The main island of Japan is the largest island in Japan, with a large population and a long, narrow shape. All the most important cities of Japan are located here.

However, after the Kyushu Allied Forces suffered a crushing defeat and Edo Castle fell, the main force of the entire Japanese army was almost completely wiped out.

The remaining troops are almost all gone.

Especially under the repeated bombings by the Beiyang Fleet and the Dongyang Fleet of the Great Qing Dynasty, some cities in the coastal areas were filled with panic and unease.

After the large-scale infantry landing at Shimogakure Castle and their eastward advance, it also aroused the vigilance of the Choshu Domain.

In the palace of the lord of the Changzhou vassal.

Lord Mori Hidemoto's expression was grim, his brow furrowed. He looked at his retainer before him and asked, "Has the Daigan army really arrived?"

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

The retainer nodded, his voice tinged with bitterness, and said, "The main force has already advanced eastward from Shimonoseki Castle, splitting into two routes. One route is heading straight for Yamaguchi Castle, while the other's target is Ogi Castle, the location of our domain headquarters! Your Excellency, our Choshu Domain is in imminent danger!"

Hearing his retainer's words, the feudal lord Mori Hidemoto's expression became even more solemn.

He knew, of course, that the Choshu Domain was in imminent danger!

When the Daikan army first occupied the Hirado Domain, the Satsuma Domain, Saga Domain, and other domains proposed forming a coalition army, and the Choshu Domain also sent people to participate. At that time, thinking of the principle of "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold," they sent almost half of their troops to Kyushu Island.

However, in the end, this half of the force was completely wiped out.

Nowadays, only a mere 20,000 to 30,000 people remain within the entire Choshu Domain.

With such a small force, how are we supposed to cope with an army of fifty or sixty thousand?

For a moment, Hidemoto Mori felt a pang of bitterness.

It is clearly impossible to stop the Da Gan army's offensive at Ogi Castle and Yamaguchi Castle!

But should we just give up the Choshu Domain like this?

Mōri Hidemoto felt a pang of reluctance; after all, the Chōshū Domain was a domain that the Mōri family had cultivated for hundreds of years, and their family's foundation lay there. To abandon it now would mean all their previous efforts were in vain!

well!

Mōri Hidemoto sighed repeatedly, his heart filled with sorrow.

"Your Excellency, Lord,"

At this moment, another retainer stepped forward and said, "We have received news from the shogunate that the shogun has ordered us to lead our troops eastward to the capital."

Retreat eastward?

The moment those two words were uttered, they drew the attention of everyone in the council chamber.

The retainer continued without pausing, “The shogunate has just lost Edo Castle, and its entire army of one or two hundred thousand has been wiped out. Now, not only the lords of the various domains in Kyushu, but also the shogunate itself, have lost their main forces. If we continue to hold onto the Choshu Domain, we will likely be defeated piecemeal by the Okami Army before long! Therefore, the shogun has proposed that all the remaining domain troops retreat to the vicinity of the capital, using the terrain advantage of the area to fight a final battle against the Okami Army. If we win this battle, we can return to the Choshu Domain. If we lose this battle, our Japan will be completely finished…”

The retainer's words were very harsh.

Even if everyone inside the council chamber was unwilling to leave, this was the reality!

An undeniable fact!

"If we don't retreat,"

The retainer shook his head with a wry smile and said, "If we want to save our lives, we have no choice but to surrender to the Da Gan army. My lord, whether to fight, make peace, or respond to the general's call to retreat eastward from the capital, it is up to you to decide!"

In an instant, everyone in the council chamber turned their attention to Hidemoto Mori.

A hint of seriousness appeared between Mouri Hidemoto's brows.

He remained silent for a long time before speaking righteously and resolutely: "Surrender is impossible! You must have all heard what happened to the Kyushu Allied Forces after they were captured! We are all descendants of Amaterasu, and we are all samurai of Japan. How can we surrender to the mighty army!"

"Even if I die, I will die with dignity!"

Hidemoto Mori's words were inspiring.

Immediately, Mōri Hidemoto ordered the Chōshū Domain army to begin their retreat.

After the order was issued, the remaining 20,000 to 30,000 men of the Choshu Domain began to retreat towards the vicinity of the capital.

The retreat of the Choshu Domain army also caused the armies of other small domains in the vicinity to cease their resistance and begin to waver.

In an instant, many local vassal armies retreated towards the vicinity of the capital.

After the Choshu Domain and other forces withdrew, the entire area became a ghost town.

After capturing Xiaguan City, Zhao Xun, Zhang Shusen, and other troops, totaling six divisions, began their advance along the routes of Dicheng and Shankou City.

The six divisions, totaling 60,000 men, were not far apart and supported each other, forming a long, interconnected network that stretched from west to east.

Their goal is very simple!

That was a sweeping attack from west to east across the entire Eastern Japan!

After the retreat of the Choshu Domain and other forces, the forces of Zhao Xun, Zhang Shusen and others also moved very quickly.

They swept through the enemy lines as if they were in an empty field!

In just half a month, Zhao Xun and Zhang Shusen's troops had successively captured Ogi Castle, Yamaguchi Castle, Hiroshima Castle, Tottori Castle, Fukuyama Castle, and Okayama Castle.

Their military might is aimed directly at the vicinity of the capital of Japan!

At the same time, the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 43rd Infantry Divisions, located near Edo Castle, as well as the 63rd Infantry Division which had just arrived, also headed from east to west towards the capital of Japan.

A pincer attack from the east and west!

Both aspects should be pursued simultaneously!

In the summer of the fifth year of Yan Ning, the eastern and western armies arrived at the outskirts of the capital of Japan.

The army arrived, eyeing them menacingly.

At this very moment, the entire Japanese capital was on high alert.

Even at the last moment, Tokugawa Kosuke, Mori Hidemoto, and others once again rallied an army of two to three hundred thousand, but they were still somewhat afraid of the more than one hundred thousand troops.

Outside the capital of Japan, relying on the natural barriers of mountains, rivers, hills, and fortified cities, Tokugawa Kousuke and his men also set up extremely formidable defensive fortifications.

After the arrival of the main force, Tokugawa Kosuke even personally came to the fortifications to inspect the defenses.

In addition, Tokugawa Kosuke also took tens of thousands of taels of gold from the capital and distributed them all to the soldiers guarding the fortifications.

He hoped to incentivize the Japanese garrison to defend the capital and win the battle with a high reward!

If we win this battle, everything will be alright!

If we lose this battle, even if we leave behind a lot of gold and silver treasures, it will be of no use.

Therefore, Tokugawa Kosuke was also very generous at this time.

Meanwhile, in Mujin City, south of the capital, the Beiyang Fleet flagship Zhenyuan arrived with Emperor Li Xin of the Great Gan Kingdom.

After landing, Li Xin immediately summoned the main division commanders of the eastern and western armies.

In a tall building in Mujin City, Li Xin, along with Ding Xianda, commander of the Beiyang Fleet, Wu Ankang, commander of the Dongyang Fleet, and the commanders of eleven infantry divisions, all gathered together.

With a large army assembled, the pre-battle planning meeting was officially convened.