When Yang Zhen walked into the conference room, Hopkins and Wavell, who were talking about something with the political commissar of the advancing army, stood up to welcome Yang Zhen. Especially Hopkins.
, calling Yang Zhen my little friend quite affectionately.
But the senior American and British officers behind them looked at Yang Zhen with changed eyes. The contemptuous look they had when they first came to Northern Manchuria was no longer visible at this moment, replaced by an awe-inspiring look.
.Especially that of Major General Stilwell, the expressions on his face were even more varied, ranging from embarrassment to admiration, and a hint of inexplicable feeling.
Regarding the expression on the face of the U.S. Army Major General, Yang Zhen just smiled and said nothing. It was obvious that in the past few days, this man and his arrogant British colleagues received a shocking education down below.
Knowing the true fighting power of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, their self-righteous arrogance can only be wiped out.
Yang Zhen listened to Chen Bo's report on the phone. Major General Stilwell talked with Hopkins and General Wavell for most of the night after the reception banquet last night. As for what they talked about, Yang
It's not difficult to guess. After watching for such a long time, if this Major General Stilwell can't come up with anything, then he is really hopeless.
After the two sides sat down, Hopkins said directly: "Yang, after a few days of consideration and discussions with General Wavell, we finally decided on the scale and quantity of aid from the United States and Britain to your army. Very soon.
Sorry, we simply cannot meet your requirements. But considering your current situation and your opinions, we have made significant adjustments to the original plan."
"The U.S. government and the government of the Kingdom of Great Britain have decided to provide you with 170 tanks every month starting from March next year, including 100 light tanks and 70 medium tanks. However, considering the current international situation,
As well as the responsibility you are about to assume, the Royal Government of Great Britain will provide two hundred or more tanks before the end of the year."
"As for aircraft, after consultation with the government of the Kingdom of Great Britain, we will provide you with 140 fighter jets and 100 light bombers every month starting from March next year. Before June next year, the Kingdom of Great Britain will take the lead.
Provide you with a fleet of long-range bombers."
"For the same reason, in addition to the fighter jets I promised you before, the Kingdom of Great Britain will provide you with 200 light bombers before March next year. The United States will provide you with them as soon as possible.
One hundred training aircraft. The United States will provide a batch of 75mm and 105mm howitzers and a batch of anti-tank guns before March next year."
"Starting from the beginning of next year, we will provide you with 1,000 military vehicles, 2,000 car tires, and 60 M-type half-track armored vehicles and armored reconnaissance vehicles each month. Before May next year, each of the United States and the United Kingdom will provide you with
We provide you with twenty air warning radars."
“Starting next year, the United States will provide you with 13,000 tons of various steel products, 1,300 tons of electrolytic copper and brass, 1,000 tons each of smokeless gunpowder and high explosives, and petroleum products each month.
Fifteen thousand tons per month. Before the end of the year, we will give priority to providing 10,000 tons of aviation fuel and 20,000 tons of gasoline and diesel."
"In addition, in terms of industrial equipment, the United States has decided to provide you with a complete set of equipment for a steel plant with an annual output of 500,000 tons of steel before May next year. And before December, it will send engineers to plan for you in advance, and
Start infrastructure construction and strive to put this steel plant into operation before the end of 2014."
"At the same time, we will provide you with three steelmaking converters and two electric furnaces every month starting from February next year, so that by the end of next year, the output of your existing steel plants can be significantly increased. Every
Forging presses worth US$600,000 per month, metal cutting machine tools and 500 special machine tools per month. In addition, we promise to provide all the agricultural machinery you need."
"For all the quantities of aircraft and tanks provided, we will gradually increase the supply taking into account the war situation. Please rest assured that as the industrial production capacity of the United States expands, the quantity of heavy equipment we provide can only increase and will not decrease. Yang, these
The equipment is already our best effort. At least for now, it is the maximum amount we can put out."
"As for the other items on your supply list, except for duralumin, I can promise to give you half of it first. I'm sorry, Yang, we won't provide aluminum for aircraft until your aircraft factory goes into production.
Because that is a waste of materials. After your aircraft factory is put into production, we will consider supplying the aluminum used in manufacturing aircraft."
"As for the technologies you need, we still need to negotiate with their companies. You know, we in the United States are a free economy, and we have no right to force their companies to transfer their technologies to you. Especially the trucks and several types of aircraft you need.
We need to go back and study the production technology of automobile engines with those big companies. However, I will work hard to promote this matter."
"If you agree to our plan, we can sign the agreement now. And we will urge all the supplies and equipment promised to you to arrive in the shortest possible time. At the same time, we will increase the number of weapons and equipment according to the needs of the war situation.
Certain adjustments will be made. Of course, the amount and plan of this adjustment will be negotiated by Colonel Pearson with you."
"As for the aid you proposed from the United States and Britain to the Soviet Union in terms of radio equipment, we will provide industrial raw materials and you will be responsible for manufacturing part of it. Considering your reality, we cannot accept it for the time being. Yang, I hope you can be more realistic. Your strength is limited.
