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* * *

Could it be that Hawaii has been caught up in the civil war, and the fleet is out of touch?

Well, since there’s a Pacific fleet, it makes sense that Japan hastily attacked Pearl Harbor.

“If you look at the report, you’ll see that, to summarize, the current American Pacific Fleet is immobilized. There’s been a huge explosion at the oil storage facilities as well.”

“Hmm.”

I’m trying to act nonchalant as I look over the documents, but inside, I’m utterly… just completely flabbergasted.

Every time I read about how many ships were sunk, how many aircraft and anti-aircraft guns were destroyed, and how many soldiers were killed, cold sweat poured down my back.

It’s surprising enough that the Okhrana got this information so quickly.

Ugh, what the hell is this?

Am I really seeing this correctly? The fleet has suffered losses similar to history, yet they’ve managed to raid the oil depots?

Eventually, I stared at Savinkov in shock, and even he was sweating as he opened his mouth.

“I was shocked at first too, but this information comes from the Forbidden City and the Okhrana dispatched to Japan, so it’s reliable.”

“Is that so…”

What in the world happened for things to end up like this?

Japan has really had a grand success, haven’t they?

Maybe this is all an aftereffect of the American civil war. Or perhaps they got caught off guard without the chance to pay attention to Hawaii at all.

“I even heard they’re planning a landing operation.”

“What? A landing operation?”

Wow. They’ve really grown bold.

I don’t know what gave them the confidence to get this far, but it seems like they’re intent on squeezing everything they can out of the U.S. before they completely recover.

“Since the attack on Pearl Harbor began, it seems the Japanese have decided to use diesel fuel to ensure their fleet’s emissions are invisible.”

The Americans here must be really furious.

As for the landing operation… I don’t think it’s going to happen.

According to the reports, they mentioned ‘demonstrations of force’ targeting the Empire’s Pacific dominance and oil resources. Even if they’re a bunch of idiots, if they were to land in Hawaii, it would be a declaration of war.

And they know full well that this isn’t just demonstrating force.

In fact, I know that the line has already been crossed long ago, but they haven’t actually occupied any land, right?

“Hmm, so to summarize…”

The U.S.-Japan war has started.

The reason we call it the U.S.-Japan war, rather than the Pacific War, is because the United States isn’t part of the Allied Powers and Japan is not currently targeting Indochina as an anti-air agreement nation, leading to a war being fought exclusively between the two.

Pearl Harbor has suffered damage greater than in actual history, and the U.S. has now reached a point where they need to draw their Atlantic Fleet for assistance. But here’s the important thing.

MacArthur and Huey Long dramatically brokered peace, leading to the re-establishment of the United States, and since presidential elections were delayed during the civil war, a new president will be elected post-war.

There was some damage from battles against the American Communist Union in the Midwest, but with Trotsky being caught, it ended much more stable compared to the Spanish Civil War.

What this means is that the U.S. has the capability to take on Japan alone without getting involved in the European conflicts.

Unlike the situation where the U.S. had to finish the European war before dealing with Japan, this time they’re going straight into a war with Japan.

Of course, unless a major turnaround happens, or unless the Japanese make a blunder and end up collapsing…

In terms of the Pacific, the U.S. might actually falter.

Or maybe not? The civil war has actually allowed the U.S. to train some elite troops. I’ve heard that even the Russian support forces faced intense aerial battles with the American Communist Union until the Russians arrived.

“If Japan doesn’t manage to rake in some profits from the Americans at this momentum, it might get tough for them.”

How pitiful.

Sure, since Pearl Harbor is in such ruins, the U.S. will have no choice but to be sluggish for a while.

But the important thing is that if this drags out, Japan will have to face the full wrath of the U.S. in the end.

This is different from the original history, where Nazi Germany exists.

If the damage at Pearl Harbor is as significant as reported, the U.S. will only grow angrier.

I hear MacArthur told Huey Long that he would turn the Japanese archipelago into hell.

Unlike Japan’s intention to negotiate a ceasefire, the U.S. is not interested in stopping a war that started unilaterally by Japan.

Since they don’t have nuclear bombs, perhaps the Collapse Operation will start.

Wait, no. The Japanese forces are certainly elite now, right? If that’s the case, it could become rather tough for the U.S.

Then, later, they might need to bring the British fleet to the Pacific to wipe Japan out together.

“Oh?”

