Ch.214Red Scything

* * *

“Or maybe Hawaii got caught up in the civil war more than expected, and the fleet is tied up there?”

Well, I suppose Japan attacked Pearl Harbor urgently because of the Pacific Fleet being there.

“As you’ll see in the report, to summarize, the US Pacific Fleet is currently immobilized. The fuel storage facilities were completely destroyed as well.”

“Hmm.”

I’m trying to appear calm while looking at the documents that have been presented, but honestly, I’m absolutely dumbfounded.

Cold sweat runs down my face as I review each detail—how many ships were destroyed, the aircraft and anti-aircraft guns demolished, the soldiers killed.

It’s impressive that the Okhrana already gathered this intelligence, but…

Wait, what the hell is this?

Am I seeing this correctly? The fleet suffered damage similar to the original history, but they also destroyed the fuel storage facilities?

Finally, unable to hide my shock, I look at Savinkov with wide eyes, and he speaks while sweating.

“I was surprised at first too, but the information comes from the Forbidden City and our Okhrana agents in Japan, so it’s reliable.”

“I see.”

How on earth did things turn out this way?

Japan really succeeded beyond expectations, didn’t they?

Perhaps this is also a consequence of the American Civil War. Maybe they were too distracted to protect Hawaii properly.

“They’re even planning a landing operation, I hear.”

“What? A landing operation too?”

Wow. They’ve really grown bold.

I don’t know what gave them such confidence, but it seems they want to maximize their gains before America fully recovers.

“From the beginning of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Japanese were determined. They even used diesel fuel for their fleet to prevent visible smoke.”

The America of this world must be absolutely furious.

As for the landing operation… I doubt they’ll actually do it.

According to the report, their goal is a “show of force” to establish Japanese supremacy in the Pacific and secure oil. No matter how foolish they are, attempting to land on Hawaii would be a declaration of all-out war.

They must know that wouldn’t be just a “show of force.”

True, they’ve already crossed the line significantly, but they haven’t actually occupied any territory yet.

“Well, to summarize the situation.”

The US-Japan War has begun.

I call it the US-Japan War rather than the Pacific War because America isn’t part of the Allies, and Japan is part of the Anti-Comintern Pact, so they’re not targeting Indochina right now. It’s a war solely between Japan and the United States.

Pearl Harbor suffered even greater damage than in the original history, and America will now have to bring in their Atlantic Fleet. But what’s important here?

MacArthur and Huey Long reached a dramatic compromise to re-establish the United States, and since the presidential election was delayed due to the civil war, they’ll elect a new president after the war.

There was some damage from fighting the American Communist United States in the central region, but with Trotsky’s capture, it ended much more stably than the Spanish Civil War.

So what does this mean?

It means America can focus on beating Japan without getting entangled in the European war.

The difference from the original timeline is that America is entering a war with Japan from the start, rather than finishing the European war first and then turning to Japan.

Of course, they took such a heavy hit that it would require a dramatic reversal, or Japan making a critical mistake, for America to win.

In the Pacific theater specifically, America might actually lose ground.

Or maybe not? America did develop elite forces during their civil war. Their air forces fought intensely against the American Communist United States before Russian support troops arrived.

“If Japan doesn’t capitalize on this momentum to defeat America, they might be in trouble.”

What a pitiful situation.

Of course, with Pearl Harbor so devastated, America will have to hesitate for a while.

The important thing is that if this becomes a prolonged war, Japan will have to face America’s concentrated fury.

Unlike the original history where Nazi Germany existed.

And if the damage to Pearl Harbor was that severe, America’s anger will be even greater.

I heard that MacArthur, together with Huey Long, gave a speech promising to turn the Japanese islands into hell.

Unlike Japan, which intended an armistice or negotiations, America has no intention of stopping this war that Japan unilaterally started.

Without nuclear bombs, Operation Downfall might begin.

No, wait. Aren’t Japanese forces quite elite now? If so, America might struggle.

Then, after the war, they might need to bring the British fleet all the way to the Pacific to jointly crush Japan.

