The Rise Of A Billionaire 1943-Chapter 155 - 167: Go Home, Master of Borneo

When the butterfly’s wings were flapping on the European continent, Pierre, the instigator, had already flown back to New York and immediately headed to Washington—he didn’t even go home first.

The reason for such urgency was Truman’s urgent telegram.

It wasn’t because he had been promoted.

Roosevelt was still alive and well.

As Vice President, Truman would have to wait a while longer for any promotion. The real reason was a sentence in Truman’s telegram—"Are you ready to go home?"

Go home!

What did "home" refer to in Truman’s telegram?

Isn’t it obvious? Of course, it was Borneo!

He could finally return to Borneo—how could he not be excited?

He had been waiting for this day for so long!

The President of the United States lives in the White House. For convenience in communication and state affairs, the Vice President, though not residing in the White House, has his office there as well—just a few rooms away from the President’s Oval Office.

Once again at the White House, Truman personally greeted him with a smile in the center of his office.

"Ah, Pierre, we finally meet again. Please, come in."

God could testify—he truly missed this guy, because every conversation with him brought some new insight and inspiration.

"It’s been a while, Mr. Vice President,"

Pierre said with a smile. As the staff closed the door behind him, he said,

"Harry..."

"Have a seat first..."

Before Pierre could continue, Truman gestured for him to sit on the sofa. This sofa... 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

It feels very comfortable—once you sit down, you just sink into the deerskin cushion. Truman walked over to the wall, opened two doors, and revealed a liquor cabinet.

"Care for a drink, Pierre? I think this occasion calls for some champagne, don’t you agree?"

"All right, Harry, let’s have some champagne then!"

It was clear that Truman was in high spirits.

But why?

Was it because of him?

Or because of him?

Whatever the reason, one thing was certain: Truman was a politician through and through. In the eyes of people like him, interests always come first.

But then, that’s just the way the world works.

Soon, Truman brought over the champagne glasses. After handing one to Pierre, they toasted each other and sipped the champagne, chatting like old friends reuniting after a long time. Pierre was still waiting for the real conversation to begin, and Truman noticed this, glancing over at him.

"In fact, all this time, I’ve been thinking about how to get you home!"

At last, Truman spoke:

"I’ve been looking for the right opportunity to send you home, but you know, the White House almost never gets involved in specific military deployments. So, getting this done has been really difficult. It’s not like a ship, where you just make a phone call. This involves the Pentagon and all sorts of other departments."

I have to admit, Truman is a very reliable man. Last time, before leaving New York, I congratulated him on becoming Vice President over the phone and casually mentioned the Liberty ship issue. Soon after, the War Production Board notified the company that the transfer could proceed.

European freedom can wait, but Mr. Pierre’s business must be handled first!

It’s always easier when you have friends in high places!

"Thank you, Harry."

"It’s my duty, Pierre," Truman replied with a smile.

"But in the end, you solved the problem yourself."

"I solved it myself?" Pierre asked, puzzled.

"Yes, you did—Bastogne!" Truman said in surprise. "I really didn’t expect you to be such an outstanding military commander. You and your men managed to hold out against the German offensive for so long. You should know, I was following the situation there closely, worried about your safety. But in the end, you won—and you won beautifully. That’s why the whole world took notice of your victory."

Although he didn’t quite see the connection to Bastogne, Pierre replied politely, "Harry, you know I was just luckier than most."

"Right, right, Pierre, you really are a lucky guy," Truman said with a laugh. "So, someone noticed you and your unit, and that’s given you an opportunity!"

Me and my unit!

Pierre raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he understood something. The room was warm, the chair was comfortable, and chatting with an old friend was pleasant. Smiling, Pierre was already weighing the price of going home in his mind.

"So, it seems that if I want to go home, there’s a price to pay."

"You’re absolutely right, my friend," Truman said seriously. "You know, I’ve told you before: only those who are players at the table are qualified to enjoy the rewards. Of course, as a participant, you have to pay a certain price. The world has always been fair in this way. But in any case, it’s worth it."

When he said the word "worth," Truman gestured emphatically.

"Now you have a chance to be a part of it," Truman continued. "This opportunity is one you created for yourself. I’m just telling you about it. Whether you seize it is up to you. And I can tell you, even if you refuse, I’ll still do everything I can to help you get home in the future!"

How much truth was there in Truman’s promise?

Pierre didn’t know, but he did know that Truman had invited him here to tell him that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Harry, go ahead—what’s the opportunity?"

"Australia!" Truman looked at Pierre and said, "Now, we’ve gained a comprehensive advantage in the Pacific. MacArthur has already landed on Luzon, and it’s only a matter of time before the Japanese in the Philippines are defeated. To completely crush the Japanese in Southeast Asia, MacArthur has drawn up an operational plan—one aimed at retaking the Dutch East Indies, southern Philippines, and northern British Borneo, wiping out the Japanese forces there, and finally using Borneo’s coastal strongholds as a springboard into Indochina and the Malay Peninsula."

What does that have to do with me?

Pierre couldn’t help but wonder.

"But since the main US forces will be committed to Japan, this plan will have to be carried out by the Imperial Army of Australia. As you know, in this war, Australia has been our most important ally in the Pacific, always cooperating with US forces, from the New Guinea islands to Guadalcanal. But you know what? The Australians aren’t very interested in this plan. They joined the war to follow Britain—they have absolutely no interest in helping the Dutch!"

Typical Australia—always Britain’s most loyal lapdog!

"So, after Mike proposed this operation plan, he immediately faced opposition from the Imperial Army’s high command as well as the Australian political circles. They believed that carrying out this plan was meaningless and a waste of soldiers’ lives. What mattered most now was attacking the Japanese home islands—once the Japanese were defeated at home, Southeast Asia would collapse without a fight."

The Australians weren’t wrong!

"But Mike didn’t see it that way. Of course, the President also believed that we should liberate Southeast Asia and eliminate the Japanese there. However, that’s not the most important thing. What’s important is..."

Truman’s lips curled into a smile.

"What’s important is, your opportunity has arrived. Because of your Borneo Garrison’s outstanding performance at Bastogne, the Australians have set their sights on you. Some generals in the Imperial Army’s General Staff believe that since it’s about liberating Borneo, the Borneo troops should take the lead, not the Imperial Army. So, they made this suggestion to Mike."

"I see!"

"That’s exactly it!"

Truman repeated Pierre’s words with a smile. Still smiling, he stood up and walked to the window, looking outside as he spoke.

"Pierre, this is your chance. Seize it, and you can go home! Truly go home—not by relying on others, but by your own strength!"

Turning back, Truman fixed his gaze on Pierre.

"This way, after the war, no matter what changes occur, no matter if there’s a push for colonial independence, you’ll have every reason to stand on that land—because you are its liberator, not its colonizer!"

"That title does come at a price,"

Pierre said from the sofa, his cup now empty.

"But... as you said, it’s worth it. Sometimes, a just cause really does matter!"