Nine Songs of Anti-Japanese War

50. Sunset

Summer is still going on, and the days should be long, but the sky over the sea has quietly darkened.

A premature evening, thought Tokyo.

Standing on the bow deck, he noticed that the US warship reported by the watchtower not long ago could be recognized with the naked eye under the cold clouds covering half of the sky.The cruiser under his feet slowed down, but he was still determined, heading towards the US ship, towards the end of the voyage, cutting through the sea and breaking the waves.

The machine is so nice.Whatever orders are given by people, they will be followed without hesitation. Difficult tasks and uncertain futures will not shake the mind.Even if there is a malfunction, it is not their own fault, and the responsibility is only on the human body.The "Kuma-class" cruiser Tokyo was on board had gone through many battles and sometimes failed to complete the mission, but no one would vent their grievances on the ship, thinking that it did not act decisively and quickly enough to delay major events.If one day it is hit hard and cannot be recovered, people will only recall its past contributions with regret. 【Note 1】What happened in the past, no matter whether the result is right or wrong, can only be borne by people themselves.

When being picked up on the American ship, Tokyo stared at the hull in front of him, and had nothing to say.Washington is also on a light cruiser, which is flexible, fast and has a certain degree of deterrence. It is also considered to be worthy of the majesty of a country.But comparing the two light cruisers side by side, the "Kuma-class" in Tokyo is more than shabby by more than 01:30.There is no other reason. All the cruisers that can serve in Japan are sinking and injured. At present, this ship is barely found among the models built 20 years ago that can sail.I don't know how Washington picked out the American "Cleveland class", maybe he doesn't need to pick any - any one is better than Japan's.

Tokyo boarded the ship alone and was led by the enemy military officer.Some crew members wanted to accompany and protect him, but he declined.No matter how much unease he felt about what was to come, he still believed that Washington did not need or be low enough to rely on this interview to hurt him.

Walking to a room, the officer opened the door and made a gesture of invitation, and Tokyo walked in and gently closed the door.The room is about the size of an ordinary reception room, decorated in a navy-style elegance and simplicity.In the center there was a small table with a beautiful tablecloth, two chairs, and a chandelier cast a soft light above it.It's not dim, and it's different from the bright lights of general meetings. It's just the right light for reading and writing.The curtains have been lowered, still letting in faint natural light.After a while the sun goes down, and the sense of isolation from the outside world will be even stronger.A closed, quiet place for conversation.

Washington is preparing for the stage.Seeing Tokyo coming in, he smiled and picked up the kettle and two glasses: "Are you here? Sit down quickly. You are really on time."

"Isn't it disrespectful to be late if you can be on time?" Tokyo noticed that Washington was not wearing a military uniform. A formal and rigorous suit would definitely be out of tune with the entire ship if it was left outside, but it would be pleasing to the eye only in this room.

"Mr. Tokyo is very polite."

"That's amazing." The glass filled with water was placed on the table in front of Tokyo, and he couldn't help asking, "Is it appropriate for you to do this kind of work yourself? Someone else can order it."

"It's just that I want to." Washington sat down opposite. "I'm requesting a private conversation, so when you and I meet in this room... I don't want anyone else to disturb you. Do you understand, Mr. Tokyo?"

While speaking, Washington rested his elbows on the table, and leaned forward to narrow the distance between the two, with an indistinct smile on his face.Tokyo clenched his jaw instinctively, resisting the urge to sit back.Before Japan-US relations were hopeless, he had dealt with Washington many times, and he was considered an acquaintance.In Washington's style, he will show a little intimacy to strangers, but he will be well-proportioned and will not exceed the familiarity.The face is kind, but the eyes are normal and even slightly indifferent.Washington, who was sitting across from him, was in a state he hadn't dealt with before. He offered a water glass unconventionally and took the initiative to get closer. His eyes were not indifferent, but there was a kind of enthusiasm that he couldn't understand for a while.Thinking that this is the capital of a country that has just dropped a nuclear bomb on its own land, the confusion brought about by the inability to interpret is even more amplified.

Tokyo nodded silently.

"So, let's get started. Let's talk about the future of our two countries from the bottom of our hearts."

Outside the window, the sky was getting darker, the evening clouds were hanging low, and there was a dim light flickering on the sea level.