What if Chiang Kai-shek tightens his belt and stubbornly hangs on against the Japanese forces, while the Japanese army stays in China to deal with them?

What if we backstab the Japanese forces and kick them out of China? Could this lead to a zero hour for the U.S. Collapse Operation?

Oh, thinking about it, that sounds plausible.

Considering the anger of the U.S. right now, they might even consider the Collapse Operation.

“Hmm.”

Well, no matter how much the U.S. executes the Collapse Operation, if the damage from the total war becomes too great, they might just decide to pull out.

When that happens, we could use our good friend Mr. Mo-Jung-Ku to establish a puppet government in Japan.

It’s not that I don’t understand Japan’s situation either.

It’s hard to believe, but if Japan wants to become the number one power in Asia, they need to dominate the Pacific.

Even the Russian Far Eastern Fleet is just a minor fleet in the Pacific. If not now, when will they seize the opportunity when the U.S. is like this?

Besides, even after the civil war ends, they’re going to be busy cleaning things up.

MacArthur and Huey Long may have reached a historic agreement, but still…

“China seems to be holding on somehow.”

“China’s situation is almost miraculous. If Japan hadn’t turned every place it targeted into ghost cities with their extermination operations, they might have already conquered China.”

Was the Emperor’s death a blessing in disguise?

Sure, it was temporary, but as soon as the Emperor appeared at the frontlines, Japan almost devastated Tang Shengzhi’s army in one fell swoop—it just goes to show the significance of a ruler leading the charge.

Furthermore, the divine emperor himself stands with them.

“Since they know they’re going to die anyway, they’ll keep resisting to the end. But, doesn’t this make Japan simply a butcher?”

This seems like it could be dangerous in the future.

Japan is already infamous for the Nanjing Massacre in the original world.

But here, Japan is committing acts even worse than the Nanjing Massacre in every city.

They’re not just stalling to fight the Chinese army—they’re spending time killing the Chinese people.

“Recently, Japan has used its subjugation of the Qing Dynasty to recognize it as the only legitimate government and has declared the warlords as rebels. It seems they plan to send troops to crush the rebels while helping their vassal, Qing Dynasty, who suffers from the rebels.”

Where have I seen this before?

“Hmm. They’ve at least managed to create a pretense of justification somehow.”

Sure. If they’re a great power, it makes sense to assist their vassal states.

Even the Ming Dynasty sent out heaps of troops to help the vassal state, Joseon, during the Imjin War.

Well, technically, those warlords can’t really be called a country.

The Emperor of the Chinese Empire is Puyi, and if Japan were to restore Puyi back to the throne of the Qing Dynasty, claiming that they’re the legitimate government of China, there would be some level of plausibility to it.

It could be likened to the Taiping Rebellion or the Boxer Rebellion.

Thinking of Chinese history, there were also times when they were divided due to warlords.

I can’t believe they’d use this as a pretext for their operation to emasculate China. That’s impressive.

“I have requested the withdrawal of the United States’ troops. It appears they are gearing up for war with Japan.”

From the American perspective, having Russian troops stationed in their country might be concerning.

After all, Japan is perceived as an ally of Russia.

If a large contingent rises up on American soil to assist Japan, the U.S. would collapse in an instant.

“Well, ultimately, to foster internal unity, projecting domestic discontent onto external sources is the way to go. Then, since there are too many troops, they might as well withdraw them gradually.”

If we keep provoking things like this, something might happen in Europe soon.

If they want to avoid Russia’s intervention at all costs, Communist Germany must hasten to finish off its enemies before the Russians arrive.

“Your Majesty, will you participate in the war as soon as the withdrawal is complete?”

That’s the problem, isn’t it? Unfortunately, Austria hasn’t been attacked yet.

Goebbels is desperately working to prevent Russia’s intervention.

After all, Russia has the image of being the land of saints, so it can’t easily engage in invasive wars.

Then again, a justification is definitely needed.

What that justification actually is, I have no idea.

“Austria hasn’t been attacked yet; is there a justification to participate in the war?”

“In fact, there is already justification since East Prussia is in conflict. The Kaiser of Germany asked us to intervene in the early part of the war.”

“Oh, you mean that thing they started despite the lack of Russian intervention?”

“The situation has turned peculiar, and they have requested our intervention again.”

Speaking of which, who was threatening them with a sword to make them intervene?

