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

Chapter 520: Stormy weather and panic among the people

After the meeting, the lights in the Imperial Study gradually dimmed, but the atmosphere between Suzuki Taro and Hashimoto Nagakiyo became increasingly tense. The two walked out of the Imperial Study, and in the moonlit courtyard of the Imperial Palace, Suzuki Taro waited here for Hashimoto Nagakiyo to appear.

Not long after, Hashimoto Nagaki arrived. He glanced at Suzuki Taro coldly and was about to leave him. One of them was the Minister of the Navy, and the other was the Cabinet Minister and Chief Advisor of the Army Ministry. The grudge between them was long-standing.

Suzuki Taro reached out to stop Hashimoto Nagakiyo: "Hashimoto-kun, please wait a moment."

Suzuki Taro raised a sarcastic smile, stared into Hashimoto Nagakiyo's eyes, and said slowly: "Hashimoto-kun, I think you are in big trouble this time. If the matter of the Yamato is not investigated thoroughly, I am afraid that your position as the Minister of the Navy will be over."

Upon hearing this, Hashimoto Nagaki's face darkened instantly. He glared at Suzuki Taro, his tone full of dissatisfaction and anger: "Suzuki Taro, don't think that others don't know about your dirty deeds! Everyone knows what you did to Fujiwara Mitsuyama's wife. You are such a beast that you can even do something to your own student's wife!"

Suzuki Taro's face changed, but he immediately regained his composure.

He didn't care about Hashimoto Nagaki's accusation, but laughed provocatively: "Oh? You are talking about that incident. So what? Fujiwara Mitsuyama is dead, and his wife is all alone. What's wrong with me taking care of her? On the contrary, it's you. The Fuso Navy has never suffered such a great humiliation, and all of this is the responsibility of you, the Minister of the Navy."

Hashimoto Nagaki was enraged by Suzuki Taro's arrogance. He took a step forward and almost stood nose to nose with Suzuki Taro: "You shameless fellow! Do you think you can cover up those dirty things you did? You know exactly how much benefit you took from the army's military expenditure every year!"

Suzuki Taro hit back without showing any weakness: "Humph, Hashimoto Nagaki, don't make yourself sound so noble. Do you think you are clean? In this political circle, whose hands are not stained with blood and dirt? We are the same."

The conversation between the two became more and more intense, and the air around them seemed to be filled with gunpowder. They mocked and accused each other, exposing each other's weaknesses. But no matter how they argued, the Yamato battleship leak remained unresolved, and the grudge between the two deepened further in this conversation.

As the night deepened, the lights in the Imperial Palace became increasingly lonely and desolate. The confrontation between Suzuki Taro and Hashimoto Nagakiyo ended without any result. They each turned around and left, each holding a grudge and dissatisfaction with the other in their hearts.

Inside the government building of the North Bay South, the lights were dim and the atmosphere was heavy. The door of the president's office was pushed open with a bang, and Huang Guangtai's confidant Chang Tai hurried in, his face full of anxiety and uneasiness.

"Mr. President, something bad has happened!" Chang Tai gasped, with a slight tremor in his voice.

Huang Guangtai raised his head with a frown on his face. He had a premonition that bad news was about to come.

He tried to keep himself calm and asked in a deep voice, "What happened? Don't be anxious, tell me slowly."

Chang Tai walked to Huang Guangtai's desk and handed him a telegram: "Fuso has just given a formal response. They... they have completely given up Liuwan Island."

Huang Guangtai's hands trembled, and the telegram almost slipped from his hands. He widened his eyes, unable to believe his ears: "What did you say? Fuso gave up Liuwan Island? How is this possible!"

Chang Tai nodded and said bitterly: "Mr. President, this is the truth. The Emperor of Fuso has made a decision. They no longer support our actions on Liuwan Island. It is said that it is because of the impact of the Yamato battleship leak incident. They are now too busy to take care of themselves."

Huang Guangtai stood up suddenly, his face as pale as paper. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turned white, and a trace of despair and anger flashed in his eyes: "Without Fusang's support, how long can our Southern Government last? It's over now, everything is over!"

Chang Tai stood aside, speechless. He knew that Huang Guangtai had high hopes for Fuso's support, but now this hope was shattered. He could only try his best to comfort him: "Mr. President, perhaps there is still hope. We can try to establish contact with other powerful countries and seek new support."

Huang Guangtai smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Other countries? Who would be willing to take the risk to support us? Without sufficient benefits, how could this group of greedy jackals stand on our side?"

Chang Tai lowered his head and remained silent when he heard this. The current Southern Government is on the verge of despair.

Huang Guangtai's face became paler and paler, his eyes were filled with despair and helplessness. He clenched his fists, as if trying to support his shaky body. Suddenly, he started coughing violently, and the violent cough was frightening.

"President!" Chang Tai exclaimed, and he hurried forward to support Huang Guangtai.

However, Huang Guangtai seemed to have lost control. He suddenly spit out blood with a wow sound. The blood splashed on the floor, which was shocking. His body softened instantly and he fell into a coma.

"Quick! Call the guards!" Chang Tai shouted anxiously, his face full of worry and fear.

Soon, the guards came and carefully lifted Huang Guangtai and sent him to the hospital. In the hospital ward, doctors urgently conducted examinations and diagnoses.

After some examination, the doctor shook his head heavily and said, "Mr. President has lung cancer, and his condition is quite serious. We need emergency treatment immediately."

Chang Tai felt sad when he heard this. He looked at Huang Guangtai, who was pale on the hospital bed, and felt helpless and sad. He knew that this once high-spirited president had now reached the end of his life.

As the news of Huang Guangtai's illness spread like a gust of wind throughout the Southern Government, the atmosphere in the entire government building became depressing and heavy. The officials, who were already panicking, were now like frightened birds, with worry and uneasiness written all over their faces.

In the ward, Huang Guangtai was lying on the bed, his face as pale as paper, his breath was weak, as if he would pass away at any time. His eyes had lost their former luster, leaving only deep fatigue and despair.

Chang Tai stood beside the bed, his heart filled with grief and helplessness. He looked at Huang Guangtai and said softly, "President, you must hold on. We cannot do without your leadership."

Huang Guangtai opened his eyes with difficulty. He glanced at Chang Tai and pulled a bitter smile from the corner of his mouth: "Chang Tai, I know my body well. I'm afraid I can't hold on for much longer. What I'm most worried about now is my family."

Chang Tai was silent for a moment, then said: "President, don't worry, I will do my best to protect your family."

Huang Guangtai nodded and panted, "Changtai, find a way...find a way to secretly send my two sons and my wife to the United States. It's safe there and they won't be implicated."

Chang Tai was shocked, he understood that Huang Guangtai was making final arrangements.

He nodded and said solemnly: "President, I will do everything I can to get them to the United States safely."

Huang Guangtai closed his eyes, as if he was gathering his last bit of strength. After a while, he said, "Changtai, the Southern Government is now a castle in the air and may collapse at any time. You...you have to think for yourself and find a way out."

Chang Tai's eyes were filled with tears. He knelt in front of Huang Guangtai's bed and said with a sob: "President, don't worry, I will always be with you. The Southern Government cannot do without you. You are the backbone of the Southern Government. You cannot fall down..."