Looking at the expectant eyes before him, Zhao Xiang felt only helplessness. After today, China's two-year period of ultra-high-speed growth would end, and its position as king would face challenges from other powers. Even so, China could not escape.
"Everyone..." Zhao Xiang's simple greeting focused everyone's attention, though it seemed somewhat redundant; at this moment, not a single person wasn't staring at him.
He glanced down at the ten-page speech manuscript in his hand and sighed deeply. Folding the manuscript in half, he placed it on the podium.
"We prepared for this speech for a long time..." he said, showing the manuscript briefly, "But standing here, I realize it's all laughable. Regarding Japan, we have always been preparing for battle, starting from the moment they signed the surrender agreement. Since the lessons of World War II haven't dispelled its evil intentions, China has the responsibility to make them realize their mistake."
Standing tall, Zhao Xiang gripped the edge of the podium firmly: "I now declare on behalf of China: as long as Japan dares to invade even an inch of another country's land, China will declare all-out war against Japan, and will absolutely not accept any surrender agreement! We will fight until the Japanese government collapses! Today's press conference ends here!"
Another short speech, China had stated its national stance. This was China's clearest statement in decades. China changed its moderate policy, declaring loudly for the first time: "I am not afraid of war!"
This speech elicited unprecedented reactions in both South Korea and Japan. The South Korean government received clear support from China, and their desire for battle surged even higher. Japan, however, presented a different picture. The Diet hall erupted in chaos; those opposing the war almost ousted Shinta from power. Looking at the chaotic scene, Shinta felt an urge to laugh. Pondering for a moment, when did Japan become a country that would fall into internal strife over another country's speech? The noble spirit of Bushido was abandoned; the desire for money had surpassed the reverence for the nation. Fear of death, hedonism, hypocrisy, selfishness, greed – these emotions had corroded the great Yamato military spirit.
Ryuichi, watching from the side, though having predicted the outcome, still clenched his paper fan tightly in anger seeing the true nature of the people leading Japan.
"Everyone stop!" With a loud gunshot, Ryuichi finally couldn't bear it anymore.
The noisy Diet hall fell silent. "You have all shamed your ancestors! When did our Yamato people ever fear battle? Look at post-WWII Japan, didn't we rise strong again from the ruins? The Yamato people are the superior race chosen by God, yet we are forced to squeeze onto a narrow piece of land. While those countries that can't even afford bread can bury their dead in the soil? This is mocking us! Whether you agree or disagree, aggression, we will definitely fight!"
The crowd below became noisy again. Ryuichi's inspiring words couldn't overcome the terror brought by the threat of China's SEED.
Angrily pressing a button, the Diet hall doors were forced open. Large numbers of armed soldiers quickly surrounded the venue, raising their gun muzzles and firing into the air. The crowd fell silent once more.
"Listen!" Ryuichi stepped forward. "Japan's plan for aggression was formulated by the Emperor a hundred years ago. This is the only path for Japan's development; no one can stop it. You just quietly accept your bribes, play with your women. We will handle the fighting ourselves. Anyone who still has objections will be killed on the spot! There are too many replacements for trash like you. Those who are smart, quietly exit now!"
Ryuichi's expression showed he wasn't joking. Commanders of all national military units were his students from earlier years. Resisting was impossible; they lacked even the strength to speak. The parliament members lined up neatly and left sequentially, each constantly wiping cold sweat from their foreheads.
The Diet session concluded with a result: unanimous approval to continue the aggression plan, with no one "opposing."
The great war was about to erupt.
Meanwhile, in China, things weren't as calm as imagined. Zhao Xiang sought out Adam countless times, but he avoided him, citing serious illness. Zhao Xiang's unease grew heavier. A terrifying thought lingered in his mind: "Adam wants to sabotage during the war!"
If this were true, China would face internal worries and external threats simultaneously, an extremely difficult situation. However, Adam commanded China's iron-blooded soldiers. If an order was truly given and Adam refused to execute it, he wouldn't be able to command respect.
Worry aside, time continued to pass.
June 15, 2013. Regardless of perspective, the gears of history turned to the moment of war outbreak.
This was inevitable history.
In the waters off South Korea, the defensive fleet finally sighted the Japanese fleet. Cannons adjusted, ammunition loaded. Soldiers awaited the enemy entering firing range. But something strange happened: the Japanese fleet halted its advance. Just as the soldiers were puzzled, a pale yellow mist drifted over, blown by the wind towards the Korean coastline. The silent battle began!
