In the Imperial Household Ministry, the four staff members of the NHK recording for the emperor's announcement of surrender have been waiting there since the afternoon. Daitaro Arakawa, director of the technical bureau of the Japan Broadcasting Association, has set up the equipment in the room on the second floor. In the past, His Majesty the Emperor's voice was recorded only once, when China and Japan signed the Shanghai Peace Treaty in 1928, when the young Emperor read the edict to the Army, the NHK microphone accidentally recorded his voice from 50 yards away.

At 11:30 p.m., the Emperor was escorted to the microphone. Behind the microphone is a two-fold gold leaf screen. Yasuhide Toda, an attendant with a voice that resembled that of the Emperor, spoke a few words into the microphone so that the technicians could adjust the acoustics for recording His Majesty's speech.

"How loud should I speak?" The emperor asked. Shimomura, the head of the Intelligence Agency, said that it was enough to use his usual voice, which was already high. However, when the emperor spoke in a distinctive royal language, he unconsciously lowered the noise:

Letter to Loyal and Good Subjects

"Observing the general situation of the world and the current situation of the empire, I have decided to take extraordinary measures to clean up the situation.

The Imperial Government has been instructed to inform the Governments of the Chinese Empire and the other four countries that our Empire has accepted the terms of their Joint Declaration.

Kangning, the subject of the empire, the common prosperity and happiness of all nations, this is the legacy of the emperor's ancestors, and I always remember it.

It is true that we have declared war on Britain and the United States and on China, and the reason for this is that the empire exists for itself and seeks stability in East Asia, not for the sovereignty of other countries and the expansion of territory. However, it has been nearly four years since the fighting, despite the best efforts of the people of the country, the soldiers of the army and the navy have fought bravely, and the hundreds of men have worked hard to make the country prosperous. 100,000,000,000 people have devoted themselves to public service -- but the development of the war situation may not be favorable to Japan, the general situation of the world is also unfavorable to us, and what is more, the enemy has used new and cruel bombs, causing misery to innocent people, and its destructive power is extremely difficult to estimate.

If we insist on fighting again, not only will the Japanese nation eventually perish, but human civilization will also be destroyed. If so, how can I save billions of trillions of children from fire and water, and how can I comfort the souls of the emperor's ancestors? This is the reason why I ordered the Imperial Government to accept the Joint Declaration.

I express my deepest regret for the East Asian allies who worked closely with the Empire to liberate East Asia. Remembering the officers and soldiers who died on the battlefield and other those who died in the line of duty. Remembering the unfortunate death and their bereaved families. I was sad day and night, and I wept bitterly.

I am deeply concerned about the welfare of the wounded, the victims of war, the homeless and those who have lost their livelihoods. The future suffering of the Empire is unspeakable, and I know the hearts of my subjects. However. Fortune is the way it gets. I am a plan for peace. Those who can't bear it can endure it, and those who can't bear it will also suffer it.

I talk to those who masturbate, and the sincerity of my subjects keeps the empire alive. that I may live with my loyal subjects forever. We must not be impulsive in our sorrows, we must not complicate the situation, and our compatriots must not exclude each other, causing confusion, going astray, and losing faith in the world.

From generation to generation, the whole country has been unanimous, firmly believing that our Shenzhou will not be destroyed. The empire has a long way to go. Together, the subjects did their best to build the future. Broaden the path of justice, cultivate a noble spirit, work hard, advance with the world, and carry forward the inherent glory of the empire. ”

Hirohito turned around and asked, "Is this okay?" One of the technicians in the compartment said embarrassedly, I'm sorry, there are a few words that are not clear. Knowing that he had stuttered several times, and that he was becoming more interested in the recording process, the emperor said he would re-record it. This time, his pitch was too high, and he missed a word. "I want to record it again". He said politely. But the technician decided that it was "too hard" for him to do so, and did not re-record.

As a result, it was decided that the second recording would be used as the official recording, and the first recording would be kept for later use. The two sets of recordings, each consisting of two ten-inch records, were carefully placed in two cardboard boxes, in a kapok pocket that someone had found in the room.

