CHAPTER 1097: CHAPTER 583: DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST JAPAN (PART 2)

"The Jieke Group, a bunch with wolf-like ambitions, unexpectedly seizing the moment to kick us when we’re down."

Xiyuan Temple Yiteng gritted his teeth in extreme indignation, realizing that Japan has endured immense suffering in recent days.

First, Geshan County fell under the siege of the Sea Monster, then Tokyo was obliterated, followed by Osaka City falling into the hands of the Jieke Group.

Now, the Jieke Group still won’t spare the disaster-stricken Japan, truly, it’s intolerable.

"I always recognized early on that the Jieke Group was not a good entity, but unfortunately, we didn’t take more decisive actions during their rise. Now, it has become a significant threat to Japan."

"We are separated by thousands of miles from the Jieke Group, yet they refuse to let us go. Isn’t it just because we sent troops to the Southeast Asia once, that they now seek to eliminate us completely?"

"We must call upon the international community to denounce the atrocities of the Jieke Group together. Japan is a sovereign nation, and the Jieke Group’s actions amount to naked aggression, condemned worldwide."

Many ministers of Japan present were cursing endlessly, deeply empathetic towards the declaration of war by the Jieke Group, fearing the loss of their own authority.

Xiyuan Temple Yiteng calmed his mind slightly and looked at the Defense Minister, Sugiyama Hideaki.

"What is the current situation of the Jieke Group’s military movements, is there any relevant intelligence?"

Sugiyama Hideaki, being questioned, explained, "Prime Minister, upon learning of the Jieke Group’s declaration of war, our military mobilized immediately. According to previous intelligence, a mixed fleet of five cruiser Arsenal Ships from the Jieke Group is still stationed north of the Ryukyu Sea, approximately a thousand kilometers in a straight line from our Honshu Island, and based on their trajectory, it seems they are headed directly for us.

Our fleet is currently stationed in the Hokkaido sea area, and we’ve already ordered an urgent turn of our naval forces, while all warships in major military ports are ready for departure after preparations for war, preventing us from being bottled up in ports by the Jieke Group."

Xiyuan Temple Yiteng frowned upon hearing this, saying, "We are the closest allies with the Beautiful Country. According to the signed ’Common Defense Security Treaty’, the provisions for joint defense operations state that once Japan is attacked by another country, the Beautiful Country is obligated to engage jointly. What is the stance of the Beautiful Country now, have they established contact with us? Are they going to declare war on the Jieke Group?"

Xiyuan Temple Yiteng knew very well that they were not a match for the Jieke Group. At this juncture, with the Jieke Group looming to bully them, they could only seek the help of their patron, the Beautiful Country. It’s said that a dog rides the coattails of a powerful owner; without the backing of the Beautiful Country, Japan would not dare provoke the Jieke Group.

Upon hearing this, some present reacted and hurriedly asked, "Isn’t there a large garrison of the Beautiful Country in the Ryukyu Sea area? Have they taken any action?"

The Ryukyu Islands are a crucial military base in the Western Pacific, with just Okinawa Island, measuring less than 2,000 square kilometers, housing ten air force bases including Kadena, Putian, and Naha. The largest air force base, Kadena Base, hosts nearly 100 military aircraft including F-15 Eagle fighters and C-130 transport planes, and the operational radius of warplanes from this base covers a thousand kilometers.

The base also includes barracks, communication facilities, radar systems, and civilian facilities such as residential areas, cinemas, and schools, extending flexible reconnaissance throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It is among the most crucial air force bases with rapid response combat capability for the Beautiful Country in the Western Pacific Sea Area.

Given the air force bases of the Beautiful Country in Okinawa and Guam, the Jieke Group’s navy is a prestigious target; the Beautiful Country could totally dispatch a large number of aircraft to use land-based air force against the Jieke Group’s Far East Mixed Fleet with bombings.

"We have already established contact with the Beautiful Country’s command at the first opportunity. Now, the Beautiful Country’s military is also deliberating. It seems that the senior officials in the Beautiful Country are just as yet undecided on a specific countermeasure as we are."

Sugiyama Hideaki shook his head but then added, "Although the Beautiful Country has yet to decide whether to intervene, the alert level has been raised to the highest in every military base after the Jieke Group proclaimed war on us. As soon as the Beautiful Country issues a combat order, jets at every air force airport can urgently take off to help us counter the threat from the Jieke Group. Furthermore, land army soldiers of the Beautiful Country stationed on Japan’s mainland can assist in pushing off the Jieke Group troops landing."

"What, the Beautiful Country hasn’t declared war on the Jieke Group? Are they trying to abandon us?"

Many ministers of Japan present were full of panic, their biggest reliance was the Beautiful Country, and if the Beautiful Country doesn’t intervene, how could they face the Jieke Group?

It was inevitable for them to panic. The Beautiful Country had a notorious history of selling out allies, especially facing the Jieke Group, with numerous examples of doing so, such as those Southeast Asian countries, which were once flag-waving followers of the Beautiful Country, but now have become Southern Alliance Member Countries. Many countries were betrayed step-by-step by the Beautiful Country under appeasement policies.

This action certainly avoided direct conflict with the Jieke Group, maintaining the Beautiful Country’s status as the World Dominator, yet it led to the ever-strengthening of the Jieke Group.

"Calm down, things have not yet reached a point of no return. The Jieke Group is not an ordinary adversary, it’s normal for the Beautiful Country to have hesitations. But we are different from those poor Southeast Asian countries. We are an indispensable element for the Beautiful Country in the Far East; without Japan, the Beautiful Country would lose its most crucial supporting partner, they surely cannot abandon us."

Xiyuan Temple Yiteng called aloud, his composure slightly stabilized the panic among many high-ranking officials present, giving them a backbone.

"Prime Minister, please make a decision."

These people all looked towards Xiyuan Temple Yiteng, hoping he would come up with good countermeasures.

"What we can do now, first of all, is to actively unite all countries on the front of public opinion. We must secure the support of the international community, cement the declaration of war by the Jieke Group as an ethnic war invading our country.

Meanwhile, recruit more soldiers, and promote the brutal actions of the Jieke Group throughout the nation. We need the domestic populace to stand with us, uniting every possible strength. If the Jieke Group dares land on our territory, we’d rather shatter a million precious stones than allow them to succeed. They must witness our determination to hold fast unto integrity rather than survive as inferior.

Next, with regards to the Beautiful Country, they are our essential source of strength, we must exhaust every effort within the Beautiful Country’s territory to influence the magnates, fomenting a wave of opposition against the Jieke Group domestically, thereby impacting policies and compelling their intervention.

You can bluntly tell these magnates, no matter how much money they keep, once the Jieke Group takes over our Japan, their wealth will be nothing but sheep waiting to be slaughtered under the blade of the Jieke Group. Money or life, they will surely understand the choice.

Lastly, provoke the opinion within the Jieke Group as well, preferably leading them to recklessly attack the military bases of the Beautiful Country, like our Second World War attack on Pearl Island. At that time, even if the Beautiful Country doesn’t wish to engage, they will be drawn into the conflict.

As long as the Beautiful Country joins the war, we have hope of victory, Japan has a future."

Xiyuan Temple Yiteng laid out his arrangements one by one; although not exquisitely perfect, given the short amount of time, he exhibited exceptional capability by devising so much.

Upon hearing these arrangements, the expressions of one minister after another slowly calmed down on the scene.

"Gentlemen, the survival of the Empire hinges on a thread, it’s all up to everyone."

Lastly, Xiyuan Temple Yiteng bowed.