＜ A line that should not be crossed. (3) >
Tokyo.
Private zaibatsu was the first to notice the red flags of the Japanese economy.
“…Are you saying that about 40% of the debt-to-equity ratio has already gone to the Japan Settlement Bank? It’s crazy.”
Mitsui Takahiro.
The president’s office of Mitsui Corporation, one of the troikas of the Mitsui conglomerate. President Takahiro, one of the Mitsui clan heads, sighed.
He rubbed the corners of his stiff lips and loosened them.
The door that the American director had just closed and left seemed to still be chilly.
It felt like my heart was being ripped with a knife every time a manager from an American hedge fund looked at each item one by one and checked the credit rating.
“Money ghosts.”
But he breathed a sigh of relief again. Fortunately, it was Mitsui Corporation, so it stopped at this point.
The credit rating is BBB.
Although it was not a top-notch company with grade A or higher, it had the highest credit rating in the Japanese industry, so it stopped at this level.
“The Japanese settlement bankers. Raising the debt ratio to 40%. Even their debt is 40%. Damn.”
However, Mitsui Bank fell temporarily to the second financial sector, and the loan contract was renewed, and the interest rate rose to 20%.
It was good to see that the financial situation was going to be a mess.
“I need to negotiate well with international shipping companies…”
Chic-
When President Takahiro ignited a foreign cigar, the door opened urgently.
Bump-
“President Takahiro!!! Something is strange.”
Executives poured into the president’s office.
When dozens, not just one or two, came pouring in, President Takahiro had an ominous foreboding.
“Why are you so crowded? Did something happen?”
“All ports in Tokyo Bay are being emptied. President.”
“Is the port empty?”
President Takahiro slowly pulled his upper body forward.
The port of Tokyo Bay is a huge port facility where Japan’s largest shipping trade has been established since the Meiji Restoration.
President Takahiro did not understand that the ports that pressed Nagasaki and Osaka would be empty.
But the pale executives were nervous.
“The merchant ships of international shipping companies are leaving and not coming in!!! Besides, the merchant ships of Mitsui Trading Co., which have been shipped overseas, are returning with no cargo!!!”
“what?”
jump-
An emergency light came on in Takahiro’s head.
“Didn’t the international shipping companies renew or renew the contract? If they had broken it, they would have signed it again.
“There is no contract renewed!!!”
“…!!!!”
wobble.
President Takahiro became dizzy.
“CEO!!!”
“No, wait. Why…why didn’t you sign a contract? It doesn’t make sense.”
“That’s in America-“
“America? Why America?”
smart.
It was around the time when the president’s office started to be crowded. The visit was knocked over again.
Everyone’s attention was focused.
“President Takahiro. I’m sorry that I’m busy. The director of British Qunard Shipping wants to meet you.”
moon crack.
“…A sea blockade?”
When the director of Qnard Shipping put down the teacup, President Takahiro asked, whose face was pale in shock.
He answered again in a muffled voice.
“Wasn’t there a ‘civilian’ who was attacked by the Japanese Empire a few days ago?”
“Yeah, yeah. There was. I almost got assassinated by an army officer.”
“Due to that incident, the US federal government pulled out a card called the Maritime Blockade Executive Order. The grace period is one month. The lockdown period is a total of three months from then on.”
“Yes?”
Takahiro furrowed his eyebrows.
Because of only one civilian.
How did Japan come to the conclusion of a naval blockade of an empire?
It’s a normal criminal case, isn’t it?
“You’re going to block a country by sea just because of civilians? No, that’s what you mean now…”
“Okay. I’m not your average civilian.”
“…!!!”
I heard he was a young man in his 20’s.
He is too young for the personnel of the State Department and the Treasury. So everyone predicted that he was a financier working on Wall Street and predicted that he was just a secretary.
But what?
Not a civilian?
“The United States has not disclosed any details of the fleet dispatched for this naval blockade or any detailed military activities. In the first place, the Pacific Fleet itself is at war, so it is close. No one knows.”
“……”
“Due to the maritime blockade, international shipping companies are being evicted for a one-month grace period. Since you can’t trade for three months, you can’t even renew your contract. “
“Then Sumitomo in Osaka…”
“Yes, Sumitomo Zaibatsu in the Kansai region would be in a similar situation.”
widely.
The director of Qnard Shipping put down a copy of the report.
“So I’ve set up a place to ask for a deal. The naval blockade has been issued by an executive order from the President of the United States, but it hasn’t passed Congress yet. I’m going to trade that information to you guys.”
