Chapter 1589 The Fallen Stars and Stripes (Second update, please subscribe)

The demise of the United States of America began with a series of signing ceremonies. Following the example of Rhode Island, state legislatures one after another expressed their intention to withdraw from the war, remain neutral, or choose to remain neutral.

Of course, the Empire welcomed this, and the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs even issued an official statement saying that the Empire supports the people of the North American states in choosing a political system that suits them for their own future. The Empire has no intention of making an enemy of the people of the states, or even occupying the land of the states. The Empire's attack on North America was entirely because some politicians in Washington made the Empire their enemy in order to seek personal political prestige, so the Empire launched a preventive attack.

In a word, the Ming Empire means only one thing: as long as the American states remain independent, the empire will not demand huge compensation from them. In any event, the first leader is important, but many people ignore the importance of the second one. Only after the second one stands up will others follow suit.

Surprisingly, the second state to stand up was not the eastern states, but Montana. This western state, half of which had been occupied, faced a precarious situation and directly declared neutrality. It also stated that it would embark on an independence agenda and stopped providing supplies to the federal troops fighting on the front line.

During this process, the federal army did not react at all. It was not that they did not react, but... the imperial army could launch an attack at any time, and they had no chance to react at all. What's more, the soldiers from various states were fed up with this war, and they were from the East and were not willing to die for the West.

With the second one, there was the third, and then Iowa, and in a series of signatures, the United States was divided!

The United States was divided one hundred and twenty years after its founding. The people of each state were upright and no one was willing to bear the cost of paying dozens of dollars in compensation.

"To hell with those politicians in Washington!"

At the same time, many soldiers left the army, and the officers were unable to stop it. In fact, many officers, like the soldiers, left the army and embarked on their journey home. Overnight, the United States, the world's second largest industrial power, collapsed. Except for a few states that remained loyal to Washington, most states either became independent, neutral, or withdrew from the war alone around the New Year.

Just as the United States was collapsing, the battle in the San Francisco Bay Area was also coming to an end.

"We surrender!"

Like many soldiers from the independent states, Baker from Minnesota chose to surrender.

The one who surrendered with him was Rudy. Although he was from Kentucky and still loyal to Washington, he still chose to surrender because everyone could see the future.

There is no America in the future.

"You know what? In the future I envision, everything here will belong to the Ming Empire, and we... may be occupied by them. This is probably the best way now..."

Baker said to Rudy as he lowered his weapon.

"At least our homeland has not been occupied by the Empire."

While speaking, Baker looked at the imperial soldiers around him. They looked very excited and seemed to be cheering for their victory.

Now, it's time for them to celebrate their victory.

"And we're still alive."

Rudy looked into the distance and heard faint sounds of gunfire over there.

"I really don't understand why MacArthur hasn't ordered a surrender yet. The United States no longer exists. How many young people does he want to die for a country that no longer exists?"

"General, more than 2,000 people surrendered today. Now many soldiers no longer obey orders, especially the state guards. General..."

In the underground bunker of the coastal fortress, listening to his subordinates' reports, MacArthur just nodded, and then picked up the letter written by Peng Guoliang again.

The letter was a letter of persuasion, saying that although he and his men had proved their bravery and tenacity, the fall of San Francisco was inevitable. In order to prevent unnecessary sacrifices, he was urged to surrender, and he and his soldiers would be protected by international public law and treated decently.

Looking at the contents of the letter, MacArthur sighed.

"We thought we had done our best to defend our country, and we believed that the United States would win. But who could have imagined that while we were fighting on the front lines, those politicians would sell out our country."

MacArthur's tone was full of helplessness. As a soldier, he found it difficult to understand the choices made by those politicians.

"General, no American is willing to bear a debt of dozens of dollars. Moreover, there is news that after the failure of the navy, Washington is also seeking peace talks with the empire. The cession of territory and compensation are inevitable. Under such circumstances, the people of each state are more inclined to guarantee their own interests through independence..."

In response to his subordinates' explanation, MacArthur just nodded slightly. He certainly knew the reason.

"Our ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence in Independence Hall in Philadelphia and founded the United States. President Washington led the Continental Army to defeat the British. It took us 120 years to build a great country. In the Civil War, we used the blood of millions of people to try to save this country. But what about now?"

MacArthur looked extremely distressed.

"Now, all of this no longer exists, and the United States... has become history. Tell me, decades later, when the states become independent, how will our descendants describe this period of history? Their ancestors chose to split for their own benefit?"

Finally he sighed again, stood up and said.

"Contact the Imperial Army. I hope to meet with General Peng. I think..."

Looking out the door, MacArthur said.

“Perhaps this war has been lost, but at least we can try to protect those children and allow them to return home safely.”

A few hours later, in a church that was almost in ruins, MacArthur met General Peng Guoliang. After a brief exchange of politeness, he put forward his request.

"General, I hope that with your permission, all the soldiers who lay down their weapons can return to their hometowns. I mean, after surrendering, they will be allowed to return to their hometowns instead of entering a prisoner-of-war camp."

In response to MacArthur's request, Peng Guoliang spoke directly.

"General, please rest assured that they will definitely return to their hometowns. We have reached agreements with many states. The captured soldiers of each independent state will communicate through the Red Cross of both sides and then return to their hometowns together."

Of course, Peng Guoliang would not agree to MacArthur's request, because prisoners of war were bargaining chips of the empire and even of politicians in various states. They needed to exchange prisoners of war to gain political achievements. Of course, the empire also needed to use prisoners to force the states to agree to sign the "Declaration of Independence", which meant forever giving up the right to merge with other independent states.

For lasting peace in North America!

"General, they have the right to return to their hometown after the war is over."

MacArthur still wanted to fight for it.

"Yes, General. After the war, they should return to their hometowns. But they should return to their hometowns safely. Okay, General, I promise you that everyone will be treated fairly. The prisoner-of-war camp..."

Peng Guoliang said.

"Believe me, our prisoner-of-war camps are definitely much better than your concentration camps!"

The "concentration camp" he referred to was the Ming-American detention camp in Nevada, where more than 100,000 Ming-American expatriates and their families were detained.

Faced with Peng Guoliang's insistence, MacArthur had no choice. An hour later, in this almost ruined church, MacArthur surrendered his saber and ordered the US troops in California to surrender to the imperial army.

On that day, in San Francisco, the American flag was lowered. When the flag was lowered, MacArthur said with some sadness.

"We have lost the West forever, and we will never get it back..."

(End of this chapter)