The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Chapter 658: The New Three Giants Gather

When the Breakers sailed into Naha Bay on the main island of Ryukyu, the sight was enough to shock anyone who saw it for the first time.

In the blue bay, masts are like forests and chimneys are densely distributed.

A huge number of White Eagle Navy warships, from fleet carriers that are like mobile cities on the sea, cruisers with slender and graceful lines, to numerous, lean and sharp destroyers, almost cover the entire anchorage.

Among them were a large number of warships and transport ships with the South China Sea dragon flag flying on their bows.

On the shore, wherever you look, you can see another busy scene.

The original island scenery has been replaced by endless military tents, mobile homes and temporary warehouses.

In the huge open-air yard, ammunition boxes, fuel barrels, food cans and various construction machinery are piled up like mountains.

On the road, trucks and jeeps painted with the Allied white star emblem or the South China Sea dragon emblem are constantly flowing, and the dust they raise lingers for a long time.

This place has become a huge military fortress built for the final decisive battle.

According to the agreement reached between Nanyang, White Eagle and the newly established UN, the Ryukyu Islands, formerly a Japanese colony, were directly handed over to Nanyang for trusteeship.

The United States of Southeast Asia has the responsibility to maintain stability and peace in the Ryukyu Islands until the local residents are able to elect their own new government through legal procedures.

To this end, Nanyang dispatched an expeditionary force with a total strength of more than 160,000 troops to the Ryukyu Islands.

Among them, about 6,000 officers and soldiers from the Nanyang Military Police and the Army Security Force will serve as long-term garrisons, scattered across various islands, responsible for maintaining order, eliminating remaining enemies, assisting in the restoration of people's livelihood, and fulfilling trusteeship duties.

The other 150,000 troops are like a sword that has been unsheathed and is ready to drink blood at any time.

This includes 50,000 professionals proficient in logistics support, engineering construction, and medical transportation, as well as 100,000 well-equipped and combat-ready troops from the army, navy, and air force.

They had only one goal, which was to follow the main force of the White Eagles, participate in the landing operations on the Japanese mainland, and deal a final and fatal blow to militarism.

In the expeditionary force's front-line command center, which was converted from the former Japanese garrison headquarters near the Naha port area, General Qi Quan was standing with his back to the door, staring at the huge neon map of the mainland on the wall.

This veteran who was just transferred from Sumatra now has three shining stars on his epaulettes.

Time and war have carved deeper wrinkles on his face, but have also given him a more calm and steady temperament.

His thoughts were on the map in front of him.

"Operation Downfall..." Qi Quan whispered the code name representing the final attack.

His gaze swept across the pre-selected landing site in southern Kyushu, across the Kanto Plain where the most brutal battle was expected to break out, and finally stopped at Edo Bay.

"One hundred million people will be destroyed..." He snorted coldly, "It's just desperate madness."

As one of the highest commanders of the Nanyang military, he knew well what it would mean to land on the Japanese mainland.

That would be a hell ten times more brutal and a hundred times more bloody than the Battle of Okinawa.

But he was more aware of Commander Zhang Chi's strategic intentions.

If Nanyang wants to truly rise in the Asia-Pacific, it must demonstrate sufficient strength and determination in this ultimate battle that will determine the post-war landscape, and establish its own international status and voice.

If you hide in the rear, you will never become a strong country.

"Report," the adjutant's voice echoed behind him. "The 1st Marine Brigade and the 7th Mechanized Infantry Division have completed their final combat readiness inspection. Morale is high and they are ready to embark at any time."

Qi Quan turned around slowly, his eyes bright. "Tell all the troops to sharpen their bayonets and polish their guns. Once our Nanyang sword is unsheathed, it will kill with blood."

He walked to the window and looked at the huge fleet in the harbor that was about to sail towards the war carrying countless young people and great expectations, and at the formation of Nanyang soldiers conducting their final exercises on the playground in the distance.

The sunlight shines on his resolute face and also on the young and motivated faces below.

Beyond the northern horizon lies the final battlefield.

When the storm gathers, where the dragon flag points, blood and fire are about to come.

------

In July 1945, while the ruins of the Third Reich were still burning, the victor's chariot had already entered the southwestern suburbs of Berlin.

Cecilienhof Palace, this ochre brick palace modeled after the style of John Tudor, was the last dream of the Hohenzollern royal family.

Today, the carefully trimmed red geraniums in the center of the courtyard have been hastily pieced together into a huge red five-pointed star pattern, silently announcing the arrival of the new owner.

Inside the palace, the heavy oak furniture and gorgeous tapestries remained, but they could not conceal the invisible smoke of gunpowder that permeated the air.

A division concerning the post-war world order is quietly unfolding here.

White Eagle, John, and Bear, the Big Three reunited.

Beside the round table, the new White Eagle Commander Harry Truman sat upright. The sudden death of his predecessor seemed to have severed the delicate personal bond between him and the Iron Leader.

Truman pushed his round-frame glasses, and the look behind the lenses carried the stubbornness of a veteran Missouri farmer and the caution of someone who had just taken power.

On his left, Prime Minister Qiu, holding a cigar, frowned, the sunset glow of John's Empire shining on his tired face.

Across from him, the Iron Marshal held a specially made cigarette between his fingers, his expression as deep and unfathomable as ever, like the frozen Siberian soil.

The special envoy sent by Zhang Chi, the new chief of staff Yi Meiyang, was sitting in the audience like representatives from other allied countries, calmly observing this game of the strong.

At the beginning of the meeting, Yi Meiyang keenly noticed the change in Truman's position.

Compared with Commander Luo's urgent hope for the Russians to join the war, Truman seemed much more relaxed about the Far East issue.

"Regarding the final stage of the war against Japan," Truman said in a calm, even aloof tone, "the Allies have won a decisive victory in Okinawa and are preparing for the final strike on Japan's homeland."

Iron Marshal immediately took over the conversation with his usual force:

"The great warriors are preparing. If you need us, we can launch an attack on the Kwantung Army in Anzhou in August to accelerate the demise of Japanese militarism."

He anticipated the welcome and urging from Truman and Prime Minister Qiu.

However, Truman just nodded slightly, his tone almost polite:

"If Russia can participate, it will naturally help shorten the war process.

But the White Eagles and the Allied Forces are now capable of independently delivering the final blow to the Japs."

Yi Meiyang understood.

The outstanding performance of the Nanyang Expeditionary Force in the Ryukyu Campaign and the nearly 20,000 casualties it suffered significantly reduced the losses of the White Eagles.

This blood-forged contribution transformed into Truman's calm confidence at the negotiating table.

He no longer needed help from the Iron Marshal, so his attitude naturally became tough.

The subtext is very clear: if you are willing to take a share, you are welcome; if you want to wait for a price, go ahead.

What's more, just a few days ago, White Eagle's first super bomb was successfully tested.

At this time, Truman was full of confidence under the influence of Yegorov.

The focus of the meeting then quickly turned to the future of Europa, especially the fate of Hans.