The Conference
Imperial Palace, Sendō Ward, Shinkyō
UTC 01400
October 10, 2022 Eijiro had to admit, it was different being at the head of one of these meetings rather than merely sitting in on one. For a so-called "Imperial Conference", he really wasn't doing much. Just listening, and listening, and listening. He understood
why this was the case; as the Emperor, he was
supposed to remain above politics, it being beneath someone of his station as the direct descendant of Amaterasu, the sun goddess, in a line unbroken going back to when the world was young. Those were mere stories, of course. He knew it, but what harm did such stories do if it meant that stability was maintained? Thus, he saw no reason to speak during the proceedings, boring as they may have been. He watched as ministers and officials entered the room, taking their places at tables set to the left, right, and in front of him. With a nod, he beckoned for them to sit.
Even as Crown Prince, back when his father was Emperor, back when he was still alive, he had to admit these meetings could be quite dull. Yes, he was sitting in on them back then to "learn", but it taught him little more than to maintain his composure and remain both silent as the moon and as unmoving as a statue. Instead, he'd use those times to think about the history of the room he was in. All of the great names and faces who had passed through there. All of the important decisions that had been reached. From the Keiyo Restoration and the annexation of Tsukishima to the decision to declare war upon Ardia and everything that came between and after. And here he was, sitting at the head of the
Gozen Kaigi after nearly thirty years. The very seat where, back in 1945, following the cruel bombing of Hatsukaichi, the decisions were made that would bring about peace unto the continent. And all because one man, one Emperor who was once a pawn for those around him, spoke when nobody else would, breaking a deadlock which would've cost many, many more lives.
Of course, even if it was just another meeting, it was one which was of grave importance. The heads of the
Tokkō and the
Kenpeitai, Superintendent-General Hiraishi and Lieutenant General Hokinoue had made a major breakthrough in the investigation into the
Kokuryūkai, one which was... disturbing in its nature. He'd already known about the Constitutional Democratic Party's issues, their ideology. Even the most ardent Sonyuist of the YFD would find them extreme, and to most moderates, the fact that they were even allowed to serve in the Diet was unacceptable. But to think they would go so far as to work with these traitors to not only orchestrate a coup, but to try to
kill him when that failed? Now, they were practically enemies of the state, or at least, their leadership was. Everyone in the room agreed that, at a bare minimum, Hisao Yanagisawa, the leader of the party, should be arrested on the charge of High Treason and dealt with in such a manner as that which befit him. No. What they disagreed with wasn't what should be done about the CDP. Rather, they had come into conflict over what would be done afterwards.
"We can't just carry on like nothing happened." Said Goro Usatsuka, the President of the Planning Board
[1], as he looked around the room.
With a nod, Prime Minister Suketoshi Heishi said "I agree, but... I worry that whatever action we take, it will reflect poorly on the government and on the
Yafudō[2]." as he rested his left arm on the table. "If we strike now, arrest Yanagisawa, then it will just seem to the people as an attempt to eliminate a potential rival."
"If we do not act now, then it is only a matter of time before
he—before the
Kokuryūkai—strikes again." Okimoto Esashi pointed out, which was met with the approval of General Hokinoue. "He very nearly succeeded in claiming His Imperial Majesty's life, or have you forgotten?"
"No."
"Then why are you so resistant to arresting him while we have the opportunity?"
"It's simple. The damage it could do would—"
Superintendent-General Hiraishi spoke up, saying, "What the Prime Minister is trying to say, I believe, is that he is worried about the unrest that it
will bring." as he looked over to the marshal. "Of course, that is something which we
are prepared for. Though not, I will admit, as well prepared as we can be."
"And what"—Suketoshi tapped his fingers on the side of the desk—"would you want in order to be as well-prepared for this unrest as necessary?"
"Heishi-
sōri, are you familiar, by any chance, with the Peace Preservation Law put into place back in '85
[3]?" Hokinoue inquired.
"Of course, everyone does. What about it?"
"It needs to be revived. Updated for the days we live in, yes, but for the sake of stability, it should be adopted once more."
Stunned by what he was hearing, Entarō Wakayama, the Commissioner-General of the Imperial Police Agency, said, "Absolutely
not." as he pounded the table with his hand. "Yes, I realize that it worked while we had it, but certainly everyone present is aware of what it gave the
Tōkko, the
Kenpeitai, and even the
Tokubetsu Keisatsutai? What you are asking for, Hokinoue-
chūjō, Hiraishi-
keibu, is a return to the era of Hisayuki Sonyu, to rule through
fear."
