190: Chapter 100 A New Goal (Early Spring, 1908)

Jinling City, Imperial Study.

The snow outside had just stopped, and a row of translucent icicles hung from the eaves, refracting fine glints of light under the weak afternoon sun like countless frozen teardrops. Li Ling stood before the massive maritime map of East Asia, his red pencil drawing a fourth arrow on the map. The tip of the pencil scraped across the paper, making a soft rustling sound like some insect chewing on a leaf.

Four arrows pointed toward the home islands of Japan in four directions—north, west, south, and east. Each arrow was annotated with detailed troop deployments, attack routes, and timelines. This was a meticulously planned encirclement network, like a giant hand slowly closing to crush the entire military force of Japan in its palm. The northern arrow pointed to Hokkaido, the western arrow pointed to the Tsushima Strait, the southern arrow pointed to Kyushu, and the eastern arrow pointed to Tokyo Bay. Every route was marked with vessel counts, landing times, and subsequent resupply plans, with dense numbers and symbols covering the entire island like a spider's web.

"Gentlemen," Li Ling turned around to face the room full of generals and advisors. "The final details of Our ultimate operational plan have just been finalized. I will now announce the targets for the second phase."

"Our next step is not defense, nor is it deterrence, but rather—a cross-sea counteroffensive. The target: the home islands of Japan, to completely destroy all of their military-industrial capabilities and force their government to accept a new treaty dominated by the Tang Country. The treaty terms will include: limiting Japan's naval tonnage, opening designated ports as resupply stations for the Tang fleet, and abolishing the military mutual assistance agreement signed between Japan and Meijian Country."

The meeting room fell silent for a brief moment, followed immediately by an irrepressible burst of excited whispers. The generals exchanged glances; some clenched their fists under the table, while others could not help but smile.

"Your Majesty," Chief of Staff Zhang Wanshan, Commander-in-Chief of the First Army Group, was the first to stand up, his eyes shining. "The Army has completely finished its re-equipment. The firepower, training, and morale of the Heavy Combined Arms Brigades are at their peak. As long as the Navy can transport us across, we can make those Japan natives taste the flavor of steel on their own soil. Our soldiers have trained continuously for eight months, and the tactical cooperation of every squad is second nature. Even if they are scattered into individual combatants after landing, they can fight independently."

"The Navy is also ready," Lin Yongsheng followed immediately. "The First Fleet has completed its combat readiness, with six Dreadnoughts, four Pre-dreadnoughts, eight Cruisers, and twelve Destroyers all on standby. The latest batch of Longxun-class battlecruisers has also completed sea trials, reaching speeds of up to thirty-five knots. With rapid assault and commerce-raiding capabilities, they will provide the fleet with powerful flank cover and high-speed reconnaissance support." He paused and added, "Furthermore, we have just verified our radio coordination tactics in deep-sea exercises, with excellent results. In foggy conditions and night battles, the enemy will be completely passive. During the exercises, our fleet completed two formation changes in dense fog with an error rate of less than three percent, which was unimaginable in the past."

Li Ling nodded in satisfaction and turned to the last speaker—Air Force Commander Zhao Peng. "What about the Air Force? Can your reconnaissance and bombing capabilities cover the home islands of Japan?" As he asked this, his gaze fell on the new equipment report in Commander Zhao Peng's hand, the cover of which was marked "Top Secret" in red ink.

Commander Zhao Peng stood at attention and replied, "Your Majesty, the aviation corps has increased to six squadrons, totaling seventy-two aircraft. Among them, the newest 'Longying' biplane bombers have been equipped in two squadrons. Their maximum range has been extended to six hundred kilometers, and they can carry four one-hundred-kilogram aerial bombs, which is sufficient to conduct effective strikes on Japan's coastal military ports and industrial zones. According to the latest reconnaissance photos, the oil depots of Sasebo naval port, the shipyards of Kure Naval Arsenal, and the steel mills of Nagasaki are all within the operational radius of the 'Longying'. In addition, the aviation corps is equipped with twelve 'Albatross' reconnaissance planes with a range of over eight hundred kilometers, capable of completing full reconnaissance coverage of Japan's coastline before the fleet departs. The cruising speed of the 'Longying' reaches one hundred and sixty kilometers per hour, allowing it to reach the skies over Japan four hours after taking off from Jinling."

