The island nation has been temporarily brought to its knees. Although there will surely be a decisive battle with them in the future, at least for the time being, they will remain subdued. Qin Tian stood in his office, gazing at the world map hanging on the wall.
Now, his greatest pleasure was studying the map. It seemed to change daily, as Germany's sphere of influence continued to expand.
With the defeat of the island nation, Germany could reclaim all its colonies in the Pacific. Though these colonies were mostly barren islands, their geographical importance was undeniable. By controlling these islands, Germany could anchor countless strategic points in the Pacific. Coupled with future air force or naval aviation, this would allow Germany to establish a defensive line in the Pacific, not only against the island nation but also against the United States.
"The islanders didn't manage to occupy Southeast Asia this time. In fact, they suffered heavy losses. However, they certainly won't accept this defeat quietly. Our victory has only stoked their hatred. They will likely begin to nurse their grudges, and next time, we may face an even stronger enemy!" Qin Tian muttered to himself.
His understanding of the islanders surpassed that of anyone else. It was precisely because of this insight that he was certain they had now marked Germany as their irreconcilable enemy. In the future, the two nations would undoubtedly clash once more. With the United States wholeheartedly supporting the island nation, their strength would recover quickly, making the eventual conflict even more formidable.
However, Qin Tian firmly believed that in the end, it would still be Germany that emerged victorious. With someone like Qin Tian, who served as a kind of cheat code, as long as Germany avoided missteps, their strength would only grow. With continuous technological advancements, their weaponry would evolve, and Germany's military might would grow ever stronger. The distance that once hindered their military power would grow insignificant. By then, defeating or even annihilating the island nation would no longer be a difficult task.
"For now, we can disregard the island nation. Even if they are plotting revenge, they will need time to rebuild their strength. The current priority remains the British. Until we deal with the British, this world war will not come to an end," Qin Tian remarked. He had many plans to initiate, but they all depended on the war being concluded first. Thus, defeating Britain and ending the war became the most pressing task.
Yet, although the British were now holed up in their islands, defeating them would not be so simple. Launching an invasion across the narrow English Channel would be a first for the German Empire. Even with the most powerful navy, army, and air force in the world, the few dozen kilometers of the Channel still posed a considerable obstacle to their operations.
Without the Channel as a barrier, with Germany's military strength, Britain would have been annihilated long ago, sparing the empire the trouble of such a complex undertaking.
It was precisely this natural barrier that had allowed the British to act as Europe's troublemakers without fear of reprisal. As long as they maintained a powerful navy to defend the Channel, their homeland remained secure. For centuries, the British had relied on this method. But now, that strategy no longer worked. Their once-proud navy had been nearly obliterated by Germany's forces. Soon, Germany's world-leading army would be launching an invasion on their shores. Under these circumstances, it was nearly impossible for the British to continue resisting in this war.
"The British still hope to resist. Perhaps it is because they cannot let go of the glory of the British Empire," Qin Tian said with a smile.
Qin Tian knew all too well the pride of the British, who had ruled the world for centuries. They held their heads high, refusing to bow, even after their once-proud fleet had been destroyed. They still clung to their sense of nobility.
Before their rise, the British Empire had not been remarkable. In their struggle for maritime dominance against Spain, they used every tactic at their disposal, even disguising warships as pirates to openly raid Spanish vessels.
Of course, in those times, all nations resorted to such methods. But the British, evidently, were the most shameless, which is why they defeated Spain, overtaking them as the new maritime power, and subsequently defeated several other nations to secure their dominance.
"Regardless, Britain can no longer continue to exist. Once Britain is defeated, not only will we reclaim its colonies, but its homeland must also be fragmented into several nations. Only then will the Empire have no concerns along the eastern Atlantic coast," Qin Tian declared.
The British Empire's global dominance was supported by its vast and prosperous colonies. Without them, Britain could not have sustained such a powerful Royal Navy. When Germany first began competing with Britain in the naval arms race, Britain's pre-dreadnought fleet was more than twice the size of Germany's. Without its colonies, Britain could never have supported such a large navy.
Moreover, as long as Britain remained unified, it would always pose a threat to Germany. When the future battle for dominance with the United States began, the Atlantic would undoubtedly be the primary battleground. Qin Tian did not wish for the British Isles to serve as a springboard for American forces to invade the European continent.
Thus, after defeating Britain, Qin Tian hoped to see the country fragmented into several nations, making it easier for Germany to control.
For example, the Irish had long struggled for independence, and Germany had always supported them. Now was the perfect moment to grant them independence and allow them to become a sovereign nation.
The Scots were similarly restless, and if given the chance, they would likely abandon the English and choose independence.
As for England and Wales, splitting them into two separate countries might be more difficult, but Qin Tian planned to try once Britain was defeated. By disbanding the British state, Britain would no longer pose any threat to the German Empire.