Chapter 299 Post-War Reconstruction, the Bill Has Been Delivered

Huaxia, Command Center.

Chen Jianguo gently placed a thin document on the table in front of Zhang Yuanchao.

There were no complicated charts on it, only a few lines of concise text and a surprisingly long string of numbers.

Zhang Yuanchao glanced at the document: "They'll feel the pinch from this number, won't they?"

"Only through pain can one learn a lesson."

"Some debts have been dragging on for too long. Today, we'll settle the accounts, principal and interest."

Zhang Yuanchao nodded and pushed the documents aside: "Notify the press office that we can begin."

...

One hour later.

China News Office, global live-streamed press conference.

The spokesperson, who had appeared calm and collected last time, once again slowly walked onto the podium.

The world's cameras are once again focused on this.

This time, the fear and unease that had filled the venue were replaced by a quiet atmosphere.

Everyone is waiting, waiting for the victor to announce the verdict against the losers.

The spokesperson stood still, looking straight ahead, without uttering a single word of pleasantries.

"Now, we are releasing the 'Explanation on the Post-War Order Reconstruction and Related Compensation Issues in the Western Pacific Region'."

Her voice, transmitted clearly through the microphone, reached the entire world.

"Based on the military conflict initiated by Japan and the serious damage it has caused to regional peace and stability, we put forward the following three demands."

All the reporters present held their breath.

"First."

"The Prime Minister of Japan must, within 12 hours, at the highest level of head of state, publicly read an apology statement to the Chinese people and all peace-loving people around the world via live global broadcast, acknowledging its war crimes."

boom--!

This demand is more like a resounding slap in the face than a direct demand for compensation.

This is an attempt to completely trample on the dignity of the Sakura Kingdom.

The missiles were launched by the US. First, a base was destroyed by the returning missiles, and then a small island was sunk by China's counterattack. Now, they have to admit their crimes!

Is there anyone more unlucky than them?!

The spokesperson ignored the commotion in the audience and continued to announce the second item.

"second."

"Japan must compensate China for all direct and indirect losses caused by this military provocation."

She paused for a moment, then recited a string of numbers.

"Including but not limited to: the costs of emergency mobilization and combat readiness losses of our military units, the costs of financial market stabilization intervention, the losses of related industries due to risk aversion, compensation for the mental anguish of the people, and the costs of resurveying the territorial sea baseline and redrawing nautical charts due to the physical disappearance of 'Guiwan Reef'."

"In total, one trillion Chinese yuan."

"hiss--"

A collective gasp filled the hall.

"Finally, the third point."

The spokesperson's voice grew even colder.

"Japan must permanently disband its military base in Yokosuka and designate the area as a demilitarized zone."

"At the same time, to ensure the effective implementation of the agreement and safeguard the lasting peace of the Western Pacific shipping lanes."

"We will send a military observer mission to the region indefinitely to monitor the implementation of the agreement."

The words fell.

The whole world fell silent.

If the first two points are about money and reputation, then the third point is about life.

This is to remove the most crucial nail that the US has driven into the Western Pacific, uproot it completely, and then plant the Chinese flag in the hole it has created.

The press conference has ended.

The spokesperson turned and left, leaving behind a world of utter silence.

...

In America, in the white-roofed houses, the atmosphere was frozen solid.

"They've gone mad! They've completely gone mad!"

The president slammed a freshly printed statement onto the table.

"Make Kishida apologize? Pay a trillion yen in compensation? And disband Yokosuka and let their people move in?!"

"This is like trying to rub our faces into the ground!"

A pale-faced aide spoke up: "Mr. President, we can't get through to Kishida anymore. It seems he's ready to give in."

"He dares!"

The president's eyes were bloodshot. He grabbed the phone on the table and dialed the encrypted line directly.

"Get Kishida! Now! Immediately!"

...

Tokyo, underground bunker.

Kishida slumped in his chair, staring blankly at the three demands on the screen that felt like nooses.

A secretary scrambled in.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister! An urgent communication from the President of the United States!"

Kishida's body trembled violently.

He slowly raised his head, looking at the flashing phone, his eyes filled with fear and disgust.

He didn't want to answer.

But he couldn't refuse.

With trembling hands, he pressed the answer button.

"Kishida!"

The roar of the American president came through the receiver, as if it were about to pierce his eardrums.

"I command you! Hold on! Absolutely do not agree to any of their demands!"

"As long as you stall for time, we..."

"Mr. President."

Kishida interrupted him, his voice hoarse like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

"What will we use to support it?"

"Use our already circuit-breaker-locked stock market?"

"Or should we use those angry citizens outside our port who want to burn down the Prime Minister's residence?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Kishida forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"The Seventh Fleet you promised has turned around 100 nautical miles away."

"The beacon of freedom you promised seems... to have failed to illuminate my island that has sunk to the bottom of the sea."

"Kishida! This is betrayal!"

“No, Mr. President.” Kishida’s voice calmed down, a deathly calm.

"I'm just choosing how I'm going to die."

"Is it better to be torn apart by the angry people now, or to sign that agreement and become a traitor to a fallen nation who can still eke out a living?"

"At least, the latter will allow me to survive."

After saying that, he hung up the phone without waiting for a response.

Kishida slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on the huge electronic clock on the wall.

The bright red numbers are relentlessly ticking.

【11:49:58】

【11:49:57】

【11:49:56】

...

Every second that passes means that billions of dollars in wealth in the national treasury are evaporating into thin air.

He knew that his time was running out.

Kishida convened an emergency cabinet meeting.

Around the conference table sat a group of men with ashen faces. They were the most powerful people in the country, yet at this moment they resembled a group of prisoners awaiting trial.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister!"

The finance minister was the first to stand up; his voice was trembling, and the report in his hand seemed to weigh a ton.

"Just ten minutes after the market opened, the Nikkei index... had already disappeared."

"Our foreign exchange reserves are being aggressively shorted by capital from all over the world!"

A defense minister dressed in military uniform, with a general's star on his shoulder, slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly.

"Baka! We cannot accept this humiliation!"

"Where is the Bushido spirit of the Yamato people? Even if it means certain death, we will never surrender!"

In the conference room, a hint of madness ignited in the eyes of several cabinet members with military backgrounds.

Kishida slowly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over the excited general.

"Bushido?"

His voice, light and airy, made the temperature in the entire conference room drop suddenly.

"Is it the spirit of watching 'Oni Maru Reef' be wiped off the map, without even a ripple?"

"Or should we watch our 'ally,' that fleet that claims to be the world's strongest, flee in disarray a hundred nautical miles away?"

The general's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, his mouth agape, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Kishida leaned on the table and slowly stood up.

He pointed to the countdown on the screen and said, word by word.

"Look carefully."

That's not a clock.

"That's a meat grinder."

"And we are the pieces of meat that are pushed in."

“Every beat represents a piece of flesh being torn from our country.”

"Now, let's vote."

"Those who agree to accept all of China's conditions, please raise your hands."

Kishida was the first to raise his trembling hand.

The meeting room was deathly silent.

Three seconds later.

The finance minister raised his hand.

Next came the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism...

Hands, like heavy shackles, were slowly raised.

Finally, only the Minister of Defense remained, stubbornly standing there, his body trembling violently with anger and humiliation.

Kishida looked at him, his eyes filled with no urging, only a deathly sorrow.

Finally, as if all his strength had been drained away, the general slowly sat down and dejectedly raised his hand.

It passed unanimously.

Kishida put his hand down and said to his secretary beside him.

"Get ready, this is a global live stream."

"Also, bring out that... the black suit I prepared for my father's funeral."