The sun is setting in the west.

An hour later, the northeast region also ushered in the sunset.In the various headquarters in Xinjing, soldiers came in and out, taking out piles of files and throwing them in the yard to be burned, fearing that they would be buried in the ground if they were too late to burn.The large black smoke column from the burning became a spectacle, and the citizens and even the people in the suburbs saw it from a distance and wondered, there is no need to burn charcoal for heating in August!The black smoke also seriously obscured the sight. Changchun looked over from the palace, and the sun that was about to set in the west could not be seen clearly by the swaying smoke.

The palace was also in a hurry, everyone was packing their luggage and preparing to escape.In the early afternoon, a senior Kwantung Army official came and told them that the Soviet army would arrive near the capital the next day and they would retreat immediately.He even said to Emperor Puyi, "Be prepared to commit suicide in defeat."

In fact, Puyi was already extremely nervous before getting this harsh word.When he was packing his suitcase, a fortune-telling book was stained with red potion. He thought that there would be bloodshed, and he found Changchun, who was not familiar with him, to express his anxiety. Maybe he felt that Changchun was also a person who had taken refuge in the Japanese. Resonate with him a bit.

As for the person who brought the disaster, he was more afraid that the Kwantung Army would be cornered than the Soviet army, so he killed him first.

Changchun comforted him a few words inadvertently, but naturally he couldn't come up with any magic tricks.When Puyi finished his complaint, he suddenly asked: "Then you, plan to..."

Maybe he realized the stupidity of the question and didn't finish it.This person actually cared about Changchun's safety, which moved Changchun a little strangely.The thought disappeared in a flash, and then nothing but numbness remained in my heart.

He and Jilin were the only two in the huge palace, standing idly in the corridor, watching other people get busy.They are not going anywhere.The Japanese city lord who was originally stationed in Xinjing went to the front line. Humans generally do not interfere with the city lord without orders, so they are still safe for the time being, and no one here has the ability to force them.

"Tell me," Jilin tried his best to speak in a relaxed tone, "that Kumamoto man, he won't come back, right? The front line has been defeated, if he is not stupid, he should go back to the country before it's too late. When all the people in the palace are gone, We were truly liberated."

Changchun looked at the place where the black smoke was rising, and muttered something softly, but Jilin didn't hear clearly.She wasn't sure if Changchun was talking to herself or if she didn't want to say it out loud, so she asked again: "What did you just say?"

"I mean..." Changchun moved his feet and turned his whole body towards her, "My sister should be liberated. I can't, I don't have that luck, and I don't have that qualification."

"...Why do you say that?"

"The big tree was cut down and burned as firewood, and the vines that cling to the big tree will not be spared. In the eyes of others, am I not the vine that clings? The Japanese failed, and I will definitely be punished."

"You have your special reasons, and you didn't really trust them from the beginning!"

Changchun smiled: "How many people believe this? An unknown young man fled his hometown with his family after the enemy invaded. During this period, he learned that his small town had become promising in the hands of the enemy. The family agreed After going back together to resist, he secretly got into the enemy's car, took up an important position under the support of the enemy, and showed his face... Even though I have never thought of submitting to them for so many years, how much evidence do I have to support it? Such a small number of people, and those insignificant efforts? A normal person would not save the country in such a twisted way. When I did that kind of reckless behavior, I should have foreseen the end. If Manchukuo continues to exist for a day, I will One more day of suffering; Manchukuo is finished, and I have to pay the price."

In the gap between the words stopped, Jilin wanted to interrupt, but Changchun said urgently again: "But my sister is different. Brother and Binzi both saw that you were trying to save me, so you were caught. Just wait for them to come. You tell them how hard you’ve had all these years, how much you miss them, and everything goes away.”

"But!" Jilin finally seized the opportunity to refute, "I was caught on purpose. I will tell them that I trust you, and tell them that you have not failed my trust! As long as most of the family members are convinced, the crime will not be carried out. .They don't believe you, I, I...I'll keep pestering them until they believe you!"

