British Prime Minister Attlee formally resigned on November 22, 1941. The British Conservative Party voted on November 23, and Churchill was elected with a high number of votes, which was no surprise.

Churchill stood on the podium, his gaze sweeping over the MPs in the House of Commons. Judging from the number of votes, the MPs who had voted no confidence before chose to support Churchill again this time. Churchill was very disdainful of these people in his heart. Swallowing his saliva, the fat on Churchill's cheeks trembled slightly. Under the gaze of MPs and reporters, Churchill said into the microphone, "Honorable Members, Gentlemen, in less than a month, we were defeated in Singapore, losing 150,000 army troops, 3 battleships, and thousands of fighters. All British colonies in Southeast Asia have been occupied by China. But the war Britain faces is not over. China is launching attacks on India, Australia, and New Zealand. Commonwealth troops in these areas are fighting heroic but desperate battles with the Chinese army.

"Britain is facing a war of the yellow race against the white race; this is a new Mongol Westward Expedition. Britain is fighting for the white world, fighting for the civilization established by the white world in the past 500 years. We have no choice to surrender. Because once we retreat, the yellow people rushing over like locusts will eat up white civilization.

"In addition to continuing to fight now, we must also let the white world understand the heavy and glorious responsibility borne by Britain with a humble and proud attitude. Only when the Old World and the New World fight together against this barbaric attack of the yellow race can we possibly win victory.

"Britain has no retreat; the white world has no retreat. God save Britain, God save the white world."

The speech was not long, but it had already described the current situation clearly. Forced by fear, the audience gave thunderous applause to Churchill.

Just after finishing the speech, Churchill left the Parliament and went straight to the airport. A special plane was already waiting at the airport, and many reporters were also waiting for Churchill there. Facing the reporters, Churchill did not speak, but just raised his hands high and made a "V" gesture. Reporters took pictures of this historic scene one after another, expecting Churchill to complete his mission in the United States.

On the morning of November 24, on Capitol Hill, Churchill gave a deeply moving speech to the US Congressmen. Hearing Churchill express willingness to consider exchanging many key world bases for US military aid, the gentlemen of the US Congress were truly moved.

In the past 200 years, Britain had always been the biggest opponent of the United States. Now that the British Prime Minister bowed his head to the United States in the US Congress, how could the gentlemen of the US Congress not be excited? Although Churchill did not directly say "Britain hands over world hegemony to the United States," apart from this sentence, Churchill expressed the words of handing over power and the actions of handing over power unambiguously.

On the afternoon of the same day, Chinese special envoy Zhao Tianlin was summoned to the White House by US President Roosevelt. Zhao Tianlin heard the broadcast of Churchill's speech on the radio and understood that the US government finally waited for the opportunity to declare war. Roosevelt absolutely could not let the United States declare war on China as Britain's little brother; the American public and the US Republican Party absolutely could not accept this status.

Now the United States was at least Britain's big brother, the successor to the world hegemon. As long as the United States won, it would be the well-deserved hegemon of the world. The American people could accept the United States entering the world war in such a capacity.

Knowing that he was just going through the process next, Zhao Tianlin had no pressure in his heart. As a teacher, Zhao Tianlin not only organized students to perform stage plays but also performed on stage himself.

Taking out that mentality, Zhao Tianlin first listened quietly to Roosevelt's demand that China stop the attack immediately and withdraw from the Malaya region. Seeing Roosevelt finished, Zhao Tianlin said in a serious tone, "Mr. President, your request is helping the colonialists go back to massacre the local people. I have to doubt whether you possess morality."

Roosevelt thought Zhao Tianlin would face the US declaration of war calmly with the attitude of a scholar. Seeing Zhao Tianlin acting, he was surprised for a moment.

Zhao Tianlin continued, "Mr. President, the United States had the opportunity to join the side of justice, liberating the United States from the atmosphere of colonialism and racism. Looking at it now, the legal theory of 'fruit of the poisonous tree' can completely explain the actions of the United States. This makes me feel very regretful."

Roosevelt had absolutely no interest in watching Zhao Tianlin play the role of awe-inspiring righteousness, so he ended the meeting immediately.

Two hours later, the Asian Coalition Command issued an order for the whole army to enter the highest level of combat readiness. As soon as the US Congress passed the resolution to declare war on China, the war would begin immediately.

At this time, MacArthur, Commander of the US Philippines Command, also received the news. MacArthur scolded angrily, "Don't these people know that the Philippines is not fully ready yet!"

Curse as he might, MacArthur had been preparing for war with all his might. He immediately ordered the troops to prepare for defense. At this stage, China had seized the entire Borneo. 40,000 of the 90,000 troops cobbled together by the Netherlands defected directly before the battle and joined the Chinese side. The remaining troops were completely annihilated within 3 days.

