The Establishment of the Great Japanese Empire Space Force (Part 1)

May 1918

"Prime Minister Terauchi, I've heard that the recent surge in prices is causing hardship for the people. What measures are being taken to address this?"

By this time, the Emperor's illness had led to the Crown Prince frequently taking over official duties. The Crown Prince had begun actively inquiring about the state of national affairs and the government's intentions.

"Yes, Your Highness. The price surge is indeed a matter of concern. Last year, we issued the Profiteering Control Ordinance, but its effects have been limited. The government is currently considering additional measures."

"I see. The rise in rice prices, in particular, must be troubling for the common people. Are farmers benefiting from the increase in rice prices?"

"Yes, Your Highness. While the average wages of workers have risen, tenant farmers in rural areas have not seen a corresponding increase in income. The benefits of the price surge are largely going to rice wholesalers and trading companies..."

"So, despite this, the Profiteering Control Ordinance has had little effect? In that case, as an emergency measure, could the government not enforce compulsory purchases at government-set prices?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Under the current system of free-market economics, such measures are difficult to implement. We are working on budgetary measures to address the price surge and provide relief as best we can."

At the time, the wartime boom from the Great War in Europe and the post-war reconstruction demand during the Taisho Bubble had caused prices to skyrocket abnormally.

However, the government was unable to take sufficient measures, and as in the original timeline, the Rice Riots broke out around August 1918. The riots continued to escalate, and eventually, the government issued the Grain Requisition Ordinance (Emergency Imperial Decree), which allowed for compulsory purchases. However, fearing the decree, rice wholesalers and trading companies lowered rice prices, rendering the decree unnecessary. Despite the Crown Prince's earlier concerns, the government's response remained reactive and inadequate.

The electoral system of the time granted voting rights only to those who paid a certain amount in taxes, making it difficult to ignore the interests of entrepreneurs and wealthy farmers who could mobilize large numbers of votes.

"Takashiro, I followed your advice and pressed the government for measures, but in the end, we couldn't prevent the Rice Riots. The people are suffering, and they must resent me."

"No, Your Highness. You mustn't dwell on it. Those in power are always subject to criticism. If we stop moving forward just because things didn't go as planned, we'll never achieve anything."

"You're right, Takashiro. Let's move on to the next plan."

Around this time, Takashiro Soryu organized a study group called the Seiunkai at Tokyo Imperial University, gathering like-minded individuals to discuss politics, economics, and military affairs, laying the groundwork for future collaboration.

February 1919

The Crown Prince became Regent two years earlier than in the original timeline. This was because he had acquired more knowledge through Takashiro and was deemed capable of handling the responsibilities of Regent.

The Regent is someone who exercises the Emperor's authority when the Emperor is unable to perform official duties due to illness or other reasons. Under the Imperial Constitution, the Regent could exercise almost all imperial powers except for amendments to the Constitution and the Imperial House Law.

"Prime Minister Hara, have you read the proposal I submitted?"

"Yes, Your Highness. As Your Highness has rightly pointed out, the issues of infanticide in rural areas and the selling of daughters into servitude are problems the government cannot overlook. Your Highness's ideas are truly noble, reflecting deep concern for the people. We will immediately draft a bill in the cabinet and strive to have it passed in the Imperial Diet."

※Historically, the Prostitution Abolition Ordinance existed, banning the selling of daughters and indentured servitude as akin to slavery, but it had become largely ineffective.

Thus, with little opposition, the bill to establish the Imperial Japanese Space Force was passed.

The law included the following key provisions:

Establish the Space Force Youth Academy and Military Academy, with the primary mission of educating children.

Conduct research and development of new technologies.

The budget shall not exceed approximately 1/200th of the Army and Navy budgets.

The Space Force shall be directly under the Emperor, with no minister appointed.

The Space Force may establish external organizations, whose budgets and accounts shall be managed as special accounts by the Space Force.

The stated primary purpose of the Space Force was to establish youth and military academies to take in children from rural areas who would otherwise be sold or killed due to poverty, providing them with public education.

To this end, an Imperial Rescript was issued, stating that killing or selling the Emperor's children (the people) was disloyal and illegal, and encouraging those in dire poverty to enroll their children in the Space Force Youth Academy or Military Academy.

The Space Force Youth Academy and Military Academy had no gender restrictions. They were fully residential, with all living expenses covered by the Space Force's budget and donations.

What Soryu particularly wanted was the establishment of external organizations and their special accounts. Special accounts did not require Diet approval and could be used freely by the Space Force, with no obligation to disclose details. This was essential for Soryu's future activities.

Enrollment for the first class of the Youth Academy and Military Academy began, and over 2,000 students were admitted.

Staff for the academies were initially provided on loan from the Imperial Household Agency.

"That's quite a number of students. There are even infants among them. These will become your underlings, huh?"

Liliel spoke with barely contained excitement.

"Underlings? They're comrades, comrades. We'll educate them and nurture them into talented individuals who will support Japan. From among them, we'll select loyal elites to build a stronger organization. I'm really looking forward to it."

"But it's quite skewed, isn't it? Is this really okay?"

At the time, the victims of infanticide in rural areas were almost exclusively girls. Boys were seen as future labor, while girls were not considered valuable. As a result, the student body was heavily skewed:

"2% boys and 98% girls... I didn't expect it to be this lopsided. An all-girls military? This feels like something straight out of a light novel."

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A/N: Thank you for reading Chapter 14!

Finally, the Space Force is established. But it's more of a school than a military?

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