"Sister Jilin, you are my closest relative. People know that strong emotions can deceive reason. How credible can the defense of a close relative be? Even if you convince everyone, will they think that I am innocent in their hearts? I'm afraid It’s just a kind of tolerance. Instead of living with family members who are full of doubts about me, it’s better to let them think that I am too ambitious and confused for a while, and I will spend a year in prison and let the past pass. I don’t There will be complaints..."

Jilin estimates that his understated "a few years" is as long as half a lifetime or even a lifetime for ordinary people.She wanted to comfort Changchun not to think too badly about things, and wanted to teach him how to carry everything by himself, but sadly found that she could not refute forcefully. Before "defecting", Changchun thought a lot, but he still had a fiery and uneasy heart, and would make rash actions alone; now his thoughts are farther-reaching than Jilin, and Jilin is no longer enough to teach him from a high place .

"Don't talk too much too early. I'll go and be alone and think of other ways." Ji Lin was sad and anxious, and when he turned his heels, they rubbed against the floor and made a sharp sound, then he turned his head and walked away quickly. .

Changchun turned his head, still staring at the endless black smoke.

"That's good." He clenched his fists and muttered to himself, "This is good..."

The shape of the glass is simple, but the workmanship is exquisite and the luster is clear.Washington tapped the wall of the cup with his neatly manicured nails, and there were small and crisp sounds one after another.Tokyo has no doubts that, given a few more of the same glass, Washington could play a fine piece of music.

"The ship you are on, dare to guess, was built during the Taisho period?"

"Yes, in the sixth year of Taisho."

"That era—the pace of development of the two navies seems to be similar."

"It's better to say that we are influenced by the United States, not only in the navy." At that time, the influence of warlords declined as a whole, and various political parties came together, which were somewhat similar to the United States in appearance.However, even if the seed sprouts, the soil is not rich, and a hailstorm can destroy it in an instant.Tokyo is not particularly sentimental about this, presumably the way his country has risen, and the hit is at odds with this path. After "September [-]", he said to Yokohama in front of the prime minister's tomb, "Unfortunately, the wind of freedom in the Taisho era is destined to become a thing of the past" is the best portrayal of his point of view.

Thinking of that sentence again, I feel ironic.Which road is suitable for this country, how can he assert the word "destined"?

"I don't know what you think, but I still miss that era a little. Although there have been boring things, such as Europe fighting in the dark, fortunately, it doesn't affect us much. The important thing is that our two countries coexist peacefully in the same Pacific Ocean ah."

"Does His Excellency Washington really miss such a thing?"

"Why not? Would Mr. Tokyo like the tunnels of Iwo Jima filled with charred corpses? Or do you think I'd like the bay at Pearl Harbor clogged with wreckage from ships and men?"

"However," Tokyo looked into Washington's smiling eyes coldly, "I like victory, and I think His Excellency Washington doesn't hate it either. Victory, those things you and I don't like are just unimportant sacrifices, and you have to give something What's more, it's an insignificant footnote in a major event in the progress of human history."

"It means that if Japan defeats the United States, it will be a great advance in human history?" Washington crossed his arms and leaned back slightly.

Tokyo didn't answer.

"Well, I have also heard that your country has a simple anti-hegemony thinking. Europeans and North Americans have occupied too many resources in the world, which is too unfair. The oppressed Asia should be united and get rid of Power, create a better order. Of course, the boss that unites Asia can only be your country. Other countries are too weak, and they only deserve to be a group of younger brothers. If the younger brothers don’t listen to the boss, they have to fix it. Way."

Tokyo was not used to Washington's tone.In the capitals under two very different regimes, one contacts only high-ranking officials and celebrities, and the other often mixes with ordinary people. The words of the latter seem too explicit and vulgar to the former.

"It seems that you have heard a lot of rumors. But there is no point in talking about these unspecific rumors?"

"I just want to talk frankly about my views on your country's ideals - you will fail, not only because of our country's superiority in force. Your country does not have the means to control the world, nor can it bring Asia back, both of which are fatal factors .”

It was impossible to say that Tokyo wasn't annoyed at all, but he didn't want to entangle this topic with his spirit.He agreed to come to negotiate, the purpose is very clear, that is, to find a way of truce other than unconditional surrender.Although he has close contacts with the officer group, after all, it is not like some people in it still have unrealistic fantasies about winning the counterattack.As long as there is still a glimmer of hope, he should give up his quick talk and strive for actual benefits.

