It was already past ten o'clock in the night, but the lights in the war room were still bright.
Amidst the rapid footsteps, the commander of the Southern Army, General Juichi Terauchi, accompanied by the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Luota Kagu, walked in. The combat staff who were busy in front of the map and next to the sand table immediately stood up and turned to Terauchi Juichi and
Luota Gong bowed his head in salute.
Terauchi Shouichi waved his hand and strode to the map hanging on the wall.
Luotian took two steps forward to take the command pole from a major staff officer, pointed to the map and explained: "Your Excellency, the Prime Minister of Siam, Luang Phibun, just sent an urgent message, saying that the Chinese Army had been discovered in northern Siam.
The Siamese military used this as an excuse to withdraw the two Siamese divisions on the Siam-Myanmar border back to Chiang Mai."
"Baga Yalu." Upon hearing this, Shouyi in the temple became furious.
Luota Gong said: "The sudden change in the attitude of the Siamese military is obviously related to the strategic counterattack promoted by the Allies. In fact, from the beginning, the alliance between the Empire and Siam was not strong. Although the Kingdom of Siam
Although I joined the Axis Alliance, I have always been in awe of China, the former central empire, and I also dealt with the empire a lot."
Terauchi Shou's face was ashen as water, and he neither recognized Raota Gong's point of view nor refuted it.
In fact, what Juichi Terauchi is most worried about now is not the situation in Siam. In the final analysis, Siam is just a small country with a weak people and an even more vulnerable army. The Imperial Japanese Army can destroy it ten times with just a wave of his hand.
For the eighth time, what Shouichi in the temple was most worried about was the safety of the 100,000 elites who entered the Shan State Plateau.
After the two divisions of the Kingdom of Siam withdrew to Chiang Mai, the Japanese troops entering the Shan State Plateau completely lost their guides and supplies. In addition, the Allied air force completely invaded the nearby airspace, and the Southern Army's air force was unable to airdrop.
Supplies or guidance in the air. In this case, how easy is it to get out of the primitive jungle of the Shan State Plateau?
As of yesterday, most of the radio stations carried by the Japanese army in Myanmar have lost contact. Currently, the only ones that still maintain contact with the Southern Army Headquarters are the 1st Guards Regiment and the 148th Infantry Regiment.
The situation is not optimistic. The 1st Guards Regiment has been reduced by 60%, and the 148th Infantry Regiment has been reduced by more than 80%!
If other alliances are in a similar situation to these two alliances, then of the 100,000 elites who entered the Shan State Plateau, there are probably only less than 40,000 left by now! Moreover, these 40,000 may not be able to
Come back alive! Thinking of this, Shoudu Terauchi suddenly shuddered. Such a result is really terrible.
Juichi Terauchi really couldn't imagine what kind of commotion this bad news would cause when it spread to the country.
"Your Excellency, General, I think we must prepare for the worst!" Luota Gong took a deep breath and said to Terauchi Juichi in an extremely solemn tone, "The unfavorable situation faced by the army entering Myanmar must be reported immediately and truthfully
Staff Headquarters, and recommended that the base camp urgently mobilize at least 20 divisions to join the Southern Army sequence."
Terauchi Shouichi couldn't help but hesitate after hearing this. Reason told him that the suggestion of attacking Luota was correct. Various signs showed that the US government was continuing to increase its assistance to the Chinese Expeditionary Force, and the Chinese Expeditionary Force was indeed preparing for a counterattack. This
This is by no means a political propaganda show to win arms aid.
However, it was not easy for Juichi Terauchi to make this decision.
Suggesting that the base camp send more troops to Southeast Asia is tantamount to admitting failure!
In North China, Juichi Terauchi has already suffered a Waterloo. If he is defeated by Yue Weihan again in Southeast Asia, even if Juichi Terauchi is the imperial earl, he will definitely not be able to escape the blame this time! What is even more frightening is that even the Terauchi family will not be able to escape the blame.
will be implicated as a result.
"Your Excellency, General!" Seeing that Shouichi in the temple was still hesitating, Luota Gong suddenly became anxious.
Temple Shouichi then sighed and attacked Luota: "That's all, I'll do as you say."
"Hai!" Luota Gong lowered his head suddenly, then turned around and walked into the telecommunications room next door with his saber in hand.
