Yes, Prime Minister of Japan

Colonel Zhang Rui dared not delay and hurriedly ordered his soldiers to secure the beachhead.

Taiwan's air force is barely managing to take off.

As the military with the strongest pro-independence political leanings, the Taiwan Air Force, although "nine out of ten want to retire," still has at least some fighting spirit.

Although Songshan Airport was under Li Xinghe's control, the 5th Tactical Mixed Wing of Taitung and Hualien County and the 7th Flying Wing of Taitung were unable to take off in time. However, Hsinchu Airport was not yet under control, and the 2nd Tactical Wing and the Mirage 2000, which was known as invincible, were still there.

However, the 60 Mirage 2000s of the 2nd Tactical Fighter Wing at Hsinchu Airport were still far too weak.

They cannot take off because the airborne jamming drones, suicide drones, J-10C fighters, J-15s, J-20s, and even various air-to-air missiles, rockets, and missiles are relentlessly ravaging military aircraft depots, runways, and aircraft.

Especially the air force of the Eastern Theater Command, they were firing PL-15 missiles from over 100 kilometers away over Pingtan Island, just for target practice.

The Mirage 2000 simply cannot take off.

The Air Force could only repeatedly ask:

"What about the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taichung?"

The People's Liberation Army would even interrupt their conversations and joke around with them.

"They only have IDF, Ching-kuo fighter jets. Those planes don't even need to waste missiles; they can't take off on their own, and if they do, they'll crash."

The Taiwanese Air Force was furious and shut down its radios.

Colonel Zhang Rui then used a loudspeaker to address the various Kuomintang troops on the beachhead:

"Kids, the exercise is over. Put down your rifles and go home."

After abandoning their weapons, the entire beach defense force in the Taoyuan section collapsed, and most of them ran home.

Is the equipment gap between the two sides really that large?

Looking solely at the equipment shared by both sides, in terms of age, there is indeed a difference of several decades. However, in terms of absolute quality, the gap doesn't seem to be an insurmountable generational gap.

However, what determines the course of the battlefield at this time is another part, namely the changes in the system of information technology, joint operations, and beyond-visual-range strikes.

"victory!"

Amid cheers erupted on the beach, a local pro-Communist guide arrived by car.

"We're here!"

Unlike Li Xinghe's surprise attack, the mainland did indeed cultivate and win over a considerable number of civilian groups in Taiwan to support the cause of national reunification. Underground intelligence work extended from gangsters to the Presidential Office.

They complained:

"Your allies are too ruthless. They've positioned their gunboats at the mouth of the Tamsui River and are bombing everything in sight, both above and below. They've destroyed almost all the military camps in Taipei! Come with me, Taoyuan City is just ahead. After Taoyuan, you'll reach New Taipei City, and after New Taipei City, you'll be in Taipei!"

Speed ​​is of the essence in war.

The 91st Brigade organized Type 05 infantry fighting vehicles for an emergency surprise attack on Taoyuan City.

Soon after, Taoyuan City fell, and the commander of the Sixth Army Corps died in the camp, blown to pieces by a 510mm naval gun.

The remaining armored forces of the 582nd and 542nd Armored Brigades took the opportunity to emerge from the camp that had been ravaged by naval gunfire and attempted to carry out the final defensive plan. Several M60 tanks were hit and exploded by drones, and then the tanks jumped off and scattered.

The Dahan Camp in Longtan District, Taoyuan City, is the location of the Army Command of the Ministry of National Defense. General Lu Kunxiu, Commander of the Taiwan Army, Lieutenant General Li Tianlong, Lieutenant General Zhang Taisong, Lieutenant General Chen Jianyi, Chief of Staff, and others were captured on their escape route.

"The Great Han Camp... doesn't look very Han at all."

Senior Colonel Zhang Rui proposed:

"Let them order all Taiwanese troops to lay down their weapons and surrender to us."

The staff officer went to inquire and found out that they did not have that authority.

"Why don't they have command authority? Oh, it's in the hands of the General Staff."

Yes, Taiwan's military system has undergone many changes. Currently, each of the three military commands has lost command of the armed forces, retaining only the authority to develop and manage them. True command of the armed forces resides in the General Staff Headquarters at the Hengshan Command Post, under Lieutenant General Mei Chia-shu.

