On November 19, the Hawaii Air Force Base, which had entered a high state of combat readiness, was heavily guarded. Radar constantly searched for signals in the sky, and numerous fighter crews were ready to take off at any time.

Starting from the day before yesterday, two Chinese aircraft carrier battle groups had been sailing west with all their might and had now arrived at a position more than 1,000 kilometers west of Hawaii. The main force of the US Pacific Fleet sortied to confront the Chinese aircraft carrier battle groups.

At 5:00 PM, several US military aircraft flew over the Hawaii civil aviation airport successively. The civil aviation airport was crowded with people, all looking forward to the sky. A four-engine airliner soon appeared in everyone's sight.

US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Doolittle put down his binoculars, muttering, "It really flew here from Tokyo."

Several officers around Lieutenant Colonel Doolittle, who were also somewhat famous in the bomber field, also sighed with emotion and began to discuss.

"It's 6,200 kilometers from Tokyo to here. Does this plane have a range of 7,000 kilometers?"

"I think it would be 8,000 kilometers. Considering the yaw problem, it must be more than 8,000 kilometers."

...

Although they were discussing airliners, these officers who were somewhat famous in the bomber field were all thinking about bombers. The maximum range of the B-17 bomber, the most powerful in the United States now, was only 2,980 kilometers. The Chinese airliner beginning to land under the command of the airport tower in front of them was about the same size as the B-17. Being able to manufacture such an airliner meant they also had the ability to manufacture bombers with the same range.

After all, everyone was a bomber professional, and the discussion quickly entered a more realistic part. A major said unhappily, "These bombers can't fly to the West Coast." Other officers also felt it made sense; to date, no bomber capable of flying more than 20,000 kilometers (round trip?) had appeared.

Hearing this, Doolittle immediately replied, "What if the Chinese take Hawaii?"

Hearing this, several officers were stunned. It was only 4,000 kilometers from Hawaii to the West Coast. If the range of Chinese bombers exceeded 8,000 kilometers, they could indeed bomb the US West Coast. But this meant that China would take Hawaii.

Someone wanted to refute, but froze when the words reached his lips. Immediately, that person frowned deeply. "Is this why China sent two aircraft carrier battle groups east of Hawaii? China wants to prove they have the ability to surround Hawaii!"

When Doolittle served as a test pilot for new models of the US military, he obtained a doctorate in aeronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1930, he retired for the first time and went to work for Shell Oil Company. In 1934, Doolittle proposed separating the Air Force from the Army to establish a separate branch and urged Shell Oil Company to start developing specialized aviation fuel. He had retired from the US Air Force.

In 1940, Doolittle rejoined the army in the context of the outbreak of World War II. Hearing the childish remarks of the US Air Force officers, Doolittle explained, "China wants to try its best to prevent us from declaring war on China by showing its strength."

Hearing this, the faces of the US Air Force officers became even uglier. The air battle in the Sulu Sea had been reported in the United States. Some fierce isolationists naturally scolded President Roosevelt for deliberately triggering war. But a considerable number of Americans no longer scolded Roosevelt. Many newspapers believed that the Battle of the Sulu Sea proved that China did not respect the United States at all, and China, which was expanding rapidly in Southeast Asia, was the greatest threat to the United States. The United States already needed to consider using tough means to contain China's expansion.

US soldiers generally regarded China as an enemy. US Air Force personnel who went to Singapore to fight dying or being injured could only be said to have got what they wanted, having nothing to do with hostility. But China's ambush of the US troops evacuating the battlefield was enough to prove China's hostility towards the United States.

At this time, the Chinese civil airliner landing at the airport had stopped steadily on the runway. The gangway was lowered, and a group of people appeared at the gangway entrance. Doolittle didn't want to watch anymore and turned to leave the airport. On the way back from the airport, Doolittle felt very heavy in his heart. The Shell Oil Company he worked for had always refused acquisition by the Rockefeller Company, but belonging to the same energy industry, Shell Oil Company also recognized the world's energy pattern clearly.

Although China had developed several large domestic oil fields, China's oil storage depth generally exceeded 2,000 meters, mining costs were high, and the oil was relatively viscous, belonging to relatively low-quality oil in the eyes of the US oil industry. Currently, mature oil field regions in the world included Southeast Asia and the Middle East. For its own energy supply, China would definitely occupy these two regions.

