Thus the Old Man Spoke 2 - (Cyberpunk AUrunners/2077, Arasaka Saburo!SI)
1943, Tokyo, Kanto, Empire of Japan
When the Mukden Incident happened in 1931, I felt the chills of what was to come.
I had been around for roughly 12 years in this new life in Imperial Japan at that point, and while I had been aware I had a degree of plot armor tied to my name to keep my ass covered, I also felt that memeing too much over my disposition could hardly serve me well in the situation.
Eight years later, I was joining the Imperial Japanese Army rather than the Imperial Japanese Navy. This massive decision was led by awareness of what I was facing and how the IJN would hardly suit what I had in mind to accomplish: coup the government and remove the radicals by the means of guns.
Brutality was the common aspect of current Japanese politics. Most of the pseudo-dictators that preceded the collapse of the original parties were individuals that, by all means, were put there to be puppets and, once they were about to do either too good or too bad, they were removed.
By 1941, I had been made Lieutenant and was on a path of new promotions due to my dedication in 'helping the Navy'.
Brief History of Japanese Troubles: The military was the cause of democratic failings before Tojo took over and allowed the fascists to run the nation. There are various groups to know, but two of the most biggest players are the most relevant to this situation - The Kodoha (or what was left of it after the Coup of February 26 1936) which was the murderous IJA faction and the Toseiha which was the less murderous (but still murderous) IJN faction. Both were politically involved in PM pickings and... this was bad.
Pearl Harbor happened, the IJN was getting its butt kicked around by the Americans as the Giant had Woken Up, the Navy was growing upset with the rise in popularity with the Army for the government and I found myself in a fortuitous position.
While my rank was indeed tragicly low by 1943 as a mere Major, the fact I had been assigned in the Home Islands meant I had a sway of relevance far greater than most. I was stationed in Tokyo, I had a sizable military force under my command, and I had the ears of the 'weary' Navy as they knew that Japan was collapsing the more we went on with this Total War professed by Tojo.
By March 1943, I had secured contacts with the old members of the two main parties that had been absorbed by the one-party solution of Tojo and other fasci-morons: the Rikken Seiyukai (the Conservatives) and Rikken Minseito (The Liberals).
The old men were aware that a coup may be necessary to subvert the country's bad luck and avoid a complete annihilation. And while they were confident in going for a provisional coalition government under my temporary leadership to avert disaster, they were holding back from doing anything until they had the highest form of support from the highest form of power in the country (technically).
Some may have hesitated at this point - The Emperor was glorified as a god on Earth at this time, but I was a man with a thin patience and a man that cared not for formalities. So, I mailed a letter with a demand for a meeting for the sake of 'the Japanese People and for Peace', and I waited a week.
By early April, I had gone for two meetings with Hirohito. The man may be a polite and reasonable individual but he was still 'politically timid' and needed a strong kick to get things going for what he truly wanted: democracy in Japan, peace in Japan, and stability in Japan.
Two meetings were enough to finalize his support for a coup and a peace endeavors with the Americans and the British.
April 18 1943- Yamamoto Isoroku, Admiral in charge of the Pacific War with the Americans, had been told by friends of mine in the Navy to not take a tour for Rabaul and to move his fleet back to Tokyo. The order was given in advance as a skirmish ensued within the capital.
The garrison protecting Tojo and other ministers is caught off-guard and easily slaughtered. Tojo and Co. are removed and put in secret prison camps near Osaka. The men picked for the task individuals that were loyal marines and knew that the war was bad.
The news of the coup is given in the afternoon through the country and in the night for the other occupation zones. The new government is enforced, with the so-called Taisei Yokusankai (Imperial Way Rule Association) being shattered, its founders arrested, and the old diet restored to power through the re-establishment of the Seiyukai and the Minseito orders.
I am sworn in as Prime Minister, with Hatoyama Ichiro of the Seiyukai (a reliable moderate that was a known opposer of the Militarization of the goverment) serving as my 'running mate' and actual 'true leader'. The situation is a bit more complex due to the bundle of reforms I managed to pass through the man, but the main issues were still the military in China, and planning the end of the war.
A formal rupture of contacts with the Axis and our removal from the faction was a starting point, same for 'Operation Kowareta Buhin' (Broken Parts) is enacted in Manchuria in a hasty and somewhat clumsy effort: Major industrial tools, resources and other pieces of equipment were to be evacuated through Korea, anything related to Unit 731 was to be destroyed, killed or imprisoned. Forged documents were being prepared to delegitimize the group as a proper government-sanctioned unit. Kishi Nobusuke of Mantetsu was to be the scapegoat for that mess;
Taiwan was also evacuated, removing vital industry from the region and also pulling all colonial denizens from the island and to be sent to Okinawa. Despite some annoyance from the military governor, the fear of letting our citizens suffer under a Chinese purge made him compliant to the orders.