It seems the Polish army is not doing particularly well either.

For now, we are continuing to supply weapons to Austria, so if Poland isn’t performing well…

“Your Majesty, it seems the military situation in Germany is somewhat strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“It seems that officers from Communist Germany are secretly leaking operational plans within the Allied forces, and Prime Minister Churchill has disregarded them.”

This could very well make things interesting.

“Hmm. I’ve heard there are indeed some Junkers on the side of Communist Germany.”

Then it’s entirely possible.

It’s a matter for later whether the operational plans that are leaking to the Allied forces are true or false.

But it seems that those who want to join that side aren’t very numerous, judging from how they’re just barely holding out.

“Yes. Given they are Junkers, they likely don’t want to follow the orders of the Communist Party.”

“That’s probably the case. It hasn’t even been a century since Communist Germany came to be, and the Junkers were the established elite of traditional Germany.”

There must be Junkers who feel they can’t abandon their country to the Allied forces, and likewise, there are probably those who want to feel the nostalgia for the Kaiser’s German Empire again.

Hmm, but leaking operational plans… if we’re talking operational plans right now, aside from defense plans against the Allied forces, what else is there?

Wait a minute. Operational plans? If Germany goes on the offensive, it would practically be a gamble, but then, could it be…?

It’s not going to be a frontal attack. That leaves only one option. Yes. The Scythe Operation.

This could really be Communist Germany’s last-ditch effort.

There’s really only the Scythe Operation left, isn’t there?

Of course, it is a true last resort, but if it fails, Communist Germany will collapse immediately.

But if it succeeds, what happens then?

* * *

Belgium-Germany Border

As Churchill disregarded Manstein’s intelligence, the Scythe Operation commenced right on schedule.

Of course, one change was that the B Group Army, which was to invade the lowlands, was bogged down at the lowland defenses.

Nonetheless, the Scythe Operation had begun.

“Have these lunatics really lost their minds? They’re on the offensive?”

At first, the Allied forces seriously thought that this Communist Germany was attempting a reenactment of the Ludendorff Offensive.

The intel gathered from agents embedded in Communist Germany revealed that Goebbels was preparing a last great offensive.

While this was indeed happening, the B Group Army was merely a distraction.

Yet unexpectedly, this mad offensive proved effective in its own right.

“Ugh. Uwaah! The insane Reds!”

“How do we fight against that kind of lunatic?”

As the crazed red zombies rushed to repel the invaders, shouting “Hail Goebbels!” the Allies could only be stunned, struggling to wall off the madness of Communist Germany.

“In this battle, the fate of our Germany and the World Revolution will be decided! Rather than becoming slaves through defeat, let’s die and contribute to the revolution!”

“““Hail Goebbels!”””

Group A pressed forward, desperately doping and exhibiting madness while chanting “Hail Goebbels,” while navigating through the Ardennes forest.

While the Allies struggled to withstand B Group’s mad push, they received shocking news.

“The Ardennes Forest has been breached!”

The Ardennes Forest has been breached.

Unlike actual history where there was no Maginot Line, though the French forces had strengthened it, Gammlang hadn’t predicted that Communist Germany would come through the Ardennes just as Churchill did.

Thus, Gammlang was zealously preparing to stop the A Group army’s spiritual spearhead at the stretch between the lowlands and the Maginot Line.

That turned out to be the failing point.

In fact, even if that hadn’t been the case, it might have been easily breached.

“What? The Ardennes Forest breached? These crazy Reds!”

By the time they received news that the Ardennes Forest had been breached, Communist Germany was already deep into France.

“The S. S. District has fallen! Or perhaps they’re headed to Paris by now.”

The German forces are advancing so swiftly that news of each defeat comes too late.

Honestly, there’s a clear difference between Germany, which still used the troop formations from World War I, and the Germans who were bitter and vowed revenge on Versailles while utilizing combined arms tactics.

Moreover, the traditional Prussian task-oriented command system had not had its strengths until World War I, but this time around, it proved advantageous.

Autonomy in carrying out operations according to the changing circumstances on the battlefield and reporting later worked perfectly this time.

In a war where the situation fluctuates drastically, even if they are Reds, the traditional Prussian style of executing operations remained the right answer.

“We’re screwed.”

France, without a chance to respond, went into a severe tailspin.

It was only four weeks since Communist Germany launched its offensive.

 

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