Empire Conquest-Chapter 838 - 89: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

It is evident that there is no need to deploy carriers or even fleets to control the Land Heart Sea.

Even in the East Continent Heart Sea, the West Continent group has prominent geopolitical advantages, especially after the Ter Republic declared permanent neutrality.

Before the Boi War, the Empire’s presence in the East Continent Heart Sea mainly relied on the Ter Republic, which meant maintaining good relations with the Ter Republic.

Of course, the Ter Republic also hoped to balance the powerful Tiaoman Empire with the help of the Liangxia Empire.

Although historically, the Ter Republic and the Tiaoman Empire have had a very good relationship, one could say that the Ter Republic served as the Tiaoman Empire’s proxy in the New Moon Region. However, after the end of the Second Global War, the Ter Republic quickly parted ways with the Tiaoman Empire to protect its vital interests.

The reasoning behind this is quite simple.

The Tiaoman Empire wanted to absorb the Ter Republic, incorporate it into the "Great Western Continent" group, and thereby obtain a shortcut to Boss Bay.

Of course, the fundamental goal was to acquire the oil in Boss Bay.

The problem, however, is that this would inevitably lead to conflict with the Liangxia Empire, and the leadership group of the Ter Republic did not believe that the Tiaoman Empire could defeat the Liangxia Empire.

In other words, the Ter Republic preferred to act as an intermediary between the two empires, gaining benefits from both sides. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Unfortunately, the leaders of the Ter Republic overestimated their own capabilities.

In fact, this very choice eventually led the Tiaoman Empire to shift its focus to the Boi Region. By instigating the Boi Country to launch an independence war, they weakened the Ter Republic, making it insignificant enough to achieve the goals of "dismemberment" and "annexation" of the Ter Republic.

Though in the end, the Tiaoman Empire didn’t gain much advantage, it wasn’t until the Iran-Iraq War broke out that the Tiaoman Empire gained a foothold in the Boss Bay region. Nonetheless, the marginalization of the Ter Republic indeed dealt a heavy blow to the Liangxia Empire and weakened its influence in the Land Heart Sea.

A direct result of the decline of the Ter Republic was the emergence of many small countries in the southeastern Balkans of the West Continent.

Among them was Greece, which controlled the entire Aegean Sea.

Having gained independence with the support of the Tiaoman Empire and subsequently joining the West Continent group, Greece has always been Tiaoman Empire’s number one ally in the Balkan region.

Moreover, it serves as a vanguard guarding the Bosporus Strait.

Because almost the entire Aegean Sea is Greece’s territorial waters, with hundreds of islands, over a hundred of which are suitable for building airports and deploying air force, and because of large islands like Crete Island that can station hundreds of thousands of troops, to enter the Bosporus Strait, one must attack and occupy Greece, at least destroy the local air force to ensure the safe passage of fleets and convoys.

The key point lies here.

Although Greece joined the West Continent group shortly after gaining independence, after the Ter Republic declared permanent neutrality, Greece withdrew from the West Continent group Security Council, only maintaining political and diplomatic alliances and integrating into the West Continent Economic Community led by the Tiaoman Empire.

Simply put, Greece is essentially a neutral country that hasn’t declared neutrality.

The reason is they don’t want to become enemies with the Liangxia Empire.

When Greece initially joined the West Continent group, it was mainly seeking protection from the Tiaoman Empire to counteract the much stronger Ter Republic.

The crucial point is that after receiving guarantees from the Tiaoman Empire and the Liangxia Empire, and signing the "Istanbul International Convention," the Ter Republic abolished its military capabilities, conducted three major disarmaments in a row, reducing the total manpower of the Defense Army to less than 200,000, and virtually abandoned all advanced equipment. Even during the Iran-Iraq War, when the Ter Republic expanded the Defense Army to 500,000, they were mainly deployed in the eastern and southeastern areas of their homeland, bordering the Boi Country and Iraq, responsible for stopping the massive influx of war refugees.

The consequence was that Greece’s security was no longer an issue.

In other words, the conditions for allying with the Tiaoman Empire and thereby obtaining security no longer existed!

Thus, Greece chose to withdraw from the West Continent group’s Security Council.

