The next morning.
Aoyama Xiu Xin, having eaten his fill, took a car to headquarters for work and sat in the back seat flipping through a newspaper.
The main content of the newspaper was about the House of Representatives election next month and the Mitsuo Mutou incident in Hokkaido, but there was nothing else of new interest.
Suddenly, the car began to slow down and eventually stopped.
"What’s going on?" Aoyama Xiu Xin looked up.
Jin Yucheng turned around and said, "There’s so group holding a rally up ahead that has blocked the road."
Aoyama Xiu Xin lowered the window to look outside.
He saw a crowd in front banging drums and surrounding two propaganda vehicles moving slowly, a few individuals dressed in Japanese World War II military uniforms, carrying samurai swords and wearing headbands leading the way, occasionally making chopping motions in the air. People were also handing out pamphlets to pedestrians and cars, completely blocking the road.
"The Imperial Pole Society?" Aoyama Xiu Xin identified the group from their promotional banners. Although he hadn’t heard of them or was familiar with them, the propaganda banners and the thod of parading in World War II uniforms made it clear that this was undoubtedly an extre right-wing group.
Japan had many right-wing groups, but extre right-wingers were even more radical. Their political stances varied, but were essentially similar, advocating for a tough stance against China, denying the various cris committed during World War II, and militarism—in short, they were up to no good.
Especially in the current poor economic environnt, these extre right-wing elents had beco increasingly active, attracting many people dissatisfied with the current society.
"Minister Aoyama!"
At that mont, a mber of the Imperial Pole Society distributing pamphlets spotted Aoyama Xiu Xin and dashed toward him with an excited shout.
"Shit!"
Aoyama Xiu Xin quickly rolled up the window.
After all, when you see crap flying towards you, you naturally dodge.
"Bang bang bang!" The mber of the Imperial Pole Society pounded on the car window while waving a pamphlet and shouting, "Minister Aoyama, you must agree with our ideas! Please co out and speak, would you consider joining the Imperial Pole Society?"
I agree with your bullshit.
Aoyama Xiu Xin cursed inwardly. Once he ca into power, he would first take care of the opposition, then the extre right-wingers.
Increasingly more mbers of the Imperial Pole Society surrounded Aoyama Xiu Xin’s car, forcing him to get out and speak.
Because with Aoyama Xiu Xin’s influence, if he indicated that he, too, was a supporter of the extre right, it would be more effective than their year-long efforts of hard campaigning.
"Boss, what should we do?" Jin Yucheng asked.
He really wanted to drive over these idiots.
Aoyama Xiu Xin remained silent, picking up his mobile phone to call Nakamura Shinichi and said, "I am stuck in the Central District by a group of extre right-wingers, arrange a police squad imdiately to clear the area and restore traffic."
He couldn’t get out of the car, although he didn’t support the extre right-wingers and even wanted them gone, he couldn’t openly express these thoughts. After all, there were plenty of right-wing crazies around, and one could easily take him out.
Leaving the Imperial Pole Society mbers outside pounding on the windows like zombies, Aoyama Xiu Xin remained unshaken.
Outside, if it were just a right-wing group, he could reluctantly step out and say a few ’supportive’ words, as the right-wing had always held the discourse in Japanese politics.
If one wanted to succeed in the official arena, they didn’t necessarily have to be right-wing but had to wave that flag—a case of carrying the sun flag while opposing it. But he would forget these crazy extre right-wingers, there was no value in uniting with them.
Extre right-wingers were like a pile of crap, both left-wing and right-wing despised them, and stepping on them would just dirty one’s shoes.
So, everyone preferred to keep their distance.
"Why won’t Minister Aoyama get out of the car, idiot on the road! Does he not support our ideals?"
"You’re still so young, have your aspirations also been corrupted by interests? Co down! Join in shouting ’Long live the Great Japanese Empire! Restore the glory of the Empire!’"
"Idiot! Aoyama Xiu Xin! You’ve really disappointed us! You don’t deserve the support of the people!"
