Night had fallen as Nagata Tetsuzan and Obata Toshishiro emerged from the Army Ministry building. It had been nearly three years since the Great Kanto Earthquake, and the rubble in Tokyo's urban areas had largely been cleared away. However, construction of new buildings had not yet begun on the ruins. In the darkness, the once densely populated and vibrant city of Tokyo seemed rather desolate.

Obata had originally intended to just see Nagata out, but when he saw Nagata take out a cigarette case and offer him a cigarette, he knew Nagata had a question. Sure enough, as soon as Obata lit his cigarette, Nagata asked, "Obata-kun, your father is a member of the House of Peers, so you should understand the House of Peers well. If Baron Obata has time, I would like to pay him a visit."

"What does Nagata-kun want to know?"

"How many people in the House of Peers agree with the plan for building the Empire's domestic market?" Nagata answered decisively. Japan was currently experiencing surging undercurrents, triggered by the 'Japan Land Restoration Outline' proposed by two members of the House of Representatives who had died mysteriously. With the subsequent brewing, the newspapers had already proposed the *Outline of the Construction Plan for the Domestic Market of the Great Japanese Empire*. According to newspaper reports, this 'Outline' was a plan proposed by a certain MP, or a group of MPs.

Nagata believed what the newspapers said was nonsense. If a member of the House of Representatives had the ability to write such an 'Outline', the Ministry of Finance would certainly have invited that MP to become a key official within the ministry. The so-called outline was a synthesis of 'He's Philosophy', the practice of China's land revolution, and Professor Hira Toyomori's inspection report, written based on Japan's current situation. The person who penned it must be an excellent economist and an experienced official. Nagata even suspected that perhaps He Rui had finally made his move.

In the night, Obata Toshishiro looked at Nagata, who was puffing heavily on his cigarette. The light of the cigarette flickered, and combined with the dim streetlights, Nagata's expression looked slightly ferocious. After thinking for a moment, Obata asked, "Why is Nagata-kun worried about the House of Peers?"

Nagata answered very decisively, "Going forward, there cannot be any enemies within the House of Peers."

Obata felt Nagata's ruthless mood and was somewhat surprised. Although he felt the pressure within Japan was immense, he didn't think it had reached the point where one had to clearly distinguish between friends and enemies and have a showdown. He looked carefully at Nagata's expression again. Before he could decide how to broach the subject, he heard Nagata say, "Please convey my request to visit to your father, Obata-kun."

"Alright," Obata replied. He then saw Nagata throw down the half-smoked cigarette, bow, and get into the car. The car, which had already started, immediately drove off and disappeared into the pitch-black night. Obata didn't return to the Army Ministry building until he couldn't see anything anymore. He continued to smoke slowly, recalling Nagata's speech at the Army Ministry today: "The differences between the Imperial Way Faction and the Control Faction are now insignificant. What is important is to preserve the Imperial Polity. There are indeed some heartless rich people in the Empire. If we want to improve the domestic market, we should reprimand them. But land reform is absolutely unfeasible."

Obata had learned from his eldest brother that someone in the House of Peers had actually proposed a House of Peers version of land reform. Even after hearing the introduction of the version from his brother, Obata understood that this version was just an attempt to make a painless reform to give the people an explanation. One couldn't say this version of land reform had zero changes, but it really only had a tiny bit of change.

However, in Nagata's view, no compromise could be given. Such a tough attitude was vastly different from the flexible attitude Nagata usually left on people. Obata didn't think Nagata had any problems, so there was only one reason left: Nagata had seen some danger that Obata hadn't seen at all.

What kind of danger could it be? Obata threw down the cigarette butt and walked towards the Ministry of War building. Many thoughts turned in his mind along the way, but he couldn't make a determination.

The night grew deeper. Saionji Kinmochi had already taken a short nap in the rocking chair in his study. Old people slept lightly, so when footsteps sounded in the corridor, the Genro Saionji Kinmochi had already woken up. By the time he stood up, the servant had gently opened the door. Seeing Saionji, the servant said, "Master, Nagata-kun is here."

The old man and the young man didn't stand on ceremony. They sat on either side of the Western-style tea table under the large glass window of the study. Nagata said straight to the point, "Excellency, the domestic situation has reached a point where we cannot make the slightest concession. Those seemingly reasonable plans will only drag the Empire into chaos."

