At 8:30 Beijing time on the 23rd, Gu Weimin announced that the Republic had sent ground to fight.

Prior to this, the news media in Western countries were speculating about whether the Republic had already dispatched ground troops, because journalists in Japan and South Korea found that the frequency of sorties by the US and South Korean air forces was very alarming, and the number of fighters returning to the country was far fewer than the number of fighters dispatched, indicating that there was an air battle over North Korea on an alarming scale. If the republic does not send ground troops, is it necessary to fight to the death for air supremacy that does not have much practical significance?

After Gu Weimin's statement, Zong Yingren, Minister of Defense of the Republic, announced the fighting situation from 0:00 to 8:00 a.m. on the 23rd.

The news announced by the Minister of Defense immediately caused a sensation that the Air Force of the Republic, which had previously tied with the US military, actually achieved an air combat exchange ratio of more than 8 in 25 hours of fighting!

The suspicious news media turned their attention to the Pentagon.

Under normal circumstances, the US Department of Defense will "respond" within half an hour after the republic announces the state of the fighting.

This time, the US Department of Defense reacted very "sluggishly".

At 9:25 a.m., the spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic announced the second result of the battle, announcing that in the battle that had just ended, the US amphibious fleet that had invaded the territorial waters of the DPRK had completely annihilated and had achieved major results in sinking amphibious assault ships, amphibious landing ships, integrated landing ships, multipurpose destroyers, air defense destroyers, and littoral combat ships. In order to show the great significance of the battle results, the spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, in response to a reporter's question, clearly pointed out that two of them are the most advanced "Zumwalt" class destroyers of the US Navy.

The Western news media was in an uproar, unwilling to believe it, but also had to believe it.

The central government of a world-class power would certainly not play an "international joke" on such a major issue.

The eyes of the global news media are once again turning to the Pentagon.

22 p.m. ET. The Pentagon press spokesman announced the results of the 2 battle. In addition to announcing the results of ground-to-air battles conducted at night. Admit to losing contact with the 2nd ~ Amphibious Fleet. It said that the exact results would be released after the investigation had clarified the situation.

The Pentagon didn't figure out the situation?

Apparently lying with his eyes open. Because the US aircraft carrier battle group is only 300 kilometers away from the 2nd ~ amphibious fleet. After the AWACS aircraft takes off from the aircraft carrier, it will be able to determine the situation of the amphibious fleet.

To be precise. There were still several battleships that were not sunk at that time.

After the blow. The first to be finished were 2 littoral combat ships and 2 ~ air defense destroyers. 2 Zumwalt-class destroyers held out for about 15 minutes. The integrated landing ships sank one after another in 25 minutes. The 2 amphibious landing ship held out for about half an hour. The largest displacement "Tarawa" and "Saipan" (belonging to the LHA6 class amphibious assault ships. Not in the 70s of the last century was built the place "Tarawa" class) held out for more than 3 hours. The former sank at 12 o'clock Beijing time. The latter sank at 13:11 GMT.

At the time of the Pentagon's announcement, the U.S. military was trying to save the amphibious assault ship.

The question is, all the warships of the amphibious fleet are sunk and wounded, and they are still too busy to take care of themselves, how can they have the ability to "take care" of the 2 capital ships? The nearest U.S. warship was 30 meters away, and even if it rushed to it as fast as possible, it would take six hours to arrive.

Perhaps the U.S. military wants to do the ground, just let the officers and men on the battleship escape in lifeboats as soon as possible.

More than 10 years later, an exploration team of the Republic found the wreckage of the "Tarawa" and "Saipan" that had sunk at a depth of more than 1,500 meters, and confirmed that the "Tarawa" had received 22 anti-ship missiles and the "Saipan" had been hit 19 times. With such a fierce blow, not to mention an amphibious assault ship with a displacement of only C0C~, even a supercarrier with a displacement of more than 1 ton will not be able to withstand it!

This battle has pushed the United States into a corner.

Because the amphibious fleet was attacked in the waters of the DPRK's exclusive economic zone and was on a combat mission to strike military targets in the DPRK, the United States cannot accuse the Republic of expanding the rules of war on this basis.

Reinforcement, or retreat?

Before the Pentagon's announcement, Frederick had an emergency meeting with Westwood.

Although Frederick did not say it explicitly, the meaning was clear: If the 1st Marine Division and the 2nd War Division, and even the 1st Air Assault Division, the 1st Armored Division and the 1st Infantry Division were not immediately sent to North Korea, the United States would suffer the most painful defeat since the Vietnam War.

In fact, the United States has already suffered the most painful defeat since World War II.

4~ Battleship, it's over when the egg is finished, and there is not even a little room for turning.

Although the casualty results have not yet been counted, the final number will definitely not be lower than 2, because there are not only many naval officers and sailors on the 4~ battleship, but also more than 1500~ Marine officers and soldiers (most of them are wounded, and the US hospital ship has not yet arrived in the war zone).

Without more troops, there will be more casualties among American GIs.

Multiple Marines and more than 50,000 Army officers and men all need to be saved.

Westwood's attitude was very firm, not only did not agree to increase the troops, but also demanded that the troops be withdrawn as soon as possible to avoid complete involvement.

