Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

On October 1950, 10, the day after the 17st Corps of the Korean People's Army marched into Pyongyang, many people asked about the situation in North Korea at a White House press conference. It was no secret that the United States had suffered a major defeat in Korea.

So they all asked Truman how the United States should deal with the current situation.

In response to reporters' questions, Truman replied: "The war has caused us all pain. If possible, we hope to conduct peace talks and resolve the Korean Peninsula issue peacefully. We propose that both sides first cease fire on the Korean Peninsula and then discuss the future of the Korean Peninsula. However, the prerequisite is that the Chinese army does not cross the 38th parallel, and everyone stays at the 38th parallel to conduct peace talks. The United Nations can send representatives to mediate.

The US government has been releasing rumors of peace talks in recent days.

Of course, what the United States means is very simple.

We will stop military action, that is, ceasefire first and then negotiate.

As a result, China ignored it completely.

Therefore, the United States began to say that the Chinese army must not cross the 38th parallel and must stop at the 38th parallel. Just like when MacArthur led his troops across the 38th parallel, China warned them, now the United States is warning China not to cross the 38th parallel.

A reporter asked Truman directly, "Mr. President, if the Chinese army crosses the 38th parallel, what actions will the US government take to stop the Chinese army?"

Truman responded: "As we always have, we will take whatever steps are necessary to meet the deteriorating military situation in Korea.

As soon as Truman finished speaking, many reporters became very excited.

Truman's phrase "any necessary steps" was a much more comprehensive one. So someone immediately asked, "Does that include the atomic bomb?"

Truman did not give a direct answer.

He gave a meaningful smile and said, "Including all our weapons."

After that, Truman said nothing more.

No matter what the reporter asked, he remained silent and ended the press conference.

Truman's words were quickly spread around the world by the reporters present. The report caused a global uproar. Truman replaced Roosevelt as president at the end of World War II, and soon after, he ordered the use of atomic bombs on Japan. Truman was the first and only president in world history to order the use of atomic bombs.

Now his ambiguous words make many people think that this is not aimless.

The United States really planned to use atomic bombs.

At this time, MacArthur in Japan immediately clamored that he must use the atomic bomb to make Red China taste the power.

Many countries are now unable to sit still.

India, which had previously been actively trying to mediate the Korean War, joined forces with thirteen Asian and African nations to present the "Thirteen-Nation Proposal" at the United Nations. This proposal, with the United States voting in favor, passed without a hitch. The meeting ultimately decided to establish a three-person delegation consisting of representatives from India, Iran, and Canada to visit North Korea to urge a ceasefire.

"Thirteen-Nation Proposal", apart from other contents, the prerequisites are very obvious.

Both are directed at China and North Korea.

One is to demand that China and North Korea immediately issue a joint statement stating that neither country has any intention of sending troops under their control south of the 38th parallel. The other is that China and North Korea immediately stop military actions, establish a ceasefire first, and then negotiate.

In fact, it is similar to the previous ceasefire request of the United States.

They all want a ceasefire, and no one is allowed to cross the 38th parallel, and then negotiations can be carried out.

Because they are really scared now.

The Chinese army had won a great victory on the battlefield, but now the United States was threatening to use the atomic bomb. If the United States used the atomic bomb, the war would be a fight to the death. This war was originally limited to the Korean Peninsula, but with the use of the atomic bomb, the war would undoubtedly expand.

China and North Korea were defeated by the United States and were hit by atomic bombs.

The Soviet Union, as the big brother, must make a statement.

So what to do?

If the Soviet Union were also dragged into the war, it would be a world war. It had only been a few years since the end of World War II, so how could people not fear another world war? World War II resulted in over 8000 million military and civilian casualties worldwide. If World War III broke out, the casualties would exceed million.

Of course, it is not just some Asian and African countries led by India that are frightened.

The same is true for America’s allies.

America's European allies were shocked. They were willing to follow the US because of its money. The US is now implementing a "Marshall Plan" for Europe to help the European economy recover.

This is what they want.

But they did not want to follow the United States and the Soviet Union into military conflict.

If the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Chinese and North Korean troops, what would happen if the Soviet Union retaliated? What if the Soviet Union used an atomic bomb in Europe? The United States is far away in America, but Europe is close at hand.

