Roleplay > Vignettes

Stories of an Empire (Daitōjin Vignettes)

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Daitō:
Nishiki no MihataKamikitazawa, Shiraizumi Ward, Shinkyō Metropolis
UTC 0939
December 29, 2022

   As Eijirō emerged from the automobile just outside of the IDA's GHQ, he thought to himself of everything that had led up to this moment. From his enthronement in 2020, to the murder of his father in 2021, then his exile to Tenkyō earlier this year, and now here he was, about to take the reigns at long last. In less than a month, he would be thirty, and yet he had seen more in just under three years than many Emperors would've seen in their entire lives. He acknowledged, privately, that compared to his forebears, he was nothing. By the time he was his age, Emperor Keiyo had brought the Empire out of its feudal past and remade it into a state which could challenge Imperial Ardia. How could he possibly compare? The only chance for a legacy—the only hope for a better tomorrow—was to lend his support to the seigi no gundan, the "Righteous Army", and strive to remake the Empire.

   He couldn't help but recognize the similarities between the Kunan Restoration and this. After all, though it wasn't January yet, a blizzard had struck Shinkyō the night before the uprising. Of course, there were more obvious comparisons, namely the use of the name Righteous Army and the slogan Sonnō Tōkan—"Revere the Emperor, Destroy the Traitors—, which he noted came from the Go-Kaiyō-era Sonnō Jōi slogan which called for the expulsion of the "Barbarians", or in other words, foreigners. Some even carried flags designed the same as that used by said Righteous Army, alongside newer ones. But if there was one thing that was different, that was going to be different, it was that, unlike his Great-Grandfather, he would not be pawn. No. He would take a leading role in the so-called National-Imperial Revolution preached by the YFD's Seitōkyōgi faction. The time to act was now.

   During both the Keiyo and Kunan restorations, the Nishiki-no-Mihata flag had been flown by the victorious forces, showing them as having Imperial assent to their actions and marking any who fired upon, or even so much as opposed, those who marched underneath it as a traitor. During the Boshin War, its appearance at Fushimi had sent the forces of the Shimura Bakufu into a route, and reverence for it was still taught in every school to this very day. In theory, it would have a similar effect, something which would be amplified by his speech. For now, he would be ushered indoors in order to meet with the leaders of this plot. He was going to meet with Okimoto Esashi and Hisayoshi Kitabatake.

   The offices of the GHQ were abuzz with activity as men and women coordinated the operation presently underway. Normally, ignoring the Emperor's presence was deemed improper, disrespectful, but given the circumstances, it was a formality that was, ultimately, an unnecessary inconvenience. As far as Eijirō was concerned, they were just doing their job, which was respectful enough in his eyes for the time being. He just needed to do his. Eventually, with some difficulty owing to a bottleneck in one of the halls, he and his staff would reach the room where he was supposed to meet with Esashi and Kitabatake. He hesitated for but a moment before a guard slid open the door, as now, more than before, he was reaching a point of no return. With a deep breath, he entered the room.
   "Heika." Okimoto said as he, Hisayoshi, and everyone else in the room bowed. "Welcome back to Shinkyō." He said with a smile.
   "I would offer my thanks, but given the circumstances, I suspect we don't have time." Eijirō replied with a nod. "What's the status on the Chancellor?"
   "Arrested, Your Majesty." Hisayoshi reported. "Still in Kamikitazawa for the time being, but he and a number of his co-conspirators have been captured."
   "Then who's left?"
   "A couple of Peers and Representatives, our friend, Hokinoue-chūjō, and..." Okimoto began to speak, though he struggled to admit it.
   "...And?" Eijirō asked.
   "Jin Heishi." Answered Sadazane Konishi, the Deputy Prime Minister, who was still nursing a broken nose from a fight in the Diet a week prior. "He was in on it."
   "Are you absolutely certain?"
   "Yes, sir." Jin Hiraishi, the chief of the Tokkō, said from a corner of the room. "The files are on the table, but in his claims after the incident back in 2020, he was only out to help his father."
   "Suketoshi must be devastated... But ultimately, at the end of the day, a traitor is still a traitor." Eijirō sighed; he wished he could do more to help him, but to go against the laws of the Empire would be to delegitimize the incoming government. "Make the arrests. In the meantime, I have a speech to prepare for."
   "One more thing, Your Majesty." Hisayoshi said, trying to get the Emperor's attention. When he turned to face him, he asked "About the Nishiki banner, do we have permission to fly it?"
   "Of course." Eijirō stated before leaving the room. He needed to rehearse ahead of his address in a few hours, one which would be televised and broadcast not only in Daitō, but across the globe as well.