“Wait a minute…”

What if Chiang Kai-shek tightens his belt and uses human wave tactics to keep fighting the Japanese army to the end, and the Japanese army remains in China trying to eliminate them?

What if we stab them in the back and drive the Japanese army out of China? Wouldn’t that make America’s Operation Downfall more effective later?

Oh, that sounds plausible when I think about it.

Considering America’s current anger, they might even consider Operation Downfall.

“Hmm.”

Well, no matter how angry America is or if they implement Operation Downfall, they’ll probably stop at a reasonable point if casualties mount during the Gyokusai operations.

By then, we can use our friend Puyi to establish a puppet government in Japan.

Actually, Japan’s actions are somewhat understandable.

Though the plausibility is questionable, if Japan wants to become Asia’s number one power, they need to control the Pacific.

Russia’s Far Eastern Fleet is merely a small Pacific fleet. When else would they target America if not when it’s in such chaos?

Even after the civil war ends, America will be busy putting things back in order.

Though MacArthur and Huey Long reached a historic agreement…

“China is somehow holding on too.”

“The situation in China is almost miraculous. If Japan hadn’t turned every place they targeted for extermination into ghost towns, they might have conquered China long ago.”

Perhaps the Emperor’s death was actually beneficial.

Well, when the Emperor temporarily appeared on the front lines, Japan nearly defeated Tang Shengzhi’s army in one go. It shows how different it is when a monarch leads from the front.

Especially when it’s the Emperor, believed to be a living god.

“Since they’re going to die anyway, they’ll fight to the bitter end. But doesn’t this make Japan simply a mass murderer?”

This seems dangerous for the future.

Japan was already infamous for the Nanjing Massacre in the original world.

But in this world, Japan is committing worse atrocities in city after city.

They’re not being held back by Chinese forces; they’re taking their time killing Chinese people.

“Recently, Japan has used its designation of Qing as a vassal state to recognize it as the only legitimate government and label the warlords as rebels. As the suzerain state, they claim to be sending troops to help their vassal state Qing defeat the rebels.”

That sounds familiar.

“Well, they’ve managed to create some kind of justification, however forced.”

True. As a suzerain state, it makes sense to help a vassal state.

The Ming Dynasty also sent massive forces to help its vassal state Joseon during the Imjin War.

When you think about it, the warlords can’t really be called countries.

Puyi was the Emperor of the Chinese Empire, and Japan made him the King of Qing again and declared it the legitimate government of China, which has some plausibility.

It’s like the Taiping Rebellion or the Boxer Rebellion.

Considering Chinese history, it has been divided by warlords before.

I can’t believe they’re using this as justification for Operation Chinese Castration. Impressive.

“The United States has requested the withdrawal of our troops. They seem to be preparing in earnest for war with Japan.”

From America’s perspective, having Russian troops continue to be stationed in their country would be concerning.

After all, Russia is perceived as Japan’s ally.

If those large forces were to rise up in America claiming to help Japan, the United States would collapse instantly.

“Well, in the end, to achieve internal unity, it’s common to project internal discontent outward. Tell them we’ll withdraw our troops gradually since we have too many.”

If we apply pressure like this, something will happen in Europe too.

Communist Germany, which needs to finish off Austria and drive out the Anglo-French allied forces before Russia arrives, will act more desperately.

If they truly don’t want Russia to join the war, that is.

“Your Majesty, will you join the war immediately after our troops withdraw?”

That’s the problem. Unfortunately, Austria hasn’t been attacked yet.

That bastard Goebbels is trying hard to prevent Russia from joining the war.

Of course, Russia has the image of being the “Holy Maiden’s country,” so we can’t easily wage a war of aggression.

So we need justification.

I don’t know what this so-called “justification” really is, but…

“Austria hasn’t been attacked yet, so do we have justification to join the war?”

“Actually, we already have justification with East Prussia. The German Kaiser asked us to join the war in its early stages.”

“Ah, you mean that war they insisted on starting even without Russian participation.”

“With the strange turn of events in the war, they’ve come to us again requesting our participation.”

Who threatened them with a sword to join the war?

It seems the Polish army isn’t pushing effectively either.

