Chapter 123
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Collapse of Tokyo (3)
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Tokyo's devouring inferno finally subsided after three days and nights of desperate battle.
But that didn't mean everything was over.
The U.S. Embassy had crumbled under the earthquake's aftershocks, forcing embassy staff and refugees to flee hastily to hotels.
In the midst of this chaos, I had to throw everything into disaster relief and cleanup efforts for the victims.
And the situation was unfolding exactly as I knew it would.
"Kill the Josenjing!"
"We have to kill all the Josenjing poisoning the wells!"
Like rabid dogs, really.
"Captain."
"Yes, sir! Is something bothering you?"
"Does the Empire of Japan intend to let those mobs run wild?"
The captain was visibly sweating bullets at my question.
Hmm, I could read his mind clear as day. He probably wanted to commit seppuku right there. What the hell was he supposed to say when that VIP Josenjing standing next to him was asking, "Mind if I kill them too?"
But I had slightly underestimated the dignity of the Japanese military.
"In immortal divine Japan, the only ones with the right to bear arms are those belonging to the Imperial Army, which His Majesty the Emperor personally protects. Just give the order, and we'll slaughter those traitorous scum immediately."
No, no, no. Don't get ahead of yourself. You're scaring me. You guys are seriously frightening.
"Regrettably, I'm an officer of another nation, with no authority to command foreign troops."
"Not at all. The martial law command has ordered me to take orders from you, General Kin, in handling this disaster. A warrior recognizes another warrior, and there are clear obligations to uphold on this land."
"They may shout about killing Koreans on the surface, but who knows if they're just bandits using that as an excuse? Give the word, and I'll have their heads."
Damn. Asking me to give the order? Are you insane?
"That's not quite what I heard. I understood your country was graciously honoring my 'request'—"
"I was explicitly ordered to follow General Kin's command."
"Perhaps there was a slight mix-up in wording? After all, the Imperial Japanese Army swears loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor. How could I, who hasn't pledged such loyalty, presume to command the 'Imperial Army'?"
"W-Well... that could be."
The Emperor truly was a cure-all.
One wrong word here could mean lèse-majesté, so of course his mouth was sealed shut.
The sin of daring to tussle with Eugene Kim using mere words. For a soldier, he'd tried his best. No need to torment this poor guy further.
"I'm not asking you to wipe them all out. But isn't calming these obvious rioters in plain sight and getting them back to their livelihoods also a show of loyalty?"
"Understood. Men, confiscate those bastards' weapons!"
"Hai!"
Bang! Bang-bang!
The Japanese troops fired a few rounds into the air for show, then gleefully smashed the foreheads of those irreverent mobs with rifle butts and clubs they'd brought along.
"You traitorous scum! Who gave you the right to carry weapons in Tokyo?!"
"You must be reds! Plotting a rebellion, eh?!"
"No! Ow! Mercy!"
"We were just trying to catch Josenjing—"
"Who the hell are you to harm His Majesty's subjects on your whim? You'll learn after a good beating!"
Amid the cacophony of cracking skulls, a few soldiers busily collected the kitchen knives and bamboo spears clutched by the mob.
"These guys have rifles. What do we do?"
"Dig out their backers! Carrying firearms means they're definitely traitors in league with someone!"
Now fully into it, the captain threw himself even more zealously into the interrogation.
"Spill it! Which socialist put you up to this and supplied the weapons?!"
"Socialists? N-No, we got police permission for security patrols!"
"Don't make me laugh!"
After thoroughly clubbing them at the scene, the rioters slunk away smugly.
Well... impressive, really. At least they let them live.
Up to this point, I hadn't sensed anything special.
I didn't yet realize the seeds I'd sown were taking root from the very bottom.
Late that night, when I finally returned home, I learned Terauchi was waiting for me.
"What brings you here when you're so busy?"
"General Kin's words have enlightened our Imperial Army greatly. I've come to express our gratitude."
He wouldn't have dragged the Guard Division chief of staff out here just for a thank-you.
In this emergency, most high-ranking officers were doubtless drowning in endless work. For him to come personally?
Something was up.
"If even I've thought of it, your equals in Japan must have too. Is there anything I can help with?"
"Precisely. I believe it's something General Kin desires as well."
Terauchi confidently laid it out.
"As you predicted, the rotten scoundrels of the Imperial Court aren't humbly accepting this earthquake as divine punishment for their corruption. Instead, they're desperately hunting scapegoats to deflect the people's rage."
"Oh dear."
"While the Imperial Army pours every resource—supplies, rations—into aiding the innocent populace, the politicians and their police lackeys are using this chance to eliminate rivals! How can ignoring this tragedy be the samurai way?!"
"Indeed. Seeing the military cherish the people and claim the role of Japan's shield fills me with such reassurance for Asia's lasting peace."
We've buttered each other up enough. Time for the main point.
It's all the same slop anyway, but if these guys want to use the Korean massacres as a pretext to sweep away their rivals, I'm all for it. Time to hop on the Army coin train.