After the South Korean combat command received news from the frontline fleet that the Japanese ships had stopped, they received no further messages, as if the entire fleet had suddenly vanished from Earth. Yet, satellite images showed the fleet intact and unharmed. The Japanese fleet weighed anchor again. They entered firing range, but the Korean side showed no reaction. The atmosphere in the command post grew heavy. And the commander made the gravest mistake: Deploy the submarine force! Absolutely cannot let the Japanese fleet land easily!
As seventeen conventional submarines and forty-five attack submarines quietly approached the Japanese fleet, two aircraft carriers in the Japanese fleet dropped numerous square iron boxes into the sea and stopped again.
The iron boxes falling into the water sank calmly. Suddenly, immense force pierced the box surfaces. Bubbles rushed out rapidly like escaped convicts finding an exit. In the dim seawater, red bright spots shone through the holes, gradually increasing. The seabed was enveloped in a terrifying patch of red.
The command post received reports from the submarine force: already within firing range, ready to attack the Japanese fleet. But many unidentified signals appeared on radar, presumed to be Japanese jamming weapons. The initial attack might be ineffective. They requested confirmation to continue firing.
Without thinking, the commander issued the attack order. All torpedo tubes on the submarines opened fire. At this moment, something terrifying happened. The bright spots, thought to be jamming signals, swarmed the submarine hulls. After violent tremors, the captains realized the situation was dire. All submarines pressed the fire button, but the torpedoes exploded within the launch tubes; not a single one flew towards the Japanese fleet. Intense explosions caused the submarines to flood one after another. The bright spots launched their attack. Soldiers inside the submarines could clearly hear the sound of the outer steel plates being cut open. Fear gripped everyone's heart.
The entire South Korean submarine force was destroyed within three minutes. They didn't even know what attacked them.
On the coastal defense line, the defending Fifth Army Formation stood ready. But not a single Japanese soldier was seen. Instead, a pale yellow mist enveloped the entire defense line. Soldiers strangely felt dizzy. Touching under their noses, they found nosebleeds flowing unconsciously. Only then did everyone realize the mist was poisonous. They frantically scrambled for the limited gas masks and retreated! Five minutes later, all soldiers vomited blood and collapsed on the defense line. Those wearing masks met the same fate. All resistance was as futile as facing the Grim Reaper's scythe.
The wind saved pitiful South Korea, dispersing the poisonous mist into the air. But still, thirty thousand soldiers died from the Japanese poison gas. Scanning the sturdy defense line, there were no signs of life left. On the beach, dense red bright spots emerged from the water surface.
Thus, Japan officially landed on South Korean territory, truly achieving the zero-casualty warfare America had always pursued. But the price was: before actual contact, the entire South Korean defensive fleet was captured, all soldiers aboard died from poison gas; the underwater submarine force was annihilated, no survivors, cause of death unknown; the coastal defense force was wiped out, thirty thousand soldiers died from poison gas.
This landing operation set an insurmountable record in history, a record written in blood.
Taking two hours, Japan occupied the South Korean coastal city of Busan, began establishing a forward combat command post, and transported large amounts of troops and supplies. To consolidate, Japan paused attacks on surrounding cities. South Korea, due to the unknown poison gas, established defenses ten kilometers outside Busan on one hand, and intensified research on the type of poison gas used by Japan on the other, striving to find defensive countermeasures before Japan launched a new round of attacks.
The reaction within Japan was unprecedented. The glorious military achievement showed the arrogant populace the bright path to kingship. Anti-war parliament members suddenly switched sides, massively supplying the Japanese army's needs and actively encouraging public support for Japan's path of aggression. For a time, a fervor for joining the army swept the nation, and celebration activities followed one after another. The moment Japan landed in Busan, they violated Zhao Xiang's prior declaration. Chinese nationals in Japan returned home one after another. Some traitors who sided with Japan received punishment on June 18th.
A cleansing campaign, secretly supported by the national government, erupted. The slogan was "Revenge!", revenge for the compatriots sacrificed in South Korea.
Japanese youth picked up sharp samurai swords, hunting down South Koreans and Chinese who hadn't evacuated in time. The slaughter resembled the actions of the Japanese army during WWII. Screams echoed from every city, every corner.
Blood stained the streets of Japan but truly enraged the people of both nations. If killing Koreans was called revenge, there was no justification for the deaths of innocent Chinese. The Japanese government's statement claimed ignorance of this action, stating it was entirely organized spontaneously by the populace, and the government was actively investigating. The killed Chinese were possibly mistaken for Koreans. Chinese nationals still in Japan were advised to find ways to identify themselves, such as wearing badges saying "I am Shina-jin (derogatory term for Chinese)," to avoid unnecessary sacrifice.
On the evening of June 18th, China officially responded, making a statement to the entire world...