Age of Conquest Reborn

(.)

What was placed in front of Commander Whiteman were several shocking battle reports, "The First Air Force, while pursuing the Japanese fighter group, was ambushed and surrounded by the superior Japanese fighter group in the Babuyan Strait airspace.

After more than an hour of fierce fighting, the commander of the air formation, Colonel Rijkaard, unfortunately died for his country. More than 200 fighter jets were shot down, and only six fighter jets escaped from the battlefield with injuries and returned to the base. [High-quality update.]"

"At around 6:25, the Second Air Force, while pursuing a group of Japanese fighter jets, was ambushed and surrounded by Japanese fighter jets twice its size in the airspace of Lingayen Bay. As a result, a fierce battle lasted for nearly an hour and a half.

, Colonel Frasis, the commander of the air formation, unfortunately died for his country. More than 300 fighter jets were shot down, and most of the pilots were killed on the spot. The remaining pilots were shot by Japanese fighter jets during the parachute jump and were also killed. Only 13 fighter jets were killed.

, break through the encirclement of Japanese fighter jets and return to base."...

"At around 6:40, the bomber groups of the First and Second Air Forces were in the airspace of the Calais Mountains to support our ground forces in counterattacking the Japanese army. They were attacked by a Japanese fighter group, with a total of more than 300 bombers.

All were shot down, and none of the crew members survived."

"At about seven o'clock, the second-line troops of our Third Army performing counterattack missions were suddenly divided and surrounded by the superior Japanese troops after joining the first-line defense troops. Now, all units are in fierce fighting. Until the telegram is received,

All units of our Third Army are locked in a bitter battle and are no longer able to withdraw to the second line of defense."

This is the Third Army Staff Department's summary of the basic battle conditions in the Calais Mountains battlefield from 4:30 a.m. on August 13th to now. Commander Whiteman looked at these reports blankly, each one

, are all telling an absolutely bad news. The two aviation groups were wiped out, and even the commander was killed. Taken together, the number of fighter jets that returned was only nineteen, which was not even enough for one group. That was the two aviation groups.

Team! After a few hours of hard work, it's gone...

What's even worse is that all the troops of the Third Army are stuck on the first line of defense. They are surrounded by nearly 100,000 Japanese Army regiments. Without aircraft to provide air fire support, if they want to break through the Japanese Army's siege, they can't even make a single move.

There was no hope, and Commander Whiteman's mind went blank. There is no doubt that the Third Army, with more than 40,000 troops, was surrounded by the Japanese army. He became the bare commander, except for the more than 300 people in the guard camp around him.

, there are no extra soldiers left.

The cave where the Third Army headquarters is located is as quiet as death. Even the usually noisy and annoying "ticking" sound of the electric keys has disappeared. A large group of staff officers looked at the lost Commander Whiteman blankly, hoping that this

Supreme Commander. Come up with a solution to the crisis, otherwise, everyone will not survive.

Commander Whiteman now seems to understand that from the very beginning, the Japanese set a huge trap for themselves. This trap caught the two air forces plus the entire third army in one fell swoop. It was ruthless enough, only less than

Within four days, the defense line in the Calais Mountains collapsed.

If you still have enough troops in your hands, you can immediately start a second counterattack. If you can rescue the surrounded troops and retreat to the second line of defense, you can still last for two or three days. However, if you don't have troops in your hands, the general will

All the personnel of the military department gathered together, but only five or six hundred people were thrown into the battlefield where hundreds of thousands of soldiers were fighting. They couldn't even stir up a small wave. What's more, for the officers of the military department, going up there was almost like sending death.

The chief of staff cautiously reminded: "Commander, the top priority is to immediately and truthfully report to Commander-in-Chief MacArthur the devastating disaster facing the Third Army, request reinforcements, or..." The chief of staff hesitated, and the following words were obviously

It's hard to say it out loud.

Commander Whiteman's dull eyes turned a few times with difficulty, and he subconsciously asked: "Or what?"

The chief of staff said hesitantly: "Or... or ask Commander-in-Chief MacArthur to allow the military headquarters to withdraw to Manila and command the battle in the Calais Mountains from Manila!" No wonder the chief of staff said it was so difficult, and the idea was too shady.

It would be equivalent to abandoning the more than 40,000 soldiers who were fighting the Japanese army, and the big bosses of the military department, and ran back to Manila first.

Major General Whiteman smiled miserably and withdrew the military to Manila? He lost two aviation groups, the Third Army and the defense line in the Calais Mountains. Can MacArthur spare him? With MacArthur's ruthless character, the only thing waiting for him was the military.

A court or a firing squad.

However, it is still appropriate to request reinforcements. Even if the first line of defense is lost and the entire third army is wiped out, with enough troops, we can still hold on to the second line of defense and survive the damn one-week period. At least we can save ourselves.

His life, this can be regarded as a stopgap measure!

