What was the scene like in Washington in 1943?
Soldiers!
Soldiers everywhere!
After the outbreak of the war, while the U.S. military force expanded rapidly, the command structure in Washington also expanded rapidly. In order to accommodate the rapidly expanding military command structure, they built a building in Arlington County, Virginia, southwest of Washington. Because the building is pentagonal, it is named "Pentagon".
This world's largest single administrative building has only been put into use for a few months. All facilities are not complete, and even the cafeteria cannot satisfy everyone's meals... Of course, the generals can't eat here. They will eat at the National Hotel not far from the Pentagon.
However, it is not only the generals who eat in this hotel, but also the senior executives of various companies. To a certain extent, they are arms brokers. They meet with the generals here, or sell weapons, or seek orders. Under the demand for tens of billions of dollars in military orders, both large and small companies have made a lot of money.
And here, there are not only Americans, but also British, Soviets, and French. They will all appear here to communicate with American generals, seek assistance, and seek them to adjust their combat plans so that the actions of the US military will benefit themselves. Of course, there are also Chinese, although very few.
"Hello, General."
When Li Yian walked in front of Thomas Holcomb, the commander of the Marine Corps, Vice Admiral, who was enjoying steak, said directly without even raising his head.
"The generals in charge of the India-Burma theater are in the front left, and the generals in charge of lend-lease materials are surrounded by the British and Soviets. I can't provide you with any help here."
What is a third-class person?
Just look at the treatment of the Marine Corps commander. When other generals were surrounded and tested, this vice admiral was sitting here alone, and there was no one to greet him.
Now he is a "third-class person" Ma Run. When the Air Force becomes independent from the Army, he will be downgraded to a "fourth-class person".
Saying with emotion about the status of "Ma Run", George said.
"No, General, I'm here to help you."
It's interesting. Thomas Holcomb, who originally thought that the other party was a newcomer and didn't know the ins and outs, raised his head with a little interest.
"This is my business card."
"ktj..."
After taking the business card and looking at it, Thomas Holcomb asked.
"Is it to kill the Japanese devils?"
"Yes, General, it is to kill the Japanese devils."
Thomas Holcomb laughed immediately.
"Haha, this is the best company name I have ever seen, sit down."
It must be said that the first one who hates the Japanese devils the most in the United States is the Navy, that is because of Pearl Harbor, and the Marine Corps is tied for first place, because they really have to fight the Japanese devils with guns, cannons, and even bayonets.
And this company name immediately won the favor of Thomas Holcomb.
"Thank you, General."
With the invitation of the general, George sat down. Don't take the lieutenant general as a general, there are also attendants sitting next to him.
"Tell me, how are you going to help me?"
Thomas Holcomb said, flipping through the business card in his hand.
"Chemical company, chemical weapons? You should know that the production of chemical weapons in the United States is operated by DuPont. They are more advanced in technology and have a full range of products."
As a soldier, Thomas Holcomb naturally thought of chemical weapons when he saw the word "chemistry", so he revealed the inside story of the US military supply - there are specially designated suppliers.
"General, what I can provide is not weapons in the traditional sense!"
While speaking, George put the briefcase on the table and took out a few photos first. These were the battlefield photos of Guadalcanal Island that he bought from the New York Times. It must be said that American reporters are still very hardworking. They went directly to the battlefield for the first interview and took pictures.
"General, this is a photo of Guadalcanal Island, please take a look."
General Holcomb was not unfamiliar with Guadalcanal Island. He took the photo and looked at it, and said.
"Is there anything special about this?"
It was just an ordinary battlefield photo, with muddy Marines fighting. "General, look above the Marines' heads, look around them..."
George pointed at the photo and said.
"What?"
Looking at the photo in his hand, General Holcomb asked in confusion.
"It's just trees. It's tropical, and there are trees everywhere."
"Yes, General, there are trees everywhere! There are tropical rainforests everywhere, from Guadalcanal to Borneo, and then to Malaya to Burma. There are tropical rainforests everywhere. The Japanese devils deployed millions of troops in these areas. Maybe their firepower was not strong, but the tropical rainforests provided them with the best cover. They hid in the rainforest and bombarded the Marines with mortars. They hid in the treetops and sniped the Marines with rifles..."
George deliberately emphasized the word "Marine". Everyone will protect their own children, and Americans are no exception.
"General, although I am an outsider in military affairs, in my opinion, the biggest enemy faced by the Marines on the battlefield is not the Japanese devils, but the tropical rainforest! The Japanese devils hiding in the tropical rainforest!"
"Your judgment is correct."
General Holcomb nodded in agreement,
"Our biggest enemy in the Pacific is the local natural environment, the tropical rainforest. In the rainforest, our Marines can't even see the Japanese devils thirty yards ahead, and those Japanese devils are hiding in the depths of the dense forest. You can't see them, and when you see them, bullets and shells will hit you."
"So, General, the help I provide is..."
Push a document in front of General Holcomb.
"Help the US Marines eliminate their biggest enemy - the tropical rainforest!"
After opening the document, what caught General Holcomb's eyes was a photo of trees, with bare tree trunks standing there, and it was obvious at a glance that they were several dead trees.
"What is this?"
General Holcomb asked puzzledly.
"General, this is the weapon I provide you - a new type of chemical. With it, we can destroy the tropical rain forest."
George gave a direct answer.
"If we spray a large amount of this chemical from the plane, it will cause a large area of leaf fall in the forest on the mountain, the grass and trees will die, and the vegetation will be difficult to recover in a few years. Eventually, the Japanese devils hiding in the rain forest will lose their natural protective barrier, leaving them completely exposed to the firepower of the US military."