At this time, a plate of fruit came up. Xiang Xiaoqiang looked at the plate of fruit, suddenly remembered something, and said angrily:
"By the way, Your Majesty, the soldiers of our left army group have now entered the northwest region. We are all from the south and are not adapted to the dry climate of autumn in the north. Many of them are suffering from nosebleeds... Also, everyone is not here
They kept licking their lips, but the more they licked, the drier they became, and eventually they bled... Their diet lacked water and vitamins, and drinking more water alone could not solve the problem. The soldiers did not lack meat, but they ate vegetables.
Vegetables are all those that are easy to transport, such as melons, radishes, potatoes, etc. Military doctors say they should eat more green leafy vegetables, but green leafy vegetables cannot be transported over long distances and are basically not available on the front line. Now our military is discussing to see if this is the case
Please ask Your Majesty to ask the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Agriculture to organize a batch of seasonal fruits and send them to the front for everyone to eat? It would be best to ensure that the soldiers have a piece of fruit for every meal."
This was the first time Zhu Yourong heard this question. She was very concerned, softly said "oh", pondered, and then said:
"Yes, Tingzhi is right, we need to solve this problem... It is only autumn now, and in winter, the dryness problem will be more serious... Fortunately, we have fruits in the south regardless of season, and they can be fully supplied in winter."
Xiang Xiaoqiang said:
"In winter, it's not just nosebleeds. At least there are also chapped hands and feet... But this is easy to solve. We have already thought of it in the pre-war plan. In November we will ship a batch of hand oil to the troops.
, distributed to everyone. Those things are easy to carry. One is in the shape of a small stick, like lipstick. The other is in a small iron box, as big as a matchbox. It can be used to wipe hands and lips. Just wipe it.
It’s not cracked.”
Zhu Yourong nodded, turned to Wei Zijin and said:
"Zijin, write it down and ask the Army Department about it when you get back to see how they solve the fruit problem on the front line."
"yes."
Shi Shigege looked at Zhu Yourong, hesitated for a moment, and said with a smile:
"Your Majesty, since the troops are now in Guanzhong and Shanxi, we can let them purchase apples nearby. There is no transportation pressure and the cost is low."
Zhu Yourong and Xiang Xiaoqiang both looked at her and said in unison:
"apple?"
Fourteen giggled and said:
"The Loess Plateau area in northern Shaanxi is the largest apple-producing area in Beiqing. The apples there have the largest production and the best quality, and it is the harvest season. In previous years, they have to be transported out of the country. This year's war, the farmers are probably worried.
, I thought the apples were going to rot in my hands. Just in time, our left army group can take them all in. The apples in northern Shaanxi are enough to feed hundreds of thousands of troops."
Zhu Yourong and Xiang Xiaoqiang looked at each other and nodded, immediately feeling that this was a good idea.
"KouKou... Your Highness the Princess," Xiang Xiaoqiang coughed and laughed angrily, "This is another good idea from you... Your Majesty will probably have to thank you on behalf of the soldiers...KouKou..."
Zhu Yourong glanced at him, then held Shi Shigege's hand and smiled affectionately:
"Yes, sister really made another good suggestion... I really have to thank sister on behalf of the soldiers."
…
The three of them drank their afternoon tea and turned it into a strategic meeting. Xiang Xiaoqiang shared an idea that he and Shi Shigege had discussed together. They could take advantage of this opportunity to import a batch of hand oil and fruits from the United States.
Canned food, of course, and a batch of chocolates too.
The people of Nanming are prosperous and the light industry is developed. Of course, they can produce these things themselves, and their output is enough for the front line. Of course, except for canned fruits. It’s not that canned fruits cannot be produced in sufficient quantities, but the army depends entirely on canned food.
, the cost is too high and not cost-effective.
Hand oil, canned fruits, chocolate, these things are the same as tent sleeping bags, they are also between "military supplies" and "civilian supplies", but this time the things are more like "civilian supplies" than tent sleeping bags
.If these things are bought for common people, they are considered civilian supplies. If they are bought for the military, they are considered military supplies. It depends on how the U.S. federal court decides.
Although the camping tents and camping sleeping bags from last time also have the characteristics of dual-use for both military and civilian use, Nanming purchased tens of thousands of sets last time. It is obvious that only the military will use so many. If they are strictly for civilian use, then the United States
The justice will feel fooled. Because this is obviously lying with open eyes. Which country's people can digest tens of thousands of camping tents at once? The people of Nanming are not camping in nature, and there is no gold rush in Nanming.