China not only seized the airfields in various parts of Borneo intact but also seized the Balikpapan oil fields intact. The Balikpapan oil fields could produce up to 8 million tons of oil per year. According to the assessment of US companies participating in the construction of the Balikpapan oil fields, the maximum annual output of the oil fields here could reach 15 million tons. The crude oil output of the entire United States was 200 million tons. Comparing the two, one could understand the strategic value of the oil fields here to China. Once the United States declared war on China, China would inevitably launch a fierce attack on the Philippines to protect the various strategic resources it had already obtained.

MacArthur knew that the Philippines probably couldn't be held. He asked the staff officers to make a simplified version of the unfinished defense plan, while he himself wrote a letter to Army Chief of Staff General Marshall.

"Dear General Marshall, the Philippines Command will inevitably do everything in its power to defend. However, I must inform you in the form of a document of what is very likely to happen in the future..."

After skillfully finishing the opening of the "pot-throwing" (blame-shifting/CYA) document, MacArthur continued to write rapidly. Since the end of the Singapore campaign, MacArthur had a brand-new understanding of the equipment and combat effectiveness of the Chinese army. These contents had long been thought out, not made up temporarily.

MacArthur emphasized that the number of Chinese Air Force planes was about the same as that of the US Air Force. The Philippines was very close to various air bases already owned by China. China would possess overwhelming air superiority, and the Philippines would inevitably suffer unprecedentedly fierce bombing. Any aid from the US mainland must break through the defense line of the Chinese Air Force, which would make aid extremely difficult.

If the US military wanted to hold the Philippines, it must first conduct an unprecedented aircraft carrier battle with the Chinese Navy and annihilate the Chinese aircraft carrier formation. Just achieving this step was not enough; the US military also had to attack the islands where China had already built airfields one by one and destroy the power of the Chinese Army Aviation.

Aid to the Philippines must gather the full strength of the US Navy and mobilize a large number of Marines. Otherwise, the Philippines would likely fall under the Chinese Navy's operational mode of seizing islands one by one.

MacArthur's suggestions were not lengthy. After writing, they were quickly sent out by secret telegram.

Army Chief of Staff Marshall, who received MacArthur's telegram, immediately went to the Navy Command to meet with Navy Chief of Staff Kimmel. Chief of Staff Kimmel did not evaluate immediately after reading the telegram. He asked, "Chief of Staff Marshall, how long does the Army General Staff think the current defense system of the Philippines can hold out?"

Marshall did not answer immediately. MacArthur graduated from West Point with the highest graduation score on record and joined the Engineering Corps. He was the number one person in the US military in the field of military engineering. After evaluating the defense system already completed by the Philippines Command, the Army General Staff believed that the Philippines Commander, who possessed 250,000 US Army troops and 100,000 local Philippine troops, was fully capable of defending the impregnable Philippine defense line.

But MacArthur was MacArthur after all; his words could not be treated as wind past the ear. More importantly, MacArthur was undoubtedly one of the few generals in the US military today who understood the Chinese army best. Marshall remained silent for a good while before replying, "MacArthur indeed bears huge pressure in terms of military strength."

These words were "very political." The pressure on the Philippines was not only the disadvantage in military strength; its geographical location was sandwiched between north and south by Chinese-controlled areas. Once control of the sea was lost, the Philippines would be finished.

Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Kimmel did not hope that the US military would suffer major losses as soon as the war started, but from the Navy's perspective, MacArthur himself seemed to be issuing orders for the war situation in the entire Pacific. It was well known in the military that MacArthur was arrogant, and the Navy could not take this anger.

Admiral Kimmel thought for a while and replied, "According to previous discussions, our military's focus in the Pacific also includes Australia and New Zealand, not just the Philippines."

General Marshall did not refute; this was the conclusion he reached after comprehensive discussions on behalf of the Army and Navy General Staffs. After some discussion, both Marshall and Kimmel believed that the existing military strength in the Philippines was already quite sufficient, and one of the Navy's tasks at present was to ensure logistical supplies for the Philippines.

At 10:00 AM on November 25, the US Congress held a vote on whether to declare war on China. The Senate voted 62 in favor and 20 against; the House of Representatives voted 228 in favor and 161 against.

The voting results were delivered to the White House at 12:23. At 12:35, US President Roosevelt announced via the national broadcasting network at the White House, "In view of China's unscrupulous acts of aggression, the United States of America declares war on the Republic of China!"

The time difference between the US Eastern Time and China was 12 hours. He Rui didn't sleep, and the Military Commission members staying in the Capital didn't sleep either. After receiving the news, the secretary went straight to the conference room where everyone was. As soon as the door opened, he saw everyone surrounding He Rui and Hu Xiushan. The secretary walked quickly forward and saw Hu Xiushan, holding white pieces, preparing to make a move. Hearing the secretary come in, Hu Xiushan just glanced and placed the white piece on the chessboard.

Others all looked over. Under everyone's gaze, the secretary walked quickly to the front. "Chairman, the United States has declared war."

"Oh." He Rui took the report, glanced at it, and handed it to Xu Chengfeng beside him.

