Ch.233Japanese-Like Behavior (2)

# Forbidden City Headquarters

Meanwhile, the headquarters at the Forbidden City was in dire straits.

The Chinese front was stagnating on their end, while America refused to negotiate. After expelling ambassadors, the Americans were mass-producing ships across the country and engaging in small-scale naval battles with Japan.

By this point, even Tojo Hideki was starting to feel the heat.

He had started this affair, but America had responded more aggressively than expected.

They had quickly ended their civil war and, as if declaring “we’ll deal with you first,” began operating factories across the country.

“They still refuse to negotiate and continue sending fleets?”

“Yes. They’re mass-producing ships in shipyards across the country to catch us.”

America had combined its Atlantic Fleet—once split between the US Military Government and the United States Allied Government—moved it west, and merged it with the remaining Pacific Fleet. American shipyards were churning out vessels to confront the Japanese Empire.

It would have been better if the fleets had remained divided, but during their separation, they had built up the Atlantic Fleet in anticipation of naval warfare against each other, making it quite substantial.

The Combined Fleet had to keep focusing on the Pacific side.

Ironically, Yamamoto Isoroku, who had executed the Pearl Harbor attack, had handed everything over to Nagumo Chuichi and continued advocating for peace.

“We’ve been underestimating America’s capabilities all this time.”

“They’re still just an untrained rabble, aren’t they? Maybe their army is a concern, but their navy has no way to defeat us.”

“The problem is that their fleets keep coming.”

“Those fellows are mass-producing fleets with their monstrous economic power, but eventually, as we keep destroying them, anti-war sentiment will emerge.”

Some were running incredible circuits of hope, but unfortunately, America was now obsessed with taking down Japan.

Above all, MacArthur’s authority had increased, and cities that had once been under KFC control were now actively cooperating in the war effort.

Meanwhile, Japan wasn’t exactly enjoying uninterrupted success either.

The longer the war dragged on, the more they struggled against China’s population advantage. They had also suffered losses in aerial combat due to engagements with the United States.

“While destroying American fleets, we’re also accumulating damage. Many elite pilots have died in the war against the Chinese, so I’m not sure how long we can maintain our advantage.”

“The most severe problem is ultimately resources. As the war drags on longer than expected, we’re facing critical resource shortages.”

With Europe entering the war, resource procurement had become difficult. The Sino-Japanese War had also turned so barbaric that Europe had banned resource exports to Japan.

“There’s no choice. Given the situation, we must devise a new strategy.”

“Do you have any good ideas?”

Okamura Yasuji, who in the original history would become Commander-in-Chief of the China Expeditionary Army in 1944, asked Tojo Hideki.

Tojo Hideki grinned at the question.

Good ideas? Of course there were good ideas.

He regretted not striking the American mainland when he had the chance, but now that things had come to this, they had to push forward to the end.

“I hear that a country called Turkey occupied Syria, a French territory, and despite protests from the French government-in-exile, they drove in their stakes, claiming they were occupying communist territory as a preventive measure, so it had nothing to do with the exiled government. Don’t we have French Indochina? If we obtain it, we can attack the Chinese from the south as well.”

What if they labeled French Indochina as communist territory and occupied it?

They would be fulfilling their duty as an Anti-Comintern Pact nation, and by riding Turkey’s coattails, how could France possibly object?

“Hmm. But would that alone solve our resource problems?”

That wouldn’t be enough.

Tojo Hideki pointed to Indonesia on the map.

“Of course not. So we’ll go further and target Dutch Indonesia, which now belongs only to a government-in-exile.”

Dutch Indonesia, in particular, was one of the regions that could be called a resource pipeline for the Allies.

Naturally, if they seized it, they could secure sufficient oil and other resource supplies.

“But isn’t that the colony of the Netherlands, which is Britain’s ally, even if it’s just a government-in-exile?”

“It’s also a place where German communists have planted their comrades. Wouldn’t it be reason enough to say we’re landing troops to eliminate communists?”

That should be sufficient.

Honestly, what could France do after losing its homeland? Could Britain, busy protecting its own islands, help?