The reason for being elected president is simple: no matter how many troops are invested, the United States will not be able to defeat China on the Korean Peninsula.

I have to admit that Westwood is very "sane".

Putting aside the combat effectiveness of the two ** teams for the time being, the Korean Peninsula is close to China and 108,000 miles away from the United States, and China has taken advantage of it in terms of logistical support alone. In order to ensure the security of its homeland, China will win the war at all costs, and the United States cannot fight against the world's second-most powerful country for the tens of millions of South Koreans on the other side of the world.

The problem is that if there is no increase in combat forces, almost 1 US military officer and soldier will be in a desperate situation.

After some arguments, both Westwood and Frederick relented. Without sending additional ground troops to the Korean Peninsula, the Habitat Fleet will be dispatched to the Sea of Japan to prepare for the withdrawal of troops, an additional tactical fighter wing will be sent to Japan and the ROK, the air supremacy will be regained on the battlefield, the military and maritime forces will be mobilized to provide more combat materials and weapons and equipment to the ROK, support the ROK in continuing the war, and negotiate with Japan to try to get Japan to send troops as soon as possible.

Westwood emphasized the latter two points.

From this, it can be seen that in foreign policy, Westwood is very assertive, much stronger than Frederick.

The longer South Korea holds out, the greater the cost China pays. It's just that South Korea is too weak and can't hold out for long even if it gets full assistance from the United States. The only way to bring down China is to bring Japan into the war.

After Westwood left the White House, Frederick called Leslie over.

Whether or not Japan will enter the war depends on whether the United States can prescribe sufficient conditions. Before the outbreak of the war, when Stockton made a secret visit to Tokyo, Murakami made it clear that Japan would not consider sending troops to Korea if the United States could not immediately lift sanctions against Japan, provide military assistance, including military technology, to Japan, and unilaterally lift trade sanctions.

Although Murakami is asking for a sky-high price, the United States must show something.

In the early morning of the 23rd Eastern Time, Leslie left Washington and went to Tokyo on behalf of Frederick to discuss with the Japanese Prime Minister about sending troops to North Korea.

At this time, the Army of the Republic had crossed the border between China and North Korea and entered Korea.

After adjusting the operational deployment, the U.S. Marine Corps and the 1st Air Assault Division under the command of Du Qiwei began to storm Wulao, which was occupied by the 153rd Airborne Army.

While fighting on the front lines is in full swing, the top leaders of the republic are busy doing something more important.

The North Korean leadership is still in the news, and the military intelligence agency has dispatched thousands of agents to interrogate the North Korean military officers who have entered the territory of the republic, but have not been able to obtain any information related to Kim Chol-nam.

It is a good thing for the republic that Kim Cheol-nam cannot be found.

The problem is that the Army of the Republic of Korea must have a very "legitimate" reason to fight in North Korea, and the best option is for the North Korean government to send an invitation.

On the morning of the 23rd, Zhao Rundong, Wang Yuanqing, Gu Weimin and others have been discussing this issue.

"The problem now is that time is of the essence." Wang Yuanqing's attitude was very firm, "Our army has entered North Korea and is fighting with the US army. It won't be long before there will be a war with the South Korean army. If there is no justifiable reason, the legitimacy of our army's entry into the DPRK will be questioned. Although Japan and the DPRK have signed the "Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance," one of the main subjects of the treaty no longer exists, and we must support a new one as soon as possible before we can send troops to the DPRK in the name of fulfilling our treaty obligations. I still propose that the North Pyongan Province local government be established immediately with the local government as the core. The location can be temporarily located in Dandong or Sinuiju controlled by our army, and Seoul will be declared as the capital and Pyongyang as the accompanying capital, so as to provide legal support for our army to move south to capture Seoul. ”

Gu Weimin hesitated for a moment and didn't say anything.

He supported some of Wang's views on the establishment of a new regime in North Korea as soon as possible; However, he did not support the declaration of Seoul as the capital, because Gu Weimin had always opposed the 38th parallel.

Zhao Rundong pondered for a while and said: "That's fine, if you can't even solve the problems around you, there is not much guarantee for the development of our country." In this case, it is only a matter of time before the 38th parallel is crossed. On top of that, we have to be prepared to fight a long game. It is quite possible that the United States will choose to retreat and at the same time pull Japan into the water. ”

Wang Yuanqing nodded, indicating that he understood what Zhao Rundong meant.

Even Zhao Rundong expressed his support for Wang Yuanqing, and Gu Weimin was even more difficult to say anything.

At 130 Beijing time, Ahn Sung-hwan, the former governor of North Pyongan Province of North Korea, announced the establishment of the provisional government of North Korea in Sinuiju, and at the same time "invited" the republican ** team to fight in North Korea.

Although An Chenghuan was only a very inconspicuous small role before this, he became a "big man" from this time.

More than 0 minutes later, South Korean President Yoo Jong-chun announced in Seoul that he refused to recognize the "puppet regime" headed by Ahn Sung-hwan and condemned China's brazen invasion of South Korea.

The diplomatic battle failed to attract the attention of the news media, as the battle between the five elders entered a white-hot state.

Damn it**

Flicker does what it says, ask for the support of the brothers, and come to the monthly pass recommendation tickets! (To be continued)

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