Nanyang Storm 1864

"Gentlemen, please stop arguing."

The State of Chu has mobilized its entire army this time, intending to annihilate our combined fleet in one fell swoop, repeating the scene at Lake Ikeda 40 years ago, and completely cutting off the naval path for the rise of the Great Fusang Empire.

Their intentions are extremely malicious, and we must be very careful.

Once defeated, it could mean utter ruin.

I'm sure everyone here understands.

Due to its geographical location surrounded by the sea, the Fusang Islands rely on a strong navy for national strength and prosperity. The current strength of the combined fleet is the foundation for the empire's security.

Destroying the foundations of the empire was a long-planned and vicious scheme by the Great Emperor of Chu, and now the Fusang Empire is in grave danger!

Admiral Togo Heihachiro, the Minister of the Naval General Staff of Japan, stopped the dispute between the two sides and said in a heavy tone.

His gaze swept over the group of high-ranking military and political officials, his mood extremely depressed. He paused for a moment, then spoke again in a solemn tone.
"This Chu-Ri War will be the most powerful enemy the Great Fusang Empire has ever encountered, and it will be a serious crisis for the fate of the nation, which may very well turn into a tragedy for the Yamato people."

If we can survive this, it is entirely thanks to the blessings of Amaterasu and His Majesty the Emperor; otherwise, the Japanese archipelago would have been dormant for decades to come.

In terms of strength

The enemy is strong and we are weak. The strength of the Royal Navy of the Great Chu Empire far exceeds that of our combined fleet. This war for naval supremacy will be extremely difficult and requires careful planning.

Taking into account opinions from all sides

The Naval General Staff decided to divide the Combined Fleet into three parts, stationing them separately in Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo Bay, using the artillery fire of the coastal fortresses for defense, in order to preserve the fleet's strength.

Besides
Two raiding fleets will also be organized, each consisting of a battleship and two main cruisers, to patrol the open seas and seek opportunities to annihilate any isolated outer warships of the Chu state.

Some have questioned whether this would weaken the overall strength of the Combined Fleet and hinder its chances of winning the decisive battle.

Here, I want to remind you all.

The Great Chu Empire's expeditionary fleet is far superior to ours. A reckless naval battle would be utterly unwise and would play right into the enemy's hands. It could potentially destroy the Great Fusang Empire's 40 years of naval strength.

Taking the six new battleships of the Chu Kingdom as an example, they were fast, powerful, heavily armored, and their officers and soldiers were of international first-class quality, far superior to those fools of Tsarist Russia.

Our main battleships' 305mm guns couldn't penetrate the enemy's thick armor, while the enemy's 343mm super-large caliber main guns were capable of easily tearing apart our battleships' armor defenses.

This was a severely unequal naval contest. The wise course of action was to confront the enemy head-on, preserve strength, delay and wait for a change in circumstances, and request the participation of British allies and European powers to exert pressure and force them to end the war hastily.

Prioritizing the preservation of the ship and not focusing on short-term gains is the best course of action.

As long as the foundation of the Combined Fleet remains intact, it is only a matter of time before it is armed and strong again, and things will be completely different in three to five years.

The Fusang Empire has the advantage of time. Given its disadvantages in all aspects, a blind attack would be tantamount to suicide and is by no means a wise choice.

While the Combined Fleet actively responded, the Naval General Staff hoped that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would take immediate action.

An urgent note was sent to British allies, as well as other powers such as France, Germany, the United States, Italy, and Austria-Hungary, condemning their domineering behavior of frequently launching wars, strongly condemning the Chu state's brazen invasion, and jointly pressuring it to back down.

The sooner the crisis is resolved, the better the chances of survival for the Combined Fleet.

Admiral Togo Heihachiro's words left the assembled military and political officials feeling a pang of sadness, but they had to admit that he was right.

From any perspective, this may be the most suitable approach at present.

The main guns of the Fusang navy battleships were small in caliber and slow in speed. The combined displacement of two of Fusang's main battleships (most of which were around 15,000 to 16,000 tons) was equivalent to that of a single "Kunlunshan" class battleship of the Chu Kingdom.

If you can't even break through the enemy's armor, let alone expect a miracle to happen, wouldn't that be too far-fetched?

Despite their deep resentment, the high-ranking military and political officials of Japan present had to admit that the Navy's judgment was correct and its response measures were effective, which was probably the only feasible approach.

The combined fleet was divided into three parts, each hidden in a densely packed fortified bay, thereby offsetting the huge disparity in strength between the two sides.

Even if the enemy breaches a bay, it is impossible to completely wipe out the combined fleet.

If they rashly launch a full-scale attack, the combined fleet of the Japanese Empire could be completely annihilated in just one or two days, severely damaging the Yamato people's path to rise.

