bookbashuk Page 84
Page 84
As a researcher who frequently works on the front lines, Lloyd's intuition is remarkably accurate. With precision-guided weapons and unmanned equipment beginning to flood the battlefield, quality warfare is poised to replace all previous modes of warfare. Whoever possesses greater industrial capacity and resource acquisition efficiency will be able to achieve overwhelming victory in the upcoming wars.
As for tiny Japan, I'm sorry, it no longer has the qualifications to stir up world politics. It either bows down to its new father amidst the ruins, or slowly slides into the abyss amidst the flames of war.
And so, World Six entered 2019.
Chapter 178: I beg for mercy, I prostrate myself on my knees!
Gunpowder ended the era of knights' armor, and cannons crushed feudal castles. Technological advancements often lead to a reshaping of the entire world order, especially in terms of military upgrades and iterations.
The new era of intelligent warfare ushered in by the United Nations has rendered all previous tactics obsolete. On the battlefield, the United Nations forces can put the enemy's rear areas in deadly danger, but the enemy's effective attack range cannot cover the United Nations.
They do have satellite and missile technology, but the guidance technology of World Six is very poor, and intelligent missiles that can resist interference have not been developed at all. This means that in the same battlefield environment, the Central Alliance can crush the enemy mindlessly as long as it continuously deploys a huge intelligent machine army, but Holy Britain cannot do it, and the European Alliance cannot do it either.
The wars that took place in Japan have proven this point. Whether it was the previous campaign to restore Japan or the current proxy war between the two sides, Britain was basically being unilaterally crushed by the latest armed forces deployed by the Chinese Communist Party.
The gap between the two sides has become so large that it is impossible to look at it directly.
What's even more critical is that the Central Union understands its next technological direction, but the European Union and the Empire do not.
This means that the technological development costs for the two sides differ greatly. Knowing the right path and not knowing the right path result in different development costs, just like the difference between knowing that nuclear weapons can be built and not knowing that nuclear weapons can be built. That layer of unknown information is often the biggest cost.
"Your Highness, this is the last batch of soldiers," reported Gilbert, captain of Cornelia's personal guard.
"Yes, thank you for your hard work. Don't make any mistakes."
“Yes.” Gilbert hesitated for a moment, but still said, “Your Highness, please go and rest. You look very tired.”
"Tired? Yes, it has been a tough battle."
Cornelia was no longer the spirited witch she had been on the battlefield. Her face was filled with an intense, almost palpable weariness, and she still felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
It is now June 2019. In less than a year, Britain has paid a very heavy price in Japan. More than 6 British soldiers died directly on the battlefield. If the auxiliary troops and the New Japan Allied Forces are included, the number will increase to one million. If civilians are included, it would not be surprising if the number rises to ten million.
War is brutal, the situation is turbulent, bombing is constant, and death is ever-present.
Although Qin Shan didn't care how many Japanese soldiers died in Area 11, he at least knew a very basic principle: when you raise a dog, you have to feed it. This is the most basic equivalent exchange. It can't be said that what the Chinese Communist Party gave was completely in line with this standard, but compared to the fact that the compensation for those who sacrificed their lives for the British army was only one-tenth of that of the British soldiers, and was often deducted, or even treated as missing persons, the Japanese soldiers of the Republic of Japan were grateful to the Chinese Communist Party. Many honorary British soldiers and auxiliary Japanese soldiers on the front lines even surrendered directly to the Japanese army, or simply stabbed the British army in the back before surrendering.
Previously, there had been instances where Japanese soldiers owed wages defected on the battlefield, killing British officers and surrendering to the Japanese, causing an entire defensive line to collapse before any remedial action could be taken.
The more this happened, the less British soldiers trusted the people of Area 11. But the less they trusted the people of Area 11, the more persecution and exploitation they engaged in. The more this happened, the more the new Japanese soldiers would turn on the battlefield and even rebel against their superiors in daily life.
What, do the six families of Kyoto still dare to make British soldiers kneel before the Rising Sun Flag?
Cornelia and Schneizel tried their best to ease the tension between the two armies, but with little success. The conflict hadn't been brewing for a day. After realizing this, Schneizel proposed the Japanese Autonomy Act, letting the Japanese deal with their own problems. In any case, the Central Alliance had already established proxies, and the restored Japanese government would certainly not accept the Kyoto Six Families taking over their positions. On the other hand, such large financial groups as the Kyoto Six Families obviously could not accept losing their positions. Since that was the case, let them fight until both sides calmed down.
After all, the Japanese only needed to fight desperately, but the British, who were providing them with aid from the rear, had to consider many other factors.
