Chapter 816 Wallace in the Vortex (Part 1)

"Everyone, good news! Good news!" Major Jack, the army staff officer, rushed into the Joint Chiefs of Staff and shouted happily, "Good news for India, good news. The British troops in India, under the command of General Slim, used decoys to The enemy's deep approach thwarted the Japanese attack and defended Calcutta! We killed and wounded more than 20,000 Japanese troops and destroyed more than 100 enemy tanks. Our losses were slightly less than the enemy's..."

"Got it." Someone next to him responded feebly and threw the telegram aside.

"What the hell? This is a huge victory. More than 20,000 people are equivalent to a Japanese first-class division! The results have been verified by our liaison officers and are reliable."

"Didn't I say I knew?"

"Tom? What's wrong with you? Aren't the British our allies? Aren't the Japanese our enemies? Shouldn't we be happy when friendly forces win? What's more, there are still our troops inside, I think..." said At this point, Major Jack suddenly stopped talking. He found that all the staff officers in the office, including Tom, had tears or angry expressions on their faces.

"What the hell is going on?"

"The president is seriously ill and the vice president has asked for peace." Someone muttered softly.

"Seek peace?! No! Never!" He rushed over, grabbed the opponent's collar, and shouted loudly, "David, tell me in a fucking loud voice that this is a rumor! You are playing tricks on me!"

"Jack, this is not a rumor. The news has spread everywhere. Even the terms of the peace talks are very clear. The chiefs are holding an emergency meeting to discuss policies."

"This is betrayal! Naked betrayal! While the soldiers on the front lines are still fighting bloody battles, government leaders actually proposed peace? And it was such a humiliating peace condition! We cannot agree to it, we must not agree to it!" Turner said at an internal meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff He slapped the table and yelled, "Look, what are these conditions? Germany rules Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Japan rules the Far East and the Pacific, and the United States is forced to huddle on the North American continent, and cannot even keep its traditional South American allies! This He's committing suicide. What son of a bitch dares to accept this condition? I'll kill him with one shot!"

"Turner, don't get excited." Eisenhower advised. "The vice president has not said anything to us about asking for peace. This news is largely a rumor, and it is impossible to agree to such harsh conditions even if he asks for peace."

Nimitz looked at the silent Admiral King, then at the equally silent Marshall, and said: "We give up aid to Britain but Germany does not give up its alliance with Japan? What kind of rhythm is this? Are we going to betray Great Britain?"

"Regardless of whether he was betrayed or not, the Vice President has stopped the transportation of supplies to the Soviet Union. It is said that he also believes that the sacrifice in aid to Britain is too great and that Britain has not played a substantial role. He plans to also stop the aid route to Britain." Admiral Kim was silent for a while. After the meeting, he said, "So I think the vice president may not accept such conditions, but peace is probably possible..."

Everyone sighed, and Marshall expressed doubts: "Why did this news spread so suddenly? Where did it leak out? Also, didn't we discuss the matter of the Vice President's work and just keep it secret internally?" Is it communicated by the department and not spread to the public? Why is everyone aware of it now? Do you still have the awareness of confidentiality?”

Soon the White House Chief of Staff called in, his voice very anxious: "Today, many reporters suddenly came asking to interview the Vice President. The content was all about the President's serious illness, the Vice President's performance of duties, and the pursuit of peace with the Axis. Not only that. In this way, news came from Congress requesting inquiries about relevant content. I could not resist. After asking the Vice President for instructions, he agreed and said that he would hold a press conference tonight. In addition, he also wanted to invite General Li Hai and Marshall. General and General Kim accompanied him to participate in relevant congressional inquiries and attend press conferences..."

The three of them looked at each other, and Li Hai finally asked: "As for the news of peace talks with the Axis, isn't your Excellency the Vice President going to come forward to refute the rumors? As far as I know, he has never said such a thing at all."

"Yes, he didn't say it. He is very angry about this news and very sad about the rumors. He has ordered Director Hoover to conduct a thorough investigation."

"Then won't he issue an official statement now? Showing that we will persist in fighting the Japanese-German axis forces to the end, and will insist on helping Great Britain, the Soviet Union, China and other allies to jointly fight the enemy?" Li Hai persuaded, "There is such a public statement , we can explain it to the public immediately, and the vice president’s own prestige will also increase.”

"This..." the chief of staff paused for several seconds, and then whispered, "I persuaded him, but he did not adopt my opinion. Instead, he said that he wanted to seek advice from Capitol Hill. He himself was not opposed to working with him. Germany seeks a decent peace - certainly not on the terms of the current peace."

Everyone in the Joint Chiefs of Staff was dumbfounded, including Admiral Li Hai, who fully understood the ins and outs of the whole incident, intentionally added fuel to the flames, and even pushed it single-handedly.

