In Tokyo, the Cabinet continued to meet that night, and the debate was fruitless. As the spokesperson of the military, Anan is still as unyielding as before, but Qishui thinks that Lu Xiang is probably playing his "belly skills". If Anan's words really represent his own thoughts, then he can simply resign, and the cabinet will dissolve as a result - whoever succeeds him as prime minister will have to bow down to the military anyway.

Towards eleven o'clock, Kuniaki Koiso, who had been careful not to get involved in the controversy, announced the adjournment of the meeting. It is clear that the Cabinet itself cannot make a decision. Now, the last resort is to invite the emperor out.

A few minutes later, Koiso Kuniaki instructed Sumizu to arrange a pre-imperial meeting at once. First of all, it is necessary to obtain the signatures of the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Chief of the Naval Command.

Foreseeing, he had persuaded Admiral Toyoda and Army Admiral Umezu to put their seals on the request for a meeting, which he had told them quite reasonably. The two generals had thought that the Imperial Council could only be convened after everyone had reached an agreement. Susui did not confirm to Umezu or Toyota whether they agreed because he knew they would not. He also did not report to the Prime Minister, who had obtained the signatures of the two generals in accordance with the state of emergency.

In less than an hour, the participants arrived at the Imperial Library one by one, bewildered and puzzled—they had been summoned to the meeting in a hurry and without explanation. In the light of the bright moon, they got out of the car and were taken by a palace attendant to a very steep staircase covered with straw mats. At the bottom of the stairs is a long tunnel that leads to the Imperial Family's underground bomb shelter, the Imperial Bunko. This bomb raid trench was dug into the side of the hill. It consists of six rooms, the largest of which is a conference room, which is poorly ventilated, stuffy and hot. The meeting room is poorly constructed, with a ceiling supported by steel beams and a dark wood panel.

In addition to the "Big Six" – plus four Registrars and Officers, including Suzumi – were summoned to the meeting, the elderly Privy Council Chairperson, Baron Hiranuma. While waiting in the break room, they focused their anger and confusion on the water alone. The sabers on Toyoda, Umezu and the two military officers clanged. With a murderous look on one's face. Surrounded by forced water, he was questioned and accused of lying to obtain their signatures.

Even if the cabinet registrar had to lie, he couldn't calm them down. "We are not prepared to make any decisions at this meeting. ”

It wasn't until the attendees were called to the conference room to take their seats at two long tables placed side by side that Susui was able to get rid of his accusers. At the top of the long table. There is a small table. Top with gold-trimmed brocade. Behind the small table is a chair and a six-leaf gold-rimmed screen.

Ten minutes before midnight, Hirohito was wheeled into the conference room. He appeared tired and restless. With the help of his attendants, he struggled to sit down on the throne. All the participants stood up and bowed. Then sit down, not daring to look directly at the emperor. Several older people began to cough, adding to the feeling of unease. At Koiso Kuniaki's request, Sukisui recited the Hankyo Declaration, which choked his throat with unsettling wording.

Kuniaki Koiso briefly reviewed the debates at the "Big Six" meeting and the Cabinet meeting, and then invited the "Big Six" to speak one by one. Although the heat inside was unbearable, Togo was calm. He calmly declared that as long as he could maintain the national system, he should immediately accept the Hanjing Declaration. The marine phase of the mine is equally inhibitive of feelings. "I agree with Foreign Minister Togo," he said calmly.

Minai unequivocally agrees with Togo's opinion, which angers Anami, who is the next to speak. "I disagree with the opinion of the foreign minister," he shouted.

Unless China allows Japan to disband its own army, try war criminals on its own, and limit the number of occupying troops, the army will not agree to surrender. "His cheeks glistened with tears and his voice was hoarse, pleading for a final battle on his homeland." We will certainly be able to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy, and even if we are defeated, our 100 million people will be prepared to die for the sake of honor, so that the cause of the Japanese nation will go down in history. ”

Umezu, who had shaved his head, stood up. He solemnly declared that after so many valiant soldiers had served the emperor, it was inconceivable to surrender unconditionally.

The next speaker was supposed to be Toyota, but Kuniaki Koiso seemed a little confused, but perhaps deliberately asked Baron Hiranuma to give his opinion. Anan and Umezu looked at him with suspicion – Hiranuma might be a well-known supranational, but he could also be a "Bagdolio-esque figure" like most important ministers. Hiranuma asked a series of pointed questions, the last of which required a direct answer from the military: whether they were capable of fighting.

Umezu assured him that the atomic bombing could be stopped with air defense. "We've been building up for the future," he said, "and we expect a counteroffensive someday." ‘

Hiranuma, who has a strong sense of the rule of law, seems unimpressed. He more or less agreed with Togo's opinion, but said that he should negotiate with China at the request of the army. He turned to the Emperor and said, "According to the teachings of the Emperor's ancestors, His Majesty also has the responsibility to prevent domestic unrest. Please take this into account when Your Majesty makes your judgment. The stubborn old man sat down.