Now the question is: where is the safest place to keep the record? The obvious place - the radio - is unreliable, and if the rumored rebellion is true, it is safer to place it in the Imperial Household Province. In this way, the record can be locked in a small safe on the second floor.

It is appropriate to take these precautions. At that time, the rebels were about to blockade the palace and cut it off from the outside world. One general has been assassinated.

After being reprimanded at the Ministry of the Army, he went to the commander of the second company of the Guards Division, Toyojiro Yoga. Tsutenaka swore that Shogun Anan, Umezu, Tanaka, and Mori had all participated in the conspiracy, and Yoshiga reluctantly agreed to support it.

Later, he rode his bicycle back to Ichiya to wake up Ida Nakasa, many of whom had spent the night at the Ministry of War over the past week.

He boasted about his backstage and said: "All the wings of the Guards Division have promised to support us: the only one to convince is the division commander." ”

He didn't believe that the division commander Mori would listen to him, but Ida was a Nakasa, and Mori might listen to Ida. He swears that if Sen refuses to participate, he will abandon the entire plan.

Ida was still supportive of the purpose of the rebellion, and he persuaded himself to act together with him. If he could convince Lieutenant General Mori to join them, he said to himself, "That would prove that we were right." "Also, if something goes wrong, I'm always ready to stop it.

The two of them rode their bicycles through the dark streets to the Guards Division Barracks, which was located just outside the Imperial Palace, just a few hundred meters from the Imperial Library. The two of them arrived at the barracks at 11 p.m. due to the deflated tires of their bicycles, and Lieutenant General Mori just went out to check on the night. When Mori returned, they had no choice but to wait in the duty room, because General Mori's brother-in-law, Tsuyoshi Shiraishi, arrived.

Shortly after midnight, he stood up impatiently. "Let's go in and see Mori," he said, "and leave him alone!" Ida followed him to the general's office. When he reached the door, he stopped, "You go in alone," he said. At the same time, Kanzhong himself thought of mobilizing Takeshita Nakasa to help persuade his brother-in-law Anan Rikusho. As soon as he left, Ida was so annoyed that he almost wanted to go back to the Ministry of War. But Ida knocked on the door anyway and walked in.

That afternoon, Lieutenant General Mori reprimanded the two generals in the base camp for taking responsibility for the defeat of the war. As soon as Ida came in, Mori greeted him warmly. Without asking where Ida came from, he began to talk about philosophy of life and religion.

Mori spoke for half an hour before Ida found the right opening statement. He said. A loyal Japanese is usually subject to any orders of the emperor, and this obedience is a virtue. But today, it is the duty of loyal subjects to present advice to the emperor and ask him to reconsider his decision. "Blind obedience to the emperor is not true loyalty." When Mori first listened to him, he was uneasy, but he gradually became interested.

Ida was in hot pursuit. "If you absolutely believe that China can guarantee the maintenance of the state system, then obey the emperor, and if you are not sure, will you not discourage His Majesty the emperor?" However, unless the recording of the emperor's speech is seized. Otherwise, it will be too late. He urged Sen to immediately mobilize the Guards Division.

"I'm not sure what to do." Mori said, hesitating in his heart, "I want to go to Meiji Jingu and wash away my impure thoughts." Then look for the ones who can say who is right - you or me. ”

Lieutenant General Mori's chief of staff, Mizutani-Ibu Osa, walked in at this time. "You've come just in time." Sen said. He turned to Ida, who was sweating profusely, and said, "Ask him what he thinks." ”

Mizutani suggested that they go to his office to talk, and let the general change his clothes and go to the shrine. They meet him in the hallway, as a result of his persuasion. Takeshita Nakasa had agreed to meet Anan once more - and a few conspirators.

Ida said that he and General Mori were going to Meiji Jingu, but that he would have to talk to Mizutani for a few minutes first.

"It's all a waste of time," he shouted angrily.

It won't be long! Ida said. He told Kanchu to wait for him in Sen's office.

However, he didn't want to lose time. Impatience had brought him to the point of desperation. In fact, he was planning to kill Sen if Sen refused them. He strode into Sen's office, followed by several aggressive conspirators.

