Regarding the so-called plan proposed by Hopkins, which was more like an ultimatum than a negotiation, Yang Zhen, who knew that he could only accept it no matter what, thought for a moment and said: "Mr. Hopkins
, we don’t have too many opinions on U.S. financial assistance.”
"However, considering the huge pressure we are currently under on the economy, I hope that you can increase part of the amount of financial assistance. At least in terms of military investment, it will allow us to breathe a little more and not be overwhelmed.
The huge military expenditures completely crushed it."
"With an excellent person like Pearson, as the head of the US Army Observation Mission in the Anti-Japanese War, I think you should have a general understanding of our overall situation. You should be very clear about the taxes that we can now use as a source of funds. Almost
It’s like nothing.”
"As the scale of the war expands, the demand for funds will only increase. The hundreds of thousands of troops eating, drinking, sleeping, sleeping every day is an astronomical figure. Now we are already in Yin, and if the scale of the army continues
It is difficult for us to withstand the pressure of expansion. But the reality of war forces us to continue to expand our military strength."
"So I hope that the United States can double the financial assistance on this basis. While we can get a breather, we can expand enough troops to contain more Japanese troops. We must know that we can expand more
With one division, the United States will face one less division of Japanese troops on the battlefield in the near future."
"As for the quantity of supplies, what I want to know is the numbers provided by Mr. Hopkins. Is the U.S. government preparing to provide us with supplies at this standard every year in the next few years, or is it just from now to the end of the year?
The amount of this period of time. Mr. Hopkins, this is a very critical issue."
"If these are just the amount of supplies we can get from now to the end of the year, then we have no opinion for the time being. Although we also urgently need tanks and aircraft to cooperate with us in combat and reduce our casualties. But the United States also has difficulties.
, we won’t be too pushy.”
"However, I hope that the United States can add another 300 large tractors, corresponding combine harvesters and other corresponding agricultural equipment to the list of aid supplies. In this way, we can save part of the agricultural population and supplement it for combat operations.
Go among the troops."
"At present, the total population of our actual control area is less than 10 million. If we want to ensure enough supplementary soldiers and a certain number of reserve soldiers, then we must reduce the number of people involved in agricultural production. Especially right now
They are young adults who bear the main force in agricultural production and are also the main source of soldiers."
"Agricultural production in most of our areas still relies on traditional manual production methods. Large-scale recruitment among the agricultural population will inevitably reduce agricultural output. In this way, we need more than just materials and equipment.
We also need to increase a large amount of food and other supplies necessary for the survival of the army. In order to solve the conflict between eating and replenishing soldiers, we hope that the United States can assist us with a batch of machinery and equipment for agricultural production."
"There is also the amount of fuel. We hope to at least double this amount. So that in addition to ensuring the operational needs, we can ensure that we have reserves that can last for at least two to three months.
to prepare for any eventualities that may arise.
"Mr. Hopkins, now the shipping route from the United States to the Soviet Union through the Pacific is quite safe. But once the war breaks out between the United States and Japan, the powerful Japanese navy will inevitably block the route from the United States to the Soviet Union and sink it.
All vessels flying the U.S. flag."
"Once this transportation line is paralyzed, we will not be able to get enough fuel supply when needed. Then our already small number of heavy equipment will not be able to be put into the battlefield. Once this situation occurs, we will simply not be able to
Maintaining existing combat capabilities, especially the crucial logistical supply capabilities, will also be greatly weakened."
"As for the Arctic and Iranian routes that pass through other Soviet territories, I'm sorry Mr. Hopkins, these two routes don't matter to the Soviet Union, but they are too long for us. Once there are any accidents during transportation,
We will still be in a situation of running out of fuel at any time."
"Mr. Hopkins, I have to remind you. No matter what the Soviet Union guarantees on the issue of communication lines, you should not forget that it is during a war. And during a war, strange things will happen.
In order for us to have a certain reserve to cope with unexpected accidents that may occur at any time, and to avoid being unable to put the most important equipment into combat at critical moments, I hope that the amount of fuel provided by the United States will at least be doubled."
"Also, I hope that the United States can provide us with another twenty air defense radars and some observation and aiming devices for anti-aircraft guns before the end of the year. In particular, high-power searchlights and long-range radio communication equipment are our most urgent needs at the moment.
of."
For the series of questions and requests raised by Yang Zhen, Hopkins smiled and did not answer him directly. Instead, he took out a document from his assistant and handed it to Yang Zhen: "This was jointly studied by the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union.
, make a distribution plan for your supplies and equipment within next year and the year after that."
