Compared with the imperial meeting of the Ming Dynasty, the atmosphere of Japan's imperial meeting was more solemn and solemn. Of course, it was also much duller.
In the Ming Dynasty, the emperor and his ministers shared a long table, while in Japan, each minister had a table, arranged in two regular rows in front of the emperor, with the emperor sitting high in the middle. It is quite similar to the imperial meeting between emperors and ministers in the Qin and Han Dynasties in China.
The layout is just not like the Qin and Han Dynasties with low tables and kneeling, but European-style tables and chairs. Each person has a high-backed chair with a chrysanthemum emblem, and sits with the feet hanging high.
The ministers of the Ming Dynasty were all used to it. No one regarded Zhu Yourong as a dish in the imperial meeting. Civil servants and generals still argued and argued when they should, smoked when they should and drank tea when they should. In the conference hall
The smoke was so thick that Zhu Yourong could only endure it and could not say anything. The ministers fought fiercely and even slapped the table and benches.
The Japanese Imperial Council is just the opposite. In Japan, the emperor is not a human being, but a god. Whether it is ministers or generals, even if they usually walk sideways, when they come in front of the "god", they always speak softly and slowly, regardless of the speed or volume of their speech.
They were only one-third of the usual size. Everyone straightened their backs and sat upright. Only before speaking, they turned to the Emperor, bowed lightly, and then spoke. After speaking, they faced the Emperor again, bowed lightly, and returned to their straight sitting posture.
.
Everyone feels sad, but everyone thinks it is natural. Some of these ministers respect the emperor like devout saints, while others have a more secular mentality, especially those with overseas background. What they hope is,
It was just for the Emperor to play the role of a puppet and say "Accurate" at the end. There was no need to mess with anything else. But no matter what they thought, everyone showed their respect for the Emperor to the extreme.
As the monarch of a constitutional country, Emperor Hirohito of Showa also knew his role very well. He was neither a power-hungry "overlord" like Hirotake, nor a "good baby emperor" like Zhu Yourong who didn't understand anything.
.The age of 35 also gave him some authority, and he was absolutely effective in the military and political circles.
Loyalty, he is also very good at using it. He seems to have done nothing for many things, but every time the cabinet is disbanded and formed, every time the national policy is formulated and revised, it is all to his liking. It is said that he can only "do nothing"
"Treat" seems to underestimate him. And saying that he is good at "tai chi" seems to exalt him.
Emperor Showa Hirohito was such an emperor.
The last time he showed his presence was after the February 26th Incident, he showed "fury" and scolded his uncle, Prince Zain, the Minister of Military Order, and asked him to execute all the masterminds of the coup.
.As for the coup masterminds who were executed on the order of the emperor, until they were shot on the execution ground, everyone from Kitaki on down was still shouting "Long live His Majesty the Emperor" at the top of their lungs.
Then, the "ruling faction" of the army began to purge the "Imperial Road faction", and the atmosphere of external expansion became stronger day by day. Hirohito hid in the palace again, reciting poems and painting.
…
Now, Army Minister Juichi Terauchi is speaking.
He sat on the chair, turned to the emperor, bowed slightly, and said softly:
"...To sum up, I am very not optimistic about the future of the Qing Dynasty in this war... In my humble opinion, the Qing Dynasty will face the dilemma of collapse and surrender as soon as one month or as slowly as half a year.
.And by that time, our empire will no longer have any reason or possibility to enter the East Asian continent... Regarding this, I, Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, Your Excellency, the Minister of Development, and His Royal Highness, Prince Hanwon Gong Zairen, Chief of Military Command
, the views are all roughly the same.”
After saying that, Juichi Templeuchi bowed respectfully to the Emperor, slowly turned around, and continued to sit upright.
Sitting in a soft chair with the highest backrest in the middle, the thin Emperor Hirohito nodded. But he did not ask Prime Minister Hirota Koki and Minister of Development and Development Hidejiro Nagata, but looked at Nagano Shushen.
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hirota Koki just made a speech, generally agreeing to temporarily unite the Ming Dynasty and carve up the Qing Dynasty. Nagata Hidejiro, the minister in charge of Korean and Ryukyu affairs, also made a speech, basically agreeing with Hirota Koki and Terauchi
Shouichi's point of view. As for Prince Zairen, although he has not spoken yet, Hirohito knows his attitude very well. There is no need to ask.
After a moment of silence, the emperor slowly spoke, with a unique nasal voice, and asked gently:
"Secretary of the Navy, if you have any opinions about what the Secretary of War just said, you can say it."
Nagano Shushen turned to the Emperor, bowed slowly, and said softly:
"yes."
Then he raised his head and said rather sadly:
"The basic point of view of the minister has been stated at the beginning of the meeting. However... the development of the situation on the East Asian continent seems to be less and less supportive of the view of the minister. Just before the meeting, the Ming army was already in Xuzhou-Shangqiu.
Another breakthrough has been made on the defense line, and Xuzhou is about to be encircled. The weather in the central part of the East Asian continent has also
The situation is getting better and is developing in a direction that is beneficial to the Ming army... In view of this, if the Imperial Council decides to modify the national policy, then as the Minister of the Navy, in addition to retaining his own ideas, I will work hard to ensure that the Navy fulfills its duties.
However, I would like to ask your Majesty to allow me to state my final point of view.
Hirohito smiled and said softly:
"The Lord Admiralty can say whatever he wants."
Nagano Xiushen bowed lightly again and said in a low voice:
"yes."