As Aoyama Xiu Xin continued not to exit the car, those initially excited and agitated mbers of the Imperial Pole Society gradually beca restless and even angry, with so starting to violently smash the car windows and others climbing onto the hood and kicking the windshield.
Fortunately, considering safety, the car had bulletproof glass; otherwise, it wouldn’t have survived the rage of such madn. Aoyama Xiu Xin’s face was grim as stone.
"Beep—beep beep beep—"
A few minutes later, accompanied by a piercing whistle, a group of policen ard with shields and batons charged over and surrounded the mbers of the Imperial Pole Society.
"Your actions now exceed the normal scope of a rally, seriously disrupting traffic and disturbing public order, disperse imdiately!" the leading middle-aged policeman sternly rebuked the Imperial Pole Society mbers.
But if extre right-wingers were scared of verbal threats by the police, they wouldn’t be extre right-wingers, especially when grouped together, daring to do anything.
So, they completely ignored the police threat.
"Disperse!" the leading policeman ordered.
A pack of policen charged out like fierce tigers, swinging their clubs and beating the mbers of the Imperial Pole Society.
"Ah! Idiot! The police are hitting people!"
"You that are corrupt officials’ henchn!"
"The country is ruined by your actions! And now you also prevent us from spreading the right national salvation ideology!"
During a fierce clamping down by the police, mbers of the Imperial Pole Society fought back. Both sides scuffled together, but the unorganized mob was just that—a mob. Despite their courage to confront the iron fist, they lacked the strength.
Soon, those who could be caught were caught, and those who could flee, fled.
From inside the vehicle, Aoyama Xiu Xin watched the entire episode with a furrowed brow. These people dared to fight the police—was this extre right-wing group definitely not a terrorist organization? A rioter?
"Minister Aoyama, I apologize for the shock. Please leave the scene to us and you can go now," the leading police officer said respectfully as he saluted by the car window.
Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded slightly, signaling Jin Yucheng to drive away, and amidst the wails of the Imperial Pole Society mbers being pinned to the ground, the vehicle slowly left the scene.
When he arrived at headquarters, he coincidentally t Yamashita Kogoro, who was also coming to work. After getting out of the car, they greeted each other.
"Good morning, Deputy Director Yamashita."
"Morning," Yamashita Kogoro replied, pointing at his car’s hood, covered in footprints, "What happened here?"
"Don’t ask, bad luck," Aoyama Xiu Xin replied grimly, waving his hand. "Encountered an extre right-wing group called the Imperial Pole Society having a rally, got stuck in the middle of the road, couldn’t move, and once they recognized , they insisted I get out and say a few words. Since I didn’t respond, those lunatics nearly flipped my car."
"The Imperial Pole Society, huh? They’re pretty crazy, considered extre even among the right-wing groups," Yamashita Kogoro realized, having so understanding of the group.
Aoyama Xiu Xin, not ashad to ask, inquired, "How so?"
With just one sentence, Yamashita Kogoro answered Aoyama Xiu Xin’s question, "The chairman of the Imperial Pole Society is a mber of Aum Shinrikyo. These two organizations are intermingled, and everyone tends to steer clear of them."
Aoyama Xiu Xin suddenly understood. He was indeed aware of Aum Shinrikyo, defined by Japan and many other countries as a shoe cult, a terrorist organization, with over 10,000 mbers in Japan. The leader is Asahara Shoko.
This organization was established in the early ’80s and had already been implicated in nurous criminal cases, including murder. Aoyama Xiu Xin vaguely rembered that in the future, this group would also release poison gas in a subway, making international news.
"The leader Asahara Shoko also tried to enter politics, but due to the extremist actions of Aum Shinrikyo, no sane person would support him. Hence, he supported the Imperial Pole Society, attempting to gain so political influence. That’s why the Imperial Pole Society is so active, with its headquarters in Hokkaido," Yamashita Kogoro added.
"Ahh, I see, thank you for clarifying that, Deputy Director Yamashita."
