novelAbuy Chapter 424 Denies, Ignores, and Responsibly Abides
Chapter 424 Denies, Ignores, and Responsibly Abides
He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Prime Minister, do you think we want to make this decision? How can I bear to see Imperial soldiers in German uniforms going to their deaths? But there's no other way! It's the only way! We'll trade the lives of two hundred thousand men for the Empire's survival for the next thirty years! This is the only way!"
Saionji closed his eyes. He was well aware of the empire's predicament, the empty treasury, the backwardness of its industry, and the crisis of being surrounded by powerful nations. But he always believed that a country, a people, has certain bottom lines that cannot be crossed. Once crossed, they can be crossed again!
"The British gave us twenty-four hours." He slowly opened his eyes, his voice utterly exhausted. "What is the Ministry of the Army's plan to say in response?"
Oshima paused for a few seconds, then pulled a piece of paper from the inner pocket of his uniform: "This is the draft reply prepared by the General Staff."
Saionji took it and read it quickly. The more he read, the paler his face became.
The core message of the draft is simple: denial.
"Upon investigation, this was found to be the individual act of some retired military personnel and private trading companies. The Imperial Government was unaware of it beforehand and does not acknowledge it. The Imperial Government has always adhered to the spirit of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and maintained neutrality in the European war. The claim of 'eight divisions' is purely a rumor. The Imperial Army's active duty forces are all stationed in the homeland and colonies, and no troops have been deployed to Europe to participate in the war..."
When Saionji finished reading, his hands were shaking so badly he could barely hold the paper.
"We...are we going to abandon them?" His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. "Two hundred thousand men fought for the Empire in Europe, and now you're going to say 'we were unaware,' 'we don't acknowledge' them? That it was 'an individual act'?"
"This is the only option, Prime Minister." Oshima's voice also lowered, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor. "To admit it would mean a complete break with Britain. To not admit it would leave room for maneuver. The British need our ports to counter the German Far East Fleet, and they need us to contain Russia and the United States in Asia. As long as we stubbornly refuse to admit it, they will eventually have no choice but to accept reality."
"What about the two hundred thousand soldiers? What about their honor?"
"After the war, if any of them come back alive..." Oshima looked away, "they can be secretly resettled. Given new identities and sufficient compensation. As for reputation... Prime Minister, personal reputation is secondary when it comes to the survival of the nation."
Saionji stared at Oshima, at this soldier from the Iwamura Domain, this key figure representing the hardliners of the Army Ministry. He suddenly felt a profound sorrow—not for Oshima, but for the nation. When did the Empire's decision-makers become like this? For the sake of practical interests, could they so easily sacrifice two hundred thousand compatriots, could they abandon all morality and integrity?
"What if... I refuse to sign such a reply?" Saionji asked softly.
Oshima's eyes suddenly sharpened: "Prime Minister, please understand. This decision was not made by the Ministry of the Army alone. There is a consensus in the Council of Elders, the Privy Council, and even the Imperial Palace... The fate of the Empire allows no hesitation."
He didn't make any threats, but his meaning was clear: if Saionji didn't cooperate, then the prime minister's position might be taken by someone else.
A long silence followed. Only the cicadas chirped, hoarse and monotonous.
Saionji slowly rose and walked to the veranda. A night breeze caressed his face, carrying the fragrance of gardenias from the courtyard. He gazed at the outline of the pond in the darkness, where a dozen or so koi carp, transplanted from the Kyoto Imperial Palace, were kept—a gift from a friend. The koi swam quietly in the night, oblivious to human sorrows.
Two hundred thousand young men. From the mountain villages of Kyushu, from the fishing ports of Hokkaido, from the streets of Tokyo. When they boarded the transport ships with their luggage, they may have harbored dreams of serving the empire and earning a living. Now they are dying in the muddy trenches of France, wearing other people's uniforms, using other people's weapons, and fighting for other people's war. And their homeland is preparing to issue a statement saying "unaware" and "not acknowledging" it.
Saionji recalled his youthful ideals. As a participant in the Meiji Restoration, he believed that Japan could embark on a path of civilization, enlightenment, and international respect. He promoted constitutionalism, advocated diplomatic coordination, and hoped that the empire could rise peacefully.
But now?
"Oshima-kun," he said softly, his back to the room, "do you know what I'm most afraid of?"
Oshima did not answer.
"What I fear most is not the defeat of the empire, nor the loss of our territory." Saionji's voice drifted in the night wind. "What I fear most is that one day, our children will ask us: 'Our elders, what choices did you make back then?' And we will be unable to answer. Because our choices caused this country to lose its soul."
He turned around, walked back to the tatami room, and sat down again at the low table. He picked up a pen, dipped it in ink, and signed his name at the end of the draft reply.
The handwriting remains neat, and the strokes still powerful. But only Saionji himself knows how heavy that stroke truly is.
"Send it out." He pushed the draft to Oshima, his voice eerily calm. "Send it out according to the Ministry of the Army's wishes."
Oshima took the draft bill, looked at the Prime Minister's signature, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he simply bowed deeply: "Thank you for your understanding, Prime Minister. For the Empire."
He turned and left, the sound of his wooden clogs fading into the distance.
Saionji sat alone in the tatami room, maintaining a dignified posture, motionless. After an unknown amount of time, he slowly raised his hand and covered his face. His shoulders began to tremble slightly.
A night heron suddenly took flight from the pond outside the corridor, flapping its wings and soaring into the night sky.
The Prime Minister's mutterings were so soft that only he could hear them:
"Two hundred thousand lost souls... they can't even have names anymore... I guess Chen Feng is going to force us to keep sending heads to Europe!"
London, Admiralty Building, 10:8 AM, August 1, 1916
The office of First Sea Lord Admiral Henry Jackson was filled with smoke. The fifty-nine-year-old naval commander stood by the window, his back to the room, watching the endless stream of carriages, cars, and pedestrians on Whitehall Street. Across the street, the War Department flag fluttered lazily in the summer breeze.
Three documents were spread out on his desk.
The first document was a copy of the Japanese government's reply telegram forwarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The wording was cold and formal, brimming with the ambiguity and evasiveness characteristic of Eastern bureaucratic systems. The core message was clear: no acknowledgment, no knowledge, no responsibility.
The second report is the latest assessment from the Naval Intelligence Office: "Naval Strength of Lanfang and Tactical Analysis of the Bismarck-class Battleships." The thirty-page report includes several blurry photographs and technically speculative diagrams. The conclusion is alarming: if the Bismarck-class battleships perform as speculated, none of the Royal Navy's current capital ships in the North Sea could win in a one-on-one engagement. At least two, preferably three, Queen Elizabeth-class battleships would be needed to guarantee a victory against a single Bismarck-class.
The third document was a memo from the Prime Minister's Office: His Majesty the King has agreed in principle to travel to Cairo to meet with President Chen Feng of Lanfang, but the specific itinerary and security arrangements need to be formulated in coordination with the Ministry of the Navy.