NIS Agents Tearing Up the Japanese Empire - Chapter 90



Only Krnovel

There are few in Tokyo (7)

The corruption that was rampant within the Japanese Empire was already well known, needless to say.

Even the former prime minister was caught exchanging tens of thousands of yen and was fired.

But the military is involved in that.

And the society was turned upside down by the news that the army, which was supposed to protect the country, was connected to the colonial upper class and was accepting private bribes and favors from individuals and protecting ‘only’ them.

In Joseon, we laughed it off, saying that our Lord Noda had gone so far as to roast pumpkin seeds and eat them, but the situation in the Japanese Empire was a bit different.

The military commander who had been sent to the colony privatized the army for personal gain.

What if he wasn’t satisfied with a few pennies and wanted more?

What if the muzzle was turned upside down?

These amusing imaginations stimulated people’s minds.

It was a thought that everyone, from elementary school graduates to college students who graduated from Tokyo Imperial University, had at least once.

At that time, Prime Minister Tomosaburo Kato, who was supposed to be strictly investigating this incident, was suffering from colon cancer…

“A soldier of a country moves the government troops for a small amount of money. This crime is no different from treason.”

“Treason? It is true that corruption was involved in the deployment of troops in Joseon, but Noda Heijiro is also a proud member of our Empire of Japan. What is wrong with the military moving to protect its people?”

“What country in the world has an army that takes money from a single individual and privately moves its troops?”

“It is a national action to protect the people… … .”

While the Prime Minister was away, the Army Minister and the Navy Minister, who were supposed to handle this situation well, started a dog fight, biting each other so much that they almost tore each other apart.

“So are you saying that people without money should die? What kind of nonsense are you talking about!”

“What? What nonsense? Are you done talking?”

“What? You? You’re the one who said it all!”

As the atmosphere started to get a little heated, other ministers stepped in and tried to calm the two down with polite words.

“Hanzo, Takeshi. The Prime Minister is also sick and out of the office, so why should we blush and write among ourselves?”

“That’s right. In times like these, if we cooperate well with each other, thoroughly investigate any problems, and overcome this crisis… … .”

“You keep nagging at us about the strange things we received money from, so let’s take a closer look at the suspicions surrounding the illicit accumulation of wealth by Navy Admiral Yamamoto Gonnohyoe.”

“Oh, why is that story being brought up here? And he’s someone who has absolutely no charges against him, so much so that no investigation has been conducted!”

“I don’t know. It could be that the police officers, who are busy protecting themselves, are under pressure from above.”

“What? External pressure?! Do you think you can just say whatever comes to your mouth now that your mouth is open?”

“That’s what I’m talking about. Last time, when everyone else was tightening their belts and saving money, the Navy spent all the money they had on building new ships, so why are they trying to disband our poor Army divisions?”

Unsurprisingly, this incident split the military.

The civilian government, which should have stopped this, was unable to stop them and was just dragged around throughout the meeting. Even after several days had passed since the incident occurred and the article was published, they were unable to reach a conclusion among themselves and did not even issue a statement.

[Is it Neglect or Dereliction? The Hotbed of Corruption in the Empire of Japan, Falling Without End!]

[The only thing in the world that spoils faster than midsummer hosta is the Japanese government!]

[What if this happens, what if that happens, what if the country is ruined by corruption?]

In a situation where the government showed no response, the Chosun Ilbo continued to put out follow-up articles like a large truck with broken brakes going downhill.

Even the Governor-General’s Office only called in Kuroda, the owner of the Chosun Ilbo, and asked him to exercise some restraint in his actions.

As usual, we didn’t take any breaks or suspensions, but just watched the situation unfold.

“I’m doing this because it’s not my job.”

“How can you be so sure… … ?”

“Mr. Namgung, think about this. I have a lifelong enemy. He got really drunk last night and was walking home when he stepped on some dog poop and slipped, breaking the back of his head. How would you feel?”

“That would be great.”

“Yes, but when he fell, he accidentally bumped into someone and broke the precious porcelain that the person was holding. So they started fighting, debating whether to sue or not.”

“It’s a day when I feel like drinking.”

“That’s it.”

It is said that with great power comes great responsibility.

But if you think about it the other way around, doesn’t that mean that if you don’t have power, you don’t have responsibility?

Governor-General Saito’s situation was exactly like that at the moment.

From Governor-General Saito’s point of view, the troops stationed in Korea were not under his control.

Since it wasn’t his power in the first place, he couldn’t be held responsible.

The government had nothing to say when the Governor-General of Korea counterattacked by saying that he could not do anything in a situation where he could not monitor each and every one of the Korean nobles who had helped the forced annexation of Korea by Japan, even though pro-Japanese elements in Gyeongseong had privately dealt with the Korean garrison.

Even the Japanese government had refused Governor-General Saito’s request for assistance in capturing the Gyeongseong ghost, so there was no justification for doing anything.

“Isn’t it possible that you might be enjoying this situation?”

“I guess that’s because Saito is from the Navy?”

“Yes, anyway, his own navy won’t suffer even the slightest damage, and only the dogs will die, so it’s a good thing for Governor-General Saito of Joseon.”

“I see.”

“But, does the human Makoto Saito think that way too?”

“huh?”

Governor-General Saito was a former naval officer, but personally he displayed liberal tendencies that were strongly influenced by American culture.

So, the current situation where the civilian government is being manipulated by the military and is unable to control them seems very frustrating.

