Yes, Prime Minister of Japan

Dude, you're the President of the United States, and you're trying to blackmail me?

At this point, the relationship between Li Xinghe and Wan Si was like that of two good friends. One had made a lot of money, while the other was heavily in debt. The one who lost money was envious of the one who made money and began to want to take a cut from his earnings.

The saying goes, "Those who see it will have a share."

Li Xinghe immediately objected:

"Where am I supposed to get $1000 billion for you?"

Vance's particularly coveted request:

"Didn't you just acquire 1 trillion yen in assets? At the current USD/JPY exchange rate, that's over 600 billion USD, right?"

Li Xinghe could no longer contain his insatiable greed:

“It’s an agricultural bank, and I didn’t actually take a single penny. The money is for building a new army and national infrastructure. I can lend you $200 billion, but nothing else.”

Don't give.

Just kidding. Li Xinghe's own private assets, which amount to approximately $370 billion deducted from the Japanese and American governments, are mostly government grants held in banks. The money Japan pays to the US each year is distributed among various interest groups, not just to Vance alone.

Besides, why give it to Vance?

Li Xinghe would rather use the money to build two aircraft carriers, have the shipyard build two hulls, and stuff them with some second-hand electronic components than give it to Vance.

Vance's mindset gradually became dissatisfied.

Although you contributed greatly to my path to becoming president and provided me with a lot of money, I am now the President of the United States, while you are merely a tyrant of Japan.

It's good to distinguish one's identity.

?

However, no matter what, Li Xinghe would never give back even half of the money he had already taken.

"G, you should realize that the person speaking to you is the President of the United States!"

"I'm sorry, but I also have to tell you that my son is the future Emperor of Japan!"

The two had an argument.

With Aiman's mediation, things almost came to a head, and they both hung up the phone and went off to sulk.

Li Xinghe hugged Aiman ​​and played apron play in the kitchen to relieve stress.

Vance could only vent his anger by smashing things inside the White House.

Vance naturally has his own difficulties.

Although Li Xinghe felt the Japanese government was incredibly corrupt, compared to the extremely incompetent US government, the Japanese government was remarkably efficient, well-functioning, and practically incorruptible. The Japanese parliament's resistance to Li Xinghe was akin to the playful resistance of lovers during a quarrel.

Vance didn't have any money either.

Unlike the chaotic first 100 days of Trump's presidency, Vance, a mediocre and incompetent Trump affiliate lacking practical experience and heavily reliant on others' decisions for actual political action, offered no new or ingenious strategies. After all, he is essentially an elite egoist disguised as a Maga, completely incapable of independent action, and has always relied on the support of his financial backers, wife, and father-in-law.

Trump had 100 days of blunders, but Vance's 100 days were unremarkable, with almost no achievements, and he even had to go to Mar-a-Lago to ask Trump to support him at times.

Lee Sung-hae's budgets for Japan and South Korea in 2029 are both still in the process of being finalized, as is the US budget for 2029.

Vance's Treasury TGA account had a balance of just over $700 billion at this time of year, during the US tax season. Absolutely nothing more.

That's why, after failing to get the money from Li Xinghe after arguing with him, President Vance decided to take revenge and make some money for himself.

At a major Maga rally in New York State, Vance, as the distinguished President of the United States and the new leader of Maga, decided to repeat his old tricks.

He proclaimed:

"We need to reinstate tariffs on countries dumping products into the United States! Especially Japan and South Korea, whose cars, after escaping the 25% tariff exemption, have almost swallowed up our market. We should reinstate the 25% tariff and impose more punitive measures to force them to relocate their factories to the United States."

Years ago, Trump created a massive tariff crisis that caused the US stock market to plummet by $12 trillion in a few days and brought the US debt market to the brink of collapse. This is also a major factor contributing to the current bizarre situation where US debt has exceeded the $50 trillion ceiling and has become a tool for the Federal Reserve to print money and buy its own debt.

That crisis, with China and the United States standing firm, various countries reaching cooperation negotiations, and Trump's outrageous actions leading to a surge in private economic activity, caused extremely serious economic chaos.

Following the Democratic Party's landslide victory in the subsequent midterm elections, a large portion of these tariffs were gradually withdrawn or circumvented by the Democratic Party and the State Department. For example, the 25% tariff on Japanese automobiles was granted a delayed exemption.

At this time, the US stock market, which had been in a continuous decline, began to crash again.

