Chapter 24, A New Bet

The topic of advancing southward or northward once again appeared in the imperial council meeting. However, different from the past, the southward strategy had already failed.

Since the plan to capture the Philippine Islands had failed, there was even less point in thinking about subsequent campaigns in Southeast Asia. The Continental Alliance, having interfered once, could interfere a second time. If they continued to recklessly push southward, it would be a clear sign of growing weary of living.

Looking at the bigger picture, although Japan had suffered heavy losses in the Philippines war, they were not without gains.

Among these, the greatest benefit was acquiring a modernized fleet. They had obtained capital ships that they could not afford to buy before the war.

Judging solely by the total tonnage of warships, the Japanese Navy had become the world's fifth strongest naval power, trailing only behind the United Kingdom, Austria, Russia, and Spain.