Tokyo, Japan's Diet Building (Imperial Council Building)
When North Korea was at war, Allied Commander-in-Chief MacArthur attended a grand banquet here.
Countless senior Japanese political officials, celebrities, US military officers, and reporters from major international media are among them.
Under the splendid lights, countless Japanese girls danced and entertained guests, as if they had the mentality of a winner.
Even the emperor pretended to smile, drinking with the arrogant MacArthur, and kept saying flattering words.
This was the highlight of Douglas MacArthur's life.
He looked down at the guests present with sharp eyes, his face filled with the arrogance of a superior.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's rare for us to be together today."
"It's an honor to meet with the heroic five-star General MacArthur and the Emperor. Let's raise a glass of wine together!"
A gentleman picked up the wine glass with a smile and said flatteringly.
After hearing this, everyone raised their glasses to celebrate and said words of praise in high spirits.
Only some senior Japanese officials had ugly expressions, staring intently at MacArthur, who was sitting on the second floor.
I don’t know if it was intentional on the part of the gentleman presiding over it, but MacArthur’s name was listed at the top, adding more praise and embellishment.
The emperor, who was originally the head of state, became a foil, which made many people present feel embarrassed.
Reporters from major international media present raised their cameras and took photos of MacArthur.
After the flash of white light, some reporters showed a rather bored look.
"Oh, it's so boring. Every day there are reports about the Allied troops advancing in great strides and the soldiers in uniform. The editor is almost tired of watching it."
A reporter from the British Reuters clicked a photo, then stepped aside and said rather boredly.
"It's just that our newspaper sales are declining, but those damn congressmen like this."
After the Associated Press reporter took a few more photos, he also picked up the goblet, took a sip of red wine, and said rather bitterly.
As reporters, they are afraid that the world will not be in chaos.
It is best to publish one explosive topic a day, so that they can make more money.
"If one day, General MacArthur is shot dead by volunteers, and I get first-hand information..."
The British Reuters reporter thought, and was suddenly frightened by his own thoughts.
He quickly shook his head with a wry smile, throwing away his ridiculous idea.
After all, with the combat effectiveness of the Volunteer Army, no matter how strong it is, it is impossible to achieve this.
However, when Wu Qianli later led an army to attack Seoul and shot MacArthur, who was commanding the airborne troops, he did get a first-hand historical record.
However, those are all things for later.
"Hey, have you heard that the Allied forces suffered the most tragic defeat in history on the Changjin Lake battlefield, and the United States tried every means to block the news..."
At this moment, the AFP reporter kept rolling his eyes, slowly approached the two of them, and said in a mysterious manner.
"Oh, where did you get the news?"
The British Reuters reporter's eyes immediately lit up and he leaned over and asked.
"It's harmful. The Soviet Pravda is planning to publicize it. I guess this news will soon be hidden. Otherwise, we..."
The AFP reporter smiled slightly and looked at the reporters from the other two major newspapers with bright eyes.
"You mean, we report jointly, withstand the pressure of those Congress bosses, and expand our influence and sales together?"
The Associated Press reporter understood immediately, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and replied with a smile.
"Okay! Count me in, we will speak out together when the time comes!"
The British Reuters reporter responded hurriedly, fearing that he would miss this news feast.
Just as several major Western media formed a temporary interest alliance, a discordant voice suddenly came from upstairs.
"Ring ring ring ring ring..."
The sharp ringtone of the phone rang quickly, as harshly as the tolling of a death knell.
"Fuck you! Which damn bastard called at this time and ruined the atmosphere of the party!"
MacArthur's immersive enjoyment was interrupted, and he immediately became angry and cursed.
At this time, a US military adjutant in the room hurried over, his face full of anxiety.
"Report to the general, it's an urgent message from the Changjin Lake front line in North Korea!"
The US military adjutant looked around, carefully leaned into MacArthur's ear, and whispered.
"North Korea's Chosin Lake front line?"
A flash of surprise flashed across MacArthur's eyes, and his face suddenly darkened.
Don't look at him holding a feast in the Capitol Building and whitewashing the peace. This is just a strategy to stabilize the rear.
Of course he knew what was going on at the Changjin Lake front line, and he also understood that forcing information down was not a long-term solution.