Shell Oil Company was a rival of the Rockefeller Consortium, and Doolittle had mostly contacted US oil giants outside the Rockefeller Consortium. These oil giants generally believed it was necessary to go to war with China. China was a big market. Once China fully controlled these two regions, its strength would be greatly improved. These giants generally believed that the United States could definitely not defeat China, so the United States must control China's channels for obtaining oil and use the chain of energy to lock the behemoth China.

Current China was already terrible enough. Once China solved the supply of energy and minerals, China would become even more terrible. China's population was 6 times that of the United States. A powerful China with 6 times the strength of the United States would inevitably pose a huge threat to the United States. The best way was to limit the beast before it rose.

Since war was already hard to avoid, and Doolittle saw the strength shown by China's aviation industry with his own eyes, his mood was very heavy.

What Doolittle considered, American reporters also considered. When the plane stopped steadily and prepared to refuel, they immediately interviewed Professor Zhao Tianlin, who was going to Washington as a special envoy of China.

The weather in Hawaii was relatively hot in all four seasons. Some reporters wore formal suits, and some wore colorful local Hawaiian clothes, looking quite warm. This made this press conference, which would inevitably discuss serious issues, not so oppressive.

"Professor, will a war break out between China and the United States?" A reporter from the *New York Times* asked directly.

Even believing that China and the United States would inevitably go to war, Zhao Tianlin still hoped it would be as late as possible, so he answered seriously, "If the United States declares war on China, war will definitely break out between China and the United States."

The reporters were caused a commotion by these words. A moment later, the *New York Times* reporter asked, "Have you received news that the United States is going to declare war on China?"

What Zhao Tianlin expected was such a sensational effect. He pushed his glasses and continued with a serious expression, "I heard that when Mr. President Roosevelt sought a third term, he publicly stated that he would never drag the United States into war. I think President Roosevelt should not deceive American voters. But judging from some things that happened, Mr. Roosevelt's attitude towards war is relatively frivolous."

American reporters had various expressions upon hearing such criticism. Although Zhao Tianlin's expression was serious, as if worried that Roosevelt's attitude was not correct enough, Zhao Tianlin knew very well that Roosevelt treated war very seriously.

Zhao Tianlin had been active internationally as a scholar in recent years. In the last six months, more than one person in the American academic circle told Zhao Tianlin that American capital knew very well that China's purpose in participating in the war was to break the colonial system and establish a new global market. America's top academic and capital circles believed that the future international market could only accommodate one great power.

Ten years ago, when Zhao Tianlin resigned as Vice Premier, He Rui discussed this future with Zhao Tianlin. Everything that happened in the ten years proved to Zhao Tianlin how sharp He Rui's judgment was.

The reporter from the *Washington Post* had done a lot of preparation before this trip. Seeing Zhao Tianlin taking the topic in a direction not beneficial to the United States, he immediately shouted ahead of the *New York Times* reporter, "The Chinese government said it would never expand its territory again. But isn't China's war exactly seizing colonies?"

This question made Zhao Tianlin happy in his heart. The report he read before this trip introduced that the *Washington Post* had fully turned to the camp supporting Roosevelt in starting the war. So no matter what Zhao Tianlin said, the *Washington Post* would not admit China's act of liberating colonies, but what should be said must be said. Zhao Tianlin replied, "I suggest the *Washington Post* send reporters to Malaya now. The local people of Malaya have begun preparations to convene a national assembly and establish an independent Malayan government."

The *Washington Post* reporter pressed, "Isn't this an election under China's manipulation? Does the Chinese government believe such manipulation possesses legitimacy?"

"The Chinese government only defeated the colonialists; it is a liberator, not an occupier. The Chinese government believes that the Malayan people electing their own government according to their own will is the greatest legitimacy itself," Zhao Tianlin replied.

The *Washington Post* reporter immediately retorted, "Legitimacy comes from world recognition, not self-declaration."

Zhao Tianlin looked forward very much in his heart to the *Washington Post* reporter publishing this question in the newspaper, preferably becoming the focus of discussion in the United States. Because the route the United States wanted to take was to replace Britain's world hegemonic status first, and then "implement benevolent government" to occupy the moral high ground. Unlike the United States, China took the route of directly violently destroying colonial rule and giving freedom to colonial people.

The US route must first recognize the legitimacy of colonialism, and then deny colonial rule in the name of colonialism being inhumane. This route was of course very progressive compared to colonial countries like Britain, but if the United States recognized colonialism as legal first, China could define the United States as a firm supporter of colonialism. In front of a liberator like China, the United States as a supporter of colonialism had no moral height to speak of.

