Age of Conquest Reborn

After receiving Tang Qiuli's call back, Lieutenant General Jonathan's heart finally fell into his stomach. There was no problem in coordinating with the Chinese, but safely evacuating more than 200,000 people from Luzon Island was still as heavy as a mountain.

task.

The ships are not the problem. The key to the problem is that when the troops were evacuated, the order of each division knew that Manila was about to be destroyed. In addition, MacArthur's escape incident, although it has not spread to the front-line troops, some senior officers

In the middle, fluctuations have already occurred. Everyone wants to leave this damn place first. If one unit does not obey the arrangements and acts without authorization, it will cause a disorderly rout across the entire line.

More than 200,000 soldiers who had lost their organization, lost their will to fight, and were bent on escaping, swarmed to the dock. What a terrible scene it was. I am afraid that more people were squeezed into the sea and drowned than those who were eventually evacuated to Australia. No need

When the Japanese attacked, the troops were severely injured.

Lieutenant General Jonathan called Brigadier General Kleist, the new chief of staff of the headquarters, to the headquarters. Although he knew how much this nominal chief of staff had in mind, he still wanted to discuss it with his chief of staff.

one time.

After Chief of Staff Kleist arrived, Lieutenant General Jonathan was surprised to find that the former acting Chief of Staff, who was respectful and submissive in front of MacArthur, had a different temperament all over him, which could be said to be self-confidence.

, it doesn’t matter if it’s a new official taking office, anyway, it’s like a new person.

The two exchanged a few words, knowing that the military situation was urgent, so they went straight to the topic. After Lieutenant General Jonathan finished expressing his concerns, Chief of Staff Kleist said without thinking: "Commander, I think we should convene various meetings immediately.

The top commanders of the army met to clarify the order of evacuation of each unit. Otherwise, chaos will inevitably occur. Another most critical issue is which unit will be responsible for the blocking mission and finally board the ship under the cover of the Chinese aircraft fleet.

Question, I think about it, this is the biggest problem!”

"Then there is the incident of MacArthur running to Australia. Commanders of all units must want to know the cause and the results of the handling. I hope the commander will be mentally prepared!"

Lieutenant General Jonathan's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but re-examine the Chief of Staff whose incompetence and MacArthur shadow had spread throughout the army. He was really impressed after three days apart. The suggestions he made were exactly the issues he was considering, and he didn't expect them.

There is really something useful in his stomach.

Lieutenant General Jonathan immediately said: "Okay, Chief of Staff, according to your opinion, I will notify you immediately and convene a military meeting. The commanders of each unit will temporarily transfer the command to the deputy or chief of staff. In addition, the staff will come up with a

Come up with an evacuation plan, focusing on the order of evacuation of each unit. Set the meeting time at seven o'clock, leaving three hours of preparation time. Damn the Japanese, they should stop attacking at night!"

Chief of Staff Kleist stood up energetically and replied loudly: "Yes, Your Excellency, Commander. I will execute your order immediately!"

Lieutenant General Jonathan looked at the back of his chief of staff and disappeared into the office. He nodded approvingly. Brigadier General Kleist was not as unbearable as he thought. It seems that future cooperation will not be too bad.

The big problem is that this is my first appearance as the supreme commander in front of all senior military officers, so I should make some preparations in advance.

From the inside, Lieutenant General Jonathan still felt a little uneasy. A few hours ago, he was just like them, a division commander. In the blink of an eye, he became their immediate superior. It can be described as a meteoric rise.

My promotion is very appropriate.

Can those guys who were filled with resentment because of MacArthur's sudden escape be convinced and obey their own arrangements? Thinking of this, Lieutenant General Jonathan's excitement dimmed a lot, and he began to have a headache.

At night, after repelling the last Japanese attack, the guns and artillery that had been roaring all day long at the Manila defense line finally gradually subsided. Traces of battles were everywhere on the forward positions of the U.S. and Philippine troops, and those overturned by Japanese artillery fire

Fortification and Shelter Department, Risk

The huge crater with lingering smoke, the empty bullet box, the beautiful scenery, the bloody corpses of the Philippine soldiers, the wounded who kept screaming, and the exhausted soldiers whose faces were blackened by gunpowder smoke all showed that the end had just ended

The brutality of the battle.

And in the conference room of the U.S. military headquarters in downtown Manila, a battle that was no better than fighting the Japanese with real swords and guns, but much inferior to the verbal battle, was also fiercely staged. Covered in gunpowder smoke, every one was exhausted, worried and confused.

The commanders of the US and Philippine forces gathered here, and the focus of the debate was, as Chief of Staff Kleist expected, the order of who should evacuate first and who last, as well as issues related to the MacArthur incident.

