It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 236 | Preventive Self-Defense (Two Chapters Combined)

Last week, the Foreign Debt Committee reiterated the necessity of repaying the debt to the United Kingdom, but the Kingdom has yet to provide a positive response.

Now, as Secretary of State Cordell Hull angrily questioned the United Kingdom ambassador about the purpose of this move, London has finally provided a direct response.

The belated reply was filled with a subtle, dry humor.

"The United Kingdom has never been in such a precarious situation. I regret that we cannot tolerate the coercion from the two hypocritical merchant nations on both sides of the Pacific. We have made the difficult decision to suspend the peace and take preventative self-defense measures. Now we are here to pay our debts."

Cordel-Hall calmly retorted, "Is this a declaration of war? How sudden."

The ambassador forced a smile and said slowly, "This is a statement about active self-defense warfare. I hope you can understand, Mr. Secretary of State, that no Briton wants to be involved in a war."

"Ha, you're really eager to send Ivanroth's army to Cannadia. Are you worried we'll take Cannadia?"

"I am not aware of this, I am only relaying it. In fact, I think London's decision was a result of extreme helplessness. You Americans and Chinese are not willing to let the United Kingdom have a decent ending."

Hel fell silent.

After a moment, Hull spoke meaningfully: "The people of Zhong once told me that any concessions to you Britons would be seen as weakness. In the past few centuries, you have ruthlessly destroyed countless backward kingdoms and tribes, and they have not had a decent end."

Can that be the same?

The ambassador opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately remained silent.

Hull sneered, “You Britons cannot only beg for leniency when you are in dire straits.”

War was imminent, or rather, war had already broken out in a completely new form.

Yesterday was Sunday, and the stock market was closed. Today is Monday, a normal trading day.

As the headline 'War is Coming' appeared on the front page of newspapers, the Dow Jones Industrial Average on the New York Stock Exchange exhibited strange volatility.

In addition, the stock prices of import and export related companies fell significantly, while those of heavy industry related companies rose sharply.

At noon on the same day, in Washington, D.C., at the White House.

The air in this oval office was heavier than ever before, perhaps the most solemn it had been in nearly a century.

The president sat upright behind the table, his hands clasped together, his eyes fixed on the map of North America spread out before him.

Navy Secretary Frank Knox seemed lost in thought, while Army Chief of Staff General Marshall, impeccably dressed in his uniform, bowed slightly as he briefed the president on military deployments.

"On the western front, the Washington and Idaho National Guard will directly attack Vancouver."

"The central line, the Pennsylvania and New York National Guard will launch an offensive on the Niagara Peninsula to capture the Niagara Falls hydroelectric power station."

"On the Eastern Front, the Army will simultaneously cross the St. Lawrence River and launch a two-pronged attack on Ottawa and Montreal. For the important port of Halifax, the Marines will launch a landing from Portland, under the cover of the fleet."

After speaking, the Army Chief of Staff straightened up again.

The president looked away from the map and at Marshall, asking, "What are the chances of success? What level of resistance are expected?"

"I cannot give a precise answer, Mr. President. I can only say that we have a very high chance of winning. The troops that the British secretly transported are most likely just light infantry units lacking heavy weapons."

"I understand, Major General Marshall. I authorize the implementation of the 'Red War Plan.' Immediately mobilize the armed forces of the United States. All states must prepare for war to crush the plots of the Britons and Ivan Rossites!"

Next, the Secretary of the Navy reported a crucial piece of information.

"Intelligence from the British Isles indicates that the fleet at Portsmouth Naval Base has departed. We have reason to believe that the Royal Navy is preparing to strike, Mr. President," the Secretary of the Navy said in a deep voice.

"Then we must capture Halifax before the British navy arrives," the president said.

The president then left the White House and traveled by car to the Capitol.

Inside that large white-domed building, hundreds of members of the House and Senate had arrived to discuss national affairs.

Cameras and video cameras were all turned on and ready to go, while the members of parliament in their respective seats appeared eager and excited.

Because of the special circumstances that directly affected the safety of the Americas, the president made an impromptu decision to approve the war plan to be implemented as soon as possible. However, since this was a major military and national matter, he still needed to give a speech to the public to complete the formalities.

