World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Morning light streamed through the gaps in the heavy velvet curtains, carving a sharp line of light across the long oak table. Chen Feng sat in the main seat, seven telegrams from different sources spread out to his left, and a cup of long-cold Biluochun tea to his right. He raised his wrist to look at the Patek Philippe pocket watch, a gift from Wilhelm II—8:15 a.m.

"What day is it today?" he asked, his voice particularly clear in the empty conference room.

Wang Wenwu looked up from the pile of documents and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses: "It's been fifty-six days since Japan first sought peace through Switzerland. As per your request, we have postponed our formal reply for the third time, citing 'the process takes time.'"

"Day fifty-six," Chen Feng repeated, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table. "Has Zhang Zhen's battle report arrived yet?"

"Arrived at three in the morning." Zhou Tieshan pulled a folder from his briefcase, the rustling of papers particularly jarring in the quiet. "In the past 24 hours, our navy has sunk seven merchant ships of 3,000 tons or more, totaling 42,000 tons, in the East China Sea, the Sea of ​​Japan, and the Tsushima Strait. Our submarine force damaged the 10,000-ton cargo ship 'Fusō Maru' south of Kagoshima. Although the ship managed to return to port, its hull structure is beyond repair."

Chen Feng nodded slightly, not speaking immediately. He stood up and walked to the huge map of East Asia on the wall. The map marked the Lanfang-controlled area with red thumbtacks, blue represented Japan, and black crosses were densely scattered around the coastline of Japan—each cross represented a sunken ship.

"Cumulative data?" he asked with his back to the two of them.

Wang Wenwu opened the statistics book, his voice as steady as if he were reading a financial statement: "As of midnight yesterday, 217 merchant ships have been confirmed sunk in the past two months, with a total tonnage of 798,000 tons. Based on Japan's pre-war total merchant ship tonnage of 1.6 million tons, this represents a loss of 49.8%. In addition, twelve major ports, including Kure, Yokosuka, Sasebo, and Nagasaki, have been shelled a total of 34 times, and the damage rate to port facilities is estimated to be between 40% and 70%."

"Where are the personnel?"

Zhou Tieshan paused for a moment: "The Japanese side has not released specific figures. But based on the intensity of the shelling, the density of personnel in port operations, and the average number of crew members on merchant ships, we estimate that the direct death toll should be between 48,000 and 53,000. The indirect impact... is difficult to estimate."

A few seconds of silence filled the meeting room. Only the regular ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner could be heard.

Chen Feng finally turned around, his face expressionless: "Any news from Switzerland today?"

"Yes." Wang Wenwu picked up a telegram from the top. "I received it at six o'clock this morning. It was personally delivered by the Swiss consul in Dubai. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again pleaded for the resumption of peace talks, and the tone... was more urgent than before."

"read."

"To His Excellency Chen Feng, President of the Republic of Lanfang: The Imperial Government, with the sincerest desire for peace, once again earnestly requests that you consider ceasefire negotiations. The tragedy in the East China Sea has already claimed too many lives, and continued bloodshed is of no benefit to the people of both countries. The Empire is willing to discuss with you, with the utmost sincerity, ways to end the state of hostility. Awaiting your reply. Prime Minister Terauchi Masatake of the Imperial Cabinet of the Republic of Sakura, October 17, 1924."

Chen Feng walked to the window and drew back the curtains. Dubai in October was bathed in sunshine; palm trees swayed in the breeze, and cargo ships crisscrossed the Persian Gulf in the distance. The city was growing at an unprecedented pace; crane arms swept across the skyline, and the faint sounds of pile driving from construction sites could be heard.

"The utmost sincerity." He repeated the phrase, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. "Minister Wang, what do you consider the utmost sincerity?"

Wang Wenwu closed the folder and leaned forward slightly: "In international politics, sincerity is usually inversely proportional to strength. The weaker the strength, the greater the sincerity. Japan's current sincerity is bought with 50% of its merchant ship tonnage, 12 paralyzed ports, and at least 50,000 lives."

"Not enough." Chen Feng spoke softly, but every word was clear. "Yamamoto Gonnohyōe is still sitting in the position of Minister of the Navy, and those lunatics in the army are still clamoring for a decisive battle on the mainland. Terauchi Masatake's 'greatest sincerity' has not yet reached the point of truly kneeling down and begging for mercy."

Zhou Tieshan continued, "Intelligence indicates that the Japanese Army Ministry held an eight-hour meeting yesterday. Okaichinosuke threatened to mobilize three million National Volunteer Army soldiers to build a 'Great Wall of Flesh and Blood' along the coastline."

"A Great Wall of Flesh and Blood?" Chen Feng laughed, a laugh devoid of warmth. "Using flesh and blood to fight against 380mm shells? Has Okaichi gone mad?"

"It's less about madness and more about a desperate bluff," Wang Wenwu analyzed. "The army has to show a tough stance, otherwise it can't explain itself to the country or suppress the navy's 'humiliating surrender' voices. But this stance... can't change reality."

Chen Feng walked back to his seat, his finger sliding across the stack of telegrams: "Reply to Switzerland. Use template number three."

"Template number three?" Wang Wenwu confirmed. "The one with the 'procedural delay'?"

"Yes. We'll say that... the Lanfang government highly values ​​Japan's willingness to negotiate and has initiated internal consultation procedures. Due to the need for coordination among multiple departments and review of legal clauses, additional time is required. We ask the Japanese side to be patient, and we will reply as soon as the procedures are completed."

Zhou Tieshan frowned: "This is the third time they've used this excuse. Do you think the people of Japan will believe it?"

"Whether they believe it or not is not important." Chen Feng picked up his cold tea and took a sip. "What's important is that every day we delay, Zhang Zhen can sink a few more ships and bombard a few more ports. When the Japanese economy completely collapses, when the rice shops on the streets of Tokyo are emptied, when even the families of army soldiers are starving—that's when they will show their true 'greatest sincerity'."

He paused, then added, "Oh, right, send a secret telegram to Zhang Zhen. Tell him to adjust his focus of attack."

"Please give instructions."

"For the first two months, we mainly targeted naval ports and large merchant ships. Now we can expand our scope." Chen Feng's gaze fell on the small and medium-sized ports on the map. "Chiba, Shimizu, Tsuruga... don't overlook these second-tier ports either. Also, tell the submarine force that any coastal cargo ships under 3,000 tons, or even fishing boats, as long as they are flying the cherry blossom flag, are within our attack range."

Wang Wenwu paused, his pen still twitching: "Fishing boats too? This might provoke international criticism..."

"Public opinion?" Chen Feng interrupted him. "The British blockaded Germany in the North Sea, even seizing hospital ships. During the American Civil War, how many civilians starved to death during the North's blockade of the South? There is never a 'civilized' way of fighting war. We must make every Japanese fisherman, every dockworker, and every housewife feel that the cost of this war is something everyone must pay."

He stood up, walked to the safe in the corner of the conference room, turned the combination, and took out another document.

"This is a projection made by the Ministry of Finance." He spread the document on the table. "At the current rate, Japan's maritime transport capacity will drop to 30% of its pre-war level in 21 days. At that time, its coal imports will be short by 40%, iron ore by 60%, oil by 85%, and food... If we include supplies from Korea and Taiwan, it might barely be able to maintain a rationing system. But if even small coastal transport is cut off—"

He looked up at the two men: "Within a month, all factories in Osaka will shut down. Within two months, people will starve to death in Tokyo. Within three months, this country will collapse from within."