"I understand, tell Mr. Wallace we will come." Now Li Hai no longer wanted to be polite to him. Even the vice president didn't bother to address him with honorifics and just mentioned his name. The chief of staff was frightened when he heard his unkind tone. Shrinking his head, he hung up the phone after a few obsequious words.

Li Hai knocked on the table unconsciously. The development of the situation was somewhat beyond his imagination. Originally, he thought that after such rumors came out, Wallace would firmly deny it, and then, under the instigation of the military and the suppression of public opinion, he would publicly express his disapproval. "The axis of evil forces will fight to the end!" As long as he has this attitude, many things will be easy to do next - fighting to the end means that the United States will not only aid Britain, but also the Soviet Union and the underground resistance forces in various European countries. , to assist all the groups and countries currently fighting against the Axis. He never expected that Wallace's attitude would be so ambiguous, which immediately made countless thoughts race in his heart...

Everyone looked at each other. Wallace's attitude was obviously beyond their endurance. Turner hesitated and said: "Did he deliberately release this news? Not only did he want to seize power, but he also wanted to lead the peace against the axis?"

"It is very possible that the president has been unable to take office, let alone declare his candidacy for re-election. Now Republican Dewey is jumping up and down, trying his best to cause trouble, blaming the government and the Joint Chiefs of Staff every day for the current unfavorable situation, and building momentum for the new presidential election. "Perhaps Wallace wants to express his independent political stance, or is he going to announce his candidacy for the next term?"

As soon as they heard it was considered in connection with the presidential election, everyone's heads began to hurt again: This is damn politics!

Before they could continue their deliberations for too long, John Deere, chairman of the British military delegation to the United States, called and asked in a very excited tone: "I heard that you are seeking peace with Germany? Are you ready to abandon Great Britain?"

"No, no, this is a rumor. If we want to make peace, we will at least reach a consensus with your country."

"Then the news I heard is a rumor?"

"Yes, yes, it's a rumor." Li Hai thought for a moment and said matter-of-factly, "The European Voice has just expressed these views. We think this is a psychological and public opinion offensive fabricated by the Germans."

"Then why hasn't your government issued a statement to refute the rumors yet?" John Deere asked strangely. "The longer it is delayed, the more the rumors will ferment."

"There will be a press conference in the evening where Mr. Wallace will lay out his full position."

"Then at least we should issue a statement now to show our determination to fight the Axis countries to the end."

"this……"

"Unwilling?" John Deere said anxiously and angrily, "The United Nations Declaration ("Declaration of Twenty-Six Nations") signed in 1942 clearly stated that we guarantee to use all military and economic resources to simultaneously Fight against the Axis powers and their slave countries that are in a state of war; cooperate with each other and do not conclude independent armistice agreements and peace treaties with enemy countries. Now that the handwriting of the declaration is dry, your country is about to tear up the treaty? "

"No, no, old friend, listen to me. This news is just like the news that spread among you at that time about the imminent restoration of Edward VIII and the reconciliation between Great Britain and Germany. It is completely a boring political trick and the deception of public opinion by the enemy. That’s all.”

"Okay, I'm waiting to see the press conference in the evening. By the way, regarding the congressional inquiry, can we apply to observe it?"

"This, I'm afraid, is not very convenient."

"Please give us a reasonable explanation. Prime Minister Churchill is as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. If there is any problem that needs to be communicated, he decided to fly over tomorrow morning to discuss countermeasures."

"It's good that he can come. He hasn't talked to Mr. Wallace yet." Li Hai carefully added, "But don't say that I suggested that soldiers can't do politics."

"Of course." Marshal Dill sighed, "I hope this storm will pass soon."

But it was obvious that the storm would not pass at all, but would become bigger and bigger. In the afternoon, Hopkins received a secret telegram from Joseph, announcing the secret meeting and negotiation between him and Hoffman, saying that the other party had no intention of negotiating with Argentina. Conceded on the Japanese issue, and another shocking news was revealed to Hopkins: ...In order to show off their force and to scare us, the Germans invited me to visit the Mediterranean island of Crete, which is full of all kinds of For the troops participating in the amphibious landing combat drill, I also met for a few minutes with Field Marshal Rommel, who will be the supreme commander of this landing campaign!

While Hoffman was setting off a smokescreen, a capable transport fleet was quietly setting sail from the Italian port, preparing to go to Madagascar and South Africa via the Suez Canal for reinforcements. As the United States sent additional forces in the direction of South Africa, The Germans were not stingy and directly sent out the newly built escort fleet with the Ise-breaking aircraft carrier as the core.

In addition to a variety of equipment and military supplies, the fleet also includes a newly reorganized 27th Panzer Grenadier Division (Type 1943), an air wing pilot and 12 203mm naval guns. In addition, there are It is planned to build a new air defense tower on the island.

Hoffman is not just saying that he will not give up Argentina. The Malvinas Island will be the unsinkable aircraft carrier of the Third Reich!