By the Kami, if they were in a sinking boat, they would probably argue about who would be bailing it right until the moment they went under. In other words, they were either going to be at it for hours
or, in the worst case scenario, they would never come to an agreement on this. Certainly, Eijiro recognized
why General Hokinoue's proposal was met with such a strong reaction; like Suketoshi had said, practically everyone knew what it was. It made it a criminal offence to form an association with the goal of altering the
kokutai, which was more or less the most that people tended to know about it. What it really did, which was something many had forgotten over the last ninety-seven years, was that it
could be used to brand
any opposition as working to alter the
kokutai. It would, suffice to say, set a precedent which Eijiro was conflicted on. He wanted to preserve the democratic system in place, yes, but on the other hand, he wished to see the violence which had marked the first year of his reign never reemerge. But of course, he couldn't say anything. The thought was, or so he thought, practically impossible.
Suketoshi stood up from the table and turned to Eijiro. With a deep bow, he said, "
Heika, although I recognize that in doing so, I am breaking a tradition held since the days of Keiō-
seitai, I, your most dutiful servant, humbly request that you break this deadlock and make a decision on what our course is to be."
Everyone was quiet then. Not since the days after Ardia rained down atomic hellfire upon Hatsukaichi had anyone requested that an Emperor speak during a meeting of the
Gozen Kaigi. The last time it was even seriously considered was back in 1971, during the Tatenokai Incident. But now, Suketoshi had really done it. Despite being a moderate, he genuinely believed that the Emperor should take more of a role in leading the state, at least during times of crisis, so this was hardly something he
wouldn't do, to be sure. After all, it was Hisayuki Sonyu himself who, in 1945, asked Eijiro's great-grandfather to do the same. Yet Eijiro, for all of the things he had done that went against convention, joining the navy, fighting in an active conflict, participating in the Mundus Games
twice, was still a man who valued tradition. Even when the security of the state required it as it did now, he felt conflicted. With a sigh, the Emperor stood up from the table.
All who were assembled had turned their eyes to him, their gaze unwavering as spoke up.
"Very well. The concerns raised by Wakayama-
chōkan with regards to the proposal raised by Hokinoue-
chūjō and Hiraishi-
keibu are noted. Indeed, indeed, I can see why such worries are justified, after all, under the laws issued in my great-grandfather's name, the
Tokubetsu Kōtō Keisatsu and Kenpeitai were granted a position which far exceeded the duties they were given, granted
carte blanche to prosecute any form of dissent." Eijiro acknowledged, glancing around the room. "However, there are times when certain measures which, though perhaps having the potential for injustice in the wrong hands, are nonetheless necessary to ensure that peace is restored and that further bloodshed is avoided.
"Hokinoue-
chūjō, Hiraishi-
keibu, Ishihara-
keibu, Makimura-
chūjō" He said, looking to the heads of the four main intelligence agencies within the Empire. "I am authorizing you to prosecute those responsible for the attacks on the sixth of
Rokugatsu[4], 2681 and the eleventh of
Jūnigatsu[5] within the fullest extent of the law. Particularly, target . Heishi-
sōri, I request that, once the elections have come to an end, you and the
Yafudō as a whole work to reinstate certain powers granted by the 2585 Peace Preservation Law, granting the intelligence service authorization to fully stamp out these... terrorists once and for all. When that is done, that law will be abolished, make no mistake. This is only a temporary measure to ensure that this particular threat is crushed."
With that, the Emperor went silent, returning to his seat so that the conference could proceed. There was some murmuring among those assembled, after all, a nearly eighty year precedent had been shattered before their eyes. Some supported the move by the Emperor to speak up, including, of course, the Prime Minister, as well as Marshal Esashi and the various heads of both the Imperial Armed Forces and the various intelligence services. On the other hand, figures such as Goro Usatsuka as well as Ministers Haruno and Besujima
and Commissioner-General Wakayama, were more critical of the move, since they wished to avoid such a drastic step to the best of their ability. Perhaps it was justified, perhaps not. History would prove to be the judge in that regard. What was clear, however, was that finally, this crisis was almost over. By the end of the day, the
Gozen Kaigi would come to a final decision, one based on the Emperor's directives although in a more restrained manner.