Chapter 580: Absurd Orders

At this moment on the Southeast Asian front, Nanko and the Expeditionary Force were advancing on multiple fronts, the Japanese Army in Thailand was trapped, urgently needing Combined Fleet support, but Nan Yun Zhongyi was caught in a dilemma.

Abandoning Brisbane would render all prior preparations wasted, and the Japanese Army would completely lose its foothold in the South Pacific.

Continuing the offensive, yet they could never break through the American Army's defenses, the fleet remained continuously restrained, unable to support the Southeast Asian front.

Nan Yun Zhongyi had already abandoned the idea of a direct landing at Brisbane, opting instead for a landing eighty kilometers north of Brisbane.

This caught MacArthur off guard, but Australia's coastline is so long.

Defending the entire coastline is obviously difficult.

He could only concentrate his forces at Brisbane.

The defensive battle at Brisbane thus fell into a prolonged stalemate.

The American Army, relying on solid defensive works, ample supply reserves and tenacious fighting spirit, staunchly held the beachhead Defensive Line.

Amphibious assaults usually have only one chance, especially since the American Army's weapons and equipment are far superior to those of the Japanese Army here.

Moreover, they had long since completed defensive preparations.

The Japanese Army's only advantage is its naval superiority at sea.

The Combined Fleet is firmly restrained in this sea area, becoming an immobile "trapped beast."

However, because the Americans placed too many heavy artillery pieces in Brisbane, the Japanese Navy dares not approach the coastline at all.

The Japanese Army is on Sunshine Coast, enjoying the beach scenery.

A portion of the 2nd Division has already landed, and the 5th Division is already at Morseby Port, awaiting transport ships for transfer.

Inside the temporary command post in Singapore, sea breeze drifted through the windows with a faint salty humidity, Jiang Anguo was looking at the map of the Manggu battlefield, laying out the final siege plan.

At that moment, a communication soldier hurried in, holding an urgent Telegram, his expression slightly excited: "Commander, an urgent Telegram from Australia reports that the Brisbane defensive battle was won by the American Army!"

Jiang Anguo was startled, set down his pen, took the Telegram and skimmed it quickly, a faint surprised smile appearing on his face. "Didn't expect this American soldier to finally win a battle."

He murmured softly, his tone carrying a hint of praise.

"From the disgraceful retreat in the Philippines to the desperate stand at Brisbane, it at least restored his face."

The "American soldier" Jiang Anguo referred to was Douglas MacArthur, the proud American Army general, who finally held his honor at Brisbane, also successfully restrained the Japanese Army's Combined Fleet, granting Nanko and the Expeditionary Force valuable time in encircling Manggu.

Jiang Anguo thought the Telegram was too flamboyant, as if it wanted the whole world to know.

It's me, MacArthur in Australia, having defeated the Japanese!

Jiang Anguo also shook his head.

But the joy did not last long; only half an hour later, another Telegram arrived, its content making Jiang Anguo frown.

The Telegram, still from Brisbane, was sent personally by MacArthur, its tone arrogant, bearing an unquestionable command: "To Nanko and Expeditionary Force Command: The Brisbane defensive battle has achieved a phased victory, the Japanese Army's Combined Fleet is firmly restrained. Now order Nanko forces and the Expeditionary Force to immediately redeploy troops to attack Sumatra and Java, to contain the remaining Japanese forces, cooperate with the American Army's operations in the South Pacific, and must not be delayed!"

"A command?" Jiang Anguo placed the Telegram on the desk, a cold smile curling his lips. "This MacArthur, after winning a battle he gets cocky, using this tone to issue orders to us, clearly doesn't regard Stilwell."

At this moment, Stilwell was stationed at the Expeditionary Force front‑line command post, co‑commanding the encirclement of Manggu with Expeditionary Force generals; as commander of the Allied Forces' Southeast Asia theater, MacArthur's move was undoubtedly overstepping his authority, displaying arrogance and hubris.

Inside the Expeditionary Force front‑line command post, Stilwell stared at the Telegram in his hand, his face growing darker, slamming the Telegram hard onto the desk, shouting at the staff beside him, "Absurd! Absolutely absurd! Who does MacArthur think he is? On what right does he issue orders to us?"

The staff beside him hurriedly advised, "Commander, MacArthur is after all the commander of the American Army's Southwest Pacific Command; in this Brisbane battle he indeed restrained the Japanese Army's Combined Fleet. If we outright refuse, could it affect relations among the Allied Forces?"

Stilwell shook his head, his tone firm: "Affect relations? He first overstepped, demanding we redeploy troops in a commanding tone, disregarding our current operations; now talk about relations?"

He pointed at the Manggu battlefield map and continued, "Look, now the Nanhua Navy Marine 1st Division, the Nanhua Pacific Fleet, and our Expeditionary Force main body have tightly surrounded Manggu; the remaining Japanese forces are holed up inside the city, out of ammunition and supplies, taking Manggu is imminent! At this moment redeploying troops to attack Sumatra and Java would surely squander our earlier gains!"

"But Commander, regarding MacArthur, how should we respond?" the staff asked again.

Stilwell let out a cold laugh, picked up a fountain pen, wrote a reply on the Telegram while saying, "How to respond? Refuse outright! Tell him that our primary task now is to capture Manggu, to completely eradicate the Japanese forces in Thailand; we have no spare troops to redeploy to Sumatra and Java. If he has objections, let him go speak to Commander Jiang Anguo himself…"

What's even more outrageous is that this American soldier also wants to pull the Nanko Navy, sending the Nanko Navy into the jaws of the Japanese Army's Combined Fleet.

At that moment, the commander of the Nanhua Navy Marine 1st Division, Zhou Haitong, entered the command post, seeing Stilwell's grim expression, and hurriedly asked, "Commander Stilwell, what's happening? Is there any movement from MacArthur's side?"

Stilwell handed MacArthur's Telegram to Zhou Haitong, his tone dissatisfied: "Look at it yourself, this arrogant American general, after winning a battle becomes reckless, ordering us to redeploy troops to attack Sumatra and Java, completely ignoring our operation to encircle Manggu."

Zhou Haitong skimmed the Telegram quickly, also furrowing his brows, his tone indignant: "That's excessive! Restraining the Japanese Army's Combined Fleet is his primary duty; on what grounds does he demand we sacrifice the Manggu operation to accommodate his plan? Moreover, Japanese forces in Sumatra and Java are weak, we don't need to commit our main forces to attack; he is clearly making trouble on purpose."

"Exactly!" Stilwell nodded, handed the written reply to the communication soldier, "Send it back to Brisbane immediately, explicitly refuse MacArthur's unreasonable request, tell him that if Manggu is not captured, we will not redeploy a single soldier!"

The communication soldier left at once.