Chapter 161, The Falling Stars and Stripes
The gunshots around the White House gradually became sparse, but deafening cheers rang out.
In the Oval Office, President MacArthur sat behind his desk, poured himself a glass of champagne, and waited quietly.
He knew very well that it was all over. But despite this, he decided to sit here and wait until the last moment.
Although he has always been arrogant and arrogant, MacArthur still knows very well that no matter what, the United States has turned into this hell in his own hands. There must be countless people outside who hate him so much that they can't help but want to skin and bones... …There will be a coup, that’s a given.
In fact, if it weren't for the frequent nuclear explosions that destroyed domestic transportation and made it difficult for crowds to gather, such a coup might have already happened.
To be honest, since the United States has been in dire straits, he has been drunk and passive almost day after day, and the federal government is also on the verge of paralysis. Until now, MacArthur has not yet figured out who is launching this. A coup... But all this doesn't matter anymore.
Anyway, if nothing unexpected happens, the mastermind opposite should appear in front of him soon.
President MacArthur just waited and listened quietly. He heard the final exchange of fire between the White House Secret Service agents, heard the rebels' loud pleas to surrender, heard a certain coward's cry and begging for mercy, and also heard the footsteps of the enemy getting closer and closer...< br>
Then, with a loud "bang", the door of the Oval Office was slammed open from the outside. Then, two young men holding Thompson submachine guns broke through the door first. They first looked around keenly to confirm whether there were any enemies hiding in the room, and then they pointed their guns at the desk. President MacArthur in the background.
Seeing this, MacArthur shrugged helplessly, but still raised his hands indifferently, indicating that he had no weapons in his hands.
Next, with his hands raised, he saw the face of the mastermind behind the scenes, and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly:
"...We meet again, Ike. I never expected that you were the mastermind behind this rebellion..."
At the same time, General Eisenhower did not immediately pay attention to the president behind the desk. Instead, with a look of nostalgia, he looked around at the Oval Office that he had not seen for a long time. In general, although the shelling by the insurrectionists just now destroyed many corridors and rooms in the White House, it did not cause obvious damage to the Oval Office. All the elegant furnishings are as before, except for the walls. There were a few extra kerosene lamps hanging, and two more on the desk and coffee table—it seemed that they had to be used for lighting after the capital grid and the White House backup power supply collapsed.
Looking back at President MacArthur behind the desk: an exquisite top hat, a dark black tuxedo, a black satin tie with a beaded pin, and a medal with a ribbon on his chest. At first glance, it seems that he is about to Going to a grand dinner... In contrast, after looking at his camouflage uniform covered with dust and stains, Eisenhower almost had the illusion that the other party was actually the winner.
The most outstanding senior at West Point Military Academy who comes from a wealthy family... At this time, are you still unwilling to abandon your grace and dignity?
For a moment, General Eisenhower felt increasingly uncertain whether he could persuade President MacArthur to accept his fate.
However, things have reached this point, and even if you are no longer sure, you can only bite the bullet.
"...Senior MacArthur, give up. You have failed, and so has this country."
General Eisenhower sighed, and finally spoke dryly, trying hard to persuade the arrogant guy opposite, "...Our country is already riddled with holes, and it's time to admit defeat. The consequences of not admitting defeat will only be worse. It's miserable, and it may even destroy everything we know. So, please fulfill your duties and surrender unconditionally to the enemy! Don't act unreasonably like a naughty child!"
"...Hmph -" President MacArthur let out a dull cold snort, supporting his chin with one hand, showing no signs of surprise, "...Ike, I know, I know that you have already won, and my people have collapsed. Now, Washington and the White House are yours, you can kill me at any time..."
He described it nonchalantly, and then suddenly changed the subject, "...but why do you think that I will beg for mercy like a pug? Don't threaten me with death! I would rather live like a lion for one day, Don’t live a hundred years like a sheep!”
MacArthur's voice became higher and higher with each sentence, and in the end it was simply a roar, but Eisenhower was completely unmoved.
"...Would rather live like a lion for one day than live like a sheep for a hundred years? I remember this sentence seems to have been said by Mussolini, right?"
General Eisenhower raised his eyebrows, "...Mussolini was very good at speaking beautiful words. No one can deny this. Of course, like other orators in history, he was just a verbal giant. When Italy fell, At that time, he did not shed the last drop of blood in the trenches with his black-shirted troops, but fled like a coward with his mistress, but unfortunately he failed to escape in the end..."
"...So you think that like him, I will eventually kneel at your feet?" MacArthur sneered, "...Then you are wrong!"
"...If you want to prove that you are different from Mussolini, please take responsibility!"
General Eisenhower insisted, "...go and beg Stalin for mercy, then sign an unconditional surrender treaty and end this war!"
"...No! Never! I will only live and die with my country! I would rather die than accept the shame of being a loser!"
MacArthur shouted angrily, "...This kind of noble sentiment is not something someone from the lower class like you can understand!"
"...Indeed, I am not a noble or a gentleman, I am just a kid from a bankrupt shopkeeper's family. I have no interest in understanding the arrogance of your upper class society! But I at least understand that as a man, you should be responsible. You have to clean up the trouble you caused yourself!”
General Eisenhower finally darkened his face, "...No matter what, this war came to a complete failure during your presidency, so it is necessary for you to sign an unconditional surrender treaty to end this nightmare! Even if it happens Bear the ridicule of the whole world, even if you will be remembered in history books for thousands of years, even if you have to be tried as a war criminal... But you have to do it because this is your responsibility!"