He pretended to change the subject indifferently: "It's okay for you to maintain this point of view. However, being unable to control the world and defending oneself are not two equivalent propositions, and the latter cannot be derived from the former. If the United States thinks that it can easily conquer Japan, I'm going to express my regret."

"You're right. We just dropped the nuclear bomb because we thought it was too troublesome to land on the mainland."

"..."

From Washington's slightly drooping lip line and his carefully scrutinized expression, he has a full understanding of the bluntness of the words he just rushed out of his mouth, and he didn't take it as a slip of the tongue. "I said at the very beginning, let's talk about the future of our two countries," he explained calmly. "Don't be surprised—I don't usually do diplomacy like this."

"I am so honored." Tokyo would not believe that the United States dropped the nuclear bomb only for such a simple consideration, but he could only continue, "You see, we are not going to surrender. Maybe you have more than one, yours I don’t know the secrets, but this kind of advanced weapons is always difficult to mass-produce at the beginning. After all, it is impossible for the United States to rely on them to destroy all of Japan’s military forces one by one.”

"Hmm." Washington signaled to continue.

"You said you used nuclear bombs because you were afraid of trouble. You probably don't want to have bloodshed later. We don't want any more, but if you don't give a little basic dignity, the Yamato nation would rather die. All the land and interests in the Pacific Ocean, the United States They have all been regained and will not be threatened again. What we are asking for is only the bottom line of a country's autonomy, to try war criminals by itself, and to reorganize the government by itself. This is harmless to the United States. Illusory pleasure, must we surrender unconditionally?"

"In such a cruel war, in the end, the defeated country that provoked the war tried its own war criminals and formed a government..." Washington put his hand under his lips, pretending to think for a second. "What kind of defeat is it? Claiming that you will no longer threaten other countries, do the diehards in your military agree to this statement? Will people from other countries believe it?"

"The objective comparison of strength lies in the fact that the diehards in the military will not seek their own death. Your Excellency Washington, both countries aspire to peace. In the contest of strength, I admit that we have already lost. Just let go of some emotional disputes, The greater misfortune can be reduced. The strong have both sides of justice and mercy, I beg you to consider the latter from now on..."

Before Tokyo finished speaking, he saw Washington adjust his tie, get up, walk around the table and walk to his side.He was not without surprise, and he was not easy to act rashly. He let Washington look down at him and said, "What a pity, haven't you felt the pity of the United States?"

"Please specify."

The excessively close distance made Tokyo very uncomfortable, and his internal organs were surging with energy and blood.The next movement was even more unbearable. Washington lowered his upper body and leaned close to his ear. "Kyoto is not on the bombing list. She appeared, but we removed it out of respect for your country's cultural traditions. Besides, your country refuses to surrender, and dropping nuclear bombs is not a failure. It is a routine behavior of bombarding the other side's position. It is not for the purpose of deterring you in this way, hoping that your country will recognize the situation..."

Washington's hot breath stirred Tokyo's jet-black hair.

"...for you?" he said softly.

Under the eaves of a half-collapsed retail store, Nagasaki wakes up.

Black rain was falling sparsely from the sky.The raindrops fell on his arm, and he wiped it with his hands, and the water stains were wiped away, leaving a gray spot that could not be removed.He gave up, and a sound diverted his attention just in time.Nearby was an apparently disorganized group of people moving, ragged or completely nude, the patterns of their clothing vividly imprinted on their skin by the burn.Some people hung with severe burns on their arms, and some people's chests and backs were covered with broken glass.A vague voice came out, which seemed to be repeating "water", and it was located according to the sound, but it came from a man with a bloody face and no lips.

They staggered, rarely pausing, exposed to the black rain of radioactivity after contamination, oblivious to their purpose.Some came near a telephone pole or a post-box and stopped moving, circling stiffly around them.Occasionally, a body fell to the ground and trembled slightly.After a while, nothing happened.

In the distance, dark clouds hovered, and fires were burning everywhere.Rubble lay everywhere, and the streets lost their shape, becoming a settlement for strange, twisted objects.Strange sights and strange people are well matched, as if the world is just the way it should be.Nagasaki's burns are not too severe, and the skin is still soft to the touch, but it has become a different kind.

