AWB Chapter 180 I'm 7% Confident
Chapter 180 I'm 7% Confident
Kato Tomosaburo immediately replied, "We need at least two Kongo-class battleships, plus more than four cruisers and destroyers. Although the Kongo-class's 356mm guns are slightly weaker than the Fuxing-class's 381mm guns, two against one, and with the advantage of surprise, we are 70% confident that we can severely damage it in the first salvo."
"Seventy percent..." Yashiro Rokuro pondered, "What about the other thirty percent?"
"The other 30% chance is that the Fuxing might escape before being completely sunk thanks to its excellent protection and speed," Kato Yusaburo frankly stated. "But even so, if we can inflict serious damage on it and force it out of the battle, it will be a huge victory. A heavily damaged capital ship will take at least six months to repair, and it will severely damage the morale of the Lanfang Navy."
Rokuro Yashiro tapped his fingers lightly on the table, a habit he had before making important decisions.
"Kato-kun," he suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question, "what would Lanfang do if we sank the Fuxing bullet train in the East China Sea?"
"They will be angry, they will retaliate," Kato answered decisively. "But having lost the Fuxing, their navy is left with only one Hood-class and four Bismarck-class ships. Our Combined Fleet, on the other hand, has ten capital ships with a total tonnage of 600,000 tons. In a direct confrontation, we still hold the advantage."
"Moreover," Intelligence Chief Yamamoto added, "the war in Europe is escalating. Britain has announced the dispatch of an expeditionary force to France, and France is also drawing troops from its colonies. Before long, the British Far East Fleet will be weakened, and the French garrison in Indochina will be reduced. At that time, there will be no force in the entire Far East that can counterbalance us."
Rokuro Yashiro nodded slowly, but doubt remained in his eyes: "What about diplomatically? How will Britain and the United States react?"
"Britain is currently preoccupied with its own problems," said a counselor named Yoshida, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Sir Grey was complaining in the House of Commons yesterday that Germany's submarine warfare in the North Sea has threatened Britain's maritime lifeline. Their primary concern now is the European theater. As long as we do not infringe upon Britain's core interests in the Far East, they will not turn against us for the sake of Lanfang and Japan."
"What about the United States?"
"The Americans follow the Monroe Doctrine, focusing on the Western Hemisphere." Councilor Yoshida had clearly done his homework. "Moreover, there is a strong isolationist sentiment in their country. Unless we directly attack American territory or ships, Washington will at most issue a few diplomatic protests."
After listening to everyone's remarks, Yashiro Rokuro closed his eyes and remained silent for a full minute.
When he opened his eyes again, the hesitation in them had disappeared, replaced by the decisiveness unique to soldiers.
"Then, the operation plan is approved in principle." His voice was steady and powerful. "Kato-kun, you are fully responsible for formulating the specific plan. The requirements are as follows: First, the element of surprise must be ensured, and Lanfang must not be able to detect it in advance. Second, the operation area must be chosen in international waters to avoid giving other countries an excuse to intervene. Third, once the battle begins, the goal is to annihilate them completely and not let them escape."
"Yes, sir!" Kato Yusaburo stood at attention and saluted.
"Furthermore," Rokuro Yashiro added, "the entire operation is codenamed 'Sakura.' Anyone who knows this codename is confined to this room. Any leaks will be considered treason."
"clear!"
"Meeting adjourned. Kato-kun, please stay."
The officers left one by one, until only Yashiro Rokuro and Kato Yusaburo remained.
Yashiro Rokuro walked to the window and looked at the scene outside the Navy Ministry compound. In the courtyard, several young officers were walking briskly, their military boots making a neat sound on the stone pavement.
"Kato-kun," Yashiro Rokuro said without turning around, "you know in your heart that once this battle begins, there is no turning back."
"Yes, Your Excellency." Kato Tomosaburo stood half a step behind him, his voice respectful but firm. "But the Imperial Navy has waited for this day for forty years. From the First Sino-Japanese War to the Russo-Japanese War, every victory we have achieved has propelled the Empire forward. Now, the Europeans are fighting amongst themselves; this is an opportunity bestowed upon the Empire by Heaven."
"Opportunity..." Yashiro Rokuro murmured, repeating the word. "Yes, opportunity. But if you don't seize it, it will turn into a disaster."
He turned around and looked directly into Kato Yusaburo's eyes: "You just said you were 70% sure. I want you to raise that to 90%. Not just wound, but sink. Not possible, certain."
Kato Tomosaburo felt the pressure in that gaze, but he did not back down: "Your Excellency, I will personally command this operation. If we fail, I am willing to take full responsibility."
"Responsibility?" Yashiro Rokuro gave a bitter smile. "If we fail, it's not enough for just you and me to take responsibility. It means the Empire will simultaneously face an enraged Lanfang, and the ever-watchful Yingmei. At that point..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Kato Tomosaburo understood.
"Therefore, we will not fail," Kato said, emphasizing each word. "The entire combined fleet of 100,000 soldiers will stake their lives on this."
Yashiro Rokuro stared at him for a few seconds, then finally nodded: "Go. Detail the plan, consider every possibility. I want to see the complete battle plan in three days."
"yes!"
Kato saluted and turned to leave. The sound of his military boots hitting the floor echoed in the empty corridor.
Rokuro Yashiro looked out the window again. The sunlight was bright, and the cherry trees in the yard were lush and green. Although it wasn't cherry blossom season, he could almost see the falling petals.
Cherry blossoms, beautiful but fleeting.
The fate of an empire is no different.
Dubai time, 6 PM.
Chen Feng stood in front of a large electronic nautical chart in the Naval Headquarters' Operations Command Center—it was called "electronic," but it was actually just a lighting system installed under a glass panel that could illuminate different areas to simulate the position of ships.
On the nautical chart, along the route from Pontianak to Qingdao, a red dot is slowly moving; that's a simulated Fuxing bullet train. About fifty nautical miles behind it, four blue dots are arranged in a diamond shape—those are four Bismarck-class battleships.
Li Te stood beside Chen Feng, holding the latest intelligence summary in his hand.
"President, the Fuxing has completed all preparations for departure. Lin Haisheng reports that the entire ship has entered Level 3 combat readiness status, which has actually reached Level 2 combat readiness standard." He pointed to the red dot on the nautical chart. "According to the plan, it will depart at 6:00 AM tomorrow. The press corps arranged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs boarded the ship this afternoon, including reporters from the Lanfang Daily, the Nanyang Times, and two foreign news agencies."
"How much do the reporters know?"
"All I know is that this is a friendly visit to 'showcase the naval power of Lanfang,'" Li Te replied. "Lin Hai will control the information and won't let them access sensitive content."