Ignoring the military salute, he demanded — more precisely, persistence — that Lieutenant General Mori join them. But Mori didn't want to act hastily, and he couldn't decide until he went to the shrine.

His procrastination was unbearable. Captain Shigetaro Uehara of the Army Aviation Noncommissioned Officer School drew his saber and walked up to him. Shiraishi Nakasa rushed forward to protect his brother-in-law, General Mori. Uehara slashed him down.

Another rebellious officer viciously slashed Shiraishi, almost cutting off his head. Uehara's resentment, which had been building up for many days, suddenly exploded and attacked with a knife. He took out his pistol, aimed it at Lieutenant General Sen, and pulled the trigger. The commander of the Guards Division immediately collapsed in a pool of blood.

Ida and Mizutani heard gunshots and gurgling footsteps, and ran out into the hallway. Standing there with a pistol in his hand, his face was ugly, and Ida immediately guessed what was going on. "Eight Grids!" He shouted. Why can't you wait? After Mori has been to Meiji Jingu, he may join us!

"I did this because I didn't have time," muttered Smoke, "I'm sorry." He bowed his head, but his resolve wavered. He begged Ida to appeal to General Tanaka again. Since Sen was dead, the Guards Division was now under his command.

Ida reluctantly accompanied the Nakalai Guards Division in order to prevent violence, and now that the worst had happened, and in fact he had become an accomplice to the murderer, he was determined to participate in what he had resisted.

With Mori dead, the forces of serious opposition to the coup d'état in the Guards Division were eliminated, and the division's troops could soon occupy the palace. Accompanied by Daisa Mizutani, who was close to hysteria, Ida drove quickly to the First Building, the Eastern Military District Headquarters.

Mizutani stormed Tanaka's office, but Ida did not mention that Mori was dead, and asked Tanaka's chief of staff, Major General Takahato Tatsuhiko, to cooperate with the rebels. Takaha's reaction was almost embarrassing — he said it was like "just jumping out of a fire pit and falling into an ice cave" — and Ida's easy-going confidence evaporated.

The phone rings. This was a call from Tojo's son-in-law, Koga Shaosa. He reported that the Guards Division had just rebelled and would never surrender. The Eastern Military District must join them. Major General Takahato turned around and walked into Tanaka's private room and asked a staff officer to continue the debate with Ida.

The staff officer said that the possibility of General Tanaka's opposition to the emperor was not at all. The staff's conviction brought Ida back to reality. He calmly said, "I will do my best to withdraw the troops before dawn." ”

Orders have been sent to the commanders of the wings of the Guards Division - the order is stamped with the seal of the Mori, but it is stamped by the Guards. The order, which was actually written by Koga Shosa, instructed troops to occupy the Imperial Palace, "protect" the emperor and the national body, and send a squad to occupy the NHK building. Control the broadcast.

The total number of troops besieging the palace amounted to more than a thousand people. As in "II. 26. "When there was a rebellion, most of the officers and soldiers did not know that they were rebelling. Outwardly, it is nothing more than an urgent reinforcement of the standing guard. Within minutes, all the gates of the Imperial Palace were closed, cutting the emperor off from the outside world.

No one, regardless of position, was not allowed to leave the Imperial Palace without an order from Kanchu, and in the Imperial Household Ministry, the emperor had finished recording, and President Shimomura and the NHK staff left by car. When the car drove to Sakashita, less than a hundred meters away, the local soldiers with bayonets stopped them.

One of the soldiers actually poked his head into the car. He was ordered to search for the head of the Intelligence Bureau. President Shimomura's secretary admits his identity. All were taken to a guard's cabin for questioning. It was revealed that the recording had been handed over to an attendant for safekeeping. As a result, a search party was sent to search the Imperial Household Province.

Kido slept on the fourth floor of the Imperial Household Province. Yasuhide Toda hurriedly woke him up. The Minister was already half-asleep due to the noise of various noises – the sound of air raid sirens, the explosion of distant bombs, the sound of loudspeakers in the hall reporting the damage, and the footsteps of troops marching on the gravel not long ago.

Toda reported to him that the rebels had entered the building and were searching for Kido himself and the recordings. The Imperial Library has been surrounded. Kido is still calm. "I expected this to happen." He said. "The Army is a goddamn fool."

