The size of Japan was similar to a medium sized province in China, but it had a really high population density. For that reason, Sanli City was able to build a complete Japanese squadron.
The Fleet Admiral of the Japanese squadron was the famous Kuki Yoshitaka, and its chief generals included famous pirates like Murakami Takeyoshi. Both of them had come into contact during the Warring States Period, and in actual fact, Murakami Takeyoshi lost to Kuki Yoshitaka.
Kuki Yoshitaka was a famous minister under Oda Nobunaga during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the eighth head of his family. In 1574, he had gained great credit for protecting Oda Nobunaga's forces during the attacks on Ise.
In the second Battle of Kizugawaguchi, Kuki Yoshitaka constructed the iron armored warships, destroying the Mori clan's navy. He was awarded 35 thousand units of land and was given the name of pirate.
Apart from the Japanese navy, Sanli City had a full scale legion corps, which included generals like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Oda Nobunaga was the marshal whilst the others including some other warring states generals became the Legion Generals.
The three of them were from the same generation, and as such, they had many interactions with one another.
The most legendary character out of all of them was of course Oda Nobunaga.
In terms of military, he used large amounts of firearm techniques. In ruling, he split up the army and agriculture, promoting free trade and had revolutionary policies like making roads and trading routes. He opened up the Japanese's path to the modern day.
In the end, Oda Nobunaga usurped the Muromachi Shogunate that ruled Japan for close to 200 years, causing the warring states period that lasted more than a hundred years to come to an end.
This also helped to form up his fame.
But right before he was able to unify Japan, he was plotted against by his right hand man, Akechi Mitsuhide, and was murdered, signaling the end to his glorious life.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi was born in a commoner family and rose up when he served Oda Nobunaga. His talents were slowly developed and revealed. After the death of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi won in the internal battles and became the successor.
Tokugawa Ieyasu was sent to Nobunaga's family when he was young, forming a friendship with him. In the end, he became a huge help to him wiping out the Cheonju Alliance.
After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu led the east army to win the west army and hence took over control, destroying the family power of the Toyotomi family and forming the Tokugawa shogunate.
The Japan in the game still belonged to the Warring States Period. As a result, Sanli City's historical talents were mostly from this era. As they were the only territory left, Sanli City pretty much had all the top historical talents.
The only special one would be the one that moved into the imperial city Edo. He was not really famous during the Warring States Period, but he was an equally legendary figure, Emperor Meiji.
Such a combination truly gave one a headache.
Based on the intel that the Great Xia Pacific Squadron had scouted, the 1st division of the Japanese squadron was housed in the nearby ocean regions of Kyushu, the 2nd near Shikoku, and the 3rd and 4th at Honshu.
There should only be the 5th division near Hokkaido.
Since the start of the year, Japan had been preparing for the country war month. Since then, the Japanese squadron had strengthened their lockdown on the nearby ocean regions and made it hard for outsiders to get any specific intel.
Even the Black Snake Guards could only hear about their geography and population. They knew little about their military arrangements. One could see that Sanli City had done a good job at keeping it a secret.
This time, the Japanese squadron was using a smokescreen.
On this attack on Hokkaido, Pacific Squadron Fleet Admiral Shi Lang lined up the five divisions in a swallow formation, and the flagship Streamer was in the middle of the 1st division while the other divisions spread out at the sides of it.
This could help to expand the patrolling vision of the squadron whilst also making it easier for them to adapt to changes.
If the five of them were gathered together, it would be like a bunch of blind man traveling in the ocean. It would be a very dangerous and very stupid act.
This was originally the correct arrangement, but this time, they were going to face challenges.
When the chief general Zhou Tai led the 2nd division near Hokkaido, it was instantly surrounded by the Japanese squadron. The five divisions of the Japanese squadron actually appeared in the region at the same time.
"That's impossible!"
Zhou Tai looked on with his mouth agape.
Just yesterday, the Pacific Squadron had crossed the Korea straits, and when they entered Japan ocean region, the cima boats they sent out to investigate did not find anything wrong with the 1st and 3rd divisions of the Japanese squadron.
How did five divisions appear here in the blink of an eye?
'Hong! Hong! Hong!'
The Japanese squadron naturally would not explain the matter to Zhou Tai. Under the orders of Kuki Yoshitaka, they immediately fired out at Zhou Tai's troops, trying to wipe out the division in one swoop.
