Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 945: Rumors 4 Spread, People Are Panic

The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the mist and gently brushed across the ancient stone pavement of Fusang Kyoto, the whole city seemed to be immersed in tranquility. However, beneath this tranquility, a sudden storm was quietly brewing.

In a busy seafood market in the city center, fishmongers have already started their busy day. The salty smell of the sea and the fresh fragrance of the fish are intertwined, forming the unique atmosphere of this city. However, unlike usual, there seems to be an unusual tension and anxiety in the market today.

Gen Taijiro, a burly middle-aged fishmonger with deep wrinkles on his skin carved by the sea breeze and sun, is busy unloading fresh catches from his cart.

Suddenly, his eyes were attracted by a tabloid that was blown by the wind and landed right at his feet. He bent down to pick it up and quickly scanned the front page. In an instant, his eyes, which were used to the wind and waves, suddenly widened and the newspaper in his hand seemed to have become a thousand pounds heavier.

"Oh my God!" Gentajiro couldn't help but exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief and shock, "Emperor Jinto... passed away?!"

This exclamation was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the hustle and bustle of the market. The vendors around him stopped their work and cast their eyes on the newspaper in his hand.

An elderly shell merchant, wearing reading glasses, tremblingly came over and pleaded, "Can you let me see? How is this possible, His Majesty the Emperor..."

Gen Taijiro handed him the newspaper, and the vendors around him consciously gathered in a circle and discussed in low voices, with shock and worry written on everyone's face.

"The royal heir is in doubt. What does this mean? Where will the future of Fuso go?" a young seaweed merchant asked worriedly.

"Yes, the news came too suddenly, and the people are not ready to accept such a change." Another fishmongering woman echoed, her voice choked with sobs, and she was obviously saddened by the sudden death of the emperor.

"I hope the royal family can stabilize the situation as soon as possible and not shake the foundation of the country." Gen Taijiro said heavily, his eyes revealing his deep concern for the country.

As the discussion deepened, the atmosphere in the market became increasingly heavy. People began to realize that this was not just a piece of news, but a major event concerning the fate of the country.

As soon as Gen Taijiro finished speaking, the air in the market seemed to freeze, and all eyes were focused on the small piece of newspaper. Every word and every punctuation mark carried a heavy weight.

The shadow of war approaching Kyoto and the recent attack on Osaka by the Chinese army are like an invisible shackle that tightly binds everyone's heart. The ruins of Osaka Castle and the scene of widespread grief are still a lingering haze in the hearts of many people.

"It's impossible. How could His Majesty the Emperor..." A middle-aged woman selling fish cried in her voice.

"That being said, wars and coups are never reasonable." An elderly dry goods merchant, with a weathered face and eyes full of memories of the past, said, "Although these tabloids are not well-known, they often reveal the truth earlier and more accurately than the official ones. We cannot take these news lightly."

"But, if His Majesty the Emperor really..." A young fishmonger's voice trembled slightly, as if he didn't dare to say that word, "then what should we do with our country and our future?"

"Calm down, young man." A seafood wholesaler who looked quite calm stood up. His voice was steady and powerful, as if he could calm people's hearts. "Whether the news is true or false, we must not panic. If His Majesty the Emperor really has an accident, the royal family and the cabinet will take quick measures to stabilize the situation. As ordinary people, all we can do is stay calm, continue to live, and support the country."

"Yes, we can't let fear take over our hearts." Gen Taijiro also echoed, "In the face of war and disaster, unity and faith are particularly important. Our Fuso nation has had an indomitable spirit since ancient times. No matter how great the difficulties are, we can get through them."

However, some people in the crowd still disagreed. One voice rang out sharply: "Can we trust the news in these tabloids? What if this is a trick of the enemy, deliberately spreading rumors to disturb the people's hearts?"

"That's wrong." The dry goods merchant shook his head. "Although we can't blindly believe these tabloids, we can't easily deny them. In this sensitive period, any disturbance may affect people's hearts. What we should do is to stay vigilant, analyze rationally, and at the same time, be prepared for the worst."

The discussion gradually became heated, and everyone's heart was filled with doubts and uneasiness. Some people firmly believed that the Emperor was blessed by heaven, and these tabloids were just nonsense; others were worried about the authenticity of the news. If it came true, it would be a fatal blow to Fuso.

In this sensitive period, any disturbance will make people like a frightened bird.

Just as the discussion in the market reached its climax and people's emotions were about to get out of control, a team of uniformed officials quickly intervened. They were holding folders and walking hurriedly, obviously prepared for this matter.

The vendors and customers in the market stopped what they were doing and looked at this sudden change with curiosity and nervousness.

"Please stay calm, we are government workers." A leading official calmly reassured everyone, while his entourage began to collect the tabloids scattered among the stalls one by one. "The Emperor is in good health. These are just unfounded rumors. Please do not believe them."

As the tabloids were withdrawn one by one, the atmosphere in the market gradually eased and people showed relieved expressions on their faces.

Although they still had doubts in their hearts, the intervention of official personnel was like a shot in the arm, which temporarily calmed their anxiety.

At the same time, the atmosphere in the Prime Minister's Office was extremely tense. Prime Minister Tojo Takehide sat behind his desk, his face livid and his eyes blazing.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, and each tap seemed to exert pressure on those present.

"Tell me, what's going on?" Tojo Yuei said in a low voice, "Why would such a disturbing rumor appear during such a sensitive period? What do your intelligence departments do?"

The intelligence officer in charge of investigating the matter had a pale face and sweat on his forehead. He replied in a trembling voice: "Mr. Prime Minister, we are doing our best to trace the source of these tabloids, but...but this time the rumors spread very quickly and widely. We..."

"That's enough!" Tojo Takehiko slammed the table and interrupted the other party. "I don't want to hear your excuses! What I want is the result, and those who spread rumors are brought to justice! You must act immediately to calm this storm and not let these nonsense affect the mood of the people!"

The intelligence officer responded repeatedly, and sweat began to form on his forehead. He knew that this mission was not only related to his political career, but also to the stability and public opinion of the entire country.

He took a deep breath, nodded, turned and left the Prime Minister's Office, ready to plunge into the intense investigation.