EBE Chapter 962: 2 Evacuation Routes
Chapter 962: 2 Evacuation Routes
Rendong took the dragon robe with his hands trembling slightly. He stared at the clothing that had accompanied him for decades, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
Then, Rendong slowly stood up and began to put on the dragon robe with the help of the eunuchs.
Wearing the dragon robe, Rendong seemed to have returned to the young emperor who was full of vigor and vitality and was in charge of the country.
Rendong stood in front of the window, looking at the sky that was dyed red by the war again, his heart full of expectations and determination for the future.
"My fellow citizens of Fusang," Ren Dong said silently in his heart, "I will be with you no matter what the future holds. Even if I have to face death, I will protect this land and you with the dignity of an emperor."
In the Prime Minister's Office, Tojo Takehide and Watanabe Motoyasu sat side by side at their desks, brows furrowed, concentrating on discussing the plan of sending members of the royal family to Kanto.
"Prime Minister," Watanabe Motoyasu spoke first, with a hint of urgency in his voice, "I have prepared two evacuation plans for the royal family. The first plan is to take the land route, starting from the Shiga area and evacuating to Nagahama Prefecture in the north of Shiga. After that, we can go through Nagano and Yamanashi and finally reach Tokyo. Although this route is relatively long, the terrain along the way is complex, which is convenient for concealment and transfer."
Hearing this, Tojo Yuei shook his head and frowned even more tightly: "The risks on land are too great, we can't make any mistakes. Besides, the speed is too slow, and things could change if we delay. We have Liu Chengxu's army from China pressing us in from behind, and it's no longer safe. We must find a more stable and faster evacuation plan."
Watanabe Motoyasu nodded, as if he had already anticipated that Tojo Yuei would raise such concerns. He took a deep breath and continued, "The Prime Minister has considered it carefully. Therefore, I have also prepared a second evacuation plan. We can send the royal family to Maizuru Port in the north, where there are a number of fishing boats that have been prepared. They can take these fishing boats to Kanazawa in the Ishikawa area, and then turn south to Tokyo."
Hearing this, Tojo Yuei's brows relaxed slightly, but then they wrinkled again. He pondered for a moment and said, "This plan sounds more secure, but don't forget that China's naval power is too terrifying. Now, they have almost blocked the outer sea of Fuso. Even if we can successfully send the royal family members to the fishing boat, it is difficult to guarantee that they can reach their destination safely at sea. Once they are intercepted by the Chinese navy, the consequences will be disastrous."
Watanabe Motoyasu's expression became serious when he heard this. He knew that Tojo Yuei's worries were not unnecessary, and the strength of the Chinese navy was indeed frightening. But he did not give up, but continued to think about possible solutions.
In the Prime Minister's Office, the discussion between Takehide Tojo and Motoyasu Watanabe continued.
"Prime Minister," Watanabe Motoyasu's voice sounded again, with a calmness that came from careful consideration, "I have carefully considered your previous concerns, and I think we can adopt a more flexible strategy. We should not put all our eggs in one basket, but should spread the risks and ensure the maximum safety of the royal family."
When Tojo Yuei heard this, a gleam flashed in his eyes, and he seemed to be interested in Watanabe Motoyasu's proposal.
He leaned forward slightly and motioned for Watanabe Motoyasu to continue.
"We can arrange for some of the royal family members to take the sea route," Watanabe Motoyasu continued. "Although there are still risks at sea, we can choose a more covert route and strengthen the escort force to ensure their safety. The other part of the royal family can use transport planes to take the air route. Although the air route is more vulnerable to attack, as long as we choose the right time, use the night and clouds as cover, and strengthen the air defense force, we should be able to ensure their safety."
Hearing this, Tojo Yuei nodded, but the worry in his eyes had not completely dissipated. He knew that no matter which route he chose, there would be huge risks. But he also understood that Watanabe Motoyasu's proposal was indeed more secure and could disperse the risks to the greatest extent.
"Yutae-kun," Tojo Takehiro's voice was filled with approval, "your suggestion makes sense. But we also need to consider a more important issue, which is the safety of Prince Inyu. He is the future of our country, and his safety must not be compromised."
Watanabe Motoyasu's expression became solemn when he heard this. He knew the importance of Prince Ninyu and the heavy responsibility he shouldered. He pondered for a moment, then said, "Prime Minister, I have an idea. We can let Prince Ninyu go to Yokohama by land with the Mitsui family's caravan. The Mitsui family has a pivotal position in Fuso, their caravan is experienced, and has a strong protective force. I believe that under their protection, Prince Ninyu will be able to arrive in Yokohama safely."
When Tojo Yuei heard this, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes. He knew the strength and influence of the Mitsui family, and also understood their caravan's ability to protect on land. Moreover, although it was a time of war, the Mitsui family's caravan should not attract too much attention from China.
"Very good, Yuan Taijun." Tojo Takehiro's voice was full of praise. "Your proposal is very wise. Let's act according to this plan. You immediately organize personnel to conduct detailed investigations and plans for sea and air routes. At the same time, you must also contact the Mitsui family to ensure that they can protect Prince Renyu. We must ensure that every detail is foolproof to ensure the safety of the royal family to the greatest extent possible."
After Tojo Takehiro and Watanabe Motoyasu finalized the final evacuation plan, the entire cabinet quickly entered the intensive preparation stage. It was already late at night, but the Prime Minister's Office was still brightly lit, and busy figures were shuttling in every corner.
Tojo Yuhide knew that time was of the essence, so he immediately ordered a group of capable guards and followers to secretly transfer the royal family members from the imperial city to a large house in Dongcheng District overnight. This house has a long history, a large scale, and is hidden and difficult to be discovered, making it an ideal place for the evacuation plan.
The night was as dark as ink, and the group moved quietly under the cover of moonlight. They were dressed in plain clothes, their faces were serious and determined, and they held their weapons tightly in their hands, ready to deal with any possible emergencies. The convoy moved slowly forward in the night. Inside the carriages, the royal family members had different expressions, some were worried, some were calm, but most of them were uncertain about the future.
Prince Renyu, who was only twelve years old, was also arranged in one of the carriages. He was wearing exquisite royal attire, but his face lacked the innocence that a child should have, and was replaced by a calmness that was inconsistent with his age. He tightly held the small package in his hand, which contained the jade pendant left to him by his mother. It was his only hope and comfort.
It was still dark when the convoy arrived at the large mansion in Dongcheng District. The guards moved quickly, arranged the royal family members into the rooms, and strengthened the security of the mansion. Tojo Takehide came to check in person and made sure everything was arranged properly before leaving the scene with peace of mind.
It was still dark, but the big houses in Dongcheng District were brightly lit, busy and orderly. Everyone was making final preparations for the upcoming evacuation plan.