In just half an hour, the sea was littered with shattered timber and the bodies of fallen island sailors. Under the relentless assault of the German Navy's expeditionary fleet, the merchant ships had met a tragic fate, all of them sunk without a single one escaping.
"General, the task has been completed," reported Rear Admiral Mao Fu to Vice Admiral Spee.
Throughout the massacre of the island nation's merchant vessels by the German destroyers, Vice Admiral Spee had remained an indifferent observer, his heart seemingly turned to stone.
"Order the fleet to continue north. We will press on all the way to Tokyo!" Vice Admiral Spee commanded, intending to provoke a decisive confrontation by forcing the island's navy to sortie.
"Yes, General," Rear Admiral Mao Fu nodded in acknowledgment.
The German fleet proceeded along the coastline of the island nation, sinking any merchant or fishing vessel it encountered. After making a loop through the Bungo Channel, the fleet did not enter the Seto Inland Sea but instead continued northward along Tosa Bay. The Seto Inland Sea, though the economic and industrial heart of the island nation, was narrow and shallow, making it an ideal location for the island's navy to lay mines and set traps. The German expeditionary fleet would incur heavy losses if they entered recklessly.
Vice Admiral Spee, well-versed in the geography of the Far East, resisted the temptation to venture into the Seto Inland Sea, instead directing the fleet further north. His resolve was firm: should the island's navy continue to hide, he would order bombardments of coastal cities, inflicting unimaginable damage on the island nation.
"What should we do? What can we do now? Damn those Germans; they are so barbaric! Over a hundred merchant and fishing ships have already been sunk in these past few days. The cabinet is in complete disarray," sighed Admiral Yatsuda Rokuro, the island's Navy Minister.
"The Germans are truly ruthless! Their actions are clearly intended to force us into a showdown. If we go out to battle them, it will play directly into their hands," Admiral Island Village Sokuo said.
"But how should we respond to the cabinet? That fool Okajima Zenosuke keeps hopping around, urging us to fight to the death with the Germans. The army won't rest until they've pushed us to the brink. Don't they understand that if the navy is destroyed by the Germans, it will spell disaster for the Empire?" grumbled Admiral Ijuin Gorou, his face dark with frustration. The actions of the German expeditionary fleet were putting immense pressure on him as the commander of the Combined Fleet.
"Whatever happens, we must not engage the Germans at sea. That would be disastrous for us! Our current strength is insufficient to face them head-on. If we fight, we will be crushed," Admiral Island Village Sokuo insisted.
"Indeed, if the Combined Fleet faces the Germans in a decisive battle, we have no chance of victory. The only possible outcome is total annihilation at their hands," Admiral Ijuin Gorou said, his tone somber.
There was no denying it: the performance of their warships paled in comparison to the Germans, and their sailors were far less capable. What chance did they have?
"Alright, I'll do my best to handle the cabinet. If worse comes to worst, we'll have to keep the merchant and fishing vessels in port as much as possible. Damn the Germans, we will make them pay for this one day!" Admiral Yatsuda Rokuro cursed.
Faced with the German fleet's relentless slaughter, the island nation had no choice but to order merchant and fishing vessels to remain in port. But while merchant ships could hide safely, the fishermen had no such luxury. If they didn't go out to fish, their families would starve.
As the German Navy continued north along the coastline, the number of sunk merchant and fishing vessels rose. The island's coastal regions were in a state of panic, with rumors and fear running rampant. Wealthy families even fled to the countryside to escape the chaos.
Outraged citizens surrounded the cabinet and Navy Ministry, accusing them of allowing the Germans to wreak havoc while doing nothing in retaliation. This created immense pressure on the government and navy, with even lower-ranking officers expressing discontent. After all, the island had long had a tradition of toppling the powerful from the bottom up.
These angry citizens seemed to have forgotten the excitement they once felt when the island nation was expanding its territory so aggressively to the east. Back then, they had cheered, believing better days were just around the corner. But now, disaster had arrived before they could taste the fruits of their expansion.
"Yatsuda, listen to the fury of the people outside. If this continues, they'll be storming the Prime Minister's office soon. At that point, my only recourse will be to apologize to His Majesty the Emperor and resign. There will be no other option," Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu said, his face ashen.
Admiral Yatsuda Rokuro's expression was equally grim. He could clearly hear the shouts from outside, calling for the destruction of the traitorous government. These men, who had been serving the country with all their hearts, were now being labeled as traitors—such a travesty!
"Prime Minister, the Germans are doing this to force us into a battle at sea. But the Combined Fleet stands no chance against them. If we venture out to fight, we will suffer a catastrophic defeat! There's even the risk of the entire fleet being annihilated. If that happens, all our efforts over the years will have been in vain. Without the navy's support, the army will be confined to the home islands," Admiral Yatsuda Rokuro warned.
"I understand what you're saying, Yatsuda. But the pressure from the government is overwhelming," sighed Prime Minister Okuma. He was not short-sighted and knew what needed to be done, but the immense pressure was causing him to lose his composure.
"Prime Minister, for the future of the Empire, I implore you to be patient a little longer!" Admiral Yatsuda Rokuro bowed deeply to Prime Minister Okuma.
"Very well, Yatsuda. I will do my best to calm the people. But you must also think of ways to resolve this. If the situation worsens further, the consequences will be dire. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold them off much longer. The Germans are advancing toward Tokyo, and time is running out," Prime Minister Okuma said with a heavy heart.
"Understood, Prime Minister," Admiral Yatsuda Rokuro nodded.