NIS Agents Tearing Up the Japanese Empire - Chapter 91



Only Krnovel

There are few in Tokyo (8)

As reports of internal corruption within the Korean garrison continued to appear, the popularity of the Chosun Ilbo also rose.

In Joseon, most people were not interested in such things in the first place, so many only read serial novels. However, across the sea in Japan, it seems that quite a few people were shocked by the fact that a military commander moved the army for personal gain.

Of course, there were newspapers across the ocean.

There were many newspapers that were older and larger than the Chosun Ilbo or the Dong-A Ilbo, but unfortunately, they could not send reporters across the sea to Joseon.

Although there were nominally several reasons, it was obvious to most that the Army had influence on this decision.

“It looks like the Army Department is already taking action.”

“I wonder what kind of conspiracy they are plotting while not allowing us to even set foot on their territory… .”

“If this continues, won’t the real army turn its guns upside down and start a mutiny?”

“Hmm… … . It’s truly scary that it’s not completely impossible.”

The Army’s increasingly irritable and fastidious actions made people look at the Ministry of the Army with even more suspicion.

Of course, the Imperial Japanese Army Ministry, which represents the army, dismissed this as groundless, but those who believed this were fellow army officers… … .

“Even if that guy Ugaki is crazy, he’s seriously crazy.”

“Yes, I agree with you.”

“The people above us don’t even think about stepping aside, they just take up positions and fill their own pockets, so how can we move up?”

“We need to get our heavy butts out of the way so we can see the light… … .”

… … I didn’t believe the Army’s words either.

Among them, young officers who had just entered the military were greatly indignant at the corruption in the upper ranks.

From their perspective, the long period of peace had left young officers in a fierce competition to secure the few remaining good positions, while their superiors believed that they could advance through the ranks simply by putting their names on the list, without any such competition.

If it had ended as a childish grumbling or petty complaint by young officers, that would be fine, but now that corruption scandals within the army are breaking out, the anger of young officers is starting to boil over.

“Sadao, are you just going to watch this?”

“What do you mean?”

“The series of incidents that Lieutenant General Shinnosuke has caused have brought the discontent of the children below to a level that cannot be ignored.”

Major General Sadao Araki, who was serving as the commander of the Military Police at the time, and Major General Jinzaburo Masaki, who was serving at the Japan Military Academy, were troubled after noticing the suspicious behavior of young officers.

“Hmm… … . I know that too, but there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“Why is there no way? If you and I go to the Army Department and speak for the young people, wouldn’t this discontent subside a little?”

“Will the tide turn if the two of us step forward?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to do something than to do nothing? If things continue this way, the Empire of Japan will end up in ruins.”

“That’s true, but… … .”

Araki was reluctant to appear in front of others.

He had already made many enemies around him because of his tongue-twisting ways over the years.

The fact that he, a graduate of the Military Academy, was sitting as the commander of the Military Police was proof of this.

During the Japanese colonial period, the power of the military police was enormous, but the position of military police commander was not a very well-known position.

Even if you say that the military police have a scary image, it only works for privates or non-commissioned officers. It doesn’t even have any effect when you go up to the officer level.

Especially in the case of high-ranking officers, it was not difficult to see them yell at the military police and chase them away when they caused an incident.

As a result, the image of the military police among high-ranking officers as a lowly position that just cleans up after others developed, and so those who took on this position were discharged within a few years, or even if they escaped to another place, they quit.

Director Araki is also like that.

I had been pushed to the position of commander of the military police by being firmly rooted in others, but if they pushed the Army Department here for the sake of young officers, I might really have to take off my army uniform this time.

That’s why, unlike his usual self, he seemed a little hesitant and had a hard time making up his mind.

“Sadao! If we just leave it like this, nothing will change and things will just end up being swept under the rug. If that happens, the young guys will definitely cause trouble!”

“Umm… … .”

Araki also agreed with Masaki’s words.

In any case, while he was serving as the commander of the military police, information came in from here and there, and by looking at them, he could roughly tell that something was wrong.

If this incident had passed as if there had been no problem as usual, the young officers who were already dissatisfied might have exploded.

“That has to be stopped… … .”

“So let’s go to the Army right now! If we don’t do it, who will? The others are just fools who only look at their seniors’ faces!”

“That’s true… … . Well… … . The Army Department… … .”

Even if I were to shoulder the grievances of the young officers and attack the Army, nothing would change.

They would be kicked out of their own country, and in the worst case scenario, they would both be stripped of their uniforms.

Then the remaining officers will become even more angry.

Their unchecked anger will soon be directed at the upper echelons, and if a few generals or politicians die, society will fall into uncontrollable chaos.

That shouldn’t have happened.

To prevent the worst, Araki’s head, who graduated at the top of his class from the Military Academy, began to work quickly.

“It doesn’t look like the Army.”

“What?! Are you really going to keep doing this until the end?!”

“What I’m saying is that nothing will change if we storm the Army, so let’s try changing locations.”

“Then, are you saying we should go to the Imperial Headquarters instead of the Army Ministry?”

“Headquarters? Do you think those old men will turn a deaf ear to what we say?”

“Then where do you want to go!”

Araki shook his head.

He thought of someone in Japan who had great influence, even though soldiers like him could do whatever they wanted without much trouble, and then he quickly thought of someone familiar.

“… … Go to the palace.”

“Hey, should we go to the palace?”

“Yes, if we’re going to do it, we should bring a bunch of military police with us under the pretext of hunting down criminals and put pressure on the Emperor.”