, you cannot bear the huge demand from the Soviet Union."
"Yang, it is simply impossible for us to provide you with the hundreds of minesweepers, gunboats, escort boats, torpedo boats and other ships you requested. Because your surroundings are not close to any sea. And judging from the strength of the Japanese navy
, the ships we provide to you will not only serve no purpose, but will actually increase our burden."
Regarding the string of figures reported by Hopkins, Yang Zhen listened very patiently and carefully, and did not miss any detail. After Hopkins finished talking about the amount of supplies and equipment he planned to provide, Yang Zhen's heart
I breathed a big sigh of relief. Although I didn't reach the numbers I hoped for, it was not far behind.
Especially in terms of industrial production machinery and equipment, the quantity has basically reached what he expected. Especially the assistance of a complete set of equipment for a 500,000-ton steel plant can even be said to be an unexpected surprise for Yang Zhen. When this 500,000-ton steel plant is
After the construction of a steel plant with 1,000 tons of steel, plus the steel-making converters and electric furnaces provided by the Americans every month, by the end of the War of Resistance, it could basically meet its own needs.
As for the Americans' refusal to provide naval ships, Yang Zhen didn't care at all. Because those hundreds of ships were purely smoke bombs that he deliberately raised to confuse the Americans' attention. He didn't take it seriously at all, or
I never thought that this matter would actually be implemented.
If the Americans really promised to give them all to him, he has not yet relocated them. Do they really want to put all these ships in the Songhua River? Before the end of the war with Japan, Yang Zhen knew very well that he had not yet established a navy.
capabilities, let alone enough financial resources to build a navy.
With the current strength and capabilities of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, it would be quite difficult to ensure that all the combat aircraft and tanks provided by the Americans are operational. Is there still energy left to build a navy? Not to mention that the navy is more powerful than the air force.
A complex military service, a century-old navy is not just talk.
When Hopkins finished speaking, Yang Zhen smiled and said: "Old friend, I basically don't have too many problems with this agreement. As long as you in the United States can really fully implement it in accordance with the agreement, for us right now
That’s enough for me.”
"Of course, if you don't mind, I would like to add one more item to this agreement. That is, I hope to obtain all the tanks, cars, armored vehicles, and all barreled artillery and artillery pieces that the United States and Britain obtained during the war against Germany.
Trophies of steel helmets. Please note that when I talk about German weapons and equipment, I don’t want the Italian rags captured by the British in North Africa.”
"Mr. Hopkins, General Wavell, you are very aware of the huge consumption in the war. Now that the United States has not participated in the war, the promised equipment will naturally not go back on its promise. But once the United States truly invests in the war,
Faced with the huge consumption of the war, how much equipment can we get when we still need to meet the needs of the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union?"
"I think the British side has the most say on the consumption of weapons in the war. Especially General Wavell, you once served as the commander-in-chief of the British Middle East Theater and fought against the German Afrika Korps. In a battle
Among them, the huge consumption of weapons and equipment is very clear. However, the British side is currently only dealing with the North African theater, and the consumption of equipment is still limited."
"But we all know that you will not just defend the territory in North Africa. After defeating the German Afrika Korps, you will definitely counterattack the European continent and completely eliminate the German Nazis. Now you are facing only the major strategic groups of the German army.
The consumption of tanks by part of the African Army is already quite staggering."
"When you face the European continent, which is equivalent to the German army fighting on the mainland, think about how much equipment you need to fill that big hole? The current Soviet people are a vivid example of you. You two, I don't want to focus on you because you
Put it in Europe, send all the equipment that should have been provided to us to make up for the losses on the European battlefield, and let our pigeons go."
"To be honest, I don't like second-hand equipment either. But to be blunt, the tanks that the British promised to provide before the end of the year are probably second-hand. If I guess correctly, the tanks provided by the British
The tanks were replaced by tanks provided by the United States during the North African battlefield."
"Okay, second-hand goods are second-hand goods. We are not picky about food. Who makes us have no production capacity of our own and can only reach out to you to beg for food? It's not that I don't believe in your country's sincerity, but under the huge consumption of the war
, who can guarantee that all the equipment you promised will be in place?”
"I believe that your two countries have their own production capabilities and sources of raw materials. However, the wind and waves during transportation, German and Japanese submarines and bombers, and the destruction of the Soviet transportation system by German and Japanese spies will all affect the availability of equipment.
The quantity and efficiency. You can afford the delay, but can the battle situation be delayed? Therefore, I can only try to find a way to make up for it or a temporary substitute."
"It is impossible for you to use German tanks and artillery in the battle against Germany. Unless you want your troops to be in chaos and fight among themselves during the battle. Therefore, the German weapons and equipment you have captured will not be useful to you."
They are of no use to you. Instead of leaving them there to be wasted, it is better to hand them over to us and let them deal with the Japanese."