149: When you fail, you can reflect on 10,000 reasons

The Anti-War Army and U.S. Military's prisoner redemption agreement was signed quickly, but its implementation was quite slow.

After all, Fang Le had proposed redemption supplies 30 times the amount of the previous agreement.

To fulfill all terms, the United States needed to purchase supplies from relevant countries, allocate reserves from domestic military stockpiles, and even place temporary production orders.

And after preparing the supplies, they also had to plan how to transport them, whether by sea or air.

Thus, by the time the first batch of redemption supplies arrived in Australia, it was already a week later.

The delivery location was still the field airport in Alice Springs.

Batch after batch of transport vehicles arrived continuously.

Amusingly, when the origin information of some redemption supplies was found, many were labeled: "MADE IN CHINA."

This could be considered Fang Le's contribution to Dragon Country's foreign trade economy.

Soon, the first batch of prisoners returned home.

These prisoners were not from the Anti-War Army base, but rather the ten thousand U.S. Military stragglers previously trapped in Alice Springs; after the Anti-War Army received supplies corresponding to these ten thousand people, they no longer hindered their departure.

This group of ten thousand also included Four-Star Admiral Aris.

To reverse unfavorable public opinion, the United States did not treat these ten thousand people as prisoners or deserters, but rather glorified them as individuals who held out until the last moment in battle and never surrendered.

President Joe Rossi, who had just left his sickbed, personally led high-ranking military and political officials to welcome them at the dock.

Therefore, Aris benefited from misfortune; not only was he not punished for becoming a straggler, but he also received commendation.

Subsequently, whenever a certain amount of redemption supplies was delivered, the Anti-War Army would release a new batch of prisoners.

U.S. media naturally did not miss these true former prisoners, rushing to interview them, asking about their time as captives, and even leadingly questioning whether the Anti-War Army had abused them.

However, the answers provided by the prisoners generally did not satisfy them.

Because the prisoners said that, apart from not being able to leave a certain area, their daily activities were completely free, they had tents to live in, and could even build their own houses.

They also never went hungry, and their daily meals were no worse than what they had in the military.

Furthermore, well-behaved prisoners, after applying, could make roaming calls with their families far away in the United States, and could also video chat with family through the network provided by the Anti-War Army.

The prisoners could also collectively watch one or two movies daily and play poker.

Not only that, if they were injured or fell ill, the Anti-War Army would provide medical assistance.

In short, the prisoners neither suffered nor were abused.

Many interviewing media, such as CBB and NNC, came with specific agendas.

Since the answers they received were not to their liking, they resorted to fabricating information.

For example, they claimed that the Anti-War Army confined the prisoners, denying them basic personal freedom; that the food provided to the prisoners was monotonous, insufficient, and lacked comprehensive nutrition; that the Anti-War Army secretly disposed of seriously ill or heavily injured prisoners; and that the Anti-War Army brainwashed the prisoners daily, forcing them to watch red movies.

In short, they resorted to the utmost slander.

However, many netizens had long seen through this trick.

Through bits and pieces of true and false information, they concluded: The Anti-War Army treated prisoners quite humanely.

In short, as batches of prisoners were released,

It wasn't until a month after the war ended that all 120,000 (or 130,000) U.S. Military prisoners were fully released back to the United States.

And as soon as all U.S. Military prisoners returned, the U.S. Department of Defense convened a high-level meeting.

"Everyone, tell me, what should we do next?"

Secretary Savitz began the questioning.

Immediately, a general said, "Of course, we should launch a nuclear strike on the Anti-War Army's territory!"

Previously, some had mentioned carrying out a nuclear strike against the Anti-War Army, launching Minuteman Three intercontinental missiles.

But at that time, the Anti-War Army had prisoners as human shields, so the United States could not do it; now, presumably, this concern was gone.

However, Savitz deliberately coughed awkwardly.

"Well, that can only be a last resort."

To be honest, Savitz truly dared not easily launch a nuclear strike, and the White Palace might not agree either.

The U.S. Military's defeat this time was indeed very severe.

Out of 150,000 troops, 130,000 were directly or indirectly taken prisoner.

But adding those who successfully escaped during the war and the survivors sheltered by the Australian government, the total number of U.S. Military officers and soldiers who died was only a few thousand.

Now, the prisoners and deserters have returned, and the Anti-War Army didn't make things difficult for you, didn't abuse the prisoners, and fully demonstrated humanitarian spirit. If you launch a Mushroom Bomb immediately after redeeming the prisoners, it's truly indefensible.

Claire: "I think we should first thoroughly analyze the reasons for this major defeat before deciding how to proceed."

Indeed, the attendees all got into character and participated in the discussion.

"According to General Douglas's testimony at the military court, our People's Army's carelessness was a critically significant reason."

"But carelessness is only one aspect; the main reason is that the Anti-War Army's strength is too unpredictable."

"Originally, we only thought the Anti-War Army had just arrived in the MacDonnell Ranges, at most seeking some natural caves for shelter, or temporarily digging some rock shelters, and definitely lacked the ability to construct large-scale underground military facilities. However, they unexpectedly showcased hundreds or thousands of missile silos, creating super-large-scale air strike effects. The existence of these missile silos is a complete mystery."

"You're right, but there are other reasons. I've reviewed the overall war report for this battle and found a significant problem."

"After launching a large-scale missile counterattack, the Anti-War Army dispatched many warplanes and quickly seized air superiority."

"According to our estimates, the Anti-War Army's air force consisted of at least three formations, with hundreds of warplanes, and a considerable portion of them were Fifth-generation aircraft like the F Two Two and F Three Five."

"The Anti-War Army did indeed seize a certain number of these Fifth-generation aircraft from us before, but there shouldn't have been hundreds of them."

"Moreover, our two carrier strike groups deployed outside the battlefield, in the waters surrounding Australia, the USS Reagan and USS Nimitz, both suffered heavy losses from what appeared to be a concentrated attack by the Anti-War Army's bomber formations, and had to withdraw from the battlefield for repairs at their homeport, unable to re-enter combat for a year and a half."

"According to technical analysis, those bombers that attacked the aircraft carriers were stealth heavy bombers. How did the Anti-War Army acquire stealth heavy bombers?"

"Although our initial speculation was that they belonged to the H-20 Bomber, which Dragon Country had recently successfully test-flown, subsequent investigations found no evidence of Dragon Country's direct involvement in this war."

"The source of the Anti-War Army's Fifth-generation aircraft and mysterious bombers must also be thoroughly investigated..."

At this point, the discussion was largely concluded.

Savitz announced the adjournment.

But after the meeting, Savitz and Claire held a private discussion, mentioning something that had not been brought up in the meeting.

Afterward, the two decided to go to the relevant department responsible for the bio-soldier project to inquire about any research progress.

In short, until new available means are found, the United States dares not easily contend with the Anti-War Army again.