He recalled blue flashes, fireballs, whirlwinds, scalding blasts of air.He reacted: his prefecture suffered the same attack as Hiroshima three days earlier.

From a rational point of view, Nagasaki was lucky.The nuclear bomb was originally going to be dropped in the central business district, but thick clouds forced the US plane to change its target.The bombs instead fell on a valley called Urakami across the mountains, where the military factories had been shattered, along with other targets.When he saw the flash, Nagasaki ducked behind the wall of the nearest retail store, which collapsed on top of him, knocking him out but providing some shelter.However, it would be ridiculous for Nagasaki to feel lucky now.

Nagasaki stood up.Heat and dust enveloped him, and he felt thirsty.His head was still dizzy, and only the strong desire to find water drove him around.He passed a ditch from which a scorched hand protruded, as if trying to crawl out.He grabbed the hand and tried to push, but the skin peeled off his palm in pieces.The hand fell and never came up again.

When he arrived at an open space, the wound on his body hurt so badly that he had to rest for a while.On one side of the open space, there are some who have excluded the chest and heaving. Besides, the wounded are not living. The wounded are lying on their backs, with yellow and smelly liquid coming out of their muscles. Six or seven healthy people are taking care of them, turning them every once in a while. body in order to stimulate the nerves and keep breathing.Much of this effort is futile, and they still die a slow, painful death.In contrast, those who died immediately after the explosion felt much better. They may take a few steps, and then fall to the ground, their eyes facing the sky seem to be unaware of the instant death.There was another group of people sitting together. They suffered minor injuries and came over by themselves to wait for treatment.

When Nagasaki's line of sight passed one of the wounded, he froze.The man also turned his head and found him.

Fukuoka took two steps forward, then trotted all the way to him.He covered his mouth, his face was full of disbelief, and the circles of his eyes were red: "Oh my god! Fortunately... fortunately you are still alive... I'm afraid I won't find you!"

"Ah." Nagasaki repeated in a low voice, "I'm still alive."

Fukuoka led him to sit down and gave him a water bottle.At this time, a young woman came over. Nagasaki recognized her face. Her husband was an employee of the steel and weapons mixed factory in Urakami.She asked Nagasaki in a low voice if she had seen her husband, her eyes looked particularly pitiful with anticipation.Nagasaki said she didn't see it, so she gently shook the black object in her arms and left, saying, "I always want him to see the child..."

Nagasaki asked, "Aren't you going to let her stay?"

"She doesn't want to." After the woman walked away, Fukuoka whispered, "Her baby died a long time ago, I told her, she nodded, and then seemed to forget... She kept walking around here, and every time she saw it, she would cry. When I asked her where her husband was, I was terrified."

After the rest, although Nagasaki was still emotionally numb, he regained a little strength and his mind could barely turn, so he wanted to help settle the wounded.Fukuoka held him back: "You don't need it. My main purpose here is to find you, and your body can't be tired. I'm going to take you to a safe place."

Nagasaki turned his head and looked at the rows of limbs on the ground: "I hope to help a little more..."

"It's useless to have one more you or one more me. What's lacking is medicine and supplies. I'm afraid it will take a few days before a large number of people can be shipped in. Before that, I can only watch people die one by one." Fukuoka's voice was trembling, but very resolute. "Come with me, go to the city, where the situation is better."

Nagasaki couldn't resist physically and mentally, so he had to let Fukuoka take him away.Fukuoka drove a jeep, bumping along the damaged road.The first mileage could be counted in corpses, and later, the destroyed houses and mutilated body parts gradually decreased, and around them became groups of residents who, although panicked, were at least alive.Jeep stopped in front of the office building, and the two entered Nagasaki's office.Fukuoka let Nagasaki rest on the sofa first, and sent a report by himself, reporting to the headquarters his rough estimate of the damage and the news of Nagasaki's survival.

The calendar on the desk flipped to August 8th.Across the desk, Nagasaki's eyes hit the portrait of the Emperor hanging on the opposite wall.Facing the portrait, he folded his hands and prayed in his heart.At first his mouth was wriggling and reciting, but then there was no sound.With a sore nose and stinging eyeballs, he finished his prayers with great reluctance.