“deal?”
“This report is a draft of a blockade against Japan that will soon be passed by the US Congress. It is a bill I secured through Qunard’s network, and it will probably pass within a week.”
“…!!!”
“We, Qnard Shipping, want all of the Mitsubishi Line and Mitsubishi Corporation information that Mitsui has.”
The director of Qnard Shipping smiled brightly.
Detroit director of the Bank of Japan Settlements said. Now is probably the best time to extract information from Japanese shipping companies. He trusted his words and paid a huge price to obtain a draft Japanese containment plan.
“…..”
President Takahiro let out a sigh.
But don’t refuse.
‘The Detroit Director was right. It’s shaking.’
Mitsui Zaibatsu was shaking.
That means the Mitsui family has enough information about Mitsubishi. It seemed that information about Mitsubishi could be obtained enough.
I decided to give President Takahiro a little push on the back.
“Probably. This will be your last lifeline. The lockdown will be passed within a week. Choose wisely.”
Time is money.
time is gold
And these deals were being made between chaebols from all over the Japanese archipelago, including Sumitomo in Osaka, and boards of directors of international shipping companies.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Shuzo Aoki received the news three days later. Shocked by the news that they heard three days later than the Zaibatsu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately entered into a state of emergency.
“Is there no response from Komura Plenipotentiary Corporation!!!”
“Yeah, no answer. I’ve been sending signals over the telegram for hours, and neither the legation nor the informants are picking up.”
“what?”
Foreign Minister Aoki ripped his hair out.
Basically, information and security affairs of the Japanese Empire were handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs abroad and the Ministry of Home Affairs in Korea. What the hell is wrong with the Komura Plenipotentiary Corporation, and none of the US intelligence agents get an answer?
Have you ever been stalked by the US?
“Keep the connection. It seems that something has happened to the Komura Plenipotentiary Corporation. Let’s keep connecting with the informants!!!”
“high!!!”
Foreign Minister Aoki bit his lip.
The sound that sources are not connected boils down to one thing. I heard that you were searched out by US intelligence agents. Does this make sense?
“…a sea blockade.”
suddenly came to mind
There are rumors that the current US Pacific Fleet is being kept secret by the US Navy to the extent that even the Royal Navy cannot know the exact organization.
The regiment with the Japanese Navy had been broken for a long time. The US Pacific Fleet is constantly being replenished with factory-made warships.
no doubt
This indicates that the United States does not want to leak any information about the naval blockade to Japan.
So what if you locked the telegram at the legation and captured all the informants?
it makes sense
“What the hell is this…”
When did Japan go so wrong?
I had a job a few days ago. It’s hard to see how serious it is with just one civilian being cut down.
Normally, criminal cases would block the other country at sea and cut off all intelligence vessels.
bang-!
“Instead!!! Instead!!! It’s a big deal!!! The information came up from Mitsui Corporation, but it’s not unusual!!!!”
Whoops.
A foreign ministry official, who was out of breath, hurriedly ran. In his hand was a piece of paper wet with sweat.
Foreign Minister Aoki’s face brightened slightly in anticipation that he had found a clue.
“Whatever, did you find the cause of the US naval blockade?”
“Yes, it came from an informant of Mitsui Corporation. This is it!!!”
🥳
The foreign minister snatched the paper. Foreign Minister Aoki read the note.
If the content is from Mitsui Corporation, the credibility is the highest. Above all else, he was the absolute undisputed loser of the first place in the Japanese Empire’s financial circles.
“….. Detroit or Morgan?”
The note started with the name of a young man.
I was puzzled, but Aoki continued to read it. This is information from Mitsui that is the cause of the blockade. Because there was no wrong information.
I read it with such anticipation.
However, as he read the contents of the note, the face of Foreign Minister Aoki turned blue in sequence.
“…!!!”
It became white and then it became a day song.
Foreign Minister Aoki’s face, who had repeatedly turned green and then turned black, turned pale and tired.
It’s as if the name of a person who shouldn’t be written on a piece of paper was written on it.
Like a Pandora who opened Pandora’s box that you shouldn’t see.
Aoki stuttered and pursed his lips.
“…..mo…mo…mo…mo.”
beep profit-
A tinnitus rang in the ears of Foreign Minister Aoki.
“…..what.”
bee bee.
His body trembled as if it were vibrating and then began to convulse as if he had had epilepsy. His hands trembled like tremors, and a cold sweat began to seep out.
why…..
why….