Zhao Tianlin looked still serious. "Slave owners would also accuse slaves' efforts to seek liberation as illegal."

The *Washington Post* reporter's eyes widened round; he didn't expect Zhao Tianlin to be so blunt. And Zhao Tianlin didn't give the *Washington Post* reporter another chance. He turned to other reporters and said, "Does anyone else want to ask questions?"

The *Wall Street Journal* reporter seized the opportunity at this time and asked, "Professor Zhao, do you think the military conflict between China and the United States will become more intense?"

"I am going to Washington this time to discuss this matter with the US President. The military conflict between China and the United States is completely controllable, and even avoidable. China does not want to go to war with the United States."

"Then how does China plan to control the military conflict?" the *Wall Street Journal* reporter pressed.

Zhao Tianlin answered almost word by word, "China will not declare war on the United States first."

A burst of exclamation came from the reporters. At least in the eyes of American reporters, although this attitude was arrogant, it was at least relatively sincere.

Zhao Tianlin felt that this interview had achieved the effect, so he said, "Everyone, I will continue to rush to the [mainland] United States tomorrow. The reception ends here. I look forward to seeing everyone again in the United States."

Arriving at the hotel where he stayed, Zhao Tianlin took a shower, wore short clothes comfortably, and thought about the next work. The force within the United States that could suppress Roosevelt's declaration of war at present was the isolationist sentiment among the people. A year ago, the American public refused to participate in the dirty war triggered by Europeans because the result of World War I made the American public believe that the old order could still not be broken. Zhao Tianlin's statement to the American media now needed to use media propaganda to reinforce the stereotypes of the American public.

Zhao Tianlin did not believe that the American people would actively promote world progress, so naturally, he would not pin his hopes on the American people. But Zhao Tianlin pinned his hopes on the American people's understanding of the world war. If the American public understood this world war as an imperialist colonial struggle for hegemony, it would be very beneficial to China. If the American public understood the world war as a racist war launched by white people against other colored people to maintain their hegemony, that would be great!

Zhao Tianlin's special plane arrived on the US West Coast on October 20 and arrived in Washington at 13:00 local time on October 21. In the newspapers on the morning of the 21st, news of Zhao Tianlin stating that China would not declare war on the United States first, and news of China landing in Borneo were published simultaneously.

Borneo was located south of the Philippines. Militarily, China occupying Borneo blocked the US channel south from the Philippines. So much so that Roosevelt had the intention of leaving Zhao Tianlin hanging in the hotel in Washington for a few days.

But Roosevelt quickly suppressed his personal unhappiness. China was conquering territories in Southeast Asia day and night. Now Zhao Tianlin publicly announced that China would not declare war on the United States first, so Roosevelt naturally couldn't actively declare war on China. Leaving Zhao Tianlin in the hotel and ignoring him at this time, it was hard to say whether Roosevelt himself would be happy because of this, but Zhao Tianlin would definitely be happy to death; this was buying time for China.

According to intelligence provided by Britain and MacArthur, China had the ability to build temporary airfields quickly. Giving China another three months, China could build a large number of airfields throughout Southeast Asia. The United States must absolutely not give China time to drag on.

Both sides of the talk were core members, so the talk was very straightforward. The high-level US government officials all supported Roosevelt's policy, but with the attitude of treating a dead horse as a living horse, the US Secretary of Commerce asked Zhao Tianlin a question during the talk: "Professor Zhao, what currency does China use when trading with countries occupied by China?"

Seeing that the US side revealed the dagger after unrolling the map, Zhao Tianlin replied frankly, "We provide currencies most suitable for the development of their countries to these independent countries."

Hearing Zhao Tianlin be so frank, the US Secretary of Commerce did not ask other questions. Before asking this question, there was no choice other than war between the Roosevelt administration and the He Rui administration. And Zhao Tianlin's answer proved that the He Rui administration was very clear about this. Since the He Rui administration only used Renminbi in trade with various independent colonial governments, did the Roosevelt administration have other choices?

In the collective discussion between Zhao Tianlin and the US upper echelon, every word used by everyone was "protect human rights, respect values." At least to the ears of insiders, these discussions were extremely frank. Because the core of discussion at this level was indeed human rights and values; what both sides competed for was "who defines human rights, who defines values." Zhao Tianlin unreservedly expressed to the US high-level officials China's attitude of wanting to be the definer of the new world.