"Yesterday, the Coast Guard attempted to intercept a cruise ship full of soldiers, but was unsuccessful. We have evidence that the cruise ship was carrying a large number of Ivanrod troops, which shows that the United Kingdom and the Ivanrod Empire are trying to undermine the peace of the Americas in a despicable way, which has already posed a serious threat to the United States."

"In response to the Secretary of State's questioning, the United Kingdom Embassy gave a clear answer, which they shamelessly called a 'special active military self-defense operation.' All diplomatic efforts were ineffective, and the United Kingdom refused to compromise and accept any reconciliation proposals from the United States."

“We estimate that about 10,000 soldiers have secretly come to Canada under the cover of civilian ships, perhaps preparing to launch an invasion of America. The facts of yesterday and today say it all. The American people have clearly realized the terrible impact this has on the survival and security of our homeland.”

"As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have instructed all measures to be taken for defense, including necessary proactive attacks. Although we cannot be certain how long it will take to thwart the plot of the United Kingdom and the Empire of Ivanlos, the United States of America will surely win, and I believe justice will prevail."

"Have faith in our armed forces, in the strong resolve of our people, and in the legitimacy of our defensive actions. May God bless us. Finally, I must emphasize that, given the special relationship between the United Kingdom and the Empire of Ivanrod, diplomatic relations should be clearly distinguished."

"I request Congress to pass an emergency bill declaring a special military confrontation between the United States and the United Kingdom, and that the United States of America and the Empire of Ivanros enter into a state of war from this moment forward."

There were no cheers, no jubilation, no applause.

The members of parliament had different feelings, but most were worried and indignant.

Finally, a congressman broke the silence by raising his arm and shouting, "Let's kick them back into the Atlantic!"

They've dared to bully us? Who can stand this humiliation? Let's get them!
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Xi'an Special Capital District.

The sweltering summer heat makes people feel uncomfortable, but fortunately, Mount Li is not only beautiful, but also has a slightly lower temperature in summer, making it relatively suitable for escaping the heat. Therefore, Huaqing Pool, nestled among the mountains, is quite comfortable.

Due to their outstanding performance in the assessment, Shang Ke and Zhang Zhilin, the commander of the 11th Mechanized Infantry Division, were received by the President. To be honest, talking face-to-face with the President, at such close proximity, felt strangely unreal, to the point of being somewhat dazed.

Shang Ke was rather awkward, but more excited and 'happy'. Such mixed emotions seemed inappropriate to express, so he could only suppress them, hence his restrained and uneasy demeanor.

Seeing his expression, the commander-in-chief chuckled and said, "Hey, don't be nervous. Someone who has been on the battlefield and shed blood, would he be afraid of me?"

This time, Shang Ke was unusually honest and answered frankly, "Your Excellency, I am not afraid, but I am three parts excited and seven parts happy."

"Oh?" The president smiled and said with interest, "So specific, quite rigorous. You must have studied science and engineering well since you were young?"

Shang Ke thought to himself that he was indeed quite good at math, physics and chemistry in his previous life, but in this life, his middle school grades were at best average. Fortunately, he was careful and bought a correspondence course degree.

So he forced himself to remain calm and said, "I'm sorry to make you laugh. My grades in school were only average, but I've always been interested, so I've continued to study on my own after joining the army."

"Indeed, I've heard you're very knowledgeable, and it seems that's true. You've done a very good job." The commander praised them a few times, then teased, "I want other units to learn from the 8th Mechanized Infantry Division. If they come to you for advice, don't hold back."

"No, no, not at all." Shang Ke replied without hesitation, "It concerns matters of great importance to the military and the nation. There is no rule in the martial arts world that a disciple will starve to death. If any brother units have any questions, I will definitely teach them everything I know."

The group chatted happily.

After exchanging three or four sentences, the president steered the conversation toward serious business.

"The world is in turmoil. The Americas are in chaos too. The British and Ivan Rus's are in cahoots. Wherever their dirty hands reach, there is unrest. You've fought against Ivan Rus's army, with real swords and guns. What do you think it will be like? Will the American army be able to capture the port?"

Actually, this was just a casual question. As the head of a country, the General Staff must have analyzed the information when it came to him.