Army, these crazy people…
What did you touch?
“John Pierpont Morgan…”
dump-
In the end, the new model of Foreign Minister Aoki collapsed. He started pouring foam from his mouth.
When the foreign minister suddenly collapsed, the foreign ministry officials rushed to him.
“Instead of Aoki!!!!”
***
large intestine.
slap-
The whip roared and the sound of horse hooves rang out.
In front of the head office building.
As the heavy armored wagons lined up in front of the central bank lined up, their unusual appearance drew the attention of passersby.
As the black warhorses pounded the floor with their hooves while squealing, the windows of the general’s fortress began to open one by one.
“…what is that?”
The officers of the Great General’s Office began to look out the window with their heads. In about 10 minutes, all the windows of the Great Wall opened.
Captain Matsugata, who was on the top floor, also opened the window at the strange appearance.
Drooling-
“Come and find out what kind of carriage it is.”
“Yes, sir.”
As the secretaries left, I looked out the window again.
Vice Admiral Mitsugata felt an ominous aura attacking from the appearance of the heavy wagons.
A train of wagons guarded by a group of escorts dressed in naval uniforms. A protective vehicle with thick armor that can be used on a warship.
What the hell is the vehicle loaded with?
“Are you going to be a state guest?”
in this country?
At this point in time when the Tokyo Treaty was signed under pressure from the United States, only those from the United States were the only ones to visit for state guests, but who are they?
“instead!!!”
Bump!
The secretary, who had gone down then, hurriedly opened the door. Matsugata frowned at the urgency.
What the hell is going on?
“Something?”
“I think you should come down…”
“I?”
“Yes.”
The secretary wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“The U.S. side has loaded a lot of yen.”
“…..!!!”
“This is a Japanese settlement bank.”
large amounts of yen.
US side.
large intestine.
central bank.
Japan Settlement Bank.
Captain Matsugata’s head rolled quickly. What are some things that need to flow into the Great Wall in large quantities?
body ticket?
This novel was posted at https://noblemtl.com
Okay. A Japanese settlement bank might be able to purchase bonds. To grab the captain’s neck.
By the way….
“What is it? This anxiety.”
Captain Matsugata squeezed the chilled Kandam with his fingers and picked up the hat and coat he had hung up on.
He beckoned to the secretary.
“Get out.”
rumble.
The carriage door opened and a young man walked out. When Samuel Sachs also walked out with the young man from the tail end of the carriage, the lieutenant colonel Matsugata was internally nervous.
Fortunately, Samuel Sachs was left behind.
‘Are you just here to empower this young man?’
“It’s called Detroit.”
“Uh, it’s Captain Matsugata. I remember seeing you at the Tokyo Treaty last time.”
“Yes, our director of Sachs did a good job. Nice to meet you.”
This novel was posted at https://noblemtl.com
Our Samuel Sachs Director?
There was a strange sense of heterogeneity in the dialogue. But that was not the only difference.
I didn’t notice it because it was winter.
A bandage was wrapped around the neck of the scarf, and a hunting cap with a brim on the front and back was covering the bandage around the ears.
Great British writer.
Was he even obsessed with Arthur Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes?
‘Wait a minute.’
Matsugata’s face hardened.
Come to think of it, I recently heard that a crazy army officer had harmed a secretary at the Japan Settlement Bank, and I thought it might be this young man.
The ominousness prevailed.
If that’s the case, what are you trying to ask for with this young man as a shield?
“You…”
“Yes, that’s right. If you’re talking about the young man who almost got assassinated by an army officer back home, I’d like to say I’m right.”
“……”
shit.
The Japan Settlement Bank are evil bastards.
What are you trying to ask of a young man who has been hurt by our fault?
‘We need to change the topic.’
It is better for me to turn this fire around.
Matsugata’s eyes turned to the carriage.
“I heard that you came with a large amount of Japanese yen. If you come here because you want to buy bonds at the Great Wall, I will treat you with the utmost respect.”
“bond?”
tilt.
The young man tilted his head as if to say something.
“Bonds, what do you mean?”
Moment.
Matsugata’s head froze. The ominous feeling that had been touching the nib from before suddenly increased.
no way….
“Aren’t you here to buy bonds?”
“What do I do when I buy Japanese bonds? You never know when bonds with low credit ratings will go bankrupt.”
“Yes? Bankruptcy, what is that…”
no way…..
“Didn’t you hear from the foreign minister? There will be sanctions against Japan from the US government soon. What would you do with the bonds of such a country? I came here for a different reason.”
no way……
gulp.