"It’s all public information; you could find it yourself," Yamashita Kogoro shook his head, then reminded him once more, "Mr. Aoyama, it’s best to not offend them. These lunatics are capable of anything."
Because Aum Shinrikyo was so extre, no sane person supported Asahara Shoko, thus the over 10,000 mbers who joined Aum Shinrikyo were all Asahara Shoko’s extre fanatics. At Asahara Shoko’s command, these brainwashed fools would dare to do anything.
Even when Asahara Shoko and others were later arrested and executed, Japanese police had arranged a large force, ready and waiting, to prevent his followers from acting rashly.
"Hi! Thanks for the reminder, Yamashita Deputy Minister. I’ll be careful. If I can’t afford to ss with them, I’ll stay out of their way. They wouldn’t want to offend either," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a slight smile.
It was beyond doubt that the lower-ranking mbers and small leaders of the Aum Shinrikyo and the Imperial Pole Society were lunatics and idiots.
But the middle and higher ranks surely had brains and wouldn’t clash with him over today’s minor incident. On the contrary, they were likely to take the initiative to co to him and apologize.
Sure enough, just after he had settled into his office, a call from the president of the Imperial Pole Society ca through. "Minister Aoyama, hello. This is Taichiro Ishihara, president of the Imperial Pole Society. Today’s incident startled you, and I am truly sorry. I have severely punished those shortsighted fellows and hope to have an opportunity to make ands and express my sincerity."
"President Ishihara, you’re too kind. No need for any gestures, just keep your people in line from now on," Aoyama Xiu Xin replied coldly.
Yamashita Kogoro was right; avoiding these crazed lunatics was the best way to deal with them—no interactions, but also no offences.
Taichiro imdiately sensed Aoyama Xiu Xin’s intentions—he wouldn’t pursue today’s matter, but he also didn’t want any further dealings with them. Though sowhat disappointed, he also breathed a sigh of relief. "Hi! Minister Aoyama, rest assured, I’ll certainly keep them under control."
After hanging up the phone, he gritted his teeth and instructed his subordinates, "Severely whip the people who participated in today’s assembly! Teach them never to dare such a thing again, these worthless bastards!"
The Imperial Pole Society wanted to enter politics, which naturally ant they couldn’t afford to make enemies everywhere. And since Aoyama Xiu Xin controlled the police force in Hokkaido, offending him could complicate the society’s local activities.
That’s why he was furious with the lower-ranking mbers who had attacked Aoyama Xiu Xin’s car on their own initiative—it was crucial to make an example out of them to prevent other mbers from doing the sa in the future under the guise of an assembly.
.........
At eleven in the morning, a plane flying from Tokyo to Sapporo landed on ti at the airport. Zhongshan Juni, wearing a silver won’s suit and sunglasses, led the way, followed by Habamoto Youko in a black won’s suit and three n in their thirties.
"Auntie, the person here to pick us up."
As soon as they left the airport, Yangzi spotted a sign that read "Chief Zhongshan Juni" in the crowd and alerted Zhongshan Juni.
The group walked over.
"Chief Zhongshan, hello. I am tasked with receiving you for your new appointnt!" The young man holding the sign bowed deeply and spoke respectfully.
Yangzi looked behind him and said with a frown, "Are you alone?"
"Yes!" The young man responded and then added, "Due to the Mitsuo Mutou incident, the city’s police force has been mobilized for a comprehensive search, and we couldn’t arrange for more people to co to receive you."
"Auntie." Yangzi looked at Zhongshan Juni indignantly; it was clear they were being slighted.
Zhongshan Juni motioned for calm and spoke evenly, "Where’s the car? Take us there."
"Yes! This way, please, Chief Zhongshan." The young man bowed and gestured for them to follow him leading the way.
When they reached the parking spot, the young man pointed to a shabby Mazda and laughed apologetically, "Due to the Mitsuo Mutou incident, there’s a shortage of official vehicles, so I had to use my own car for the pickup. You might need to take a taxi for the rest, but don’t worry about the cost—the departnt will reimburse you with the receipt."
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