People are somewhat numb, while the Magas seem to be panicking.

The cost of living in the US is already high enough, and car prices have skyrocketed to terrifying levels. A 20-year-old, beat-up car can sell for tens of thousands of dollars; why would you want to add a $5 tariff on a Toyota Corolla?

Major media outlets urgently reported:

"The Tax Lord is back!"

This blow left Japan and South Korea reeling.

What happened to the promised 'US-Japan-South Korea Plus'? What happened to the East Asian frontier? What happened to the Asian NATO?

For the past two years, I thought the US was going to give preferential treatment to Japan and South Korea, but who knew that the tug-of-war between Li Xinghe and Vance would kick off a new tariff war.

Vance doesn't care about any of that.

Even if the 2029 budget is approved, forming the Pacific Rim will be useless.

The news reached Li Xinghe early the next morning.

"Damn it, I was sleeping..."

Li Xinghe suddenly jumped up and angrily turned on the TV.

Vance arranged for his trusted aides to make outrageous remarks during a live television interview:

"I will provide negotiation channels for many countries. As you know, Li and I are good friends, and we have a lot to talk about."

"These countries either have to accept the status quo or accept our exemption conditions. The only conditions for trade exemptions from foreign tariffs are: 1. Investing in related factories in the United States to create jobs; 2. Lowering their own tariffs and purchasing more American products; 3. Increasing military purchase orders from the United States; 4. Directly donating to the U.S. Treasury's TGA account."

In an effort to salvage his Treasury TGA account, Vance has resorted to blatant disregard for the government's interests, just as the government is on the verge of bankruptcy due to a lack of funds to pay Treasury bond interest.

I, Vance, need the money!

"What are you going to do? Give in? Toyota, Subaru, Honda, and Nissan will be coming for you soon." Aiman ​​rubbed Li Xinghe's forehead.

"No, I won't back down."

This can be seen as a godsend, as Li Xinghe desperately needs to enhance his prestige as a ruler.

Li Xinghe called an old acquaintance, Chief of Staff Grady, who was bald:

"I just want to know, what is the Pentagon's stance on this? There are significant political differences between President Vance and me."

The Pentagon wouldn't offend Li Xinghe, but they also wouldn't offend Vance.

"The Pentagon expects you to remain neutral," Chief of Staff Grady said vaguely.

After confirming that the Pentagon would not participate, Li Xinghe immediately got dressed and went to the Cabinet Office to announce his statement:

"President Vance and I have significant disagreements on tariffs. But I want to tell the market that the Japanese government will grant duty-free treatment to auto parts imported from China, and at the same time encourage major Japanese automakers to expand imports of auto parts and complete vehicles and increase exemptions. I want to urge major automakers to raise car prices in the North American market in accordance with the tariff ratio."

The US auto market is already in such a state that even if Toyota raises prices by 25%, it will still be the cheapest.

But that won't work either.

Li Xinghe continued to stand his ground:

"Japan's 5-Year Revitalization Plan will announce details of the Self-Defense Forces' restructuring."

"In addition to considering purchasing second-hand aircraft carriers from the United States and procuring aircraft carriers from China, Japan will prepare to build its own aircraft carrier at the Nagasaki Shipyard. At the same time, it plans to increase its fleet by five general-purpose missile destroyers and five missile frigates equipped with domestically developed electronic warfare kits, vertical launch systems, and naval guns over the next five years."

"In addition, the US-Japan joint forces will add a joint armored division and a joint air division to the existing 1st and 2nd Joint Divisions to meet the various challenges that are about to come. We will advance the development of our forces from motorization and mechanization to integration."

"We will spend more than 1.5 trillion yen to fund and introduce advanced missiles, advanced electronic warfare radars, and various air defense and anti-missile weapons. Japan will consider forming an independent and secure operational capability by 2040, at which time it will consider withdrawing US troops stationed in Japan."

Wow.

Li Xinghe's head-on confrontation reversed the market's attitude.

Global media outlets were stunned, unable to understand why Li Xinghe and Vance had started fighting amongst themselves.

what's going on?

The US wants to collect tolls from Li Xinghe, so Li Xinghe is about to go to war with the US.

Vance fiercely criticizes Li Xinghe:

"He made a mistake."

Li Xinghe immediately responded:

"The U.S.-Japan Joint Forces will officially remove the title 'U.S.-Japan' and change the name of the force to 'Joint Forces.' We will officially remove the flags of the United States and Japan and redesign the Joint Forces' own flag."