Compared to the United States, anti-war sentiment in Europe is very high.

Europe was one of the main battlefields of World War II, and half of the casualties of World War II occurred in Europe, so they witnessed the horrors of war with their own eyes. Now, the people of European countries do not want war to happen.

As a result, America's European allies sent telegrams to Truman to express their concern, some even directly stating that they opposed the United States using atomic bombs and opposing the expansion of the war.

The most intense reaction came from the UK.

British Prime Minister Attlee was preparing to travel to the United States to discuss the matter with Truman.

Regardless, the US has made its stance clear, putting pressure on China. This is no longer solely a Chinese issue. Since the US threat, both the Soviet Union and North Korea have sent telegrams asking for China's stance.

The North Korean government has the most positive attitude.

They demanded that the troops cross the 38th parallel as soon as possible, taking advantage of the lack of US troops to completely drive the United States out of the sea and unify the Korean Peninsula. The Soviet Union also hoped that China would cross the 38th parallel and not be intimidated by the Americans.

Roshen met with the Prime Minister several times and expressed his views.

The Soviet Union and North Korea had been pressing China, so the Chairman had no choice but to convene another small-scale meeting to hear everyone's opinions.

"Would it be politically more advantageous for our troops to rest and recuperate north of the 38th parallel for a while?"

The Prime Minister is cautious.

Since the outbreak of the Korean War, China's diplomatic work has had both good and bad news. The good news is that China has consolidated its position within the socialist camp, and the Soviet Union and Eastern European socialist countries have paid more attention to China.

He Changgong, Deputy Minister of the First Ministry of Machine Building, personally signed a cooperation agreement with the Soviet Ministry of Aviation Industry in Moscow, fully supporting the development of China's aviation industry. The agreement primarily addressed two key areas: one was to help China establish an aviation university, and the other was to help China build an aircraft manufacturing plant.

The previous negotiations in this regard had average progress, but the subsequent negotiations went much more smoothly.

The same is true for Eastern European countries.

Various collaborations followed one after another.

Then many countries in the world began to re-understand China.

Some countries are willing to establish diplomatic relations with China.

However, due to the Korean War, Western countries, led by Britain and the United States, began to contain China and cut off its trade. This can be seen in the import and export volume. Excluding trade with the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries, the total import and export volume of New China in 1949 and 1950 exceeded US$10 billion.

However, under the current blockade imposed by Britain and the United States, import and export trade with countries other than the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe could be cut in half in 1951. This would be a significant blow to China, which urgently needed to purchase machinery, equipment, and industrial necessities from around the world.

Therefore, the Prime Minister's overall choice is still relatively cautious.

"If we don't cross the 38th parallel, politically we can express our willingness to make peace, letting the world see that we are a peace-loving nation. This will give the United States no excuse to continue to increase its troops in Korea. At the same time, by responding to the proposals of 13 Asian and African countries, including India, we can quickly establish friendly diplomatic relations with them."

The Prime Minister also needs to consider the thirteen Asian and African countries.

These thirteen countries are all important Asian and African powers, many of which have only recently gained independence. They are also the next targets of China's diplomacy. If China directly offends them this time, it will face some difficulties in future diplomatic relations.

"From a military perspective, all the peace talks demands the US is now releasing are just a delaying tactic. Because what they want now is not a conditional ceasefire, but a ceasefire first and then negotiations. This is clearly a delaying tactic."

Marshal Nie did not support sending troops to Korea at first.

But now that the troops have entered Korea to fight, they must fully support the current war. The most taboo in war is hesitating and overthinking. If there's too much external interference, the war cannot be won. Although Marshal Nie wasn't known for his command of the troops, he did make a number of strategic mistakes.

But after all, he is a veteran with 25 to 6 years of military career.

He understood this American tactic immediately. The US suffered heavy casualties in the first battle and was unable to control the current situation on the Korean Peninsula. So, they were using so-called peace talks to buy time, giving them time to prepare.

Comrade Rong Zhen is right.

General Peng said directly: "The Americans are now mobilizing at home, while at the same time talking nonsense about peace talks. It is obvious that they are worried that we will cross the 38th parallel, so they are playing a delaying tactic with us.

Everyone has a different attitude.