Toyota finally spoke, in which he tried to re-emphasize the position of the military department, but the conclusion was ambiguous: "We cannot say that we will achieve a final victory, and at the same time, we do not believe in complete defeat." ”

He spoke for almost two hours, repeating his past arguments almost word for word.

After Toyoda finished speaking, Kuniaki Koiso stood up again slowly and cautiously. He felt that he was finally about to reveal his long-suppressed beliefs. However, his words surprised those who listened even more: "We have been discussing this issue for many hours, and there is still no conclusion. The situation is indeed serious, but time is not wasted. We have no precedent for this, and I find it difficult to speak, but I must now appeal to His Majesty the Emperor for a holy judgment. ”

He turned to face the Emperor, who asked him to decide whether Japan would accept the Hankyong Declaration immediately or demand the terms of the Army. Puzzled, he left his seat and walked towards the Emperor. Everyone held their breath.

"Your Excellency!" Anan shouted, but Kuniaki Koiso didn't seem to hear it, and came to the emperor's small throne. His broad shoulders leaned forward with old age. He stopped and bowed deeply. The Emperor nodded knowingly and asked Koiso Kuniaki to sit down. The elderly Koiso Kuniaki couldn't hear what the emperor was saying, and put one hand behind his left ear. The Emperor gestured for him to return to the table and take a seat.

As soon as Koiso Kuniaki sat down, the emperor himself stood up. Normally, the emperor's tone is expressionless, but this time it was very emotional. "I have carefully considered the situation at home and abroad, and have come to the conclusion that the continuation of the war means the destruction of the nation. Prolong the bloodshed and cruelty of humanity in the world. "The attendees all listened with their heads down." I can't bear to see innocent people suffer again. The only way to restore peace in the world and to relieve the terrible suffering of nations is to put an end to war. He stopped at this point.

Suzumi wiped his glasses with his white-gloved thumb and glanced at the emperor staring thoughtfully at the ceiling. The Cabinet Registrar felt that tears had welled up in his eyes. Instead of sitting stiffly as before, the participants leaned forward — some with their arms outstretched. Lie on the table. Don't be shy to sob. At this time. The Emperor regained his composure and continued to speak in an emotional tone, but once again had to stop. The water almost wanted to shout to the mountain; "Your Majesty's will is now understood. Don't stoop to talk about it. ”

The emperor said. "It hurts to think of those who have served me faithfully and shamefully, of the officers and men of the Army and Navy who have died or been wounded on distant battlefields, and of the families who have lost their possessions, and often their own lives, to air raids at home. It goes without saying that I can't bear to see the brave and faithful disarmed. I also cannot bear to see those who have dedicated their lives to me being punished as instigators of war. However, now is the time when we can't help but also have to endure it. When I recall the feelings of the former Emperor Meiji at the time of the intervention of the three countries (Germany, Germany and France in 1895), I can only swallow tears and accept the Hanjing Declaration of China as outlined by the Foreign Minister. ”

After the emperor finished speaking, Koiso Kunizhao and the others all stood up. "I have listened to His Majesty's words," said Kuniaki Koiso.

The Emperor seemed to reply, but only nodded. He seemed to be carrying a thousand pounds of weight, and with the help of the waiter, he left the conference room in a wheelchair with his body that had lost both legs.

"Now," said Koiso Kuniaki, "His Majesty the Emperor should be turned into a unanimous resolution of the General Assembly." Of course, the so-called resolution is not a decision in the Western sense, but merely an expression of the emperor's wishes. But. To a loyal Japanese — the kind of people in the room — the emperor's wish was tantamount to an order.

The proceedings of the meeting were recorded. Participants who remained unsettled by the Emperor's anguish began to sign in turn, thus approving the acceptance of the Hankyo Declaration on the premise that China recognized the Emperor's legitimacy.

With the exception of Baron Hiranuma, the rest signed. As usual, as if something bothered him, he objected to the phrase "the status of the emperor is divinely conferred." He insisted on a change to the exact wording of the constitution - "the supreme power of the emperor".

Hiranuma signed at 2:30 p.m. This important meeting was held, and the military approved a document that amounted to unconditional surrender. However, after the emperor left, they vented their frustration and betrayal on Koiso Kuniaki. "You have broken your promise, Your Excellency Prime Minister!" Lieutenant General Masao Yoshiki, who was present as an officer, said loudly. "You're happy now, aren't you?"

Anan persuaded the two to leave.

Now there is only one formality left – approval by the full Cabinet. A cabinet meeting was immediately held at the Koiso Kuniaki Residence. The cabinet officials also drafted a uniform note to the Chugoku declaring their acceptance of the Hankyung Declaration "knowing that the above-mentioned declaration does not contain any claim that would impair Hirohito's royal power as supreme ruler." ”

The night seemed like a long one. Kuniaki Koiso went upstairs to bed. He collapsed in his armchair and soon fell asleep. Others walked exhausted through the dark and quiet streets of Tokyo to get home. Except for Dongxiang, everyone is gone.

Pernicious anemia debilitates Togo, who is probably the most tired. When his car stopped in front of the temporary house of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the East was already the color of a fish's belly. There he was going to record the words of the emperor that burned in his chest.

