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Washington, D.C., in the office building of the Department of War. U.S. Army Chief of Staff Leonard. Admiral Wood was sitting at the desk of Secretary of War Jacob M. Dickinson. After receiving a telegram from Admiral Pershing the previous evening, he did not immediately make a decision, but handed the telegram over to Minister Dickinson. Abandoning the defense line in Sierra Madre do Sul was not something he could decide.

"Admiral Wood, what do you think of this telegram from Admiral Pershing?" Secretary of War Dickinson put the telegram back on his desk and asked. There was no superfluous expression on his face that made Leonard. Admiral Wood couldn't figure out what he meant. For Admiral Pershing's construction, is it for or against it?

"Your Excellency, judging from the telegram sent back by Admiral Pershing, the Southern Sierra Madre defence line is indeed very critical. Our troops suffered heavy losses there, while the Chinese and casualties were minimal. Coupled with low morale, it was already very difficult to hold the line of defense in the Sierra Madre do Sul. Therefore, I was able to understand the thoughts of Admiral Pershing! "Leonard. Admiral Wood said.

Minister Dickinson nodded, then said, "Do you also think we should abandon the Sierra Madre do Sul defenses?" ”

Leonard. Admiral Wood hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Your Excellency, from the perspective of the Army, abandoning the defense line in the Sierra Madre do Sul and transferring the front to the central region of Mexico can effectively reduce our pressure, which is very beneficial for the future operations. But. From the point of view of the United States, now is not the time to abandon the Southern Madre defensive line. "Leonard. Admiral Wood was careful with his own words. He knew that if Admiral Pershing's construction was known to the high-ranking people in the United States, he would definitely raise strong objections.

"Indeed it is! zhèngfǔ has been declaring to the people that our defense line in the Sierra Madre du South is rock-solid, the security of the United States is guaranteed, and it is absolutely impossible for the Chinese to break through our defense. The broad masses of the people also believed in this qiē. Therefore, if we take the initiative to abandon the defense line of the Sierra Madre do Sul. I am afraid that there will be a panic in the country, which will not be conducive to our preparations and domestic stability! Secretary Dickinson said with some concern.

"So, Your Excellency, are we going to reject Admiral Pershing's offer?" Leonard. Admiral Wood nodded, then asked. Although he did not go to the front. But he knew that with Admiral Pershing's xìng ge, if he really couldn't hold on, he would definitely not ask for a retreat. However, from zhèngfǔ's point of view, it is now necessary to hold the line of defense. Even if you pay a lot of money for it. After the start of the war, the United States had already controlled the major media in the United States. The news released by the media is almost all good news about how many squadrons the army has repelled in the defense line of the Sierra Madre do Sul and how many enemies have been annihilated. As for the heavy casualties of the US military, it was not mentioned at all. This made the American people subconsciously believe that the U.S. military had resisted the attack of the squadron. The squadron cannot threaten the continental United States, they are safe. If the U.S. military retreats from the Sierra Madre do Sul defensive line, one can imagine what the consequences will be in the United States. Those ordinary people will definitely think that they have been fooled by zhèngfǔ, and when the time comes, zhèngfǔ will probably be overthrown by the angry people.

"Wait a minute. Let's go to the White House and meet the president! Secretary Dickinson said. It is obviously unreasonable for the president not to know about such a big matter.

"Yes. Your Excellency, Minister! "Leonard. Admiral Wood nodded.

When the two arrived at the White House in a War Department car, President William Murphy was the first to arrive. Howard. Taft is discussing with his aides the current predicament facing the United States. This year is already 1912, that is, the election year of the United States, and at the end of the year, a new president of the United States will be elected. President Taft's first term will also come to an end, but President Taft certainly doesn't want to serve as president for just four years, and he wants to be re-elected. Although, after the outbreak of the war, Taft's power as president has been greatly expanded, and Congress has been temporarily suspended. But if he loses in next year's election, then he's the president. You must know that although the media in the United States has been whitewashing the peace, as the president of the United States, how can he not know the real situation of the US military now? Therefore, it will be very difficult for President Taft to seek another term. In particular, former President Theodore. Roosevelt also wanted to run for the next president. This poses a great threat to Taft. Theodore. Both Roosevelt and Taft were members of the Republican Party, and although Taft had the support of the Republican bigwigs, Theodore. Roosevelt had a great deal of influence among ordinary voters. If news of the U.S. military's defeat leaks out, Taft wants to win the election, which is simply impossible.