Lieutenant General Jonathan first reported the exciting news to each commander. He held a telegram and said passionately: "Everyone, after many days of hard fighting, in view of the war situation in front of Luzon Island, the direction is not favorable.

As for our development direction, the Supreme Domestic Wartime Headquarters has approved our evacuation from Luzon Island and transfer to Australia. During the retreat, we will be fully escorted by the Chinese Air Force."

The beauty underneath, the originally dull faces of the Philippine army commanders, showed a layer of excitement. Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief. They were finally leaving this damn place. God bless, they were not killed.

The Japanese were killed.

After the excitement passed, the thing that Lieutenant General Jonathan least wanted to see happened. A brigadier general stood up and said loudly: "Commander Jonathan, can you tell us what General MacArthur did after safely evacuating?

Why didn't he show up at such an important military meeting in Luzon Island, and why did you suddenly take over his position? We are all very surprised by these questions, and I hope you can give a reasonable explanation!"

Lieutenant General Jonathan's face was very ugly. This was a naked act of questioning. MacArthur's escape did not need to be concealed in a military meeting of this level. Otherwise, it would cause unnecessary commotion. Once that person had ulterior motives or

It is a dissatisfied guy who deliberately provokes the situation and there is a danger that the situation will get out of control.

Lieutenant General Jonathan winked, and Chief of Staff Kleist, who was well prepared, took out the letter of appointment from Washington and signed by President Roosevelt. Then, he read out the wartime Supreme Headquarters' response to MacArthur.

processing decisions.

The senior officers below were silent. Even the former close associates of MacArthur's group were silent and did not dare to make any noise. They knew very well that what their boss did this time was too damn disgraceful and not enough.

What do you mean, he didn't even say hello, he just rubbed the soles of his feet with grease. The boss is finished this time. He was deprived of the right to command and hung high. Who can tell whether he can turn over or not?

However, that old guy MacArthur is quite capable. He was originally responsible for losing his head, but it just didn't matter.

MacArthur ignored the matter and lightly exposed it. No one dug into it. It was a matter between the big bosses above, and he couldn't help it. Jonathan had risen through the ranks and had good luck, so there was nothing he could do to be jealous.

Next, there is the issue of arranging the evacuation order of the various units, but they are in close combat. No one wants to evacuate in the end. Staying on this damn island for one more minute will be more dangerous. In view of the various arrangements made by Chief of Staff Kleist

The U.S. military generals were quarreling over the order of troop evacuation. No one was stupid. The last troops to evacuate must be the covering troops, and they must be cannon fodder that cannot escape intact.

The position originally defended by more than 200,000 soldiers has to be defended by no more than one division of troops. To block the attack of hundreds of thousands of fierce and powerful Japanese troops, it is a question whether they can evacuate the position and board the ship.

The price of death is to cover the evacuation of other troops. This is obviously a job that involves death. Who is willing to take it?

In particular, the division commanders who were ordered to evacuate by Chief of Staff Kleist even made a lot of noise, emphasizing the difficulties of their troops, why they always insisted on important targets, the casualties of the troops were too large, and there were a large number of wounded. If

If we don't board the ship first, I'm afraid it will delay the boarding of other troops. There are many reasons for this, just because we don't want to be the last.

More than a dozen division commanders of the US military were shamelessly scrambling for the spots to be evacuated first. The commanders of the First and Second Philippine Corps, which were mainly Filipino soldiers, had ugly expressions and remained silent. The two brothers were self-aware.

Any unlucky and thankless things must be done by your own troops. When MacArthur didn't run away, he didn't use his own troops as cannon fodder.

It is estimated that it will be the same this time. The Americans do not regard the Filipino soldiers as human beings! This time, the task of covering the Americans' retreat will inevitably fall on themselves.

Yes, what about being unpopular?

Seeing the senior generals who usually look like human beings arguing endlessly over such a trivial matter without caring about their face, almost an hour has passed and they still have no idea. At ten o'clock tonight, the troops will take action.

, Lieutenant General Jonathan was so angry that his face was livid. He once again saw the ugly behavior of the so-called American generals.

Lieutenant General Jonathan stood up suddenly with a gloomy face, suppressing the anger in his heart, and said: "Everyone, don't argue anymore. I also serve as the commander of the 7th Mechanized Infantry Division. The task of blocking the Japanese army from behind is up to me.

I command the 7th Mechanized Division to complete it. I only make one request. When evacuating the position, try not to disturb the Japanese troops and evacuate according to the plan. Our actions are related to the lives of more than 200,000 soldiers. I hope you know

Portion!”

After saying this, Lieutenant General Jonathan's tone changed and he said with ferocity: "If that unit did not follow the chief of staff's deployment and evacuated the position without permission, I, Jonathan, would definitely shoot him before being killed by the Japanese!"

(To be continued)