**Chapter 869: Cute Stalin (6)**

While the officers and men operating the weapons on the battlefield focused on the immediate victory or defeat, those at He Rui's level had to bear responsibility for the policies themselves. He Rui understood the pressure on Zheng Silang and Zhong Yifu and thus did not press them for results.

However, He Rui did not simply sit back and wait for others to bear the burden. On January 2nd, in Jiangning (Nanjing), he met with Kim Gu, President of the Korean Socialist Republic, who was visiting China.

As soon as he saw He Rui, Kim Gu practically beat his chest as he declared, "Chairman, every officer and man in the Korean military is willing to shed their hot blood for the world revolution!"

Not wanting Kim Gu to continue with such bloodthirsty talk, He Rui smiled. "The relationship between China and Korea has a long history. China fully understands Korea's desire to build a beautiful homeland and believes Korea has completely realized that a fair and just international order is the foundation for all nations to develop."

Hearing He Rui's words, Kim Gu felt encouraged and immediately began introducing Korea's developmental achievements over the past decade. The Korean economy had seen sustained growth, with massive state investment in infrastructure and a surge in the educated population.

"Chairman, Korea has reversed its past errors; Chinese language education has been restored exceptionally well. Now, Korea is capable of seamless connection with the Chinese heritage!" Kim Gu said with visible emotion.

This was no joke. The predecessor of the Korean language was a mix of Baekje, Silla, and ancient Goryeo tongues, influenced by the Buyeo language. Modern Korean was "Standard Korean," based on the dialect of the capital, Hanseong (now Seoul).

Hangul, the Korean script, had been created by King Sejong the Great in 1446 and gradually gained influence. After the Japanese annexation of Korea, it suffered significant setbacks. Following the consensus reached between China and Japan on East Asian borders, Korea had gained full independence by 1930.

By 1930, China had already finished its war with Japan in the Northeast, the 1927 Sino-British peace agreement had been signed, and the 1928 Sino-French economic cooperation agreement was proceeding smoothly.

China had once again become the dominant power in East Asia. At least within this region, the Western powers like Britain and France had to respect China fully. Without Chinese permission and cooperation, they had no opportunity for action in East Asia.

The truly independent and restored Korea, having reflected deeply, had once again chosen a policy of following China comprehensively. And the best way to follow China was to express the highest cultural respect. Thus, Korea had exerted all its strength to reinforce Chinese language education.

Economically, the revival of the Chinese language also brought immense practical benefits. Learning Chinese allowed for the direct reading of Chinese literature and data, making the introduction of Chinese technology and equipment simple and easy.

He Rui was not misled by Kim Gu's passionate and sincere attitude. Historically, everything Korea did was not for China, but for Korean interests. Now, it was the same.

However, even while pursuing Korean interests, there were differences in the caliber of Korean leaders. While Kim Gu himself might lack certain levels of vision, the Korean elite who regularly came to China for study and training performed reasonably well. They realized that Korea *must* have its own industries.

And having industry was not enough. Given Korea's national strength, even if they built industries at the cost of everything else, they would easily be crushed by foreign competition. To sustain industrial development, Korea had to integrate its industry into China's system. At least, Korea had to become a part of China's industrial planning. As long as China permitted Korea to handle certain industries, those Korean sectors could develop.

To win such an opportunity, the Korean leadership believed they had to demonstrate a "shared fate" with China in the world war. Thus, Kim Gu's purpose on this trip was not to request aid, but to assure He Rui that Korea would use its performance on the battlefield to prove its willingness to sacrifice many lives for the cause of China's global economic leadership!

Through his exchange with Kim Gu, He Rui understood the Korean attitude. He finally said, "President Kim, I believe the people of the world will surely remember Korea's contribution."

Hearing that He Rui finally accepted Korea's offer of sacrifice, Kim Gu was overjoyed, even to the point of being moved to tears. "China paid a massive price for Korea's liberation, which the Korean people hold deep in their hearts. This is the third time since the Imjin War of the Ming Dynasty that China has made such a massive sacrifice.

Chairman, now it is finally Korea's turn to sacrifice for China, and for the world liberation led by China. Rest assured, the Korean military is prepared; even if they die in battle, the officers and men will surely descend to the underworld with a smile!"

On the very day the meeting ended, Kim Gu sent a telegram to the Korean forces in Australia. In it, he encouraged the troops to fight bravely and disregard their own lives, to make the white colonizers realize the end of colonialism had arrived!

The commander of the Korean forces in Australia, Yoon Jeong-shin, issued instructions to all units. After listening to the messages from the President and the Commander, Park Bu-seong, commander of the 1096th Division, drew his dagger before his entire division and cut his finger. An adjutant immediately produced a bottle containing freshly drawn rabbit blood.

In Australia, rabbits truly were everywhere. Korean units often used hunting rabbits as part of their daily training, which provided both marksmanship practice and a meat supply.

