Nanyang Storm 1864

"Do you think these Japanese devils will surrender?" Admiral He Zhucheng, commander of the Chu expeditionary fleet, asked in a good mood as he stood in the spacious and bright command tower of the flagship.

"Judging from the battle situation reported by the army, even if it's just a county, a city, or a town, these Japanese will not surrender easily and will always resist to the end. Their nature is so fierce, how can they possibly see the error of their ways?"

"Hehe... I agree with Commander Zheng. I'm afraid it's just another case of trying to fool the blind."

"I second that. These Japanese are all stubborn and incorrigible, and their problems are too deep to be solved. I'm afraid we will fail to live up to the Commander's good intentions."

"In my opinion, we should teach them a lesson with artillery fire and see if the Empire has more shells or if these Japanese pirates are tougher."

"Hahaha...that makes sense."

When the senior officers unanimously agreed, they were practically saying, "They won't shed a tear until they see the coffin."

General He Zhucheng smiled nonchalantly. The combined fleet had already completed its main mission, and the remaining missions were not difficult. Why not simply show his magnanimous side?
Give him a few hours, what can he possibly do?
He said quite magnanimously;

"Our Great Chu Empire's heavenly army has arrived suddenly, and all the barbarians have submitted. We cannot tolerate the Japanese devils who are two-faced. We must crush them with thunderous force."

His Majesty the Emperor is merciful and has allowed him to surrender by binding himself, thus sparing him a way out.

If these Japanese pirates and lowly slaves remain stubborn and unyielding, they will only bring about their own destruction, and the Imperial Fleet will show them no mercy.

Let's wait a little while and see what their decision is.

Upon hearing these words, the naval officers in the command tower all added their own comments.

"Your Majesty is wise and benevolent; your heart is so kind that it can move the sun and moon. We can only admire you!"

"That is indeed the case. His Majesty spreads benevolence throughout the world and establishes national prestige in the world. How can such barbaric pigs and dogs understand the will of Heaven? They are afraid they will fail to live up to His Majesty's wishes."

"Indeed, the Japanese pirates and their lowly slaves are accustomed to being brave and fierce. The best course of action is to discipline them with cannons and swords."

"This humble official is grateful for Your Majesty's virtuous rule and cares for all the people under Heaven. It is a pity that I cannot persuade this damned devil. The Japanese pirates are of despicable nature, and such lowly slaves are not worth dying for!"

The officers' words were full of arrogance; if the Japanese had heard them, they would have been furious.

At this moment, the officers of the Chu Kingdom's royal expeditionary fleet were in a particularly relaxed and cheerful mood. They were not afraid of dealing with the fortified fortresses and gun emplacements in Tokyo Bay, nor did they think it was a tough nut to crack.

The Tokyo Bay fortress was built tall and sturdy, controlling the Uraga Channel like an iron clamp. Because it was surrounded by low hills, there were almost no blind spots for artillery fire.

It was precisely because of this geographical situation that the Chu royal expeditionary fleet was so fearless.

Unless Japan is equipped with the latest 343mm coastal artillery, the outcome will be one-sided attack; there is no other possible result.

The main battleships of the Great Chu Empire's Royal Fleet, the "Kunlun Mountain" class, were equipped with twin-mounted 343mm main guns with a maximum range of 28.3 kilometers. Their range advantage alone was enough to completely overwhelm Japanese fortifications.

What's the use of making it sturdy?

It would just mean firing a few more rounds of artillery fire. No matter how sturdy it is, it can't withstand the bombardment of a 650-kilogram heavy cannon. That's completely beyond the limits.

A single shell could kill all the Japanese soldiers in a fortified position within a radius of two or three hundred meters. Even a two-meter-thick layer of concrete would be blown to pieces. It was truly brutal.

Of course

The mobile firepower strike group, mainly composed of the first battleship squadron, will be the first to engage in combat. The shelling distance will not be extended to such a great distance, at most 21 or 22 kilometers.

At extreme ranges, the accuracy of artillery fire is purely a matter of luck, and it's simply a waste of shells.

Having closed the distance to 21 or 22 kilometers and having experienced dozens of naval battles, large and small, during the Chu-Ri War, the expeditionary fleet's accuracy in medium-range artillery fire was quite high, more than double that of the initial stage of the war.

This is because 343mm shells are simply too expensive. Even with the formidable strength of the Royal Navy of the Great Chu Empire, they dared not produce them indiscriminately, as every shell fired was a drain on naval funds.

Therefore, daily simulated artillery training is more common, while live-fire artillery training at sea usually involves only about ten rounds, with the most training shells fired by any gun crew not exceeding 15 rounds.

