The two sides naturally talked about Japan, and Ribbentrop carefully asked President Wu Aihua about his views on Japan.
"The relationship between China and Japan has been explained in the last Armistice Agreement. Since Mr. Ribbentrop mentioned this issue, I might as well reiterate it again: the remaining issues between China and Japan can be left until the time is ripe.
It will be resolved later. At present, Japan should correct its attitude and should not be brooding about Japan's failure in the Sino-Japanese War. We have a saying in China that victory or defeat is a matter of military affairs! Both China and Japan should look forward! This
The world is big and the future is also bright!" Wu Aihua said "foolishly".
"The Japanese side hopes to obtain Chinese technology and military equipment!" Ribbentrop said. It turns out that here, Bintrop not only stepped on the plate and talked about the situation for Hitler, but also served as a "lobbyist" for Japan.
"I'm afraid this is inappropriate. After all, Japan still has troops stationed on Chinese territory. However, we can relax export restrictions on Japan in terms of resources and non-military materials. We can export everything to Japan, including steel. It depends on Japan's ability
Can you afford the price?" Wu Aihua thought for a while and said.
"Thank you, Mr. President. However, when I came to China this time, the Japanese Ambassador to Germany made a special visit to me, hoping to obtain Chinese military technology and equipment." Ribbentrop insisted.
Damn it, is there still forced buying and selling? Wu Aihua had to think carefully.
As his thoughts unfolded, Wu Aihua had to re-study Japan, and some of his previous ideas also emerged.
Japan is not strong enough! This is Wu Aihua's judgment of Japan. If you want to win the final victory in World War II, Japan must be armed so that it has the ability to truly "harm" the United States! This is Wu Aihua's choice.
Maybe Wu Aihua is "playing with fire", but Wu Aihua is willing to play with this "fire"!
This set of figures may illustrate the weakness of Japan and China. In 1937, Japan's steel production was about 5.8 million tons, while the United States' steel production was five times that of Japan. In history, in 1937, China's steel production was only 40,000 tons.
But in parallel time and space, it reached 450,000 tons; in 1938, according to the information from the "Fengqi Bureau", Japan's steel output was about 6.5 million tons, while China's steel output was 750,000 tons (Fujian and Guangdong provinces had 700,000 tons)
ton).
In terms of other products, although Japan is overall higher than China, it is even more lagging behind the United States. Under such circumstances, how can Japan compete with the United States?
According to the "Development Plan" of the Government Administration Council and the National Defense Force, China's economy will be greatly improved in the next three years. Although the overall national strength cannot be said to be the same as or exceed Japan's (China's population is five times that of Japan's, consumption will naturally be higher
(more), but the absolute number is not low.
Steel was 750,000 tons in 1938, will reach 1.5 million tons in 1939, will reach 4 million tons in 1940, and will reach a record high of 9 million tons after Maanshan Iron and Steel Company is put into full production in 1941. This number may be the same as Japan's
Steel production is very close.
Coal production nationwide was only 6 million tons in 1938, 10 million tons in 1939, 20 million tons in 1940, and 40 million tons in 1941.
In 1938, it produced 13,000 tons of oil. After the Yumen Oilfield was put into operation in 1940, it could produce 200,000 tons per year, while Japan's oil output was 1.8 million tons. However, starting from October 1936, Wu Aihua implemented "oil import"
"Strategy", the monthly import of oil was as high as 80,000 tons, and the reserve amounted to 50,000 tons. By the end of 1938, 1.2 million tons of crude oil had been reserved. In 1939, it was planned to import 2 million tons of oil and reserve 1.2 million tons. As long as
Once the oil reserve plan in the "Three-Year Plan" is completed, China will have about 5 million tons of crude oil reserves. Although this number may not be enough to fight World War II, there will be no problem in supporting it for one or two years.
In terms of GDP, the next three years will mainly be driven by "investment" in infrastructure. The amount of investment in 1939 was 6 billion Chinese yuan, and this figure will increase to 12 billion yuan and 20 billion yuan in 1940 and 1941.
Taking into account the development of other industries brought about by infrastructure construction, by the end of 1941, the total GDP may exceed 6 billion US dollars. This number is basically the same as Japan in 1937.
As for tanks, ships, artillery and other military products, Wu Aihua is not worried at all. As long as they have merit points, they can be "exchanged" in large quantities. Besides, the actual production capacity will also be greatly improved in the three-year plan.
Now, in the two provinces of Fujian and Guangdong alone, the "meritorious value" of people's livelihood is 100,000 points per month; after Wu Aihua was elected as the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the meritorious value of people's livelihood jumped to 200,000 points per month, and with the changes in the policy agenda
After implementation, its merit points are still rising sharply, and it is estimated that it can reach more than 500,000 points per month. With so many merit points, you have to find a place to "spend" them.
