December 7, 1941!
Pearl Harbor, U.S. Naval Base, Hawaii.
Screaming Type 52 Zero fighters descended steadily through the clouds. The moment the bewildered crowds tilted their heads upward, they saw swarms of combat aircraft blotting out the sky as they went into steep dives.
"My God, what's happening?!"
Covering their mouths in disbelief, the people in the streets were still utterly dazed. Yet in the very next second, the Japanese planes swooping near the American fleet opened fire. As payloads of bombs plummeted, everyone finally realized the dreadful truth: war had arrived!
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Scorching plumes of fire rolled outward, blanketing the area in thick, choking smoke. Looking at the Japanese fighters relentlessly destroying everything in sight, people wore expressions of sheer despair. The Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor had never imagined the Japanese would launch a surprise attack, nor could they believe anyone would dare lay a hand on the great United States!
Brooklyn, New York.
Silver Rock Group Headquarters.
Upon receiving word that Pearl Harbor had been attacked, a sinister smile instantly spread across Liu Ren's face. The gears of war had finally begun to turn!
Picking up the landline beside him, Liu Ren dialed immediately and barked into the receiver, "Notify every department in the munitions plant: four shifts around the clock, starting right now! War is here! We are going to set the entire Pacific ablaze!"
"Yes, sir!"
Hearing that war had come, the general manager of the munitions plant immediately hollered, "Call an all-department meeting! Starting now, no rest, no holidays! Get every last one of those lazy bums onto the assembly lines! War has come!"
*Ring! Ring! Ring!*
The urgent alarm sounded. Before the Black workers resting in the break rooms could even process the noise, overseers swinging heavy whips gave them a rude awakening. Hustled into the plant amid groans and complaints, the workers froze in place at the sight of newly delivered raw materials and armaments flooding the warehouses. What was going on? Weren't they supposed to work on two shifts? Why had so much new equipment been brought in?
Before they could ponder any further, the shift foreman strode forward and roared, "Get to your stations! Starting right now, you're working overtime! If I don't see five hundred brand-new Garands before this shift ends, I'll snap your necks!"
Hearing the foreman's threat, the workers promptly fell into line. There had been plenty who dared defy such grueling orders in the past, but they had soon learned that the Silver Rock Group never lacked expendable labor—and never treated them as human beings in the first place!
Placing one call after another, Liu Ren coordinated with various factions while marshaling his resources. After all, he had already struck an agreement with Nimitz: once the war broke out, he would enlist!
Hanging up the final call, Liu Ren inhaled deeply, an uncontrollable grin touching his lips. "Roosevelt must be just like the gentleman from back then—completely baffled as to how Pearl Harbor could be struck!"
In truth, the FBI had gathered intelligence concerning Pearl Harbor, but the problem was that Roosevelt simply had not believed it. At this stage, Japan relied heavily on American oil and steel, so how could they dare bite the hand that fed them? Yet against all odds, they had taken the gamble, delivering a ruthless preemptive blow right at Pearl Harbor. The strike not only caught Roosevelt off guard, but left Britain and France completely stunned. Was Japan out of its mind?
America had not yet formally entered the conflict, but it had been steadily backing Britain and France with staggering volumes of war matériel. For now, Germany was perhaps the most delighted, rejoicing that a portion of America's focus would be diverted. Little did they realize what horrifying manufacturing power America would unleash once its civilian industry converted to full-scale wartime production!
The very next day, Roosevelt delivered his address, branding the date a day of infamy. As the entire nation mobilized for total war, defense contracts descended like a blizzard.
Liu Ren seized the opportunity without hesitation. He had been laying the groundwork for this war for years. Mountains of Garand rifles were stacked in his warehouses, numbering no fewer than three million. As for heavy artillery and howitzers exceeding 155 millimeters, he possessed enough firepower to equip three entire field armies at a moment's notice.
If anyone asked why, after so many years of preparation, he had only this much military matériel on hand, the answer was simple: corporate embezzlers had illicitly resold the rest! As for who was responsible, Liu Ren claimed he had no idea, insisting an internal investigation was already underway. If missiles could sprout in the desert, what was so odd about Liu Ren misplacing a few weapons and vehicles? He could deliver such explanations to Roosevelt's face with unyielding conviction. In this day and age, what arms manufacturer didn't deal on the black market? They were saving the world, providing everyone with a sense of security!
In 1942, after extensive political maneuvering, Nimitz was appointed Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. To help secure that post, Liu Ren had spent many an afternoon playing golf with Roosevelt and his inner circle.
Under the bright sunlight washing over the manicured green, Roosevelt sat in his wheelchair with a furrowed brow, turning his head in slight perplexity. "Liu, why do you want to join the fighting? It doesn't seem like your style."
Liu Ren smiled. "Military technology needs upgrading, and our weaponry needs enhancement. If I don't witness their destructive power on the battlefield with my own eyes, how can the group continue to innovate?"
Roosevelt eyed him with suspicion, knowing full well he wasn't being entirely truthful. Still, now was hardly the time to press the issue. Silver Rock Group had not only rallied behind the war effort from the opening hour, but had even raised and equipped an independent brigade at its own expense to fight alongside the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific. If that wasn't patriotism, what was? Every newspaper in the country was singing praises of Silver Rock Group's devotion, urging citizens to enlist and repel foreign aggression.
"You and I both know that once this war begins, there is no turning back," Liu Ren said, meeting Roosevelt's gaze with unwavering resolve. He knew the President's doubts, so he framed his argument in terms of shared self-interest. "You cannot afford to fall, and neither can Silver Rock Group." A defeat would be catastrophic for Roosevelt's administration, which was precisely why Liu Ren was so determined to take the field.
Observing Liu Ren's far-sighted composure, Roosevelt could not help but sigh. "You always think of others first, just as you've always done."
"It's only what I ought to do!"
Liu Ren nodded at Roosevelt, though his thoughts were already miles ahead. He couldn't care less about lingering here with the President; he wanted nothing more than to rush out to the Pacific, have Nimitz assemble the fleet, and take the fight straight to the Japanese!
Brooklyn Harbor, New York.
To the cadence of disciplined footsteps, fully armed soldiers marched forward in steady formation. Standing by the roadside, Aline wore a look of profound worry. "Do you truly have to go?"
"For our country, I must."
Cupping Aline's cheek, Liu Ren spoke with eyes that shone brightly beneath the sun—the very hallmark of the people of the Far East, who, in the darkest of trials, turned their faces toward the light and pressed resolutely forward.
"Don't worry, Aline."
Embracing her in a final farewell, Liu Ren turned to look aside. "A Chao, I'm leaving the rest in your hands!"
A Chao gave a solemn nod. "Rest assured. You have me."
Patting A Chao on the shoulder, Liu Ren spun around and shouted, "Move out!"
Troops quickly boarded the transport ships, many young soldiers glancing back at the loved ones lining the shore. Raising his arm, Liu Ren waved toward Malèna, who was holding her child in the distance. Watching him with tightly pressed lips, her eyes were filled with quiet concern.
Chapter 58