On the evening of October 5, Tokyo, Japan

In this crisp autumn season, a ray of afterglow of the autumn sunset is gradually disappearing from among the towering skyscrapers.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Junzaburo Izumita, who had been busy all day, walked out of the Prime Minister's Mansion with a haggard face, looked up at the magnificent sunset in front of him, and couldn't help but feel a burst of relaxation, as if all the fatigue accumulated in his body for several days had subsided a lot in this instant.

- The magnificent twilight of the golden autumn season can be breathtakingly beautiful without any words.

The slowly sinking sunset, like a burning orange-red flame, is so dazzling under the cover of the gorgeous sunset! The dim night, when only a few clusters of starlight appeared, gradually swept in from the east...... But even so, it could not defeat the brilliance of the sunset, and could only approach slowly from behind, patiently waiting for the final sinking of the gorgeous sunset.

Bathed in such contrasting light and darkness, the originally somewhat gray downtown Tokyo also has a hazy halo in the field of vision, revealing a strange scenery. Whether it is the windows of private houses or the glass walls of skyscrapers, they all try to reflect the glow of the sunset, trying to show their presence, but when they are placed with the dazzling red sunset, they still look so small and bleak. As for the pedestrians and vehicles on the road, in the battle between the sunset and the night, only a faint shadow of gray color remains.

“…… The sunset is infinitely good, but it's just near dusk......"

Look at the magnificent scenery in front of you. His Excellency Junzaburo Izumita, who has been very literary since his college days, couldn't help but whisper with interest.

Then, he turned to look at the official residence of the Prime Minister of Nagata Town, which was also bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, and couldn't help but sigh a little sadly.

If nothing else, today is the first time that he has walked out of this mansion, which symbolizes the highest power, as the chief cabinet secretary.

Follow the scheduled jihua and wait until tomorrow. That is, on the morning of October 6, the AKB Idol Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Shinhiro Kotori, will formally submit its general resignation to the Diet. And Junzaburo Izumida had his resignation ready three days ago.

- From beginning to end, it is full of calculations, but it is only nine days...... This is probably the shortest cabinet in the history of Japan.

Although every politician wants to go down in history. But if you leave a name in the Guinness Book of Records...... It's too embarrassing.

Junzaburo Izumida couldn't help but sigh again, and at the same time saw his old friend, the Governor of Tokyo, His Excellency Kaikatsu Umijo, personally speeding from a distance in a black high-end sports car, ready to take him with him to the banquet to commemorate the fall of the Toriyu cabinet.

Since this was not something to celebrate, they were silent along the way, just quietly watching the scenery on the side of the road.

By this time, the night has quietly fallen, the streets are slowly lit up with sporadic lights, and many consumer establishments have ushered in their peak hours – albeit only recently liberated from riots and martial law. Many of the charred wreckage of the buildings have not yet had time to be cleaned up, and they are shrouded in the terrifying haze of nuclear radiation, but the market is still full of people and bustling at the moment. In front of the shops of all kinds, colorful neon lights flashed as usual. Deafening pop music is played, and young people who like to be lively and dressed in fashionable clothes gather. There are many spacious places where you can see underground bands practicing stalls, although most of the voices of the lead singers are not very good, but the hoarse voice can still sing with enthusiasm and pride. Outside the bright windows, there stood teenagers dressed in an unusual way, their hair dyed yellow or red standing on end. trimmed his eyebrows, put on the popular smoky makeup, and listened to music by himself with headphones...... Every neighborhood you pass through is a bustling scene that lights up the city at night than during the day. …,

This is one of the most prosperous international megacities in Shijie, and the political and economic heart of Japan.

It is like a graceful and luxurious lady, even after suffering a series of heavy blows, it still exudes dazzling charm.

However, just like the sunset, although Tokyo is still prosperous in this era, there are also signs of beauty in the twilight.

“…… Uejo-kun, in your opinion, is it right or wrong for us to try to break free from the control of the United States this time? Those who support it hailed it as a perfect strategic move to take advantage of the crisis to the extreme, while those who opposed it dismissed it as a precursor to Japan's sinking......"

