When Zhao Tiehu seized the limited time to accumulate strength but kept it secret, the battle of Kuah Island, which ended not long ago, seemed to consume too much military strength of Japan and the United States. By the end of the campaign, both the Japanese and American armies appeared to be relatively restrained.

It's just that the allied side has begun to show its offensive edge, and the US military does not want the war to drag on forever. After all, the longer the war drags on, the greater the consumption of war resources for the United States.

Most importantly, the US military is currently facing a two-front combat situation. In the war in Europe, the U.S. military also began to send troops to help Britain, France and other countries fight back against the German army. In the Pacific theater, they also needed to suppress the arrogance of the Japanese army.

The victory in the Battle of Kuah undoubtedly made many Americans very happy. It's just that many people ignore that in order to win this battle, the sacrifices of the Allies are not small, and the casualties of the Japanese army are naturally not small.

Fortunately, the US military has a solid family foundation, and the US military, which is fully firepower in the military industrial complex, undoubtedly greatly surpasses the Japanese army in the research and development and production of new equipment. This has also given the US military a certain advantage in its operations in the Pacific.

However, the casualties of tens of thousands of US officers and soldiers in the Battle of Kuah Island still moved the US military. Even if the number of Japanese troops they eliminated was far greater than their casualties. But such a crushing victory is also something that the US military does not want to see.

Fortunately, many U.S. generals know that a crushing victory is a victory compared to defeat. On the Japanese side, not to mention the few remaining naval and air forces, it also consumed a lot of elite land forces transferred from the Chinese battlefield.

Since the Japanese army made the decision to withdraw its troops, the arrogance of many Japanese generals who had been clamoring for an invasion of the United States was completely gone. More was left to set up fortifications to stop the American attack on their homeland.

Now it will take time for the U.S. military to adjust, amassing more naval ships and air force aircraft, and even land forces to be transported to various battlefields in Australia. The Japanese also needed time to build fortifications in the defensive island chain.

The brief calm between the Japanese and US armies also made the situation in Nanyang seem to have a little turbulence. It's just that seeing the Xinghua Army, which is still low-key and not making much trouble, the Japanese army does not dare to encircle and suppress it easily.

After all, the momentum of the Xinghua Army in Nanyang has been established, and if the Japanese army wants to destroy the current Xinghua Army, I am afraid that they will be defeated faster. If it is not encircled and suppressed, it may still give Nanyang a chance to breathe.

In the eyes of many Japanese generals, as long as they could successfully withstand the counterattack of the American army, then they might still have hope of victory. At least today, nearly two-thirds of Asia's territory is under their control.

Relying on the resources of these colonies, many Japanese generals hoped to drag down the American army. Even these Japanese generals hoped that their allied German army would inflict heavy damage on the Allied forces composed of Britain and the United States.

If the situation on the European battlefield will be transformed, then there may be new changes in this war that has swept the world. But for Zhao Tiehu, he just wants to accumulate strength now, and he doesn't want to cause too much trouble.

Whether it was the Japanese army or the allies, Zhao Tiehu didn't want to offend and deal with him too much. As long as the Xinghua Army completes the military reform, the regularization of the army he envisioned becomes a reality, and even if the Allies return to Nanyang in the future, he will not be afraid at all.

David, an American businessman who has been living in Mindanao, has also been living in the jungle and has now relocated to the rebuilt Davao City. He knows a little more about the Xinghua Army than many people.

When Zhao Tiehu finished the military reform meeting and began to plan to inspect the whole island, David also came to the door at the right time and said: "Chen, can you talk to me about your thoughts on the future?" It's about my cooperation with you! ”

Facing David's somewhat serious inquiry, Zhao Tiehu invited him into the study and said very seriously: "David, are you asking me this question in your own capacity, or are you asking on behalf of the political group behind you?" ”

"Does it make a difference?"

As the American with the closest personal relationship with Zhao Tiehu, David now has a lot of influence in the United States. And because of his outstanding performance, his family's power in the United States is also developing rapidly.

It can be said that David's changes in himself and his family are all due to his cooperation with Zhao Tiehu. Recently, however, some of the measures taken by the Xinghua Army have made the US top brass somewhat dissatisfied, and they feel that the Xinghua Army does not attach as much importance to their opinions as before.

After all, for many high-ranking U.S. government officials, they expect the Xinghua Army to be submissive to their opinions. If the Xinghua Army had responded to the US military, then the US army's plan to counterattack Nanyang might be much easier.

But now the Xinghua Army seems to have reached a private tacit agreement with the Japanese army not to invade each other. This makes many Americans feel a sense of betrayal.