Masaki, who had been furious until just a moment ago at Araki’s statement that he would go to the Imperial Palace and lead the army there, asked him in a huff.

“Is that okay?”

“What could possibly go wrong? Since His Majesty the Emperor was bedridden with illness and His Highness Hirohito began to take charge of state affairs, has there been even one person in the military who has been keeping an eye on the Imperial Palace?”

“Oh, there wasn’t any.”

“So, if I go to the Imperial Palace this time, prove the loyalty of the young officers, please His Majesty the Emperor, and then receive an imperial edict to deal with this dirty business, won’t the problem be neatly resolved?”

“Uh… … . Is that really… … . possible… … ?”

When the Imperial family was suddenly involved, Masaki’s mind became as hard as a stone.

“You go back to school and persuade some of the students below to come over.”

“Even the students?”

“Well, wouldn’t it be nice if the pillars responsible for the future of the army pledged their loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor in advance and asked for an improvement in their treatment?”

“hmm…….”

Araki urged Masaki, who was troubled.

“If we don’t draw our swords, we’ll be the ones to suffer anyway. So let’s cut down the others before we get cut down ourselves.”

“But if things go wrong… … .”

“If something goes wrong, I’ll end up being pushed down to a lower position. What’s that? And if it comes down to it, I’ll just stick to the civilian government and get the politicians’ protection.”

Araki had a plan in his head for success, as well as a backup plan in case he failed.

In the end, Masaki also agreed with Araki’s intention, and once the matter was decided, Araki immediately issued an emergency summons to the Military Police Command and called together all the troops in Tokyo.

At that time, the Military Police Command operated in an integrated manner regardless of the Army or Navy, and was an independent military branch separate from the Ministry of the Army or the Ministry of the Navy, so even though he called up troops, the Ministry of the Army and the Ministry of the Navy did not notice it.

By the time they noticed Araki’s deviation, Araki and Misaki were already leading the military police and military academy cadets in a march to the Imperial Palace.

“Chief Araki! What are you doing!!!”

“Get out of the way! Don’t stand in the way of justice!”

Things started to get really complicated when the royal guards guarding the palace tried to stop them.

* * *

“Hmm… …. It seems like Japanese people are slow to burn and slow to get angry.”

“What does that mean?”

Kuroda, the owner of the Chosun Ilbo, was having a late lunch with his president, Namgoong Hoon, at a quiet seolleongtang restaurant.

“No, but even though such a huge incident has occurred, it’s actually quiet inside.”

“Isn’t that because the outcome of the case hasn’t come out yet?”

“Oh, no! If something like that had happened in our country, the citizens would have been immediately outraged and pressured the government to resolve the issue quickly.”

President Namgung’s eyebrows twitched at my words.

“You’re being too emotional about Koreans.”

“Oh, you don’t know what the boss is doing… … That’s what democracy is all about. Citizens continually complain about wrongdoings and harass the government.”

“What does that have to do with democracy?”

“If citizens continue to get angry and complain, won’t the government wield the public’s will as a weapon and legally punish those arrogant military bastards?”

“Hmm… … . Now that I hear it, it seems like that might be the case… … .”

“Why do Japanese people seem to be unable to use swords properly even if you give them one? Hey!”

Kuroda clicked his tongue and put the newspaper down next to him.

Then, as if she had been waiting, the restaurant owner brought out two bowls of warm seolleongtang and some head meat.

“Enjoy your meal.”

“Yes, yes.”

Kuroda saw the restaurant owner winking at him. He felt strangely familiar with her appearance and tried to pick up his spoon.

Then, I discovered a piece of paper stuck under the tray that the lady had left behind a little while ago.

“hmm.”

Then, with a slightly serious face, he glanced around and quickly picked up the paper stuck under the tray.

Then, without Namgung Hoon, who was eating right in front of him, noticing, he glanced at the contents.

[Arrest order for Kuroda Kyuichi issued by the Command of the Korean Garrison Forces, Incident occurred in Shanghai. Response required.]

Then, as if nothing had happened, he crumpled up the paper, threw it into the sewer, picked up his hat, and got up from his seat.

“Hmm? The food is here. Where do you want to go?”

“Phew… … . I had something urgent to do, but now that I think about it, I think I should go.”

“No, how urgent must it be that you’re skipping dinner? Just sit down and start eating.”

“No. It’s really urgent. Then I’ll go first. If you have more, please take some of mine.”

“No, you bastard… … . No matter how urgent it is, food… … .”

Kuroda quickly left before President Namgung could even finish speaking.

President Namgung, who was watching his back fading away in an instant, smiled in vain and said a word.

“Wow… … . It’s as fast as a rabbit.”

And then I sat down again and brought Kuroda’s Seolleongtang towards me, trying them one by one and having a drink too…

“Are you Namgoong Hoon, the president of the Chosun Ilbo?”

“… … ?”

A group of soldiers came looking for him.

“That’s right… … ?”

“I’m looking for Kuroda Kyuichi, the owner of the Chosun Ilbo. Do you know where he went?”

President Namgung realized that something was wrong.

But he didn’t panic and pointed to the back of the store with the spoon he was holding.

“I went to the back room for a moment because I had a stomachache.”

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

President Namgung, who was happily watching the soldiers running in the opposite direction, took a bite of the seolleongtang, seasoning it with pepper.

Then the smile disappeared from his face.

“Oh… … . It’s salty.”

And when I looked at the pepper shaker, I saw that it wasn’t a pepper shaker, it was a salt shaker.

NIS Agent Tears the Japanese Empire Episode 92