For now, we’re continuing to sell weapons to Austria, so if Poland is ineffective…

“Your Majesty, something strange seems to be happening within the German military.”

“What do you mean?”

“Within the Allied forces, Communist German officers are secretly leaking operation plans, but Prime Minister Churchill ignored this.”

This could make things interesting.

“Hmm. There were supposed to be some Junkers in the Communist German ranks, right?”

Then it’s entirely possible.

Whether the operations being leaked to the Allied forces are true or false is a matter to be determined later.

But seeing how they’re barely holding on, it doesn’t seem like there are many Junkers who actually want to side with the other side.

“Yes. As Junkers, they probably don’t like taking orders from the Communist Party.”

“Indeed. It’s not like Communist Germany has been around for a century, and the Junkers were traditionally Germany’s privileged class.”

Even with political officers forcing them to comply, they would rather join the Allied forces and serve in Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Imperial German Army.

Some Junkers might be fighting reluctantly because they can’t hand over the country to the Allied forces, while others might long for the nostalgia of the Kaiser’s German Empire.

But leaking operation plans? What operation plans could they have besides defending against the Allied forces?

Wait a minute. Operation plans? If Germany were to go on the offensive now, it would essentially be a gamble. Could it be…?

It won’t be a frontal assault. Then there’s only one possibility. Yes, Operation Sickle.

The operation that could truly be Communist Germany’s last stand.

It has to be Operation Sickle, right?

It would indeed be their last chance, but if it fails, Communist Germany will collapse immediately.

But what happens if it succeeds?

* * *

Belgian-German Border

With Churchill ignoring Manstein’s intelligence, Operation Sickle began as originally planned.

Of course, one thing had changed: Army Group B, which was supposed to invade the Low Countries, was bogged down at the defensive line there.

Nevertheless, Operation Sickle had begun.

“Have these madmen gone completely insane? They’re on the offensive?”

At first, the Allied forces seriously thought Communist Germany was launching a revival of the Ludendorff Offensive.

After all, spies infiltrated into Communist Germany had discovered with great difficulty that Goebbels was preparing a final major offensive.

This was actually true, but Army Group B was merely a diversion.

Surprisingly, this crazy offensive was effective in its own right.

“Ugh…ahhh! Crazy Reds!”

“How are we supposed to fight against such people?”

The Allied forces, who had long witnessed the madness of Communist Germany in battle, could barely hold back the red zombies who charged forward like maniacs, shouting “Heil Goebbels” to repel the invaders.

“The fate of our Germany and the world revolution will be decided in this battle! Better to die contributing to the revolution than to live as slaves!”

“Heil Goebbels!”

Army Group A pushed through the Ardennes Forest, experiencing traffic jams while displaying madness by doping themselves with drugs and repeatedly shouting “Heil Goebbels.”

While the Allied forces were busy containing Army Group B’s frenzied offensive…

“The Ardennes Forest has been breached!”

The Ardennes Forest had been breached.

Unlike in actual history, there was no Maginot Line, so the French army had reinforced it more, but Gamelin, like Churchill, didn’t expect Communist German forces to come through the Ardennes.

Thus, Gamelin was busy preparing to stop Army Group A’s all-out attack from the Low Countries to the Maginot Line.

Unfortunately, that was his downfall.

Though perhaps it would have been breached easily anyway.

“What? They broke through the Ardennes Forest? These deranged Reds!”

By the time news of the Ardennes Forest breach was received, Communist Germany had already advanced deep into France.

“S-Sedan has fallen! No, they might be heading to Paris by now.”

The German forces moved so quickly that news of defeats always arrived late.

In fact, the difference was clear between France, which still used the same force composition as in World War I, and Germany, which used combined arms tactics while grinding its teeth for revenge for Versailles.

Additionally, the Prussian tradition of mission-type tactics, which hadn’t been advantageous until World War I, proved beneficial in this war.

The method of autonomously executing operations according to the situation on the battlefield and reporting afterward worked perfectly in this war.

In a war where the situation changed constantly, the German method—though Communist—still following Prussian tradition, was the right answer.

“We’re screwed.”

France went mad without even having time to respond.

This happened just four weeks after Communist Germany launched its offensive.