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

An hour later, in the convoy heading to Yangon.

The black bulletproof sedan drove smoothly.

Inside the car, a young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, who appeared capable but slightly reserved, was reporting his day's itinerary to Zhang Chi.

He is the newly appointed confidential secretary, surnamed Chen.

Secretary Liu, who originally held this position, was also pregnant. To avoid attracting attention by showing her pregnancy later, Zhang Chi had arranged for her to be sent to a quiet villa in the countryside to rest and prepare for childbirth.

The core of power always lies hidden within these seemingly ordinary personnel changes, concealing the most private threads.

Not long after, Zhang Chi returned to his office, stood in front of the world map, and pondered the future direction of the world.

The Showa-era Japanese will soon issue a ceasefire declaration.

Although the Japanese played some word games, saying it was a ceasefire rather than a surrender.

But from the Allied perspective, the Japanese were surrendering unconditionally.

At that time, the remaining Japanese troops in many areas, including Indochina, will unconditionally surrender their weapons.

The next crucial step is deciding who will accept the surrender.

Director Jin of the Intelligence Division stood behind Zhang Chi, his head slightly bowed.

"Activate all 'Sleepers'." Zhang Chi's voice was exceptionally clear in the silence, "including White Eagle, Bear, John, and Gaul. They are not required to actively spy; any risky actions are prohibited."

"We will only observe, record, and report on the reactions, emotional fluctuations, and decision-making trends of high-level officials from all parties in private settings, as well as those concerning the Far East and nuclear issues."

"Yes," Director Jin replied in a deep voice, without any further questions.

These synthetic human agents, perfectly infiltrating under various identities, will become the most acute eyes and ears in Southeast Asia in the future.

After Director Jin left, Zhang Chi unbuttoned his suit jacket, leaned back on the comfortable sofa, and closed his eyes to rest.

The ripples from the third nuclear explosion should have been echoing around the world long enough.

Panic, suspicion, reassessment... the initial shock period for all parties is about to pass, and the next stage is testing and making moves.

Then Nanyang made his move.

He opened his eyes and looked at the palm trees outside the window.

For White Hawk, the Truman government...

You can't confront it head-on.

The United States is currently at its zenith.

Even with the system as his cheat code, he still had to humble himself before the other party's terrifying industrial strength.

To snatch profits from the eagle's mouth, you have to use clever tactics.

His next strategy is to play the regional stability card.

They proactively extended an olive branch to the United States and conveyed information through official channels.

Nanyang understands and respects the White Eagle's leadership position in the Pacific and is willing to cooperate with the White Eagle on the issue of anti-redness in Southeast Asia.

At the same time, Nanyang will ensure that nuclear technology does not proliferate as much as possible. Of course, since cooperation with Gaul has already begun, if the White Eagle wants to terminate this cooperation, it will have to offer Nanyang enough benefits to entice them.

Zhang Chi estimates that these commitments can partially satisfy the strategic demands of the White Eagle leadership and alleviate their anxieties.

The key bargaining chip lies in the capital group that lured the White Eagle.

He will imply that Southeast Asia possesses more advanced civilian nuclear energy technology, such as safer and more efficient nuclear power plant designs.

This is an irresistible temptation for profit-seeking capitalists.

He plans to send people to privately contact giants like Westinghouse and General Electric, expressing his willingness to engage in limited commercial cooperation and technical exchanges in the field of civilian nuclear energy.

The power of capital is immense.

When the massive military-industrial and energy conglomerates see the enormous profits that cooperation with Southeast Asia can bring, they will naturally put pressure on Washington to push for a policy of appeasement and cooperation rather than hostility and blockade towards Southeast Asia.

And the biggest card, without a doubt, is Yegorov.

This shrewd front man, through his Texas New Century Consortium, has, at Zhang Chi's request, developed intricate connections with the White Eagle political establishment.

Truman took over the position halfway through his career, lacked a deep family foundation, and was a political novice with no powerful backing.

Most importantly, he can only serve two more terms as president.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Zhang Chi's mouth.

Based on the resource atlas he obtained from the system, he knew that several undiscovered giant oil fields lay buried deep in the jungles of Borneo.

At that time, he could easily get the Nanhua Group to take the initiative to bring Yegorov's consortium into the development together.

The enormous profits naturally entice Texas oil tycoons to join the Southeast Asian bandwagon.

Then, reserve a well-paid, hands-off senior advisor position for Truman himself, or one of his close family members...

This will be more effective than any public statement or diplomatic note.

After careful consideration, Zhang Chi opened his eyes, straightened his collar, and his face regained its usual composure and dignity.

He stood up, pressed a button, and called Secretary Chen inside to begin arranging the next steps.

------

The 20th year of the Showa era, the 45th year of the Western calendar, August 15th.

Yamaguchi Tsutomu leaned against the doorframe of his temporary thatched hut, gazing at the distant sky.

There, a few days earlier, a deadly mushroom cloud had risen—a cloud he knew all too well.

Fortunately, the bomb landed in the city center. He and his childhood friend Kenjiro, who had taken him in, lived in a remote rural area. They only felt the ground shake and were not directly affected.

But that sight was enough to wake him from nightmares for several nights in a row.

This is the third time... Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and now Niigata.

He didn't know whether he was lucky or unlucky.

"Ajiang! Ajiang!"

Kenjiro came rushing from the other end of the village road like a gust of wind, his face contorted in an extremely distorted expression, making it impossible to tell whether he was crying or laughing.

He rushed up to Yamaguchi Tsutomu, grabbed his shoulders with both hands, and shook him violently.

"It's over, the war is over." Kenjiro's voice was hoarse, choked with sobs and mixed with ecstatic joy. "We surrendered! His Majesty the Emperor... has announced the surrender!"

Yamaguchi Tsutomu was stunned; his wound throbbed with pain, but he couldn't care less.

"They surrendered?" he murmured repeatedly.

"Quick, quick, to Lord Hasegawa's house. Everyone's there, the radio, His Majesty's voice..." Kenjiro stammered, supporting the unsteady Yamaguchi Tsutomu as they ran towards the most magnificent house in the center of the village.

The spacious Japanese-style interior of the Hasegawa family's house, where the landowners live.

The place is already packed with villagers.

Men, women, young and old, all held their breath and gathered around an old radio.

The landlord, Hasegawa Shigenori, was an old man with gray hair and a livid face, wearing an old but still good quality kimono. He sat in the main seat.

Beside him was his only daughter, Xiaobaihe, her face pale, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly.

From the radio came a high-pitched, slow voice with a unique intonation that they had never heard before:

"...Deeply considering the global situation and the current state of the Empire, I wish to take extraordinary measures to resolve the crisis. I hereby inform you, my subjects, that I have ordered the Imperial Government to notify the Allied Forces that I am willing to accept their joint declaration..."

"...The war situation has not improved, and the world situation is also unfavorable to us."

In addition, the enemy has recently been using brutal bombs, frequently killing innocent people, and the extent of the harm is truly unpredictable.

If the war continues, it will not only lead to the extinction of my nation, but also destroy human civilization…