Things changed after the war broke out.

The expeditionary fleet carried out dozens of operations, large and small, to bombard the coast, including at least five or six instances where it used the fierce firepower of large-caliber main ship guns.

Each bombardment of coastal fortresses and towns provided the battleships with valuable combat experience for their gun emplacements, allowing them to integrate their skills and naturally improve their proficiency.

Each battleship's main gun turret in the first mobile fire strike group fired one or two hundred shells, and their experience increased rapidly. Some of the main gun turrets were even able to fire crossfire in the first round.

It is true that war tempers people.

This also means that each main gun emplacement consumes shells worth hundreds of thousands of silver dollars. Only during wartime can they be produced at will, so that the officers don't feel the pinch.

After waiting for three hours, by noon, the Japanese artillery positions still hadn't made a move.

It seems they're determined to fight to the bitter end.

The expeditionary fleet also acted decisively, issuing a final warning and beginning to mobilize.

First to enter the fray were the six main battleships of the First Mobile Firepower Strike Group, four of which were Kunlunshan-class battleships. The battleships "Yecheng" and "Sishui" were ranked fifth and sixth in the battle line.

It was the same old formula, the same old battle plan, but it was unsolvable for the Japanese army.

As the first mobile fire strike group gradually approached, the Miura Battery in Tokyo Bay opened fire first, followed by the Boso Battery firing several 305mm shells as a deterrent.

However, the landing point was too far away to pose any threat.

The First Mobile Firepower Strike Group of the Royal Expeditionary Fleet of the Great Chu Empire took the lead in approaching the side of the Miura Battery, slowly maneuvering at a distance of about 21.5 kilometers, and pointing the main guns on the sides of the guns at the direction of the fortress.

The massive cannon muzzle was pitching and swaying, adjusting its firing parameters in preparation for the first test firing.

Sunlight shone on the dark muzzle of the cannon, which reflected a cold luster. This was the world's most advanced naval warfare behemoth, representing death and destruction.

Wherever the cannon was pointed, everything turned to dust.

The entire fire strike formation moved at a slow pace of three to four knots. During the artillery preparation, especially on the Japanese fortified positions, the feeling of helplessly waiting for death was truly maddening.

The Miura Fortress desperately unleashed its firepower, but unfortunately, the shells all landed in the water a kilometer or two away, creating one tall water column after another, like a forest of water columns.

Even the ninth batch of improved Japanese 305mm coastal artillery had a maximum range of only 18.72 kilometers. After being loaded with high-explosive Shimose powder, it could only fire a little over 20 kilometers at most.

This firing range wasn't even enough to satisfy the 343mm main guns. The Japanese soldiers at the Miura Fortress screamed in despair, but they couldn't get the shells to reach the Chu's first firepower formation.

Six enormous warships, each the size of a small mountain, leisurely lingered outside the water column jungle, like six thugs eyeing a lamb to the slaughter, considering where to strike most swiftly.

ten minutes later

When four of the six main warships fired their first correction shells, two of them landed accurately on the mountain fortress, creating orange-red explosions and fireballs that covered an area of ​​hundreds of meters.

Each shot from the incredibly powerful 343mm cannon landed on the fortress emplacement on the hill like a giant ocean hammer slamming into the hill, producing a dull, terrifying explosion.

The mushroom cloud from the explosion rose into the sky, along with countless concrete blocks, shattered remains, and broken artillery parts, all of which were thrown into the air.

Seeing that the two shots hit their targets, the officers and soldiers of the first fire strike group cheered loudly. Then, the two main warships that had missed their targets slightly adjusted their firing data and began the first round of shelling.

"Boom boom boom boom..."

The four battleships fired their main guns in succession, firing 32 large-caliber shells, turning the Miura Fortress batteries into a sea of ​​fire in the blink of an eye, with deafening sounds that could be heard dozens of kilometers away.

ten minutes later

After the battle damage assessment, the second round of shelling arrived slowly and predictably turned the Miura Fortress batteries into a sea of ​​fire, which was truly adding insult to injury.

The fortress's originally fierce counterattack was silenced by half after two rounds of bombardment, which was quite effective.

The First Royal Artillery Strike Group of the Great Chu Empire was still preparing for the third and fourth rounds of artillery fire at a leisurely pace before conducting a damage assessment.

Only by destroying the fortified batteries can these main battleship formations advance gradually, shorten the distance of their bombardment, further enhance the accuracy and destructive power of their bombardment, and remove this thorn in the side of the Uraga Channel.

The expeditionary fleet was in no hurry, like a cat toying with a mouse, not wanting to put its precious warships in any danger, as it was not worth it.