Not long after Fukuoka sent the telegram, the phone rang.When Fukuoka received the call, a look of surprise and awe quickly appeared on his face. While agreeing, he called Nagasaki to come over and handed him the microphone.

"Nagasaki," said the man from Tokyo, who was undoubtedly on the line, "I heard that you survived and were not seriously injured. Tell me a few words, I need to hear your voice."

"Yes! I'm ok... I left Urakami when it exploded, on my way to the old town. The thing that was supposed to be a nuclear bomb exploded over Urakami with a very strong flash. I heard survivors say, The bomber flew very high and dropped the bomb, so it can't be an ordinary bomb. But the average person doesn't know about Hiroshima, I guess... even if they see the plane, they think it is still high, and they don't think they need to go into the bunker... a lot People are dead..."

Nagasaki threw himself on the desk, crying bitterly.He put down the receiver, and didn't dare to hang up the phone without authorization, so all the shrill cries fell into Tokyo's ears.Tokyo bowed his head silently, listening to the heartbroken cries that were not caused by grievances or self-pity, but purely from a huge blow. crying.He thought of Hiroshima, who was almost certain to die, so the tears no longer belonged to Nagasaki alone, but were vented to him together with Hiroshima.

He closed his eyes and suddenly felt extremely cold.

Nagasaki seemed to be curled up and trembling from crying, almost exhausted but unable to stop, Fukuoka had no choice but to pick up the phone again, and briefly spoke to Tokyo to express his apology.

"No need to apologize..." Tokyo declined, "I owe you all."

After the call, Tokyo seemed to evaporate from the political scene.Since his return from the secret meeting with Washington, he has done nothing worth recording, and he has been absent from all the occasions when the whole country is in the torment of the past.People hope that there will be a hero who will stand up to quell the war of words among high-level officials and save the whole nation from the tragedies that will happen one after another if it is delayed, but they don't know where such a hero is.

Heroes or not, people have already acted.Before 11 o'clock that night, members of the cabinet and the Supreme Council received an order from the emperor, asking them to come to the underground palace bunker to attend the imperial meeting.They were very confused. As usual, the emperor would summon them only after reaching a consensus and submitting it to the emperor.In the current cabinet, there is still a stalemate in which most of the peace proposals are agreed to but not passed by all.They could only take advantage of the darkness and rush to the palace bunker full of doubts.

From the half-closed back door, Osaka saw officials in uniforms entering the newly prepared conference room.Exhausted after hours of fruitless meetings during the day, they stared intently at the throne and the gilded screen behind it, waiting for the emperor to appear.

Osaka stuck out half of his head, saw the people who had already arrived, and then retracted.

Kyoto chuckled behind him.The woman's clothes are not as gorgeous as people's inherent impression, and her complexion is a little tired, but it does not damage her natural dignity and nobility. "Are you still confirming whether he's coming?" She laughed, "If Tokyo wanted to take revenge on you, it would have taken action a long time ago. There is no need to delay until now."

"I'll just take a look." Osaka perfunctoryly said, "Well, are you sure His Majesty has really made up his mind?"

"determine."

Looking at her beautiful and resolute face, Osaka suddenly couldn't bear it, and turned his head away.After a while, he said softly: "Meiji is a great man in history, but he did one thing wrong, which is unforgivable. Moving the imperial palace to Tokyo, leaving you who care about the imperial family the most, is really blind..."

What responded to him was a gentle sigh: "Why bother to mention the past."

Emperor Hirohito walked into the venue and stepped onto the throne made of a small podium.He is thin and wears thick glasses, which makes him look more tired than the ministers below.Osaka pulled the back door back a little further.The meeting begins.

People respected the emperor as a descendant of the gods.He rules Japan, but stays aloof from political affairs and should not take the initiative to meddle in worldly issues like war and peace.Despite all the misgivings, the meeting went on as usual.Prime Minister Suzuki first asked to read the Potsdam Declaration.Then, the six members of the Supreme Council took turns to stand up and state their opinions.It was almost a mirror image of an earlier meeting in which the foreign ministers and naval ministers argued that peace should be accepted as long as the emperor remained.General Anan said that unless the allies allowed Japan to disarm, judge war criminals by itself, and limit the occupation of the allied forces, they should continue to fight until they died.

