Great time travel

Chapter 161: The Fallen Star-Spangled Banner

The gunshots around the White House gradually faded away, but deafening cheers followed.

Inside the Oval Office, President MacArthur sat behind his desk, poured himself a glass of champagne, and waited quietly.

He knew very well that everything was over.But even so, he decided to sit here and wait until the last moment.

Although he has always been arrogant and arrogant, MacArthur is still very clear that no matter what, the United States has become this purgatory in his own hands. There must be many people outside who hate him so much that they can't help but want to tear the skin apart... …There will be a coup, and that's a given.

In fact, if it weren't for the frequent nuclear explosions that destroyed domestic traffic and made it difficult for people to gather, such a coup might have already happened.

To be honest, since the United States fell into desperation, he has been intoxicated and slowed down almost day after day, and the federal government is also on the verge of paralysis. Until now, MacArthur has not figured out who is actually launching this A coup d'état...but all of that is out of the question.

Anyway, if there is no accident, the man behind the scenes on the opposite side should appear in front of him in a short time.

President MacArthur just waited quietly and listened.He heard the final exchange of fire between the agents of the White House Secret Service, the loud voices of the rebels persuading them to surrender, the cries and begging for mercy of a coward, and the approaching footsteps of the enemy...

Then, with a loud "bang", the door of the Oval Office was slammed open from the outside.Then, two young men holding Thomson submachine guns broke into the door first, looked around keenly to confirm whether there were any enemies hiding in the room, and then aimed their guns at the desk together President MacArthur behind.

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 man behind the scenes, and couldn't help but twitch his mouth slightly:
"...Meet you again, Ike, I didn't expect you to be behind this rebellion..."

At the same time, Admiral Eisenhower did not talk to the president behind the desk for the first time, but with a look of nostalgia, he looked around the Oval Office after a long absence.Generally speaking, although the shelling by the insurgents just now destroyed many corridors and rooms of the White House, it did not cause obvious damage to the Oval Office. A few extra kerosene lamps were hung, and there were two more on the desk and coffee table—it seemed that after the collapse of the capital grid and the backup power supply of the White House, they had to be used for lighting.

Looking back at President MacArthur behind the desk: an exquisite top hat, a deep black tuxedo, a black satin tie with a beaded brooch, and a medal with a ribbon on his chest. Going to a grand dinner... In contrast, looking at his camouflage uniform covered in dust and stains, Eisenhower almost had the illusion that the opponent was actually the winner.

The most outstanding senior of the West Point Military Academy who came from a wealthy family... At this time, is he still unwilling to abandon his demeanor and decency?

For a moment, General Eisenhower felt more and more uncertain about whether he could persuade President MacArthur to accept his fate.

However, things have come to this point, even if you are not sure, you can only bite the bullet.

"...Senior MacArthur, give up. You have failed, and so has this country."

Admiral Eisenhower sighed, and finally opened his mouth dryly, trying to persuade the arrogant guy opposite, "...Our country is riddled with holes, it's time to admit defeat. If you don't admit defeat, the consequences will only be worse. Miserable, and it may even wipe out everything we know. Therefore, please perform your duties and surrender unconditionally to the enemy! Stop making trouble like a brazen child!"

"...Hmph——" President MacArthur let out a dull cold snort, resting his chin on one hand, without the slightest look of surprise, "...Ike, I know, I know, you have already won, and my people have collapsed Now, Washington and the White House are yours now, and you can kill me at any time..."

He described it casually, and then suddenly changed the topic, "...But, why do you think that I will beg for mercy like a pug? Don't try to threaten me with death! I would rather live like a lion for a day, Don't live 100 years like a sheep!"

MacArthur's voice became higher and higher, and in the end it was a roar, but Eisenhower was completely unmoved by it.

"...I would rather live one day like a lion than 100 years like a sheep? I remember Mussolini saying that, right?"

Admiral 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 giant in words, when Italy perished At that time, he didn't shed the last drop of blood in the trenches with his black shirt army, but fled like a coward with his mistress, but unfortunately he still couldn't escape in the end..."

"...So you think that I will kneel at your feet in the end like him?" MacArthur sneered, "...then you are wrong!"

"...If you want to prove that you are different from Mussolini, please take responsibility!"

Admiral Eisenhower insisted, "...go beg Stalin for mercy, then sign the 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 exclaimed angrily, "...This kind of noble sentiment cannot be understood by people from the lower class like you!"

"...Indeed, I'm not a nobleman or gentleman, I'm just a child of a bankrupt shopkeeper's family. I'm not interested in knowing about your high-society airs! But at least I understand that as a man, you should be responsible. You have to clean up your own troubles!"

Admiral Eisenhower finally sank his face, "...In any case, this war has come to a complete failure under your presidency, so it is necessary for you to sign a treaty of unconditional surrender and end this nightmare! Even if it will To bear the ridicule of the whole world, even if you will be infamous in history books for thousands of years, even if you will be tried as a war criminal later... But you must do this! Because it is your responsibility!"

