Chapter 21: Outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War

1. The beginning of the war and the breakthrough

The Second Sino-Japanese War finally broke out, and the Great Political Co-prosperity Sphere officially declared war on China. This led to the war developing to a scale that would involve the entire Asian region and shake the world's economy and politics. However, the early stages of the Great Political Co-prosperity Sphere's war were marked by its breakneck pace.
The reason for this was due to the ultra-high-tech weapons developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. These weapons boasted an overwhelmingly powerful capability unimaginable in previous wars, and quickly put the military power of the Taisei Co-prosperity Sphere in an advantageous position over China. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries deployed its weapons as soon as the war began, overwhelming the Chinese army one after another.

2. The Emergence of Ultra-High-Tech Weapons

The most important of the super high-tech weapons developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were the following three types of weapons.

Quantum stealth fighter "Inko" (Hidden Light)
The Hidden Light was a fighter that utilized quantum stealth technology to completely nullify radar reflections and was difficult to detect even visually, making it possible to contain enemy aircraft reactions and launch surprise attacks. This fighter was the first state-of-the-art weapon deployed by the Dajokan Co-prosperity Sphere, and it established a unilateral advantage over the Chinese Air Force.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries executive:
"This hidden light fighter will be completely invisible thanks to quantum stealth technology. With it, we can completely neutralize the Chinese Air Force."

AI Drone Swarm "Senko" (Flashlight)
Senko is a drone swarm that could neutralize targets and gather intelligence through AI-autonomous operational behavior. These drone swarms serve to precisely attack specific targets on large battlefields, thus leading the battlefield to a favorable outcome. Furthermore, the drone swarms acted in unison and attacked targets in coordination, thereby defeating the Chinese military defense network one after another.
• Nanjo Kazuma (Taisei Yokusan Bussan):
"This fleet of flashbang drones is no match for human fighters in intelligence gathering and unmanned strikes on the battlefield."

Micro Weapon "Zinrai" (Lightning Thunderbolt)
The Zinrai is a micro-weapon, a small weapon capable of extremely precise attacks. It could be used to destroy enemy equipment and bases with minimal casualties. This weapon was also used to equip soldiers and was deployed to overrun Chinese bases and logistics in one fell swoop.
• Shigeru Sugawara (Mitsubishi Corporation):
"The Zinrai has maximum destructive power with minimum troop strength. This allows it to penetrate the Chinese military defense line."

With the introduction of these ultra-high-tech weapons, the Taisei Co-prosperity Sphere established an overwhelming advantage in the early stages of the war and achieved successive victories over the Chinese army.

3. Sugawara's secret agreement and the plight of the Taisei Yokusan Co-prosperity Sphere

However, as the war progressed, the Taisei Yokusan Co-prosperity Sphere was gradually driven into a corner by the influence of the secret agreement with China. In order to protect Mitsubishi Corporation's survival and interests, Shigeru Sugawara made a secret pact with the Chinese government during the war. On the surface, this secret agreement was to agree on terms to bring the war to a swift end, but in reality, it was a betrayal of the Taisei-Yuppankai Co-prosperity Sphere's commitment to continue the war.
• Shigeru Sugawara (Mitsubishi Corporation):
"In order to accomplish great things, we must sacrifice the small things. The future of Mitsubishi Corporation is at stake. We must forge cooperation with China to get things done."
Although Sugawara's actions could be described as hostile to the Great Political Co-prosperity Sphere, his decision was a painful one that would protect Mitsubishi Corporation's survival and result in the company's economic revival.

4. Secret Agreements with China and Subsequent Impact

Sugawara's actions, apart from the physical outcome of the war, would create further economic conflict between Japan and China, which would have a major impact on the course of the war. However, the success of Sugawara's plan would temporarily put Mitsubishi Corporation back on its feet and deepen the internal conflicts within the Greater China Co-prosperity Sphere.
• Nanjo Kazuma (Taisei Kyosei Bussan):
"Shigeru Sugawara's actions are completely inconsistent with our war doctrine. He tried to protect the interests of Mitsubishi Shoji, but at great cost."
• Utsutsu Umiyama (Daisei Bussan):
"I don't agree with Sugawara's approach, but perhaps it had to be done to save Mitsubishi Corporation from a crisis. However, I don't know what effect his actions, taken against our war principles, will have in the future."