Saionji Kinmochi wasn't surprised at all. He asked calmly, "Are there no redeeming qualities in those views?"

In recent days, the Japanese upper echelons hadn't been idle. Not only had the upper echelons studied the outline for Japan's domestic market construction, but Prince Regent Hirohito had also consulted Saionji. Even the 'sick' Emperor Taisho had called Saionji in and consulted him in the royal family's unique 'implicit' manner, as if he hadn't asked anything.

Saionji naturally felt this plan was very radical and its feasibility was very, very low. As Japan's only remaining Genro, Saionji had to admit that this plan was not without merit. In particular, the theoretical basis of this plan was very solid, and its application goals were quite clear. According to intelligence obtained from China, China's economy had also begun to become active again due to successful 'asset restructuring'. Therefore, a very small number of the upper echelons began to feel that perhaps they could give it a try to some extent.

Facing Nagata's clear-cut opposition, Saionji really wanted to see what the man upon whom high hopes were placed as the smartest man in the Japanese Army was thinking. When Saionji was ready, Nagata answered, "Excellency, you have always assisted Prince Ito. What Prince Ito won for Japan was Japan's voice in East Asia. Building the domestic market looks like an economic issue, but it is actually a strategic choice of where the Empire is heading. Once implemented, even if only a small opening is made, Japan's national policy will inevitably turn inward. At that time, the voice in East Asia that Prince Ito put his heart and soul into obtaining for Japan will be lost."

Hearing Nagata mention his teacher Ito Hirobumi, ripples still rose in Saionji's calm heart. Back then, Saionji Kinmochi had followed Ito Hirobumi to win the First Sino-Japanese War, and from then on possessed a voice in East Asia. Since then, Japan had embarked on a completely new path. But after Ito Hirobumi died, Japan had become accustomed to such a status domestically, and no one mentioned the importance of the voice in East Asia to Japan anymore. It was as if Japan naturally should possess such power.

Nagata threw this question out straightforwardly, and Saionji Kinmochi felt he was moved. His originally high evaluation of Nagata was raised even further. But this question concerned Japan's national policy, so Saionji Kinmochi pressed, "Nagata-kun, do you think China will win in the future?"

"The current Japan no longer has the ability to organize a million-strong army to fight a national war with China. Even if it did, even if it went to war with China and both sides had two million dead, it still wouldn't change anything. But this is not the reason for Japan to change its national policy from now on." At this point, Nagata's emotions became agitated. His throat moved a bit, and finally he took out his cigarette case and lit one for himself.

Saionji thought for a while before continuing to ask, "Nagata-kun, you haven't answered my question."

"Excellency. With Japan's current economy, it can still cause very big trouble for China. For a considerable time in the future, the Japanese Navy can still suppress China. Then, any country that wishes for Japan to balance China will recognize Japan's voice in East Asia. However, once Japan's national policy turns inward, how many people will still support Japan spending huge financial resources to support the military to balance China's policy? Once the domestic front does not support it, Japan will have to give up holding on to its voice in East Asia. The voice in East Asia will become a bargaining chip for economic cooperation with China. First, it will be abandoned little by little, and finally, it will be completely abandoned. Excellency, are you willing to accept such a future?"

Saionji naturally didn't want to give up Japan's voice in East Asia, but he also felt things might not be that bad. After thinking for a while, he asked, "Will it really develop to that step? Are there no variables in between?"

Nagata looked back at Saionji Kinmochi's gaze without fear, "He-kun is still very young, and He-kun has already organized a very outstanding government. If we want to wait for variables to appear, it will take a long time. If we give up the right to speak, Japan will likely have to give it up within a few years. Excellency, I think you can understand."

Hearing Nagata so firmly believe that Japan would completely give up its voice in East Asia within a few years, Saionji Kinmochi did suspect Nagata was exaggerating. But Saionji Kinmochi also indeed understood Nagata's meaning. So Saionji Kinmochi said, "Nagata-kun, let's stop here for today. There may be a gathering in the next few days, and I would like to invite Nagata-kun to attend."

Seeing his efforts had some effect, Nagata felt a bit more relaxed. he bowed decisively and replied, "Yes!"