Takahashi Korekiyo was the Minister of Finance and had few guards. Navy Minister Okada Keisuke had a Navy Guard at his door, so the Special Action Squad that came carried not only rifles but also light machine guns and grenades.

Although the Navy Guard resisted with all their might, they only had rifles and pistols. When the light machine guns roared, the Navy Guard, with nearly half casualties, was pinned down by bullets and couldn't lift their heads. Immediately, three grenades killed or wounded the remaining Navy Guard members, rendering them all combat-ineffective.

The Special Action Squad had only one person slightly wounded. The squad rushed up, first disarming the guards, then dragging out the wounded for emergency treatment by the medic. Major Saitō of the Special Action Squad strode to the door, which had been blown to pieces, pushed it down with his left arm, and strode in.

Navy Minister, 61-year-old Okada Keisuke, was after all an Admiral; at this moment he had judged that there was absolutely no possibility of escape. He had already put on his uniform and was sitting upright in the living room. Except for the lack of miscellaneous items displaying his rank as Admiral, his military appearance was neat.

After Major Saitō brought six soldiers in, Admiral Okada Keisuke showed no fear at all, only saying to Saitō and the others, "Sit down. I want to hear your reasons for doing this."

Major Saitō saluted Okada, then sat opposite Admiral Okada Keisuke. Admiral Okada said to his trembling wife, "Make tea."

After speaking, feeling that the traditional way of making tea would waste time, Admiral Okada added, "Use the electric kettle." The Chinese-made electric kettle boiled water very quickly and was a good kitchen appliance for getting boiling water fast.

Turning back, Admiral Okada asked, "What exactly do you think the current government has done wrong? Why must you completely overthrow the current government?"

Worthy of being an Admiral, both his questions and tone were filled with sufficient pressure. Major Saitō was not overwhelmed. The Future Society's training covered such key issues and provided high-level analysis to personnel like Major Saitō who had graduated from the Army War College.

So Major Saitō answered frankly, "Excellency, the current Japanese government is a continuation of old Japanese politics. Neither the old politics nor the current government has the ability to solve the strategic problems Japan must solve."

Admiral Okada Keisuke actually agreed with Major Saitō's answer. But he was still unwilling to be overwhelmed in strategic views by a young major just like that. Admitting Major Saitō's view meant admitting he deserved to die. After a moment of silence, Admiral Okada asked, "What do you consider to be Japan's strategic problem?"

"For a country, politics serves the economy, and the military serves politics. The current Japan still has the ability to ensure national defense security, so we must launch a revolution before national defense collapses. Otherwise, the enemies our Revolutionary Army has to deal with will not only be domestic enemies but also foreign enemies."

Hearing Major Saitō's answer, Admiral Okada felt it was somewhat irrelevant to the question. But following Major Saitō's line of thought for a moment, he found Major Saitō's answer was quite rigorous.

Major Saitō continued to explain, "Japan's strategy should have been to continuously improve Japan's industrialization level and living standards by developing the economy. This required India-nizing China and making it Japan's exclusive India. From the current perspective, this strategy is impossible to achieve. Although the current Japanese government already knows that the strategy of turning China into Japan's exclusive India cannot be realized, it has absolutely no way to formulate an effective new strategy. What is more detestable is that the current government, in order to protect the interests of the powerful elites, is refusing new policies to develop Japan's domestic market and friendly relations with neighboring countries. This has led to Japan's current plight. If these pests are allowed to continue holding power, the suffering of the Japanese people will never end. Therefore, in order to realize a new strategy beneficial to the Japanese people, we must eliminate the current government."

Admiral Okada understood. Major Saitō was not only introducing the Japanese national strategy he agreed with but also emphasizing the reason for this rebellion. A chill passed through Admiral Okada's heart; this emphasis was also pronouncing Admiral Okada's death sentence. Such a completely passive environment and the dilemma of being forced to explain to others made Admiral Okada very unhappy. Suppressing his anger, he asked, "Then, do you think the current government hasn't tried to solve the problem?"

Just then, the water boiled. Mrs. Okada put tea leaves into the teapot, poured in boiling water, and brought the tray over.

Major Saitō thanked Mrs. Okada. Mrs. Okada nodded politely in return, then looked at her husband with worried eyes. Admiral Okada just ordered his wife to pour the tea. Soon, the first brew of tea was poured into the cup. The color was almost indistinguishable from plain boiled water.

Dismissing his wife, Admiral Okada continued to ask, "Do you think the government doesn't want to solve the suffering of the Japanese people?"

"Excellency, their solutions have plunged the Japanese people into huge suffering." There was uncontrollable anger in Major Saitō's voice. "Now, we want to implement correct and effective policies immediately and demand the current government take responsibility!"

By this point in the conversation, Admiral Okada fully understood that it was absolutely impossible for the current Japanese elites and government to immediately alleviate the suffering of the Japanese people, or even for the possibility of discussing this immediately to exist. Just as Admiral Okada also knew the suffering of the Japanese people, he had never truly considered what could be done immediately.

After a moment of silence, Admiral Okada asked, "How much time are you willing to give the government?"

Major Saitō answered, "Excellency, we have already given the government at least three years. Every day from now on, thousands of citizens will die because they can't hold on. Do you think these people should continue to die? Or can the current government defeat China and seize resources immediately?"