It was precisely because of the disgust of some high-level leaders in China that David was also entrusted by the high-level in China to have a good talk with Zhao Tiehu. Ask Zhao Tiehu what he plans to do, whether he really wants to cooperate with the Japanese army and abandon the United States.

Regarding the dissatisfaction and small abacus of the Americans, Zhao Tiehu still knows a little. However, Zhao Tiehu knew very well that the Americans, who advocate the supremacy of interests, did not care at all whether the cooperation with the Xinghua Army was solid.

In the eyes of many senior US government officials, what they care most about is whether cooperating with the Xinghua Army can bring them benefits. If they can, then Xinghuajun is still a friend. If not, then the Xinghua army is the enemy.

In the Battle of Kuah Island, which ended earlier, although the Xinghua Army provided the US military with a lot of timely and effective military information. However, the U.S. military hoped that the Xinghua Army could launch a counterattack in the South Seas, divert the attention of the Japanese army, and share the pressure on the U.S. military.

But for Zhao Tiehu, how could he do this kind of thing of carrying bags for Americans? From the day the Xinghua Army was formed, the first iron rule in front of Zhao Tiehu was to consider whether it was beneficial to the Chinese in advance.

Fighting a war is to kill people, and it is the Xinghua Army that annoys the little devils to retaliate frantically, and it is the Xinghua Army that suffers in the end. So will the Americans bear the losses of the Xinghua Army? The answer is obvious!

Even Zhao Tiehu is very sure that once the US military returns to Nanyang in the future, then the first thing that needs to be suppressed is the Xinghua Army. The supremacy of national interests is also the face of many high-level US government officials and politicians. How could Zhao Tiehu not know this.

Now that David asked these words with a solemn expression, Zhao Tiehu also replied directly. When David was puzzled, Zhao Tiehu said: "If you ask personally, I will tell you my real reason."

If you're representing the political faction around you, or those who support you, then I'm not going to tell you what I really think. As for friends, you should know that I have always cared about and respected, haven't I? ”

From Zhao Tiehu's words, David, who was no longer the reckless young man he was back then, was silent for a while and said, "Chen, you really reached a private agreement with the Japanese army. Have you forgotten the harm they have done to you Chinese? ”

"David, you heard from there that I had a private agreement with the Japanese army. I know that those people asked me to ask me if they felt that my troops did not fight the Japanese in the South Seas, and they felt dissatisfied.

But you have not been in the South Seas for a short time, and you should know how much I have done for the Allies. In contrast, in addition to maintaining relative restraint between my troops and the Japanese army, have you ever seen my subordinates work closely with the Japanese army?

Even, if you have an investigation now, you should know that my troops have been secretly fighting with the Japanese army. Those freed Allied prisoners of war are the best proof of this! ”

After listening to Zhao Tiehu's words, David said with a long sigh of relief: "So, someone deliberately misled the relationship between us?" Can you tell me why you refused to fight the Japanese army? ”

Regarding David's inquiry, Zhao Tiehu was also very direct, spread out a military map and said: "David, although you are not a soldier, I believe that you should understand it if you look at the map." I just need to explain it and you will understand my struggle.

Yes, at present, in the entire Nanyang region, there are indeed quite a few troops formed and controlled by me. But in these places, there are more Chinese people. They fled from the country, and I can't ignore them as a compatriot and leader, right?

The massacre carried out by the Japanese army in Xinjiapo earlier, I believe you should know about this. Although I later carried out a fierce revenge action, who remembers those dead Chinese? And who has pitied them?

Your diaspora is precious and will not allow any damage. The lives of your soldiers are too precious to be sacrificed needlessly. What about us Chinese? What do you think?

From the very beginning, I have said that the Xinghua Army is an anti-war armed force formed to protect the interests of the Chinese from being violated, and their lives from being threatened and humiliated. Now that the Japanese army does not do anything to the Chinese, I naturally will not take the initiative to provoke a big war.

As their trusted commander-in-chief, I have a responsibility and obligation to keep them safe. If you reflect on this reason from my standpoint, I believe you will understand my suffering. ”

From Zhao Tiehu's words, David felt a little embarrassed. He also knows that in the eyes of those American politicians, interests are the most important thing. As for the life and death of the Chinese, what does it have to do with them?

What they want to see is a Xinghua army that can contain the Japanese army for them and bring them more benefits. What they want to see is a commander-in-chief of the Xinghua Army who can obey their opinions and act according to orders.

But David knew that Zhao Tiehu was a very independent and strong nationalist. It is almost impossible to get him to do what the United States tells him to do. wants to cooperate with Zhao Tiehu, unless he is given conditions that make him tempted.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to convince Zhao Tiehu based on the so-called friendship alone. As for giving up cooperation with Zhao Tiehu, I am afraid that the biggest loss in the end may not be the Xinghua Army. David was also very clear about this!