Junzaburo Izumida chattered casually without words, a wry smile on his face, "...... Alas, in any case, after the Fukushima nuclear radiation crisis, the next Japanese prime minister should not have to go to the White House in Washington to 'listen to the hadith'. ”

-- Since the defeat of the Pacific War, "the boss of the United States must never be offended" has become an iron law in Japanese politics. To be honest, Japan's political history after World War II is a record of the punishment of American fathers for spanking disobedient Japanese politicians!

For example, several Japanese prime ministers, such as Kiichi Miyazawa and Hosokawa Gohei, were forced to resign soon after returning to China because they did not fully agree to the demands put forward by the White House when they visited the United States. And the most tragic Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was directly taken down because he did not listen to the United States - of course, compared with those pro-China politicians who "committed suicide", such an end is already considered lucky.

“…… Even if you don't have to go to the White House in Washington to 'listen to the hadith', wouldn't it be the same to go to Zhongnanhai 'tributary' in Beijing? ”

Kamijo Keikatsu pouted and sighed while playing the steering wheel flexibly, "...... Of course, I'm not unaware, and this is also something that can't be helped—as a small island nation, sandwiched between the three giant monsters of China, Russia, and the United States. However, they have neither the armed forces to defend themselves, nor the opportunity to land on the mainland, at most they are only left and right between the great powers...... That's how Japan's national fortunes are, at most.

Alas, throughout history, every country's luck has a time limit, and Japan's luck accumulated over the millennium has been since the Meiji Restoration rose to become the hegemon of East Asia. Just in the last century, it was completely overdrawn. What used to be a time for Japan is long gone! ”

“…… Oh, yes! The sunset is infinitely good, just near dusk...... Although very reluctant to admit it. But perhaps in the course of our lives, we will be able to see the sunset in Japan! Junzaburo Izumida said with a heavy heart while rubbing his sour eyelids.

- It must be admitted. Throughout the twentieth century, Japan has almost always been favored by heaven and blessed with a perfect strategic opportunity: the Far Eastern island nation first stepped from a small peripheral country of civilization to the club of great powers through the Anglo-Japanese alliance and the Russo-Japanese War; Then, taking advantage of the victory in World War I, he seized the German Asian colonies and pushed his territory south to the tropical islands of Saipan and Truk; Immediately afterwards, it also took advantage of the appeasement policy of the great powers and the division and chaos of China to gradually swallow up large areas of territory in Northeast China and North China; Zuihou even started the Pacific War, planting the flag of the military in a distant foreign country 5,000 kilometers away from Tokyo...... In just half a century, the territory of the Japanese Empire has skyrocketed more than 20 times from more than 300,000 square kilometers of the four mainland islands. At one time, the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" with a radius of 7 million square kilometers was established, forming a huge colonial empire that stretched from the Aleutian Islands in the north, Australia in the south, and the Indian Ocean in the west. …,

However, swallowing an elephant with a small snake will eventually break its belly. Not to mention the fact that there was a group of angry lions besieging outside, and after the defeat in the Pacific War, the greedy Japanese were finally broken in the backbone, and all the gains of foreign expansion since the Meiji Restoration were wiped out, leaving only the four large islands on the mainland (the Ryukyus were not returned to Japan until 1972, when they were considered American territory).

But even after the devastating Pacific War. Japan did not decline from then on, but was once again favored by the invisible hand of fate - first of all, the outbreak of the Korean War, which turned Japan into a joint logistics base, allowing Japan's declining companies to obtain a large number of orders, and stimulating the recovery of Japanese industry. By implementing a strategy of dependence on the United States, Japan has improved its security environment and secured peace.

After the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union began, due to the stability of New China and the expansion of the red camp, the United States had to support Japan for a long time, in order to balance the Liliang contrast in East Asia, and Japan was also able to avoid the fate of "deindustrialization" under the political support of the United States and the development of the market, and once again moved towards economic revival, and became the third economic power in Shijie 20 years later.

