EBE Chapter 931 Raising Funds
Chapter 931 Raising Funds
Inside the Imperial Palace, Emperor Jinto and Prime Minister Takehide Tojo sat opposite each other.
The palace was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, which was intertwined with the occasional bird calls outside the window, but it could not conceal the solemn atmosphere inside.
Emperor Jindong spoke slowly: "I heard that the national treasury is almost empty. Even you, Prime Minister Tojo, have used your own wealth to fill it. This is undoubtedly a great sorrow for a country."
As he spoke, Emperor Rento picked up a check from the small table beside him and gently pushed it in front of Tojo Takehido.
The words "600 million yen" were clearly written on the check. The amount was so large that it was enough to shock anyone.
"This is the accumulation of the royal family over the years. Although it is just a drop in the bucket for the entire war situation, at this critical moment, I am willing to take it out and use it as military expenses."
Takehiko Tojo took the check and a hint of gratitude flashed in his eyes.
"I deeply admire the noble act of His Majesty the Emperor. However, these 600 million yen are just a drop in the bucket for the operation of the war machine."
He sighed softly, his eyes becoming determined. "We must find more sources of funds, otherwise, we will not be able to continue this war. I suggest that we seek help from those big families that enjoyed countless glory and wealth during the heyday of the country. Mitsui, Fujita, Watanabe, and Suzuki, these four big families are extremely wealthy. Since they have enjoyed the prosperity brought by the empire, then when the empire is in danger, they have the responsibility to stand up and face the difficulties together."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jindong frowned slightly, his eyes revealing a bit of worry. "Your idea is certainly correct, but it is not easy to get these nobles to spit out the money. They have a strong influence and a complex network of interests. If we are not careful, it may cause greater social unrest."
Tojo did not back down. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. They have no say in this matter. We can take a series of measures, such as raising taxes, restricting asset transfers, and even freezing some property. Although these measures are harsh, we must do something at this critical moment of the country's survival."
He paused, as if weighing the weight of every word. "Of course, I will also try my best to communicate with them and strive to resolve the funding issue in a peaceful way. But the premise is that they must realize that the interests of the country are above all else, and personal gains and losses must give way to the future of the country at this moment."
Emperor Jindong was silent for a moment, and finally nodded slowly. "I know your determination. The country is in danger, and every citizen has the responsibility to contribute. I will do my best to support your efforts in this regard."
In a luxurious yet low-key private room of a Ginza restaurant in Kyoto, the heads of the four major families - Watanabe, Mitsui Kazuki, Suzuki Taijie, and Fujita Hisashi - sat upright, with varying degrees of solemnity and expectation on their faces, as if they were waiting for the arrival of some important person. Outside the window, the bustling night view of Ginza formed a sharp contrast with the silence of the room, and a subtle sense of tension permeated the air.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Tojo Takeei, dressed in casual clothes and looking a little haggard, walked in slowly.
The four big men present stood up one after another and exchanged greetings with each other. Their words revealed their respect for Tojo Takehide's status and their concern about the current situation.
After the greetings, Tojo Yuei did not say much and went straight to the point. He spoke slowly, his voice was soft but full of unquestionable power: "Everyone, the Fuso Empire is now facing unprecedented challenges. The threat of the Chinese Expeditionary Force is becoming increasingly severe, and the survival of the country is hanging by a thread. In order to maintain the war and to fight against powerful enemies, we need a lot of funds as a backing. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Everyone here is a wealthy noble businessman. I hope you can donate generously to help the empire solve this urgent problem."
Tojo Takehiro's words were like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart. After a short silence, Watanabe No was the first to break the silence.
He stood up, his face firm, "Your Excellency the Prime Minister, the Watanabe family knows that every citizen has a share of responsibility for the fate of a country. At this critical moment, we are willing to donate 1.5 billion yen to the country for the war. How can the eggs remain intact when the nest is overturned? We are willing to live and die with the country."
Hearing this, Tojo Yuei's eyes flashed with relief and appreciation. He gently patted Watanabe's shoulder to express his gratitude, and then cast his eyes on the other three bosses present, waiting for their response.
Mitsui Kazuki frowned slightly, as if he was weighing the pros and cons. After a moment, he slowly spoke: "The Mitsui family is also willing to take on some responsibility, but we hope that this contribution can be made under the premise of ensuring the normal operation of the family business. We will try our best to raise funds, but the specific amount needs further discussion."
Taijie Suzuki was more direct: "The Suzuki family is willing to contribute to the future of the country, but we also hope that the government can give us corresponding compensation or preferential policies after the war to ensure the long-term development of the family."
Fujita seemed a little hesitant, as if he was thinking about a more comprehensive plan. Finally, he said slowly: "The Fujita family is willing to support the country, but we need a clear plan to understand how these funds will be used and whether we can get a reasonable return after the war."
Takehide Tojo listened to everyone's speech patiently, with both anticipation and worry in his heart.
To convince these savvy businessmen, patriotism alone is not enough, and sufficient benefits and guarantees need to be given. But in any case, he has taken the first step, and the rest is how to turn these promises into practical actions and raise enough funds.
After pondering for a moment, Takehiko Tojo's eyes became unusually sharp.
He stood up slowly, his eyes swept across the faces of Fujita Hisashi and Suzuki Taijie, and his voice was low and powerful: "Everyone, I understand your concerns, but I want to emphasize that the empire is now in danger. I didn't call you here to take advantage of the situation. At this critical moment, what we need is unity and the determination to face difficulties together."
Fujita Hisashi and Suzuki Taijie looked at each other, and could read a bit of embarrassment and uneasiness in each other's eyes.
They realized that their words might have touched Takehide Tojo's bottom line, and that the prime minister's patience and tolerance had reached its limit.
Tojo continued, with a tone of unquestionable majesty: "If we can help the empire overcome its difficulties, all benefits can be discussed in the future. But the premise is that we must take action first and use actions to prove our loyalty and love for the country."
Fujita lowered his head slightly, as if thinking about Tojo's words. After a moment, he slowly spoke with a bit of determination in his voice: "Mr. Prime Minister, I understand your position. The Fujita family is willing to contribute to the future of the country. I am willing to provide some funds first, and as for the return from the empire, we can wait until after the war to discuss it. But please understand, Mr. Prime Minister, we also need to ensure the long-term development of the family."
Hearing this, Tojo Yuei showed a satisfied smile on his face. He gently patted Fujita's shoulder to show encouragement: "Mr. Fujita, I am pleased with your decision. I promise you that as long as you are willing to tide over the difficulties with the country, we will definitely give you the rewards and respect you deserve after the war."