"Kin General's admirers aren't just Koreans—they're everywhere in this divine land. If you personally declare that Koreans are absolutely not inciting riots, those scoundrels will be in a real bind."
"Me, personally?"
"Yes. We'd prefer not to involve a guest, but who else in the Empire right now can confidently step forward as a Korean representative besides General Kin?"
Got it. Your intentions, loud and clear.
Boring enough to die. Daring to spread the risk, huh...
"Understood. I'll gladly do so."
Let's see just how far the Imperial Japanese Army—wild from the Manchurian Incident to the Sino-Japanese War for their own gains—will go.
[Home Ministry Secret Directive! Kill the Koreans!]
[Police Arming Thugs and Gangsters!]
[Mob Frenzy: Slaughtering Tohoku People Over 'Strange Accents'!]
"What the hell is this?! Where's the press control?!"
"The reporters aren't listening. Someone else seems to be pulling strings."
"Of all the unprecedented disasters, what is this ugly farce?! Trying to change the regime now? Now?!"
The cabinet was in an uproar.
The situation was spiraling far from expectations.
What was wrong with culling a few Koreans?
Cracking down on undesirables was par for the course, and venting the populace's fear and rage required some sacrificial lambs—that was just reality.
They'd all hastily agreed on principled lines right after the quake.
Yet somehow, overnight, they themselves had become the targets of the people's fury.
In just one day.
"What are the Army doing? Order them to crack down on these lunatics right now."
"I'm sorry to say... it looks like the Army's the one moving."
"Nonsense!"
The Army, moving now?
Since right after the quake, the Army had been converging on Tokyo for crisis management, their numbers nearing 80,000.
80,000.
If the Army was playing games, the Navy putting a stop to it would be as natural as thread following needle. But with 80,000 troops armed and filling Tokyo and the capital region, the Navy was powerless.
Even deploying naval landing forces would be less effective than sugar cubes in a swimming pool. Short of shelling the already-razed Tokyo, there was no answer.
"This... this... they're abandoning us?"
Coup.
The unspoken word hung in everyone's minds.
No, not a coup.
For a coup, they'd storm in with troops, arrest the entire cabinet, and secure an imperial edict. And launching one when the country was in ruins offered no gains anyway.
If they had to define it...
"They're throwing a tantrum? Demanding their rice?!"
"Using this chance to bolster their position, probably."
"Crazy bastards! Power-mad lunatics!"
Prime Minister Yamamoto Gonnohyoe finally grasped the situation.
The Army saw his premiership—a Navy man—as pure bullshit.
Moreover, during his prior stint as prime minister, he'd abolished the "active-duty officer requirement" for service ministers.
Japan's army and navy ministers had to be serving lieutenant generals or admirals, a tool the military used to bully cabinets: "We don't like you, so no one from us will serve."
Just recently, the Navy had blocked Kiyoura Keigo's premiership by refusing even one naval minister candidate over his opposition to naval expansion.
"They want the active-duty requirement restored?"
"Likely the main demand."
"Can't do that. It was abolished due to public opposition in the first place. No backsliding."
"But... those same people are turning against us now."
The prime minister's thoughts ground to a halt.
True.
The people hated the old-guard politicians most right now.
If the military had a change of heart?
Judging they'd lost rights without public support, now flipping to absorb that support and protect their interests?
"I can handle the Navy. Time to meet the Army."
"Big trouble!"
"What now?"
One secretary burst in, panting.
"General Kin... General Kin is holding a press conference with the Army."
"General Kin? What the devil for?"
"Last night, mobs attacked him as a 'Josenjing.' It's chaos now!"
The prime minister's vision blurred.
"—And the mob's rampage was quelled thanks to the aid of the beloved Imperial Japanese Army soldiers."
I'd always wanted to pull this off once.
Faking injury in front of hordes of reporters and crowds. When else would I get the chance?
"Though wounded in the assassination attempt by the rioters, I declare unequivocally that my resolve for U.S.-Japan friendship is stronger than ever!"
"Waaaaah!!"
"General Kin, help Japan!"
"As long as this Kim Eugene is in Tokyo, no Korean will harm you! I swear it, and the Army vouches there are no Korean plots! People of the Empire, you are safe! You've become safe! Your sons are by your side!"
"Long live His Majesty!"
"Long live the Army!!!"
"Long live General Kin!!"
"The only thing you have to fear is fear itself. Don't abandon the civilized duties built since the Restoration!"
The spark was lit.
Honestly, I'd done more than requested, so time for a hefty reward.
"Thank you. A speech that naturally stirs patriotic fervor."
"No big deal. For an American, working for what you get is just basic duty."
"Haha. Don't worry. We Japanese know duty."
Terauchi lowered his voice further.
"As promised, not only the tank factory but your submachine gun will get licensed for mass Army deployment."
"Japan's impressive. Other countries just steal my precious patents."
"Hahaha! Rest easy. We'll set a generous unit price. No regrets!"
Yeah. No cheap envelopes—should've done this from the start.
Too much money to refuse now.