The infantry fighting vehicle convoy made its way to Bade District, Taoyuan City.

Communication with the coalition forces has been established:

"The communications channel has been answered. The 1st Battalion of the Joint Marine Corps Assault Brigade is in Shulin District, New Taipei City, and is advancing towards Sanxia District. Only Turtle Mountain is now between us."

"Alright, let's meet them at the Three Gorges!"

When the vanguard of the 91st Brigade advanced into the Three Gorges area, they did indeed spot the joint forces' assault brigade.

What should have been an atmosphere of victorious reunion turned into a scene where, as everyone turned the corner, they saw soldiers of the Allied Forces, sleeves rolled up, skillfully wielding batons on the roadside, launching a heavy attack on gangsters, thugs, and young people who were taking advantage of the situation to burn houses, steal, and rob.

When it comes to beating up gangsters and brutally attacking civilians, there is probably no force in Northeast Asia more skilled and experienced than the United Nations Army.

The sticks flew like afterimages, leaving these thugs nowhere to escape.

The People's Liberation Army, on the other hand, is in a somewhat awkward position.

Guys, reporters are taking pictures. Can you guys tone it down a bit?

Please bring some food and drink.

Hu Zhantian rushed over and shook hands with Colonel Zhang Rui:

"May we meet in victory."

"A victorious reunion!"

In any case, when the 91st Combined Arms Brigade broke through the defense line of Taoyuan City, defeated the beachhead garrison and the 582nd Armored Brigade, the 542nd Armored Brigade, and the headquarters of the 6th Army Corps, and successfully joined forces with the Marine Corps Assault Brigade in the Sanxia area of ​​Taiwan, the core area of ​​the Taiwanese government, including Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu, had completely collapsed.

Taipei, in fact, sank irresistibly.

Public opinion on the island also shifted amidst a flurry of intelligence:

"Put down your weapons, stop fighting!"

"Peace, no matter who is in power, we should not have war."

"Let's fight! If you're so capable, don't try to ambush us, let's fight head-on and see who wins!"

Countless voices, like a storm, swirled around the island of Taiwan, which was still trembling in Typhoon Phoenix.

People are waiting anxiously.

How many fortresses and ammunition depots must be torn apart, how many buildings must be destroyed, and how many lives must be lost before the war is considered over?

……

Taitung.

The scenery here is exceptionally beautiful.

He Yang led his men down the mountain and had hot pot with Sun Jinde.

During the meal, He Yang suddenly grabbed Sun Jinde:

"You have no choice but to come with us. You've already defected to the Communists!"

"Huh? Don't try to fool me. I'm a former spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense. How could I possibly defect to the Communists?"

Major General Sun Jinde was taken aback, and the Sichuan hot pot in his bowl no longer tasted good.

It's fine to eat, but talking about politics while eating is really unlucky.

He Yang said solemnly:

"Really? You and your Taitung regional command are now declaring an uprising on the spot, becoming the first unit to surrender and return to the fold during the Taiwan Strait war. Your unit has a very rich history. Du Yuming's armored corps was China's first armored force. If you return to the fold, you will reap great benefits."

But his persuasion was of no importance to Sun Jinde.

He's already been kicked out of Taipei, so does that mean he has a bright political future?

It's better to eat hot pot.

But He Yang insisted on pulling him along and carrying him away in one go.

"No, no, no, let me finish my meal..."

At this point, who cared about eating hot pot? They asked the restaurant owner to keep it for them to take home, and everyone picked up Sun Jinde, openly raised the five-star red flag, and headed towards Taiping Camp.

He Yang ran to Taiping Camp and said only one sentence:

"Lower the Nationalist army flag. Your leader has decided to revolt on the front lines, and you will all be spared the war."

After the bewildered Taiwanese soldiers in the Taiping camp lowered their flags and smoothly decided to defect, He Yang turned to Sun Jinde and said:

“Your men have decided to revolt in front of the enemy. If you don’t participate, we will have no choice but to kill you as our first achievement after entering Taiwan.”

"How can someone be so shameless?"

Helpless, Sun Jinde, a major general with pro-independence leanings, became the first unit to revolt and surrender during the Taiwan Strait campaign.

Shortly afterward, the 7th Training Squadron also agreed to a mutiny in the field to prevent the spread of the war.

