Imperial Winds
Chapter II - The Korean offensive
Yoshimochi kept his promise, and raised an army. Well, not size of 100,000 but it was closing to 70,000. Army of that size drained all the incomes, and the country had to go to a war. Shogun called up his massive army (except few hundred soldiers in Ezo). He declared the following:
Our dear Empire is standing strong, and it still does. We must unite Japan, and make sure, that it will stand strong and ready for a conflict of any kind until world breaks apart! We know we have inner conflics, but I know one thing: We are strong and forever after it! Three huzzahs for Japan, for us!
Soldiers were praising the Shogun more than Nazis praised Hitler. Yoshimochi did know, that attacking on mainland (Korea) would break Japanese isolation, but he was sure that by time Japan would isolate again, and be saved form horrors of other world. None knows how, but it will..
Invasion to Korea - Japan and his sneaky plans
Shogun and his Generals knew that Korea wouldn't stand alone. China was supporting it, and China would easily break Japan like a bug. But like in wars Japan had in future, Japan always finds a way to disturb his enemy.
China was having major trouble in her south, Vietnam, the place was called.
They began sending money (remaining anynomous) to Vietnamese rebels, wishing that that would help them to fight China. As time passed, China had to place over half of it's full army strenght to Vietnam. The apple was ready to be picked.
Japan soon attacked Korea, and when Chinese Emperor heard about this and about Koreans demanding support, he remembered that if he goes against Japan (no matter how weak it is) Vietnamese will gain superiority in south. So they dishonored alliance with Korea. Korea was in shock. They had never seen a Samurai, and they told afterwards that Samurai were best soldiers they have ever met. So guess how the war went? Without losing a battle, Japan first took the Capital, and then moved by this plan:
Koreans were smashed, but they didn't give in Japan's demands of annexation, and Japan spared their life, but the cost was terrible, Korea lost 80% of it's land and all it's money, and total 30,000 men in battles. And they had to accept Japanese demands of letting them march on Korean remaining lands, which made impossible to betray Japan, as it's soldiers were everywhere on the last Korean lands.
Japanization of Korea began immediatly. Koreans were executed like chikens during bird flu and Japanese were put to replace them. It went well, and that was not enough for Japan.
One special thing happened during the campaign, actually twice.
The "Father of Army", Yuoshimochi, died, and another very soon. New Shogun, Yoshinori, claimed that Japan must stand isolated, but it doesn't have to end this series of victories. Most of Japan were in complete shock, when he released this plan:
Kyoto, next evening.
Seituro Ichito, a Samurai officer, came to Shogun.
"Are you crazy!? We can't attack China just by that!"
"Is there a problem with that? Our warriors are best ever seen!
"But that doesn't mean that they would suck at wars. This is surely going to suck us down the drain if we attack now."
"Have i said we must attack now? No. We take time to prepare. None knows how many thins occur between today and the invasion. Now, go back to sleep. It's almost midnight.."
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