After years of reforms under the Shōnichi Divine Emperor, Japan had undergone a complete transformation. In exchange for becoming the Western Nations' foothold in the Far East, it had taken on considerable work maintaining ships and manufacturing spare parts and weapons.
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Precisely because of this, Japan now possessed what could be called the greatest industrial capacity in the Far East.
In addition, while the Western Ocean powers were blasting open Great Jin's gates and the Earthly Kingdom of God was rising in rebellion, the Shōnichi Divine Emperor had taken advantage of Great Jin's two pillars being too occupied to look east. He had successfully gambled on undergoing his third Heavenly Tribulation, laying the foundation for Japan's position as the regional bully of the Far East.
Three Sword Saints in the same generation, a sight rarely seen in a thousand years, together with two High Priests and the fleet Japan had painstakingly built up.
To some extent, they had even made Japan a force fully capable of tipping the balance in the Far East.
Unfortunately, Japan at its peak had had its back broken by the Anxi Jiedushi in the last naval battle, in which it had wagered its national fortunes.
And now news had arrived that the Anxi Jiedushi had slain two Three-Tribulation Martial Saints-Duogungun and Great Jin's Grand Empress Dowager-ascended the throne as emperor, and single-handedly routed the Western Nations' Far East fleet.
Everyone in Japan with any aspirations understood that the mighty Central Plains of old had returned.
The extreme populism that had only just begun to rear its head in Japan was immediately crushed back down.
Even after the defeat in the North Sea battle, Japan had known how important its position was. Its Western daddies would surely lend it a hand.
But now its daddies