Yes, Prime Minister of Japan

The turtle here is not a derogatory term, but rather a state of being. Whoever can endure the most will not be last in the beating contest.

After reading the intelligence, Li Xinghe clicked his tongue and shook his head:

"See? Actually, nobody's stupid. Singapore is holding on because it is an important pillar of the dollar-based financial world and a participant in the US's anti-China encirclement network. It cannot lose either of these; if it loses these, it can no longer be called Singapore. Vietnam is holding on because it must maintain the support of an external superpower (the United States). Otherwise, both its people and government will face the problem of losing their sense of self-identity and being assimilated by China."

It's not that they couldn't defect to the Communists or join the Allied Forces, but for one reason or another, they couldn't.

Singapore needs to consider the financial implications, while Vietnam's concerns are more historical and politically motivated. If Vietnam chooses a pro-China or closer-to-Lee Sung-ha Greater China Federation route, Vietnamese national identity will become distorted, forcing them, like South Koreans, to engage in forced national integration and identity building. Compared to South Korea, which has managed to construct some national characteristics after the Miracle on the Han River, Vietnam truly lacks uniqueness. Abandoning its stance could lead to mental instability.

Ayako Aso hurriedly delivered the latest information:

"The Vietnamese have spoken."

"Vietnam's President Luong Cuong, one of the four pillars of the country, could no longer contain himself and spoke out publicly, stating that he would never accept the unilateral interference of the CPTPP Clearing Bank. Vietnam will adhere to its bamboo diplomacy policy and demands that you quickly lift the siege of Singapore and stop the strategic intimidation in the South China Sea."

It's called bamboo diplomacy, but it's really just opportunistic diplomacy.

It appears that Vietnam still generally acknowledges American influence, even when considering the relationship between Li Xinghe and the United States.

Li Xinghe scratched his head and analyzed:

"That means they've decided to side with the US again. From now on, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and most countries in the world must realize that the more a country wavers between the two sides and tries to please both, the more it will suffer the pain of being beaten. There will be no second Soviet Union, no second Russia, or no second China to help Vietnam."

Ayako continued:

"Another piece of news is that one division of the First Army you sent back has already sailed to Washington via the Panama Canal. I think Vance will make his move when they arrive in Washington."

It's almost time.

Li Xinghe made the final decision:

"Then let's kill a chicken to scare the monkeys before the American Civil War. Send the order to deal with Vietnam, to make an example of them."

Ayako Aso asked, "Should we issue a declaration of war?"

"No, we are just conducting a special military operation against Vietnam."

In an instant, Li Xinghe's eyes flashed with murderous intent.

……

"Li Xinghe has returned to Tokyo!"

When Lianhe Zaobao first published the news of Li Xinghe's departure from Australia, Southeast Asian countries seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

This little troublemaker can finally go home.

Compared to Canberra, Tokyo is truly a gentle, flowery paradise.

Once this kid gets back to Tokyo, he'll definitely give up on messing around in Southeast Asia, right?

However, this is not the case.

Centered on Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, a large number of civilian roll-on/roll-off ships and soldiers are gathering here.

Vietnam has no satellites, nor does it have Taiwan's intelligence system, so it is difficult for them to detect that Li Xinghe is mobilizing a large number of troops and secretly gathering them through Taiwan, which is Chinese territory.

This time, there was no interference from major powers outside the region, and everyone was just watching the show. As a result, no one told Vietnam that they had been identified as a troublemaker in Southeast Asia and that a strong crackdown was necessary.

Batches of troops were stationed in Xiagang, Kaohsiung, in various industrial zones where there were no outsiders.

Various military flags fluttered in the air.

The Allied Forces Deputy Commander Zhang Xiaoqian, Allied Forces Chief of Staff Lin Youzi, Allied Forces First Army He Yang, Second Army Park Youxin, Armored Division Hu Zhantian, various units of the Naval Assault Brigade, Taiwan First Army Sun Jinde and other units, South Korean special forces and debtor army led by Su Yumin, Han Kuang Volunteer Army Adam Vilim and other units, US Forces Korea (Episode 8: Regimental Army), and the Kingdom of Australia and New Zealand Army, all gathered in this city that once shed the blood of American soldiers.

Li Xinghe mobilized most of his troops and even called in the U.S. Eighth Army, which had always been very cooperative, to provide amphibious landing, artillery support, and intelligence support for the landing forces.

As soon as Lin Youzi stepped off the boat, she smiled and pointed to the sky:

"China, the United States, Russia, Britain and France are probably taking stock of how many troops and roll-on/roll-off ships we have mobilized and assessing our strategic projection capabilities."

