44: Chapter 44 What exactly does the Great Xia want to do!?

Meanwhile.

Tokyo, Prime Ministers Official Residence.

The atmosphere in the conference room was frighteningly heavy.

Prime Minister Xiao Jianbi sat in the main seat and said with a livid face:

"Speak, what on earth is the situation?"

The Minister of Defense stood up and turned on the projector.

On the screen was dense intelligence.

"According to our satellite reconnaissance and the feedback from our intelligence personnel in Daxia."

"Daxia—"

He took a deep breath:

"Is carrying out the largest military mobilization in scale since the founding of the country!"

"Five Heavy Combined Arms Brigades, more than a dozen light combined arms brigades, with a total force of over one hundred thousand people!"

"Tens of thousands of armored vehicles!"

"Thousands of tons of ammunition!"

"And—"

His voice became even heavier:

"They have activated Grade-1 combat readiness!"

"National railways suspended! Expressways controlled! All civil aviation canceled!"

"All resources are making way for the military!"

"This is—"

He looked at the Prime Minister:

"A general mobilization for war!"

What?!

In the conference room, everyone stood up.

"War? Who is Daxia going to declare war on?"

"Could it be..."

Everyone's gaze turned to the Minister of Defense.

"According to intelligence reports—"

The Minister of Defense pulled up the map:

"All troops are assembling towards Southern Jiangsu."

"And Southern Jiangsu—"

He pointed at the map with a laser pointer:

"It is less than one thousand kilometers away from our Ryukyu Islands."

"And it is only one thousand five hundred kilometers away from our mainland."

Boom!

Inside the conference room.

It instantly exploded into an uproar.

"Are they going to attack us?!"

"Impossible!"

"This... how is this possible?!"

"Although we have friction with Daxia, it shouldn't come to war!"

Everyone panicked.

Because they knew that if Daxia really wanted to make a move against them.

With Japan's current military strength, they simply couldn't stop it.

"Calm down!"

Xiao Jianbi patted the table:

"Everyone calm down a bit!"

He looked at the Minister of Defense:

"What is your judgment?"

"Is Daxia really targeting us?"

The Minister of Defense was silent for a moment, then shook his head:

"Not sure."

"But there is this possibility."

"Recently, our attitude on the Diaoyu Islands issue has been relatively tough."

"Moreover, we have also agreed to let the USA deploy a new missile System in our country."

"This may have provoked Daxia."

Xiao Jianbi's expression became even uglier.

"Then what should we do now?"

He looked at the crowd:

"How should we respond?"

"Activate the defense mechanism!"

A minister stood up:

"Immediately enter the highest alert state!"

"Mobilize the Self-Defense Forces! Strengthen maritime and air defense!"

"Not enough."

Another minister shook his head:

"Even if we defend with all our might—"

"We still cannot stop Daxia's hundred-thousand-strong army."

"Furthermore—"

"They also have five Heavy Combined Arms Brigades!"

"We simply have no ability to resist an armored force of that level!"

"Then... what should we do?"

Someone asked in a panic.

Xiao Jianbi fell silent.

For a long time, he raised his head:

"Contact the USA."

"Contact the USA immediately!"

"Ask them to give us an explanation!"

"If Daxia really takes action, will they send troops to protect us!"

"Yes!"

The Minister of Foreign Affairs immediately picked up the phone.

And dialed the dedicated line to the US Embassy in Japan.

Meanwhile.

The USA was also in complete chaos.

US Head of State Jack Xiexun, a man in his seventies,

Was sitting behind his desk at this moment, looking at Secretary of State Blake with a livid face.

"Blake!" Jack slammed the table fiercely: "You said that as long as we imposed sanctions, Daxia would surrender! You said they couldn't last three months! You said they would obediently agree to our conditions! Now—"

He pointed at the intelligence document on the desk: "Take a look at this for me! A hundred thousand troops! Five Heavy Combined Arms Brigades! Grade-1 combat readiness! National general mobilization! Is this what you call surrender?!"

His voice was filled with anger: "Now, shouldn't you give me an explanation?!"

The sweat on Blake's forehead grew more and more.

He thought to himself, places like Japan and South Korea kneel immediately once we apply pressure, why is it completely different when it comes to Daxia?

This wasn't scientific!

According to the script, Daxia should panic, beg for mercy, send people to negotiate, and then agree to all our conditions.

Why are they launching a war mobilization instead?

What are they trying to do?

Could they really want to go to war with the USA?

"Blake! I am talking to you!" Jack's voice was even louder: "I need an explanation! Why has Daxia entered a Grade-1 combat readiness state nationwide? Do they want to go to war with us?!"