After talking with the US upper echelon, Zhao Tianlin held a separate meeting with Roosevelt. Roosevelt originally intended to refuse, but hearing that Zhao Tianlin wanted to convey He Rui's relatively private views, Roosevelt agreed to the separate meeting.

When only Roosevelt and his female secretary were left in the Oval Office, Zhao Tianlin said frankly, "Mr. Roosevelt, Chairman He Rui respects a reformer like you, who is extremely rare in American history, very much. So Chairman He Rui entrusted me to convey his views. The allies of the United States will be Britain and Germany; these two countries represent colonialism and racism. And the United States is a country with a long tradition of racism. Even a great leader like you cannot change the fate of the United States becoming an accomplice of colonialists and a racist country after the United States enters the war. Are you really prepared for this?"

Roosevelt was stunned; he indeed hadn't considered this war from this angle. Thinking for a while, Roosevelt looked at the cigar box on the table. The female secretary immediately took out two small cigars from inside and handed them to the two men in the room.

Zhao Tianlin waved his hand; he didn't smoke much, let alone cigars. "Please give me a cup of tea," Zhao Tianlin said to Roosevelt's female secretary.

Roosevelt lit the cigar and took a puff. "Does Mr. He Rui have other views?"

"We have begun to form the World People's Liberation Army. To date, countries such as Korea, Upper Burma, Assam, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia have proposed joining the World People's Liberation Army. Moreover, world leftists are discussing this matter with us. It is estimated that by next year, the World People's Liberation Army will have 300,000 people, many of whom are revolutionaries who participated in the Spanish Civil War.

"Mr. Roosevelt, if the United States declares war on China, the US military is not fighting a war for hegemony with China. Instead, it faces a total war against colonialism and racism. Do you think the United States has the ability to defeat the World Coalition seeking a new direction for human civilization?"

Facing such a threat, Roosevelt decided to ignore it first. He asked back, "Does Mr. He Rui think he is not striving for world hegemony?"

Zhao Tianlin had asked He Rui the same question long ago. Hearing Roosevelt ask the same now, Zhao Tianlin smiled. "Hehe. Mr. President, Chairman He Rui has long made plans for economic cooperation in the new world of the future. The Chairman believes that the model of the Federal Reserve should be fully borrowed in the future World Economic Cooperation Organization."

Now Roosevelt couldn't hold back a bit. The United States was a federal country. If the model of the Federal Reserve was used in a new world united government led by China, it was indeed very suitable. More importantly, if this was done, China would build an unprecedented non-white economy.

Roosevelt's staff had discussed what it would look like if China united the non-white world. The conclusion reached strengthened Roosevelt's determination to go to war with China.

The white countries in the world, including the Soviet Union, had a combined population of at most 500 million. The non-white countries added up to at least 1.5 billion. Moreover, the land of non-white countries occupied more than 70% of the world. The power He Rui would build in the future would be overwhelming.

After a moment of silence, Roosevelt asked, "Does Mr. He Rui think he can win?"

"It is not Chairman He Rui who will win, nor China who will win. It is the progressive forces representing the new era of human civilization that will win. Chairman He Rui can fully understand the inevitability of you, as the President of the United States, choosing to declare war on China in order to strive for a better future for the United States. But Chairman He Rui cannot quite understand that someone as smart as you would actually stand on the same front line with colonialism and racism."

Roosevelt just felt that this view was a bit unethical. After China rejuvenated under He Rui's leadership, it naturally had no burden of colonialism and racism. Moreover, the tradition of China's centralized system and the unusual acceptance of violent revolution in Chinese culture made it easy for China to stand on the moral high ground.

Since He Rui was unethical, Roosevelt simply mocked, "I don't understand either, why is Mr. He Rui not worried at all about being nailed to the pillar of shame in history?"

"Hahahaha!" Zhao Tianlin was amused.

Roosevelt looked at Zhao Tianlin with some surprise. He could see that Zhao Tianlin was laughing sincerely, not pretending.

Zhao Tianlin was indeed sincerely amused. Because before departure, He Rui had made exactly the same complaint to him. He thought that Roosevelt was surprisingly not worried about being nailed to the pillar of shame in history. When Roosevelt also said the same thing, Zhao Tianlin really couldn't help laughing. It seemed that politicians with strategic vision all had the same self-confidence.

Putting away his smile, Zhao Tianlin replied, "I will convey your sentence to Chairman He Rui. do you have any other words you need me to convey?"