Everyone burst into laughter.

This time, Li Xinghe was serious, deploying two aircraft carriers, three aviation battleships, over 20 missile destroyers and frigates, two mid-course anti-missile interceptors, six light aircraft carriers, three amphibious assault ships, over ten tank landing ships, and various roll-on/roll-off ships and supply ships hired from the civilian population, lined up like a school of fish. Hundreds of fifth-generation fighter jets and helicopters, along with an endless array of drones, were also present. The force comprised over 200,000 troops, supplemented by 100,000 South Korean debt soldiers.

The thought of military expenses alone made Li Xinghe's heart bleed. Fortunately, he was currently very wealthy and had a huge amount of US dollars to squander.

Even Taiwanese military officers seemed somewhat speechless at this moment.

No one could have imagined that the country that would allow the armies of seven countries—China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand—to unite and launch a brutal attack was Vietnam.

Originally, the East Asian region was a hellish, life-or-death struggle, where a single misstep could lead to the simultaneous launch of nuclear missiles, nuclear submarines, and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Even a relatively weak military like Taiwan's still possesses various missiles, fighter jets, and amphibious landing and delivery capabilities.

Who would have thought things would change today? Seven troops are going to the Monkey King competition area in Southeast Asia to have some fun.

When everyone entered the conference room and watched the staff playing typical materials about the Vietnamese People's Army on the screen, it was still hard for everyone to stay calm.

In terms of light weapons, the Vietnamese army doesn't seem to have changed much from the last century, still using AK47/59 assault rifles. Its field units are gradually being equipped with AKMs, along with WWII-style grenade launchers and mortars. The machine guns are typical Soviet-style full-fledged weapons, equipped with old heavy machine guns ranging from Prd/PRK/PRM to DSHK38.

Regarding equipment, a staff officer familiar with the matter mentioned:

"The Vietnamese army rarely even had steel helmets. Most soldiers wore sun hats, or plastic or wooden helmets that offered no bulletproof protection. Similarly, the Vietnamese army also had bulletproof vests that offered no bulletproof protection, combat boots that were just beginning to be issued on a small scale, and various other makeshift equipment such as cloth rubber shoes."

Don't ask what a plastic helmet or a bulletproof vest with no bulletproof capability means, and don't ask why the Vietnamese army is still wearing cloth rubber shoes. This is Vietnam.

Then the staff officers talked about tanks:

"In terms of ground combat capability, the Vietnamese army's tanks are still the Type 59/T54 and T55 that we are familiar with. Although they have been modified to carry explosive reactive armor that lacks explosive reactive capabilities, their tanks do not even have advanced equipment such as thermal imagers. They have neither the ability to conduct drone operations nor are they aware of the changing situation of the world war. The only reconnaissance drone units are used to supplement the coastal defense anti-ship missile units that lack the assistance of satellites, reconnaissance aircraft, and early warning aircraft."

The Vietnamese Navy currently has five shore-based anti-ship missile brigades. The ones located in the third and fourth coastal defense areas, which are in southern Vietnam, are the 681st Brigade stationed at Phan Thiet (equipped with the Bastion-P system and Ruby supersonic missiles) and the 685th Brigade stationed at Cam Ranh Bay (equipped with the Israeli Extra precision-guided rocket launcher).

Cam Ranh Bay, located in southeastern Vietnam, is Vietnam's finest large-scale naval port and has been repeatedly contested by various countries since the 19th century. Phan Thiet City, situated southwest of Cam Ranh Bay and southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, is a major force protecting Ho Chi Minh City.

Therefore, if a landing operation against Vietnam is to be carried out, it would be best to start from Cam Ranh Bay and cut off Vietnam's central region, forcing it to be unable to defend itself from the north or south.

Then comes the analysis of data on the eight war zones and four field armies of the Vietnamese army.

After gathering all the information, Zhang Xiaoqian sat down with everyone to study it:

"In other words, if we were to launch a punitive operation against Vietnam, focusing on controlling Ho Chi Minh City, our first wave would consist of 60,000 local troops from the 7th and 9th Military Regions, and 30,000 field troops from the 4th Army Corps. This would amount to a total of 9 infantry divisions, 3 artillery brigades, 3 tank brigades, 3 air defense brigades, and several other units. One-third of these would be considered the main force, while two-thirds would be second-line troops, still using AK-47s, and their tanks and artillery would not be fully equipped."