These were the elites of the Meiji Restoration, emerging one after another like the famous generals of the Warring States period. They were the essence of the Yamato people accumulated over thousands of years, which erupted in this era.

When the crisis struck, internal conflicts were quickly set aside and a consensus was reached, which was highly efficient.

After the Russo-Japanese War

The defeated Tsarist Russia did not pay a single rupee in war reparations, leaving Japan burdened with a huge war debt. The country was in an uproar both at home and abroad, feeling that it had suffered a serious betrayal.

They've been tricked by the US and UK, and were treated like fools.

But in reality
Japan also reaped huge benefits from the war. From 1904 to 1907, Japan's industrial capital developed rapidly, national industries rose in large numbers, and total investment was more than double that of the previous decade.

This enabled Fusang to take a significant step towards becoming an industrialized nation, and its international standing was greatly enhanced.

Today's world

Japan is widely regarded as being able to rival the world's top powers, and its overseas missions have been upgraded from the level of legation to embassy, ​​gaining widespread recognition and respect.

The victory in the Russo-Japanese War also led to a significant expansion of the colonial sphere, bringing the entire Sakhalin Island under its control and consolidating its influence in Northeast China.

Every little thing is one of the benefits brought about by the Russo-Japanese War.

History moved forward with tremendous inertia, resulting in a three-way power struggle in the western Pacific region: Chu, Russia, and Japan.

Japan and Russia have just fought an extremely brutal war, and now it's the turn of Chu and Japan.

At a time when Fusang was on the rise, it demonstrated a strong ability to execute its plans when faced with a major crisis, with its army and navy taking action simultaneously.

Following the conclusion of the Kure Conference, the Fusō Combined Fleet immediately took urgent action, dividing itself into three groups according to the established plan. The original Combined Fleet's First Squadron (equipped with 6 main battleships), Second Squadron (equipped with 4 captured Russian battleships and 2 heavy cruisers), and Third and Fourth Squadrons (each equipped with several light and heavy cruisers) were dispersed to various ports.

As an island nation, the Fusang Islands are surrounded by excellent ports.

Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo Bay are all concave, encircling bays with fortified forts and gun emplacements built along their coastlines, effectively shielding the vast bays and creating excellent defensive capabilities.

These Japanese states are not stupid at all. When faced with a major crisis, they behave like extremely difficult hedgehogs, making it hard for the Chu state to attack them.

The defensive capabilities of the three bay fortresses of Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo Bay are all on par with, or even surpass, those of the Port Arthur fortress.

Just think back to the Russo-Japanese War, which ended three years ago. The battle for Port Arthur alone lasted a year. The Japanese army, as the attacking side, suffered losses of over 100,000 men and almost gritted its teeth to capture the Port Arthur coastal defense fortress.

Now fighting on its own soil, after the war broke out on December 2, the Fusang Kingdom declared war on the Chu Kingdom without showing any weakness and quickly launched its first war mobilization.

A large number of fanatical Japanese youths were conscripted into the army, many of whom were veterans who had been drafted during the Russo-Japanese War and had only been discharged and returned home for a year or two before taking up arms again and going to the battlefield. In just four or five days, the military strength of the Japanese mainland rapidly increased from less than 20 to more than 45 (Note: after the Russo-Japanese War, it was greatly reduced to save on military expenditures), preparing to fight a decisive battle against the invading Chu army.

The various countermeasures taken by the Japanese against this formidable enemy were transmitted to the Great Chu Empire's imperial palace almost immediately after the Wu City Conference, including detailed plans for the army and navy.

This was thanks to the decades-long infiltration of the Fusang people by the Great Chu Empire. The Chinese spies planted in the early stages successfully integrated into Fusang during the turbulent period of the late Edo period.

After so many years of development, some have become local political families, some have become extremely wealthy in business and have become the prototypes of highly influential conglomerates, and some have deeply rooted themselves in the military and become military families or Chinese families.

It was precisely because of this forward-looking arrangement that the situation in Fusang was almost completely transparent to the State of Chu, with no secrets whatsoever.

After seeing this intelligence, Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty nodded repeatedly, acknowledging that some of the proposed solutions were indeed difficult to deal with.

"My dear brother Kunimitsu, given the current strength of Japan's defenses, how many casualties will your Kagoshima landing plan require to achieve your intended victory?"

"Well, Your Majesty, the Japanese defense forces in the Kagoshima region have grown to over 55,000 men, which is indeed beyond our original estimate of 42,000. However, the Royal Army is confident that it can land and take over the region in one fell swoop with fewer than 10,000 casualties, and is willing to sign a pledge."

"Good, that's the kind of strong confidence that makes us despise all enemies," Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu praised.

He sat on the dragon throne in the Zichen Palace, his slender fingers gently tapping the back of the chair, a habit he had when he was thinking.