The Chairman concluded by saying, "Send the contents of the meeting to Comrade Wei Hongjun and Comrade Deng Guo so that they can understand what is happening. At the same time, we will also listen to the opinions of the comrades on the front line."

It's different from history.

The current Chairman is very stable. After the Second Battle of Changjin Lake, there was considerable debate about whether the Volunteer Army should cross the 13th parallel. The Volunteer Army suffered heavy casualties in both the First and Second Battles. For example, after the th Corps fought the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the Central Committee even ordered it to retreat to the Northeast for recuperation. The casualties were so severe. The th Corps also suffered heavy casualties.

The volunteer army faced its own difficulties in crossing the 38th parallel.

But things are different now. Although 20 enemy troops were annihilated, their own casualties were limited. This can be seen from the current organization of the various units. Under the Volunteer Army's 11 armies, all regimental units are organized in an orderly manner. Even during the 74th Army's battle at Sansoli, the regimental units below suffered heavy casualties, but the unit organization remained intact. Therefore, all units currently maintain sufficient combat effectiveness.

Furthermore, unlike historical enemy defenses along the Imjin River, there was no enemy presence at all along the Imjin River. There was no need to break through the enemy's defenses along the Imjin River as was done in the third battle.

The troops could have easily crossed the 38th parallel and the Imjin River. Therefore, the Chairman was steady and, looking at intelligence from all sides, had a wide range of options.

In this way, the telegram arrived at the Volunteer Army Headquarters.

Wei Hongjun took the telegram and asked Deng Guodao: "What do you think?"

"Of course I called."

Deng Guo said without hesitation: "How can we hold back when we have such a military advantage? If we stop at the 38th parallel now, how can we negotiate with the Americans in the future? The United States tells us not to cross the 38th parallel, and we don't cross it, then we will be at an absolute disadvantage politically. Only if we boldly attack, we can undermine the prestige of the United States politically and tell them that China is not a country that the United States can dictate to. Moreover, if we cross the 38th parallel and capture Seoul, we will have more bargaining chips and will have the confidence to negotiate with the Americans in the future."

Only by getting enough bargaining chips in the war can you get enough in the negotiations.

You want to get something at the negotiation table that you can't get through war.

Deng Guo had no interest in this debate.

We have such a good opportunity now, but if the troops don't cross the 38th parallel, how can we walk with our heads held high in the future? It's the Americans who are anxious now, not China. Wei Hongjun smiled and said, "MacArthur is clamoring to use the atomic bomb on us, and Truman has a similar attitude.

"The atomic bomb is terrifying. But the more we fear it, the more the US will use it to scare us. But as long as we show we are not afraid of it, then there is nothing to be afraid of."

Whether you are afraid of the atomic bomb or not, everyone is afraid.

But you can't show fear.

If you show fear and therefore heed the US's warnings, you will have completely lost strategically. The US will then frequently use the atomic bomb to scare you, testing your limits. Such step-by-step concessions will ultimately lead to a complete strategic defeat.

Therefore, when the enemy threatens you for the first time, you must fight back fiercely and appear fearless. Only in this way can you not reveal your true colors and confront the enemy strategically.

Wei Hongjun nodded.

He said, "That's what I mean. Didn't the Chairman say that the Americans have atomic bombs, and we have grenades? And if the Americans really wanted to use atomic bombs, they wouldn't make a big fuss. They should be quiet and suddenly use atomic bombs on us, instead of bluffing like they are now. The louder the voice, the more guilty it is."

Does the United States dare to use the atomic bomb?

In fact, if pushed to the limit, they would have dared to use the atomic bomb. But Truman's high-profile statement now actually shows that he doesn't want to use the atomic bomb, and it is more of a statement of attitude. If he really wanted to use the atomic bomb, he would not have been so high-profile.

"Yes. The Americans have a lot to worry about, and their center is not here."

Deng Guo agreed with Wei Hongjun's judgment.

Wei Hongjun enjoyed partnering with Deng Guo. Wei Hongjun usually considered the overall situation and formulated the overall strategy, while Deng Guo and Chen Zhonghe were responsible for developing the specific operational plans. Deng Guo, a man of both literary and military abilities, handled both the headquarters and the political department with ease. More importantly, he and Wei Hongjun were a perfect match, sharing many of the same ideas.

"Then let's call the central government back in our names."