However, Greece remains a member of the West Continent group.

The problem lies here.

During peacetime, Greece can refuse to allow the Tiaoman Empire and other West Continent group member countries to use military bases within its territory and can refuse to open its territorial waters and airspace to other countries. But as long as Greece remains a member country of the West Continent group, it must adhere to the most basic alliance obligations.

In wartime, it must unconditionally provide conveniences to the Allies.

This includes providing military bases to allies and prohibiting non-allies from using its territorial waters and airspace.

Simply put, the Tiaoman Empire can deploy combat units, including the air force, to the islands of the Aegean Sea, and the Greek Defense Army must block the Aegean Sea.

This is also the most crucial intelligence provided by the Military Intelligence Bureau.

After the outbreak of the war, the Greek authorities have already opened their military bases to many Allies, including the Tiaoman Empire, in accordance with the West Continent group’s alliance treaty.

However, there is no evidence yet that the Tiaoman Empire and other West Continent group member countries have deployed combat forces in Greece.

This isn’t something to celebrate.

The war has already broken out, and no matter what, the Liangxia Empire will not give up East Luo, and they must do everything they can to hold the critical Chains Land Bridge, at least trying their best here, and the Navy’s Land Heart Sea Sub-fleet has not withdrawn, with no significant reduction in manpower.

Furthermore, the transport fleet is about to reach Alexandria.

So, the West Continent group must block the route leading to the Bosporus Strait, which means they should deploy substantial forces in the Aegean Sea, at least on the Balkan Peninsula, especially combat aircraft capable of conducting maritime strike missions, such as "Vulcan" long-range bombers.

These long-range bombers can carry six heavy anti-ship missiles with a range of 500 kilometers under their wings and attack enemy ships after flying 3,000 kilometers. Including the missile range, theoretically, they can attack carrier battle groups 3,500 kilometers away.

The fact that the Tiaoman Empire has yet to take action doesn’t mean they won’t.

The reasoning is simple; the West Continent is only so large.

Even if they take off from their homeland, the "Vulcan" can attack fleets in the East Continent Heart Sea and need only land nearby after completing the attack.

If the fighters are deployed on the Apennine Peninsula, in the Raleigh Kingdom, they could also provide escort for the bombers.

In summary, the West Continent group has no need to preemptively deploy combat planes in Greece.

This is also the biggest concern for Li Shenzhi.

Since the enemy can deploy bombers far in the rear, and even the escort fighters are in the rear, relying solely on the fleet’s reconnaissance capabilities, they cannot determine the enemy’s whereabouts, nor know when the enemy will launch an attack.

Clearly, this is the most critical problem.

What worsens the situation is that Li Shenzhi cannot preemptively strike first, deploying shipborne air force to launch attacks ahead of the enemy, making it impossible for the enemy to launch an offensive.

Not only are the enemy’s bases too far away, but there are also too many airports available for deploying air forces.

The 51st Special Mixed Fleet only has two supercarriers, and even if the shore-based air force near the Xifan Canal was brought over, the total strength has not shrunk significantly.

Furthermore, the transport fleet has not been withdrawn, and its strength has not significantly reduced.

Thus, the strategic situation cannot be changed even if a victory is achieved in an assault, no matter how great the victory.

It is apparent that in the impending battle, there is not enough room for defensive maneuvering in the East Continent Heart Sea.

Hence, Li Shenzhi hoped the Navy Commander would send a few more carriers so they could take the initiative, destroying all air bases along the way.

Unfortunately, he only has two carriers and cannot retreat.

So now, regardless of the thoughts in his heart, all Li Shenzhi can do is passively defend, at most, expand the scope of the defense.

The question is, how long can such a state be maintained?

By design, even if they achieve a great success in the sortie, it will not be of much significance.

It is evident that continuing this state will eventually lead to defeat by the enemy.

The carrier itself is an offensive weapon, and it can only achieve its value in offense.

Furthermore, in the East Continent Heart Sea, there is no room for maneuvering necessary for defense.

For that matter, Li Shenzhi hoped the Navy Commander would send a few more carriers, then take the initiative to attack and destroy all the air force bases along the way.

It is regrettable that, at the moment, he only has two carriers and cannot retreat.