Gambling the Nation's Fate (2300-vote bonus chapter)

The Island Nation's Elder Statesmen and key Cabinet ministers swiftly reached an agreement. In a frenzy, they sought to stake the fate of the entire Island Nation on this gamble once again. If they won, the Island Nation would soar into the heavens, and no one would be able to restrain its rise. If they lost, the Island Nation would be utterly finished.

"Gentlemen, the rise and fall of the Imperial Nation will be decided in this battle. We have no other choice. We can only give it everything we have and fight for victory for the Empire!" Yamagata Aritomo said with a solemn expression.

"Yes! The Empire shall prevail!" everyone shouted fervently.

Although they had yet to report this to Emperor Taisho or seek his opinion, everyone seemed to have selectively forgotten that point. In their eyes, Emperor Taisho was nothing more than a human-shaped seal.

"The Army must begin mobilizing immediately. We need more troops. If war breaks out with Germany, seventeen standing divisions will be nowhere near enough," Oka Ichinosuke said.

"Yes. The Germans have already mobilized more than three million troops in this war. Furthermore, the weapons their forces are equipped with are more advanced than ours, and their soldiers are formidable as well. Even if the quality of Imperial Army officers and men is no worse than that of the Germans, it will still be extremely difficult to defeat them if our troop numbers are too low. Especially since we must also send troops to occupy those colonies, which will scatter our strength. The Army must be expanded further," Oyama Iwao added.

"Mobilize ten divisions first! If that is not enough, we will conduct a second round of mobilization. Still, I believe ten divisions should be sufficient. The Germans are unlikely to send too many