Since few people outside the palace knew Kido, Toda suggested that he go to the night duty room of the Imperial Household Provincial Physician, where he could pretend to be a doctor. Kido just lay down in the doctor's bed. He thought of how humiliating it would be if he was killed while hiding, like Gu Liang among the Forty-Seven Ronin, he returned to his office, hurriedly collected the top-secret documents, tore them to shreds, and threw them in the toilet bowl to flush them down with water.

Another man came and begged him to take refuge. This time, it was Tokugawa Yoshihiro's attendant who asked him to hide in the basement warehouse. The sound of soldiers' boots was already heard in the hallway. Kido had no choice but to let the attendants lead him down the dark staircase.

Thinking that Kido was safely in the infirmary, the attendant Toda walked to the Imperial Library to report to the courtiers, as the telephone lines had all been cut off. He was afraid that the shortcut, a small tunnel, would be guarded, so he took a detour to the Imperial Library. Five or six people flashed out of the darkness. Toda explained that he was an attendant, but the commander was not convinced, pointed a pistol to Toda's chest and said, "There is no way back." ”

When Toda returned to the Imperial Palace, he met Tokugawa at the gate, and the two of them went down the tunnel together and headed for the Imperial Bunko. As expected, there was a sentry at the other end of the tunnel, but there was no officer to command. They said casually that they were squires on duty, and that the sentinels had let them pass. When they arrived at the Imperial Bunko, they woke up the female officials, but they were not allowed to disturb the emperor. The diminutive Tokugawa tried to pull the iron shutters down, but it took a few strong guards to pull them down because of the rust. When he and Toda returned to the Imperial Interior, a second lieutenant ordered them to stop, and they ran away, finally escaping.

At this time, the main population of the province of Miyauchi had been blocked by heavy machine-gun squads, and they entered through the side doors. On the second floor, the rebels, armed with bayonets, frightened Toda with a captive who was a head of the NHK.

"Who are you?" A soldier asked.

"It's the squire," Toda replied.

The soldier turned and asked the captive; "Did you give him the recording?"

"No, the man is much taller and has a big nose."

At that time, it was Tokugawa who received the recordings, and he was actually shorter. Shortly after returning to the Imperial Household Province, Tokugawa was captured by the second lieutenant who had just told him to stop near the Imperial Bunko. He ordered the soldiers to take Tokugawa to the guardhouse.

However, Tokugawa, whose ancestors had ruled Japan for more than 250 years, arrogantly refused to go there. "If you have something to do with me," he said, "you will discuss it here." The altercation attracted two other rebel officers. Chop him down! One of them shouted. Killing me won't do you any good," Tokugawa said majestically.

"I don't want my knife to rust for you," the lieutenant sneered, but Tokugawa's demeanor clearly impressed him. He said that the coup d'état was justified and that the capture of the Imperial Palace was necessary because the emperor's advisers had led the emperor astray.

"Those people are really lawless!" Tokugawa merely stared at him, and the second lieutenant went mad with rage, and shouted in a strange voice, "Don't you have the Japanese spirit?" ”

"I'm an acolyte," Tokugawa said proudly, "and it's not just you who defend the country." To defend the country, everyone has to cooperate. ”

A corporal slapped Tokugawa in the face. Knocked his glasses crooked and hung on one ear. Tokugawa summoned a palace police officer (the palace police officer was too weak to openly resist the rebels) and said, "Contact the military attaché quickly!" The second lieutenant grabbed the officer.

Tokugawa stepped forward to block it, but it was as if he was in charge. He said angrily: "He's on duty! The second lieutenant let the officer go. Another officer politely asked Tokugawa where Kido's office was.

Tokugawa pointed in the direction, but said, "I don't believe you can find him there." Then he turned and strode away, without any attempt to stop him. He came to the office of the military attaché, an attendant to the emperor.

They are like a bunch of madmen," warned Vice Admiral Shunroku Nakamura, the emperor's adjutant in the navy, "to be careful." He wanted to know where Kido was.