Li Ling walked to the maritime map and circled several key locations on Japan's home islands with his red pen, the tip tapping against the paper with a soft clicking sound. "Since everyone is ready, I shall announce the timeline of the operation. In ten days, the first batch of troops will depart. The Navy's Submarine units will set out five days ahead of schedule. Their target: Japan's maritime transport lines, especially the munitions ships sailing from Meijian Country and Great Britain to Japan. I want their supplies cut off before the fighting even begins! Specifically, six Submarines will be divided into three groups, lurking in the Tsushima Strait, the Tsugaru Strait, and the entrance to the Seto Inland Sea respectively. They will target only transport ships and avoid warships. What I want is to cut off their supplies, not to alert the enemy prematurely."

"Yes!" the generals responded in unison, their voices resonant as bells, shaking the snow on the windowsills so that it tumbled down, shattering into a white mist under the sunlight.

The meeting lasted for nearly three hours. By the time Li Ling adjourned the meeting, the sky outside had already darkened. The lights of ten thousand homes in Jinling City were beginning to flicker on, merging into a warm orange-red sea of light in the twilight, as if draping a soft cloak of light over the ancient capital. In the distance, the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River lit their lanterns, their lights dragging flowing trails of light across the water's surface.

The generals filed out, their leather shoes making rapid clicking sounds on the blue stone slabs. The sound echoed through the empty palace pathways, carrying a pre-battle excitement and tension that beat like a war drum. Some conversed in low voices about tactical details, while others walked quickly in silence, their fingers unconsciously stroking the hilts of the swords at their waists. Li Ling remained alone in the meeting room, looking at the maps and annotations covering the walls, falling silent for a long time. On that massive operational map, red attack routes stretched out like veins, connecting to the islands that were soon to be engulfed in the flames of war. The corners of the map had been repeatedly rubbed by his fingers, becoming frayed.

"System," he finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of weariness but filled with even more certainty, like iron that had been repeatedly forged. "The operational plan for the second phase has been set. What are My chances of victory?"

The System's voice echoed in his mind, clearly reciting a string of data: [Based on the current comparison of forces, equipment, logistics, and tactics, as well as the advantages brought by radio communication, the preliminary simulated win rate is eighty-two point seven percent. However, if direct intervention by Meijian Country after the outbreak of war is considered, the win rate will drop to sixty-eight point three percent. The System suggests that the host must first stabilize Meijian Country and Great Britain through diplomatic channels before the war begins, ensuring they remain neutral for at least the first few weeks of the conflict. The host's diplomatic strategy will directly affect the course of the war. Specific recommendations: First, promise Meijian Country that Japan's commercial open-door policy will remain unchanged after the war; second, hint to Great Britain that the Tang Country will not interfere with its colonial interests in Southeast Asia; third, utilize the channels of the German Empire to convey a signal of 'limited war' to both nations.]

"Stabilize Meijian Country and Great Britain?" Li Ling smiled, a smile that carried a trace of hard-to-detect coldness under the candlelight. "I know how to stabilize them. We will dangle a carrot in front of them, telling them that as long as they do not interfere, I can guarantee that their existing commercial interests in the Far East will not be harmed after the war, and may even be expanded. Merchants prioritize profit; if they feel that staying out of it is more lucrative than interfering, they will definitely choose not to interfere. In addition, I will have the intelligence department leak rumors that the Tang Country's true objective is to limit Japan's naval expansion, rather than to alter the entire balance of power in the Far East."

