The most vital regions of Britain were undoubtedly England and Wales, while Scotland and Ireland, in reality, held far less significance. Even without these two territories, England and Wales, with a population of thirty-six million, would still stand as one of the greatest powers of the era.
To prevent the resurgence of England and Wales, which could once again pose a threat to Germany's security and interests, Qin Tian understood that he must find a way to weaken their strength as much as possible. Otherwise, should war break out between Germany and the United States in the future, the British Isles could very well become a ticking time bomb.
Qin Tian's strategy was to use Ireland and Scotland as counterweights, seeking to suppress the military power of England and Wales, while simultaneously bolstering the military strength of Ireland and Scotland. By creating an imbalance of forces, England and Wales would face insurmountable difficulties in conquering these newly-empowered nations. Thus, Germany could assert control over the entire British Isles at minimal cost.
"We may not yet have concluded all military actions on the British Isles," Qin Tian declared, "but the subsequent arrangements can now begin. Let us aim to establish three separate nations on the British Isles before Christmas."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" came the unified response.
Germany's military campaign on the Isles had been extraordinarily smooth. With the British forces utterly incapable of mounting an effective resistance, surrendering in droves, the German forces advanced with ease, as if on a leisurely expedition. Wherever they went, British soldiers capitulated without a fight, and those few who dared to resist were swiftly crushed by German firepower, their fate serving as a dire warning to anyone else considering opposition.
Although the fall of the British Empire was a painful blow to many in Britain, the preservation of one's own life naturally took precedence. After all, if the mighty British Empire could collapse under Germany's onslaught, what hope did the individual have? Facing reality became the most important thing for the British people.
In less than a month after the Battle of London, German forces had conquered the entire British Isles. With only the 2nd Army Corps remaining in Britain, the other three corps began their gradual withdrawal. The logistical burden of maintaining such a large military presence in the Isles had become immense, and the troops, exhausted from years of warfare, longed for the respite of their homeland.
As the German forces pulled out, the German government began to strengthen its influence over the Isles in preparation for the next phase.
On the island of Ireland, the Sinn Féin and Irish Republican Brotherhood united to form the Irish Republic. Patrick Pearse, leader of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, became the President of the Irish Republic, while Griffith, the head of Sinn Féin, took office as the Prime Minister.
The first official act of the Irish Republic was to sign an alliance treaty, joining the Allied Powers. They also signed a military cooperation agreement with Germany, which agreed to assist in establishing an army of 150,000 men for Ireland. This force, which included the army, navy, and air force—though the army was the principal branch—comprised six infantry divisions and two armored brigades. For a nation of just over four million people, this was a considerable military force. At Germany's insistence, half of the Irish forces would be stationed in Wales and England, helping German forces maintain stability in those regions.
Germany's reasoning behind this was clear: they sought to use the Irish to suppress the English. There were many actions that Germany, concerned with its image, could not afford to take. But the Irish, long oppressed by the English, could carry out such measures without hesitation. After centuries of mistreatment, the Irish were eager for retribution and bore no moral hesitation in their pursuit.
Shortly thereafter, Scotland, under Germany's support, also declared itself a republic. Charles, the local political leader, became the president of the Scottish Republic. In truth, the Scottish Republic was little more than a puppet state, entirely under Germany's influence.
Scotland, like Ireland, joined the Allies and began rapidly strengthening its military capabilities with German assistance. They, too, established an army of 150,000, including land, sea, and air forces. The army, with six infantry divisions and two armored brigades, mirrored Ireland's military structure. Half of these forces were also stationed in England and Wales, assisting the German 2nd Army Corps in maintaining order. Without this assistance, controlling such a vast territory with a single army corps, especially given that the 2nd Army had only twenty thousand troops, would have been impossible. If Britain's forces, with their overwhelming numbers, were to engage in a war of attrition, the 2nd Army Corps would surely be overwhelmed.
Finally, after losing Ireland and Scotland, England and Wales formed the United Kingdom of England and Wales. The title of King was bestowed upon Prince Arthur, the youngest son of Queen Victoria.
At sixty-five years of age, Prince Arthur's luck had taken a turn for the worse. During the royal evacuation, his ship was intercepted by the German Navy. Although they should have been sunk, Prince Arthur ordered the ship to surrender in exchange for their lives. Thus, they survived, falling into German hands.
Prince Arthur readily accepted the crown of the United Kingdom of England and Wales. Though, as the son of Queen Victoria, his actions could be seen as utterly dishonorable, he was delighted by the turn of events. After all, few are granted the opportunity to reign as king. This had never been a possibility in his life, yet now it was within his grasp. Why would he reject such a fate? Moreover, this would secure the throne for his descendants.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of England and Wales was Andrew Bernard Law, a member of the Conservative Party. After the fall of Britain, not everyone had the fortune to flee to Canada. Many had been left behind, without opportunity, needing a platform to showcase their talents. Even if the opportunity came from the enemy, they would not refuse. They could feign compassion, pretending to cooperate with the enemy for the good of the British people. This allowed them to maintain their positions of power, regardless of their true loyalties. As for patriotism, what value could that have now?