"Your Highness, Ministers, I have gathered the information. The Germans have placed us last in line for the audience!" reported Ueda Kōya, the Japanese Ambassador to Germany. As the ambassador, he had his own sources of information.
"Bastards! The Germans are going too far!" Crown Prince Hirohito fumed.
Kato Takaaki's face darkened as well. The Germans had relegated Japan to the very end of the receiving line—a clear insult, an unmistakable sign of their disregard for Japan. It was an affront to the dignity of their nation.
"Minister, what would be the consequences if we were to leave Germany and return to the Empire?" Hirohito asked, his voice tense with frustration.
Kato's heart tightened. He knew Hirohito was not one to suffer indignities lightly. However, acting on impulse would offer no benefit to Japan. Such an action would humiliate Germany, yes, but it could also undo the fragile peace the two nations had painstakingly established—or worse, lead to war.
"Your Highness, that would be most unwise! If we were to do so, it would give the Germans an excuse to strike us once more. The Germans have already defeated the British. Their military strength is more than sufficient to wage war on us. If conflict were to break out, our Empire would struggle to overcome them! For the greater good, we must endure for now!" Kato implored with deep concern.
"Damn the Germans! They are utterly unreasonable!" Hirohito trembled with fury. He fully understood the repercussions of leaving, but the injustice gnawed at him.
"Your Highness, as the saying goes, a gentleman takes his revenge after ten years. The Germans, emboldened by their power, trample upon us. But one day, when our Empire has regained its strength, we shall repay this humiliation a thousandfold. I am certain that day will come soon," Kato said with confidence, hoping to console the Crown Prince.
Hirohito nodded grimly. "Minister, I understand. I will bide my time and act with patience."
Indeed, even as Japan stood as a formidable power, it was nothing compared to Germany in the current moment. For now, Hirohito could do little but endure, convincing himself that one day, when Japan's might was restored, the tables would turn.
It wasn't until the afternoon of December 17th that Hirohito and Kato received the summons from the Kaiser.
Accompanied by German diplomats, they entered the royal palace.
"This is the German royal palace? It's hardly impressive—nothing like our Empire's palaces!" Hirohito thought disdainfully. To him, the German palace seemed poor in comparison to the grandeur of Japan's imperial residences. A nation as powerful as Germany should have built something far more magnificent, in his view.
Though he kept his thoughts to himself, Hirohito, despite his youth, was astute enough to understand the delicate nature of his position.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully bring greetings from His Majesty the Emperor of Japan," Kato said with great respect.
"Minister, please convey my greetings to the Emperor of Japan," Qin Tian, the German Emperor, replied.
The customary formalities followed, with both parties exchanging pleasantries, though the tension was palpable. Despite his disdain for the Japanese, Kaiser Qin Tian was careful not to openly display his feelings, for as the ruler of the greatest empire on earth, a measure of decorum was expected.
"Your Majesty, the German Empire is the most powerful nation in the world. I believe it should set an example for all nations," Hirohito declared.
"Oh? Crown Prince, how do you believe the German Empire should set an example?" Qin Tian asked with a mocking smile. He could see that Hirohito was eager to appear mature, but his actions seemed rather childish in the eyes of the German Emperor.
"Your Majesty, at the very least, the German military should not massacre civilians! In Japan, the German fleet shelled our coastal cities, causing the deaths and injuries of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. Such actions are hardly the mark of a great nation!" Hirohito stated.
Qin Tian's expression soured. "Crown Prince, are you accusing me, accusing the German Empire?"
"I dare not. I am merely stating the facts," Hirohito replied.
Kato Takaaki, taken aback by Hirohito's boldness, quickly gestured for him to cease. However, Hirohito, driven by righteous anger, appeared oblivious to the warning. While every Japanese official loathed the brutal bombardment of Japan's coastal cities by the Germans, for the sake of diplomacy, they had learned to turn a blind eye to it. But Hirohito, young and impetuous, refused to do so.
"As for the war between our nations, I no longer wish to comment. The reason the German Empire declared war on Japan was because of your own actions! The terms of our peace treaty are clear: Japan is responsible for the war, not us. It was your greed that brought about this conflict. Had it not been for your actions, this war would never have occurred!" Qin Tian said, his voice cold.
"Japan did not attack Germany; we attacked British colonies. This has nothing to do with Germany. Does Germany think it can bully other nations simply because of its military strength?" Hirohito demanded angrily.
Qin Tian, growing irritated by the young prince's defiance, retorted, "What? Does Japan wish to tear up the peace treaty? If so, I can certainly accommodate you!"
Hirohito was instantly silenced. He knew better than to respond affirmatively to such a provocation. Doing so would give Germany a pretext to break the ceasefire and restart hostilities—a fate Japan was ill-equipped to face.
Feeling humiliated and stifled, Hirohito clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood.
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself. The Crown Prince did not mean any offense," Kato Takaaki quickly interjected, fearful that further tension could lead to catastrophe.
"Humph! You are the Crown Prince of Japan, and though young, I expect you to think before you speak. Otherwise, you will bring disaster upon your nation," Qin Tian said disdainfully.
Hirohito's hands trembled, the pressure of the situation overwhelming him as he struggled to suppress his anger.