But this time it’s different. What we are purchasing this time is hand oil, canned food, and chocolate. There is a huge demand for these things among the public. Even if we purchase more, it can be said that they are for private use. Because objectively, the public can fully digest them.
, it makes sense. As long as the federal justice in the United States has a good impression of Nan Ming and wants Nan Ming to win the lawsuit, he can determine that these are not military supplies, and the other party has nothing to say.
The United States attaches great importance to precedents, and people's hearts are also on Nan Ming's side. In this way, as long as this opening is opened, the tents, sleeping bags and the like below may also be judged as civilian supplies. Then, Nan Ming can "expand every inch" and buy some
Other things that are more "sensitive". Finally, you can buy a car. Because after all, a truck is also a dual-use material for both military and civilian use. At most, you are not allowed to spray paint. I bought it and spray-painted it with the Ming Army logo myself.
Cars are the thing that Ming Dynasty most wants to import in large quantities from the United States. The United States' current automobile output alone from Ford and General Motors is higher than that of the rest of the world combined, which can fully satisfy Ming Dynasty's tens of thousands of vehicles in one or two years, or even
There is a demand for hundreds of thousands of military vehicles. However, with such a large quantity, Ming Dynasty's own production is completely unable to meet it.
Zhu Yourong listened to what they said and thought it was a solution. However, she felt that this was just "a solution" and not a long-term solution. The long-term solution should be to take advantage of the American people's general favorable impression of the Ming Dynasty and their general dislike of the Northern Qing Dynasty.
, to win a complete victory in this "arms purchase game".
In addition to moral likes and dislikes, Ming's arms purchase will also stimulate the economic recovery of the United States after the Great Depression and provide a large number of job opportunities for the American people. The United States, from the president to the government, loves votes, and no politician will have a grudge against the votes.
The United States is a Protestant country, and it is also one of the few countries in the world where values are paramount. Many of their major internal and external decisions, and even wars, are largely influenced by national values.
The Ming Dynasty wants to buy arms from the United States, but the Northern Qing Dynasty will not let the United States sell arms to the Ming Dynasty. Then American voters will have their own judgment. They will think that the Northern Qing Dynasty is a dictatorship and does not conform to their values. The Southern Ming Dynasty is a democratic country.
It is in line with their values to dominate the country. Therefore, they support selling military equipment to Nanming. What's more, it can also increase jobs for the country and increase their own income.
Increase income. If Roosevelt had succumbed to the pressure of the Northern Qing Dynasty, accepted bribes from the Northern Qing Dynasty, and refused to sell military equipment to the Southern Ming Dynasty, then the American people would think that the government had bowed to evil, supported dictatorship, and wanted to take away everyone's
If they lose their jobs, they will support the Republican Party. Roosevelt will not be elected in next year's general election, and Roosevelt and his Democratic Party will step down.
So, whether the Beiqing hates the United States with all their teeth, whether it is calling the United States the number one villain, or whether it is saying that senior American officials accept money but refuse to do things, there is basically nothing they can do.
The only trouble now is the federal court. The people in the federal court, especially the justice, are the only ones who do not need to be influenced by votes and public opinion in this arms purchase incident. The justice has a lifelong tenure and a high sense of professional honor.
, so that he can ignore the pressure from all parties and determine the facts entirely based on his own values and professional vision.
It can be said that Ming Dynasty can influence the US president to a certain extent by influencing American voters, but it cannot influence the justices in any way. Because the president needs votes, many things must be compromised with the mood of the people. And the justices do not need votes.
, so there is no need to compromise with anyone. In this sense, the current "loopholes" and "cover-up methods" have some uses. If the people in the federal court also move towards the Ming Dynasty, then there will be a legal step down.
However, if the chief justice is a stubborn old man who sticks to the letter of the law, and if his professional ethics are far higher than his values, then it is very likely that the Southern Ming will lose and the Northern Qing will temporarily win. And the whole country of the United States will
Even if you hate this justice with all your heart, there is basically nothing you can do. Unless there is evidence to prove that the justice committed a crime, such as accepting bribes from the Peking, relevant government agencies and media reporters will investigate this issue with enthusiasm and every detail.
…
"I'm thinking..." Zhu Yourong said thoughtfully, "It would be best if the U.S. federal court ruled that these foods are not armaments. Then we can try step by step until we try to buy a car. If... if
We lost the lawsuit and we can't buy a car, then... we will make a series of diplomatic decisions towards the United States
activities, and made great efforts to win over American citizens, influence Mr. Roosevelt, and influence the U.S. Congress, so that Congress can approve Mr. Roosevelt’s determination of whether the Ming and Qing Dynasties were civil wars. If it can be determined that the Ming and Qing Dynasties were civil wars and were not subject to the Neutrality Act, then we
Not only can we buy cars, but we can also buy anything we want openly."