From the moment the shelling began, the fate of the Miura Fortress and the Boso Fortress batteries was sealed; they would be completely wiped out.

This overwhelming advantage stemming from the generational gap in naval weaponry is simply unsolvable.

The deafening roar of artillery fire lasted for more than five hours, plunging the prefectures surrounding Tokyo Bay into a state of utter terror and triggering a massive exodus.

The Great Chu Empire was infamous, especially for its rampant plundering and killing on the island of Kyushu. This was widely known through newspapers, radio, and various news channels, and almost everyone knew about it.

This terrifying propaganda about war caused great panic among the residents of Honshu Island.

As rumors spread, many terrifying legends even emerged, such as the Great Chu army's fondness for using women to light sky lanterns, the cruel generals' penchant for eating the tender hearts and livers of children, and their possession of terrifying, invincible magic.

In many cases

The speed at which fear spreads far exceeds imagination, and its power reaches a level that makes everyone tremble with fear.

No one wanted to sit and wait to die, so a mass exodus occurred in the densely populated prefectures around Tokyo Bay. In the frantic pursuit and trampling, tearing, looting, murder and robbery were commonplace, and the situation became increasingly chaotic.

The resulting casualties far exceeded the direct casualties of the war.

Many people, carrying only simple clothes and their children, fled their homes and sought refuge in remote, secluded mountain areas. But where could they find food and water? Where could they find warm homes?
Don't forget that Japan's winters are bitterly cold, with nighttime temperatures often dropping to minus ten or twenty degrees Celsius. Without adequate warmth and protection from the cold, freezing to death is a matter of minutes.

The Great Chu Empire's expeditionary fleet finished its work around 5 p.m. and then leisurely sailed away into the distance, continuing to maintain a tight blockade of Tokyo Bay.

In the evening

The Miura Fortress and the Boso Fortress were basically destroyed. Seven or eight out of ten Japanese soldiers in the fortresses were killed or wounded. Only some Japanese soldiers survived in some remote defensive facilities and some road checkpoints.

The rest were basically blown to ashes.

The Great Chu Empire's Royal Expeditionary Fleet was in no hurry. They would finish the battle today and then come back tomorrow to plow through the enemy with artillery fire twice more, ensuring that all the Japanese soldiers and officers at the fortresses were wiped out before they could land and occupy the territory.

It's getting late, time for dinner.

The young men of the expeditionary fleet performed exceptionally well, basically destroying the two main fortified batteries in Tokyo Bay with only thirty-seven or thirty-eight rounds of artillery fire. They deserve a bonus tonight.

That's how we teach those lowly Japanese pirates a lesson with artillery fire; anyway, we don't have to worry about them running away.

Despite its vast territory, Honshu is still just an island, isolated overseas, and can never escape the Buddha's palm.

At this time, the expeditionary fleet was unaware that the immense fear generated by the bombardment of the Tokyo Bay forts was rapidly spreading.

Fueled by various rumors, millions of local residents fled with their families, causing enormous social unrest. Countless people died from trampling, hunger, and cold.

Various disturbances and riots are spreading, leaving the Japanese military and police in a state of chaos.

The widespread news that the granaries were empty fueled the anger of the starving and freezing Japanese people at the bottom of society. They hated the oppressive officials, gentry, and wealthy merchants, and by extension, the government.

Driven by various grievances, the shelling of Tokyo Bay became a flashpoint, instantly igniting the discontent of the lower classes and plunging several cities along the Tokyo Bay coast into riots and unrest.

The Great Chu Empire's expeditionary fleet arrived late the next day. Following the usual practice, it approached the coast at a distance of more than ten kilometers and was supplemented by the Second Battle Fleet's bombardment, which once again ravaged the fortified positions with fierce artillery fire.

By the time everything was finished, it was already noon.

The fleet launched troop transport ships to land, and by then the passage was unimpeded. They occupied the area around the fort with almost no casualties.

At this point, the expeditionary fleet received a "cease landing" order from the Imperial homeland. After consolidating its existing occupied territories, it ceased expanding its landing area.

The reason for issuing such an order was that the Imperial Home Army received news of continuous riots in cities around Tokyo Bay, plunging their societies into great turmoil.

At this time, it is better to remain still than to make any moves; observe the wind direction first.

Whether you log in a few days earlier or a few days later becomes less important.

If the large-scale invasion by the empire causes the people of Fusang to direct their hatred towards the empire and unite against the Chu army, then it would be a loss.

Never underestimate the power of the people; when united, they can overcome anything.

Since the Japanese cabinet is currently in a state of chaos, let's observe for a while before making any decisions. (End of Chapter)