Eisenhower's sharp rebuke, which was like a blow to the head, finally made President MacArthur feel a little ashamed. He really couldn't refute the above-mentioned accusations.However, he also didn't have any 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 You go and sign this damn unconditional surrender agreement! How about it?"

"...It would be great if it could be done! You've come to this point, do you think I won't dare to kill you? Senior MacArthur?"

Eisenhower smiled wryly, "...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 Directly blow up the entire United States!"

"...So that's the case... But I'm very surprised, even if it's the case, why are you so enthusiastic about this matter, even launching a mutiny?"

President MacArthur asked, "...You know, even if you do such a thing, you may not be able to escape the war criminals' trial seat in the future..."

"...I never hoped for the forgiveness of the Soviets, Senior MacArthur, this is absolutely true!"

Admiral Eisenhower bent down and stared at President MacArthur with extremely clear eyes, "...as long as I can save this land, I am happy to stand on the trial seat with you, face the life behind bars with you, and even be with you Hanging on the gallows! All for America!"

"...It's really a touching spirit of sacrifice... It's a pity that I also have some things in my heart that I can't shake or give up."

After a moment of silence and hesitation, President MacArthur finally shook his head firmly and once again expressed his refusal to cooperate.

On the other side, Admiral Eisenhower continued to stare blankly at President MacArthur, and after a while, he sighed faintly.

"...It's a pity. Originally, I didn't intend to use this to threaten you, Senior MacArthur. But now, there is really no other way...Federation of South Africa, Simon Township, Cape Town's southern peninsula... Eisenhower bent down to MacArthur's ear, and whispered a seemingly innocuous place name, but President MacArthur's pupils suddenly tightened up.

"...You bastard...Damn it? How do you know about that place? What do you want to do to my Jane and little Arthur?"

He stared at Eisenhower firmly, growled angrily in a low voice, but his voice was no longer calm as before, but there was a slight tremor in his voice.

"...Relax, please relax, Mr. President, your wife and children are doing very well in South Africa, at least they are still safe now...Of course, if you have been unwilling to cooperate, my subordinates in South Africa It's hard to say whether you will do something unseemly..."

Eisenhower sneered, "... As for how I knew that address... Don't you know what I did for crossing the sea to South Africa? And I still have some contacts in South Africa... So, you still have the last One chance to choose, Mr. President..."

For a moment, President MacArthur stared fiercely at Eisenhower, his face flushed angrily, the veins on his forehead stretched out, his teeth were clenched, and his whole body seemed to explode in the next moment... But, in After a fierce psychological battle, in the end, like a deflated ball, his whole body collapsed, and he forced out an answer through his teeth in self-defeating:
"...Okay! You win! Dwight David Eisenhower! I will listen to you from now on! You bloody devil!"

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After once again breaking through his own moral lower limit and using the most despicable means to force President MacArthur to submit, Admiral Eisenhower was relieved, but walked out of the White House blankly, full of all kinds of chaotic thoughts in his heart, but there was no trace of the victor. joy.

At this time, there was silence around the White House. Except for a few guards, most of the insurgents were led to several strategic material storage warehouses in the capital city area, and moved out the food, fuel and drinks hoarded inside, preparing for a banquet. Drink to celebrate.Some people didn't know whether they were drunk or too excited, and they shot guns indiscriminately in the street.One of the stray bullets accidentally hit the flagpole on the roof above the White House foyer, causing the Stars and Stripes tied to it to fall down along with the broken flagpole. Look at this Stars and Stripes full of craters and scorched marks.It landed on the dusty ground soundlessly, and Admiral Eisenhower felt as if his heart tightened inexplicably, and he was speechless for a while.

At the same time, from behind the White House, President MacArthur's hoarse singing happened to be quite appropriate:
ah!At the dawn of the morning, can you see what makes us so proud?
Cheers in the last light of dawn, whose banner is always flying high in the fierce battle!

The fire rages, the cannon roars, and we see the valiant banner on the fort, still standing after dark!

ah!Do you think the Star-Spangled Banner will stand still and fly in the land of the free and the home of the brave?
……

For a moment, Admiral Eisenhower could only feel intense emotions boiling in his chest, including shame, shame, helplessness, despair, anger and other inexplicable things, but he didn't know what to do. Evacuate and recover.

Looking back, when the founding fathers of the United States of America and the past presidents in the White House raised the Star-Spangled Banner, they were filled with confidence in the "Manifest Destiny" and believed that this great country would surely be able to Become the "city on a hill" that dominates the world, and prosper forever... However, the fact is that there is no feast that never ends, 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 misery and catastrophe, but eventually a brand new America, like a phoenix flying out from the flames and ashes, will be born in this land that has withstood the most severe test On... Thinking of this, Admiral Eisenhower finally calmed down again, and muttered to himself calmly:

"...All the guilt and shame, let our generation bear it! As long as the children can have a hope in the future!"