Faced with the president's question, Shang Ke pondered for a few seconds and said with certainty, "Ninety-nine percent impossible. If the source of the information is true, then they secretly transported about ten thousand people ashore. If they are only defending the city, they can hold out for a long time. The US military will definitely not be able to break through in a short period of time."

The saying goes that quality is more important than quantity in military affairs. Since the troops were secretly transported there, they were hard-won and were therefore considered elite.

In terms of combat effectiveness alone, Shank believed that the Imperial Russian Army, tempered by war, was not bad, especially its infantry and tank units, which were highly experienced.

This is just the ordinary army. If it were the Imperial Russian paratroopers or naval infantry, then the US military would be in for a treat.

As for the British army, it lacked combat experience and its officers were generally somewhat reckless, but the soldiers and officers as a whole had a high level of education and were well-equipped, which made up for its shortcomings and its overall combat effectiveness was acceptable.

The Canada army is actually the most formidable. Compared to its suzerain state, the Canada army is historically known for its willingness to fight tough and arduous battles and has performed well. Its weakness is that Canada currently only has one regular division, with the rest being scattered militia units.

"If we can't gain the initiative on land, that would be troublesome; it could lead to bad things..."

The president said leisurely, then took a drag of his cigarette and looked ahead thoughtfully.

The other side of the earth.

7 month 23 day.

West Coast, Vancouver.

The Washington State National Guard launched a multi-pronged attack on Vancouver, with some troops arriving from Seattle by Coast Guard vessels and others crossing the border by land.

The Kanada army was small in number and could not stop the full-scale offensive of the American army except to buy time.

The central line, the Niagara Peninsula.

The waterfall here is also the border between the two countries. The hydroelectric power station located here has a unique historical status because it was the world's first power station to use alternating current, and the electricity generated was transmitted to various cities through high-voltage transmission lines.

At dawn, two infantry companies of the Pennsylvania National Guard set off from Erie, safely crossing Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, in dozens of small boats.

Around noon, they launched a probing attack on the Niagara Dam, encountering only sporadic resistance from local militia, and quickly captured an important target in the Red War plan.

Eastern route, Ottawa-Montreal.

The American 37th and 38th Infantry Divisions were already on standby in New York State and had not participated in the large-scale Louisiana Exercise. After receiving orders, the two units rushed to the border and began their attack around noon that day.

The 37th Infantry Division's offensive route was to advance 50-60 kilometers north along the eastern shore of Lake Ontario, cross the St. Lawrence River, and attack Ottawa.

The 38th Infantry Division's offensive route was to advance 70-80 kilometers north along the highway east of the Adilundak Mountains, cross the St. Lawrence River, and attack Montreal.

【Picture】

“Boom—boom boom boom—”

Shells and bullets tore apart the peaceful St. Lawrence River, splashing water of all sizes as American infantrymen attempting to cross were met with a barrage of fire from the opposite bank!

A small boat was capsized by the water jet from the shell, and more than a dozen soldiers struggled in the water. In the blink of an eye, several of them disappeared.

Encountering enemy interception while crossing the river was expected. The well-prepared Army Air Force arrived on time, and a squadron of B-18 bombers dropped hundreds of 250-pound aerial bombs on the opposite bank. The booming explosions were deafening, and thick smoke and dust rose into the sky, obscuring the view.

The American artillery also set up their cannons and opened fire on any exposed targets!
The resistance from the other side of the river gradually disappeared.

That night, both infantry divisions successfully crossed the St. Lawrence River with relatively few casualties.

The next day.

The mornings in Montreal were no longer peaceful; the sound of gunfire shattered the tranquility, and the flames of artillery fire illuminated half the sky, making it even more magnificent than the sunrise.

American infantry and tanks merged into an olive-green steel torrent, their tank tracks grinding through the muddy ground as they surged toward Canaan’s second-largest city.

The Canaan army only set up a few temporary guard posts in the southern suburbs. Faced with such a powerful force, they were ordered not to hold their ground.

Behind them, a complex defensive position had already taken shape, and more than a thousand officers and soldiers of the Imperial Russian Navy infantry brigade were already concealed in field fortifications, ready for battle.

Liaison officer Major Dalton said nervously, "The enemy is approaching, and they are preparing to conduct a reconnaissance mission."

Colonel Khalichev, a burly man, put down his binoculars, sat down, and said calmly, "The Americans are going to get a beating."

(End of this chapter)