From 1941 to 1945, Japan produced a total of 17 aircraft carriers, 2 battleships, 9 cruisers, 63 destroyers, and 147 submarines. During the same period, the United States produced 131 aircraft carriers (including escort carriers) and 10 battleships.
, 48 ships, 355 destroyers, 498 frigates, and 203 submarines.
This set of figures shows that the Japanese navy is not a rival to the United States at all. So, if China supports Japan behind the scenes, what will happen?
Not to mention, Wu Aihua is really planning to sell a 1945-level aircraft carrier to Japan at a critical moment. In the "merit system", an aircraft carrier in 1945 only needs 8 merit points per ton, like the first heavy-duty ship built by Japan.
The aircraft carrier "Chicheng", with a full load displacement of only 42,000 tons, only requires 240,000 merit points in the system (6 points per ton, the system determines that the technical level of the "Chicheng" is grade 1930).
If battleships and heavy cruisers are added to the mix, and eight or ten ships are exported to Japan at a critical moment, I wonder if the Americans can withstand the artillery fire of these battleships?
"I wonder what Japan's strategic choice is?" After a long silence, Wu Aihua suddenly asked a question that seemed to have nothing to do with military technology and equipment.
"In November 1936, Germany and Japan concluded the International Anti-GC Agreement. In September last year, Italy joined this agreement. I think the strategic goal of this agreement is very clear!" Ribbentrop said in order to win trust.
Wu Aihua had no choice but to break the news.
"Oh, I am also a gcd. Germany and Japan are going to jointly target me?" Wu Aihua asked in "surprise".
"Haha, Mr. President, you are not the kind of gcd we want to oppose. We have analyzed your ideas and beliefs and found that you are actually the most typical and successful nationalist in the East in the past few hundred years. And at this point
"Sir, you and our head of state have amazing consistency! So, how can we oppose you?" Ribbentrop explained with a smile.
"Thank you for your understanding, otherwise I would really not be able to sleep!" Wu Aihua said with relief.
"So, Mr. President, can you consider the proposal I just made?" Ribbentrop returned to his old words.
It turns out that acting as a lobbyist for Japan was indeed one of the tasks Hitler gave Ribbentrop. Hitler's basic plan was that China was the best ally, but China's Wu Aihua seemed unwilling to form an alliance with Germany. This was Hitler's
There is no choice. Since China is unwilling to ally with Germany, then it is inevitable to ally with Japan in the East. Otherwise, no matter how crazy Hitler is, he knows that Germany and Italy alone cannot deal with Britain, France, and the United States.
.
The key to firming up Japan's Axis strategy is to seek China's understanding and support. Because China's military strength is no longer weaker than Japan's, although China's navy is still relatively weak and will not attack Japan's mainland, it is, after all, a potential
Threat, coupled with China's large population and huge war potential, Japan has to spend a lot of energy to defend against Chinese attacks.
If China and Japan can reach an understanding and support Japan with military technology and equipment, Japan will strengthen its confidence in being tied to Germany. If China can let go of supporting Japan and Germany, the two countries will have a better chance of winning in future wars.
It will be bigger.
"Perhaps, equipment can be considered, but not technology. However, what kind of equipment does Japan need? Their military equipment is very good." After a while, Wu Aihua pretended to be very reluctant and said to Ribbentero.
Fu said.
"Japan needs Chinese tanks, aircraft and large-caliber artillery!" Ribbentrop said.
"This is a sharp weapon for our country. What if Japan purchases this equipment and uses it to attack China?" Wu Aihua was still a little worried.
"How is that possible? Besides, with a president presiding over China's affairs, would he be afraid of Japan?" Ribbentrop seemed to have figured out Wu Aihua's mentality. This is an extremely confident and young president who is almost unbelievable!
"Haha, this has nothing to do with whether you are afraid or not. Mr. Foreign Minister, you must give me a definite guarantee before China can carry out relevant negotiations with Japan." How could Wu Aihua easily agree to something that is not beneficial? If he agrees too quickly,
Well, this little Japanese may still be suspicious.
"What kind of guarantee does Mr. President need?" Ribbentrop asked rhetorically. As long as Wu Aihua relents, the rest will be all kinds of conditions, and as long as they are conditions, they are negotiable.
"If Japan is willing to return the Qingdao and Shanghai concessions to China, I think we can talk about military equipment." Wu Aihua put forward a condition.
"Qingdao and Shanghai Concession?" Ribbentrop did not expect that Wu Aihua's conditions were so simple. It seems that he is really a nationalist.
"Yes, the Qingdao and Shanghai concessions. Only in this way can I explain something to the people." Wu Aihua said without doubt. Although Wu Aihua can also raise the issue of Northeast China, it is the "lifeblood" of Japan. How can it be negotiated?
Take it back. Only war is the fundamental way to solve the Northeast problem.