"I won't tell anyone where he is." Tokugawa said. For any senior officer who is still hiding in his office at this time of emergency. He can't be trusted easily. "Rest assured, he's safe."

He succeeded in isolating the Emperor, but was unable to find a recording of the Emperor's speech. In addition, the news that Nakasa Ida, who he had sent out on an important mission, was dismal: they had no outside assistance.

"The eastern barracks area is reluctant to get involved." He said. In fact. Ida himself believes that the coup d'état can no longer be carried out. "As soon as the officers and soldiers of the Guards Division found out that the division commander was killed. will refuse to continue. If you continue to do it, there will be chaos. There was no other way but to withdraw all troops before dawn. He tried to interject. Ida waved his hand. "Let's face it, the coup has failed. But if you withdraw your troops quickly, the people will never know what happened. It will pass like a "Midsummer Night's Dream."

His face darkened. "I understand," he said.

"I'm going to report to the prime minister," Ida continued. Does Chung Zhong guarantee the withdrawal of troops? He nodded. However, as soon as Ida left, the effect of his words disappeared, and the rebellious spirit in Tsuchi was still as hot as before.

He returned to the command point of the rebellion, the regimental barracks of the Guards Division. The second wing captain Haga Osa was there, and the more he thought about it, the more suspicious he felt, how could he not see Mori for so long. As for Yoshiga's question, he tried his best to avoid it, but Koga Shaosa was reluctant to remain silent any longer. He confessed to his superiors that Mori was dead and urged Hashiga to command the Guards Division.

How did Sen die? Osa Haga asked. Both Koga and Koga claimed not to know. Hashiga was quite uneasy, and if it weren't for the call from the Eastern Military District Command at this time, Hashiga Osa would have continued to reluctantly unite with the opposition. It was Tanaka's chief of staff, Major General Takaha, who wanted to know what was going on in the palace, but Yoshiga couldn't answer specifically, so he handed the receiver to Kanaka.

"Your Excellency, I am Junior Commander of the Staff," he said in a trembling voice, "please understand our enthusiasm. ”

Luckily, Takadove found the culprit. He remembered that when he was at the Army University, he was a bright but naïve idealist. Therefore, he decided to "reason with him and persuade him with good words, not to command or reprimand him." Takaku said he understood the mood of the opposition.

"There is no hope of success, and no more use of the army will only lead to more senseless sacrifices...... In Japan, obedience to the emperor's orders is both practical and supreme morality. He paused. Did you hear that?"

What Ida had just predicted is now coming true. The voice choked up. "I know very well, Your Excellency. Let me think again. I have one more request. Can you give me ten minutes of broadcast time before announcing His Majesty's edict?" He wanted to explain to the people why the young officers rebelled.

Gao said that this is a sign of "irresoluteness" and that we should try to save lives. "We've reached a point where there's no way to change the outcome. Do you know what I mean? There was no answer. Then the dove heard sobbing.

Even if he only heard a one-sided conversation, Yoshiga confirmed his suspicions. Yoshiga was furious at the claim that Kochu and Koga claimed that the Eastern Military Region supported them. He himself ordered them to stop the rebellion immediately, or else kill them.

As in the previous convincing confrontation, he admitted defeat verbally, but he was unwilling to give up in his heart. He decided to adopt a new tactic to prevent NHK from broadcasting recordings of the emperor's speeches. His troops had occupied the radio building, and he was going to appeal to the nation personally.

Nakasa Takeshita found him in the modest apartment of Anami Ritsuzo near the Capitol. The reason why he went to Lu Xiang was because he was worried that his brother-in-law would commit suicide. It is also to fulfill its own promises on behalf of the opposition. Anan was writing a will on his desk in the living room. A mat was laid out next to it, and a mosquito net was hung. Anan hurriedly folded the will and asked in a somewhat condemnatory tone, "What are you doing here?"

Takeshita could see that he was preparing to commit suicide, and that it was pointless to talk about rebellion. So, while drinking, he chatted with Anan ramblingly. At the end, General Anan casually said, "I want to kill myself tonight." ”

"It may be appropriate for you to commit suicide," Takeshita replied, "but not necessarily tonight." What do you say?"

