MacArthur's first impression was often that he was bombastic, flamboyant, self-centered, flattering, strongly partisan, and fond of getting involved in political debates. But no one can deny his strategic vision and tactical literacy. Just like this great war that affected the whole world, as early as the autumn of 1930, when MacArthur succeeded Smolaire as chief of staff of the army, there was already a foresight. In light of the complex international situation, he resolutely opposed the government's further reduction of troops; On more than one occasion, he stressed to the government that the development of the international situation "has once again proved that treaties are unreliable and that there is no guarantee of peace." In the same year, the U.S. Congress set up a War Policy Committee to study "the policy to be followed in the event of war" and "how to bear the cost evenly and minimize the profits of war." Later, MacArthur was informed that he would be responsible for proposing the hitherto extremely "secret" industrial mobilization plan.

……

"But now everybody thinks I'm a fool. An arrogant fool. ”

In Manila, MacArthur, the headquarters of the United States and the Philippines, poured out his famous pipe to Lieutenant General Wainwright, the deputy commander of the coalition forces, about his troubles. Speaking of this Jonathan. Lieutenant General Wainwright can be said to be the saddest general of the U.S. military in the entire Second World War. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, the US-Filipino forces commanded by MacArthur were defeated in successive battles, and in the end, in order to avoid a general being captured by the Japanese, Roosevelt had a submarine take MacArthur away. Wainwright had to succeed MacArthur as the U.S. commander-in-chief in the Philippines at this time. After the U.S.-Filipino forces ran out of ammunition and food, Wainwright sent the last telegram to Roosevelt on May 5, 1942, and surrendered to the Japanese army for the sake of soldiers' lives. After that, he was imprisoned for a long time in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in northeastern China. Later, Japan was defeated and Wainwright regained his freedom. He had thought that the Americans would look down on him. Because he surrendered, he was a loser. But what he got was the treatment of a hero. On September 2, 1945, at the Japanese surrender ceremony, MacArthur invited Wainwright to join him on the battleship "Missouri" to witness Japan's surrender. Later, he was awarded the rank of four-star general.

But this time, Wainwright didn't have to think about his future days, because MacArthur didn't leave, and he couldn't leave. All he needed to do now was comfort the commander-in-chief, who was almost unable to hold out...... Not long ago, he and MacArthur's aide-de-camp had just seized the commander-in-chief's pistol. It was MacArthur Sr., the heirloom left by MacArthur's father because of the defeat. MacArthur was so stressed that he almost couldn't help but take the gun and kill himself.

"Haven't the Chinese already promised to help us? They will soon be making a move. ”

Wainwright cautiously persuaded. After the last venting, MacArthur's mood was much more stable than before. But he still didn't dare to take it lightly, whether it was public or private, he couldn't allow MacArthur to have problems.

"We are now surrounded by the Japanese!" MacArthur snorted. "We have at least twice as many Japanese troops on our periphery. The Philippine army is simply not able to take up combat missions, then. We are facing an enemy that is almost ten times larger than ours...... Skinny monkey. The strength of the Chinese is not enough to break such a solid encirclement! Even though they had won several battles against the Japanese. ”

"But they can at least give us hope, don't they?" Wainwright asked rhetorically, "And I believe our government must have made an accurate assessment of China's strength." They wouldn't joke with the lives of so many of us. ”

"I just hope they weren't stupid enough to send some airborne troops...... MacArthur sighed.

"I hope so, too." Wainwright smiled bitterly, "However, the Chinese shouldn't be so stupid, right?" ”

"Hope doesn't have ......"

The two didn't speak again, just sat quietly facing each other. They're waiting for news...... Recently. When the War Department informed them that the Chinese would take action to rescue them, it had already told them that during this time. The Chinese will send them a report. That is to say, the Chinese will give them combat orders, and after receiving the combat orders, they must immediately make preparations to respond to the rescue operations of the Chinese. Because they only had one chance, if they could not seize this only opportunity to escape from the Japanese encirclement, they would inevitably face a ferocious attack by the Japanese. During this period of fighting, the proud MacArthur had to admit that the old Japanese man named Seishiro Sakagaki was really not ordinary ferocious. He even thought that if it weren't for keeping them to confuse Britain, the United States, the Netherlands, and other countries in order to create an opportunity for the Japanese army to raid the Indonesian oil fields, he might not have had a chance to "hold" Manila at all. Of course, the other side may also do this to reduce casualties. Anyway, time is not in a hurry, why rush to attack? Wouldn't it be easier to fight when they were too hungry to do so, and when the morale of the army was basically lost?

"General, telegram! Telegram from the Chinese! ”

MacArthur's thoughts were interrupted by an eager shout, and by the time he looked up, Wainwright had already gotten up and snatched the telegram from the confidential secretary.

