Chapter 0756: Panic-Stricken

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The coastal defense artillery of the island nation continued to fire. Shell after shell rained down on the German expeditionary fleet's light cruisers and destroyers, which were swiftly navigating through the Uraga Channel. However, these large-caliber coastal guns, with their slow rate of fire, had a very low hit rate against the high-speed German cruisers and destroyers, leaving them helplessly watching as the ships passed through the channel unscathed.

"Boom!"

A 280mm coastal defense shell struck the destroyer V40 as it passed through the waterway. With a displacement of less than a thousand tons, the destroyer could hardly rely on heavy armor. The shell tore through the ship's hull, causing an internal explosion. The sheer force of the blast nearly split the destroyer in two, and a torrent of seawater poured in through the breach, causing the vessel to sink rapidly.

"Damn it!" Seeing one of his destroyers sunk, Admiral Spee could not help but curse.

They were on the verge of achieving final victory, yet at this critical moment, they had lost a ship. But for the German expeditionary fleet, such a loss was insignificant. They could afford to lose more. As long as they could destroy Tokyo in the ensuing battle and force the islanders to surrender, victory would still be theirs.

It seemed the coastal defense forces' luck had run out. After sinking the V40, they achieved no further successes. The German light cruiser and destroyer divisions managed to pass through the Uraga Channel unimpeded, entering Tokyo Bay.

"Let's move out!" Admiral Spee said confidently. "This battle is ours without a doubt!"

The Uraga Channel had been the final obstacle preventing the German expeditionary fleet from claiming victory. Now that it had been overcome, the remainder of the battle was bound to proceed smoothly.

Admiral Spee, aboard the flagship Mackenzen, along with the battleships Goeben and Seydlitz, entered the Uraga Channel. Despite the island navy's coastal guns continuing their relentless barrage, their fire was nothing more than a futile last gasp. The shells posed no threat to the three German battlecruisers, which sustained only minor damage at most.

Once the German fleet passed through the Uraga Channel and entered Tokyo Bay, the island nation would face an unimaginable blow.

As the German fleet navigated the Uraga Channel, a miscalculation led them to trigger a mine, causing an explosion. This alerted the island's coastal defense forces, who immediately sent word to Tokyo.

Admiral Yatsushiro Rokuro was awakened from his warm bed by the news. Irritated at being disturbed from his sleep, he was stunned into silence when informed of the situation.

"How could this happen? Didn't we lay mines in the Uraga Channel? How could the Germans have entered the waterway? Surely they knew their ships could hit a mine and be destroyed!" Yatsushiro fumed.

He knew that if the German fleet breached Tokyo Bay, it would spell disaster for both the people of Tokyo and the entire nation. There was no doubt that the Germans would open fire on Tokyo, reducing it to rubble, as they had done with other cities.

"Sir, no one knows what the Germans were thinking, but it is certain they have done it, and they are on the brink of success!" the secretary reported anxiously.

"Send a telegram to the Yokosuka Naval Base! Get all our destroyers to launch an immediate attack. This time, we must stop the Germans, or we're finished!" Yatsushiro ordered.

"Yes, Sir," the secretary nodded, rushing to carry out the command.

"Quick, call the Prime Minister's office! Tell the Prime Minister the Germans are about to breach Tokyo Bay. We must prepare immediately!" Yatsushiro ordered, quickly donning his clothes and preparing to drive to the Prime Minister's office.

The breach of Tokyo Bay by the German fleet was a monumental event for the island nation. A single mistake could lead to catastrophe.

Upon receiving Yatsushiro's notification, Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu was struck with shock.

"Dammit! How could the Navy let this happen? Didn't they say the defenses in the Uraga Channel were foolproof? How could they let the Germans into Tokyo Bay? Don't they know those Germans are monsters? If they get into Tokyo Bay, Tokyo will be destroyed!" Okuma bellowed.

"Sir, Admiral Yatsushiro is on his way to the Prime Minister's office," the secretary reported.

"It's too late! Sound the alarm, order an evacuation of the entire city. If we don't act now, it will be too late," Okuma ordered without hesitation. Although Tokyo had a population of over two million, evacuating such a large number of people in a short time seemed almost impossible. But he had no choice. He could only hope as many people as possible could escape.

"Call the Imperial Palace! Tell the Emperor to take refuge in the air-raid shelter. Also, alert the elders and have them prepare. Have the other ministers immediately come to the Prime Minister's office!" Okuma instructed.

Evacuating Emperor Taisho from Tokyo was virtually impossible. Once the news reached the citizens, panic would ensure every escape route would be blocked. At that point, the Emperor would not be able to leave Tokyo, and his safety would be at risk. The safest course would be for him to remain in the palace's well-fortified air-raid shelter. While the palace was within range of the German fleet's guns, it was unlikely the shelter would be breached. With a bit of luck, Emperor Taisho could remain safe.

The other elders, who were key figures in the nation, were equally indispensable. Their safety was crucial for the stability of the nation. Any threat to them was unacceptable.