Two hours passed, and the darkness of the early morning shrouded the earth, but the small bunker was full of turmoil.The prime minister was already tired of this scene, he stood up with a little effort, the old voice echoed in the field, calming the noise: "We have no precedent - I must, with the highest respect, ask the emperor to express his wishes."

The prime minister turned around with his old body and walked towards the emperor.This unconventional and profane act made people's panting sounds infinitely amplified, and some even screamed.The prime minister turned a deaf ear, walked up to the emperor's stage, and bowed deeply.The Emperor nodded and the Prime Minister returned to his seat.

Hirohito stood up and began to speak.The panting sound at the scene disappeared and became completely silent.

He described the bloodshed and cruelty of war, and the possible destruction of nations.He told of the hardships endured by the people of the island nation, the loss of property and lives.These are all well-known things, but when they come from the mouth of the emperor, they have a different meaning. It is a reminder that Japan took risks on everything and lost them all.The cunning politicians and hard-hearted soldiers in the audience were infected by the emperor's words, unwittingly removed their heavy masks, and revealed their true emotions.Some people slumped in their seats, bowed their heads, shrugged their shoulders, and seemed to be crying.

Compared with the statements of the previous ministers, Hirohito's words were brief.Finally, he said: "The moment has come when we must bear the burden of humiliation. With tears in my eyes, I agree to accept the declaration of the Allied Forces, which will be based on the outline drawn by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

He turned and walked out of the house.He passed by Kyoto and Osaka who were standing behind the door with their heads bowed. He paused, smiled at Kyoto, and then wiped the tears from his eyes with his white-gloved fingers.

The cabinet staff in the conference room cannot be dispersed yet.After a day and night of sleepless nights, they had to sign their opinions one by one to complete the procedure of accepting the Potsdam Declaration.Then, the decision of the meeting should be sent to the Western countries that still have diplomatic relations with Japan - the embassies in Switzerland and Sweden, and then to Washington, Moscow, London and Chongqing.In the silent and orderly work, the dawn of August 8 came quietly.The east was pale, and with the first rays of morning light, the whole of Japan seemed to wake up.

Osaka and Kyoto returned to the palace lounge for a valuable break.The most important task has been completed, and they feel a little more relaxed.

On the day Osaka left the meeting angrily, he should have returned to the jurisdiction immediately, lest Tokyo think of punishing him after finishing work.However, life has been refined for many years, and Osaka is an ancient city. Occasionally, I have a premonition that something big will happen next, so I am not in a hurry to go back.He rented a house in the outskirts of Tokyo, which is not vulnerable to air raids and convenient for sending and receiving messages.In the first few days of contact with Kyoto, they did not discuss the results. It was the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima that made Kyoto decide to intervene in political affairs.She asked Osaka to take her the safe route into the city, where she met with the ministers of the Lord and the Emperor, and then joined them in an audience with the emperor.

A short rest cannot make up for the drowsiness caused by continuous running.Osaka yawned and rubbed his face drowsily: "I guess the guy from the Ministry of War is going to fry the pot. However, although General Anan is tough, he is loyal to the royal family. He will not disobey..."

Kyoto is not familiar with the political ecology of the capital, so she should just say "I hope so." She fiddled with the radio, wondering if there was any news about the imperial meeting in the early morning, but the tune was not going well, so she smiled embarrassedly and handed over to servant.The servant deftly tuned into an ongoing broadcast.But the voice was clearly not right, inciting the audience with anger and passion.

"All the troops of Japan must never give up resistance!" the man was shouting, "We must fight resolutely, even if we eat grass and swallow earth, even if we sleep in the wild!"

Osaka is no longer sleepy.He jumped up and listened to the end of the news. "It must be someone from the army! It's not Anan. Someone is pretending to be his name, but I don't think he will actively stop it." He beat his thigh angrily.

Petitioning the emperor had done Kyoto's best. She was not familiar with the military officer group, let alone how to appease them.It's not a problem they can sort out on their own.We can only hope that the peace faction can preemptively extinguish the flames of opposition as soon as possible.

The first successful effort was the smooth delivery of the resolutions of the conference to the various allies.Its content expresses readiness to accept the Declaration provided that the Emperor's prerogatives are not