CHAPTER 792: CHAPTER 651: AOYAMA XIU XIN: GOVERNOR, AREN’T YOU SENSITIVE

Secretary Imamura Masafumi immediately called Heng Lu Guangnan to report the matter after the phone was hung up.

"Governor, this is Imamura Masafumi. I just received a call from the Police Headquarters saying that Aoyama Xiu Xin has a major operation tonight, but the informant was discovered midway and interrupted, unclear about the specific situation."

"Hmm, I understand." Heng Lu Guangnan quietly listened to the secretary’s words and responded calmly.

Imamura Masafumi was momentarily caught off guard and confusedly asked, "Governor, should we not do something?"

He knew well his master’s fear of Aoyama Xiu Xin, otherwise he wouldn’t have arranged for someone in the Police Headquarters to monitor Aoyama Xiu Xin’s every move.

"Do what?" Heng Lu Guangnan asked in return, indifferently adding, "At this point, I don’t know what he plans to do, what can I do?"

If there was an opportunity, he wouldn’t mind causing trouble for Aoyama Xiu Xin, undermining his prestige in Hokkaido, but now he doesn’t know what Aoyama Xiu Xin intends to do, and the opponent’s action is about to start. There’s no way to sabotage.

So all he could do was nothing.

Just wait for the next opportunity.

"Ah! I was foolish." Imamura Masafumi immediately apologized for his slow response, then cautiously said, "Chief Aoyama probably already knows that the informant is our person."

"So be it, continue to recruit more people in the Police Headquarters." Heng Lu Guangnan was indifferent about this, feeling that Aoyama Xiu Xin wouldn’t dare to openly confront the Hokkaido king because of it.

Moreover, Aoyama Xiu Xin poses a threat to him but won’t cause substantial harm for at least the next two years. He has time to resolve this potential risk, not in a hurry.

"Ring ring! Ring ring!"

At that moment, the desk phone rang.

"Alright then." After hanging up, Yokoji put down the mobile phone and picked up the landline receiver, "Hello?"

In the chief minister’s office, Aoyama Xiu Xin had his legs propped on the desk, leaning back, casually speaking into the phone, "Good evening, Governor, sorry to disturb your rest."

"It’s Mr. Aoyama, it’s still early, I haven’t rested yet, so there’s no disruption. Is there something you need?" Heng Lu Guangnan asked with a smile.

"It’s nothing, just very surprised that the governor is so concerned about me. Had I known earlier, I would have reported my work to you personally every day, instead of the situation turning into this, causing someone to lose their life." Aoyama Xiu Xin sighed regretfully.

Heng Lu Guangnan’s expression turned cold, realizing that Aoyama Xiu Xin had killed that policeman, knowing it was his lackey but still going through with it, showing blatant disregard.

"Mr. Aoyama is somewhat too sensitive."

"Perhaps it’s Governor Yokoji who’s sensitive." Aoyama Xiu Xin replied.

Heng Lu Guangnan fell into silence, after a moment speaking, "Seems my sensitivity is correct, is it not?"

"Governor Yokoji, has it never crossed your mind to pursue ambitions in the National Diet or the cabinet to realize your aspirations on the international political stage?" Xiu Xin asked seriously.

Heng Lu Guangnan had sensed that Aoyama Xiu Xin aimed to establish roots in Hokkaido, encroaching on his voting base, and he wanted to negotiate rather than engage in deceit.

Heng Lu Guangnan chuckled lightly, as if he heard a joke, saying, "Does Mr. Aoyama think it’s difficult for me to enter the National Diet, or even the cabinet? For me, only becoming the Prime Minister is challenging. I have no elusive ambitions or ideals, so for me, not becoming Prime Minister is less preferable than being a lifelong governor."

The implication was clear, unless Aoyama Xiu Xin could make him Prime Minister, he’d remain rooted where he spent a decade, within the central authority, surrendering position to Aoyama Xiu Xin.

But Aoyama Xiu Xin lacked that capability.

So this was a refusal of the deal.

"Alright then, that’s unfortunate. I assumed the governor also had grand ambitions." Aoyama Xiu Xin sighed.

The conversation was laid bare, Heng Lu Guangnan decided not to hold back, "If someone seeks to seize your power at Police Headquarters, Mr. Aoyama, would you sit idle or counter fiercely? A word of advice—Japan hasn’t had a Prime Minister with a tenure exceeding ten years, but lacks not governors exceeding ten years. You’re still young, rushing too hastily might lead to irreversible missteps."

Aoyama Xiu Xin’s foster grandfather is the Prime Minister, he doesn’t wish to clash with the Yanchuan Family but also doesn’t fear it, because even the Prime Minister, National Diet, and Cabinet couldn’t directly dismiss him as governor.

Japan’s local autonomy is substantial.

Only local citizens can vote him out.

Hence his apprehension towards Aoyama Xiu Xin.

"Yes! Thank you for your guidance, I will surely remember it." Aoyama Xiu Xin replied sincerely.

Heng Lu Guangnan couldn’t discern whether he was being sarcastic but had no intention to speak further, ending the call directly.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

Listening to the busy tone, Aoyama Xiu Xin smiled and then dialed Yanchuan Shilang’s number, "Grandfather."

"Oh, it’s Xiu Xin. Your return to work in Hokkaido is going well, isn’t it?" Yanchuan Shilang was still working overtime handling official duties, and paused to rest upon receiving Aoyama Xiu Xin’s call.

