Crafting Pretexts

As a ruler, one cannot tolerate subordinates openly rebelling, because the entire world is watching. For rebels, the ruler must deal with them sternly; otherwise, they will fail to command respect.

In Inazuma, Raiden Shogun represents supreme authority. If Yae Miko, as her subject, were to openly oppose Raiden Shogun, it would be considered treason.

Committing such a crime, even if Ei considers their years of friendship and spares Yae Miko's life, their relationship would inevitably suffer a rift.

Although Yae Miko often enjoys teasing Ei, deep down, Ei is the most important person to her.

When Yae Miko was just a young fox, she stayed by Ei's side, receiving her care and protection.

Because of this, in the game's storyline, Yae Miko exhibits a unique dependence on Ei.

This dependence is like the bond you might have with a pet dog you raised. It has followed you since it was small, viewing you as its owner and relying on you completely.

It treats you as its one and only, waiting by the door every day at the time you come home from work. The moment you open the door, it wags its tail enthusiastically, overjoyed.

So, Yae Miko's feelings for Ei go beyond mere friendship—they include a dependence forged in those early days, when she saw Ei as her master.

This unique sentiment is unparalleled, and it's precisely because of this emotion that Yae Miko cherishes her bond with Ei so deeply.

Even though she has taken on human form and is no longer that foolish little fox who used to bury her head in the snow when in danger, she has always considered herself Ei's subject, with Ei as her master.

In Yae Miko's eyes, only Ei is qualified to be her god and the god of Inazuma.

But if Ei is defeated, then as a god who has failed to heed her people's wishes, her reputation would inevitably suffer. How could she continue to command respect in the future?

And this is where Felina's ingenious plan comes into play.

First, by launching a "Color Revolution," they ensure that the people fully understand the dangers of eternity, sowing dissatisfaction among them and creating tension between the people and the shogunate.

When the public's discontent reaches its peak, they would publicly announce that Raiden Shogun, after depleting her strength to protect Inazuma five hundred years ago, has been recuperating ever since.

During this time, the responsibilities of governance have fallen largely to the Tri-Commission. The blame for the misguided policies of the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree would be placed squarely on the shoulders of the Kanjou Commission and the Tenryou Commission.

In a moment of widespread dissatisfaction, all grievances would be redirected toward the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions.

Did the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions really betray Raiden Shogun? Of course, they did!

But are they solely to blame for Inazuma's current state? Certainly not.

For Inazuma's present predicament, Ei herself bears at least two-thirds of the responsibility.

But what does that matter to Yae Miko?

Yae Miko's goal is to make Ei face reality, to pull her out of the sorrow of the past, and to stop hiding from her.

Since the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions truly did betray the Shogun, they are already doomed. Taking on additional blame won't make a difference.

Though Ei has closed herself off and pursued eternity because of her overwhelming grief, her true nature remains that of someone who loves and cares for the people of Inazuma.

Felina and Yae Miko believe that when Ei—or even Raiden Shogun—sees countless citizens gathering to protest despite the threat of imprisonment or death, she will be forced to reflect deeply.

Thus, Felina and Yae Miko push the shogunate to stand against the people, unifying the entire nation's thoughts and will in the process.

Then, under the banner of "Purging the Court," they would raise an army to attack the shogunate, forcing Ei to make a decision.

What is "Purging the Court"? Simply put, it means removing treacherous ministers from the ruler's side.

Historically, many feudal lords have used the banner of "Purging the Court" to launch rebellions, raising armies to attack the capital.

Now, Yae Miko is employing this same strategy, signaling to everyone: It is because of deceitful ministers who have misled the ruler, causing the Shogun to make erroneous decisions.

I am not rebelling; I have no intention of opposing the Shogun. My purpose in raising an army is to eliminate the treacherous ministers by her side so that Inazuma can return to prosperity and the people can live good lives.

Who is Yae Miko? She is the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, serving the Raiden Shogun—a role akin to a high priest.

At the same time, she is also a direct subject of Raiden Shogun.

From a legal standpoint, she has the legitimacy and is the most suitable and qualified person in all of Inazuma to raise the banner of "Purging the Court" and lead an army against the capital.

This strategy is ingenious because it allows her to legitimately lead troops against the Shogunate, forcing Ei to appear while placing all the blame on the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions, thereby preserving Ei's prestige as a god.

Moreover, Yae Miko is only carrying out her loyalty under the guise of "Purging the Court" and has not committed the crime of treason.

