Tyranny of Steel

Berengar sat back in his war room and gazed upon a map which was sprawled across a large table. The Island of Borneo in particular had caught his interest while his military officers continued to update the positions of the wooden figures which represented the factions at play. 

Empress Itami Riyo of the Japanese Empire had invaded the Majapahit Empire in a bid to secure a stable supply of bauxite. Something Berengar had not only anticipated, but had an active hand in deciding. 

However, in her hubris, Itami had also invaded the Northern Philippines at the exact same time. As a result, two areas of conflict were occurring, and while the Majapahit Empire managed to hold some of its ground, Manilla had fallen within the hour of the Japanese invasion. 

Despite all of this, there was a stoic expression on the Kaiser's face while he listened to a comms operator report on the latest losses the Imperial Japanese Army had suffered.

"It is confirmed three out of three floatplanes are KIA. The credit goes to Majapahit Flak guns stationed in the interior of Borneo. As of this moment, the Imperial Japanese Army is advancing while blind!"

In the next moment, a German officer approached the map and removed the wooden figures which represented the three float planes that the Nagato-class Battleship carried onboard its deck. These reconnaissance aircraft were crucial to the Japanese War effort, and had only been taken out so early on because the Japanese had not expected their enemy to be equipped with anti-aircraft capabilities. 

No doubt Itami would be seething when she finally learned of this disaster. Despite this good news, Berengar remained ecompletely unfaced with an ice cold expression on his face while he continued to listen to the incoming reports.

"It has just been confirmed, five Type 4s KIA. The Japanese Army has made first contact with Majapahit Anti-Tank guns." 

The weapon the comms officer was referring to was none other than the 8.8cm Pak43, which Berengar had invested a large sum into mass producing for the sake of his allies in the east. The Indian Empire, the Majapahit Empire, the Joseon Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty had been sold thousands of these weapons over the past six months in direct preparation for this conflict. 

After learning that Itami had begun the mass production of tanks and aircraft, Berengar made sure that not only were he allied equipped with proper countermeasures, but he himself was. In doing so, Berengar created a modified variant of the Jagdpanther from his past life as a dedicated Tank Destroyer. It wasn't difficult to make, as the tank destroyer used the same chassis as all of his armored vehicles, while also making use of 8.8cm Pak43 as its main armament. 

Though Germany had yet to fully dedicate its forces into this war, as Berengar did not have a defensive pact with the Majapahit Empire. He knew it was only a matter of time before Itami fucked up and gave him a casus belli. Thus, with every day that passed, the German war machine toiled to produce more equipment. 

Updates continued to stream into the room, while the map continued to be updated according to the latest intel. Until finally, the comms operated gave Berengar the words he wanted to hear most. 

"The Japanese advance in Borneo has halted. It appears they are waiting for more men and supplies before continuing their assault. However, it would appear that the northern isles of the Philippines are completely under Japanese Occupation."

Since the moment the Imperial Japanese Army invaded the two regions, Berengar had remained completely emotionless. It was only after hearing this last bit of news that Berengar had finally begun to smile.

Naturally, the Ming Emperor would be upset about this recent invasion of the Northern Philippines. After all, the territory was owned by several Ming Tributaries. However, now that the entire region had fallen into the hands of the Japanese Empire, Berengar could make use of this tragedy to spring a trap against his rivals in Japan. Thus, it came as no surprise when he issued a direct order to one of the comms operators after hearing this news. 

"Get the Ming Emperor on the line. I need to speak with him."

The comms operator did exactly as he was told and within a few minutes Berengar was having a private discussion with the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

"Zhu Wudi, I suppose by now you have heard of what the Japanese have done?"

There was an obviously disgruntled voice on the other end, as the Ming Emperor spat back to Berengar in a rather foul tone.

"Have you come to gloat, oh mighty Kaiser, or do you actually have a solution to my current headache?"

This crass response elicited a chuckle from Berengar's lips, before a deep sneer stretched itself across his face. His next words would deal a mighty blow to his rivals in Japan. 

"For this unprovoked attack on several of your tributaries, I feel that economic sanctions are in order, don't you think?"

Despite Berengar's suggestion, the only thing which was on Zhu Wudi's mind was his fury, and the man was quick to vent it.

"Economic Sanctions? How many times has this little bitch gone out of her way to provoke me? And what have I ever done to her? I have half a mind to sail my troops across the pond and attack her home directly for this outrage!" 

Berengar lowered the phone from his ear, and allowed the Ming Emperor to continue his rant for some time, briefly checking in every few seconds. The level of obscenities which Zhu Wudi had cast upon Itami were no small amount. In the end, the man had calmed himself enough for Berengar to get a word in, which he was quick to take advantage of. 

"Wudi, my friend, you need to calm down and think rationally here. If you were to actually invade Japan at this moment, all you would manage to accomplish is create a power vacuum for the next greatest asshole to take advantage of.

Listen to me, Itami's economy is struggling as it is. If you were to cut off her only means of trade, it will completely collapse upon itself. Then she will have to deal with the outrage of her starving people as she sends their sons to die in vain for some foreign country. 

Your response should be simple, but effective. Cut of all trade with Japan, and together we will convince the rest of the world to do the same. Once we have done this, her paper currency will be worthless. 

Besides, you may not be aware, but Itami's transition away from the gold standard has already upset many of the Samurai clans under her reign. Make that paper worthless, and they will be lining up to cut off the bitch's head! 

First, we respond with economic sanctions, then if the bitch still continues to act like this, military intervention comes next."

Naturally, Berengar had left out the part about his wife's counterfeit operations, which were set to take place the moment the Ming Dynasty ceased trade with the Japanese Empire. By now, millions of false banknotes were already within the borders of the Japanese mainland, just waiting to enter circulation. 

As Berengar was thinking about this, one of the comms operators reported some news that Berengar had not expected. 

"It is just now confirmed, two Japanese Destroyers have struck mines off the coast of Java, and have been destroyed. The Japanese invasion force that was inbound to the Majapahit capital is turning back to Borneo." 

Berengar nearly shouted in excitement when he heard this news, but he retrained himself because he was still on the radio with the Ming Emperor. He had not only made ample preparations by supplying the Majapahit Empire with weapons and training for this war.

But over the past six months, the Kriegsmarine had also laid thousands of mines throughout critical waterways within the maritime borders of the Majapahit Empire, making it nigh impossible for Itami's fleet to attack their capital. 

After calming himself, Berengar returned his focus to the radio, where he could hear Zhu Wudi pondering Berengar's suggestion. Ultimately, after several moments of silence, the man responded.

"Very well, we shall do it your way! Together, we will convince the entire world to halt trade with the Japanese Empire. If the bitch continues to struggle, then I will be forced to intervene in the Northern Philippines and the Joseon Dynasty."

Itami had made a grave mistake by invading the Northern Philippines. It was one thing to seize Borneo for its vast bauxite deposits. However, by taking the strategically important land in the Northern Philippines, Itami had stabbed her largest trading partner in the back, an act which they would not tolerate a second time. 

As for Berengar, he simply sat back and fanned the flames of war so that they burned his enemies and his enemies alone. It was not yet time for the Reich to display its true power to the world. Not until a proper casus belli had occurred. But when it did, Japan would feel the wrath of the German Empire like no other had endured in history. 

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