You Poked a Hole in the Sky for Me

Fengtian, Governor-General's Office.

The carved wooden doors were tightly shut, separating the inside and outside of the Governor-General's Office building into two worlds.

Inside the conference hall, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt like it could wring water out.

On the Feng Army's side, Governor-General Zhang Yuting sat firmly in the main seat, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. Behind him stood several burly generals, all sworn brothers. At this moment, they all had stern expressions, their hands already reaching for the pistol grips at their waists.

Opposite them, Sato Kenichi, the Japanese Consul-General in Fengtian, held a teacup, the lid flicking away the foam, but he didn't drink. Beside him, Special Affairs Officer Matsui Shigeki wore a grim expression, his eyes sharp, staring intently at Zhang Yuting.

"Governor-General Zhang, regarding the malicious sabotage of the South Manchuria Railway, our side requires an explanation."

Sato Kenichi put down his teacup and spoke slowly, his tone calm, but his words were full of accusation.

"Our intelligence confirms that this incident was carried out by your son, Zhang Xueming! We demand that the Feng Army immediately hand him over to face trial by military court!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuting acted as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. He raised his eyelids and glanced at Sato Kenichi.

"Consul Sato, one can eat whatever they want, but they can't say whatever they want."

"My son, Xue Ming, has been sickly since childhood and is more timid than a rabbit. You think he'd dare to sabotage the railway tracks? He wouldn't have the guts even if you gave him ten."

He continued with a look of feigned heartache.

"Besides, we've investigated thoroughly. This was done by those bandits in Jilin Province! And there are shadows of the White Bear Country behind them! They just want to sow discord between us and your country. Consul Sato, you mustn't fall for their trick!"

His words were so sincere, he almost shed a tear.

The generals behind Zhang Yuting twitched the corners of their mouths, suppressing their laughter.

More timid than a rabbit?

That brat who cut down the Japanese Army like leeks on the battlefield?

Only the Marshal dared to say such a thing with a straight face.

"Baka!"

Matsui Shigeki couldn't take it anymore and slammed the table.

"Governor-General Zhang! You are insulting the Empire's intelligence! Our intelligence network covers all of Fengtian. We know with absolute certainty whether it was your son!"

"Intelligence?" Zhang Yuting sneered, leaning forward slightly. An invisible pressure instantly enveloped the entire conference room. "Is your intelligence what you used as justification to send troops across the South Manchuria Railway's annexed territory and open fire on my Feng Army's positions?"

"Lord Matsui, you'd better clarify who exactly is provoking war!"

Sato Kenichi's expression changed slightly. He was about to say something when—

"Report!"

The conference room door was violently pushed open, and a Japanese man in the uniform of a consular staff member stumbled in, his face covered in dust and sweat, his expression one of extreme terror.

He was the Lieutenant Colonel who had changed into plain clothes and rushed back from the front lines.

He rushed to Sato Kenichi's ear and spoke a few rapid sentences in Japanese.

Sato Kenichi's expression shifted from grimness to shock, then to pallor, and finally to utter disbelief.

His hand holding the teacup began to tremble. Hot tea spilled out, but he didn't seem to notice.

At the same time, a Feng Army orderly rushed in and whispered a report in Zhang Yuting's ear.

"Marshal, urgent telegram from Army Commander Wu! Our army has achieved a great victory! Second Young Master... Second Young Master single-handedly took a cannon and wiped out a Japanese regiment! The Japanese Army is now in full retreat!"

After hearing this, Zhang Yuting's facial muscles twitched. He cursed "that brat" in his mind, but his expression remained unchanged. He simply picked up his teacup and blew on it gently.

"Consul Sato, it seems your people knew what happened on the front lines before you did," Zhang Yuting said slowly.

Matsui Shigeki had already understood the gist of the Lieutenant Colonel's fragmented report. He suddenly stood up, his eyes bloodshot.

"Zhang Yuting! How dare you initiate hostilities! You used new weapons! This is the most serious provocation against the Great Neon Empire!"

"Provocation?" Zhang Yuting slammed his teacup heavily onto the table, the bottom of the cup making a crisp sound against the surface. "I'll say it again, your army fired first! My Feng Army soldiers were merely retaliating in self-defense!"

"As for new weapons..." Zhang Yuting grinned. "I'm afraid our Fengtian Arsenal accidentally developed some small toys. Please forgive our lack of sophistication."

"You!" Matsui Shigeki trembled with rage but couldn't utter a word.

They had lost.

And it was a crushing defeat.

An elite infantry regiment was almost annihilated by a single cannon and a few guns.

How could they argue this?

What couldn't be obtained on the battlefield certainly couldn't be obtained at the negotiating table.

"Ahem."

Sato Kenichi, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. He forced a smile that was uglier than a cry and adjusted his glasses.

"Governor-General Zhang, I believe there must be some misunderstanding."

His attitude did a complete 180-degree turn.

"The 'necessary measures' taken by our side were originally intended to clear out the bandits lurking near the South Manchuria Railway and maintain local peace. We didn't expect to have friction with your army, which is truly... regrettable."