"Baka!" Prime Minister Koizumi Shinta trembled as he listened to the account of the spy bought back for twenty million, offering only that single response.
After the spy was carried away, Shinta was left alone in the office, staring blankly at the folder on the desk. Suddenly, he thought of someone.
He hastily dialed a number: "Senior Aota? This is Shinta. I'm calling to trouble you, sensei, because of a tricky matter. May I ask where you are now? I will come see you immediately."
"No need, I'm outside your door," the voice on the other end replied.
Slightly startled, Shinta quickly got up and opened the tightly closed door. An imposing old man in a kimono stood before him, still holding the phone he was talking on.
"Unaware of senior's arrival, please forgive my inadequate reception," Shinta bowed his head in a standard apology.
"Let's talk inside," the old man smiled and patted Shinta's head. Probably only he dared to do this in Japan today.
After instructing his guards not to disturb them, Shinta locked the door from the inside.
The old man naturally sat down in the Prime Minister's office chair, taking out a paper fan from his bosom and holding it. Shinta showed no anger at the old man's actions. And when he saw the paper fan in the old man's hand, Shinta knew the problem could be solved.
The old man before him was a heavyweight figure in Japan. He had no power, no wealth, but his influence on Japan absolutely surpassed Shinta's. He was the former Emperor's chief strategist – Aota Ryuichi. What he possessed was wisdom. He looked physically strong now, but he was already over eighty years old. Japan's rapid post-war rise was inextricably linked to him. He proposed solutions to almost all major national issues, and even the country's direction was based on the plans he formulated. In Japan, Ryuichi was known as Japan's Zhuge Kongming. Receiving even a slight pointer from him was considered beneficial for life. Many well-known Japanese entrepreneurs and military commanders had received his guidance. Someone once said that if Ryuichi wanted to be Prime Minister or Emperor, all of Japan could change its surname overnight. But he was truly a man without ambition. Once Japan's development was on track, he rarely appeared on the political stage.
Ryuichi's trademark was the figure-eight mustache on his upper lip. When contemplating problems, he would hold a paper fan; when the fan opened, the problem would be solved.
"Senior Aota is indeed a divine figure! Just as I was thinking of seeking senior's help, senior arrived at my humble abode," Shinta said excitedly.
"Let's skip the pleasantries. I want to know what intelligence the twenty million bought back?" Ryuichi looked directly at the standing Prime Minister.
After a detailed account, Ryuichi's gaze returned to the folder on the table.
"Have you looked at it?" Ryuichi asked.
"Not yet. I intended to invite sensei to review it together," Shinta said with utmost respect.
Ryuichi used the paper fan to flip open the closed folder, also turning the first page of the great war...
Shinta read carefully, observing the changes in his senior's expression. First a smile, then a solemn face, then picking up the document with both hands, body trembling, then putting it down, closing his eyes in deep thought, tapping the back of his head lightly with the fan, showing confusion. Three minutes passed. He opened his eyes, smiled again, and looked appreciatively at the folder.
"Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!" Ryuichi tapped the desk with his paper fan. "Never seen such a rigorous plan. It's practically calculated even 'God' into it."
"Senior..." Ryuichi's actions startled Shinta.
"If the person who wrote this plan is sincere, it seems Japan dominating the world is no longer a dream."
"The plan senior refers to is?" Shinta was puzzled.
"This folder," Ryuichi pushed the plan document slightly.
"The gist of the plan is for Japan to launch a full-scale offensive against Asian regions, excluding China. That is, a new war of aggression!" Ryuichi's simple words shocked the Prime Minister.
"Launch a new war of aggression?" Shinta's voice trembled. "Senior Aota, didn't you say the current situation is too chaotic, and we shouldn't invade other countries for at least twenty years?"
"It's different now." Ryuichi stroked his figure-eight mustache. "The entire situation has changed. What we previously tabooed was China's SEED and the joint counterattack from various countries. But now, due to fear of SEED, countries are focused on their own development. Even the US, which loves to meddle most, has withdrawn all its peripheral troops, essentially closing itself off. As long as we don't invade the truly strong, no one has the mood to bother with us. Moreover, we are invading countries surrounding China; they will definitely watch the fire from the other bank."
