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

For his outstanding performance in completing the Manhattan Project, General Groves was awarded the rank of lieutenant general as a reward.

Now the army lieutenant general spread his hands, his face filled with incomprehension:

"And now you're telling me that shortly after we dropped the second bomb, on the other side of the world, someone... bombed Niigata with another atomic bomb?"

Who? Who can do that? Besides us, who else possesses this ability?

This makes no sense at all.

Groves's loss of composure was like a mirror, reflecting the deepest fears in the hearts of everyone present.

Their fear is not just of another nuclear power, but of the fact that the other side has achieved this capability in a way that they cannot understand or explain.

Truman picked up a pencil in frustration and twirled it rapidly between his fingers.

Groves's words struck him like a chord.

In his previous plans, all his subsequent diplomatic strategies, and the fundamental reason why he dared to take a tough stance against the Iron Marshal in Eastern Europe and on the Hans issue, were based on a simple fact—the White Eagle, and only the White Eagle, possessed the atomic bomb.

Are nuclear weapons powerful?

Truman knew perfectly well what was going on.

Despite the White Eagle's propaganda machine operating at full capacity, portraying the atomic bomb as an ultimate weapon capable of destroying civilization and forcing enemies to surrender unconditionally.

But the key decision-makers present were well aware that the fear had been deliberately amplified.

Based on on-site surveys and data models, if one is more than five kilometers away from the nuclear explosion center and is inside a sturdy concrete building, the probability of survival is greatly increased, and the army's combat effectiveness will not be immediately destroyed.

As for the terrifying long-term ripple effects that have been exaggerated by the media, that's "a matter for the future." In current military and political considerations, its deterrent significance far outweighs its actual tactical value.

Now, the Iron Marshal has millions of troops stationed in Eastern Europe, and his tanks outnumber those of the Allied forces on the Western Front several times over.

The White Eagles' conventional forces are at a significant disadvantage.

They had to exaggerate the power of nuclear weapons, creating a false bargaining chip in diplomatic negotiations, using this sword of Damocles to balance the conventional advantages of the Red Bear, and forcing the Kremlin to back down at the negotiating table.

But now, this sword is no longer unique.

"If it's not the Russian bear, then who else could it be?" Truman asked, as if he were asking someone else, but also as if he were asking himself.

"The Iron Marshal's spies are indeed ubiquitous, but according to our intelligence, the 'Russian bomb' will take at least two to three years to develop. Moreover, if it were the Iron Marshal, why would he drop it on Japan? It would have no strategic significance for him and would only expose his trump card."

Admiral Arnold pondered, "In terms of drop distance... the bomber's range is the decisive factor. If it takes off from the Russian Far East base, it can barely reach the Hokkaido area in northern Japan."

But... there's another possibility.

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the crowd:

"Southeast Asia. Our base in Okinawa reports that their air force has a considerable number of B-29s and is highly trained. Taking off from Okinawa or the southeastern islands they control, bombing Niigata... is entirely feasible in terms of range."

“Nanyang?!” General Jin slammed his fist on the table. “That Zhang Chi? That force that rose to power with our outdated equipment and a group of Southeast Asian Chinese? They can build an atomic bomb? This is even more unbelievable to me than the Iron Marshal possessing nuclear weapons.”

“But this is the most logical speculation at present,” Marshall said slowly, his mood also heavy.

"General Groves, please calm down before you say anything to me."

We have to consider the possibility that there is some... technological path unknown to us, or that they have received some... decisive external assistance.

He didn't say it explicitly, but his eyes hinted at the possibility of some kind of technology leak.

Truman felt a chill run down his spine.

If it really is Southeast Asia...

He suddenly stood up and paced around the situation room.

“If it really is Southeast Asia,” he stopped and looked sharply at Groves and Arnold, “that means that the proliferation of nuclear technology is happening faster than we have worst-case scenario predictions.”

This means that there may be a third or fourth nuclear-armed state in the future.

If that's true, then we must stop them; we must stop Southeast Asia from sharing this technology with any other power.

Those present clearly suspected that the Manhattan Project had been leaked, which made Groves' expression very unpleasant.

Truman hadn't yet thought about investigating the leak.

What troubled him was that he had only been president for a short time, so why did he have to face so many problems?

Can he continue to be that happy Missouri boy?

Taking a deep breath, Truman used what he considered the most straightforward analogy to reveal to the high-ranking officials present the core of the White Eagle's strategic advantage collapsing at this moment:

"Gentlemen, it's like, originally, in this desert, only Uncle Sam was selling water."

All customers, whether they like it or not, have no choice but to buy from us, to be at our mercy, and to accept our prices and conditions.

“But now,” Truman said, his face showing an extremely ugly expression, “a young and strong man has come not far away. He can also dig a well and has started selling water.”

He might be able to sell it for a lower price, and the terms might be more flexible.

Tell me, what do you think those customers will think?

How can we possibly continue with this unique business?!

There was dead silence in the house.

Only the heavy breathing of the crowd could be heard.

The situation reversed too quickly.

They just thought they were the only nuclear monopolists...

For the first time, the top leaders tasted the bitterness of losing their advantage and even being challenged.

The brief psychological hegemony built on the atomic bomb saw its first deep and irreparable crack appear at this moment.

------

Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia.

Colorful ribbons fluttered down from all sides, and thunderous applause erupted.

Standing atop the magnificent concrete dam, Zhang Chi smiled as he joined several high-ranking officials from Southeast Asia and the local area in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Before us, the surging river water, once tamed, flows through massive sluice gates, driving turbines to emit a deep roar.

This hydroelectric power station uses the latest turbine power generation technology and high-voltage power transmission and transformation system imported from White Eagle.

Its designed installed capacity reaches 60 kilowatts.

This is an astonishing number in this era.

It's important to know that at that time, the total annual power generation of India was only about 200 million kilowatts.

During the war-torn Republic of China era, its power generation capacity was fragmented, and it was questionable whether the total installed capacity of the country could even reach 100 million kilowatts.

Japan, which was once the only industrialized country in Asia, had a total national power generation of just over 700 million kilowatts at its peak.

Of course, what he unveiled so far is only the first phase of the project.

The entire hydroelectric power station project is not expected to be fully completed until the end of the second four-year plan, which is 49 years.

When the hydroelectric power station is in operation, its power generation capacity during the high-water season will be sufficient to meet the electricity needs of the entire Southeast Asian capital region and surrounding important industrial areas.

It is the cornerstone of Nanyang's industrial ambitions and a beacon illuminating the future.

After the ceremony, Zhang Chi and other senior officials, along with foreign guests including Princess Ashraf of Persia, checked into the newly built New World Hotel, located not far from the hydroelectric power station, which was specially prepared for the VIPs.