President Taft's aides told him that if he wanted to win the election, he had to convince the American people that the United States was capable of withstanding China's invasion and that they would be safe. There is another option, which is to postpone the election on the grounds of war. It's just that this is a last resort. If he could have been re-elected by normal means, President Taft would not have considered this option. However, President Taft also knows that it will be very difficult for him to be re-elected when the situation on the front line is becoming more and more unfavorable. Now he doesn't just face Theodore in the party. Roosevelt threatened while also facing the candidate from the mínzhǔ party, Woodrow. Wilson's threat can be described as internal and external troubles. He now desperately hopes that the U.S. military can achieve a victory, if not win, then maintain the current situation.

When the secretary reported to Secretary of War Dickinson and Army Chief of Staff Leonard. After Admiral Wood asked for an audience, Taft's staff all left, and Taft met with Secretary Dickinson and Leonard in his office. Admiral Wood.

"Minister Dickinson, General Wood, is there anything wrong with coming today?" President Taft asked, his voice revealing exhaustion, which made him very tired from being concerned about the situation on the front lines and more focused on dealing with the election.

"Your Excellency, this is a telegram from the commander of the Mexican front, Admiral Pershing!" Secretary Dickinson said, then handing the telegram to President Taft. As Secretary of War, he hoped that President Taft would understand the situation and accept Admiral Pershing's offer. In this way, the U.S. Army can preserve its strength, which is also very beneficial for the next operations.

President Taft gave Dickinson a suspicious look, then took the telegram and read it, but his face suddenly turned blue after reading the telegram. He is now figuring out how to stabilize the domestic electorate, and if the US military takes the initiative to abandon the defense line in the Sierra Madre do Sul, how can he explain to the majority of voters, he may be immediately driven out of the White House by the angry people, let alone seek the next term. He didn't even have to think about it to know that the presidential candidate of the mínzhǔ party, Woodrow. Wilson would have jumped out and blamed the incompetence of Taft, and the voters would most likely believe it. At the same time, in the Republican Party and he competed for the nomination of Theodore. Roosevelt would certainly not be lonely. When the time comes, President Taft's position will really be stormy.

The reason why Taft was able to become president was also Theodore. Roosevelt strongly supported it. Theodore. Roosevelt saw Taft as his successor, believing that Taft would be a better continuation of his progressivism. But I didn't expect that after Taft came to power, he seemed to be a completely different person and became the spokesperson of the big American capitalists. This makes Theodore. Roosevelt was disappointed. Coupled with the continuous losses of the American army on the front line after the start of the war, this made Theodore . Roosevelt came up with the idea of running for president again, and he began to implement it. Theodore. Roosevelt believed that only he could save America now.

"Bastard! Pershing: What does he want to do? Why abandon the line of defense we have painstakingly built? He is a coward, is he scared by the Chinese? I'm going to remove him! "President Taft was furious. In his opinion, Admiral Pershing's construction is completely even if he wants to overthrow his rule! This is something he absolutely cannot allow.

Secretary of War Dickinson and Army Chief of Staff Leonard. Admiral Wood looked at the angry President Taft, but they immediately thought about the trouble that President Taft was facing, and understood why President Taft was so angry.

It took a while for President Taft to rein in his anger when he lashed out at Secretary Dickinson and Leonard. Admiral Wood said: "I propose to replace Pershing's coward, no wonder we will be constantly defeated by the Chinese, it turns out that he, the commander, is timid!" ”

War Secretary Dickinson hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Your Excellency, General Pershing, as the commander of the Mexican front, was approved by the cabinet, and if he is removed now, I am afraid it will not be easy to explain to the cabinet!" ”

"Your Excellency the President, now that the operation in Mexico has entered a critical state, if General Pershing is removed at this time, it will have a very adverse impact on the battle situation on the front line, and even cause the collapse of the front line troops!" Leonard. Admiral Wood also built yì road.

"No, I must remove that coward!" In a fit of rage, President Taft could no longer listen to the other proposals, and immediately asked the secretary to convene the cabinet members, hoping to obtain the approval of the cabinet and remove General Pershing from his post!