Blake's brain was spinning frantically.

He had to find an explanation, otherwise his political career would be over.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

"Your Excellency the President! Rest assured!" he quickly said: "This is nothing more than a negotiating tactic of theirs!"

"A negotiating tactic?" Jack frowned.

"That's right!" Blake wiped his sweat: "Think about it, they are facing an energy crisis right now, and we have united with oil-producing countries to embargo them; they are already at their wits' end. But they don't want to submit just like that, so—"

He pointed at the intelligence: "Through this large-scale military mobilization, they are showing us their determination to 'not fear a single battle,' thereby creating leverage out of thin air. In the upcoming negotiations, they can occupy a psychological advantage."

"But—"

Blake showed a confident smile: "They guessed wrong! We have already seen through their trump card! They don't dare to go to war at all! All of this is just blustering and pretending!"

Hearing this, Jack was stunned for a moment: "You mean to say that everything they are doing is an illusion?"

"That's right!" Blake nodded vigorously: "Your Excellency the President, although Daxia's military strength is not weak, do they dare to go to war with us? They don't dare! Because once a war starts, their economy will completely collapse! Their energy will be cut off! Their people will fall into disaster! Therefore—"

He patted his chest: "I can guarantee it! As long as we continue to apply pressure, they will definitely surrender! By then, they will obediently agree to our three negotiation demands!"

The three demands Blake mentioned were respectively:

First, pay 200 billion US dollars in "protection fees" to the USA every year; second, allow the USA to station troops within their territory; third, deploy weapons at the US's son's place.

Every single one of these three items was a trampling on their sovereignty, and every single one was a symbol of national humiliation and subjugation.

But Blake firmly believed that Daxia would agree because they had no choice.

Jack was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "I see. Since that is the case, let's increase the pressure! Let them know what happens when they go against us!"

He picked up the phone: "Connect me to the Department of Defense!"

A few seconds later, the phone connected.

"Michael, immediately issue an order to transfer all ten of our aircraft carriers in the Pacific Ocean to the Western Pacific!"

"What?! Mr. President, ten? That's nearly half of our naval forces!" the Secretary of Defense's surprised voice came from the other end of the phone.

"That's right!" Jack said coldly: "I want Daxia to see our determination! I want them to know that in front of absolute power, all resistance is futile! Continue to pressure Daxia! Must—" he said word by word: "Make them agree to our three demands! Do you understand?"

"Yes... but, Mr. President, mobilizing ten aircraft carriers is too big of a move. Will it provoke Daxia?" The Secretary of Defense hesitated.

"Provoke?" Jack sneered: "What I want is to provoke them! Make them afraid! Make them terrified! Make them kneel and beg for mercy! Execute immediately!"

"Yes!"

The phone hung up.

Jack looked at Blake: "Is there anything else to add?"

"No, Your Excellency the President." Blake breathed a sigh of relief: "Your decision is very wise. Daxia will soon submit."

"Better be." Jack stood up, walked to the window, and looked at The White House lawn outside. "Blake."

"Present."

"If—" Jack turned around: "Daxia does not submit, but actually goes to war, are you ready to resign?"

Blake's body stiffened, and cold sweat broke out again: "Your Excellency the President, it won't happen, absolutely won't happen—" His voice was trembling.

But Jack just looked at him coldly without speaking.

Two hours later, at Pearl Island in the Pacific, the alarm of the US Pacific Fleet Headquarters suddenly sounded.

"Attention everyone!

By presidential decree! The Pacific Fleet's 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th Carrier Strike Groups are all dispatched!

Destination: Western Pacific!

Repeat, this is not a drill!

All aircraft carriers set sail immediately!"

In the huge military port, ten aircraft carriers started their engines simultaneously.

Nimitz-class, Ford-class, every single one was a 100,000-ton behemoth, every single one carried hundreds of fighter jets, and every single one represented the maritime hegemony of the USA.

And now, ten aircraft carriers were dispatched simultaneously; this was an unprecedented scale, and also a naked manifestation of ultimate hegemony.

The roaring engine sounds echoed in the harbor, and carrier after carrier sailed out of the port, roaring towards the Western Pacific and towards Daxia.

Around the aircraft carriers were dozens of destroyers, cruisers, submarines, supply ships, and so on. The entire fleet exceeded two hundred warships, magnificent and blocking out the sun.

This scene was captured by countless satellites, and the whole world was shocked.

"The USA has dispatched ten aircraft carriers? Is this going to war?"

Panic began to spread globally, governments of various countries held emergency meetings, stock markets plummeted, and citizens began hoarding supplies.

The whole world seemed to be shrouded in the shadow of war.