No matter how good my parents are, if they keep causing accidents, I feel bad for no reason.

“From the Governor-General’s perspective, I hope that this matter will flow in a way that is moderately beneficial to the Navy, and if possible, that it will also benefit the Japanese government.”

“I see. If things go wrong this time, it will become widely known that the government is unable to control the military, just like you said last time.”

“Yes.”

But his wishes were in vain as the civilian government ultimately failed to control the military.

why?

“A big one will come soon.”

“One big one?”

“yes.”

“Where are you going to blow up the Governor-General’s Office this time?”

“… … ?”

“Oh, wasn’t it you?”

Kuroda snapped at President Namgung, seeming quite displeased.

“It’s true that I’m the one who mostly does that kind of work, but I’m not the kind of person who would throw a bomb at the Government-General.”

“Oh, I see. I misunderstood you… … .”

“Rather, it was the Japanese themselves who caused the Government-General to blow up.”

“?”

“That looks a lot more fun.”

“… … ?”

President Nam Goong Hoon did not quite understand what he was saying.

I didn’t think I would ever be able to understand him again.

* * *

The public’s view of the corrupt regime is growing colder by the day, and intellectuals who have some ink in their heads are criticizing the moral decay of the upper class.

The government, which should have been solving this problem, did not respond in a meaningful way, instead trying to appease and agree with the military, which was constantly at odds with it.

At this time, when families were falling apart due to the post-war panic and society was collapsing due to distrust in politics, dark clouds were gathering over the future of the Empire of Japan.

People desperately hoped for a hero who would solve all this and save them.

Fortunately or unfortunately, there was one person who could not help but lament and be indignant at this reality in Japan… … .

“I’m sorry to say this, but I’ve never been more embarrassed by my seniors than I was today.”

“Umm… … . I apologize for that. We should have only shown our good side to our juniors… … .”

Two men were talking in a dark, closed room.

One was Ugaki, the Vice Minister of the Army, who was in charge of practical affairs under the Minister of the Army, who was the face of the army, and the other was Tojo, who was serving as the Chief of Staff of the Army Ministry.

“What on earth does the Army Minister do? Why do you want to protect someone who is at fault to the end?”

“Isn’t that for the sake of the organization? If an Army official gets stamped out for something like this, wouldn’t it only make the Navy guys look arrogant?”

Ugaki raised his glass as if it was nothing.

But such lukewarm words could not calm the anger of Dojo, who would be turning 40 next year.

“If we can’t cut off the rotten roots of our organization because we’re too concerned about what the Navy guys think, who will follow the organization?”

“hmm.”

“Vice Minister Ugaki, no, senior! This news has already been widely spread throughout the country through the newspapers. The army is already covered in shit.”

“Umm… … .”

“If you get shit on your body, you should wash it off. Why are you making excuses by saying it’s not shit but soybean paste? The situation won’t get any better even if you do that.”

Ugaki, who had been closing his eyes for a moment and lost in thought at Tojo’s strong tone, slowly opened his eyes and tried to figure out Tojo’s intentions.

“There is no other way in the current situation, so what can we do?”

Then, Dojo’s eyes sparkled and a smile appeared on his lips.

“There is a way.”

“There is a way?”

“yes.”

Ugaki listened to his words.

“What is that?”

“Just like they did, we just have to find a suitable scapegoat and blame it on them.”

“What… … ?”

Ugaki was startled by Dojo’s words about covering up the incident, but he did not stop talking.

“In a time of crisis like this, when public opinion is divided and internal chaos exists, the best thing to do is to establish an external enemy and place all responsibility on him.”

“An external enemy… …? What is it?”

“Vice Minister Ugaki, have you ever heard of the existence of the Gyeongseong Ghost?”

Ugaki frowned at the sudden name and asked Dojo.

“What ghost?”

“It’s the ghost of Gyeongseong.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

“Probably so. This person is famous in Gyeongseong, but in the mainland, only a few people know his name.”

Dojo briefly explained to Ugaki what the Gyeongseong Ghost had been doing and who he was.

After hearing his entire explanation, Ugaki was furious and asked Dojo again.

“No, are you saying that such a high-level dangerous molecule is roaming around Gyeongseong?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my… … This is a big problem.”

“Do you think so, Vice Minister? I think so too.”

“So why am I telling you this story?”

Dojo’s face became even more serious.

“This is a secret that I leaked from the Government-General of Korea… … The cause of death of Count Noda Heijiro, who is at the center of this incident, was not an accident, but was said to have been killed by the ghost of Gyeongseong.”

“What… … ?! Then… … .”

“Yes, from the beginning, this incident was deeply related to that guy.”

“Even so, nothing will change.”

Dojo shook his head.

“Surely your Majesty, you haven’t forgotten who the current Governor-General of Korea is?”

“Governor-General of Korea? Let’s see… … . Minami-san was here last time and came down… … . Was it Saito this time?”

“Yes, I am Makoto Saito, former Minister of the Navy.”

“Why is that?”

The corners of Dojo’s mouth went up.

“If you combine these two, don’t you think things will flow in a fun way?”

“Hmm. That’s true, but how are you going to tie it together?”

Dojo took out a business card.

The Chosun Ilbo mark was clearly visible there.

“The current owner of the Chosun Ilbo is a man named Kuroda Kyuichi… … Interestingly enough, he seems to be quite close to the Governor-General, and he is said to be crazy about money.”

“so?”

“I’d like to try using this interest.”

NIS Agent Tears the Japanese Empire Episode 91