After a brief discussion, the British elites, who were also exhausted by the situation in Japan, quickly accepted the decision. The British army began to gradually withdraw, leaving only a small number of troops stationed in the concessions. The rest was left to the joint Japanese government of the six families in Kyoto. In any case, if you can't hold out, the Japanese army that comes in will kill you first. You'd better figure it out yourself.
This tactic proved quite effective. After gaining military power and having the British hold guns to their heads, the Kyoto Six Families quickly and efficiently reorganized the new Japanese army, incorporating the original 11th District auxiliary forces into their ranks. The new Japanese army quickly withstood the Japanese offensive, and both sides stabilized their lines near Utsunomiya, firmly holding onto the Japanese Imperial Family and maintaining their "Japanese legitimacy." While fighting the Japanese army, they secretly sent people to communicate with the Central Alliance.
They're not stupid; they know the root of the problem is whether or not China United should stop. If China United doesn't stop, then Japan will never have peace. As China United's new superconducting technology develops rapidly, the Kyoto Six also realizes that Japan's good days of selling special resources are coming to an end.
Since that's the case, it's not impossible to ask His Highness the Regent to let me off the hook, is it? That's something I can try to do.
With this in mind, envoys from the Japanese coalition government secretly traveled to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to seek the possibility of peace negotiations.
As for the matter of Japan splitting apart, let it split apart then. As long as it doesn't affect the status of the six families of Kyoto, it doesn't matter if it splits into more than ten parts. Back in the Sengoku period of Japan, even though the area was so small and fragmented, there were still many people who were superior to others.
A fractured Japan might actually have a better life than the Japan of the past.
Just don't provoke a true superpower, especially the one right on our doorstep, China. They're genuinely terrified of Regent Qin Shan's chaotic attacks; those moves can really kill people!
"Please, Regent, have mercy! Spare my thirty million Yamato people!"
Inside the imperial palace in Luoyang, the envoys of the Japanese coalition government, or rather the six families of Kyoto, who were on a secret visit, were obediently kneeling and kowtowing three times and nine times in the Regent's Hall, their heads almost hidden in their crotches, for fear that a single glance from them would provoke the Regent's wrath.
Even if someone wanted to cause trouble, the envoy didn't want the reason to be "I offended the regent."
Because Qin Shan really has the right to perform "I don't eat beef".
"Thirty million people, there are still so many people in Area 11 now, that's great, you guys are very resilient, I'm very pleased."
Qin Shan smiled, but the messenger automatically interpreted his words as, "Read on, thirty million people is still too many. If only there were three hundred thousand, that would be great. Why don't you try harder to die more?"
terrible!
The messenger trembled and dared not utter a single unnecessary word.
Chapter 179: My kingdom, I kneel before you, do as you please.
"China has been a land of etiquette since ancient times, so we are quite reasonable with our friends. It's just that Japan doesn't seem to be very willing to reason with us in this regard."
Qin Shan's statement that he was "not very willing" actually refers to the historical story of the sixth Asian region.
During the time when the Central Plains was still the Chinese Empire, its territory extended north to the Arctic, south to Australia, east to Alaska, and west to Afghanistan. There were no powerful countries around it, and no internal divisions. It was truly a place where all nations flocked to it.
At this time, the Chinese Empire was considering whether to annex Japan as well, to create Yingzhou Province, and to complete the integration of the entire East Asian region, but Japan was unwilling.
Given the temperament of the Chinese Empire at the time, if it wanted to forcefully take over Japan, Japan would have had no room for resistance. However, considering how quickly Japan slid to its knees, and that the Chinese Empire was indeed not interested in that land (at that time, Sakura stone was just a pretty rock and had no value in processing it into a superconductor), it granted Japan permission to be an independent vassal state, paying tribute every year and entering the Chinese tributary system.
When the Chinese Empire entered the period of the Chinese Federation, its national strength further increased (in the early and middle stages). At this time, Japan began to show the value of the Sakura Stone Mine. For the Chinese Federation, Japan had become valuable to be annexed.
However, the Central Alliance is different from Britain. It follows the path of benevolence, not hegemony. Everyone knows the fate of a hegemon. It's about doing things with a legitimate reason. Although there will be discussions and pressure, as long as no one overturns the table, the Central Alliance allows other small countries a certain degree of flexibility. After all, small countries are mainly in the process of survival. If you really push them to the point where they can't survive, then they will have no choice but to fight you to the death. At that time, no matter what you do, the cost will be unacceptably high.
Therefore, the Chinese Communist Party began to increase economic exchanges with Japan, hoping to gradually take over Japan through this method. However, they encountered the even more shameless Britain, which directly launched an invasion of Japan.
However, this is also good news for the Central Alliance. You don't want to be forced into a relationship with Britain, do you? Then obediently join the Central Alliance. The Central Alliance will protect you. At least after you join the Central Alliance, Britain won't be so reckless in attacking you. They won't dare to.