Given Ei's affection for Yae Miko, as long as she doesn't do anything that outright violates the law or puts Ei in an untenable position, Ei would never hold her accountable.

Thus, this plan to "Purge the Court" achieves multiple goals: It allows Yae Miko to openly declare war on the Shogunate, forces Ei to make an appearance, maintains Ei's dignity, and demonstrates Yae Miko's loyalty—all while leaving room for reconciliation. It is truly a brilliant strategy.

The announcement issued by Yae Miko immediately caused a sensation throughout Inazuma.

The Grand Sage Azar once said, "What makes a god a god is their superiority over humans."

This "superiority over humans" can be in terms of wisdom or power.

Though the people of Inazuma may be causing an uproar, the majority remains silent.

Many Inazumans, though influenced by public opinion and disappointed with the Shogunate and the current state of Inazuma, still hold great expectations for Raiden Shogun.

After all, Raiden Shogun has protected Inazuma for a thousand years. Her influence and faith among the people are immense.

Even the most extreme factions don't truly intend to rebel against Raiden Shogun. They merely hope to express their dissatisfaction through extreme means to make the Shogun hear their voices and change her mind.

In the minds of Inazumans, Raiden Shogun possesses great power and wisdom; otherwise, she wouldn't have ruled Inazuma for so long without error.

In the current climate of public discontent, the people of Inazuma can be divided into three factions:

The Opposition believes that Raiden Shogun's pursuit of eternity has harmed Inazuma and that she is not a competent god.

But she is too powerful. Humans stand no chance against a god, so they can only protest loudly in the hope of catching her attention and making her listen.

The Neutral Faction believes that the Shogun has ruled Inazuma for a thousand years, leaving behind a legacy of achievements. While her recent policies are flawed, mistakes are inevitable over such a long period. They think that peaceful protests can make her correct her errors, as she remains a great god.

The Devout Faction believes that the Shogun, as a god, has a far-reaching vision. Although her policies may seem detrimental now, she must have profound reasons beyond mortal understanding.

Regardless of the faction, they either fear, respect, or worship Raiden Shogun. None of them truly intend to challenge her authority or remove her from the throne.

This is the nature of a god, a presence like a towering mountain blocking the path. Even if the people at its base feel discontent, when they look up at the immense peak, they are filled with a sense of helplessness.

However, when Yae Miko's announcement was released, everything changed!

Yae Miko's statement, like pouring water into a hot oil pan, caused a massive uproar.

Previously, the people of Inazuma, feeling powerless in the face of the god who was like a towering mountain, suddenly had an epiphany after reading the announcement!

It turns out the Shogun has been in seclusion for recovery and hasn't been handling state affairs!

It turns out the chaos was caused by the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions deceiving the Shogun!

Now, one might ask, are there no smart people in Inazuma who can see through this?

This highlights Felina's incredible insight into human nature.

Sure, there were those who doubted the claims in the announcement, but so what?

The opposition faction was deeply dissatisfied with Raiden Shogun's policies, but they lacked the power to oppose her because she is a god!

But with this announcement, the opposition rejoiced!

Raiden Shogun is a god, but the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions are merely human. They dared not oppose a god, but they certainly could oppose humans!

Originally, they thought they had to fight against a god. Now, they didn't have to—what a relief!

As for the neutral faction, they already respected Raiden Shogun. They merely wanted her to correct her course and pay attention to the people's wishes.

Upon seeing the announcement, their reaction was: Excellent! It turns out the Shogun isn't at fault; it's all because of traitorous ministers deceiving her. Once these traitors are dealt with, Inazuma will improve.

And the devout faction?

Think about how fans of a celebrity feel when their idol is criticized—they feel deeply uncomfortable and launch attacks in defense.

How much more intense must it be for the devout now?

They have endured a period of constant criticism against their god, hearing that their god is wrong. It has been agonizing for them, and they've been holding back their anger.

Now, after reading the announcement: Excellent! It's all the fault of the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions for taking advantage of the Shogun's seclusion, deceiving her, and abusing their power!

The Shogun wasn't at fault. She isn't as flawed as others claim. What a relief!

The Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions—traitorous scum who betrayed Inazuma and the Shogun, tarnishing her reputation—are utterly detestable!

As for those in higher positions who occasionally interacted with Raiden Shogun, they are indeed sharp individuals.

Naturally, they could see that while the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions might have indeed betrayed the Shogun, Raiden Shogun herself bears significant responsibility for the current state of affairs.

They could see through the façade, but again, so what?