"Yes, thanks to grandfather’s blessing, everything is going smoothly. I’ve already arranged to take action against Aum Shinrikyo tonight." Aoyama Xiu Xin respectfully replied.

"Oh?" Yanchuan Shilang’s spirit lifted, and he quickly asked, "How confident are you tonight?"

"Very confident!" Xiu Xin declared resolutely.

Yanchuan Shilang laughed heartily, "Good! Then I’ll wait for your good news and wish you success."

"Yes! I won’t let you down, grandfather." After Xiu Xin finished speaking, he added, "There’s something I think is necessary to report to you."

"Speak." Yanchuan Shilang realized that this was the purpose of Xiu Xin’s call and became serious.

Xiu Xin said solemnly, "Governor Yokoji Kunio attempted to tip off Aum Shinrikyo about the police operation, but I discovered and stopped it in time."

"What?" Yanchuan Shilang was shocked, then furious, "Why would he do that? Don’t tell me he’s been secretly indulgent, allowing Aum Shinrikyo to grow stronger in Hokkaido. Such a thing should not have happened."

Although this matter sounded absurd,

he didn’t think Xiu Xin would lie to him.

"That’s not it. I just spoke with him on the phone; he admitted it’s because of me." Xiu Xin replied in an honest tone.

Yanchuan Shilang was even more puzzled, "Because of you?"

"Yes, because of me. My popularity is very high locally in Hokkaido, and I’ve served here twice. He suspects the cabinet wants to prevent him from getting re-elected and replace him with me, so he wanted to undermine my reputation."

Yanchuan Shilang fell silent after hearing this. Xiu Xin’s situation made it normal for Yokoji Kunio to have such apprehensions. In the past, he could understand Yokoji Kunio, but now he couldn’t understand him anymore, nor could he tolerate it.

Because the identity has changed, he is now the Prime Minister, and he found Yokoji Kunio, a feudal official running a place for ten years, extremely annoying, snorted coldly, "What’s his intention? Hokkaido is the nation’s Hokkaido, not Yokoji Kunio’s. Is he really planning to be governor for life and pass this position down through generations?"

If all governors acted this way, could he, as a prime minister who can’t control local regions, still be the actual ruler of the country? What is the meaning of being Prime Minister if the powers he controls don’t match the position?

Moreover, the Prime Minister of Japan is theoretically able to serve indefinitely. He didn’t want to just pass the time and step down; from the first day in office, he wanted to be re-elected indefinitely, so he had long considered the whole country his private property. Local stubborn forces like Yokoji Kunio, he found glaring.

Originally, he never intended to let Xiu Xin take root in Hokkaido, but now that it’s brought up, if Xiu Xin is so popular in Hokkaido, taking political office would be a great start. It would be wonderful if he could actually replace Yokoji Kunio.

Of course, this doesn’t mean letting Xiu Xin replace Yokoji Kunio as governor now. He’s not qualified yet, but in the future, he should leverage his own popularity to run for governor in Hokkaido, learning from Yokoji Kunio to turn Hokkaido into the Yanchuan family’s domain.

"Yes, grandfather, Governor Yokoji’s attitude is also infuriating. This guy has no regard for the cabinet, the parliament, and even less for you, acting like he’s the local tyrant of Hokkaido." Xiu Xin indignantly added more fuel to the fire against Yokoji Kunio.

The cabinet and parliament can’t directly remove Yokoji Kunio, but there are certainly ways to make things difficult for him.

Yanchuan Shilang contemplated for a moment and said, "You’re definitely going into politics in the future, and you indeed have an advantage in Hokkaido. Personally, I think you shouldn’t give up this advantage and start anew elsewhere."

"As for Yokoji Kunio, I’ll discuss it with the cabinet. He can’t stay in Hokkaido any longer, otherwise, I fear he’ll create a state within a state. This situation must be eradicated!"

Xiu Xin can’t be governor now, but first, they must get Yokoji Kunio out of the way. One, to prevent him from further solidifying his power, and two, to make it easier for Xiu Xin to run for governor in the future.

Though driving Yokoji Kunio out is out of self-interest, it’s the right move for the country to indeed eliminate such situations.

"Yes!" A faint smile appeared at the corner of Xiu Xin’s mouth. With the cabinet’s support, even if things get troublesome in dealing with Yokoji Kunio, there’s support to back him up, so he dares to push forward.

"Knock, knock, knock!" Suddenly, there was a sound at the door.

"Grandfather, I have work here..."

"You take care of your business." Yanchuan Shilang hung up the phone.

Only then did Xiu Xin call out, "Come in."

"Minister, everyone has assembled." Nakamura Shinichi pushed the door open and reported respectfully.

He is now the Minister of the Criminal Department at Headquarters, while the original Minister of the Criminal Department, Ishihara Keiichi, was transferred to be the Minister of the Security Department, and the former Minister of the Security Department was reassigned as the commissioner.

Several people’s positions were adjusted to create this position for Nakamura Shinichi.

Xiu Xin glanced at the time; Aum Shinrikyo’s people should have gathered. He said, "Let’s move out then. You will be the chief commander, and Mr. Ishihara will be the deputy commander."

He certainly wouldn’t be going to the scene himself.

Asahara Shoko always goes out with devout followers as bodyguards, and these people definitely have guns, maybe even bombs. What if they decided to die together with him?

That would be too dangerous.

The son of a thousand gold pieces does not sit under the eaves.

Unless necessary, don’t take risks.

Otherwise, what is the point of his efforts to rise in rank?

"Yes!" Nakamura Shinichi responded and left.