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said:
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I understand Roosevelt. He is a firm opponent of 'isolationism.' What he has wanted to do most over the years is to repeal the Neutrality Act. Don't worry, he will definitely support Ming Dynasty. I
Have confidence in Roosevelt, he is a good president."
The fourteenth princess smiled and said:
"He is a good president of the United States. No matter how good he is, he will only put the interests of the United States first, not the interests of Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Yourong laughed and said:
"I understand what my sister means. This matter is not about whether Mr. Roosevelt is a good president, but whether what he does is beneficial to Ming Dynasty... Haha, for us, as long as Mr. Roosevelt opposes isolationism and likes votes, then
He is a good president."
All three people laughed.
Zhu Yourong muttered again:
"There will definitely not be any problems with the president. However, before the president, we must first go through the U.S. Congress. First, the House of Representatives must propose a resolution that 'it is necessary to determine whether the Ming and Qing Dynasties were civil wars.' Then the Senate will vote to decide whether to make the ruling
The power is handed over to the president. After it is passed, our Mr. Roosevelt can support us with a stroke of his pen."
Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shi Shigege both looked at each other and shook their heads in admiration. After Zhu Yourong said this, they all felt that the President of the United States was quite pitiful. He could not make his own decisions on so many big things. It had to be passed through the parliament first, and the House of Representatives and
The Senate still has a "division of labor". One thing has to be divided into two steps: one proposes a resolution, and the other
A single vote determines that no one can monopolize all the power. It is amazing how detailed the system is and how dispersed the power is. If the President of the United States is locked in a cage, then every time there is a check and balance on the supreme power,
The more iron bars there are in the cage, the less likely it is that the powerful will come out and do evil.
Zhu Yourong said:
"For the House of Representatives, those members of the House of Representatives are the most dependent on votes. They have low barriers to running, high competition pressure, short terms, and must constantly consider seeking re-election. They will do whatever it takes to please and cater to voters.
They... basically reflect public opinion 100%. The key lies in the Senate. Senators are just the opposite.
The threshold is high, the pressure of competition is low, and the term is long. Once elected, they can concentrate on politics for a long time. They are more like justices. They do not need to consider catering to voters on many matters. They only need to make their own judgments from the perspective of national interests.
That’s it. So, it makes sense to leave such a major military matter to the Senate for a vote..."
Xiang Xiaoqiang answered with great talent and said with a smile:
"Therefore, the House of Representatives represents the naive people of the United States. We must treat them with justice and educate them about how bad the Peking Qing Dynasty is, how it oppresses its people, how it preys on the people, what happened in those labor camps, and every time we liberated a place,
How the local people rejoiced and ate pots of pulp...and then the House of Representatives was on our side.
"The Senate represents the national interests of the United States. For them, we must make a profit and promise them that as long as they support the Ming Dynasty, the U.S. economy will be better, unemployment will be improved, and their political future will be broad.
, and how will Daming repay?
We will become the best spokesperson for their interests in Asia, a strong fortress against the Soviet Union, curb Japanese militarism and expansionism, and defend the many interests of Europe and the United States in Southeast Asia...etc., etc., and then, the Senate is also on our side.
Yes. Haha, Your Majesty, is this what you mean?"
Zhu Yourong's face turned slightly red, he lowered his head and smiled:
"Well... almost... even if I agree with what you said, it's a bit too straightforward."
…
While the three of them were "plotting" at afternoon tea, Hu Jiong walked over quietly, handed Xiang Xiaoqiang a telegram, and whispered something to him.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was stunned, immediately opened the envelope, opened the telegraph newspaper, glanced at it, and asked:
"Does the high command know?"
"I understand. This is what Mr. Du specially informed you about."
Xiang Xiaoqiang then handed the telegram to Zhu Yourong and said:
"Your Majesty, this is from the Embassy in Japan. Guangwu..."
As he spoke, he looked around and lowered his voice:
"That kid Guangwu... sent an emissary to Japan to contact our people. He probably wants to negotiate with us!"
Fourteen was startled, then slowly narrowed her eyes, leaned back in the seat, and brushed her cheek with her index finger, thinking. She looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang for a while, and then looked at the paper in Zhu Yourong's hand, with a look of doubt on her face.
Zhu Yourong, on the other hand, held the telegraph newspaper in both hands and read it attentively, his eyebrows furrowed.