The offices of the Prime Minister, Tokyo
Pan-Asian Empire
November 17th, 1939
Still feeling as if he was living in a dream after the surreal events of the previous day, Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet of the Pan-Asian Empire, waited patiently in the waiting room for his meeting with the new Prime Minister appointed by the Emperor. He still refused to talk, much less think of the “Twin Emperors” – to Yamamoto, as to most other members of the armed forces of the former Empire of Japan, only obedience to their own Emperor made them follow orders from the newly appointed Government, which was led by a Chinese nobleman of ill repute. Yet Yamamoto had noticed with distaste how the most hawkish factions of Japanese political life had embraced the new Empire with relish. Instead of a humbled Japan, they now had what they had dreamed of when they launched the ill-fated war on China – a giant Asian Empire, rival in power to any other state in the world. They also had the promise of further expansion against the colonial powers of Europe. As always, Yamamoto thought, it was easy to lead people where they wanted to go. The new Prime Minister seemed to be an astute enough politician, he had to give him that.
The Prime Ministers lovely secretary walked up to the Admiral and bowed deeply. Like everything else in the offices of Government, she was dressed in western fashion. For a long time, Japan had striven to emulate everything western: for this reason Yamamoto was wearing a western style uniform, he was sitting in a plush sofa instead of on the floor, and he had been served coffee and cookies while he waited. Japan was no longer what it had been, but it was still a
katana resting on his knees, not the ceremonial sabre a western Admiral would have had. Some thing would not change, would never be allowed to change or at least so he hoped.
‘Admiral Yamamoto, the Prime Minister will see you now. Follow me, please.’
The Admiral rose from the sofa and walked behind the girl, distractedly letting his eyes wander over her curves, clearly visible through her tight short skirt. He might be old, but not THAT old, and western fashion had its compensations. But he’d never allow any daughter of his to dress that way.
Fu Manchu was sitting behind a large desk of polished dark wood, absentmindedly stroking his long thin moustaches with crossed fingers and watching out through the large window next to the desk over the gardens of the Imperial palace. He was dressed in black silk robes without any adornment and an equally black skull cap with the coral bead of a Chinese Mandarin. After an instant he noticed, or deigned to notice his designated Chief of the Navy standing in the door and rose from his seat.
‘Admiral, welcome and please sit down. We have great things to discuss you and I!’
Yamamoto was surprised by the apparent strength and suppleness of the Chinese Baron, who he had assumed would be old and decrepit instead of in the prime of his years. He was even more surprised by the aura of undeniable authority the Prime Minister wore like a cloak. In combat, men would jump at the orders of such a man, trusting him with his life and deferring instinctively to his animal dominance. The deep rich voice was pleasant and well modulated, with just a hint of lightness in the tone to put a man immediately at ease, while the high brow and the brilliant green eyes spoke of a sharp intelligence. The face, however was hard and evil-looking even when wearing a friendly smile. If a man could be judged by his face, Yamamoto thought, the one before him was as capable as he was ruthless – a man not to be trifled with, for sure. Also, his Japanese was excellent, if not totally devoid of accent.
Yamamoto bowed. ‘Thank you, Prime Minister.’ He sat down in front of the Prime Minister of the Pan-Asian Empire and waited for him to speak. The prime minister lost no time with chit-chat but went direct to the point.
‘Admiral, it’s no secret that this Government’s long-term goal is to replace the dominion over East Asia by the European Powers with one of our own. What is the state of our naval forces at present and how do you rate our chances against the navies of Britain, France, Holland and the United States?’
Yamamoto cleared his throat. ‘Well, to be frank, and first of all, our naval forces are exactly what the Empire of Japan had before the Peace of the Two Emperors yesterday. China adds precious little to our inventory.’
Fu Manchu smiled. ‘I’m well aware of that Admiral. You might be pleased to know that the Twin Emperor’s intend to keep the Imperial Navy a mostly Japanese force, while China will be providing an ever growing share of the land forces. In all honesty, you Japanese have centuries of naval tradition, while China hasn’t been a naval power to be reckoned with since the 15th century. Such things make a difference.’
‘I agree completely, Prime Minister, and I can tell you this will be appreciated by the men under my command!’ Secretly, Yamamoto wasn’t so pleased, although he voiced none of his misgivings. It was all good and well to keep the Navy Japanese, but it was with the Army that the power to dictate policy lay, not with the Navy. The Navy would never be able to overthrow the Government and instate a dictatorship. So if the Army became predominantly Chinese, where would that place ultimate power in this new bastard Empire?
Still, the Prime Minister was clearly waiting for him to continue, so he cleared his throat. ‘Well then, speaking in very general terms, I’m only worried about the American Navy.’
‘AH? And yet the Royal Navy is generally considered the most powerful fleet in the world? And they have the French to back them up too.’ Fu Manchu seemed to be making objections mainly to force Yamamoto to vocalize his reasoning, so the Admiral quickly complied.
‘The Royal Navy has many carriers, but they’re small and used only for convoy escort and battle fleet scouting. They still rely completely on the power of their battleships, and they’re also tied down by the need to defend their Home Islands from German invasion. As to the French, they’re are about to be overrun by the Germans, they’re beaten and they know it. And in any case, their Navy is much inferior to ours, and cannot threaten us without bases. Indochina can be easily overrun by our mighty combined armies, the French know this too.’
‘You’re most perceptive. We’re already preparing an ultimatum to France demanding they surrender Indochina to us. We’re only waiting for France to sign a separate peace with Germany so that their alliance with Britain is broken. They should cave in without a fight.’