Soon, the Allied Command

The command displayed its new flag.

A yellow dragon, brimming with the charm of Eastern culture, soaring through the air.

Countries around the world were stunned.

Vans, tough!

Li Xinghe is tall and strong!

The people of Japan and South Korea, however, secretly rejoiced and supported Lee Sung-ha.

Finally, when Japan and South Korea were in complete silence and no one could speak out, a valiant man stepped forward.

He told Japanese and South Korean companies:

"Stand up! No kneeling!"

This head-on clash has given a much-needed boost to Japan and South Korea's increasingly weak and spineless mentality, which is blindly subservient to the United States. At least in the minds of the Japanese and South Koreans, it has created an image of a tough and resolute man.

"So he wasn't a puppet of the United States after all."

Many people realized in an instant that Li Xinghe was agile, but when it came to toughness, he was truly fierce and fearless.

"I feel relieved now. Compared to Lee Sung-ha and other LDP prime ministers, I suddenly feel that he is so outstanding."

Many people also believe that Li Xinghe is a natural-born hero.

……

After Li Xinghe finished speaking, he immediately summoned his Joint Operations Command, called up the generals, and ordered: "Get the soldiers on their toes! I want to have a showdown with the President of the United States and see whose eggshell is harder!"

"Hi!"

The officers responded hastily.

However, after this battle, the public's impression of the Self-Defense Forces did not improve; on the contrary, it worsened.

Although the Self-Defense Forces were generally viewed by the public as a collection of "tax thieves," "garbage dumps," "corrupt, incompetent, and useless," and "devoid of spirit," they had a completely negative impression. However, this time, the Self-Defense Forces responded to Li Xinghe's orders very quickly.

They were particularly energetic when they attacked landlords, bombed their courtyards, and drove tanks to smash other people's houses.

Because Li Xinghe rose to power through a family of priests, and now he has become the Taiko of the Nation, it is all thanks to the child he conceived in Shang Qiujia's womb. Ordinary people who don't understand politics don't think the US-Japan Joint Command is important, and of course, they don't think the Self-Defense Forces are important either.

They only saw the Self-Defense Forces acting as accomplices to the tyrant, and under Li Xinghe's command, they had transformed from a country's self-defense department into the Taiko's seven imperial horsemen.

Li Xinghe's fearless and daring nature, in the eyes of the Japanese, largely stemmed from the belief that his son had a high chance of becoming the Crown Prince of Japan. Therefore, he ruled this monarchical country as both Taiko (Prime Minister) and Konoe Kanpaku (Chief Regent).

After all, the average Japanese citizen can only choose between a male adopted emperor and a female emperor. Considering that a female emperor is almost impossible for Japanese society to accept, they would rather choose an adopted emperor who is the son of a priest.

At the very least, he's a normal male, isn't he?

Therefore, the public's evaluation of the Self-Defense Forces is even lower:

"Self-Defense Forces? They're nothing but Li Xinghe's sex toy! He might as well join the United Army."

However, some people also asked:

"But we don't seem to have enough money to expand our army..."

Li Xinghe criticized him:

"Can't you do smuggling? What kind of soldier are you if you can't do business? If you can't even calculate the price of a bullet, what kind of soldier are you going to the battlefield?"

Whether it's good or bad for the military to engage in business varies from country to country.

Li Xinghe would rather the Self-Defense Forces, a department that has become economically ineffective, engage in some business to boost the economy. They're practically useless; it's better for them to make some money and focus on expanding the combat capabilities of the US-Japan coalition forces.

There's an old joke in the Taiwanese military: the army is full of beggar soldiers, the air force is full of pampered pampered soldiers, and the navy is full of rogue soldiers. This refers to the Taiwanese armed forces. The army is so poor they're practically starving, the air force is rolling in money, and the navy has close ties to organized crime. There was even a period when the marines fought bloody battles with the military police over smuggling. If the military police lost the fight and didn't catch the navy smuggling, they would be put in solitary confinement.

Everyone was confused.

Li Xinghe slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed:

“Put our markings on every cargo ship you can find, fill our military cargo ships with all the Chinese-made electronics, medicines, and auto parts you can buy, and then, in the name of the US-Japan Joint Command, bypass customs ports and deliver them directly to Los Angeles and San Diego.”