.Chapter 116: Don’t be discouraged by defeat

When he received the news that the 72nd Special Mixed Fleet was severely damaged, the "Washington" was hit by five torpedoes, and several escort warships were sunk, he could not describe Chandler's feelings as "shock". His first reaction was whether there was a problem with the communication and the information sent back was not accurate enough.

Reason told him that it was definitely not a problem with the communication.

After launching the special situation response plan for CIA, Chandler returned to the office and contacted Admiral Aaron using a confidential line.

The situation is undoubtedly true. The USS Washington was hit hard. The warships of the 71st Special Mixed Fleet that arrived later were working hard to rescue officers and soldiers on the aircraft carrier, shut down the nuclear reactor, and remove fuel. According to the on-site assessment, the USS Washington has no rescue value. Even if the rear hull that did not sink is to be restored, it will take several years to repair, and the maintenance cost will not be much cheaper than building a new aircraft carrier.

Allen is preparing to report to the White House, requesting to sink the Washington.

The disaster has already happened and no one can recover the losses suffered.

As a soldier, Chandler's first thought was not to recover the losses, but to make up for the losses, making the heavy blows suffered by the US military meaningful.

Before hanging up the phone, Chandler emphasized to Allen one thing: make sure the First Land Division launches an attack on time.

Chandler then left Langley and rushed to the White House.

By the time he arrived, Lindberg had received a battle report from the Pentagon, knowing that the US military had suffered the most painful blow after the war began.

This is definitely not good news for Lindbergh.

After receiving the war report, he immediately contacted Strauss, who was dealing with Chinese Vice Premier Li Pingko at the United Nations Headquarters, and suspended ceasefire negotiations with China.

If the US military is defeated, even if it can reach a ceasefire agreement, it will be an agreement that is extremely unfavorable to the United States.

What Lindberg could not understand is why the US military suffered such a heavy blow.

After Chandler arrived, he vented all these questions and the anger that arose. It seemed that in the eyes of the president, Chandler was not Director Cia, but the chairman of the Joint Conference.

"The Volunteer Restoration came too suddenly, and there was a problem with the judgment of the coalition command."

“Is it just a matter of judgment?”

Chandler knew that the president was on fire, so he tried to make the wording as tactful as possible. "Strictly speaking, no one could avoid such a problem. A few days ago, the Volunteer Army attacked the transport fleet to Yuanshan, forcing us to withdraw the First Marine Division from the front line. With the ground troops entering North Korea, the Volunteer Army's counterattacks were all aimed at our ground attack, with the main purpose of curbing the coalition's advance to the north. Affected by this, the Alliance Command has always believed that the Volunteer Army would concentrate its efforts to block the maritime route from Busan to Yuanshan and attack our transport fleet again. During the battle, the Volunteer Army did this, using dozens of bombers to launch hundreds of long-range anti-ship missiles to the fleet entering Yongxing Bay, which had a huge impact on our combat judgment, and made the Alliance Command not notice the threat to the aircraft carrier battle group."

"General, what's the point of saying this now?"

"this……"

"You also know that China has taken the first step on the field outside and sent the Executive Vice Premier to the United Nations to discuss ceasefire negotiations with us." Lindberg paused for a moment and said, "I called Strauss and asked him to suspend contact with China. But you have to know that if China makes a high-profile statement, if we do not respond, it will only be considered by the international community that we are unwilling to conduct ceasefire negotiations. Do you know how serious the consequences will be?"

Chandler nodded, indicating that he understood Lindberg's meaning.

After learning about the large-scale counterattack by the Volunteers, Chandler immediately thought that the main purpose of this counterattack was not to achieve a great military victory, but to provide favorable conditions for the battle on the foreign field and help China establish a good image of love for peace.

It turns out that his judgment is not wrong.

If the United States unilaterally terminates external contacts for ceasefire negotiations, the international community will only believe that the United States has no sincerity to end the war, not China.

The Second Korean War was just a local war, so victory on the battlefield was only part of it.

In order to achieve the fundamental purpose of launching this war, the United States must also win outside the iron fire battlefield and attack China's international prestige.

"Well, now that you understand, now you tell me, what should we do?"

"The whole world's eyes are staring at the United Nations, and they all hope that the ceasefire negotiations can bear fruit. We cannot stand on the opposite side of the world, so we must negotiate with China, but it is not now."

Lindberg said nothing and asked Chandler to continue.

"We suffered losses. Perhaps in public opinion, we are the losers of this battle, but we are not the losers of this war."

"General, you are too confident."

"So far, the initiative is still in our hands." Chandler smiled and said, "A battle is not enough to determine the victory or defeat of a war. As long as we still have the initiative and still control the direction of the war, there is hope for the final victory."