However, at this turning point, which is related to whether or not it can transform from a carp into a dragon, Japan's development strategy has made another fatal mistake.

In the past, Japan accurately grasped the strategic opportunity and took the development express train of the United States, but when it came to this full-fledged time, it lost the courage to get off the train - getting off the bus means that Japan must develop independently, and can no longer rely on the sales market and military protection of the United States, and even have to bear the retaliation of the United States...... In contrast, in the era of the breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations, in order to become an independent and self-determined power, the Chinese really did not hesitate to break their wrists to shake off the entanglement of the Soviet big brother - no big country clings to others to gain hegemony.

It is a pity that in this era of calling for strongmen and great men, there is only a group of conservative, cowardly, and short-sighted bureaucrats in Japanese politics.

It was not until the Soviet Union was on the verge of collapse and the end of the Cold War that some Japanese elites (such as the famous Shotaro Ishihara) who were intoxicated by economic boom began to come to their senses, gradually resigned to the control of the United States, and began to seek the issue of national normalization in Japan with the demand for a revision of the pacifist constitution. However, at this time, the relationship between Japan and the United States was already too tightly tied to it, let alone cutting the rope, and it was difficult to even loosen it a little.

Then, at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Wall Street financial giants in the United States decisively took advantage of the victory, slapping Japan's bubble economy and completely extinguishing the ambition of the Japanese to become the leader of East Asia...... It has blessed the Japanese with the fortune of standing proudly in East Asia for more than 100 years, or a period of strategic opportunity. At this point, it is finally exhausted. This is followed by decades of hopeless struggles, sinking and wandering......

Now, at the cost of the tragic loss of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the Japanese government has finally reluctantly seized the opportunity of Zuihou to break a gap in the shackles of the United States of America. However, with the passage of time, Japan's superiority in national strength is no longer as good as before, and the strategic space in East Asia has basically disappeared. In the future, Japan wants to become a "big country in the East," and its hope of success is very slim......

“…… Alas, they are now on the verge of resignation. Why are you still worrying about so much mess? ”

Junzaburo Izumida sighed, shook his head, and shook the cluttered thoughts out of his mind. I began to think about the toast I was going to talk about tonight.........,

However, while Junzaburo Izumida and Kamijo Keikatsu were still struggling with red lights and traffic jams on the crowded city roads, the group of foreign guests who had been invited to the banquet had already arrived at the "Shiyuken" pavilion in Akasaka from the Fukushima radiation area in advance, waiting for the arrival of the organizers.

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“…… Click! ”

The sound of a bamboo bucket hitting a stone (a bamboo water connection device commonly found in Japanese gardens) echoes in the tranquil garden for a long time. The cool breeze of the refreshing autumn night blows the swaying weeping willows, and the fragrance of chrysanthemums is sent to the face.

The trail underfoot is paved with colourful cobblestones, assembled into a variety of intricate geometric shapes. The sides of the road are paved with scattered stones, like two small rivers that glow with silver light. Go further. It is a nursery full of flowers, and the candlelight in the stone lantern is reflected in the gurgling stream, and the bright moonlight reflects each other, showing an indescribable elegance.

A lady dressed in a traditional kimono with elegant manners. Politely stand in front of the door to greet guests. The antique Japanese banquet hall is not as luxurious as you might think, but you can see that every furnishing is carefully arranged, and it is said that even the tableware must be made by a famous artist......

- This afternoon, when Wang Qiu and the others and a group of Russian hairy people changed into the most haode suits or military dresses around them as much as possible. After coming out of the wormhole, he was personally taken by Prime Minister Xiaoniyou to such a quiet and elegant place full of oriental charm.

Although this pavilion called "Shi Yuxuan" is located on a secluded street and the signboard is also very inconspicuous, it is unique when you walk in.

“…… Tut, sister, is this the legendary Japanese high-end restaurant? ”

Standing in the wood-colored corridor, Wang Qiu looked at the exquisite scenery in the courtyard with shining eyes, and muttered to his sister Wang Yao, who had been resident in Japan for many years, "...... I don't know what is so particular about it, but as long as I look at it, I think it's amazing! ”

“…… This is the Akasaka Ryotei, the most expensive high-consumption place in Japan, and ordinary people can't get into it at all, so of course it's not bad......"

