Chapter 555: Nanko

Regarding Stilwell's purpose, Jiang Anguo was clear: he had no intention of stopping the offensive; both the Expeditionary Force and the South China Army will continue to attack the Japanese Army in Southeast Asia.

He only needs to obtain more benefits from the Americans.

And Nanko needs international recognition; at least before nuclear weapons appear, it needs more countries to support Nanko.

Otherwise, if Jiang Anguo fights at the Front and his home is stolen at the Back, that would be trouble.

However, the current Japanese Army in Southeast Asia is clearly no longer Jiang Anguo's opponent; as for the English forces in India, Jiang Anguo has already thought of a solution: divert the disaster eastward, drawing the rd Division to India.

Let the Japanese Army tie down the English forces in India.

As for the Americans, this is not a request for us to send troops.

Jiang Anguo is not in a hurry; the Americans are.

Stilwell, worthy of being a Huaxia expert, after learning he would face a group of Nanko officials, first went to Yangon and found the Expeditionary Force Commander Du Yuming; he asked Du Yuming to go together to Mandalay to meet President of Nanhua Chen Jiageng.

This is also as a precaution, since Du Yuming is not familiar with Chen Jiageng.

Therefore, bringing Du Yuming along, relatively speaking, is also to better persuade Chen Jiageng.

Chen Jiageng had also earlier received Jiang Anguo's indication, which was to secure as much benefit as possible.

To be honest, he didn't even know Nanko had a navy; it was only after the Myanmar naval victory that Chen Jiageng realized there was such a powerful navy in Myanmar.

And the commander of this navy is also Chinese.

This forced Chen Jiageng to take Jiang Zhiyuan seriously; before this he had never heard of him.

But recalling that Jiang Zhiyuan shares the surname Jiang, he immediately realized this person must be connected to Jiang Anguo, perhaps of the same clan.

Chen Jiageng didn't guess much, but Jiang Zhiyuan is a Senior Officer that Jiang Anguo exchanged within the WarSystem.

Eventually the United States and Nanko signed an agreement, a "Lease Agreement", under which the United States leases the Nankai Fleet to attack the Japanese forces in the Southeast Asian Peninsula and contain Japanese southern forces.

What the United States needs to provide is a gratuitous loan of twenty million, plus a monthly military budget of 800,000 US Dollars; the calculation is based on the Nanko Army's personnel—Nanko reported to the United States eight thousand troops, so the United States pays 800,000 per month.

It also must pay an additional maintenance fee of 1.5 million US Dollars per month for Nanko warships, and promises that if the Nankai Fleet loses ships in the war, the United States will provide equivalent ships to replenish the Nankai Fleet.

This agreement is very reasonable: for a fee of 230 US Dollars per month, one can lease an existing fleet to help the American Army attack the Japanese Army in Southeast Asia.

MacArthur wants the Nanko fleet to go to Australia and obey his orders.

However, Stilwell thought this impossible before departure; likewise he hopes this powerful fleet can stay in Myanmar, thereby strengthening the Expeditionary Force's combat power and continuing the offensive against the Japanese Army in Southeast Asia.

Stilwell is not MacArthur's subordinate; Stilwell belongs to the China‑Myanmar‑India theater command, while MacArthur is merely the Southwest Pacific Allied Forces commander.

Therefore Stilwell also aspires to become a five‑star general of the United States, and he is working toward that.

Especially after seeing the Expeditionary Force defeat the Japanese Army in Myanmar, it gave him hope.

Sure enough, as Stilwell expected, Nanko agreed to attack the Japanese Army, but the location of the attack is up to Nanko.

And the Nankai Fleet will not go to the Pacific; they will continue to operate on the Southeast Asian Peninsula against the Japanese Army.

Stilwell has no objection to this; he also reported Nanko's conditions to Huashengdun, and Roosevelt had no comment.

For Roosevelt, he only needs to know that he has an ally in Southeast Asia.

This ally is not British; Roosevelt has heard enough about the British, who long ago stopped fighting.

Now the United States' responsibility worldwide is to act as a firefighter.

After receiving Roosevelt's authorization.

The first external agreement, the "Huamei Agreement", was formed in Mandalay.

Stilwell, as the American side's representative, signed the agreement, while on Nanko's side Chen Jiageng signed in person.

On the runway of Yangon Airport, dust swirled as an American Army transport plane slowly landed; the moment the cargo door opened, Marshall, dressed in uniform and with a solemn expression, stepped out first.

He stood tall, his brows burning with intensity, exuding unquestionable authority.

As the United States Army Chief of Staff, his personal trip to Yangon is far from routine, indicating that the South Pacific situation has become extremely critical.

Stilwell had already led a group of American Army staff waiting at the airport; upon seeing Marshall, he quickly stepped forward, his face full of surprise and urgency.

Stilwell extended his hand to shake Marshall's: "Sir, why did you come in person? The Pacific Theater situation is tense; you overseeing the whole from Huashengdun is more important than coming here."

He knows that as Chief of Staff, every word and action of Marshall affects the entire Allied Forces' strategic deployment; unless absolutely forced, he would never travel here personally.

Marshall grasped Stilwell's hand, his tone heavy and urgent, without any small talk: "General, we may have a big problem. After the Japanese Army smoothly captured Morseby Port, they have not stopped; our Reconnaissance Plane has detected the Japanese Army frantically mobilizing troops, warships and carrier aircraft, preparing to push south from Morseby Port, aiming directly at Australia."

Stilwell's complexion changed; although he had long monitored the South Pacific situation, he hadn't expected the Japanese Army to advance so quickly: "Sir, do you mean the Japanese Army intends to completely seize Australia?"

"Exactly." Marshall nodded, his gaze sharp. "If Australia falls to the Japanese Army, control of the sea and air in the South Pacific will fully fall into Japanese hands; then the Allied Forces' defensive line in the Pacific will collapse completely, possibly affecting the entire war's course. So I must come here in person to ask for your help."

He paused, his tone becoming more urgent: "Stilwell, contact all the Expeditionary Force's generals right now; I want them to launch an immediate attack on the Japanese Army in Southeast Asia, especially the Japanese forces stationed in Singapore."

"Singapore is a key Japanese stronghold in Southeast Asia and a crucial hub for moving troops to the South Pacific; as long as we can tie down the Japanese forces in Singapore and disrupt their redeployment plans, we can buy time for Australia's defenses."

Marshall knows that only the Expeditionary Force can now tie down the Japanese Army in Southeast Asia; as for the troops in Australia dancing with kangaroos, they have nothing substantial to offer.

Stilwell, fully aware of the urgency, nodded immediately: "Sir, rest assured, I'll arrange it now. I have already notified the Expeditionary Force's main generals; they are waiting at a temporary command post, and we will go there now to discuss face‑to‑face."