Yamamoto nodded, he was not surprised. He made no comment though and continued his evaluation of the would-be enemies of the Empire. ‘The Dutch Navy is a joke. They have some good officers, but nothing heavier than some light cruisers. We’ll swat them like flies if they oppose us.’
‘Leaving us with only the US Navy left to consider.’
Yamamoto nodded. ‘Indeed. While not overall as powerful as the Royal Navy, the US Navy has more battleships, fifteen to the British twelve and three battle cruisers. We, by the way have six, and not too modern. We were going to build two new super-battleships before the war, but…’
‘I have re-activated those plans’ Fu Manchu declared grandly. ‘The “Yamato” and the “Musashi” will be built as intended. I’m also ordering the construction of a new class of latest model carries, nine units in batches of three.’
Yamamoto was left gaping at the industrial power of this new joint Empire. Nine top-of-the-line carriers would have been a pipe dream to the old Imperial Navy, but was apparently within the realm of the possible for the Pan-Asian Empire.
‘That’s… astounding, Prime Minister. But those additions won’t change the balance with the USA until a year or more from now, right?’
‘You’re correct.’
‘Well, in that case, the US Navy is stronger than we. I’ve already mentioned their battleships, they also have five fleet carriers equivalent to our own, and they have an inkling about how to use them; at least the men commanding them do. For the rest, we’re evenly matched, we’ve got more light cruisers, they more destroyers. They also have a forward base in the Philippines from which they can block any advance of ours into Dutch East Asia.’
‘I see. Tell me, you have studied in the United States. How will they react if we start picking off the European colonies?’
Yamamoto considered the question for a few seconds, running through hypothetical scenarios in his mind before answering. ‘The Americans have little sympathy for the European colonial empires, since because they won their independence by seceding from one, they see them as oppressors of national independence. Of course they do not see their own domination of the Philippines and Puerto Rico in that light.’
‘Of course.’
‘But by the same token, they would not want to see Chinese and Japanese dominate other Asians. That would be just substituting a white master with yellow one and frankly, they’re not devoid of the European disdain for other races than their own.’
‘So they would support the British against us?’
‘Eventually yes, when they have built up their strength sufficiently. They would claim we’re the aggressors and use that as an excuse to incense their own people for a “just war”. Apart from what I’ve just said, they’re a young and naïve nation. To them the latest conqueror is always the worst one. I’m talking about the people now, their political elite can be every bit as cunning and cynical as the British, which is why quite apart from ideological considerations, they are aware that they cannot hope to hold the Philippines against a united Asian Empire. That’s why America always opposed Japanese expansion, and ultimately, why they’ll oppose Pan-Asia.’
Fu Manchu seemed to ponder Yamamoto’s words for a few seconds before moving on to his next question. ‘And if they move against us, Admiral Yamamoto… should we fear them?’
This time the Japanese Admiral did not need to consider his reply. ‘Yes, Prime Minister, very much so. The United States are an industrial powerhouse, they will help arm the British at first, much like they’re propping them up against Germany now, and build up their own power. When they finally intervene, they’ll be invincible.’
Fu Manchu nodded briefly. ‘Thank you, Admiral. You have provided me with some valuable insight in the American mind, but I had already decided on a course of action and what you said only confirms that it is the right one.’
Yamamoto felt an icy tightness in his chest. ‘What… what course of action is that?’
Fu Manchu smiled benevolently. ‘Come now, Admiral, I’m sure you’ve studied Sun-Tzu. I quote;
"The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy."
That is the strategy we expect the Americans to follow against us, but Sun-Tzu also said;
"Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength."
We have a window of opportunity now – if we squander it by engaging the British and the Dutch, we’ll have to deal with the Americans at the moment of their choice, when they’re ready for us and nigh near invincible. That is a recipe for disaster, Admiral, and I will not have it. No, we will strike first against America while she is weak and the British are busy with the Germans!’
‘Weak!?’ Yamamoto protested. ‘Prime Minister, have you not heard a word I said? The American Navy is stronger than ours!’
‘I heard you – but we will even the odds through a stratagem, my dear Admiral. I’ve already ordered the fleet to assemble at Kwajalein. In three weeks from now, we strike at Pearl Harbor!’
The Admiral shook his head furiously. ‘But Prime Minister! Because of the declaration of the Twin Emperors yesterday, the Americans have sent most of the ships of the Pacific Fleet to reinforce those of the Asiatic Fleet at Manila, making a show of support to the Philippines. There won’t be many ships to sink at Pearl Harbor!’
‘Precisely!’ Fu Manchu laughed and the sound sent shivers down Yamamoto’s spine. Was it the cold, disdainful laughter of a genius… or the demented shrieking of a madman? Desperately, he put forward his last argument to avoid a catastrophic war.
‘But… even if we defeat their Navy to a ship… what then? They’ll never agree to a humiliating peace! They’ll just rebuild their fleets and come at us again, what will we have gained by this war, except a powerful and determined foe?’
Fu Manchu stopped laughing. ‘Admiral, our army is currently the largest in the world, even after we disband all those good for nothing militias the Chinese fielded against you. We have a total of 203 divisions, of which 135 are infantry, 9 mountain infantry and 24 cavalry, all war-hardened and experienced. Add to that your amphibious regiments and all the garrison troops. We outnumber the Americans 8 or 9 to one. Also, within six months, all our troops will have been upgraded to the very latest standards, taught to us by our German infantry instructors. With our superior numbers, experience and quality, we’ll sweep the Americans from the field. We won’t offer the Americans even a humiliating peace, no: a year after hostilities open, no more, our troops will present our demands for unconditional surrender in the White House!’
EDIT: I finally gave up trying to get the japanese honorifics right. I'll write japanese conversation in normal English, just assume its not litteraly translated.