On January 14, almost all newspapers published in Japan published the same photo, and it was also the headline.

This is a picture of a sinking warship. In black and white, it looks a bit miserable.

There were no flags on the warship, and no ship number could be seen. The text beside it in newspapers and periodicals read: The South China Navy warship is sinking.

The top of the newspaper read in the largest bold letters: "Great victory, the Imperial Navy defeated the South China Navy..."

After the newspaper was published on January 14, the whole country in Japan was in an uproar, and enthusiasm for the war increased sharply.

Many people immediately went to the recruitment office to become a glorious Army Red Deer or a trainee sailor.

More people are already looking forward to the days after victory. How much territory can they get from South China? China has also participated. Can it expand the scope of the colony? Wait.

Most Japanese people are optimistic that peace is coming. Of course, this is limited to Japanese civilians and ordinary people who have no experience.

Anyone with certain channels of information knows that the Japanese Navy did not encounter the main fleet of the Nanhua Navy this time, but it still caused many injuries.

"Fortunately, the transportation mission was successfully completed. Even the loss of some warships was worth it." Youpeng from Shan County drank tea slowly.

"Hai! God bless Japan. The break-up fleet sent by Nanhua has discovered the transport ship, but its fleet is immersed in the entanglement with the escorting warships. The transport fleet is safe and sound." Kato Yusaburo nodded happily.

At the same time that fighting broke out in the northwest of Ryukyu, there was also fighting in the northeast of Japan, between the Nanhua break-up fleet and the Japanese escort fleet.

Their battle was much more intense than the battle in northwest Ryukyu. On Nanhua's side, a Java-class battleship led by several destroyers faced off against Kongo-class ships No. 3 and 4, Haruna and Kirishima.

The Java-class has high speed, thick armor, and nine 356mm 50-caliber cannons, so it can still be defeated even if it is one against two.

If they really wanted to fight, the Java could use its performance advantage to kill both of them. However, after the Haruna was moderately damaged and the Kirishima caught fire, the Java retreated.

From the Japanese point of view, the departure of the Java was very difficult to understand, but it did not affect them from considering it a "victory".

"After this batch of materials returns to China, military production must catch up as soon as possible. We will not be able to achieve absolute victory at sea no matter what, and continued war is meaningless."

"The navy's current first task is to preserve its strength and prevent the enemy from landing. After the enemy lands, it destroys its logistics supply lines, rather than fighting head-on."

Shanxian spoke softly in a gentle and unquestionable tone.

"Hai!" Kato Yusaburo lowered his head unwillingly.

They all know that no matter how the war is fought on the battlefield, Japan has already lost, unless Japan can push back.

Otherwise, as long as Nanhua continues to impose a blockade on Japan, not a near-shore blockade, but a long-range blockade, it will be difficult for Japan to make a comeback.

As for how to blockade it? Nanhua's territory stretches from Malacca to Hawaii and can easily cut off Japan's external routes.

Even if Nanhua lost its naval capital ships, Japan would not be able to win the war.

The most important Southeast Asian route, the sea area south of Ryukyu is beyond the reach of the Japanese, but it is also within the sphere of influence of Nanhua or China.

At the beginning of the war, Nanhua destroyers frequently appeared in the South China Sea and prohibited the movement of all Japanese ships.

Hire foreign cargo ships? Save it, a war broke out in Europe, ships were very nervous at this time, and pirates were rampant.

Hiring a ship is difficult to come by, even if you pay a high price.

As for going south to attack Borneo, the core hinterland of Nanhua? The Nanhua Navy has more than 300 battleships, of which there are only seven main battleships, a dozen cruisers, and the rest are destroyers.

The waters of the archipelago are densely covered with islands. If you rush in rashly, a destroyer will appear and conduct a lightning strike. I don’t know how much victory you can gain.

Not to mention the torpedo boat troops in Nanhua that were as dense as flies.

In short, the cost-effectiveness of attacking Nanhua is very low, but it is impossible without attacking Nanhua. Nanhua will block Japan's trade routes.

Therefore, the army's plan for a decisive battle on the mainland has been recognized by most people. It will drag on the war until Nanhua can no longer bear it and end the war in an honorable manner.

As for why they didn't surrender directly? It wasn't because they didn't want to lose face, but because Nanhua refused to accept negotiations on the grounds of being attacked by a surprise attack, which meant that it refused the Japanese to surrender.

Japan had no choice but to resort to the decisive battle on the mainland.

…

"Considering a sunken warship on the rocks as an achievement, publicizing it widely, it is really... a meeting of lost imperial soldiers!" Saburo Shutori's face turned red, holding a wine glass in his hand.

"Captain, you are drunk. Go back and rest. You are drunk..." The first mate pulled him over nervously.

This was a private gathering. Although the damage to the Settsu was minor, it still needed to be lined up for repairs. This gap period was the vacation for the crew of the Settsu.

Taking advantage of his vacation, Shutori Saburo wanted to exchange feelings with his loyal first mate. Unexpectedly, the more he drank, the more he wanted to drink. After three rounds of drinking, he had not even picked up the dishes.

Not surprisingly, he was drunk.

"I'm not drunk! I just want to say it!" Saburo Shutori stood up.

"Mama-san, I've booked several rooms around here. I don't want anyone who shouldn't show up. Do you understand?" The first mate had no choice but to open the door and shout to Mama-san.

"Guest?! I understand. Free up these rooms and don't allow anyone to come near." Mama-san wanted to shirk, but the first mate took out a wad of bills from his pocket.

The first officer, a senior naval officer and a very wealthy man, directly gave Mamasan reasons that he could not refuse.

"The Settsu is positioned to perform escort missions in the north."

"The Settsu's main gun cannot fire a full salvo. The eight guns are not indispensable. The best choice is to go to the north to cover the army's attack."

"Xiang, I am not a coward who is afraid of death, but this tactic is completely meaningless. Let's fight decisively, or we can avoid the battle and use the Settsu as cannon fodder. What do you mean?"

Shutori Saburo drunkenly expressed his dissatisfaction.

He was dissatisfied with Japan's strategy of neither attacking nor retreating on defense, and turning a blind eye to Nanhua's tactics of breaking diplomatic relations.

"Captain, you are drunk, let's go back first." The first mate was very scared.

These are not things you can say casually. Wouldn’t this be causing trouble for yourself?

"Xiao, that glorious Imperial Navy has fallen and is gone. I have a hunch that she will never come back, and Japan will never have a glorious navy again."

"Xiang! If such a day comes, please let me die on the ship and go to heaven with the glorious navy..."

Saburo Shutori cried like a ghost and howled like a wolf. After saying this, he lay down on the ground and continued to shed tears even as he fell asleep.

"Shutori-kun, do you think so?"

"Don't worry, I will do it!"

"The kingdom of heaven..."
Chapter completed!