"How? How did the Chinese arrange it? MacArthur said urgently.

"General," Wainwright raised his eyes from the telegram with a strange expression, "the Chinese want us to assemble all the American soldiers by twelve o'clock in the evening in three days." They will be on time for a quarter of twelve. After their bombers have completed the first round of bombing, we must break out! They will pick us up. ”

"Breakout direction?" MacArthur said in a deep voice.

"Harbor!"

“……？”

MacArthur's face froze. Port? Is this trying to get them to jump into the sea? That was the direction of the heavy defense of the Japanese, and there were at least twenty or more warships crowded in the harbor! To break through in that direction, the Japanese only needed one round of naval guns, and his 30,000 American troops might be wiped out.

*************************************************************

"Report!"

"Come in."

Haikou.

Not long after Qin Wei arrived, he was watching Yu Lingling command the guards to clean his office, when he was disturbed by the sudden arrival of Zhang Lingfu. Especially after seeing the unwilling look on the face of this fierce general with a cane, he couldn't help but have a thought of wanting to escape: according to the original arrangement, this goods should now lead his troops into the Zhejiang battlefield. Because of a Doolittle air raid, the Japanese made a complete determination to destroy all the Chinese airfields in the Zhejiang area. And Zhang Lingfu and the 58th Division of the 74th Army led by him were arranged to guard Quzhou, which was the most important place, that is, where Doolittle and others landed. It's a pity, because of his advice in front of Lao Jiang, the opportunity to fight is gone, and not only that, Zhang Lingfu also has to take his troops to Hainan Island to train and fight on the beach...... He rushed over from Chongqing, and when he just got off the plane, the goods didn't come to pick him up, and now he looks so angry, it doesn't necessarily mean what kind of thoughts he has.

"Chief Qin!" Zhang Lingfu is still a standard soldier, and as soon as he entered the door, he saluted Qin Wei with a standard military salute.

"Something?" Qin Wei asked while pretending to be holding the documents around.

"What is the operation this time for our 58th Division?" Zhang Lingfu asked loudly.

"What action?" Qin Wei glanced up at him and asked.

"Attack the Philippines!"

“…… Did you hear something wrong? Qin Wei was almost choked by this sentence, "When will we be able to fight across the ocean?" Also attacking the Philippines? Do you know that there are 300,000 Japanese devils hiding in the Philippines now? ”

"But the navy has obviously already set off, and they also brought Deng E's 155th Division!" Zhang Lingfu shouted.

"Is there such a thing? Why didn't Zhang Xianghua (Zhang Fakui) notify me? Qin Wei looked stunned, and then slapped the table again: "How can this be true." Zhong Lin, don't worry, I'll go to the person surnamed Zhang to ask for clarification after a while. I'll give you an explanation. ”

"Sir, our department has been cooperating with the navy in Yaxian (Sanya) for training, and the matter of the 155th Division is an order from you personally. Navy Chief Chen has already told me. Zhang Lingfu looked at Qin Wei angrily and said coldly.

"I'll go," Qin Wei smiled bitterly. It really didn't feel good to be exposed on the spot when he lied, and it also made him a little annoyed: "This Chen Shaokuan...... Lay out the yin me. ”

"It's Chief Chen Jiliang, sir!" Zhang Lingfu glared at him angrily.

"Chen, Chen Jiliang? He...... Tsk, look at my stupidity. Qin Wei shook his head and put on a smiling face again: "Zhong Lin, look...... I've just come back from Chongqing, and I haven't done anything yet. My mind was a mess. Why don't you go back first, and when I'm all right, let's talk? ”

"Chief Qin, our 58th Division was personally asked by you from the Chairman to the Fourth War Zone. All the generals and officers of our subordinate unanimously hope that they will be able to fight bravely under your leadership, and not fall behind others in everything as they are now. Zhang Lingfu said in a deep voice.

"Since I asked you to come over, it is naturally because you can fight, you are a strong force, and you are specially here to fight tough battles and fierce battles, this 155th Division Deng E and them ......" Qin Wei thought about it with a twisted face, and suddenly turned his head: "Secretary Yu, where did the 155th Division go?" ”

"Hong Kong!" Yu Lingling had been standing aside, and when she heard this, she hurriedly replied, "You sent them to Hong Kong to help the local British army stabilize the defensive line." Well, the main thing is to guard Kai Tak Airport! ”

"Look......" Qin Wei stretched out his hands towards Zhang Lingfu, "garrison troops!" Deng E went to be the commander of the garrison. You Zhang Lingfu also want to do this? ”

"No, no...... Didn't they go to the Philippines to rescue the American troops? Zhang Lingfu was stunned.

". Save a few American GIs, and still need so many people? Send a telegram to Seishiro Sakagaki, and let the navy run again......" (To be continued......