This number is roughly the same as the number of Singaporean troops mobilized. At least the Singaporean forces are well-equipped, possessing relatively advanced Leopard 2 tanks and domestically produced artillery and firearms.

Of course, most importantly, it could besiege and starve the Singapore government, a method that is more efficient than a landing operation.

The staff officers replied:

“根据测算，我们将面对对方三个主力步兵师、三个坦克装甲旅等约400多辆59式/T34/T54坦克、少量BMP-1路战车、大概400门苏联122毫米榴弹炮、少量BS-3100毫米野战炮、少量ZU-23-2防空炮。此为我们预测中的第一波防御部队，完毕。”

"Um……"

Everyone was a bit confused.

It's not that they're strong, but rather that they feel too weak. Compared to the Taiwanese military, they're utterly incompetent.

This was the least equipped opponent the coalition forces had ever faced.

Compared to the Taiwanese army, which was equipped with M113, M48, and Yunpao tanks, and the Australian army, which was equipped with M1A2 tanks, the Vietnamese army was truly lacking in combat equipment worthy of consideration. A quick glance revealed battlefields that were either a century or 120 years old. For example, the 122mm howitzer was equipment from the 30s.

Lin Youzi crossed her legs, and specifically mentioned:

"The Vietnamese army's will to resist is difficult to assess, but they may be stronger than the Taiwanese and Australian armies in terms of fighting spirit. However, the first wave of defensive forces we faced were not the main force of the Vietnamese army, and none of their units had completed mechanization reforms. They still relied on foot and truck transport for marching, and the artillery, tanks, and anti-aircraft guns they used were mainly repaired by experienced craftsmen in ordnance factories, but these were often decades old. The only special thing is that they are better off than India, as they can produce their own ammunition. But we are not sure if their ammunition supplies are complete."

Foot troops?

Now everyone was even more confused.

Indeed, only a few of the Vietnamese army's main field divisions had undergone some mechanization. The remaining troops could only travel by train for longer distances, or on foot for shorter distances, or, if they were better off, by military truck.

He Yang observed the income component:

"At the same time, we need to realize that the wages of ordinary soldiers in the Vietnamese army are not high, at about 800 RMB per month. After completing their service, they receive a subsidy of several months' worth, about 5,000 to 6,000 RMB. However, the Vietnamese army-owned enterprises account for about 10% of Vietnam's GDP. These military enterprises are self-sufficient, and high-ranking officers enjoy relatively high incomes due to the monopoly of resources by state-owned military enterprises. Based on this, we judge that while ordinary soldiers in the Vietnamese army may have the will to fight, what about the officers associated with these military enterprises? We should be able to use economic means to deal with these people."

The salaries of ordinary soldiers have already increased. However, the Vietnamese dong has depreciated significantly against the Chinese yuan, causing it to fall back below 1,000 yuan.

General Xavier Brunson, a Black general known for his high emotional intelligence, specifically pointed out the intelligence regarding the presence of Viet Cong submarines: "Mei ne wo yong xiang ni lin zai zai mei ne..."

"CIA insider intelligence. Vietnam's Kilo-class submarine brigade at Cam Ranh, which had initially withdrawn due to our military training, has now received orders to set sail for patrol, preparing for a combat patrol in the area the day after tomorrow. It seems the Vietnamese army isn't entirely foolish; they clearly realize that their weakness lies elsewhere."

The Kilo-class submarines in Cam Ranh Bay, coupled with the Ruby missiles in Phan Thiet, represent Vietnam's most advanced weaponry.

Zhang Xiaoqian thought for a long time before asking:

What about the public sentiment in Vietnam?

"It was about 25 years ago, around the time before the 08 Olympics in my country."

China is certainly familiar with the current state of affairs on the Vietnamese internet; the barely concealed sense of "sorrow" is strikingly similar. Wherever the "little war monkeys" (a derogatory term for Vietnam's pro-war faction) appear, the Vietnamese "sorrowful faction" will follow closely, criticizing them. Moreover, the Vietnamese "sorrowful faction" currently has a stronger influence in public opinion, able to vehemently criticize the "little war monkeys" with classical allusions. After all, while Vietnam is among the top-tier developing countries, it still lags far behind China in terms of developmental level.

Vietnam is a complete copy of China. To the Chinese, it is almost like a historical shadow reappearing before their eyes, transparently revealing all the secrets.

After explaining the pre-war background, the next step was the battle plan.

