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

In the darkness of night, the lights of the capital city are sparse, a far cry from the splendor of the pre-war center of Europe.

General Dai sat alone behind his large desk, the broken city skyline visible through the window mirroring his chaotic yet forcefully suppressed emotions.

That brief telegram about "a third nuclear explosion, targeting Niigata, of unknown origin" weighed heavily on his mind like a piece of iron.

The secretary had already left, leaving only him in the office, along with the bluish-gray smoke from the burning cigar.

He did not summon his staff or show any public reaction.

Faced with this level of strategic upheaval, he needs absolute quiet and solitude to conduct the most calm and ruthless deductions.

His fingers tapped the table unconsciously as two possibilities clashed fiercely in his mind, each concerning the future of Gaul.

The first possibility is that it's the red bear.

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

What if the Iron Marshal not only possessed an invincible steel torrent that swept across Europe, but also mastered the atomic bomb...?

What does that mean?

This means that a behemoth combining absolute conventional power and ultimate destructive weapons is now separated from Gaul only by half of the broken, divided, and occupied Hans.

Gaul will live under the dual threat of nuclear shadow and tank formations.

as a result of?

If Gaul wants to survive, it will have no choice but to fully submit to the nuclear umbrella of the White Eagle.

Will the White House generously offer protection?

Of course it will happen, but the price will be that Gaul completely loses its autonomy in diplomacy and defense, becoming a subservient, strategic pawn of the White Eagle on the European continent.

His painstaking efforts to implement the Gallo-first policy, his dream of an independent and self-reliant Gaul that could once again reign supreme in Europe, will be utterly thwarted.

This is the worst possible outcome.

The second possibility is Southeast Asia, or Zhang Chi.

With that thought in mind, General Dai took a deep drag on his cigar, letting the smoke permeate his mouth, as if it could stimulate clearer thinking.

Based on the limited information he obtained when he signed the top-secret cooperation agreement with Zhang Chi, and the astonishing progress reports subsequently sent back by Professor Pierre, Nanyang's progress in the field of atomic energy was astonishingly fast, far exceeding outside expectations, and perhaps even...

They've already surpassed John.

If it's Southeast Asia...

General Dai's gaze sharpened.

The situation will be completely different.

Regardless of their ideologies, the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union were essentially behemoths attempting to dominate continental Europe and suppress the resurgence of Gaul; they were natural adversaries.

A Southeast Asian country with nuclear capabilities and a secret cooperative relationship with Gaul is not a threat, but rather a potentially excellent ally.

An ally that can need each other, rather than one-sidedly depending on each other.

What does Southeast Asia need?

General Dai's mind was racing.

They need a stable, high-quality source of uranium ore.

Gaul's colonies in Africa, especially Gabon and Niger, possessed abundant uranium resources, a card he had always held dear.

They may also need political leverage.

Although Gaul had declined in Southeast Asia, it still retained influence, especially in the three Indochina countries.

If Southeast Asia intends to counter the influence of the United States in Asia, the presence and cooperation of Gaul in Indochina will be a very significant bargaining chip.

There is also a great deal of basic technology. As an emerging nation, Southeast Asia is bound to lack certain industrial sectors such as steel, power generation, and chemicals.

What's the cost?

Accepting the protection of the white eagle comes at the cost of one's soul and dignity.

Cooperation with Southeast Asia is a fair trade, an exchange of resources, and a strategic complementarity.

This perfectly aligns with his core demand of prioritizing Gaul, which is to utilize all available resources to carve out a bloody path for Gaul's independence and autonomy amidst the chaos.

Of course, there are risks.

His little tricks will most likely anger the White Eagle.

But... fortune favors the bold.

The rise of a nation is always a dance on the edge of a knife.

After a long while, General Dai slowly stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray, as if he had made his final decision.

How could the great Gallic revival possibly occur when surrounded by those parasites who are ready to take medicine at the mere sound of Washington sneezing?

General Dai rang the bell to summon his adjutant and dictated two instructions:

"First, call our people in Southeast Asia, on my behalf, to express General Zhang Chi’s concern about the latest developments in the Far East, and to inquire whether they need certain special mineral resources to cope with the possible changes in the situation."

The wording should be subtle, but the meaning must be clear.

"Second, the minutes of the cabinet meeting on the Indochina issue are temporarily sealed, and any resolutions will be postponed until I give further instructions."

He chose a risky path that best served Gaul's interests, betting on both sides.

On the one hand, it extends a more solid olive branch to Southeast Asia, exploring the possibility of deepening cooperation;

On the other hand, it is necessary to postpone actions on sensitive issues such as Indochina, preserve leverage, and avoid provoking the White Hawks too early.

He looked out the window again at the somber spring city.

This time, his gaze was no longer lost, but filled with the resolute determination of a gambler placing a heavy bet.

The future of Gaul must not be entrusted to anyone's protection; it must be in their own hands, even if it means dancing with the devil.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at 10 Downing Street contrasted sharply with the calm of Springdale, filled with noise and restlessness.

Inside the cabinet's emergency meeting room, everyone was engaged in vigorous oral gymnastics.

Newly appointed Prime Minister Clement Attlee looked pale as the Labour government worked toward its election promise of a "cradle-to-grave" welfare state.

This sudden third nuclear explosion shattered his domestic agenda like a heavy hammer blow.

“Niigata…origin unknown…” Attlee repeated these two words, feeling as if the intelligence document in his hand was a thousand pounds.

"This means the nuclear monopoly has been completely broken. An unknown, nuclear-armed power poses a devastating blow to the global order and a direct, unprecedented threat to our homeland security."

Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin spoke urgently:

"We must immediately and unconditionally synchronize all information with Washington and demand the establishment of the highest-level crisis hotline and intelligence-sharing mechanism."

Clement, on this issue, we have no other choice but to remain firmly tied to the White Eagle.

Defense Secretary Alexander slammed his fist on the table:

"Our 'alloy tube' project must be put into a wartime state, with all resources devoted to it at all costs."

Now, besides the United States, there is another country that possesses nuclear power.

It's most likely that red bear!

Without our own nuclear weapons, we will always be inferior to the White House, and we cannot even guarantee that our homeland will not be blackmailed.

"Where's the money?" Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Dalton interrupted painfully. "Post-war reconstruction, our promised National Insurance, housing programs..."

Money is needed everywhere. Where do we find enough gold to support a bottomless nuclear program?