Due to the generosity of Free City, Sanli City was able to start cannon development when they started building the Japanese squadron. Be it cannons or handguns, they were not any weaker than Great Xia.
As the handgun making technology came from Free City, it was even better than the one Great Xia possessed.
On the vast ocean surface, the Japanese squadron completed a huge encirclement. 200 main warships were like a fan as they fired out at the Zhou Tai forces trapped in the middle.
The huge cannonballs were like meteors as it rained down on them, either hitting the decks, the masts, hitting the ship, or missing and causing huge splashes on the ocean surface.
The ocean beasts that surfaced to try to breathe were struck by cannonball. A huge hole was blown in their backs as blood and flesh flew everywhere.
Seeing that happen, the nearby ocean beasts all fled from the region to escape.
Zhou Tai's forces were being blown from all directions, instantly suffering heavy casualties.
"Quick, seek help from the flagship!"
With the order given, a signal bullet was immediately shot into the sky. Following which, a mimicry flying device flew into the air, rising up into the safety region before flying off.
After giving the order, Zhou Tai started to adjust the formation into a defensive formation. The Japanese squadron's overall strength was similar to the Pacific Squadron, so one versus five was a fight that Zhou Tai did not have the confidence in.
The safest method would be to hold on till the main force arrives.
"Damn it!"
Facing problems, Zhou Tai, who was a hot tempered person, was furious, and he grit his teeth.
Japanese squadron, Kuki ship.
On the deck, Fleet Admiral Kuki Yoshitaka used the telescope to observe the situation, and his face revealed a satisfied expression as he smiled, "Very good, continue to fire, do not give the enemy a chance to breathe."
"Hai!"
Kuki Yoshitaka noticed the enemy's flying device and knew that the enemy reinforcements would arrive quickly. As a famed general, Kuki Yoshitaka did not fear the Great Xia Squadron.
On the contrary, he was really confident.
With Kuki Yoshitaka's knowledge, the Japanese pirates often raided the southeast ocean region of China, winning many battles. As such, they did not fear Great Xia.
Kuki Yoshitaka's appetite included not only the enemy's vanguard forces. Instead, he wanted to use this as bait to totally destroy the Great Xia Pacific Squadron and take control of the Japanese ocean.
"Let them come!" Kuki Yoshitaka grinned.
Using the mimicry flying device, communication conch, and signal bullet, Fleet Admiral Shi Lang received the call for help quickly, and he frowned.
"Send my orders, send out cima boats and mimicry flying devices to investigate the enemy."
Shi Lang did not panic, much less directly sending reinforcements. Striking out under uncertain circumstances was the worry of military people.
As a mature general, Shi Lang naturally would not make such a low level mistake.
Very quickly, the four divisions sent out hundreds of cima boats like a fishing net cast out in the ocean region to get first hand information for the Fleet Admiral to decide.
At the same time, five mimicry flying devices flew into the air.
"Send orders to the two wings, travel forward swiftly in a combat formation." Shi Lang gave orders.
"Yes general!"
Whilst progressing forward, there was a lot of intel. After learning that the entire Japanese Squadron had appeared here, Shi Lang's shock was no less than Zhou Tai's.
"This is problematic!"
Shi Lang's expression was really solemn. Even if he sent the entire squadron, they would have to battle in enemy territory while being on the back foot. To say the truth, Shi Lang did not have confidence of winning this ocean battle.
"I've no choice. I've to use the secret weapon!"
Shi Lang was not willing to go all out against the Japanese Squadron. After all, the ocean battle was just the first stage of the country war. The disembarkment battle was the more important part.
If they lost most of their troops now, this country war would be tough to fight.
Before the war, Ouyang Shuo provided the Pacific Squadron with a secret weapon. Shi Lang did not want to use it so quickly.
During the 5th year of Gaia, whilst Japan prepared eagerly, Ouyang Shuo also made his preparations.
Two months ago, using the chance when they bought magic crystals from Lemuria, Ouyang Shuo spent a million gold to buy four magic powered submarines from Lemuria.
At the start of the country war, three of them were given to the Pacific Squadron and one to the Yashan Squadron.
Under the instructions of Shi Lang, the three submarines proceeded forwards like ghosts, heading toward the battlefield at the front.
The entire process was totally silent.