Chapter Eleven: Deciding on a Strategy

  After receiving the military message, Peng Maobang immediately rushed to the Presidential Palace.

  "Is the news reliable?" Ji Youguo is also waiting for the latest news.

  "Extremely reliable, Military Intelligence has a ninety percent assurance."

  Ji Youguo's expression turned gloomy and he quickly began thinking.

  "Lao Ji, there are still four hours left, a decision must be made immediately, otherwise it will be too late to stop the situation from escalating."

  "Don't be in a hurry, let me think carefully." Ji Youguo slowly and calmly picked up the cigarette, lit it, but didn't light the cigarette.

  Things have become very clear by now.

  CIA spy codenamed "Sherly" still in New Delhi, has infiltrated the press conference venue. Four hours later, Japanese Prime Minister and Indian Premier who just signed Japan-India Strategic Cooperation Agreement will hold a joint press conference to announce this news to the world.

  If "Shirley" is carrying a bomb and it explodes, the consequences will be unimaginable.

  The Japanese Prime Minister and the Indian Prime Minister were assassinated, and Pakistan would come to mind first. In order to prevent India and Japan from forming an alliance, they planned this assassination. At the same time, China will also come to mind, because the spearhead of the Indo-Japanese alliance is directed at China, not Pakistan.

  Is there a way to shift the spearhead towards the United States?

  After some thought, Ji Youguo had to admit that the CIA had indeed gone to great lengths in arranging this operation.

  "Sherry" defected from the CIA, is a "traitor", not only did the CIA cut ties with her, but also severed relations with the United States. Moreover, after "Sherry" defected, she went to China and then mysteriously disappeared. If her identity was investigated, the spearhead would point to China again. At that time, the US will bite back, saying that China planned the assassination and shifted the blame to the US by using a CIA defector spy.

  At that time, China will be speechless.

  "If the situation in the East China Sea worsens, are we capable of intervening in an Indo-Pakistani war?"

  "It's extremely difficult." Peng Maobang also lit a cigarette. "When India and Pakistan went to war, we mainly provided strategic assistance and dispatched volunteer troops to help Pakistan win the war. If we were to enter the war, we would try to avoid getting involved in ground warfare as much as possible, with naval military actions as the main means, aiming to strike at the Indian Navy, undermine India's dominant position in the Indian Ocean, and curb India's advance into the South China Sea region. In this way, the navy will be the main force participating in the war. If the situation in the East China Sea continues to deteriorate, we must deploy a fleet there. If the situation escalates and a small-scale naval clash breaks out with Japan, it would be very difficult for the navy to fight two wars simultaneously in both directions."

  Ji Youguo nodded slightly, and Peng Maobang's words were not wrong at all.

  Military reform had just begun and a few experimental units could only cope with small-scale regional conflicts. The Republican Navy was still the "Yellow Sea Navy" and not yet the "Blue Sea Navy".

  The "Republic" aircraft carrier under construction will take two years to complete and five years to form combat effectiveness.

  The accompanying escort warships and carrier-based combat aircraft are all under construction or in flight testing.

  The design of the new submarine has not been completed yet, and at the earliest, construction will start next year.

  With the current strength of the Republic's Navy, it would be difficult to cope with two wars at the same time. Even if they enter the Indian Ocean and engage in a contest with the Indian Navy, it will be a tough fight.

  Japan must not be allowed to become embroiled in this war, at least not given a pretext for creating trouble.

  The situation must be brought under control and cannot be allowed to continue escalating.

  What good will war with Pakistan bring to the Republic?

  These days, Ji Youguo has been weighing this issue.

  The US intentions are very clear, but how can we make the situation favorable for the Republic?

  Direct confrontation?

  It is obviously impossible. Firstly, there is insufficient evidence to make India believe that the US was behind the scenes of the Humayun's Tomb explosion; secondly, it would expose the Republic's intelligence network in India and put its agents in danger; thirdly, it would backfire and lead India to think that the Republic is seeking hegemony over South Asia and the Indian Ocean, thus throwing itself into the arms of the US.

  From the beginning, the United States blocked the channel for the Republic to maneuver in between.

  The question has come back to where it started: what benefits can the Republic gain from a war between India and Pakistan?

  Pakistan, without saying more, won the battle and Pakistan will become a staunch ally of the Republic; even if it loses, through large-scale military aid, Pakistan is still an important ally of the Republic.

  The key is whether the Republic can give India a profound lesson in this war.

  If possible, within the next ten to twenty years, India will no longer be a threat and may even make significant concessions in border negotiations. After the war, India will definitely strengthen its military, spending large amounts of foreign exchange on weapons and equipment each year, severely impacting its domestic economy. Even if India allies with Japan after the war, or even with the United States, it will take twenty years for it to recover. Twenty years later, the Republic will not be the same as it is now.

  If it can't, the Republic will lose its right to speak in South Asia and Central Asia, and will be humiliated internationally.

