The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

The whistle for the end of the first half sounded amid thunderous cheers.

The atmosphere in the box also reached a small climax.

Zhang Chi smiled and nodded to the distinguished guests around him, then naturally stretched out his arm and embraced his fiancée, Chen Jingshu, who was sitting quietly beside him.

Chen Jingshu was wearing a moon-white modified cheongsam today, which outlined her exquisite figure. Her long black hair was tied into an elegant bun, fixed with only a simple jade hairpin, revealing her fair and slender neck.

She had a gentle and reserved smile on her face, like a quietly blooming orchid.

When Zhang Chi's arms wrapped around her waist, her body paused slightly, and then she leaned towards him obediently, even with a hint of imperceptible sweetness.

She didn't say anything, but just looked at Zhang Chi gently with her clear eyes, as if the hustle and bustle of the whole world had nothing to do with her, and her world only had the man beside her.

Zhang Chi felt the soft touch in his arms and his fiancée's complete trust and dependence, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.

In this era, his marriage and his offspring are naturally of concern to countless people.

There may be no love between the two, and this marriage may not be fair to Chen Jingshu, but Zhang Chi will not treat her as a vase. He believes that family affection can be developed between the two.

Just like the line in a debate on Station B, "Love grows over time, if one time is not enough, try again..."

This woman belongs to him.

So, he lowered his head and kissed Chen Jingshu's smooth forehead intimately and naturally.

This scene was clearly seen by the Persian princess Ashraf.

Her fingers holding the crystal glass tightened slightly.

Looking at Zhang Chi's resolute and confident profile, and the oriental woman in his arms who was as gentle as water and seemed to be able to tolerate all his sharpness, a complex and indescribable emotion surged in her heart.

Is it envy? Is it jealousy? Or... a strong desire?

What woman doesn't like a strong man? Especially one like Zhang Chi, who, at such a young age, holds immense power, can make things happen with a wave of his hand, and can shake up the world with his own strength?

He rejected her "dedication", but cherished this seemingly weak woman beside him so much.

This contrast, on the contrary, aroused Sophia's competitive spirit and... a hint of loss that she herself was unwilling to admit.

"That woman...why?" Sophia took a sip of champagne. The cool liquid slid down her throat, but it couldn't quench the burning heat in her heart. "Because she met him before me? Or because of that damned submissiveness and gentleness in her?"

She watched Zhang Chi whispering something to Chen Jingshu, causing the latter to chuckle with her hands covering her mouth and her eyes curved.

That smile was clean and pure, carrying complete happiness.

Sophia had to admit that the woman was indeed very beautiful, a beauty that was not aggressive and a beauty that made people feel pity for her.

But this made her even more unwilling.

"Perhaps... should I extend my visit to Southeast Asia?" A bold idea sprouted in her mind. "Oil cooperation is just the beginning. The Pahlavi family needs a stronger ally, and I..." Her gaze fell on Zhang Chi again, with undisguised admiration and determination, "I need a man worthy of me..."

Zhang Chi had no idea of ​​the inner turmoil in the Persian princess.

He hugged his fiancée, his eyes seemed to be on the players who were resting below, but his thoughts had already flown to the more grand and urgent battlefield.

'Iwo Jima…' he muttered to himself.

The brutal Battle of the Meat Grinder in history will begin in mid-February next year.

He had already decided that Nanyang would not participate in this battle.

First, it was out of reach, as Iwo Jima was deep in the Pacific Ocean. Second, the cost was too high and the benefits were too little. Third, there was no need for the Chinese in Southeast Asia to shed too much blood for the White Eagles.

Let the White Eagle and the Japs consume each other on that volcanic island.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

'Okinawa'!

This is the decisive battle that Nanyang must participate in.

According to history, the landing will begin in early April.

This means that the expeditionary force in Southeast Asia must complete assembly, training and boarding preparations by early March at the latest.

There are only a little over two months left.

'Three Casablanca-class escort aircraft carriers...' Zhang Chi's mind flashed with the silhouettes of those steel behemoths that were working day and night in the White Eagle shipyard.

I hope that batch of escort aircraft carriers can be commissioned on time and catch up with this battle.

The four shallow-water heavy gunboats and three escort aircraft carriers that he has already taken over, these firepower platforms will be the key for him to intervene in the Battle of Okinawa, demonstrate his power in the South China Sea, and minimize his own casualties.

Especially the four shallow-water heavy gunboats, with a total of eight battleship-level main guns, are absolutely powerful weapons in providing artillery support to the opposite shore.

They will provide vital shore fire support and air cover.

But before that, there is a more urgent and important goal.

Oil fields in Sumatra and Borneo.

Historically, when the Japanese surrendered, their oil refining facilities in Palembang, Sumatra and Balikpapan, Borneo were basically destroyed by themselves or by Allied bombing.

He must not let history repeat itself.

We must launch an amphibious landing with lightning speed to seize these oil fields before the Japanese completely destroy them and the White Eagle launches a large-scale bombing.

Zhang Chi decided to launch the campaign after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

By then, the navy should have been familiar with the four newly commissioned shallow-water gunboats with 356mm heavy artillery turrets, and the Marine Corps, which had been training since October, should also be ready.

Coupled with the 277th Special Operations Regiment that had been infiltrating and gathering intelligence in the early stages, and the First Army that had been reorganized first, everything was ready, only the east wind was missing.

After that, we will seize the Borneo oil fields and send the second-line troops to the island to wipe out the remaining Japanese invaders and the native puppet troops.

Later, because the White Eagle Society witnessed the madness of the Japanese on Iwo Jima, they would beg Nanyang to send troops to participate in the attack on Ryukyu. Even if they had complaints about Nanyang's occupation of Sumatra and Borneo, they probably would not be able to express them directly.

Especially if Commander Luo passes away due to illness in April next year as happened in history, then the White Eagle will naturally fall into chaos again.

By the time they stabilized, Nanyang's occupation of Sumatra and Borneo would have become a fait accompli.

Thinking of this, Zhang Chi's fingers unconsciously stroked Chen Jingshu's soft waist, feeling the tranquility, but a blueprint for the future had already been outlined in his heart.

"Hateful, itchy..." Chen Jingshu complained incoherently.

Zhang Chi's hands were playing tricks on Chen Jingshu's body while he continued to think.

In that case, then what about the Yalta Conference next February...

Zhang Chi suddenly realized that next February would be his first and last chance to meet in person with this great commander who led an era and laid a solid foundation for the White Eagle hegemony.

The whistle for the second half sounded, interrupting Zhang Chi's thoughts.

He withdrew his gaze and returned to the court, a calm smile returning to his face.

Only Chen Jingshu, who was leaning in his arms, seemed to feel the momentary tenseness of his body. She raised her head slightly and looked at him with concern with her eyes that could speak.

Zhang Chi smiled at her reassuringly and held her arm tightly.

There were so many people watching here, and he wasn't playing poker with Yan Zi. Su Jiaruo and Chen Jingshu, who remained calm even when the whole process was filmed by the KGB, must save this main course for dinner.

Chen Jingshu leaned on him like a little bird, not knowing what would happen tonight.

The battle on the court began again. Thinking of the half-dead Commander Luo, Zhang Chi suddenly understood why the saying "When luck arrives, heaven and earth are on your side; when luck is gone, heroes are helpless"...

I believe that Commander Luo, who is currently suffering from illness, must feel the same way.

And he, Zhang Chi, is still young, and the entire Cold War era that follows will be his stage!