When Terauchi was worried about his personal fate and the future of the Terauchi family, US President Roosevelt was also sighing in his office.
What worried President Roosevelt was MacArthur and the more than 20,000 American soldiers who were trapped.
MacArthur is a flag of the U.S. Army, but now, this flag is in danger of being captured by the Japanese army!
Although MacArthur vowed in his telegram to the Department of Defense that at the last moment he would commit suicide with the pistol his father gave him, President Roosevelt and Secretary of Defense General Marshall still could not dispel their worries because MacArthur was
The idol of all beautiful women cannot be missed!
Facing President Roosevelt's inquiring gaze, Secretary of Defense Marshall spread his hands and said helplessly: "Mr. President, the military airport on the Bataan Peninsula has been repaired, but MacArthur still refused to execute the order. He said that escaping from the battle would harm a soldier."
The honor of a veteran, so he would rather live or die with all the officers and soldiers of the coalition forces."
President Roosevelt was silent for a moment and said: "As an American citizen, I admire General MacArthur's decision. He is a true soldier. However, as the President of the United States of America, I must condemn his haste and willfulness. In order to save himself, I must condemn him."
The military reputation of the entire U.S. Army is in danger of the flag falling!"
Marshall shrugged and said with a wry smile: "Mr. President, we have done everything we can. Unless a miracle occurs, it is impossible for MacArthur to evacuate the Bataan Peninsula. Let's think about how to deal with the aftermath. If MacArthur is defeated and captured,
The blow to the morale of the American people would be unimaginable."
"In turn, MacArthur's capture can greatly boost the morale of the Japanese military and civilians." President Roosevelt nodded and said in a solemn tone, "Mr. Secretary, when you go back, you should send another coded message to General MacArthur, begging him to do it."
Putting national interests first, evacuate to Australia as soon as possible while the airport on the Bataan Peninsula is still usable!"
"Okay!" Marshall nodded, immediately stood up and left. Seeing Marshall go away, President Roosevelt let out a long sigh of relief, and then fell into a long silence.
USA, New York.
As night fell, candles were lit in New York's Times Square. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers spontaneously gathered in the square, lit candles and joined in the prayer procession, hoping to give relief to those in Paris who were besieged by the Japanese army.
More than 20,000 U.S. military officers and soldiers on the Dan Peninsula brought them good luck and helped them escape from bad luck.
The United States is a democratic country. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party take turns in power and supervise each other.
Therefore, it is impossible for any government to conceal a major accident or disaster. Three months ago, when MacArthur declared Manila an undefended city and then retreated into the Bataan Peninsula with 75,000 U.S.-Philippine coalition officers and soldiers, the entire
The American people and all American officers and soldiers received the news immediately.
For three months, the American people have been worrying about the safety of this lone army all the time, praying for a miracle to happen.
For three months, the U.S. military generals and officers who came out of West Point Military Academy have been paying attention to this narrow peninsula and their principal, hoping that their principal can create miracles again.
Of course, President Roosevelt and the Department of Defense have been under great pressure in the past three months!
Ordinary people do not care about the complicated international situation. They only see the flag of the U.S. Army, General MacArthur, and more than 20,000 U.S. officers and soldiers trapped on the Bataan Peninsula. If the U.S. Department of Defense and President Roosevelt cannot rescue them,
If you come out, you are incompetent, and you will be cursed by the families of US military officers and soldiers!
Large-scale massacres even broke out in several major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, urging the U.S. government and the Department of Defense to rescue trapped U.S. officers and soldiers at all costs. U.S. President Roosevelt addressed the nation twice on television.
We call on the American people to exercise restraint and give the Department of Defense some time.
However, such delay is obviously not a long-term solution.
If the crisis on the Bataan Peninsula cannot be resolved satisfactorily, President Roosevelt is likely to experience the first crisis of confidence in his three terms as president. A certain Republican senator has even threatened to file an impeachment bill with Congress for dereliction of duty.
Forcibly terminated President Roosevelt's third term as president.
Rangoon, Expeditionary Force Headquarters.
After a busy day, taking advantage of the break after dinner, Stilwell lit up his pipe. At this moment, he was squinting and enjoying the spicy pleasure brought by the tobacco. Suddenly, a burst of rapid footsteps interrupted Stilwell's interest.
