Chapter 591 - Imperialization (1/2)

“You’re from the Asou family?”

Xiao Luo was very direct with his question, and it was his intention to build his investigation starting with Asou Shuyao. He was sure he’d be able to establish any links between his case and the Asou family.

“That is correct. So, it seems that Mr. Xiao Han has heard of the Asou family?” Asou Shuyao said.

“Well, it’s one of the most influential clans in Ri nation. Of course, I have heard of you.”

“Then, you have probably heard mostly negative things about us,” she said.

Asou Shuyao smiled, but there was no emotion in her eyes. She continued from where she left off and said, “Such as the divine mission of the Asou family as decreed by his majesty, the emperor Hirohito, to imperialize the Hua nation. To this day, we strive to complete this holy mission.”

“Imperialize? So you guys call the invasion of Hua nation as imperialization?” Xiao Luo sneered. When he recalled the horrors of the conflict, his eyes turned cold, and his blood was starting to boil.

“Isn’t that so?”

Asou Shuyao chuckled and said, “About some eighty years ago, the Hua nation was technologically behind many countries but chose to be self-indulgent, wallowing in its past glory of five thousand years. On the other hand, the Ri nation had already entered the second industrial revolution and was on the cusp of entering the electric era. We were far more competent than your people in terms of the economy, politics, cultural developments, military, technology, and even productivity.”

With our industrialization’s success, we ventured into your land, intending to bring progress and prosperity to your people. We wanted to wake you up from your self-absorbed dream and make an empire where the Hua and the Ri could prosper together. Isn’t this what imperialization is to be?”

When Asou Shuyao touched on the invasion of Hua nation, everyone in the office looked uncomfortable. It was a very sensitive subject, especially to a citizen of Hua nation.

Xiao Luo didn’t take too kindly to her statement and replied, “You robbed my people of their land and took their lives through violent force. Violence and blood; are these the effects of your imperialization? Your actions were brutal and inhumane, and you actually think that you can cover up all your sins with just one simple term–imperialization?”

“Cough, cough…”

Xiao Luo’s words had made chief Tanaka Hiroshi very uncomfortable, and he coughed as he felt the full weight of guilt hanging over him.

It was the same for Kimura Akino, for his forefathers had committed heinous war crimes in Hua nation and indisputable facts. What was Asou Shuyao thinking when she spewed those words?

But, Miyazaki Ronjin did not react and showed no change in emotion. He casually lit a cigarette and smoked in the corner.

“Progress does not come without a price! If the country can become stronger, is shedding a little blood so wrong?” Asou Shuyao argued.

“Shedding a little blood?”

When Xiao Luo saw the evil that resided in this beautiful woman, he couldn’t help comparing her to a bumbling idiot who kept annoying him. “On 13th December 1937, after Jinling city had been captured, the army of Ri nation began massacring its civilians in the city and took to looting the city like it was a competition. More than three hundred thousand lives were lost, but yet, you consider three hundred thousand lives merely a little bloodshed? I would like to know what you considered a genocide?”

“Nonsense, that is but a made-up accusation. When the Ri nation army sailed across the ocean to Hua nation to bring peace and progress, we did not expect that your army to ambush us. This was the root cause of the war, and there was no such massacre that you speak about. Our nation is a signatory of the Geneva Convention and treated the prisoners of war with respect and even provided them with lodging and food. At Ri nation, even the prisoners of war were well treated. How can you accuse us of slaughtering innocent civilians who had nothing to do with the war! Hence, all these were nonsense fabricated by Hua nation to tarnish the name of Ri nation!” Asou Shuyao screamed.