Eisenhower's sharp rebuke, which was like a slap in the face, finally made President MacArthur feel a little ashamed. He really had no way to defend himself against the above accusation. However, he also had no intention of wavering or repenting, "...Okay! You are right, but I'm sorry, I can't do what you said! So, please kill me, and then How about you sign this damn unconditional surrender agreement?”
"...It would be great if it could be done! We've already reached this point, do you still think I won't dare to kill you? Senior MacArthur?"
Eisenhower smiled bitterly and said, "...According to previous contacts, the Soviets have specified that you, the legal president, must sign the unconditional surrender treaty! Otherwise, they will not recognize the United States' negotiating qualifications! Their attitude towards negotiations is very cold, and perhaps they are eager to do so." Just blow up the entire United States!”
"...So that's the case...But I'm very surprised. Even if this is the case, why are you so enthusiastic about this matter that you even hesitate to launch a mutiny?"
President MacArthur asked, "...You know, even if you do such a thing, you may not be able to escape the trial of a war criminal in the future..."
"...I have never had any hope in the Soviet people's forgiveness, Senior MacArthur, this is the absolute truth!"
General Eisenhower bent down and stared at President MacArthur with extremely clear eyes, "...as long as this land can be saved, I will be happy to stand on the judgment seat with you, face life behind bars with you, and even be with you. Hang on the gallows! All for America!”
"...It's such a touching spirit of sacrifice...It's a pity that I also have something in my heart that I absolutely cannot shake or give up."
After a moment of silence and hesitation, President MacArthur finally shook his head firmly and once again refused to cooperate.
On the other side, General Eisenhower continued to stare at President MacArthur blankly. After a while, he sighed quietly.
"...It's such a pity. Originally, I didn't intend to use this to threaten you, Senior MacArthur. But now, there is really no other way... Union of South Africa, Simon's Town, Southern Peninsula District, Cape Town... "Eisenhower bent down to MacArthur's ear and whispered a seemingly ordinary place name, but President MacArthur's pupils suddenly tightened.
"...You guy...hateful? How did you know that place? What do you want to do to my Jane and little Arthur?"
He stared at Eisenhower and roared angrily, but his voice was no longer as calm as before, but had a slight tremor.
"...Relax, please relax a little, Mr. President, your wife and children are doing well in South Africa, at least they are safe now... Of course, if you have been unwilling to cooperate, I will stay with my subordinates in South Africa. It’s hard to say whether he will do something disgraceful..."
Eisenhower sneered, "...As for how I knew that address...Don't you know what I was doing when I crossed the sea to South Africa? And I still have some connections in South Africa...So, you have one last A chance to choose, Mr. President..."
For a moment, President MacArthur stared at Eisenhower fiercely, his face flushed with anger, the veins on his forehead stretched out, his teeth clicked, and his whole body seemed to explode in the next moment... However, in After a fierce psychological battle, in the end, he felt like a deflated rubber ball, his whole body deflated, and he squeezed out an answer from between his teeth in a self-defeating manner:
"...Okay! You win! Dwight David Eisenhower! I will listen to you in everything from now on! You damn devil!"
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After once again breaking through his own moral limits and using the most despicable means to force President MacArthur to surrender, General Eisenhower was relieved, but walked out of the White House with a blank expression. His heart was filled with all kinds of chaotic thoughts, but there was no sign of a winner. joy.
There was silence around the White House at this time. Except for a few guards, most of the insurrectionists were guided to several strategic material reserve warehouses in the capital city, where they moved out the food, fuel and alcohol stored in them, and prepared for a banquet. Drink to celebrate. Some people, whether they were drunk or overly excited, fired guns randomly into the air on the streets. One of the stray bullets accidentally hit the flagpole on the roof above the foyer of the White House, causing the Stars and Stripes tied to it to fall down along with the broken flagpole. Looking at...the Stars and Stripes Banner was full of craters and scorch marks. It fell silently on the dusty ground. General Eisenhower felt that his heart seemed to tighten inexplicably, and he was speechless for a moment.
At the same time, from the White House behind, President MacArthur's hoarse singing voice happened to be heard:
ah! When the morning light first appears, can you see what makes us so proud?
Cheering in the last light of dawn, whose flag always flies high in the fierce battle!
The fire was blazing, the cannons were roaring, and we saw the heroic flag on the fortress still standing after the darkness!
ah! Do you think the Stars and Stripes will remain still, fluttering in the land of the free, and flying in the home of the brave?
……
For a moment, General Eisenhower felt intense emotions boiling in his chest, including shame, humiliation, helplessness, despair, anger and other inexplicable things, but he had no idea what to do. Evacuate and pacify.
Looking back on those days, when the founding fathers of the United States of America and the past presidents who occupied the White House raised the Stars and Stripes, they were probably filled with confidence in "Manifest Destiny" and believed that this great country would be able to succeed in the future. Become the "city on the hill" that dominates the world, and prosper forever... However, the fact is that there is no eternal feast in the world, and everything will eventually come to an end.
However, although the United States has come to an end, the American nation will not die in this way. In the near future, there may be more suffering and catastrophes, but in the end there will be a new America, like a phoenix flying out of the flames and ashes, born in this land that has withstood the most severe test. Go up... Thinking of this, General Eisenhower finally calmed down again and murmured calmly: "... Let our generation bear all the guilt and shame! As long as the children can have a bright future, Hope!”