He dictated to his informal secretary, his adopted son, Fumihiko Togo. Although Fumihiko Togo has a family relationship with the foreign minister, he is still in awe of this old man. It was rare for him to see Togo move emotionally before, but when he recited Hirohito's words, his eyes filled with tears.

As soon as it dawned on May 10, the weather in Tokyo was hot and stuffy. The War Department is the base camp on the higher ground of the city valley. More than fifty Army Provincial officers were waiting in bomb shelters for General Anan's arrival. The summoning of so many officers in important positions caused heated speculation. Is the land minister going to announce the merger of the navy and the army? Is it about the atomic bomb, or is it about last night's Imperial Council?

At 9:30 a.m., accompanied by two senior officers, one on the left and one on the right, Anan walked down the long tunnel of the base camp building to the air-raid shelter. He held a horsewhip in his right hand and stepped onto the small podium, surrounded by generals and colonels. He said serenely that last night's Imperial Council had decided to accept the Hankyung Declaration.

Several people did not believe it and shouted "No!" in unison. Anan raised his hands and asked everyone to be quiet. I don't know what excuse I have," he said. "But. Since Hirohito's wish was to accept the Hankyo Declaration, there was no way out. He told them the Army's minimum requirements and regretted that he had not been able to meet them. However, he promised to give it another try. Ask them to no matter what happens. to help maintain order within the Army. "Don't think about your personal emotions or the emotions of your subordinates."

A young man stepped forward. "Doesn't the Army have an obligation to defend the country?"

Ordinary. Anan was a gentle man, and at this time, he waved his whip at the young man. "Who is going to oppose Anan's order. Whoever has to cut him down first! ”

Masao Inaba of the Military Affairs Bureau came to General Anan with a plan to maintain order in the army. "Whether or not the war ends," he said, "we must give orders to continue fighting, especially against the Chinese army in the Kago." ”

"Write the instructions out," Anan said.

What the Cabinet also needs to decide is how far it should be told to the public. The military was reluctant to disclose the emperor's decision for fear that it would immediately undermine Japan's will to fight and cause chaos. The result was a compromise: only a vague statement was issued, which prepared the people for surrender. The statement was drafted by the head of the intelligence bureau, Kaisu Shimomura, and his subordinates. The statement boasted about the victory, condemned the new bomb, and said it was cruel and barbaric; Jing warned that the enemy was about to invade the homeland. It is only in the last paragraph that it is pointed out that the public is about to face an unprecedented situation:

"Indeed, we must admit that we are now in an extremely difficult situation. The government is doing its utmost to defend the homeland, the national system, and the national honor, and the people must be prepared to overcome all kinds of difficulties and defend the imperial national system. ”

On the other hand, in the instructions issued by Inaba to the officers and soldiers of the army, not only did not hint at surrender at all, but asked them to carry out the holy war to the end:

"Although we may have to eat grass, eat dirt and sleep in the wilderness, we are determined to fight resolutely. We believe that there is life in death. This is the great spirit of Nangong to save the country in seven lives, and this is also the fighting spirit of Shi Zong to crush the Mongol invaders with the spirit of "don't worry, move forward". ”

Shortly after Inaba sent the telegram to the prime minister for approval, two uneasy Nakasa—one the officer in charge of the news and the other Anan's brother-in-law, Masahiko Takeshita—broke into Inaba's office. They brought information that the Cabinet was about to issue a statement hinting at surrender.

Since doing so would cause confusion in the army, they had to immediately broadcast Inaba's encouragement. Inaba poured out the paper basket to find the original. The directive was in Anan's name, so he hesitated to issue it without Anan's approval. However, the two lieutenants persuaded him that there was no time, so copies of the directive were immediately sent to the local radio stations and newspapers.

The two contradictory statements, issued almost simultaneously, baffled the editors-in-chief and radio manager of the newspapers, and Togo had to take drastic measures. Anan's statement, no doubt, would have convinced China that Japan was determined to continue fighting. A formal note informing China and Japan of their willingness to surrender was being sent through slow diplomatic channels, and a delay of a few more hours could lead to the ingestion of a third atomic bomb.

Why can't the official note be immediately circulated in the form of a press release? However, the military's press prosecutor could have detained the telegram if he recognized its contents. In order to overcome this, it was decided to send the English version of the Japanese proposal in Morse electric rice, and by the time the press prosecutor translated the electric rice, the raw rice would be ready for cooking—which was promising.

The editor-in-chief of the International News Agency, Hasegawa, accepted the dangerous task of disseminating the news. At eight o'clock in the morning, he sent the news to the transmitter, first to China and then to Europe. He waited nervously, hoping that the other party would copy the content.

Almost at the same time, a grenade explosion rang out in the streets of Tokyo. The opposition within the army, including Inaba, attempted to cause chaos and cause martial law throughout the city. Once Tokyo is under the control of the military, the emperor may be influenced to change his mind and continue the war. However, Tokyo, which had become accustomed to bombing, did not take such explosions seriously for a while.

In Nagasaki, over the ruined city, leaflets were dropped, warning citizens to evacuate. (To be continued......)