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

Zhang Chi walked forward at the right time and shook hands tightly with Major Evans. The two stood side by side, facing the camera.

This is another very impactful picture, with victims and saviors jointly crying out for justice.

Zhang Chi pulled the unshaven Major Evans over and faced the microphone together:

“Today, we are here not only to celebrate the rebirth of our friends, but also to declare to the world that the reckoning with fascist atrocities will never stop.

The United States of Southeast Asia will stand with all allies who love peace and pursue justice, and fight this sacred war to the end. Until the last devil is brought to justice, until justice is fully served, for freedom, for dignity, and for tragedies that never happen again!

"For freedom, for dignity." The audience responded with thunderous cheers.

The spotlight flashed wildly for the last time, freezing this "deeply touching" and "common hatred of a common enemy" historical moment.

The reporters packed up their equipment with satisfaction, knowing that today's material was explosive.

The shocking plight of prisoners of war, the compassionate image of the leader, the tearful accusation of the Japanese atrocities, the tough and thorough declaration of revenge, and the heartfelt gratitude and support of Allied prisoners of war...

Every frame of the picture and every recording is a bombshell thrown into the international public opinion, and will help Nanyang gain the moral high ground and legitimacy of its actions in the post-war landscape.

The crowd gradually dispersed, and the staff began to arrange for the prisoners to board vehicles heading to the rear hospitals and resettlement sites.

After the commotion, only Zhang Chi and a few trusted followers were left on the makeshift platform.

The sea breeze blew the corners of his clothes, and the deliberate compassion and excitement on Zhang Chi's face faded away, and he felt relieved.

He felt that this was similar to being an actor, it was all acting.

The only difference is that actors face the audience, while he faces international public opinion.

A show? Zhang Chi should ask himself.

It's a show, of course, but it's a necessary show.

The suffering of these prisoners of war was real, and their gratitude may also be real.

But gathering them here, facing the cameras of global reporters, accusing, hugging, shouting slogans... all of this is a drama he carefully directed.

The momentum of public opinion has been built up.

The purpose is very clear. First, it is to strengthen the international image of the Nanyang Chinese as "liberators" and "embodiments of justice", which is invaluable soft power.

Second, all military actions against the Japanese in Southeast Asia, especially those that may land on the mainland in the future, should be completely tied to the moral high ground of "clearing accounts for atrocities" and "upholding justice", to prevent any possible accusations of "excessive retaliation".

Third, by using the mouths of these prisoners of war from non-allied countries, the concepts of "severely punishing the culprits" and trying the devils were implanted into the international community in advance, forming strong public pressure and paving the way for the thorough liquidation of the core layer of militarism in the future.

The testimonies of these tortured witnesses will be the most powerful weapons in future trials.

Finally, of course, it was to demonstrate the "unity" of Nanyang and the Allies, consolidate the diplomatic achievements brought about by the Yalta Conference, and further integrate into the post-war order dominated by the White Eagles.

After all, Nanyang's insistence on attacking Sumatra has made General Luo and other White Eagle leaders feel uneasy, so he has to show appropriate goodwill.

Secretary Liu quietly reminded him, "The press conference is over. Next up is an inspection of the resumption of production at the Jiugang Oilfield."

Zhang Chi withdrew his gaze, nodded, and a formal, gentle smile that was in line with his leadership was put back on his face.

-----

The air of the Old Port is still filled with a faint smell of gunpowder.

Surrounded by guards, Zhang Chi drove through the still messy streets and finally stopped in front of a shocking ruin.

This was once the official residence and headquarters of the Japanese supreme commander in Sumatra, Lieutenant General Moritake Tanabe. It is a large building complex that is considered magnificent in the area.

Today, it no longer exists.

He was greeted by Qi Quan, the commander-in-chief of "Thunder Operation".

This general, who was known for his iron fist and efficiency in commanding on the battlefield, now had a hint of nervousness between his brows.

He stepped forward quickly and gave Zhang Chi a standard military salute: "Commander-in-Chief."

Zhang Chi returned the greeting, but his eyes passed Qi Quan and fell on the ruins.

The scene before him was extremely visually impactful. A huge bomb crater with a diameter of more than 20 meters occupied the center of the original building.

The soil on the pit wall was burned into a glassy glaze by high temperature, and the edges were jagged.

Around the pit were building wreckage that looked like it had been roughly torn apart, crushed, and then randomly thrown around by invisible giant hands.

Twisted steel bars pierced the sky fiercely, broken marble column bases were scattered on the ground, and charred wooden beams were mixed in the rubble.

"Is this the result of 'Flying Swallow'?"

"Yes, according to the Air Force combat records, a total of four Feiyan-1 laser-guided glide bombs hit this area, with a total explosive yield exceeding 2 tons of TNT."

The two men walked silently along the edge of the ruins, their boots making rustling sounds on the broken gravel.

Qi Quan lagged behind half a step, his eyes occasionally sweeping across Zhang Chi's profile, feeling uneasy.

As a general who had been immersed in the old military system of Daxia for many years, Qi Quan knew too well the bloody logic behind the ancient teachings such as "achievements too great will frighten the lord" and "a general is not bound by the king's orders when he is away from the court."

Although the United States of Southeast Asia is newly established, human nature remains unchanged.

Qi Quan commanded tens of thousands of elite troops and had just conquered the vast island of Sumatra, rich in oil resources and strategically located in a crucial position... What would those politicians back home, accustomed to old ways of thinking, or colleagues with ulterior motives, think of this privately? Would rumors of "self-importance" or "uncontrollable power" reach Zhang Chi?

He knew very well that Zhang Chi was by no means a mediocre leader, and that his brilliant methods and far-reaching plans were truly admirable.

But precisely because of this, we need to be more cautious.

After all, the emperor's mind is unfathomable.

However, Qi Quan's anxiety did not cause any ripples in Zhang Chi's heart.

Suspicion?

Zhang Chi sneered inwardly. He had established a modern state apparatus and a modern army, which had long since surpassed the old model of relying on personal loyalty to maintain the army.

On prestige in the army?

He, Zhang Chi, is the undisputed founder and supreme commander of the Nanyang Defense Force.

From the beginning, with the People's Security Army in the jungles of Pegu, his personal charisma had etched itself deeply into the hearts of every soldier. Zhang Chi personally forged the backbone of the Nanyang National Defense Army, and Qi Quan was merely one of the officers he meticulously selected, trained, and entrusted with important tasks. In terms of his standing among the ranks of soldiers and officers, ten Qi Quans couldn't compare to one Zhang Chi.

On the basis of self-reliance?

That's simply fantasy. A modern military is a money-eating behemoth, a precision-engineered system. It requires a strong domestic industrial system to continuously provide ammunition, fuel, spare parts, clothing, and medicine; a comprehensive logistics support network to maintain supply lines; and an efficient financial system to support massive military expenditures. It also requires a stable mechanism for transporting troops...

What was there on Sumatra? Aside from valuable oil fields and a few refineries, it was practically an industrial wasteland. Without mainland China's vast industrial complex, transportation network, financial support, and military service, even if Qi Quan possessed immense power, his tens of thousands of troops would collapse within a few months due to lack of ammunition and fuel, damaged equipment, and collapsing morale.

This is like trapping a dragon out of water in shallow water. No matter how ferocious it is, it can only flap its wings a few times.