World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Yamamoto Gonbei stood on the podium, with a huge Rising Sun Flag behind him. He didn't sit; his hands were on the edge of the podium, and his body leaned slightly forward, like a tiger ready to pounce.

"Gentlemen," his voice boomed through the loudspeaker, "I have gathered you all here today to announce something—a momentous event that will be recorded in the annals of the Japanese Navy."

The venue was so quiet you could hear someone breathing.

"Over the past few days, I accompanied Prime Minister Saionji on a visit to Lanfang's Borneo base. There, we held in-depth talks with President Chen Feng. The result of the talks was—" He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping across the room, "Lanfang agreed to sell four of the latest battleships to Japan, along with the complete construction technology and blueprints."

"boom--"

The meeting room erupted. The officers were stunned at first, then burst into a huge uproar. Some stood up, some clapped wildly, and some were flushed with excitement. The younger officers in the back rows even cheered.

"Silence!" Shimamura Hayao shouted to maintain order.

The clamor gradually subsided, but a fire burned in everyone's eyes.

Yamamoto watched this scene with satisfaction and continued to announce: "This type of battleship, which Lanfang calls the 'Ise-class,' has a standard displacement of 29,900 tons and a full load displacement of 32,000 tons. It is equipped with twelve 356mm main guns, has a top speed of 25 knots, and its armor thickness... exceeds that of any warship we have ever possessed."

Each time he mentioned a parameter, a low gasp of surprise rippled through the room.

"Most importantly," Yamamoto raised his voice, "this is not a simple arms purchase. Lanfang will provide a complete technology transfer—including design drawings, special steel smelting processes, steam turbine manufacturing technology, and fire control system principles. Our engineers can go to Lanfang's shipyard to learn, and their engineers will come to Japan to provide guidance."

He paused, letting the information settle:

"This means that Japan will not only acquire four world-class battleships, but also gain the ability to build such warships. In time, the Japanese navy will be able to design and build even more powerful warships. The Combined Fleet—will truly be revived!"

The applause erupted again, even more enthusiastically and for a longer time than before. Many veteran generals had tears in their eyes; they had experienced the glory of the Battle of Tsushima, and also the humiliation of being completely annihilated by Lanfang two years earlier. Now, the hope of revival was within reach.

"Minister!" a major general stood up. "What about the price? A warship like this must be very expensive, right?"

The question hit the nail on the head. The excitement in the room cooled slightly.

Yamamoto's expression turned serious: "Each ship costs $25 million. Four ships, totaling $100 million."

A chorus of gasps filled the air.

One hundred million US dollars. That's equivalent to two hundred million yen. This is almost ten times the annual budget of the Japanese Navy, and one-third of the country's annual fiscal revenue.

"This... is too expensive," someone whispered.

"But it's worth it." Yamamoto's voice was firm. "Moreover, the payment method can be flexible. Lanfang agrees that other methods of compensation can be used."

"In what way?"

Yamamoto did not answer directly. He stepped down from the podium and walked among the officers, his voice becoming deep and forceful:

"Gentlemen, we all know the current situation of the Sakura Kingdom. We are in financial difficulty, lack resources, and are isolated and helpless in the international arena. Britain and Mirica will not help us; they have their own wars to fight. Only Lanfang—although we fought against them two years ago, they are now the only ones who are willing and able to help us rebuild our naval strength."

He stopped in front of an old general with white hair:

"Lord Inoue, you lived through the Meiji Restoration and witnessed the navy's development from nothing to something. You should know best that technology, industry, and systems—these are the true strengths. What Lanfang gave us was not just four ships, but the key to the modernization of the entire navy."

Inoue Yoshikazu, the seventy-year-old former commander of the Combined Fleet, nodded slowly. His eyes were cloudy, but his gaze remained sharp: "Yamamoto-kun is right. But what's the price? Lanfang wouldn't give us such a great benefit for no reason."

"Of course there's a price to pay," Yamamoto said as he walked back to the podium, "but in my opinion, it's a worthwhile one."

He took a deep breath and finally uttered the most crucial condition:

"Lanfang requests that Japan accelerate the formation of fifty divisions to be deployed to the European theater when needed. In exchange, the cost of the warships can be offset by the divisions'...labor costs."

The room fell silent again. This time, it wasn't a silence of excitement, but a silence of contemplation.

The officers were all intelligent men. They immediately grasped the logic: Lanfang was exchanging warships for the military manpower of the Sakura Kingdom. Moreover, it was sacrificing the army to revive the navy.

"This is..." a lieutenant general said hesitantly, "Trading army blood for navy ships?"

"That's not how it works," Yamamoto retorted. "The army was going to expand anyway, and it was going to be involved in the war anyway. Now we're just linking their actions to the revival of our navy. The army is going to die anyway, so it's their honor to contribute to the navy! Besides—"

His voice became more persuasive:

"Gentlemen, please consider this. Without a powerful navy, no matter how well the army fights on the European battlefield, what will it gain after the war? A country without control of the sea will always remain a second-rate power. But if we have a powerful combined fleet, even if the army only plays a supporting role in Europe, Japan will have a voice at the negotiating table after the war."

He surveyed the entire room, his gaze intense:

"To go further, the world order will inevitably be reshaped after this world war ends. Britain will decline, the United States will rise, and emerging powers like Lanfang will seek their place. What will Japan rely on to find its foothold in the new era? The army's dozens of divisions? No, it will rely on the navy, on our presence in the Pacific, and on our ability to control the seas."

These words resonated with many. The naval officers already believed in the "sea power theory" and that the nation's future lay in the ocean. Yamamoto's arguments perfectly aligned with their beliefs.

"But the army..." Shimamura Hayao said worriedly, "Minister Oka won't accept it easily."

"Then let him accept it." Yamamoto's tone hardened. "This matter concerns the fate of the Sakura Nation, and the Ministry of the Army cannot interfere. I will personally explain at the cabinet meeting this afternoon. If the Army objects, we will directly petition the Emperor for a decision."

His determination inspired those present. The officers nodded in agreement, their eyes regaining their resolve.

The meeting concluded in a spirited atmosphere. As the officers left, they chatted amongst themselves, their faces radiating hope. For them, rebuilding the Combined Fleet was not merely a military objective, but a spiritual impetus—the only way to wash away shame and restore glory. And it would be at the cost of the Army's lives… just thinking about it was exhilarating!

Yamamoto stood by the window, watching the officers walk out of the building, get into their cars, and drive away. The victorious smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a complex expression.

I felt excited, but also uneasy.

He knew the real challenge was yet to come. A fierce battle was about to ensue in the Army Ministry.

"Minister," Shimamura Hayao approached and said in a low voice, "I just received news that Minister Oka already knows about the contract. He was furious at the Ministry of the Army, smashed a cup, and cursed people."

Yamamoto sneered: "Let him rant. I'll see what kind of nonsense he can come up with at the cabinet meeting this afternoon."

"Do we need to make any preparations?"

"Prepare?" Yamamoto turned around, his eyes sharp. "Prepare for what? Prepare for the facts, prepare for the reasons, prepare for the future of the Japanese Navy. That's enough."

He glanced at his watch: "I need to go to the Prime Minister's residence. I'll be in the Cabinet meeting room at 2 p.m. sharp."