Then, he raised his head, looked at the opposite wall, and said in a deep voice:
"Emperor Meiji once established a long-term national policy: 'Open up thousands of miles of waves and spread the country's authority in all directions.' Our Empire of Japan must ensure its sea power forever. Now in Asia, the only country that can threaten the empire's sea power is the Ming Dynasty. This is
A country with both a first-class army and a first-class navy.
"Since the beginning of this century, our empire has established a long-term mainland policy to support the Qing Dynasty and suppress the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty has always felt the pressure from the land. Even if it has a navy that can fight the empire, the empire will not worry. Because the Ming Dynasty
The country would never dare to fight two wars on land and at sea at the same time. As for the empire setting foot on the mainland and leading the renaissance of Asia, it must be established when the two great powers of the Ming and Qing dynasties drained their treasury, shed blood, and both sides suffered losses.
"It is obviously too early for Japan to set foot on the Asian continent. But there is no way. As the Minister of War said, the Qing's ability to sustain the war is actually much lower than the empire expected. If the empire continues to support the Qing,
It may prolong some wars. But if it still doesn't work, then once the Ming Dynasty becomes independent and defeats the Qing Dynasty and monopolizes the East Asian continent, the empire may lose the opportunity to set foot on the mainland forever.
"On the other hand, if the empire now decides to take the risk and seize this opportunity and dismember the Qing Dynasty together with the Ming Dynasty, it will certainly gain a piece of land in Northeast Asia, but then it will have to bear greater risks - that is, using the empire alone
We must face the Ming Dynasty alone. Before that, we had been hiding behind the Qing Dynasty... I did not mean to belittle the army... I just meant that in this way, the navy would certainly be under pressure.
But the pressure on the Army... I'm afraid it will be even greater."
After saying that, Nagano bowed to the emperor again, turned around and sat upright.
After a moment of silence, Hirota Hongki said slowly:
"We must consider that... Russia may get ahead of us and sign a secret treaty with the Ming Dynasty to carve up the Qing Dynasty... In that case, not only will the empire forever lose the opportunity to set foot on the mainland, but it will also expand Russia's power to the entire Manchuria.
Mongolia. The whole of Northeast Asia will turn red."
Minister of Development and Development Hidejiro Nagata bowed slightly and said:
"In that case...North Korea will probably bear the brunt."
The Minister of War was waiting for this sentence. He also leaned forward and said:
"If the Minister of the Navy is worried that the Empire may face the Ming Dynasty alone, then once Russia reaches an agreement with the Ming Dynasty before the Empire, the Empire will not need to face the Ming Dynasty at Shanhaiguan, but will need to face Russia at the Yalu River
...I think no one will deny that Russia is an enemy ten times more dangerous than the Ming Dynasty."
As soon as the Soviet Union was mentioned, several important ministers exchanged words with each other, and the atmosphere in the meeting place was soon extremely solemn. Thinking that the Soviet Union might occupy the entire Manchuria and Mongolia, tanks drove to the Yalu River and looked at North Korea, from the emperor to the ministers.
, a trace of cold sweat ran down everyone's back.
So at the end, Hirota Koki saw that they were almost unanimous, so he exchanged glances with several important ministers one by one. Then he stood up respectfully, walked to the open space between the two rows of tables, and faced the emperor.
Immediately afterwards, every civil servant and military general stood up respectfully and stood behind the Prime Minister.
Hirota Koki took the lead in bowing to the Emperor, held up the memorial that the clerk had written, and walked forward slowly two steps. The chamberlain took the memorial, walked slowly to the side of the Emperor, bowed, and placed the memorial on the Emperor's desk.
Then he bowed again and stepped aside.
Hirota Hongyi respectfully finished dictating the memorial, and then said softly:
"I respectfully request His Majesty's decree."
…
Hirohito picked up the memorial gracefully, flipped through it symbolically, and picked up the quill in his right hand.
He was filled with emotion: With this signing, the mainland national policy that has lasted for more than thirty years will be completely changed... However, the empire will also begin to realize the long-awaited dream of the mainland.
Hirohito let out a long sigh, held his quill, and looked around at the ministers in front of him. He was not in a hurry to sign, but picked up a hand scroll that had been prepared long ago from the desk and slowly unfolded it.
The ministers below bowed and found that there was no movement for a long time. They all raised their eyes and peeked at the Emperor. Everyone was a little puzzled and didn't know what His Majesty was doing.
Hirohito hid his face again and sighed, then said:
"I am indifferent by nature and love peace. However, the world is in turmoil, wars are raging on the mainland, and people are in ruins. Every time I think of it, I feel uneasy. Since the ministers are determined to take some positive actions, and the cabinet has made a decision, then besides me,
I support you in taking action on the mainland to save the common people, there seems to be no other choice."
The civil and military ministers still bowed to listen to the holy edict, and they all looked deeply moved.
Except for Prince Zai Ren, the old man was also moved to tears on the surface, but in his heart he was thinking:
...This kid obviously wants to set foot on the mainland, but he still wants to put on a show like this. In just a few words, he has completely abdicated all responsibility.
Emperor Hirohito respectfully held the scroll in his hand and recited softly with a strong nasal voice:
"The vast world,
"Isn't it a compatriot?
"The vast world,
"What's the point of fighting?
"...This is an imperial poem by Emperor Meiji, which expresses the Emperor Meiji's love for peace and his unwillingness to war. Today, I borrow this poem from Emperor Meiji to bless the people of Asia... I hope
They can get rid of pain and be liberated as soon as possible."
After saying that, he said "swish" a few times and signed the memorial.