cicada

Chapter 1525 The Gospel of Lord Okamoto

At 11 p.m. on August 8, 1945, Russian Foreign Minister Yumosk issued a notice to the Japanese ambassador to Russia, stating that Russia had declared war on Japan and that the two countries would enter a state of combat the following day.

However, due to the time difference, an hour before the declaration of war, the three fronts of the Red Army launched an attack from three directions, codenamed "August Storm".

Millions of Red Russian troops crossed the Xinganling-Fengtian line, the Harbin-Jilin line, and the Songhua River line, completing a double encirclement of the Japanese mites.

At this time, the Kwantung Army had a total strength of 60 men, divided into 25 divisions, including 2 tank divisions and 6 independent mixed brigades, with 1000 armored vehicles, 7000 artillery pieces, and nearly 2000 aircraft.

Although the figures on paper look good, the armored vehicles of the tank division are mostly old-fashioned armored cars and light tanks, the artillery is all small-caliber, and there are only 50 of the latest fighter jets.

After suffering heavy losses in Southeast Asia and the war during the Republic of China era, the Kwantung Army was severely weakened, and the quality of its troops was far inferior to what it used to be.

The Tokyo General Headquarters was well aware that the Kwantung Army and the puppet regime's forces alone were no match for the Red Russian army's ferocious might. How to end the war became the primary issue facing the Japanese high command.

On August 9, the Prime Minister convened a special meeting in the underground conference room of the Imperial Palace. Former Prime Minister Tojo, newly appointed Prime Minister Suzuki Kantaro, Army Minister Anami Korechika, Navy Minister Yonai Mitsumasa, and other high-ranking military and political officials attended the meeting.

Among them, Kantaro Suzuki and Mitsumasa Yonai were "peace advocates" who advocated ending the war with dignity and ensuring that the interests of the imperial family were not harmed, which in reality meant a conditional surrender.

As for the pro-war faction led by Tojo and Anami Korechika, they demanded that the entire nation fight to the last moment and implement a strategy of sacrificing 100 million lives.

The meeting began with the two sides arguing fiercely. Mitsumasa Yonai slammed his fist on the table and shouted at Korechika Anami, "The war is over! Less than one in ten Hiroshima citizens are still alive. If this doesn't count as a defeat, then what does?!"

Upon hearing this, Korechika Anami gripped his pen tightly. On the day Hiroshima was bombed, the Americans announced that they had used a "new type of bomb" derived from atomic energy against Japan.

Based on on-site investigations and predictions from Japanese nuclear energy experts, this new type of bomb is extremely powerful and will leave permanent pollution.

Thinking of the hundreds of thousands of Hiroshima citizens who died, Korechika Anami considered backing down, but looking at Tojo's sinister gaze, he could only choose to remain tough to the end, though his tone was no longer so aggressive.

"This is only a local defeat. We have not lost the overall war. The Empire still has the strength to fight in Asia and Korea."

Yonai Mitsumasa sneered, preparing to press his advantage, but Suzuki Kantarō, fearing the situation would spiral out of control, decisively interrupted him.

"Alright, gentlemen, the Empire can make a limited ceasefire, but the Allied forces must agree to the four conditions we have put forward."

"First, preserve the empire's independent national structure."

"Second, the General Headquarters shall be responsible for disarming and disbanding the troops."

"Third, we will not occupy the Imperial mainland, Okinawa, or Xiaoliuqiu, and we will recognize our rule over Goryeo."

Fourth, the Imperial Government shall punish war criminals.

Upon hearing this, most of the people in the conference room relaxed. If the Allies agreed to these demands, surrendering didn't seem like an option.

In any case, if war criminals are to be punished, the army will suffer the greatest losses, while the navy and cabinet members will have limited culpability and at least their lives can be saved.

The emperor at the head of the table did not express any opinion, since doing so would benefit the imperial family. Suzuki Kantarō breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to propose a vote.

"Bridge Bean Sacks!"

The leader of the pro-war faction, Tojo, finally couldn't hold back any longer. He stopped Suzuki Kantarō in a deep voice, then looked around the venue and said slowly.

“Defending the homeland is the Army’s responsibility. If the Army does not agree with the Cabinet’s position, then the Cabinet has no reason to exist.”

Silence fell over the meeting room. Many people were dumbfounded. Tojo's words were no longer an opinion, but a blatant threat—a threat to the cabinet, and even a threat to the Heavenly Locust.

Sitting behind his grandfather-in-law, Suzuki Kantarō, in a seat against the wall, Hayashi Fuichirō listened silently to the argument and sighed inwardly.

Since the U.S. military bombed Tokyo with incendiary bombs, and Suzuki Kantarō was ordered to form a cabinet, such arguments have occurred every day, and Tojo's attitude has become increasingly arrogant.

The reason for this was simply that the army was unwilling to accept defeat and was worried about being held accountable after the war. Therefore, Tojo and others wanted to drag the entire country down with them.

Suddenly, an officer walked in from outside. He whispered a few words in the ear of Shimomura Hiroshi, the head of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office. Shimomura Hiroshi's expression changed drastically, and he stood up to inform everyone of some bad news.

"Your Majesty, Your Excellencies, at 11:02, Nagasaki was bombed by a second new type of bomb, and the damage was just as severe as that of Hiroshima."

The Japanese high-ranking officials present were speechless, and even Tojo lowered his head. Tenko looked at everyone and made the final decision in a slightly trembling voice.