[Host, your diplomatic strategy aligns perfectly with the law of the jungle in this era. The System suggests that you initiate two sets of plans simultaneously—the public plan is to announce a 'large-scale naval military exercise' to the outside world, while secretly completing the assembly of troops and fleets in reality. Only by compressing the time gap between the transition from 'exercise' to 'warfare' to the absolute minimum can tactical surprise be achieved. The essence of war is to create a fait accompli with the utmost speed. It is recommended to launch a surprise attack on the seventh day after the exercise is announced, at which point the diplomatic notes of the great powers will still be on the way, while our troops will have already landed on the coast of Japan.]

Li Ling fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "You are right. Let us proceed accordingly. Pass down Our imperial decree: tomorrow morning, issue diplomatic notes to the embassies of the great powers in China, announcing that the Tang Country will conduct a month-long 'large-scale naval military exercise' in the East China Sea. Certain shipping lanes may be blocked at that time, and vessels of all nations are requested to avoid them. Meanwhile—"

He walked to the window and pushed it open. The cold wind, carrying fine snow flurries, rushed in and whipped against his face, icy and sobering, causing the bloodshot veins in his eyes to fade slightly. "Order the First Fleet and all Army groups to enter first-class combat readiness. All ammunition, fuel, and rations must be loaded onto the ships within five days. In ten days, I want to see the fleet assembled in the designated waters of the East China Sea!"

Outside, Jinling City in the night was quiet and peaceful, with warm yellow lights shining from tens of thousands of windows like stars on the earth. In the distance, a pleasure boat was slowly passing along the Qinhuai River, its lights dragging a flowing trail of light across the river's surface like a swimming golden serpent. The faint sounds of a pipa and singing drifted from the boat, performing "A Flowery Moonlit Night on the Spring River." The melody was gentle and winding, dispersing in the night wind. Yet further away, in the depths of the East China Sea beyond the reach of sight, undercurrents were surging, and war drums were silently beating.

The System gave one final reminder, its voice slightly deeper than usual: [Host, are you certain you wish to personally lead the campaign? This will be your first time commanding a large-scale amphibious landing operation across the sea. Maritime conditions are complex, and the enemy may utilize their home-field advantage to put up a desperate resistance. According to intelligence, Japan has already mobilized its home defense forces, laid a large number of sea mines along the coast, and reinforced their coastal defense batteries.]

"I am certain," Li Ling's voice was calm and firm, like a reef standing in the tide. "I promised them that I would return. Therefore, I will definitely return. However—before departing, I still have one thing to do."

He turned around, walked back to the imperial desk, and picked up the calligraphy brush he had used for a long time. Dipping it fully into thick ink, he wrote a line of powerful and vigorous characters on a fresh sheet of blank Xuan paper. The ink slowly spread across the paper like a blooming flower:

"After this battle, there shall be no more war in the East China Sea."

Having finished writing, he put down the brush and let out a long breath. The white breath condensed into a cloud in the cold air, then slowly dissipated. The wind and snow outside grew heavier, rattling the window frames as if the roaring from the depths of the ocean was penetrating the night, growing closer and clearer.

On the bookshelf in the corner of the Imperial Study, on the back of the folded maritime map he had put away, another name was marked in pencil—not Japan, but somewhere further away. Half of the name had been crossed out, but the strokes of the final character were still clearly legible, like a sleeping giant python waiting for the moment of its awakening.

That was his next, and true, target.

Outside, the wind and snow howled, blurring the lights of Jinling City's ten thousand homes into a warm, glowing haze. Meanwhile, in the depths of the East China Sea, the first Submarine had already passed through the Tsushima Strait. Through the periscope, the captain was observing a distant freighter flying the flag of Meijian Country—it was a vessel transporting munitions to Japan. The ship's draft was extremely deep, and the outlines of gun barrels covered in tarpaulins could be seen on the deck. The captain licked his dry, cracked lips and said in a low voice, "Target confirmed. Stand by underwater. Once it passes the island chain, we will send it down."