However, at this crucial juncture of choosing sides, Japan surprisingly began to hold out for the highest bidder, believing that it still had value and that the Central Alliance would not allow itself to be destroyed. Then they were dumbfounded, because the emperor of the Central Alliance had died.
Although the emperor of the Central Union was nominally a constitutional monarchy, constitutional monarchy and real monarchical power were not in conflict. A capable monarch had more real power, while a less capable monarch respected constitutionalism. One important reason why the Central Union was able to develop to its current extent, and even in its decline, still had a vast territory, was that it rarely had emperors who were both incompetent and fond of playing games. For a great power, stability is paramount.
If you are consistent enough, your opponents will crash and burn on the marathon course.
They could also fall to their deaths at the starting line.
This is why China United always comes out on top in the end.
However, the death of the emperor was a major event, and the Chinese Union was incapable of taking any external action during that period. Moreover, the Chinese Union was already in a period of decline. Therefore, Britain seized the opportunity and, with the help of both sides, offered to give the Chinese Union at least 40 percent of the annual cherry blossom mine revenue, respect the Chinese Union's freedom of navigation in Japanese waters, and add a whole host of other terms. In return, the Chinese Union abandoned Japan.
What happened next was pretty much a foregone conclusion; how could Japan at that time possibly defeat a fully-fledged British force?
Of course, the Japanese, who grew up under the influence of Chinese culture, also gave Britain a small shock in terms of fighting to the death. In Britain's half-century of conquest, the casualties inflicted by Japan were the most devastating.
How tragic was it?
The British garrison on the Japanese islands after the war was not the same army as the British garrison that had previously captured the area.
Although the official British figures show over 10,000 casualties, a figure comparable to the cost of Britain's conquest of other regions, intelligence obtained by the Chinese Communist Party indicates that the British used over 200,000 body bags that year.
What, do these British people like to put twenty bags over a single corpse?
Even if you're covering it with gold, you don't need to do it this thickly.
Let's look at the treatment Japan received after becoming Area 11. Any local Japanese citizen who applies can become an Honorary Holy Briton. Note that only an application is needed; no other complicated procedures or military service certificates are required. Wow, do the Britons like the Japanese and want to integrate them quickly?
Bullshit! It was because the war back then was similar to the Vietnam War that Britain adopted a conciliatory policy, hoping that Area 11 would not become a bleeding wound for Britain, not to mention that there is the vital Sakura Stone Mine here.
The truth of many things is that simple. For example, during the Gulf War, the United States claimed that it had created a war myth with almost zero casualties, but in reality, the majority of the advance troops were prepared with body bags and mercenaries.
The deaths of mercenaries are not counted against the US military, and missing US soldiers are not considered killed in action.
The "charm" of statistics.
Of course, no matter how well a policy is formulated, the key is its subsequent implementation. It is clear that the British side's implementation in Area 11 is still somewhat inferior to Qin Shan's precise extermination of the entire family.
However, aside from the issue of Britain, Japan's wavering stance was a major reason for the disaster they suffered.
When the global landscape undergoes significant changes, for small countries, stance is more important than attitude. You can hurl harsh words, but you must never do things you shouldn't. At such times, if you try to switch sides and show off your flexible, opportunistic nature, you will inevitably be attacked by both sides. Just ask Poland if you don't believe me.
Therefore, Qin Shan's attitude is to let Japan make a statement. No matter which Japan you are or who your proxy is, you should act like a sensible child and not get involved in adult matters. Otherwise, the adults may not fight, but they will take their anger out on the children. After all, the current situation is international politics, not a family matter. Do you really expect the country that is the father to treat you like a son?
"Your Highness is wise! You are absolutely right. The old Japanese government has already paid the price. Now we implore you to give us another chance. Although the Kyoto Six Families are bound by Britain, our hearts are absolutely with the East!"
"Hehehe, is that so? Then prove it to me. Since the six families of Kyoto have sent people to sue for peace, it must include the act of conveying sincerity, right? Where is your sincerity?"
The messenger immediately presented a USB drive.
"Your Highness, this is the latest cherry blossom stone mining area discovered in the latest round of cherry blossom stone exploration in Japan. The British only know about one-third of it; the remaining two-thirds are kept secret. Furthermore, half of it is within the control of the Japanese Republic government. Please accept this as a gift!"
"Oh, you bribed me with something I already had. You guys are good at business."
"No, no, no, you misunderstand. We also know that the United Kingdom has made new technological breakthroughs in superconductors. Japan's meager mineral resources are not worth your attention. However, Britain needs these minerals. They cannot compete with the United Kingdom's new technology in terms of quality, so they can only focus on quantity. Their demand for Japanese cherry ore will only increase. When that happens, won't the United Kingdom be able to better control them with these resources?"
"Interesting. This does prove some of your worth. So, it's you who want to unify Japan?"
