Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

Since the Meiji Restoration, militarist ideas have gradually taken root in Japanese society and become a powerful social trend.

The promulgation of the Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors established the absolute authority of the Emperor and the loyalty obligations of soldiers.

This idea is widely used in the field of education to cultivate students' loyalty and obedience from an early age.

So despite the decline in living standards, Japanese people do not have any major complaints.

So why do we say that the people will be dissatisfied? That is the second question.

Why do Japanese people grit their teeth and support the government's new tax revenue? Because they all have a belief in the bright future of "the Yamato people conquering the world".

But what did they see when they woke up this morning?

General Takazaki did not disappoint them. Facing the French, he still maintained the integrity of a samurai and gave the French a firm slap in the face.

However, the imperial high-ranking officials betrayed them. Yes, at this moment, the word betrayal was in the minds of the Japanese people!

Not only is he trying to hinder General Takazaki, but he is also betraying the entire nation. He is cutting back on his spending to support the army, but the military is still thinking about begging for mercy from foreigners!

This is simply an unforgivable act of betrayal!

This time, various newspapers reported extensively on the events in the French Concession in Tianjin, completely igniting the anger of the people!

The situation gradually developed in an uncontrollable direction.

. . . . . . . . .

At around twelve o'clock in the morning, under the protection of the army, Sugiyama Gen rushed out of the people who were blocking his house and hid in the Army Ministry headquarters.

On the streets of Kyoto, the sunlight was shrouded in haze, as if foreshadowing the impending outbreak of public anger.

A huge parade team gathered from all directions like a surging tide, with people holding up various placards.

It reads "Sugiyama Gen is guilty!"

"Tough diplomacy, defend the dignity of the Empire of Japan!"

"The recent ending of the article has misled the country and the people!" and other words, each word seemed to be shouting out the people's inner dissatisfaction and anger.

At the front of the team was an old man with gray hair but a vigorous spirit. He held a metal loudspeaker and shouted at the top of his lungs: "We can no longer tolerate the government's weakness and incompetence! General Takazaki has left his homeland and is fighting for the dignity of the empire!

Some cowards in our country are stabbing us in the back! We will never agree to this!!" His voice echoed in the air, causing the crowd around him to roar and echo.

The young students were not to be outdone, their eyes were burning with passion and enthusiasm. One student stood on a high place, waved his fist and said loudly: "We Japanese are constantly marginalized, our economic interests are wantonly eroded, and the government is indifferent.

During the Russo-Japanese War, Japan still dared to fight, why is it so cowardly now? " His words were like sparks, igniting the indignation in the hearts of more people.

The procession attracted the attention of countless passers-by as they marched forward. Some passers-by nodded silently and joined the procession.

Some stood on the street, watching everything with serious expressions, as if they were thinking about the future direction of the country.

The streets of Kyoto were filled with a tense atmosphere, and the sound of protests was like thunder, which lasted for a long time. . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

The port city of Yokohama also saw a tsunami-like wave of protests today.

On the streets of Yokohama, a group of angry young students took to the streets, each of their faces filled with determination and dissatisfaction.

At the front of the team, several students held up a huge banner with the words "Protest against government weakness, defend national dignity" prominently written on it.

The troops kept shouting passionate slogans: "Reject diplomatic compromise!" "Be tough, don't back down!" "Give me back the soul of Japan!"

One of the student leaders, wearing glasses and with fiery eyes, walked in front of the team and shouted, "Our ancestors once fought for the glory of our country, but today's government has retreated again and again in international affairs. This is not the Japan we want!"

A short-haired girl next to her also said loudly: "We young people can't sit idly by. Japan should have a tougher stance on the world stage. We have soldiers like General Takazaki! Why should we be looked down upon by other countries!"

. . . . . . . . . .

Osaka, a city that must be mentioned.

They always do something unexpected, like parades, and the banners they use are so different. It is completely different from other cities that follow the main line. Osaka people like to do side lines. . .

In the city, a group of merchants, small vendors, and young students marched onto the main road, shouting slogans such as "Respect the Emperor, Fight the Rebellion, and Return Japan's Traditional Glory."

They were dressed in clothes with retro elements, some waved flags with chrysanthemum emblems, and some held signs with slogans criticizing the current government policies, such as "Politicians are selling out the country, the emperor is disgraced" and "Overthrow the puppet regime and restore the dignity of the emperor."

At the front of the team, several people were carrying a huge portrait of the emperor. The emperor in the portrait was depicted solemnly, as if he was watching their "feat".

Shouts came one after another. Some people on the street stopped to watch at first, but they were soon infected by the passion of the scene and unconsciously followed the team.

The procession grew larger and larger as they moved along the streets, disrupting traffic wherever they went.

Some people also tried to storm the government office area and had shoving and clashes with the police who came to maintain order.

The sound of police whistles, the shouts of vendors who usually only yell at their vendors, and the noise of the crowds all mixed together, plunging the entire city into a state of hustle and bustle and unrest.

. . . . . . . . .

It’s a mess. Everything is a mess.

Not only was the Army Ministry surrounded by the marching crowd, but also the Navy Ministry, the Prime Minister's Residence, and the National Diet Building and other high-level offices were surrounded by angry citizens.

Even outside the Imperial Palace where the Emperor lives, there were many people kneeling quietly in the open space outside, most of them were elderly.

However, the people kneeling outside the Imperial Palace did not cause trouble or make a big noise like in other places. They simply conveyed their thoughts to the Emperor through their attendants, which was that Takuto Takazaki must not be allowed to apologize to the French.

He said that doing so would only destroy the dignity of the empire.

They also requested the Emperor to issue an edict to deprive Sugiyama Hajime of his position as Minister of Army and to punish him for treason!

Faced with the sudden unrest, Japan's top leaders were unable to react in time.

The country was peaceful and calm yesterday, but when I woke up, I saw demonstrations everywhere!

Fortunately, this time only ordinary people were marching, and no soldiers or the like participated. Otherwise, the top leaders and the emperor would really have to worry about whether something like last year would happen again.

At the same time, several people who attended the meeting in the Imperial Palace Conference Hall that day all felt lucky. If they had expressed their agreement with Sugiyama Gen's proposal at that time, they would probably have to hide with their families like Sugiyama Gen!

Especially Hirota Koki, he was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat. He almost agreed, but fortunately Jinwei Wen reminded him at the last moment.