Daitō:
Within the Inner Circle...04 May, 2023
06:37 PM
Imperial Palace, Sendō Ward, Shinkyō

   It was a warm spring evening in Shinkyō, a city which, according to some, never slept. Of course, most major cities could be given the same epithet, but few lived up to it quite like her. As Eijirō sat at his desk, he could see the sun setting over the sea and between the many skyscrapers and high-rises that made up its cityscape. Despite being so close—less than a kilometer away—it was as another world; he couldn't just leave the palace, not without an escort anyways. It wasn't something he wasn't used to of course; while he had been able to enjoy it during his time in the navy, before then, it was rare that he didn't have some sort of bodyguard nearby. Such was life, he figured, as he turned back to his paperwork. It had been a somewhat busy day, after all, but he was finally wrapping up, and an hour or two early at that. Tomorrow was going to be different, though. He had a meeting with the Privy Council, which was why this particular document was of such importance.

   It was no secret that, during the "Three Day War", the council had failed to secure a majority vote on granting him the authority to take an active role in the prosecution of the war. Of course, Eijirō had personally been opposed to the war from the start, but the diet had voted for it, whipped up into a nationalistic frenzy following what was, regardless of his misgivings on the reaction, an act of war. He couldn't blame them for believing he was in support of it; due to the circumstances surrounding Ofdensen and the Chrysanthemum Throne, his hands were tied. If he had vetoed it—something which no sitting Emperor had done since the days of Keiō himself—he would've been setting a precedent for imperial interference in what was ostensibly the will of the people, and that was ignoring the possibility that it might've clued others into that which they were not meant to know. He had hoped, back then, that by taking that authority, he could at least mitigate the worst excesses of the conflict, make it little more than a show of force. In his mind, a ground assault, such as that which was undertaken by the marines, was unconscionable. It made the process of making peace, as Prime Minister Konishi had confided in him a few weeks prior, far more difficult than it need be.

   Eijirō glanced at a photo he kept on his desk, one which showed himself, his father, and his younger brother together at Mount Haku. It was nearly twenty-one years ago now, yet he remembered the day as though it were the back of his own hand. He remembered what his father had told him, that "Good medicine is bitter to the mouth." Based on what he had read of this dossier, sent to him by Superintendent-General Jin Hiraishi, that old proverb was once again proving true. To think someone so close to him was involved, and that he had recruited members of the Privy Council... It all finally made sense. Sure, he would've stood to gain so much had the plot to end Eijirō's life back in 2021, but he wanted to believe that he was uninvolved. Now, however, there was overwhelming evidence linking him to Sachio Heishi and a number of other kokuryūkai conspirators. He knew what had to be done.
   "Uematsu-tai-i." Eijirō said calmly as he placed the dossier back on the desk before looking to one of the guards.
   "Yes, your Majesty?" Natsuki Uematsu, a captain in the Imperial Guard, answered as he briefly entered the room.
   "Do you know if Prince Hidehiko will be attending the Privy Council meeting tomorrow?"
   "Yes, sir. Prince Hidehiko will be attending." Natsuki replied, perhaps slightly confused by the question. "If you don't mind me asking, why do you ask?"
   "No reason, we just have some... catching up to do and I wanted to make sure."
   "Vey well, sir." Natsuki said before stepping out of the room.

   Once Natsuki had left the room, Eijirō's attention once more turned to the photo. Seeing it now, knowing all that had happened, he felt... different. Disgusted, perhaps. Disappointed, most definitely. He was certain that his father was turning in his grave, knowing that he was responsible, and yet, he didn't know if he could stomach the thought of his dear brother rotting away in a prison somewhere, if not facing worse. He was, after all, complicit in attempted regicide, and by extension, he was culpable for his father's murder. Perhaps he hadn't thought it would go that far. Perhaps he had hoped to convince him to abdicate. That didn't matter now, and despite the love he had for him, there was nothing he could do to save him. With a scowl on his face and a sigh, he took the photo and placed it face-down. Even if it included his brother, it was now quite likely that those remaining kokuryūkai agitators had to be removed from any position of authority, one way or another.

   Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day.

Daitō:
As Snakes in the Grass05 May, 2023
02:56 PM
Sumitsu-in Building, Imperial Palace, Sendō Ward, Shinkyō

   The building was abuzz with activity as servants and aides, officers and soldiers, and many others made their way through. Today was, after all, the day that the Privy Council met for the month, at least unless an emergency meeting were to be called. That wasn't going to happen, more than likely, but one could never be too certain these days. Eijirō, for his part, was still getting ready for the meeting; it was expected that he look not simply presentable, but that he looked his finest, after all, he was going to be meeting with members of the aristocracy and the political elite. From the medals he had earned to the uniform itself, he would go into this properly dressed. Eventually, he would make his way towards the meeting room, where he would see plenty of familiar faces. Of course, the members of the council were already inside as was expected, but on the "security detail", if he could call it that on this day in particular, were officers of the Kenpeitai, now under the command of Lt. General Kohei Fukuda, as well as members of the Imperial Guard and the Tokkō, including Superintendent-General Hiraishi. With a knowing nod, the two made eye contact for a moment before Eijirō entered the room.

   The door creaked open at 3-o'clock on the hour, and so, Eijirō, "Emperor Banwa" as he was to be recorded in the history books, made his entrance. Today was a day to remember, though those assembled, which included Prime Minister Konishi and a number of other ministers as well as the permanent members of the council, largely did not know it yet. Truthfully, Eijirō scarcely knew then the impact this day would have, but it had to happen. As sure as the sun rose and the water flowed down to the sea, he had to make his move. Clearing his throat, he spoke up as he took his place at the head of this body.
   "Before we begin, I would like to speak to you on the nature of loyalty." He said, looking out at the various ministers and councilors. "I'm certain all of you have your own idea of what that means, whether it be to the state, to some personal ideal, to one's family. However, it is important to be loyal to the right things, to the right people." He looked at his brother, who sat nearly directly across the room from him. "My friends, I am here to tell you that there is a tumor which has taken root within our government: treason. It is as a malignant tumor, one which must be excised before it can infect the nation at large. So grave is it, however, that it has continued to fester, and now, it has spread into this very chamber." He continued, placing his hand on the table. "I am well aware that among you, there are those who collaborated with Sachio Heishi and the kokuryūkai. I know that those among you who did so are responsible for refusing to grant me the powers I possess by right during a time of war. And I have evidence linking many of you to the assassination of my father and the attempt on my life."

   The room went quiet after Eijirō made his claim. Many looked around the room, trying to figure out who was a traitor and who had remained loyal. After a few moments, however, Eijirō once again spoke up.
   "I am willing to offer you a chance to retain your dignity, if only you will admit your wrongdoing." He said, and yet nobody spoke up. "I had hoped that, at the very least, my brother would repent, but I suppose that won't happen. For all your studying of history, Prince Hidehiko, you never could learn not to target your Emperor, could you?"
   "This is absurd." One of the other councilors spoke up. "You genuinely think he would seek your death?"
   "It's true." Hidehiko said, looking down at the floor. "I knew what Sachio was planning, that he wanted you off the throne... and for me to take your place." He added before saying "At the time I first began working with him, I had no idea that he would resort to such a method and I had planned to try and convince you to simply step down, however, on the day of the attack, I was made aware by Heishi-san. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I have betrayed your trust and I have betrayed our people... as have Kiyokazu Maeda, Tadahiro Hori, and Tomosaburō Matsura."

   The three men who Hidehiko had mentioned all tried to protest, but their protestations would, in large part, fall on deaf ears.
   "If I may, would you please turn your attention to the dossiers on your desks. Inside, you will find all of the evidence tying these men—and my brother—to the conspiracy against me." Eijirō said as the three men, as well as Prince Hidehiko, were taken away by the guards. "As for the rest of you, while I understand if you have loyalties elsewhere, while you serve the government and the people of Daitō, understand that you must swear your utmost loyalty to the state and to them. I don't expect you to agree with me on everything, and if need be, I expect you to speak to me about your concerns, but under no circumstances will treason be tolerated. With that being said, let us begin."

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