I heard they haven’t even stabilized Algeria yet. So we’ll occupy Indochina under the pretext of protecting it. We can naturally take the Philippines since we’re already at war with America. And for Indonesia, we can use the logic that “there are communists there!”

‘Good heavens.’

Yamamoto Isoroku shuddered at the increasingly insane behavior of the Imperial Army.

Indochina might be somewhat justifiable—after all, Turkey had reclaimed Ottoman-era territories under the pretext that they were communist lands. One could forcibly rationalize landing Japanese troops there, but Indonesia? That was practically a declaration of war.

And shortly after…

“Why are the Japanese here!”

Due to the altered course of history, Georges Catroux, still the Governor-General of French Indochina, could only watch as Japanese forces entered Indochina under the pretext of eliminating potential communists. At the same time, they launched a massive invasion of Indochina and plundered all its resources.

And after this success, Japan…

“Britain lost an entire army in one battle and moved their entire fleet. What if we target British Malaya under the pretext of protecting it?”

…began to spiral further out of control.

# # #

Meanwhile, in an underground bunker in Berlin, Goebbels sat with his staff, his face contorted with frustration.

With Berlin reduced to wasteland by the J2 rockets that Russia kept launching to conserve pilots, they had no choice but to live in bunkers now.

“Comrade Secretary. I’m afraid you must evacuate.”

“Has the situation become that dire?”

How could things have gotten this bad?

“As if our struggles weren’t enough, the bombing of Cologne and Hamburg has disrupted our military production. The reactionary imperialists are coming in waves.”

Damn those British. With our army concentrated in the east, they pulled this stunt.

How could they do this?

Where did it all go wrong?

Goebbels could proudly proclaim that his plan had been perfect.

Even Britain, the greatest obstacle, was holed up on its island.

With them cowering in fear, resources had been plentiful.

“This is all because of that Mussolini fellow! He couldn’t even break through Austria, just expanded the front—what is this nonsense!”

Goebbels had anticipated some setbacks against Russia.

Although the Danube Federation was receiving Russian support, he believed that if Italy attacked from below, they would quickly collapse.

But what happened? Mussolini’s army was stopped by a mere handful of Austrian mountain divisions.

Austria was a country they absolutely needed to take, but the Sudetenland defense line was too powerful, and they failed.

If Russia had entered the war a little later, they could have broken through the Sudetenland. No, this was largely Mussolini’s fault.

Damn Mussolini. If only he had properly attacked from below. They could have ousted that man Hitler, who would now be celebrating in Vienna.

This is all Mussolini’s fault.

Hitler is truly insane, but Italy’s failure to do its part was significant.

“With the defeat at the Aegean Sea Battle, the Italian fleet was annihilated, and Russia has taken control of the Mediterranean.”

Now they’re losing naval battles too?

What exactly can Italy do? Their army loses. Their navy loses. Their air force isn’t even worth discussing. What are they trying to accomplish?

“Is there nothing they can do properly? Damn it. What about the French Commune’s fleet—”

“The French Commune’s fleet is only protecting their own territory. I hear the Baltic Fleet has also entered the Mediterranean and joined forces with them.”

Damn it. Has the entire Mediterranean fallen to the reactionaries?

With losses at sea and retreats on land, the future of the Red Front looks incredibly bleak.

“The Kaiser’s army is also growing as the Junkers join them.”

Yes, the remnants of the German Empire are formidable too.

We should have captured those people during the revolution, but now the Junkers are surrendering as the Kaiser’s Imperial German Army advances, so what more can be said?

“We must hold out as long as possible. If Berlin falls, this country will immediately fall into the hands of those reactionaries.”

“Comrade. We can’t trust anyone now. You must escape to the Commune.”

It’s time to evacuate quickly.

The Berlin headquarters staff urged Goebbels to flee, but he couldn’t easily leave.

“No. Even if I escape, I must hold out as long as possible before doing so. I cannot abandon the homeland. Would comrades abandon the people?”

“Of course not.”

Retreating now would mean the revolution fails.

No, beyond failure, the name Goebbels would go down in history as a coward who claimed to lead a world revolution but ran away.

But even in this situation, Goebbels’ mind was working rapidly.

He had a very bad feeling.