That's why he dispatched Tokyo's air power and even secretly mobilized aircraft carriers, hoping to wait until the situation improved before revealing the truth.
But now, MacArthur had a premonition that the situation was going to be even worse.
"Lalulac, I hope you bring me good news!"
MacArthur took the phone with a dark face and said in a deep voice.
"General, front line..."
When Larulak on the other end of the phone heard this, he paused for a moment, apparently having difficulty speaking.
"Are the losses too great? Or are the logistics supplies insufficient weapons and ammunition?"
"It's normal for soldiers fighting for freedom to sacrifice more. As long as the Battle of Changjin Lake gets better, everything else can be covered."
MacArthur sighed and expressed the greatest support he could give.
And he no longer mentioned the Christmas offensive, he just hoped that the battle situation would be better than before.
"General! It's not a matter of logistics and troop strength, it's that the eastern front of Changjin Lake is on the verge of complete collapse!"
"The combat effectiveness of the volunteers cannot be underestimated. If we fail to break through again, our entire army will be annihilated!"
Larulak hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and told the truth.
"What did you say?! What happened to the eastern front of Changjin Lake? The situation deteriorated so fast!"
"Shit! Could it be that God brought a steel helmet to help the volunteers join the war?"
MacArthur seemed to suspect that he had heard wrongly, and shouted in a suddenly high-pitched tone.
"General, not God..."
"It was the Chinese Volunteer Army who formed a special operations unit called the Seventh Interspersed Company, which was formed by a Chinese named Wu Qianli."
"Their combat power is several times greater than that of the Marine Corps, causing us great trouble..."
"Now, the Eastern Front Group Army is doing its best to break out of the encirclement, and may soon cross the Shuimen Bridge and reach Xingnan Port..."
After Larulak finished speaking, it seemed as if all the strength in his body had been drained away.
Retreat is definitely necessary, but it is not certain whether the final result will be a serious loss of vitality or the destruction of the organization.
"Ridiculous! No matter how powerful a company of volunteers is, can it stop nearly 10,000 elite US troops?!"
"Lalulak! I'm warning you, the Eastern Front Army cannot afford to make any mistakes! It must quickly cross the Shuimen Bridge and reach Xingnan Port!"
"Otherwise the U.S. military will be a disgrace to the free world! You, me and our families will be accused of treason!"
MacArthur almost roared and then hung up the phone heavily.
"Snapped--"
The microphone was smashed on the table, making a dull sound.
In an instant, most of the cheerful noise of the banquet seemed to have disappeared.
MacArthur seemed to have thought of something, his eyes widened, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.
When he rushed to the railing on the second floor and looked down, he saw shocked looks on the faces of countless guests.
Senior Japanese officials also looked at MacArthur in surprise, as if their world view was about to collapse.
In their view, the Japanese army's failure was simply because the US military was too powerful, and China just took advantage.
Therefore, they almost completely bowed their heads to the United States, worshiping the United States just as they worshiped the Tang Dynasty.
But now, the Chinese "peasant army" in their impression seems to have defeated the arrogant US military!
China, which they once looked down upon, seems to have defeated the United States, the world's most powerful country!
"Pong——"
The emperor's face turned pale, and his hand shook violently. The goblet was smashed and the bright red wine spilled on the floor.
Unlike these frustrated high-ranking officials and celebrities, reporters from major international media showed surprise and greed like wolves seeing meat.
"Click——"
"Click——"
There was a rapid sound, and the white lights of countless cameras flashed, and the panic expressions of everyone on the scene were captured.
"Fuck you! Stop them! No photos allowed!"
When MacArthur saw this, he immediately clenched his fists, pointed at the reporters and shouted loudly.
Suddenly, more than a dozen guards rushed in, and the atmosphere of the banquet suddenly became tense.
However, reporters from major international media did not panic at all. Instead, they smiled and took pictures of these guards.
"General MacArthur, countless American freedom fighters have been handed over to you. What is their current situation?"
The Associated Press reporter raised his eyebrows and asked MacArthur directly on the spot.
"General MacArthur, I heard that the Allies suffered a major defeat. Is this true?"
The British Reuters reporter directly imposed a fire, his eyes fixed on the changes in MacArthur's expression.
