Chapter 215: Going to Yokosuka

He knew Ba Dai Liulang was making a reasonable point. From a purely military perspective, after the Navy's main force was annihilated, Japan had already lost sea control. And an island nation without sea control has only a dead end if the war continues.

But he also knew that if they accepted peace talks now, his cabinet would collapse immediately. The Army would not agree, the Diet would not agree, the people even less. The national pride and militarist sentiment built up after the Russo‑Japanese War would not permit the government to make a "humiliating" concession.

"Gentlemen," Da Wei Zhongxin said wearily, rubbing his temples. "Today's meeting ends here. I need time to think. The Navy side should promptly submit detailed battle reports and loss assessments. The Army side should prepare for homeland defense. The Foreign Ministry… try, through a third party, to discern Lanfang's intentions."

He paused, looked at Ba Dai Liulang: "Minister Ba Dai, please stay a moment."

The other ministers and generals left one after another. Gang Shi Zhi Zhu, passing by Ba Dai Liulang, let out a cold hum, his hostile gaze unmistakable.

Soon, only Da Wei Zhongxin and Ba Dai Liulang remained in the conference room.

The Prime Minister stood, walked to the window, and looked at the pine trees in the palace courtyard outside. After a long silence, he finally spoke:

"Really… is there not a single hope left?"

Ba Dai Liulang stepped beside him and also looked out the window: "Prime Minister, have you ever seen the Main Gun salvos of a Kongō‑class?"

"I've seen it a few times in exercises."

"Then imagine a gun larger, with longer range and higher accuracy than that, firing in the seas off Japan's home islands." Ba Dai Liulang's voice was light. "They don't need to land, they don't need to occupy. They only need to shell a few ports each day, sink a few merchant ships. In a month, our coal, oil, and iron ore will be in short supply. In two months, factories will halt, trains will cease operation. In three months… famine will begin."

Da Wei Zhongxin's hand trembled slightly.

"And our Navy has no means to deal with this," Ba Dai Liulang continued. "We can't catch them, we can't hit them, even… we can't see them. That's a technological gap, Prime Minister. Between us and Lanfang lies an entire era."

He turned, facing Da Wei Zhongxin: "I know my suggestion will not be accepted. The Army will oppose, the people will be angry, even Your Majesty Tian Huang might… but this is my final and most honest counsel as Navy Minister: peace talks, the sooner the better. Each day of delay increases the future price we must pay."

Da Wei Zhongxin remained silent for a long while. Finally, he let out a long sigh:

"Did you bring your resignation letter?"

Ba Dai Liulang took a white envelope from his briefcase and handed it with both hands: "Please, Prime Minister, forward it to Your Majesty Tian Huang. All responsibility I will bear alone."

Da Wei Zhongxin took the envelope, feeling it as heavy as a thousand pounds. He did not open it, just held it, looking at the neat calligraphy on it: "Resignation Request."

"After you, who is suitable to succeed as Navy Minister?"

"Shan Ben Quan Bingwei," Ba Dai Liulang replied without hesitation. "He is a Navy elder, highly respected, and capable of handling complex situations. Most importantly… the Army will give him some face."

Da Wei Zhongxin gave a wry smile: "At this point, still have to consider the Army's mood?"

"It must be considered, Prime Minister," Ba Dai Liulang said seriously. "In the days ahead, coordination between Army and Navy is more important than ever. If the Army completely loses control… that would be the real disaster."

The two fell silent again for a while. Outside, Tokyo's sky grew increasingly overcast, as if rain were coming.

"Do you have anything else to say?" Da Wei Zhongxin asked.

Ba Dai Liulang thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "Everything that needed to be said has been said. I only hope… my successor can do better than I did."

He bowed deeply once more, then turned and walked toward the conference room door.

As his hand grasped the door handle, he paused briefly, but did not look back.

"Prime Minister, take care."

The door opened, then closed.

Da Wei Zhongxin stood alone in the empty conference room, clutching the resignation letter in his hand. Outside, the dark clouds thickened, a storm looming.

He knew Ba Dai Liulang's resignation was only the beginning. Next would come the cabinet's fall, political turmoil, the nation facing an unprecedented crisis.

And all this stemmed from this morning's disastrous defeat in the East Sea.

He placed the resignation letter on the desk, walked to the telephone, and twisted the handset.

"Connect to the Imperial Household Ministry. I request an audience with Your Majesty Tian Huang."

Outside the Navy Ministry building, 1 p. m.

The rain had already begun, a fine drizzle, not heavy but very steady.

Ba Dai Liulang left the Navy Ministry building without an umbrella. The rain quickly soaked his military coat and cap, but he paid no mind.

At the entrance, a group of reporters waited. Seeing him emerge, they immediately swarmed, camera shutters "click‑click" sounding.

"Minister, is the situation in the East Sea true?"

"Did the Imperial Navy really lose four Kongō‑class ships?"

"Has the Combined Fleet been completely annihilated?"

"Minister, please say something!"

The reporters chattered, their questions pelting like raindrops. Guards tried to push them back, but Ba Dai Liulang raised his hand to stop them.

He stood firm, facing those cameras and the expectant—perhaps sensational‑seeking—faces, and began slowly:

"Today, the Imperial Navy engaged the Lanfang Navy in the East Sea. Detailed battle reports will be officially released by the Navy Ministry later."

"Is the rumored heavy loss true?" a reporter from Asahi Shimbun pressed.

Ba Dai Liulang looked at him, rain streaming down his graying hair, over his cheeks, along the rim of his glasses.

"The Imperial Navy's soldiers," he said word by word, "today in the East Sea fulfilled their duty, fighting to the very end. They are the pride of the Empire."

He did not answer directly, but that sentence said it all.

The reporters still wanted to ask more, but Ba Dai Liulang had already turned, walked toward the waiting sedan. The driver opened the door for him, he got in, and closed the door.

The car started and drove into the rain.

Through the window, he saw the Navy Ministry building gradually blur in the rain. This building he had worked in for twenty years, this symbol of Imperial Navy glory, after today he might never return.

"Going home, sir?" the driver asked cautiously.

Ba Dai Liulang was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "To Yokosuka."

"Now? But the rain is so heavy…"

"To Yokosuka." Ba Dai Liulang repeated, his tone unquestionable.

"Yes."