  Thinking of this, Ji Youguo let out a sigh. "If we partially get involved in this war, with the main goal of attacking the Indian Navy, can we win?"

  The problem has been kicked down to Peng Maobang's feet.

  "I stake my rank of General on it, the soldiers of the Republic will not let the country and nation down." Peng Maobang did not hesitate, at this time, he must show a firm military attitude.

  "Your guarantee is useless, I want to know exactly what our chances of winning are if we really fight."

  "This..." Peng Maobang knew that the leader was not joking. "If we can control the scale of the conflict, and not directly intervene in the Indo-Pakistani War except for naval battles, our chances of winning are over 80%."

  "Eight out of ten? If you really had eight out of ten, you would have shouted for a fight long ago."

  "This...," Peng Maobang revealed a hint of an awkward smile, "Not eight out of ten, but seven."

  Ji Youguo smiled and shook his head, he was very clear about Peng Maobang's thoughts.

  "In fact, there's probably only a 50% chance of winning." Peng Maobang also stopped beating around the bush. "However, I believe that with the current combat strength of the navy, a 50% chance of winning is enough to guarantee victory."

  Ji Youguo sized up Peng Maobang for a moment and believed that this time Peng Maobang was telling the truth.

  "Lao Ji, no matter what you think, I believe it's worth fighting for and should be fought for. For decades, even those small countries in Southeast Asia have dared to ride roughshod over us, shitting and pissing on our heads. If we don't show some backbone now, I'm afraid that within a few years, we'll be at a dead end and won't have such a good opportunity again."

  "I understand what you mean." Ji Youguo stood up, "As the head of state, I must consider everything comprehensively."

  Peng Maobang also stood up. He was very clear about Ji Youguo's character: steady, seasoned and never doing anything without a firm grasp.

  "So be it." Ji Youguo turned around, "We can't show up in person, or else we'll become 'the three hundred taels of silver that aren't here'. Let the Military Intelligence Bureau do it, and find a way to leak the information to the Japanese intelligence agency."

  "The Military Intelligence Agency has a mole in the Japanese Embassy in India."

  "Let's do it that way. Get a good grip on the timing, I don't want to see a report of the Japanese Prime Minister being blown up in the news a few hours later."

  "I'll go give the order right now."

  "Make a phone call here and you'll have to rush back to the General Staff Department, wasting another half an hour."

  Peng Maobang hesitated for a moment, walked to the desk and picked up the phone. The telephone in the President's study was connected to a confidential line, giving orders to the Military Intelligence Bureau did not require being overly explicit.

  Ji Youguo sat down again, still deep in thought.

  War is the last resort for solving problems and also a necessary means.

  More than 20 years after the end of the Cold War, the Republic has been enduring humiliation and leading peaceful diplomacy. It is not that the lion who just woke up lost its ambition, had its sharp teeth and claws pulled out, but it did not have a suitable opportunity. Before attacking prey, lions will lurk in the bushes, quietly approach the prey, then launch an attack at lightning speed, biting the prey's throat and killing it.

  The Republic is like this lion, lurking in the grass, eyeing its prey, ready to strike a mortal blow.

  A good sword will rust if not used; it's time to wield the sword and slay the demons.

  Before long, Peng Maobang walked over.

  "Is deployment done?"

  "It's all arranged." Peng Maobang took out another cigarette, "I hope it's in time."

  "Don't worry, we've made the worst preparations." Ji Youguo stood up and walked to the window, looking at the dark clouds drifting from the south.

  A storm is brewing, the wind fills the tower.

  The torrential rain will bring a breath of fresh and cool air to Beijing, while the impending "storm" will bring a violent shock to the world.

  What will tomorrow be like? Ji Youguo didn't know. He only knew that after the reshuffle, the Republic wouldn't get a worse hand than it has now.

  The world is not peaceful, on the other side of the ocean, a hidden force is stirring.

  "Lao Ji, are you still worried?"

  "Concerned?" Ji Youguo walked over and glanced at Peng Maobang, "No, I've never been concerned. I'm just thinking about what the opponent's next move will be."

  "Perhaps it's not just one step, but several steps?"

  Ji Youguo smiled faintly and said, "I'm not a chess player, nor am I a Go master. All I know is that at this point, whether it's us or the US, we can only move forward, there's no turning back."

  "From this step on, we will be on stage and play an important role." Peng Maobang also spoke with emotion.

  "Not at this moment, but five years ago." Ji Youguo clasped his hands behind his back. "Five years ago, I knew that on a certain day in the future, we would have to take center stage and become the main characters. It's just that I didn't expect it to come so quickly, so suddenly. If I had a choice, I would hope to pass this mission on to the next leader. Perhaps this is fate."

  "It's not just your own fate, but the fate of the entire country, the entire nation."

  Ji Youguo nodded slightly, he clearly understood what Peng Maobang meant.

  No matter who it is, as long as he has the country and nation at heart, he will make the same decisions and take the same actions in Ji Youguo's position.

  Will the opponent on the other side of the ocean have such an epiphany?

  ****

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