"We submit to the will of the superior nation!"
Before the envoy arrived, the heads of the six families of Kyoto had already spoken with him.
"Zhibo, regardless of the outcome of this trip to Zhonglian, you must maintain a certain attitude."
"Yes, please give your instructions, sir."
"Remember, no matter what the superior nation demands, you must firmly stand on its side and never go against its will."
"My lord, this..."
"I know this sounds like treason, but the situation is, do you think we have any leverage to negotiate with that regent?"
"No."
"Yes, no, not even a little bit. Regent Qin Shan has absolutely no prior experience. He's an unfathomable figure who rose to power through force, and he indiscriminately suppressed internal dissent throughout the entire Central Alliance. The direct descendants of several major families were completely wiped out. Do you know what that means? It means he possesses a powerful intelligence network and an unimaginable level of control over the entire Central Alliance. Such a scheme would have taken at least ten years to complete. He's hidden it so deeply, and his actions have been so decisive and successful. Faced with someone like him, any disobedience or protest could only invite his wrath!"
"Do you understand now? We have no other chance. The only chance is the mercy of the superior nation. Therefore, you must plead for mercy from the perspective of the superior nation. Even if it means turning Japan into a vassal state of the two Central Alliances, it would be a huge victory. Japan cannot ask for more at this stage. We have neither the right nor the courage to repeat the mistakes made by the old government."
"Survive first, then think about other things."
"Yes! I understand."
Therefore, in the end, Japan should just be prepared to lie low and accept defeat. It shouldn't think about anything else, as it's superfluous and meaningless. Just like the Beiyang government at the Paris Peace Conference, the fish has no right to negotiate with the butcher.
The meeting then came to an end, and the envoys from the Japanese coalition government were temporarily taken away.
"Ha, what a sly little life."
"Admiral, it seems that the Japanese are prepared to completely surrender and stop resisting."
Qin Shan reached out and pulled Lexington into his arms, letting her sit on his lap. He smiled and said, "It's very much in line with the Japanese way of 'recognizing a father.' They were prepared to kneel in all sorts of ways before they came, so no matter what happens next, their attitude will always be that the country is wise and benevolent, and that the country is the only sun in their hearts. Oh my, their kneeling is so smooth that I almost can't bear to keep bothering them."
"Really? Admiral." Lexington snuggled closer to Qin Shan.
"Of course it's true, I'm a peace-loving person." Qin Shan smiled very "sincerely".
Chapter 180: The Value of Witch CC
It's true that I love peace, but no one says that peace-loving people can't let war continue.
The Japanese coalition government backed down, and then the Chinese coalition forced the Japanese republic government to beg for peace?
What a joke!
Even dogs have a hierarchy, right? The dogs that come first naturally deserve more dog food and kennels than those who come later. So negotiations are possible, but the fighting will continue. And the total amount of aid from the Central Alliance is fixed. If the Japanese government can successfully push back, then the Central Alliance will then use economic infiltration and political control to eventually transform Japan into Japan.
If the fighting stops halfway through and Japan breaks apart, Qin Shan can accept that outcome. But no matter what the outcome, there can be no British people on the doorstep of the Central Alliance. If you're not satisfied, keep fighting. Let's see how many more 200,000 British people you have left to die. Even if we don't exchange steel for lives, the Central Alliance was originally the most populous country in the Sixth World.
At that time, Qin Shan will definitely throw all the unstable factors in the country onto the battlefield.
If they were willing to fight to the death against the enemy, their names would surely be on the monument to the fallen. But if they defected in the face of battle…
That's good too. When the time comes, we'll definitely send one of the nuclear missiles flying towards the enemy.
It feels great to have a bunch of royal flushes in your hand.
"Japan, don't overthink it. You are our allies, and we still support you."
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Japan was bowing and scraping before Li Xingke, expressing his gratitude with obvious excitement.
Previously, when the Japanese coalition government secretly sent people to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Japanese government received the news and allowed them to send people to secretly listen to the other side's peace talks.
Well, the content really startled the government of the Republic of Japan.
You Japanese coalition government, you're selling out your country without any guilt, huh? You wait, I, I, I'll sell you for something even more attractive than you right now!
The Japanese government, feeling uneasy, immediately contacted the Chinese Communist Party, stating that the previous treaty was contrary to the filial piety of a son towards his father, and that it had now realized its mistake and that a new cooperation treaty should be signed.
The Treaty of Japan drafted by the Japanese Republic government was even more subservient than the Beiyang government in the Twenty-One Demands. It sold off almost all of Japan's sovereignty that it could buy, euphemistically calling it: China is the father country, and Japan is the filial son country. Filial sons are obedient to their fathers and enjoy the joys of family life.
The emperor who was a child emperor said that he lived like a father.