"If a decisive battle were to take place on home soil, the Yamato people would be annihilated. Conversely, even if a great man like Napoleon were to be defeated, the nation could still survive and its people could be able to reproduce and thrive again."

"I will endure the unbearable and tolerate the intolerable, just like the Meiji Emperor, and I hope that you all will stand in the same position as me." Although he did not say it explicitly, the meaning of the Emperor was very clear: he wanted to surrender and hoped that others would surrender with him.

Suzuki Kantarō, Yonai Mitsumasa, and other pro-peace figures were excited and bowed their heads, shouting "Hai!" Tenko also feigned tears, saying that the war was not their will and that it was a blessing for Japan to end it with dignity.

The meeting ended there, and Tojo stormed out of the Imperial Palace. Like an enraged wild dog, he stormed into the Ministry of the Army alone.

As the leading figure of the pro-war faction, Tojo was highly respected among the lower-ranking officers. When he entered the office, a group of lieutenant colonels and majors straightened their bodies and leaned forward slightly.

Tojo walked around the officer, and with the sound of his boots hitting the floor, the former prime minister began his impassioned address.

"Since Minister Anan is not here, I would like to inform you of something: His Majesty has decided to seek peace with the Allied forces."

The group of young officers were struck dumb, their hands clenched tightly against their trouser seams, veins bulging on their foreheads, but they dared not speak out due to their seniority.

Seeing this, Tojo's lips curled up slightly, and he continued to entice, "There are two meanings to pledging allegiance to the Heavenly Locust. One is that His Majesty demands our surrender, and we must obey. The other is that even if the Heavenly Locust issues an order, considering the eternal existence of the Empire, we must first offer our advice."

After circling around, Tojo stopped, looked at the dozen or so officers, and suddenly raised his voice.

"But what if His Majesty the Heavenly Locust doesn't heed our advice? What should we do?!"

The question was repeated, each time with a harsher tone. None of the officers dared to answer, except for a major who stepped forward and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"We must eliminate the treacherous officials, forcefully persuade His Majesty the Heavenly Locust, and help him strengthen his resolve to fight to the end!"

The major's words were easy to understand; he meant to "persuade" Tenko and the cabinet by using the same method of insubordination as the 226th Regiment. The other officers' breathing gradually became heavier, and their eyes slowly reddened.

Although the February 26 Incident has passed, its impact has not dissipated. Many people feel sympathy for the participants, especially given the unfavorable situation in the war.

Some even privately believe that if the Imperial Way Faction had followed its strategy of attacking Red Russia first and then gradually encroaching on the Republic of China, the situation would not be as bad as it is now.

Tojo strode up to the major, raised his chin, and asked, "Very good! Tall guy, what's your name?"

The major showed no fear, looked straight ahead, and said his name: "Kenji Tanaka, sir!"

"Yoshi."

Tojo, who had criticized and suppressed the February 26 Incident back then, patted Tanaka Kenji on the shoulder this time, his eyes revealing appreciation and encouragement.

This is not surprising. People's opinions are dictated by their own biases. The current pro-war faction needs some hot-headed young people to remind the elders and the corrupt officials.

After taking a picture of Kenji Tanaka, Tojo turned and left without saying a word of disrespect, but his meaning was clear. The officers' eyes lit up as they watched him walk out of the office.

That night, dozens of mid- to low-ranking officers from the Army Ministry, the General Staff Headquarters, and field divisions gathered in the underground command room, where a rebellion was about to begin.

A bespectacled lieutenant colonel pointed to a map of Tokyo and conducted a war game simulation for everyone, while explaining the content and purpose of the operation.

"Gentlemen, on the day of the coup, we need to cut off the ties between the pro-peace faction and the Imperial Palace, and send troops to protect the residences of cabinet ministers such as Suzuki and Yonai to prevent non-citizens from disturbing the ministers."

"Furthermore, reliable sources say that His Majesty the Emperor has been misled and has recorded a message to end the war, which he plans to broadcast to the entire nation."

"In order to obtain the recordings, the occupation of the Imperial Palace and the Broadcasting Association must be carried out simultaneously. I think you all should understand that having committed such an outrageous act, whether it succeeds or not, we can only atone with our deaths."

While the lieutenant colonel was speaking, another person marked the targets on the map: the Prime Minister's official residence, the Ministry of the Navy, the Minister of the Navy's official residence, and the Imperial Palace were all included.

When the lieutenant colonel uttered his last words, all the officers bowed their heads sharply. No one hesitated or withdrew. These warmongers, deeply influenced by monarchism, did not care about their own lives or the lives of others.

Just as everyone was getting too excited, a voice rang out from the crowd: "I bring you good news from Lord Okamoto Shigenobu!"

Before the words were even finished, a major from the Imperial Guard Division stepped forward, pulled a letter from his pocket, and passed it around to the others. The atmosphere became even more frenzied; this was Lord Okamoto, after all.

During the February 26 Incident, thanks to Okamoto Shigenobu's planning, the young soldiers almost achieved their goal, but unfortunately, they ultimately failed.

The officers suppressed their excitement as they read the letter, only to find a single sentence: "At this moment, if there is even a moment's wavering in our hearts, everything will be in vain. In the face of national righteousness, no personal feelings can be allowed to interfere."

The officers who participated in the mutiny suddenly realized that isolating the peace faction seemed like a safe option, but what if the news leaked out? They had to take decisive measures and could not be soft-hearted.

In the dimly lit command room, someone began to sing "The Song of Young Japan," and time seemed to rewind to that snowy night of February 26th, as if nothing had changed.