"General MacArthur, I heard that the US military has recently mobilized a large amount of air power and even aircraft carriers to North Korea. What is the reason?"
The AFP reporter showed no sign of weakness and raised his head to ask MacArthur.
In an instant, everyone's eyes shifted to the American five-star general, giving him a strong sense of oppression.
MacArthur looked at the disgusting faces of these reporters and couldn't help but feel angry. He almost wanted to shoot them all.
But he couldn't, he could only turn around and quickly left everyone's sight.
Reporters from major media looked at MacArthur's defeat, their faces filled with joy.
Press freedom is one of the political correctnesses in the Western free world, so they expected that MacArthur would not dare to touch them.
What's more, even if we take action against them, the news will be slower to break out at best, which is not worth the loss at all.
"Ladies and gentlemen, General MacArthur is unwell and the banquet has been canceled in advance. I'm sorry!"
The gentleman hosting the banquet stood up and said with an embarrassed look, and the music stopped.
Everyone understood the reason and had no intention of continuing, and walked out of the Capitol worriedly.
………………………
The night of November 30, 1950
This was the busiest night for major newspapers and media since the end of World War II in 1945, and it was called "News Carnival Night" by later generations.
In the past news about the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, no matter who gained the advantage, it was ultimately a contest of similar strength.
And this time, it will be China that will shock the world with the might of the volunteer army!
British Reuters reports:
"The Battle of Changjin Lake will be a battle that shocks the world!"
"This is the first war in the history of the world in which the largest agricultural country has a military victory over the largest industrial country!"
The British Times "The rise of China's military will become a force that cannot be ignored in the Asia-Pacific!"
When the British news report came out, the whole world was in an uproar.
Countless people have set their sights on the Far East and the Chinese People's Volunteers.
At the same time, French and American news media were not to be outdone, breaking the news only half an hour later.
French Agence France-Presse reported: "The US military has been trapped in the quagmire of North Korea, and they have encountered the troublesome Chinese army!"
French "Le Monde" "As the war situation continues to be unfavorable, this will be the longest defeat for the US military in retreat!"
Associated Press "This is an extremely wrong war! The Changjin Lake War will turn the tide of the entire North Korean war!"
The Washington Post of the United States: "Under the wrong command of five-star General MacArthur, the Allied forces may be buried in Changjin Lake!"
In the reports and publications of several major news agencies, the photo of MacArthur looking panicked just after taking the call from the front line was widely used and spread to the world.
In a short period of time, the Pentagon in the United States became a mess.
Countless Americans took to the streets to protest against the war.
Not only the "free world" in Europe and America, but also Eastern Europe also widely publicized this battle.
Compared to most of them whose information was blocked, the Soviet side obviously knew more inside information, and some reports were more specific.
The Soviet Union's "Pravda": "The elite of the American Polar Bear Regiment was destroyed and completely defeated by a Chinese company!"
"American Major General Smith was captured, Chinese military wizard Wu Qianli made a lightning raid!"
"The Battle of Xiaogaoling, a bloody battle of a heroic army!"
At the bottom of the report, there is also a brief introduction to Wu Qianli, as well as a brief current commentary.
In China, Wu Qianli and the 7th Interpenetrating Company also appeared as heroes and were used as typical propaganda.
"People's Daily": "A heroic unit - the 7th Interpenetrating Company"
"Salute to the first-class hero Wu Qianli! All imperialism is a paper tiger!"
……………………
Wujia, a small fishing village in Huzhou, Zhejiang
More and more people came to express condolences, and many workers sent eggs and other things to their homes, and even gave them the title of "Home of Meritorious Heroes".
Wu Qianli's parents were a little flattered and thanked him, but at the same time they also cast worried eyes in the northeast direction.
In the hearts of parents, there are not so many gorgeous honors, only wanderers who have not returned from fighting for their country.
At this moment, Wu Qianli did not know the turbulence of international public opinion, nor did he understand how much honor and attention he had received.
He was leading the 7th Intermediate Company to the mission location in increasingly heavy wind and snow.
"Company Commander, there are still sixteen kilometers to the Watergate Bridge!"
Pinghe's eyes narrowed, his lips covered with snow particles trembled, and he spoke quickly.
(End of chapter)