Mr. Hopkins's statement was a conscious attempt to avoid Yang Zhen's request for more aid. It is obvious that Mr. Hopkins did not intend to increase the amount of aid supplies or financial aid this year.
On the other hand, he would not conduct any negotiations with the Anti-Japanese Alliance. He directly turned the topic to next year and the distribution of supplies and equipment in the future.
Taking the plan that had been translated into Chinese from Hopkins, Yang Zhen read it carefully and handed it to Li Yanping beside him and said: "Mr. Hopkins, from the perspective of this plan,
Starting next year, we can only get an allocation of 300 fighter jets, 100 light bombers, 300 tanks, and 70 combat defense guns every six months."
"As for artillery and anti-aircraft weapons of various calibers, there are simply none. And this quantity will not be provided until March next year at the earliest, depending on the situation. This means that basically the equipment we can get next year will only be 400.
aircraft and 300 tanks, and nothing else. You still can’t finalize this little equipment.”
"Isn't it a bit unreasonable for the United States to do this? You must know that when all aspects involved in the war are added together, our military-industrial capabilities are the weakest. Except for light weapons, we basically do not have any tanks, aircraft and
In terms of artillery manufacturing capabilities, why are we given the smallest share of equipment?"
"Although I don't know what the numbers assigned to the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union are, I think they must be far more than us in terms of numbers. I don't want to know if other parties have intervened in this list. But the U.S. government does this
, isn’t it a little too unfair to us?”
"In terms of material distribution, except for materials that cannot be directly used in combat such as cotton, cloth and leather, which are still relatively sufficient. In terms of other military materials, we only have 6,000 tons of smokeless gunpowder and 10,000 tons of explosives every year
Share. There is no armor steel and aluminum required for manufacturing aircraft, only 32,000 tons of gun steel and 50,000 tons of ammunition steel per year."
"The quantity of various types of fuel we urgently need is only 50,000 tons per year. Cars are more generous, and there are only 10,000 per year. But the corresponding other materials are blank. Especially when we urgently need
In terms of machinery and equipment, except for some small arms production lines, you simply gave us nothing."
"With all due respect, Mr. Hopkins, based on the total number of supplies you have given us, even if they are all safely delivered on time and in full, and are not missing any parts during transportation, it is still almost unsatisfactory."
Half of the supplies we need.”
"This battle only lasted for more than two months, and the large amount of supplies we had stored before the war was almost exhausted. During the entire battle, the fuel consumption used by cars, tanks, and aircraft reached more than 20,000 tons
.Not only have all the 3,000 tons of gasoline we imported from you been used up, but all the gasoline we had previously reserved has also been used up."
"As for the consumption of ammunition, not counting anti-aircraft shells and small-caliber artillery, millions of rounds of mortar shells and mountain artillery shells alone were consumed. As for the consumption of light weapons ammunition and other materials, it has not been calculated. It does not count.
The quantity produced during the war and the original reserves before the war were basically all used up."
"Mr. Hopkins, since you already know what happened last night, you should also know why we took the initiative to terminate this battle despite the victory, instead of chasing down the enemy with more strength.
And this battle is just a medium-sized battle."
"If the United States hopes that we can assume more responsibilities and share more pressure, then making small fuss will never have the effect you hope. And your stinginess and stinginess in terms of supplies and equipment are necessary
We made amends with the blood of our soldiers."
"And the small amount of supplies you allocate to us is still an amount under the situation that there is not much heavy equipment in the first place, and it is very likely that it will not be enough. Mr. Hopkins, are you, the United States, kidding us?
Do you want to play? You have difficulties with heavy equipment and cannot provide it for the time being, but we are not at all unable to accept it."
"You have to let us at least maintain our current combat capabilities and attack capabilities in other aspects. If you don't give it, we should produce it ourselves. But our industrial base is there. Even if
All construction is completed, but it is simply unable to meet the needs of the troops for combat. In terms of military raw materials, we have a greater demand for your supplies."
"But the small amount of supplies you gave me, to put it bluntly, is not aid to an ally. You are sending beggars away. I'm sorry, although I don't want to describe it this way. But you gave me such a small amount of supplies.
Things that are not enough to fit between my teeth force me to think like this."
"The Japanese army is not dregs of tofu, let alone sand that can fall over at a push. They are an army that has been trained strictly and even quite cruelly. Facing such an army, especially the Kanto Army as their most elite strategic group
We can only win every battle by investing more energy and strength in fighting them."
"Moreover, Japan's mobilizable population and the country's overall war potential are far beyond ours. Unfortunately, Mr. Hopkins, let alone the military-industrial base. Even with our current population, even
We are willing to pay with blood to compensate, but we cannot afford it."