Anan was relieved. "I thought you'd tell me not to do that. You agreed. I am happy. "He read the will, which is dated May 14." The 14th is the anniversary of my father's death, and the 21st is the day of my son's death. I had a mental struggle over which day to choose. The twenty-first was too late. Tomorrow the emperor will broadcast. I can't stand it. ”

They talked about personal matters until two o'clock in the morning. A burst of gunfire was heard from the direction of the palace. Only then did Takeshita remember his promise to Kanchu. He gave a brief account of the rebels' latest plans. But Anan was only interested in his own death – for his part, he believed that the failure of the coup was a foregone conclusion. In order to postpone the death of his brother-in-law again, Takeshita asked. After drinking so much alcohol, can you perform the seppuku ceremony?

"I'm a fifth-dan sword, and I won't fail," he said confidently, "and if wine makes your blood flow more pleasantly, then you will surely die." If it doesn't work, I'll have to ask for your help. He took off his clothes and wrapped a piece of white cotton around his abdomen. At this time, Ida Nakasa arrived, and he came to report the situation of Kanchu to the prime minister. Preparations for the seppuku ceremony had to be interrupted. But Ida didn't say anything, he didn't want to "sadden" a man who was about to commit suicide.

"Come in," Anan said, "I'm preparing to die." "Does Ida agree?

"I think that's good," Ida told Mr. Riku, who himself advocated mass suicide. Anan's example will erase the chaos within the Army and put an end to all other conspiracy. Ida lowered his head and held back tears. "I'll be with you soon," he said.

Anan reached out and gave him a few mouthfuls. "It's enough for me to die. You must not die!" After he finished speaking, he hugged Ida for a long time. Both of them were crying. "Don't die," Anan said in a voice slightly louder than a whisper, "Japan's future depends on you." Do you understand? ”

"Yes, sir, I do." But Ida still wanted to kill himself.

"Let's have a drink and say goodbye," Anan suggested, suddenly feeling happy, and the three of them were drinking, and Lin Dazuo walked in, dressed in General Anan's coat. He said hurriedly, "General, there is an urgent matter in the War Department, please go immediately." Let's go. ”

Annoyed, Annan, turned to him and said, "What are you making of all the noise. Get out. ”

The three of them drank again. Anan took out two rolls of banners and showed them to Ida, one of which was signed with the words "Minister of War Anan Weiji".

The other is a "waka".

"General, it's almost dawn," Takeshita reminded him.

"I'll leave now," Anan said, "goodbye." ”

After Ida bowed and withdrew, Anan again begged Takeshita to give him a merciful blow in case he failed to kill him, prompting him to die. He put his uniform neatly in the closet, hugged his brother-in-law, and made one last request - to dress his corpse in a military uniform.

Around four o'clock, someone came to disturb me again. This time, it was the captain of the gendarmerie, Oshiro To, who was looking for the prime minister. Anan asked Takeshita to go out to deal with him, and he pulled the mat on the bed into the corridor and sat down cross-legged towards the palace. According to the seppuku ceremony, if blood can be splashed on the "tatami mat", it means that he is not at fault. He cautiously plunged the dagger deep into his abdomen, then slashed twice - one to the right and one upward. This is called "cutting the abdomen", and very few people can do it because of the severe pain. He sat upright, blood streaming to the floor, soaking through the two rolls of banners beside him. When he heard someone approaching, he asked in a loud voice, "Who is it?"

The person who came was Lin. Anan groaned, and his secretary hurried back to the reception room to find Takeshita. "Go tell my sister that my brother-in-law has seppuku," Takeshita said. When he came to the corridor, he saw General Anan leaning forward slightly, holding a dagger in his right hand, blood still falling down drop by drop, and his left hand touching the veins. Suddenly, he plunged the dagger into his throat. Curiously, there was almost no bleeding from the wound. Takeshita said, "Do you want me to help?"

"There's no need," General Anan snorted, "let's go." ”

Takeshita withdrew, but the general's groan made him turn back again. "Does it hurt?" He asked. Anan is unconscious. Takeshita picked up the dagger and stabbed Anan in the back of the neck, draping his medal-covered coat over the dying general. (To be continued......)