All the military and political ministers who participated in the imperial audience held their breath and waited, none daring to disturb His Majesty's train of thought.

After considering it briefly

Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu smiled freely, revealing a confident air of having everything under control. This gave the military and political ministers boundless confidence, and they instantly felt reassured.

He spoke calmly;

“The Japanese are born with rebellious tendencies; they fear power but do not cherish virtue.”

Now that my heavenly army has suddenly arrived, I will surely inflict heavy damage upon them, so that they will not be allowed to bark towards the south, and will always hold a sense of awe and reverence.

This is a war of punishment, and also a war of establishing authority. Its effect is comparable to the bloodbath at Lake Ikeda 40 years ago.

Hopefully, this will bring another 40 years of peace to the Western Pacific.

The relevant information was sent to the expeditionary fleet, and the imperial decision was conveyed.

Firstly, since Fusang is an island nation, the expeditionary fleet was ordered to dispatch a powerful mobile squadron to identify and seize all merchant ships traveling to and from Fusang Island, concentrating them in Ryukyu and Nagasaki.

If all trade and economic ties with it are completely severed, how can a small, isolated island nation, unable to produce its own food, sustain itself?

After a six-month lockdown, Japan is plagued by widespread famine. Let's see how they respond.

Secondly, in accordance with the previous battle strategy, we should first attack Kagoshima, then take Tokyo Bay, and gradually put pressure on the enemy, without paying attention to the dispersed strategy of the Japanese Combined Fleet.

Just send a strong squadron to each of the ports of Osaka and Nagoya to keep an eye on them.

Anyone who dares to come out or show their face will be resolutely annihilated.

Thirdly, we must strengthen ties with Tsarist Russia. We are standing up for Nicholas II, and he has to take some action to show his support.

I don't expect anything else, but at least I want to share some of the diplomatic pressure.

France and Germany are left to him. My Great Chu Empire does not wish to be disturbed during military operations, it's that simple.

The better Nicholas II performs, the more severe the punishment will be for Japan.

My dear subjects, never underestimate the Russians' strong desire for revenge.

Making good use of this point will save us a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Fourth, the army landing forces should intensify their final drills, doubling the number of tanks and armored vehicles and the amount of heavy firepower.

"I want to see how long those Japanese devils can hold out under the baptism of steel bullets!"

"Your Majesty is wise; we can only admire you." All the military and political ministers rose and bowed, their faces full of respect.

The enormous problem was easily resolved in front of His Majesty the Emperor.

The Japanese have amassed large numbers of troops in Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo Bay, preparing to deliver a crushing blow to the landing forces of the Great Chu Empire.

His Majesty, however, did not play by the rules. Instead, he chose to attack Kagoshima first, which is the location of the Japanese Naval Academy and the cradle of Japanese naval tradition.

In the key defense areas of Fusang, its important performance ranks between fourth and fifth.

According to Admiral Togo Heihachiro of the Japanese Navy, one should not put all one's eggs in one basket.

Kagoshima itself is very important, and it is the ancestral home of the Satsuma Domain. It has a long history of navigation since the Edo period, and many of the Wokou raids during the Ming Dynasty originated here.

Kagoshima was not chosen as one of the three safe havens for the Combined Fleet because the target could not be too conspicuous.

from the heart
Admiral Togo Heihachiro did not want Kagoshima to be ravaged by war, as his wife, children, brothers, sisters, younger relatives, neighbors, and many promising young naval officers lived there.

The idea was good, but reality was harsh.

Emperor Zheng Guohui of the Great Chu Dynasty was determined to launch this war against Fusang. His core objective was to completely sever the Fusang navy's supply lines and annihilate the combined fleet in one fell swoop.

Therefore, the strategy adopted was to "surround without attacking," like playing whack-a-mole.

If you're so capable of being a coward, then hide inside the bay fort and don't come out.

I couldn't hold it in any longer, so I came out and attacked them one by one.

As for the others, they are not to be left waiting idly. Kagoshima is a key location that must be attacked and captured. An unprecedented bloodbath will surely take place here, demonstrating the Empire's power.

What does it mean to "prevent it from barking towards the south"?

The key is this: making an example of one to warn a hundred is the most effective measure.

If, after a complete capture and bloodbath of Kagoshima, the Japanese Allied Fleet remains unmoved and continues to cower like a coward...

Very well, the Great Chu Empire's expeditionary fleet will continue its northward march, bombarding Tokyo Port and massacring coastal towns. Let's see if you can still hold back.
Isn't he just a coward?

We'll raze your house to the ground and see if this coward can still hold his head high.
The uproar in public opinion within Japan could probably bring the Combined Fleet together and scorch it in the fire; a single spit from each person could drown him.

Talking about glory then will just be a joke. (End of Chapter)