By May 1943, we were on full retreat. The extent of Kowareta Buhin had spread to the Pacific Islands, except for Iwo Jima and other radicalized strongholds that refused to surrender their positions. They were thus deemed as 'rogue elements' and no longer our responsibility.
A bit too harsh? I was speedrunning dodging two mini-suns in my backyard.
The sheer pace which legislation was passing made any previous administration pale in terms of political efforts put behind all those actions. And not even the murky mess of Indochina is able to slow it down as we coordinate the full evacuation of troops from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Siam. The forces in Burma manage to make it out through the Southern Pacific Corridor, the losses are frustrating but at least we got those men back home.
Yet, the toughest bits came as Armistices were mustered both in China and with the rest of the Allies. China allowed this earlier than the Americans, and we used this chance to get all those bastards behind the Rape of Nanjing behind bars to be hurled back at the welcoming Chinese angry mobs. Korea was sealed off, the Kwantung Army's HQ in the Dalian Peninsula was left to its own devices and soon... the Armistice with the US came too.
July 1943, Guam is chosen for a peace talks meeting. July 25 is when I arrive at destination and my delegation of fierce diplomats is met by a large contingent of US marines commanded by General MacArthur.
The man is fucking tall- a characteristics that really made me nervous. Maybe more than being one of the youngest world leaders in history as of now. Temporary leader, but still a leader.
The meeting happens within a half-broken hut. The choice was meant to 'stress the point' of damage we caused. Maybe MacArthur expected our country to try and limit the concessions we could make, but when I turned to him the Japanese offer for Peace, he was intrigued by the sheer amount of capitulation we were willing to provide.
The surrender of Manchuria, Taiwan, and all those concessions we 'stole' from the Europeans back to Nationalist China, the return of the Anglo-French Colonies in Indochina and Malaysia, and the complete capitulation of all Pacific Islands... minus Okinawa.
The lines went on to also provide all those 'war criminals' responsible for 'Pearl Harbor', the 'Rape of Nanjing', the 'use of unauthorized Gas' and other political elements that the Americans would like to lynch. The old man took a lengthy look at the document and he gave a disappointing look over at the one he was meant to give us in exchange.
In fact, he soon scrapped up the US document and took a pen, crossing out some of the concessions and adding some lines himself.
Taiwan was to remain to Japan, some of the Pacific Islands will remain Japanese, and he then requested for the trials for those war criminals to happen in Tokyo with a mixture of Japanese and American judges.
I was... I was confused. I eyed the man in shock, but he snorted.
"What? You thought we can just take all of that without some issues? We have other stuff to face, plus the main priority is for Japan to 'apologize' for what happened."
"We will do so, General MacArthur. The Emperor is already penning a letter to be radioed through the country and beyond."
The old man appeared satisfied, but I still couldn't believe how lucky we were. Maybe it was because the war had been halved through my efforts, maybe the hatred for Japan had been less pronounced for a complete capitulation mindset, or maybe MacArthur was in a good mood- fuck if I knew what was up with the old US fucker.
Still, the 'Treaty of Guam' pretty much allowed Japan to survive as a country while the proper application of the peace treaty ensued. Despite it not having any interest in taking care of the Japanese industry, I used the paper to attack the major corporations, the Zaibatsu.
In less than two months, those major groups were shattered and 'sold' to competitors. I was delighted to hear that father had used our funds to seize up some slices of all of that goodness and expanded the Arasaka Corporation in the process.
Up until December 1943, the framework behind the reconstruction of Japan was established. Politically, socially and economically, the country was given full reformation and most of the militarist laws were removed or amended.
The electoral law in particular was influenced to allow universal suffrage for both men and women, while also allowing the Communist Party to operate without restrictions to prevent troubles with the resurging Soviet Union.
In December 22, after months of preparations, I confirmed my resignation as Prime Minister and the cession of the role to Hatoyama Ichiro for him to lead a caretaker government to lead up to the January 12 1944 Elections.
Japan was now at peace, radicalism was getting dealt with through military strikes and...
I was back to work with my father at the family business, using all those loopholes I had left in the Japanese new laws to expand our company's reach at a faster reach than in the original timeline.
AN
Prime Minister Arasaka Saburo. A youngster that tricked everyone in charge and, at the end of the day, ended the Pacific Scene for WWII while also making good business for himself and his father.
Next time, we are back to Sasha and Grandpa Saburo.