The Tyrant Billionaire

As time passed and due to the U.S. embargo on Hong Kong, many companies were struggling to survive. The only exception was Hardy Group, which had special privileges exempting it from the embargo. As a result, Hardy Group’s trade business grew explosively during this period. Nearly all raw materials for other companies had to go through Hardy Group, allowing it to earn profits from markups and indirectly control many industries.

This demonstrated that monopolies were incredibly lucrative. In just a few months, Hardy’s trading company in Hong Kong had earned a profit of tens of millions of dollars.

Beyond that, Hardy also instructed Victor to fully leverage this resource monopoly to expand industrial investments, further strengthening future control over Hong Kong.

Time quickly passed, and Christmas arrived.

On Christmas Eve,The Universal Timespublished a headline:

"December 24th, Christmas Eve: The U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Hungnam Port. The month-long Battle of Chosin Reservoir concluded with heavy losses. According to preliminary statistics from the U.S. combat command, the U.S. military lost over 20,000 troops from two elite divisions and withdrew from all areas north of the 38th parallel. All of MacArthur’s earlier gains were wiped out."

MacArthur ordered the U.S. 1st Marine Division and the 7th Infantry Division to attack. On November 27th, they encountered the Chinese Army at Chosin Reservoir, where fierce fighting ensued. Despite being heavily outnumbered and operating in extreme winter conditions, U.S. forces managed to inflict severe losses on the Chinese Army. However, the overwhelming numbers and strategic positioning of the Chinese forces forced the U.S. troops to conduct a fighting withdrawal.

By November 28th, the U.S. frontlines began to consolidate, and a retreat was initiated to avoid encirclement. On November 30th, the 31st Regiment of the U.S. 7th Infantry Division suffered devastating losses while protecting the withdrawal. Despite the setbacks, the 1st Marine Division, though battered, remained a cohesive fighting force and successfully broke through Chinese lines to reach Hungnam Port.

From late November to December 24th, U.S. forces executed a carefully coordinated retreat while inflicting further casualties on pursuing Chinese troops. The Chinese Army, while demonstrating impressive resolve and adaptability, paid a heavy price for their advances, with estimates of their casualties ranging in the tens of thousands due to relentless combat, logistical strain, and exposure to extreme cold.

Eventually, under the escort of the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, the U.N. forces evacuated from Hungnam Port in one of the largest sealift operations of the Korean War. Over 100,000 troops, 17,500 vehicles, and 350,000 tons of equipment were evacuated, preserving significant combat capability for future operations.

The battle, while a tactical setback for U.N. forces, highlighted the effectiveness of the U.S. naval fleet dominance. It also underscored the strategic costs incurred by the Chinese Army to encircle the U.N. forces, who managed to retreat by sea without sustaining heavy damage. The Chinese victory at the Chosin Reservoir came at a tremendous human and material cost, severely straining their already limited resources.

The news stunned Americans. Their military, renowned for its strength, had, for the first time, been forced to retreat to preserve its forces—by China, a country that, just a few years earlier, was grappling with starvation and relying on U.S. humanitarian aid to keep its people alive.

The Japanese were equally shocked. They could not fathom how the U.S., with its unparalleled military power, could be forced to retreat in the face of the Chinese. The U.S. boasted the most advanced aircraft, artillery, and weaponry, backed by robust logistics, a formidable naval fleet, and the leadership of the legendary war hero MacArthur. How could they lose to the Chinese, a people the former Japanese Empire had once overrun with apparent ease?

The Battle of Chosin Reservoir sent shockwaves around the world.

Continue reading at NovelBin.Côm

Defeated in battle, MacArthur was furious and humiliated.

He proposed even larger military operations, even threatening to use atomic bombs. However, while MacArthur’s madness was evident, others remained rational. A limited regional war with China and North Korea was tolerable, but a full-scale World War III with the Soviets was beyond what the world could endure.

America was thriving economically and had no desire to upset the status quo. What if they lost? All previous gains would be for nothing. Wars without tangible benefits held no appeal.

Politicians weren’t fools.

Economists weren’t naïve.

The financial and political elites manipulating American affairs from behind the scenes were far from stupid. It was obvious to all that, while the communist system boasted a robust and strong militarization structure, it was economically unsustainable. The Soviets were destined to crumble on their own, making it pointless to engage them in war.

Thus, MacArthur’s ideas were dismissed, and no one paid him any attention.

After Christmas, Despite his defeat, MacArthur’s remained defiant and planned even larger campaigns, which required extensive logistical support.

The initial $2 billion budget was long spent, and Congress allocated an additional $3 billion.

The U.S. military placed even larger orders for supplies. The more they ordered, the more Japanese factories profited, operating at full capacity. Signs of economic recovery in Japan became increasingly apparent. @@novelbin@@

At this time, Henry sent Hardy a confidential message through secret channels.

The pharmaceutical company’s experiments in Africa were nearing completion and ready for public disclosure.

Hardy understood, the climax of this long game was approaching. After the climax, it would be time for the harvest. At that point, who could say what Japan would become?

The American Financial Times, a name that exuded grandeur, was in reality nothing more than a small publication. Just after the New Year of 1951, the newspaper published a report:

"American Hans Biopharmaceutical Company, previously rumored to have developed a groundbreaking drug for treating tuberculosis, is currently conducting Phase II trials in Africa. According to informed sources, the trials in Africa have been exceptionally successful, with a cure rate exceeding 90% and no significant side effects observed."

---