Admiral Okada was speechless. He recalled Nagata and Ishiwara's description of the situation; the strategic desperate situation He Rui constructed for Japan was so thorough. Japan firstly didn't have the ability to organize a campaign of a million troops again. Even if they really could launch it, if Japan and China went to war again, killing 4 million young and strong soldiers on each side, China with a population of 480 million could still continue to fight.

For a country, the proportion of young and strong men aged 18-25 suitable for military service generally does not exceed 7% of the country's population. When these people die in battle, a country's labor force is exhausted, and the country is finished. Japan has about 60 million people; 7% is 4.2 million.

After a long silence, Admiral Okada asked, "Do you think you can solve Japan's problems immediately?"

"We are already solving Japan's problems," Major Saitō answered.

"...If that's the case, then shoot," Admiral Okada replied. Although very unwilling in his heart, Admiral Okada knew the other party would definitely kill him, and through the conversation just now, he completely understood the other party's purpose and thinking. At this time, delaying time or even begging servilely would undoubtedly be an insult to himself.

Major Saitō stood up and drew his pistol. "Excellency, die bravely." After speaking, he pulled the trigger on Admiral Okada.

Because the Revolutionary Army controlled almost the entire Tokyo outside the Imperial Palace, the environment was relaxed, and there was enough time. So the action of killing Admiral Okada was done very calmly. When delivering the coup de grâce to Admiral Okada who had fallen to the ground, aiming at the medulla oblongata, one shot ensured death.

Major Saitō bowed slightly to Mrs. Okada, who rushed out after hearing the gunshot. "Thank you for your tea." After speaking, Major Saitō straightened his cap at the door and walked out of Admiral Okada's house.

At this time, the truck of the Special Action Squad heading to Saionji Kinmochi's house finally appeared near Saionji's house. The Revolutionary Army officers and soldiers ready to convey the news on the road immediately signaled and stopped the vehicle. After receiving the new order, the members of the Special Action Squad breathed a sigh of relief.

Among the Japanese elites, Saionji Kinmochi had a good reputation, and everyone didn't want to kill this old man. The Special Action Squad's car wasn't driving fast; receiving the order to protect Saionji at this time, the Special Action Squad became happy. At this time, the vehicle sped up and headed for the Saionji house not far away.

After knocking, Saionji's wife opened the door. After the Special Action Squad members politely expressed their intention, Mrs. Saionji shook her head and gave an answer, "My husband has already gone to the Imperial Palace. I am the only one at home now. So, please don't waste time protecting me. If you care about me, please leave me alone in peace."

The Special Action Squad was stunned, not knowing what to say. Mrs. Saionji closed the door directly and walked back to the living room. Seeing the farewell letter on the coffee table, tears finally burst from her eyes. In the letter left to his wife, Saionji Kinmochi told her that the Japanese upper class could no longer stop the revolution from breaking out. Saionji decided to go to the Imperial Palace to guard the Emperor, fulfilling the samurai's final loyalty. Saionji believed he would die in the revolution, but he also believed that after the revolution, the Saionji family would survive. So he hoped his wife could live well.

When Saionji left home, he asked his wife to read this letter tomorrow. But Mrs. Saionji opened it anyway. At first, she didn't want to believe it. Until she saw with her own eyes those fully armed soldiers appearing at her door, Mrs. Saionji had to believe it.

Recalling before Saionji Kinmochi left home, she understood her husband's determination to die. Saionji usually wore western suits, but this time he put on a gorgeous military uniform and wore his medals. At that time, she thought Saionji Kinmochi dressed like this to attend a solemn ceremony or banquet. Only now did she understand that Saionji was going to die in this outfit.

At this time, the snow outside the window became heavier. Goose-feather snow drifted slowly down from the dark sky to the earth, covering everything under the white snow.

Also at this time, faint explosions came from the distance. The Special Action Squad members who had begun to set up defenses around the Saionji house stopped their actions and turned reflexively towards the location where the cannon fire sounded. These soldiers who had gone through life and death on the battlefield roughly judged from the direction that it was the sound of shelling explosions, and the location of the explosions was near the Imperial Palace.

Just as the soldiers expected, the Revolutionary Army troops coming to Tokyo had unloaded the artillery from the train and begun to launch an attack on the Imperial Guard Division guarding the Imperial Palace.

Although there were some officers and soldiers in the Imperial Guard Division who agreed with the Future Society's philosophy, more Imperial Guard officers and soldiers decided to fulfill the duties of the Imperial Guard Division and defend the Imperial Palace. The Revolutionary Army hadn't expected to persuade all Japanese soldiers, so after the artillery was transported to the designated positions, they launched the attack immediately.

In the firelight of the shells exploding on the street corner, sharp-eyed Revolutionary Army officers and soldiers saw several figures being blown away. At this time, no residents dared to walk around on the street. Those blown away were naturally the Imperial Guard officers and soldiers who had begun to set up defenses.

The Revolutionary Army showed no mercy. Before the battle, Future Society members in various units repeatedly emphasized to the officers and soldiers that if the battle in Tokyo could not be resolved as soon as possible, if it dragged on for two days, the Revolutionary Army would likely have to deal with a comprehensive civil war involving millions of people.

To minimize casualties, a quick victory was essential.