"But..." Shinta wanted to add.
"I know you want to talk about China's reaction." Ryuichi abruptly opened his paper fan; a bright red sun was printed on the snow-white surface. "This represents its attitude! The attitude expressed by Nie Adam, commander of China's strongest army!"
Curious, Shinta picked up the folder. After reading for a moment, he became uncontrollably excited, dropping the folder onto the floor.
"As long as we don't invade mainland China, they won't offer any obstruction?!"
"Correct!" Ryuichi smiled. "They won't offer any obstruction, at least the Special Operations National Defense Force we worried about won't interfere. Those ordinary soldiers, to Japan today, are no different from oats waiting to be harvested."
"Why would they do this?" Shinta pondered.
"Because he wants a coup!" Ryuichi closed his paper fan. "Human desire for power is endless. He just wants to use our hands to kill the Chinese army that might obstruct him. Just like the consistent reactions of the Chinese, China's history is a record of power struggles."
"But Japan unifying Asia doesn't benefit him either," Shinta said.
"Compared to scattered red beans, cooked red bean porridge is easier to swallow," Ryuichi replied.
"He wants us to unify first, then destroy our country, and naturally become the king of the already unified Asia!" Cold sweat dripped from Shinta.
"His calculation is to use our hands to help him unify Asia. Truly a perfect plan," Ryuichi sighed. "But he overlooked one point..."
"Please enlighten me, senior," Shinta requested guidance.
"He didn't account for the level of our technological development, trusting too much in his own kingly power. I dare say, right now, apart from SEED, Japan faces no real threat on Earth. And the information I received clearly indicates that in China, only 13, who was removed from the national register, possesses SEED, and only he can launch SEED."
"But will he really not interfere with our invasion? You know, within the range covered by SEED, all defenses are a joke. If he uses it in Tokyo... Japan will become like Taipei..." Shinta didn't dare to think further.
"SEED's power is indeed immense, but it has a fatal weakness!" Ryuichi smiled confidently. "It's a point-detonation weapon. As long as 13 doesn't come to Japan, there's no threat to the country. Moreover, our scientists have already figured out why 13 survived the ion storm in Taipei. It's speculated that he timely severed his own left hand used for launching, then used a rope from his armor to hook onto a helicopter above to survive. It was a miracle; one can only say the kid's luck was too good. All evidence indicates that no object can withstand such massive ion fluctuations. Simply put, SEED is essentially a one-time weapon. The next time he uses it will be the time of his death." Ryuichi's smile turned icy.
"Senior means?" Shinta almost guessed.
"We can finally show the world the fruits of our labor over these twenty-odd years," Ryuichi said firmly.
May 21, 2005. Japan's great change began...
Instantly, all automobile production lines halted. All enterprises, as if by common consent, started producing something else. The military mobilized. After decades of gradual development, Japan possessed a decent navy. With some reorganization, two massive aircraft carrier fleets emerged.
In Japan's underground secret research institutes, convoys of vehicles transported things outwards...
Just as various countries noticed Japan's strange movements...
Koizumi Shinta was in a secret conference room, trying hard to persuade his officials...
"Wage a war of aggression? Are you crazy? Do you want to see Japan return to the state of the 1940s? And you want to attack Asian countries? Have you considered China? Even if you have, have you considered the terrifying power of SEED?" the senators said. Everyone just thought the Prime Minister had lost his mind.
Just as Shinta was struggling, Ryuichi appeared in the venue. The noisy hall instantly quieted down.
He walked behind Shinta, pointed to a location on the world map with his paper fan, and said, "This is our first attack location. All plans will commence on June 1st. At that time, we will declare war."
Even though it was Ryuichi speaking, the crowd below erupted in clamor. He slowly turned around, looked at the noisy crowd, said nothing, just opened his paper fan. The hall fell silent again.
"Everything is according to plan. These are not issues you should consider. You just need to actively cooperate with the plan. I swear!" Ryuichi's resonant voice echoed throughout the hall, "Our Rising Sun flag will fly in every corner of the world!"