Asian Coalition Commander-in-Chief Xu Chengfeng finished reading the short report and immediately said, "Chairman, I will take my leave first."

He Rui stood up and extended his hand to Xu Chengfeng. "Thank you for your hard work, Commander-in-Chief."

When Xu Chengfeng shook hands with He Rui, he only felt that He Rui's hand was dry, warm, firm, and powerful. Letting go of his hand, Xu Chengfeng took a step back and saluted He Rui.

The Asian Coalition Headquarters was located in Beiping. Xu Chengfeng was going to Beiping now to take command. Other Military Commission members stood up to see him off, and everyone saluted and shook hands with each other. Bidding farewell to everyone, Xu Chengfeng immediately took a car to the train station. Since hearing the news of the US declaration of war, Xu Chengfeng felt his heartbeat increase.

When World War I broke out, Xu Chengfeng was still a cadet. At that time, Xu Chengfeng also imagined China participating in the war as a Great Power. 27 years had passed in a flash, and China had become a Great Power. Xu Chengfeng found that although he was excited, he was no longer full of joyful expectations for the battlefield as before.

War is dangerous; a single order will cause thousands of officers and soldiers to lose their lives. Xu Chengfeng now believed that facing war with the mentality of participating in a game was very unserious. But the agitation in his heart could not be suppressed. Faint expectations and the mood of wanting to completely eliminate the enemy made Xu Chengfeng's spirit uplifted.

In order to soothe this mood, Xu Chengfeng lay down and began to sleep as soon as he got on the train. Thanks to years of regular work and rest, Xu Chengfeng fell asleep quickly.

When he woke up, the sky was still pitch black. Xu Chengfeng got up and looked at his watch; it was only 5:00 AM. There were still 3-4 hours before arriving in Beiping. Xu Chengfeng took the documents out of his briefcase and began to read.

The Coalition had long prepared for the US entry into the war. In the plan corresponding to the current situation, the Chinese Navy would launch a fierce attack on the Philippines to attract the main force of the US Navy to come for reinforcements. Once the great battle broke out, the Japanese Navy would take the opportunity to launch attacks on Midway and Hawaii.

With Yamamoto as the commander of the Navy, Xu Chengfeng didn't need to worry. Currently, the Army's progress was very different from the plan. The Chinese Army was sweeping across Southeast Asia all the way east with the cooperation of the Air Force. Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and other islands were all liberated by China, and the vanguard had landed on Papua New Guinea.

According to the latest plan, the Chinese Army would land in Darwin in northern Australia. And establish a support point for the Australian theater centered on Darwin. The main island of Australia had an area of more than 7 million square kilometers. To completely clear all enemies, just marching would take several months. Not to mention that the United States had established a base in Melbourne in southwestern Australia; the war would drag on.

Xu Chengfeng knew that the United States was very powerful, but Xu Chengfeng couldn't quite imagine the situation of the United States fighting a protracted war with China across the vast Pacific Ocean. At least Xu Chengfeng found it hard to imagine why the United States believed it could be so fierce.

At this time, Military Commission Member and Vice Chairman of the Military Commission Li Runshi, who was responsible for the southern campaign, had already gotten up. Li Runshi was not surprised at all after reading the report. China had deduced the reasons for the US entry into the war from all angles. After British Churchill went to the United States to perform a de facto surrender ceremony, the situation of US participation in the war became even more unchangeable.

Li Runshi was not worried about the war situation in the South Pacific. His view was the same as Xu Chengfeng's: it was too difficult for the United States to support the war relying on sea transport. Australia and New Zealand were rich in resources, but the combined population of the two places was only 9 million. Even if fully utilized, they could not become frontline support points for the European and American coalition forces.

Of course, Li Runshi's main job was not to serve as a military commander or chief of staff, but to incorporate Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the South Pacific region into the Asian Economic Community. Li Runshi's gaze fell on India.

In the past month, China had not made much progress in India. In addition to not controlling the Strait of Malacca and being unable to supply via sea, Li Runshi believed that liberating India was a war of 30% military and 70% politics. The military was important, but it was only a means used to eliminate the British army in the final stage. Before the British army was eliminated, British rule in India should have ended!

At this time, the Asian region was already in the night, but no matter how long the night was, the sun would always rise. At the moment when the sun began to shine on the Asian region, alarms sounded at the US bases in the Philippines. The US Philippines Command received news from radar monitoring stations throughout the Philippines that a large number of Chinese fighters had launched attacks on the Philippines from the north, west, and south.

The US Air Force took off immediately to meet the enemy. Following the Singapore campaign, the Chinese and American air forces broke out in battle again.

MacArthur in the headquarters did not consider the war situation. He knew very well what a war of attrition looked like, so he focused his attention on a bold plan. That was to launch a bombing raid on the Chinese air base in Borneo during the gap in the Chinese Air Force's attack.

If they could successfully bomb the Chinese air base in Borneo, it would cause great containment to China. This was much better than being beaten passively.