Matsugata swallowed. U.S. sanctions against Japan and other abusive words were heard, but none of them had already been heard.
What can you buy other than bonds with a large amount of yen?
There was only one in the fortress.
“If it’s for any other reason… for some reason…”
“gold.”
thud.
Matsugata’s heart sank.
However, the young man with a thick smile as hard as a skinny face recites the lines in a blunt manner.
It’s not like I’m going to kill you. Lightly as if making a dry ‘transaction’ simple.
“I’m going to convert it to gold. With all of this.”
The Japanese economy was sentenced to death.
Bump-
The door to the Minister’s Office opened wildly. Captain Matsugata clenched the door with a trembling fist.
A pitbull burst in his eyes, and he was bloodshot.
“aave to have!”
bang! bang! bang!!!
I threw away my furniture and things flew through the air. Glasses and pottery were shattered and scattered into fragments, and the plants had their leaves ripped to pieces and became unrecognizable.
“aa!!!”
bang! Kwajik! bang!!! bang!!!
As his riot continued, officials began to gather outside. The secretary of the lieutenant colonel approached the door of the minister’s office, passing through the bureaucrats gathered in front of his door.
In the secretary’s hand was a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
smart.
“Instead of Matsugata, I will go in.”
As his secretary entered, the view of the minister’s office transformed into ruins spread out. The plants he cherished and cleaned every day became tattered like rags, and the high-quality ceramics he treasured were oxidized to powder.
“Did something happen?”
heh heh heh heh…
He shrugged his shoulders and approached Captain Matsugata, who exhaled harshly.
“…you just came. I needed someone who could speak, but it’s good. As of today, the Japanese economy has been sentenced to death.”
“Yes? What is that.”
“The Great General will continue to march through hardships. For at least 20 years, the Japanese Empire will not see the light of day, and it will be a dreary time in the dark.”
“What happened?”
Shh.
Captain Matsugata, with a 30-year-old face, picked up the mopped plant with trembling hands.
With a sad face, as if the future of Japan would be like this.
“As of tomorrow, the Bank of Japan is planning to suspend gold convertibility.”
“…!!!”
“Gold reserves have fallen to 60%. With this, the Bank of Japan can no longer maintain the gold standard. If you try to keep it forcibly, the outflow of gold will only worsen.”
“…a ban on the export of gold.”
“Yeah, the value of the Japanese yen will be devalued by at least 1/2. If that happens, Japanese companies will have no choice but to go through a difficult time.”
“Sir, not 20 years.”
The secretary called the captain, with a pale face. Captain Matsugata looked up at the secretary as an old man with a sullen face.
“What do you mean it’s not 20 years?”
“…maybe the Japanese economy is 200 years away, not 20. It may also have to live in ruins.”
chuck-
The secretary handed out a note to Minister Matsugata.
“…The Japanese maritime blockade.”
thud.
In an instant, the spirit of Captain Matsugata fell. He read the note with trembling hands.
“An army officer attacked a negotiator of the Bank of Japan Settlements. In that case, the President of the United States issued an executive order for the blockade of Japan, and the blockade is pending in Congress. No, no, wait.”
The lieutenant colonel widened his eyes.
The young man I had just met in front of the general was the injured young man.
“Didn’t you say you were a civilian?”
“…a note. I have one more.”
take-
Matsugata ripped the seal of the note with his fingernails with an urgent hand. I opened the torn piece of paper and read it in haste.
The reading speed gradually slowed down. Suddenly, his gaze was fixed on one phrase.
The pupils trembled relentlessly.
“……..”
The chieftain was silent.
The secretary quietly bowed his head as he looked as if he had died standing up.
The commander’s tone had ceased to tremble.
He said in a low-pitched voice.
“… Son of President John Pierpont Morgan.”
“Yes.”
“War Advisory to the Ministry of War and Naval Advisory to the Department of the Navy.”
“Yes.”
“Federal Monetary Commission. De facto Interim Chairman of the Central Bank of the United States.”
“Yes.”
“Waldorf-Astoria Credit Agreement Representative.”
“Yes.”
“Detroit do Morgan.”
“Yes.”
The two arms of the lieutenant colonel fell helplessly. Like a person who died from strangulation, his arms lost strength and shook like a pendulum.
The secretary bowed quietly.
“Instead of Captain Matsugata.”
“…..okay.”
“Japan is over.”
＜ A line that should not be crossed. (3) > end