These people at the top of Inazuma are not just smart—they're seasoned operators.

In their eyes, this entire spectacle orchestrated by Yae Miko must have been authorized by the Shogun herself.

Why would they think this?

Consider the chaos in Inazuma over this period: the ever-growing opposition to eternity, the swelling ranks of the rebels, and the overflowing jails under the Tenryou Commission.

Raiden Shogun is a god, after all. Could she really kill all her people?

If an emperor slaughters their nation's citizens, what kind of emperor are they even ruling over?

So, to these sharp minds, it seemed clear that the overwhelming dissent must have compelled Raiden Shogun to reevaluate her policy on eternity.

And upon reflection, the Shogun must have realized its flaws.

However, as a ruler, even if she could admit her mistakes privately, she could never publicly acknowledge them. How could she maintain authority otherwise?

This time, public unrest led to her change of heart. If she admitted to her error, what's to stop people from causing another uproar whenever they have doubts?

Thus, Raiden Shogun could never publicly admit she was wrong.

This is why they believed she had authorized Yae Miko to release this announcement, shifting all the blame onto the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions, who were already in league with the Fatui.

Thus, the divine authority of the god was preserved, and a path for future change was paved.

Anyone who had climbed to such a high position was a seasoned veteran.

So, when these shrewd individuals read the announcement, even if they saw through the ruse, they would not dare to expose it.

To them, this was the platform Raiden Shogun had given herself to step down gracefully. Even if they were given a hundred chances, they would never dare to kick it out from under her and leave her with no way to save face.

After all, while Raiden Ei's governance might not be impeccable, her Musou no Hitotachi was undeniably powerful.

Indeed, Felina's "Purge the Court" strategy was a masterclass in controlling human sentiment.

In many cases, the truth isn't what matters most—what matters is a convincing rationale.

This "Purge the Court" announcement provided just such a rationale for every faction: the opposition, moderates, the faithful, and the sharp-witted elite alike.

It gave them a justification to reconcile their feelings: they no longer had to face the impossible challenge of opposing a god.

The "Purge the Court" decree not only gave Yae Miko a valid reason to raise an army, but also offered Raiden Shogun an honorable way to adjust course and granted countless Inazuman citizens the justification they needed to join the rebellion.

Previously, although dissatisfied, many dared not join the resistance because doing so would mean openly opposing the Shogun—a god—and thus a hopeless endeavor.

But now, it was different. They weren't rebelling against the divine. They were part of the "Purge the Court" forces, fighting to purge corrupt ministers, defend the Shogun's honor, and secure Inazuma's future.

This announcement gave everyone a legitimate reason to enlist, ensuring Raiden Shogun could not punish them later.

Meanwhile, on the shogunate's side, many soldiers had long been reluctant to fight their own countrymen.

The announcement revealed they had been unwittingly complicit in betraying the Shogun.

Now, anti-war sentiment was rife throughout the barracks. Many soldiers outright refused to continue the battle against Watatsumi Island.

This was the brilliance of manufacturing a noble pretext.

The announcement shook Inazuma to its core.

Countless citizens with rebellious aspirations flocked toward Watatsumi Island.

Elsewhere, people began storming the Kanjou and Tenryou Commission headquarters, demanding explanations.

Inside, chaos reigned.

They wanted to deny the allegations, but under Felina's guidance, Yae Miko had crafted a half-true, half-false narrative that left them no room to defend themselves.

It was true that the Shogun wasn't in seclusion, but it was also true that they had deceived her, exploiting the puppet's unwavering commitment to eternity to push for the implementation of the Vision Hunt Decree.

It was true that they had exploited foreign merchants.

It was also true that they had colluded with the Fatui.

Yae Miko and Felina wrapped a lie in a few truths, creating a carefully constructed narrative that portrayed Raiden Shogun as being in seclusion and oblivious to national affairs while the two commissions capitalized on the opportunity to mismanage the country for personal gain.

Against such a meticulously crafted setup, the two commissions had no way to refute the claims.

According to the plan, the Kamisato family, as the Yashiro Commission, publicly denounced the other two commissions, declaring that if they were truly innocent, then they should have Raiden Shogun herself come out to clarify!

But how could the two commissions dare?

Raiden Shogun had yet to learn the full truth and was still within Tenshukaku.

Would they dare approach the Shogun to request her presence? Once she came out and learned of their collusion with the Fatui, what fate awaited them but death?

If they went to summon Raiden Shogun now, they would die. If they didn't, they could at least live a little longer.

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