, the old American man raised his head slightly angrily, only to see Yue Weihan standing firmly in front of him.
"Yue?" Stilwell looked at Yue Weihan in astonishment and asked, "What are you?"
Yue Weihan didn't say any more nonsense and directly placed the folder in his hand in front of Stilwell.
"God, what is this?" Stilwell muttered a few words while holding his pipe in his mouth, and then opened the folder.
The folder was opened, and the words "Save Veteran MacArthur" were written on the front page. Stilwell's face suddenly changed. His originally calm hands suddenly became slightly trembling, and he opened it as quickly as possible.
On the next page, what is written above is indeed the battle plan to resolve the crisis on the Bataan Peninsula!
Stilwell read the entire plan as quickly as possible, then closed the folder and said solemnly: "Yue, is this feasible?"
"Of course it's feasible!" Yue Weihan pulled up his chair and sat down opposite the old American man, confidently saying, "If the U.S. Navy can fully cooperate, the probability of success is as high as 40%!"
"Forty percent!?" Stilwell was extremely excited when he heard this.
Stilwell knew very well that the so-called "Save Veteran MacArthur" plan was definitely a high-risk combat operation. For such a risky operation, a 40% success rate was already very remarkable, which showed that the Chinese Expeditionary Force Command
The staff have already done a lot of deduction work on this.
Moreover, MacArthur is the flag of the U.S. Army, and the safety of more than 20,000 U.S. officers and soldiers is affecting the nerves of the entire United States. Even if this operation only has a 10% success rate, the U.S. government will definitely go all out! What's more, Yue Weihan thinks it will be successful.
The possibility is as high as 40%, which is no longer considered a risk in military terms!
"Yue, you can always bring me unexpected surprises when I least expect it." Stilwell stared deeply at Yue Weihan across the dining table and said with great sincerity, "If this rescue operation can succeed, the American people will
I will always remember the selfless help of you and the Chinese Communist Party, you will become the eternal friends of the American people!"
Yue Weihan smiled and extended his hand, saying: "I am also willing to be a forever friend of the American people."
Yue Weihan's words are of course just polite. The United States is the most pragmatic country in the world. There are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in their dictionary. The so-called enemies or friends are only judged by each other.
Whether what you are doing is in the national interest of the United States.
As the saying goes, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. In the long run, for the dominance of the entire world, there will be a war between China and the United States after completing its national rejuvenation. However, for now, China still needs strong assistance from the United States.
, China not only needs arms assistance from the United States, but also needs large-scale industrial assistance!
Washington, White House.
General Marshall came back and happily walked into Roosevelt's office, and immediately handed the urgent telegram from Stilwell to President Roosevelt's desk.
President Roosevelt hurriedly read it and immediately said in shock: "Save veteran MacArthur!?"
"Yes, Mr. President!" Marshall said with great excitement, "God, I can't imagine that someone could come up with such a crazy rescue plan, but I have to admit that this plan is very tempting and the possibility of success is very high.
Big! If everything goes well, the crisis on the peninsula will be completely resolved in a week at most!"
President Roosevelt said dubiously: "Do you think there is a good chance of success?"
"Yes, Mr. President." Marshall nodded heavily, "This is a crazy rescue plan. We can't think of it, and the Japanese can't think of it either. Therefore, the possibility of success is extremely high!"
"Well, no matter how crazy this plan is and how likely it is to succeed, it is at least worth trying." President Roosevelt nodded, "However, it is unfair to only let the Chinese take risks. The American airborne troops must also
Participate in this rescue operation and let them parachute to Manila with the Chinese!"
Marshall frowned when he heard this and said: "But Mr. President, the first batch of transport planes will definitely crash after completing their mission. Therefore, if too many personnel are sent to land in Manila, the losses of the Tenth Air Force will increase sharply. Moreover, after losing too many
After the transport aircraft are installed, it will also cause a shortage of air transport capabilities and affect subsequent troop projection."
"As long as we can rescue MacArthur and the more than 20,000 trapped American officers and soldiers, crashing dozens of transport planes is nothing." President Roosevelt waved his hand and said loudly, "The Tenth Air Force's transport planes are not enough, so let the British
All the transport aircraft in India are supporting them, I mean, all the transport aircraft!"