Faced with such a weak enemy, Zhang Xiaoqian and his team devised a comprehensive attack plan after careful consideration:

"The JS Tamamo-no-Mae and the JS Koryo formed the first strike group and headed toward the central waters of Vietnam to cut off the ability of the Northern Military Region of Vietnam to move south."

"The Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship and the Han Kuang Volunteer Army rushed towards Cam Ranh Bay and took control of six Kilo-class submarines."

"The Japanese aircraft carrier and six light aircraft carriers carried out a surgical strike against the shore-based missile base in Hanakiri City."

"The remaining troops, immediately advance on Ho Chi Minh City and annihilate Vietnam's Ninth Military Region, Fourth Field Army, and Koh Long Corps!"

After the plan was finalized, Lin Youzi called Li Xinghe.

Li Xinghe seemed to be trapped by some woman, and only gave simple instructions:

"Hit them hard, hurt them, but don't hit them too hard... Don't kill the Vietnamese... (Don't move, don't move, sister, don't bite)..."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Youzi said to Zhang Xiaoqian:

"He agreed to our battle plan, but not to disrupt Vietnam... Uh, he himself was bitten by a beautiful snake and is currently receiving treatment."

Vietnam can die, but not before the American Civil War. Otherwise, neither Li Xinghe nor the Chinese want to see a scenario where 100 million Vietnamese are running amok, warlords are vying for power, the black market for guns is rampant, and drugs are widespread. There's already a messy Myanmar causing trouble nearby; we don't want a second one.

Once Zhang Xiaoqian confirmed that Li Xinghe had agreed to fight, he immediately gave the order:

"By order of the Commander-in-Chief, we will impose iron-fisted sanctions on Vietnam's erroneous political stance of refusing to accept the CPTPP Clearing Bank, refusing to integrate into the new East Asian order, refusing to accept the RMB-JPY-KRW economic sphere, and refusing to distance itself from Singapore and the United States!"

"Operation codename: Kill the Chicken!"

It must have been quite a challenge for these two generals, one black and one white, to say such things to General Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, and Lieutenant General D. Sean Crockett, commander of the Eighth Army. Fortunately, they were both quite tactful and didn't take the words to heart, since the Eighth Army was actually in Li Xinghe's encirclement.

Xavier Brunson and D. Sean Crockett have been reassigned to positions the Pentagon no longer considers necessary. This indicates that the Pentagon sees no need for further adjustments to this force, which is already firmly under Li Xinghe's control.

"Long live!"

"Long live!" The black and white generals shouted along with everyone else in their peculiar accents.

……

The dark, gloomy night.

As the first force to charge into battle, the Han Kuang Volunteer Army was still the first to charge.

However, the advance force this time was the G Brigade, which was a downsized unit of the Third Expeditionary Force of the Marin and stationed on Jeju Island.

In Vietnam, a place of heartbreak for the U.S. Marine Corps, Brigade G returned to its homeland representing China, Japan, and the United States.

On the boat bound for Cam Ranh Bay, they wore the flags of the Allied Forces and listened to the rock song "Good Morning Vietnam".

As Cam Ranh Bay came into view, shouts of encouragement erupted from the soldiers:

We're back! Good night, Vietnam!

Chapter 859: The Surprise Attack on Jinlan Bay, Li Xinghe's Devilish Temptation (5300 words)

The moonlight is silent, and the water ripples.

On Cam Ranh Bay, Southeast Asia's premier naval port, ships from various countries lie quietly asleep, carried by the gentle lapping of the water.

Cam Ranh Bay was once very close to being leased to the United States and also to China. However, after a fierce political battle among various factions, anti-colonial rhetoric was put forward, such as "Vietnam will not allow a leased territory to appear on its own land."

So what to do?

Such a good port, and Vietnam itself lacks enough large warships to fill it, wouldn't it be a waste not to lease it out?

Vietnam has a good naval port, but it only has the ability to build patrol boats under 500 tons, and it also lacks the production capacity of various types of artillery (including naval guns, tank guns and howitzers). The port is useless.

Therefore, Vietnam's new policy is 'not to lease it to a single country, but to allow navies of various countries to conduct maintenance here.' As long as multiple countries' navies are allowed to enter together, then it won't be considered a humiliating leased naval port.

You know what, it does seem to make a lot of sense.

Based on this logic, the port of Ream in neighboring Cambodia also underwent the same theoretical construction and opening regulations. Although it was a naval port built by China, the first to pass through were the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

Therefore, when an amphibious landing ship approached in the dark, towing many roll-on/roll-off ships, the supervisor of Cam Ranh Port did not sense anything amiss.