severe. Our Combined Fleet's main force is gathering at Midway, and only two aircraft carriers are deployed toward the Coral Sea. If Commander Inoue becomes careless and the American forces launch a surprise attack with two large carriers, control of the South Pacific could shift!"

Inoue Seimi, Lieutenant General, commander of the Fourth Fleet.

This left Terauchi Hisaichi extremely puzzled, "Why would the Chinese army leak this information to us? Remember, the Americans are their allies."

"Based on the telegrams we deciphered from the Myanmar Campaign, the British Army repeatedly betrayed their allies; perhaps that's why, after seizing the 56th Division's radio, this unit sent us this telegram," Chief of Staff Tsukada Gou analyzed.

It seemed somewhat plausible, but not much.

"Tsukada, what does this have to do with the Americans?" Terauchi Hisaichi asked again.

On the Myanmar battlefield, the Americans, aside from Stilwell and the 10th Air Group that had long fled to India, offered little assistance to the Chongqing forces.

Tsukada Gou thought, "Commander, should we report this intelligence to the headquarters?"

"Tsukada," he rose abruptly, his tone decisive, "Encrypt the entire telegram immediately and send it straight to Tokyo Imperial General Headquarters! Also notify the Combined Fleet headquarters!"

"But... what if this is a trap?" Tsukada Gou still harbored doubts.

"Truth or falsehood doesn't matter!" Terauchi Hisaichi's gaze burned, "What matters is—we must let the Navy know this possibility! Better to assume it exists than to ignore it!"

Terauchi Hisaichi intended to use this news to offset the 56th Division's defeat, so that he would at least not bear responsibility for Watanabe Masao's capture.

All of this resulted from Watanabe Masao's unilateral actions; this Southern Army commander was unaware.

After a brief discussion, regardless of truth or source, the priority was to inform the Navy of the situation.

The Southern Army high command knew the Navy's movements in the Pacific; the Navy was preparing at Midway to annihilate the American Pacific Fleet, and the Coral Sea side was also actively preparing for battle.

Whether it's true or false.

Terauchi Hisaichi still sent this Telegram from the "56th Division" back to headquarters.

He turned to Qingshui Xiao Jian: "You personally take charge of monitoring the 56th Division's radio. If there is any follow‑up information, at any time, report to me immediately!"

"Okay!" Qingshui Xiao Jian accepted the order.