"Without the accumulation of every battle, why should we win?"

"President, do you know the history of the East?"

Lindberg was stunned for a moment, and seemed not to understand what Chandler meant.

"In ancient China, about two thousand years ago, a general named Han Xin fought against the most powerful Chu king at that time. He lost consecutive battles and never won a single victory. Finally, he defeated Chu king in the Battle of Gaixia."

"The problem now is that the volunteers are not losing streaks."

Chandler sighed and said, "From history, what we need to learn is not how to win battles, but how to learn from failure."

"Well, what lessons have you learned?"

"Before this, we underestimated China's determination to war and the achievements made in military construction over the years, thus underestimating the combat effectiveness of the Volunteer Army."

Lindberg shook his head, not satisfied with Chandler's answer.

"We have learned our lessons, so there is reason to believe that in the next battle, we will win, and it will be the victory that determines the victory."

"General, no matter how much you say, it will not solve the problem."

“So we have to act.”

"What action?"

"According to the information obtained, it is very likely that the attack nuclear submarine that sunks the 'Washington' will be the Chinese Navy's attacking nuclear submarine."

Lindberg was stunned, then widened his eyes and said, "It is impossible. If China directly participates in the war, even if it does not declare war on us, it will expand the scale of the war. If China incorporates nuclear submarines into the People's Army by selling them, it is equivalent to tearing down the 'Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty'. No matter how stupid the Chinese leader is, he will not be confused about this issue."

"The problem is, we have no evidence."

"You mean..."

"In a few hours, the Volunteer Army will announce the results of the battle, and will definitely claim that it was a conventional submarine that sank the aircraft carrier and will not admit to sending nuclear submarines to the war."

Lindberg breathed a long breath and seemed to have put down the hanging stone.

"Maybe, we can't make this statement. After all, we need evidence to put it on the table, but we can take advantage of this opportunity."

“What opportunity?”

"China will definitely feel guilty when sending nuclear submarines to the war. We can hint at the other party in the negotiations and then demand a temporary suspension of the ceasefire negotiations in this name."

"But in the end we still have to go back to the negotiating table."

"It's true that you have to go back, but there will be a world of difference when you go back."

"you mean……"

"Using this opportunity, we will launch a new scale offensive. If we can occupy northeastern North Korea before restarting negotiations, block the volunteer army's access to North Korea, and fight a ground battle in a relatively favorable situation, we can force China to lower its negotiation requirements."

"Start an attack now?"

Chandler nodded and said, "Although the Volunteer Army's successful counterattack caused us to suffer heavy damage, the Volunteer Army also suffered heavy losses. According to the war report from the coalition headquarters, the Volunteer Army lost nearly 200 fighter jets, and mainly mainly fighter jets. Up to now, the Volunteer Army lost more than 400 combat aircraft, and the total number of damaged and scrapped fighters should be about 600. Before the war broke out, the total number of third-generation fighter jets in the Chinese Air Force was nothing but. If the war mechanism had not been activated and the production speed of advanced fighter jets was accelerated, the Chinese Air Force would have been unable to compete with us. In the short term, it would be difficult for the Volunteer Army to compete with us for air supremacy. Even if the 71st Special Mixed Fleet could provide support for the offensive forces, coupled with the air force deployed in South Korea, it would have enough ability to support the First Land Force to head north and open the great mén to victory."

"How sure are you?"

"It depends on when the attack will be launched."

Lindberg hesitated for a moment and said, "Is the First Land Force ready?"

"The losses suffered by the transport fleet are very limited. The First Marine Division has obtained the combat materials needed for the offensive. General Aaron has formulated an offensive plan. As long as the Pentagon approves the combat plan of the coalition command..." Chandler glanced at his watch and said, "As soon as half an hour, the First Marine Division can set off from Ham Hung and advance north along the coastline, striving to capture the northeastern coastal area of ​​North Korea within a week."

"Do you need me to call Berkshire?"

Chandler smiled and said that this is what it means.

Lindberg did not hesitate anymore and immediately called the Secretary of Defense to approve the coalition command's offensive plan.

The president is not an idiot, and being able to become a president is definitely not an idiot. Even Bush, who is considered to have the lowest IQ among all previous American presidents, is much smarter than ordinary people. Lindberg had known for a long time that it was not a soldier like Chandler who was driving the war. Before achieving his goal, the rolling wheels of war will never stop.

However, as president, Lindberg had the most obvious influence on the war.

After Chandler left, he called Secretary of State Strauss. The coalition had missed the last chance to win a full victory, and negotiations became the only way to end the war. Even if the negotiations are not good for the United States now, it cannot change the fact that negotiations must be negotiated with China in the future.
Chapter completed!