Commander Whiteman staggered towards the phone, while thinking about any words in his mind, he suddenly said, "Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!" The phone rang rapidly without warning, startling him.

At that time, the only person who made the call to the headquarters was Commander-in-Chief MacArthur, asking for an apology? Or was he furious?

Regardless of Commander-in-Chief MacArthur's attitude, a violent storm was inevitable. Major General Whiteman had a bad feeling in his heart. He swallowed hard, moistened his smoking throat, and trembled.

Go ahead and pick up the phone.

"Whiteman, you stupid pig and mediocre person, in less than four hours, you lost more than 600 planes in my two air groups. I will hand over the command of the two air groups in your hands.

It is based on the great trust in your ability, but how did you do it? All the air power of the Southwest Pacific Theater Headquarters was destroyed in your hands. You are a sinner of the United States. Don't explain. The headquarters military police will arrive in Calais immediately.

Shanshan District, escort you back to the headquarters for investigation!"

Sure enough, General MacArthur was furious as soon as he opened his mouth. Even the staff officers in the distance could hear the commander-in-chief's roar through the phone receiver. MacArthur was almost going crazy.

All the wealth of the Air Force was suppressed in the Calais Mountains, but Whiteman, who should be shot, was all destroyed in less than a morning. In the upcoming defense battle of Manila, what can he use against the Japanese army?

airplane?

What does losing air supremacy mean to him? General MacArthur, who advocates the theory of weapons victory, is definitely murderous. If Major General Whiteman is in front of him, he will personally take out a gun and smash this bastard's head, which will not only ruin his own battle.

His plan was to use up his last trump card. If he didn’t kill him, it would be difficult to convince the public!

Just before he called Whiteman, he received a report from the fighter pilot who was desperately escaping. His vision went dark and he almost fainted with distress. If it weren't for the acting chief of staff, Colonel Kleist, he held Yuya and shook her.

Your Excellency, the fallen Commander-in-Chief, stuffed a few more life-saving pills into his mouth. I am afraid that he is still unconscious at this moment!

Faced with Commander-in-Chief MacArthur's tantrum and even his threat to send military police, Whiteman had no intention of arguing. To be fair, he couldn't argue that Colonel Rijkaard and Colonel Frasis were charged with pursuing the enemy.

Only Japanese fighter jets were ambushed. I didn't know anything about it beforehand. It could be said that I took the blame, but I couldn't evade responsibility.

The two commanders who made the decision are both dead, and there is no proof. The command of the two air forces was handed over to me. Now, being beaten is equivalent to the annihilation of the entire army. This responsibility can only fall on me.

On his head, therefore, Commander Whiteman did not want to defend himself. What he wanted to say was another matter.

"Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, I do not want to shirk responsibility for the tragic losses of the First and Second Air Forces, and I am willing to accept any punishment imposed on me by the headquarters. Now, the most urgent thing is that all units of our Third Army have

The superior Japanese army was divided and surrounded by the first line of defense in the Calais Mountains. If the Commander-in-Chief does not send reinforcements, the Third Army will be destroyed today!" Major General Whiteman arrived single and took over all the troops.

Responsibility, then plead to!

"What?" On the other end of the phone, only a hair-raising exclamation from Commander-in-Chief MacArthur was heard, and then there was silence, an unbearable silence, with only the weak "squeak" sound of electricity repeating monotonously on the phone.

It took five or six minutes before I heard the voice of Commander-in-Chief MacArthur. As soon as he spoke, his cold tone made Major General Whiteman tremble involuntarily, "Whiteman, listen carefully, I won't hold you accountable."

You caused two air groups to be wiped out.

However, I don’t have the extra troops to reinforce you. You and your troops, even if only one person is left, must nail the defense line in the Calais Mountains. The only thing that can return to Manila is your body, or

It’s the news that he died in battle with the soldiers!”

Then, before Major General Whiteman could react, he hung up the phone. Major General Whiteman stood by the phone like a fool. In his heart, a feeling of despair spread uncontrollably. MacArthur became cold and cold.

His tone penetrated into his bones and nerves. He knew even more that in the eyes of the commander-in-chief, he was already a corpse. Not only himself, but also the tens of thousands of remaining soldiers of the Third Army, too.

in this way.

The reason why he seemed magnanimous and did not hold himself responsible for the loss of hundreds of aircraft was that before he died and the Third Army was completely annihilated, there was still some use value that could entangle the Japanese army for a period of time. Whiteman

The Army Commander suddenly figured out a lot of things. Commander-in-Chief MacArthur was still unwilling to withdraw the Third Army back to Manila. He had already planned to abandon this chess piece.

Commander Whiteman smiled miserably and said to dozens of staff officers in the cave: "After receiving the order from the Commander-in-Chief, the Third Army must not retreat even half a step. Everyone, pick up your guns and let's go to the front line together!" Suddenly,

The faces of all the US military officers suddenly turned pale!

(To be continued.)