Wang Yao replied nonchalantly while taking a photo with a digital camera, "...... It doesn't look like the top of the game though...... But being able to come to Akasaka's high-end restaurant for a banquet is enough to brag to my colleagues when I go back......"

As we all know, China's political center is in Zhongnanhai, Russia's political center is in the Kremlin, the political center of the United States is on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., and Japan's political center is in Nagata Town, Tokyo.

As a result, Akasaka and Ginza, two prime shopping streets near Nagatacho, the center of Japan's power, have become symbols of the highest level of consumption in Tokyo over the years, thanks to the exuberant spending power of these politicians, bureaucrats, and chaebols. During the most prosperous era of Japan's "bubble economy", the high-end food pavilions in Akasaka and the high-end shopping malls in Ginza became almost synonymous with "Japan's first" in that era.

Japanese men generally like to have two drinks after work, and politicians are no exception. However, the place where politicians drink should not be too low, otherwise it will be very embarrassing. As a result, high-ranking politicians often leave the Diet hall and go straight to Akasaka's high-end restaurant with their cronies and subordinates – the so-called "ryotei" should be accurately defined as a traditional Japanese courtyard-style haute cuisine. But this kind of kiosk is not something that ordinary people can enter casually. Generally speaking, the restaurant only receives regular customers with a very high status, and if there is no regular customer introduction in the store, no matter what big guy does not want to enter the door. And the level of consumption here is also unaffordable for ordinary people - a very ordinary meal, each person sometimes spends hundreds of thousands of yen! …,

However, although the fees of these kiosks are high, they are very private, and the service staff are also strictly trained in confidentiality and will never disclose the information of guests. Therefore, the high-end restaurant in Akasaka has become the best place for high-level meetings and discussions in the three worlds of Japanese government and finance. Especially in the Japanese political arena, where there are many factions, different factions and shili groups often use a certain ryotei as a base for their own gathering activities.

As a result, at nightfall, you can see a variety of black limousines in the inconspicuous winding alleys around Nagata Town. After the high-sounding and fake "congress" in the Diet, Japanese politicians hurriedly rode into the kiosk to prepare for various "internal meetings" - and the ryoti in Akasaka is also called the "night parliament", and there is a special term for "ryotei politics".

In fact, the history of Japan's ryotei politics is said to date back to the early 17th century, when the Tokugawa shogun ordered the daimyo of all Japan to gather at Edo Castle so that they could be controlled. In order to exchange information, the lords and local merchants often sent their cronies to meet in some of the more secret pavilions of Edo Castle. Over time, Ryotei became a meeting place for Japanese dignitaries and business tycoons.

In the Meiji era, officials of the Restoration government were also accustomed to talking about state affairs in the ryotei, such as Ito Hirobumi, a famous minister who planned the First Sino-Japanese War, who often lived in the ryotei with his arms around the popular geisha, and openly declared that "wake up to the power of the world, drunk and lie on the knees of beautiful women...... Of course, most politicians do not pay for the expenses of such high-consumption places out of their own pockets, but use various names for political activities, which is, to put it bluntly, Japanese-style "eating and drinking at public expense" - by the way, in addition to eating and drinking at public expense, some major decisions are announced and finalized to insiders.

For Prime Minister Kotori Yoshiro, whose tenure was so short that it broke the record, this dinner at the "Shiyugen" restaurant in Akasaka was actually the only opportunity to eat and drink at public expense in her prime minister's career - so, in order to make her career as prime minister have a memorable and lively ending, in the spirit of not using public funds in vain, she simply called all the people she could call, and even the guards at the prime minister's official residence were not left behind.

So, in the slightly distorted and twitching expression of the proprietress but helpless, the "Shi Yuxuan", which originally only received high-ranking officials and nobles, was crowded for the first time by all kinds of rude "inferior coarse people...... (Your support is my biggest motivation.) )