Admiral Rokuro Yashiro, Minister of the Navy of the Island Nation, arrived at the Prime Minister's Office by car, and by the time he entered the Prime Minister's Office, the other cabinet ministers had already arrived. Even a few retired veterans all arrived. It can be seen how much attention everyone attaches to this battle between the Combined Fleet and the German Expeditionary Fleet.

After all, this can almost be said to be a battle related to the fate of the island nation. If they win, they will be able to claim the rich Southeast Asia for themselves. If it fails, the consequences will be devastating.

Although, these ministers and senators also knew that it would undoubtedly be very difficult to defeat the German expeditionary fleet with the strength of the Combined Fleet. However, there was always a glimmer of extravagant hope in their hearts, that is, the Combined Fleet could play at a super level, defeat the German expeditionary fleet, and win the naval battle.

"I'm sorry, I've been waiting for a long time!" Admiral Rokuro Yashiro bowed his head and apologized.

"Yachishiro-kun, it's okay. What happened to the naval battle of the Combined Fleet with the Germans? Prime Minister Shigenobu Okuma asked.

"Your Excellency, the naval battle is over." Admiral Rokuro Yashiro replied with a blank face.

"Did we defeat the Germans?" Lu Xianggang Ichinosuke immediately asked eagerly.

A sneering smile flashed on Admiral Yashiro Rokuro's face: "In this battle, the combined fleet was almost completely annihilated. Except for more than a dozen destroyers who escaped back, the rest of the battleships were all sunk by the Germans. Including four of the most powerful 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers. ”

"What?" All the senior officials of the island countries in the conference room were dumbfounded. They didn't expect that the Combined Fleet would lose so badly, losing almost all of its warships. This is undoubtedly a fiasco! What a defeat! The main force of the entire island country's navy has been lost because of this!

"Yaga! How could it have failed so badly? The Combined Fleet had 19 capital ships, 8 armored cruisers, and a large number of protective cruisers and destroyers. In terms of the number of warships, we have an absolute advantage! "Nosuke Okaichi doesn't seem to be able to accept this result.

"Our ships were simply vulnerable to the attacks of the Germans' new warships. Such a numerical advantage is simply useless. A trace of sorrow flashed in General Yashiro's eyes. After this heavy loss, the Combined Fleet has already existed in name only. And the navy of the island country suddenly returned to before the Meiji Restoration. If you want to rebuild the navy of the island nation, I don't know how long it will take.

The other high-ranking officials of the island countries all looked at each other. They realized that after the crushing defeat of the Combined Fleet, this presented them with a great problem. That was how to deal with the German expeditionary fleet.

"And how much damage did we inflict on the Germans?" Foreign Minister Takaaki Kato asked.

"We only sank one light cruiser for the Germans, and another battle cruiser for them!" Admiral Rokuro Yashiro replied. The loss of so many warships, but only such a result, made Admiral Yashiro Rokuro feel a little ashamed. Of course, he also knew that there was no way to do it, not that they were too weak, but that the enemy was too strong!

"Bastard, what the hell is that guy doing in Goro Ijiin? He lost so many battleships, but only sank one light cruiser for the Germans. Could it be that the navy, which we have spent so much money building, is it so vulnerable? Okaichi was furious.

Such a result of the combined fleet shattered the last bit of luck in Okaichi Nosuke's heart. Originally, he thought that although the Combined Fleet was completely annihilated, if they could inflict heavy damage on the German Expeditionary Fleet, then they would still have a chance. The Germans, whose expeditionary fleet had suffered heavy losses, were now too busy attacking the British mainland, and should not have sent any more fleets eastward. Then they can seize this time and consolidate their dominance in Southeast Asia. Even if the Germans wanted to recapture Southeast Asia in the future, they would inevitably pay a huge price for it. At the same time, they can also take the opportunity to plunder more wealth from Southeast Asia.

Unfortunately, the German expeditionary fleet did not suffer heavy losses, which disappointed all their expectations.

"General Goro Ijiin has done his best! He can't be blamed for such a result! General Rokuro Yashiro looked angry.

"Is General Gorou Ijiin back?" Shigenobu Okuma asked.

"He's killed himself!" General Rokuro Yashiro said.

The high-ranking officials of the island countries present immediately stopped talking. Since Ijiin Goro has committed suicide by seppuku, it would be a bit inappropriate to hold him accountable again.

This is already the practice of island countries, and if a person commits suicide, it means that all the responsibility has been assumed. If you continue to pursue it, this will undoubtedly make everyone else dissatisfied.

"Alright, the matter of Ijiin Goro, let's stop here!" A friend in Shan County has spoken.

"Hi, Lord Yamasan!" Everyone replied.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Germans are more powerful than we expected. So, do you have any countermeasures now? Youpeng of Shan County asked.

"Your Excellency, the Germans will certainly be even more unforgiving if they defeat the Combined Fleet this time. If we want to hold Southeast Asia, I am afraid it will be more difficult. Foreign Minister Takaaki Kato was a little worried.

"Yes, Your Excellency. What would we do if the Germans attacked our coastal cities again and forced us to evacuate Southeast Asia? Treasury Minister Reijiro Wakatsuki looked worried. The destruction of the three cities of Shizuoka, Hamamatsu and Nagoya by the German expeditionary fleet has already caused tens of thousands of casualties to the island nation. The destruction of three cities has caused even greater direct and indirect economic losses. If the German expeditionary fleet continued to do this, then the island nation would inevitably pay further losses. This is absolutely unbearable for the island nation.

"No, we managed to occupy Southeast Asia. The abundant resources there will be all the hope for the rise of the empire. If we abandon Southeast Asia, the empire will never have a chance to occupy it again. Once the Germans defeated the British, they would inevitably send troops into Southeast Asia. Ichinosuke Ryooka immediately expressed his opinion. In other words, his opinion represents the opinion of the entire Army.

The islanders are greedy, and their small homeland and lack of resources make them particularly eager to acquire more territory, especially rich territory. And Southeast Asia is undoubtedly their best target.