Both airports in Taitung have announced a change of flag.

Taitung County became the second local entity to announce a change of flag and banner.

……

It's evening of July 7th, in the Eastern Time Zone (UTC).

It was 6 a.m. at the Pentagon. The summer sun had already risen, but the chaotic Pentagon still couldn't figure out what was happening.

Chief of Staff Grady and his team were still studying the map:

"Damn it, the red flag is flying over Taipei, and Keelung seems to have fallen into Li Xinghe's hands. It seems a large number of politicians have surrendered to China, and there are large-scale riots in Yilan County, Taitung County, and Hualien County..."

Apart from that, there isn't much news.

The U.S. military intelligence office in Taipei was also bewildered, as their base had been sealed off and they were unable to send out any messages.

But the Pentagon finally figured out the troop deployment:

"The Indo-Pacific Theater reported that they planned to send their First Army and the Eighth Army Corps of Taiwan northward together to form a three-army group combat force with the Tenth Army Corps of the Fifth Combat Zone in Taichung, aiming to annihilate the PLA's 91st and 14th Combined Arms Brigades that had landed in one battle."

at this time.

On the other side of the sea, Zhang Xiaoqian reported to Li Xinghe:

"The 10th Army Corps, located in Xinshe, secretly contacted us, wanting to inquire about specific peace policies. At present, it seems that Taichung and Tainan, which are not strategic priorities, are trending towards peaceful liberation. However, it must be recognized that Tainan is also a major supporter of the pro-independence camp. We must find an appropriate and feasible operational strategy between deterrence and peace."

Will there be more bloodshed or more peace?

Should we completely break the backbone of Taiwan independence, or should we address the root causes of Taiwan independence ideology by tackling its economic origins?

Li Xinghe's command post fell silent.

But the Pentagon, on the contrary, was elated. Grady's assessment was:

"We must realize that if the Communist army were to advance south, Taiwan would be plunged into the deepest abyss. If we could actually muster the strength of three armies to march north and build fortresses along the Daan River in Taichung or the Houlong River in Miaoli, we might be able to keep the enemy at bay in the Taipei Basin. We must be aware that Li Xinghe's troops are in Keelung, and some of them are suspected to be in Taipei City. If we could provoke a war between China and Japan, such as creating a local conflict, the Chinese landing forces would be sandwiched between our army, the Taiwanese army, and the Japanese army in Taoyuan City."

Based on this map, a PLA landing in Taoyuan City doesn't seem like a good idea. After all, this plain offers no natural defenses, and the enemy is positioned on both the north and south sides.

When Grady proposed the "pincer attack from the north and south," Li Xinghe focused on the presence of this US military force:

"We should realize that the most difficult part of the Taiwan Strait campaign is over. Everyone who participated deserves a grand medal. Zhang Xiaoqian should at least be a major general, Hu Zhantian deserves the People's Medal, and He Yang was too reckless; he should be given the rank of senior colonel on trial. The US military's activity near Tainan and Kaohsiung is a good opportunity to encircle and devour them, allowing everyone to have a piece of the pie. We cannot let them move around recklessly, nor can we let them escape. I want to leave them with corpses strewn across the battlefield and make the US military lose all face!"

After all, in theory, this is the main force of the US Indo-Pacific theater, with more than 40,000 troops.

Li Xinghe will be remembered in history for annihilating a U.S. military unit of over 40,000 men.

Zhang Xiaoqian asked:

"How to do?"

Li Xinghe revealed a humorous expression:

"Tell the Americans first that my men have betrayed us."

"what?"

There was a moment of surprise in the command room, but then everyone laughed.

Immediately afterward, with an extremely tense expression, Asuka Nagumo sent Li Xinghe's new fraud plan to the Pentagon via email.

The Pentagon was immediately thrown into chaos and commotion.

The staff officers stared in astonishment at the latest intelligence:

"The Marine Corps of the United Army established by Li Xinghe raised the red flag of China in Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan."

Chief of Staff Grady was horrified:

"what?"

He wasn't oblivious. Thus, the Pentagon's planned "Sino-Japanese friction" and "pincer attack from the north and south" scheme instantly vanished. The nearly 40,000 "trash soldiers" thrown up by the US military now suddenly became a burden.