For a full three small eras, Togo Heijiurō had been frowning, his eyes fixed on the Emerald Island military strength survey report in his hand.
After a long time, all the sorrow on his face turned into a long sigh.
After carefully comparing the strength of his own fleet with the military strength of Emerald Island and taking all possible consequences into consideration, Heijiurō Togo finally came to a result that was almost unacceptable.
However, this was the fact and he had no choice but to accept it.
With a slightly nervous mood, Heijiurang Togo picked up the communicator beside him and answered the call from the Prime Minister of Japan.
After reporting his final conclusion to the prime minister who promoted him, the other side fell into silence for a long time.
…
after one day.
Tokyo, inside the National Diet Building.
A few powerful figures in Japan's political circles and the military held a secret meeting here to discuss mainly how to deal with this confrontation.
After the meeting started, representatives from both the hawkish and dovish factions began a lengthy debate, as they had done in previous meetings, and there seemed to be no intention of compromising with each other.
In particular, the hawkish congressmen had a strong desire to send troops to the Emerald Isle.
In fact, these days, hawkish representatives have not only been lobbying everywhere in the political and military circles, but have also privately instigated the public and spread the threat theory of the Emerald Island everywhere, intending to take this opportunity to make a big deal out of the matter.
Therefore, even though this was considered the final meeting where a decision would be made, they were unwilling to make any compromises and were very resolute in their attitude.
When the meeting was halfway through and was about to end in unpleasantness, the Japanese Prime Minister, who was sitting in the main seat, frowned slightly, then looked at Togo Heijuro who remained silent and gave him a look.
Seeing the Prime Minister's look, Togo Heijiurō realized that it was time for him to step forward.
So, in the surprised eyes of the congressmen present, Togo Heijiurō took out several documents and distributed them to the senior political and military figures present, asking them to look at them carefully.
The next period of time is a long wait.
After receiving the document, the senior officials present began to read it carefully. However, what was surprising was that there was a long period of silence, as if the entire venue was frozen.
Everyone's eyes were deeply attracted by the contents of the document and they could hardly move their gazes away.
The content of this confidential document is the military strength report of Emerald Island!
After a long time.
"This... This is impossible... How can this..."
A well-known politician with a mustache and an old face pointed at the contents of the document with a trembling finger and said with an expression of disbelief in his eyes.
At this moment, he was so excited that he could hardly speak clearly.
Obviously, the report on Emerald Island's military strength in the document shocked him.
"Baga, how could Emerald Island have such a powerful military force? This is sheer nonsense, complete nonsense!" Another famous hawkish figure, with an angry expression on his face, slammed the document on the table and said.
"Aida-kun, this investigation report was collected by the Defense Agency Intelligence Headquarters. It is definitely not tampered with at random. Please treat it with caution."
Togo Heijuro, who was standing by, looked at Aida Sekino who was in a rage and said seriously.
It can be said that Togo Heijuro was very disgusted with these almost brainless hawkish figures in his heart, but there was nothing he could do. His eastward movements in recent years still greatly needed the support of these people, so he had no choice. He did not dare to directly confront these people and could only reply in an admonishing tone.
"General Togo, you have the most powerful fleet of our Great Japanese Empire under your command. In your opinion, what are our chances of winning if we go to war with the fleet of Emerald Island?"
At this time, another mature and steady hawkish leader asked Togo Heikuro.
Compared with other hawkish figures, this leader is obviously very clear-headed. He knows that now is not the time to question blindly, but to first figure out the power comparison between the two sides.
“Fifty percent!”
Togo Heijuro spoke without hesitation.
Togo Heijuro had been thinking about this matter for a long time, so there was nothing to think about and he just stated the conclusion he had already reached.
"boom!"
As soon as Togo Heijuro finished speaking, the entire venue was in an uproar.
To be honest, although they were shocked when they first saw the Emerald Island military strength investigation report, they were still somewhat skeptical, so they did not overreact.
However, when the commander who had the most effective control over the Japanese fleet said the same conclusion, they could no longer sit still!
Because this probably means that they are likely to find it difficult to take over the Emerald Island, which has always been despised.
"How is this possible? It has only been two years since Emerald Island was unveiled to the world. Could it be that this island master Jiang really has the ability to go to heaven and earth to build such a powerful fleet in such a short time?"
"That said, this is just too unbelievable!"
"So what should we do now? The warships have already entered a stalemate with the enemy?"
"For a great Japanese empire, it is too shameful that it cannot even take a small island!"
"If Emerald Island cannot bear the consequences of this incident, Japan will be humiliated in front of the world!"
…
In an instant, all the members of the conference room expressed their opinions.
There was a deep sense of sadness on everyone's face.
Obviously, this result is unacceptable in any case, but due to the opponent's strong strength, the decision to counterattack cannot be made immediately.
Faced with the meeting full of discussions and the depressing atmosphere, the Prime Minister and Togo Heijiro sitting in the main seat could only look at each other helplessly, but there was nothing they could do.
However, the meeting must continue, and a final solution must be come up with.
…
This top-level military and political meeting finally came to an end after lasting nearly seven hours.
After the meeting, when the door of the venue opened, all the high-level leaders who participated in the meeting came out one by one like eggplants hit by frost.
The expressions on everyone's faces were extremely ugly.
Finally, Heijuro Togo walked out of the meeting with a final decision in his hand. However, at this moment, he felt that the report in his hand was very heavy and he seemed unable to bear it.
(End of this chapter)