Didn’t they just say the Mediterranean was under enemy control? The problem isn’t just Germany.

If the German homeland falls, they would have to make a last stand in the Commune or Italy, but if Italy has lost control of the sea?

“No, wait a moment.”

“Comrade?”

Would Russia just sit idle after gaining control of the Mediterranean?

They would bombard every accessible Red Front nation.

Italy, in particular, had been performing poorly throughout.

What if—just hypothetically—Russia aimed to land troops in Italy? How would that play out?

Wouldn’t Italy fall too easily to an amphibious landing?

If that happens, the southern front would collapse too.

“The Russian Baltic Fleet has joined forces in the Mediterranean and gained sea control. This means… tell Comrade Mussolini to prepare coastal defenses!”

Surely Mussolini would know this already, but better to be safe than sorry.

“Yes, Comrade!”

The Red Front, which was supposed to achieve world revolution, is now threatened from all sides.

And it’s not by many countries, but primarily by Russia alone.

Of course, there are Austria and the Balkan states too, but without Russia, would things have gotten this bad?

It’s all Russia’s problem. Russia.

# # #

Communist Germany suffered massive bombings in Cologne and Hamburg.

These bombings caused tremendous damage to Communist Germany’s military supply production.

If Communist Germany were still holding its ground, they might recover, but unfortunately, they’re already on the defensive when they suffered this damage.

“Oh, Britain is actually doing some work.”

Britain did its job properly.

They didn’t just strike from behind. They used bomber squadrons to inflict massive damage on German production facilities.

This further weakened Communist Germany’s already difficult situation. Now they’ll collapse before they can recover.

“Hahaha! The British are trying to prove their worth somehow.”

Semyonov, drunk on national pride, thoroughly mocked Britain’s actions.

“To think that mighty Britain has been reduced to this.”

Yes, well, now they’re just trying to secure victory somehow. That must be their thinking.

We can certainly help them with that much.

Anyway, it’s pitiful to see them wagging their tails so desperately to join the ranks of the victors.

“But there’s one problem with the British approach.”

“One problem? What is it?”

“While attacking enemy industrial facilities, the British bomber squadrons also killed civilians.”

Well, that happened in the original history too.

The Americans used precision bombing to specifically target German war capabilities, but British bombing was indiscriminate, killing many civilians.

Even within the Allied forces, the British Air Force was known for its brutality.

And the man who commanded this British Air Force was Arthur Harris.

“Is the Air Marshal in charge Arthur Harris by any chance?”

“You know him well. Churchill has publicly quoted Your Majesty, declaring that all communists are disgusting vermin and shouldn’t be spared even if they’re civilians. He’s redirecting British anger toward external enemies.”

Impressive. Churchill was famous for deflection in the original history too.

Using anger against Germany—that’s very Churchill-like.

Even after evolving into “Mr. Dunkirk,” he maintains his position because, ultimately, Britain can’t function without him.

“How are the British people reacting?”

“The British people’s anger toward Germans is so intense that they’re actually cheering the bombing results.”

“Hmm. Churchill is somehow managing to direct British attention outward.”

If that’s the case, British anti-communist sentiment must be quite severe.

I’m not thrilled about him quoting me, though.

Churchill’s anger toward France is also noteworthy.

“However, there’s now a disruption in the Allied resource supply.”

“Why? The Red Front shouldn’t be able to operate outside Europe right now.”

Did Britain pull all their transport ships back to the mainland?

Or is there another variable elsewhere?

“Your Majesty, Japan has stationed troops in French Indochina under the pretext of capturing southern communists. They’ve also attacked Dutch Indonesia.”

“Hahaha. Your Majesty, those Japanese seem to have completely lost their minds.”

Wait, did I hear that correctly? What did you say? They touched Dutch Indonesia?

Is this really serious? This is concerning.

“They’ve lost their minds.”

To do such a thing while fighting America?

Of course, they wouldn’t have another opportunity, but still. How do they plan to handle the consequences of such reckless behavior?

It’s the same as in the original history, but they’re in the Anti-Comintern Pact—how can they attack an ally’s colony?

Can Japan handle what happens as soon as the European war ends?