The blood of General Park, mixed with the rabbit blood, allowed a hundred-word blood letter requesting battle to be written in a single go. Every character was a deep, rich red, with no shortage of "ink."

With Park leading the way, every Korean division felt this was an excellent method. One blood letter after another was delivered to the South Pacific Theater Command. Seeing this, Zhong Yifu and Zheng Silang looked at each other with bitter smiles.

The intelligence analysis was now complete. Since Chinese submarine units posed an extreme threat to shipping between Australia and New Zealand, it could be assumed that material transport between the two was essentially zero.

Of the supplies the US sent, 60% had gone to New Zealand to strengthen the defenses of that island. Thus, while the combined British and American forces in Australia were numerous, their logistics were near the point of exhaustion.

Zheng Silang knew there was no longer any reason to refuse launching the final campaign. He said to Zhong Yifu, "Based on the situation before us, let's simply order the units to attack."

Zhong knew Zheng didn't want to use massive quantities of fuel-air explosives (FAE) to "wash" the entire front. Once those bombs were used, the Allied forces on the front would have no possibility other than total annihilation.

All humans possess compassion. Even career soldiers cannot be without it.

Or rather, precisely because they were professionals, soldiers who had crossed between life and death understood the necessity of compassion all the more. If a soldier only understood killing, he would be no different from a beast. The Chinese National Defense Force differed from other armies in Chinese history because it was a people's army, possessing the high moral standard of Chinese culture.

Zhong Yifu replied, "I agree with your view. This time, we won't conduct a full-scale fire destruction. Once we've suppressed the enemy artillery, we'll begin the infantry assault."

The staff office of a modern military was not a place for idle work. Every day, the staff officers formulated various operational plans to meet needs under different combat conditions.

With the two commanders' decision, the headquarters immediately identified an operational plan that met their requirements from the staff's archives. After adjustments based on the current situation, the plan was issued to all units.

Despite the distance, the Allied forces opposite them sensed a subtle difference in the massive troop realignments. Although they didn't know exactly what the Chinese were doing, they felt a grave threat.

Word immediately reached the headquarters in Melbourne. While the British officers there were tense, they felt a strange sense of relief as well. After six months of devastation, their mindset no longer contained any consideration of victory. Compared to sustained torment, a final end was not necessarily a bad outcome.

With this attitude, the British officers attending the military meeting were in high spirits, some even displaying twisted, joyful smiles.

General MacArthur, the Allied commander, looked at the British officers with displeasure but did not voice it. He had long since realized victory was impossible and had understood over the past months that China intended to exhaust Anglo-American long-range deployment capabilities, which was why they hadn't launched a strategic offensive.

Not long ago, MacArthur had received a telegram from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It stated that a large number of new US Navy vessels had formally entered service, and the Navy was preparing a massive transport operation.

Thus, MacArthur strongly doubted whether China truly intended to end the South Pacific war completely. If pressure continued on Australia and New Zealand, the Roosevelt administration would be forced to send troops as a gesture. If they truly abandoned the American GIs in the South Pacific, the administration would likely fall.

Since neither the British nor American officers took defeat seriously, the meeting's atmosphere was actually decent. MacArthur's demands for a rigid defense were met with outward, total support from all sides.

The meeting seemed destined to end with everyone going through the motions before returning to their own duties. Just before it concluded, a communications officer delivered a telegram from Washington, ordering MacArthur to proceed immediately to New Zealand to command the defense there.

Before the fall of the Philippines the previous year, the Roosevelt administration had ordered MacArthur to leave the islands for Australia to continue the fight. This order was much the same. Ultimately, Washington did not want an officer of his rank to be captured or killed in action. To avoid the loss of face, they had made this decision.

MacArthur had long considered this possibility. His pride made him reluctant to evacuate. Retreating to New Zealand wouldn't change the island's inevitable fall. Eventually, he would have to retreat from New Zealand to South America, and from there back to the US mainland. Given Chinese control of the sea lanes, only the South Pacific Command staff would be able to return home.

And returning home would bring MacArthur no benefit. After suffering such horrific losses, he as commander would have to bear the responsibility. Even if he avoided a court-martial, his reputation would be ruined.

So MacArthur's eyebrows rose, and he shouted, "I cannot understand what Washington is trying to do!"

Hardly had he spoken when Major General Robert of the British forces replied calmly, "General MacArthur, I believe Washington's order is very sensible. You will surely be able to play a greater role by commanding the war from New Zealand."

With Robert leading the way, the other British officers followed suit, praising Washington's view as correct.

MacArthur looked at the British officers, seeing sincerity in their eyes—which he found farcical. The British idea was simple: as long as MacArthur fled to New Zealand first, the British could proactively surrender. As long as MacArthur remained in Melbourne, the US forces could continue fighting without being hindered by the British. In that case, a British surrender would likely be seen as a fake one.

"Hmph!" MacArthur snorted, rose, and left the meeting room without another word.