How to bring people into the Japanese Concession and into the fellowship hall, Lu Ming told An Gonggen in an understatement, as if he was very confident.
In fact, Lu Ming was completely pretending, and his purpose was to make An Gonggen and the others feel at ease and follow him boldly. Although he had a careful plan, there was still a question mark as to whether the plan could be implemented smoothly.
Faced with reality, not only Lu Ming, but no one can be sure that he can successfully bring people into the Japanese Concession, let alone the auditorium of the association.
It's not like Lu Ming didn't do his homework well. He formulated several plans. The first one he wanted to implement with the help of his Japanese friend Kenta Eikichi.
The next morning, Lu Ming called Qian Tian and asked him to go out for lunch, and Qian Tian naturally agreed.
The two met at a Japanese restaurant near the Japanese Consulate, chose a room, and started ordering food and drinks.
"Kenta-kun, is it okay to drink at noon?" Lu Ming asked.
"It doesn't matter, as long as you don't get drunk." Qian Tian said a little dejectedly.
"What's wrong? Mr. Qiantian seems to have something on his mind. Can you tell me?" Lu Ming asked with a smile.
"Whoever has no thoughts these days is suffering unspeakably." Qiantian said in a depressed voice.
"Have you been hit by something? Are those rogues still looking for trouble for you?" Lu Ming asked in surprise.
"Ronin is nothing. It's the damn capitalist economic crisis that kills people. Do you know the situation in the United States?" Kenta sighed.
"I've heard something about the Great Depression." Lu Ming nodded.
Even if Frank didn't call him, he generally knew that several American newspapers sold in Shanghai had fully reported on the current situation of the United States, which was in depression after the economic crisis.
Although he left the United States and had no intention of going there again in his life, Lu Ming could not help but pay more attention to what happened there.
"Although the U.S. economy is in recession, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse, so it can still recover..." Kenta took a long breath.
"Uh, do you mean the situation in Japan is very bad?" Lu Ming asked.
"It's not very bad, nor very bad, but it can't get any worse." Qiantian said with a worried look on his face.
Lu Ming felt a shiver in his heart. Although he had never had a good impression of Japan, he really didn't want Japan's economy to be so bad that it couldn't recover. That would give the Japanese military an excuse to invade foreign countries.
Once a hole is opened and a war of colonial plunder is launched, it will embark on a road of no return.
As the only industrial country in Asia, if Japan insists on launching a war of aggression, almost no country will be its opponent.
Compared with the armed forces of agricultural countries, the armed forces of industrial countries are completely different from the armed forces of agricultural countries. They are not on the same starting line at all.
"Do you need some subsidies for Mr. Qiantian's family? If so, please don't be polite." Lu Ming asked tentatively.
"Thank you very much. There are no problems in my family for the time being. Although it is not as good as a noble family like Lu Sang, life is still getting along. However, I pity those unemployed workers and farmers who have lost their land. I am afraid they will never see the light of day again in this life.
Their wives and daughters have to go to Nanyang and sell themselves to earn foreign exchange for the country to build damn aircraft and warships." Qiantian said bitterly.
"At this time, shouldn't the country be doing its best to take care of the people's lives? Why are they still in such a hurry to build aircraft and warships?" Lu Ming's heart sank.
"Yes, a normal person should think this way, but how many people in Japan are normal? Even some workers and farmers who have no food to eat want the country to go to war immediately. They are blinded by the lobbying of war madmen.
, I don’t know what war means at all. Didn’t enough people die in Japan in the Russo-Japanese War?” Kenta said with tears in his eyes.
"Do the citizens of your country collectively advocate war? I really can't understand it." Lu Ming shook his head repeatedly.
"That's not entirely true. There are some politicians who don't want war, but they are firstly subject to the oppression of the military forces, and secondly, they are suppressed by the unprecedented rise of public opinion, and they can't make a voice at all." Kenta explained.
"Japan has really become an island of darkness. It will eventually suffer the consequences. If you don't believe me, just wait and see." Lu Ming was a little angry.
"What Lu Sang said makes sense. Those of us who are engaged in diplomacy are also trying our best to find ways to avoid the outbreak of war, but the situation is worrying." Qian Tian said with a bitter smile.
Perhaps because he was familiar with Lu Ming, Qiantian didn't treat him as an outsider. Even these things that should have been kept secret were revealed.
After a while, the food and wine were served, and Qiantian didn't care about Lu Ming. He drank a large glass of beer first, and then filled it up for himself.
Lu Ming could tell that he was drinking to drown his sorrows, and there was something in his heart.
"Kenta-kun, if you have any difficulties, you're welcome. I don't have any more. Tens of thousands of yen is absolutely no problem." Lu Ming said with a smile.
"No, it's not my fault. I don't have any financial difficulties myself. However, some of my colleagues have many children at home and can no longer bear it. Their salary is not enough to send home without spending a penny every month.
Use it." Qian Tian shook his head and said.
"Is your salary very low?" Lu Ming was a little surprised. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be a problem for a diplomat to support a family by himself.
He didn't know what the salary of diplomats in the Republic of China government was, but with the salary of a mid-level government employee, there was absolutely no problem in supporting a family.
"It depends on how you put it. Our salary is definitely not low in Japan, but it is incomparable with your Chinese bureaucrats. Sometimes when I see the salary of your Chinese officials, I really don't believe that your country is so poor."
Kenta said seriously.
Lu Ming felt his face burning when he heard this. Indeed, the lives of Chinese officials and ordinary people are completely different.
As long as you are an official, your family will have meat to eat every day, but the people are struggling in abject poverty. In good years, they can barely have enough food and clothing, and they have to eat bran vegetables. In bad years, they have to flee to beg and sell their sons and daughters.
"But it's okay for you China. After all, the land is vast. As long as there is no huge famine, you can always harvest food. It is also rich in coal and minerals. This is something we cannot compare with. At least you still have resources to sell. What do we have?
We only have 100 million extremely poor people." Qian Tian drank another glass of beer and lamented.
"So everyone in Japan, including ordinary people, wants to launch a war, just to invade us and steal our things, right?" Lu Ming asked.
He couldn't say yes or no, and in the end he could only lower his head sadly: "Lu Sang, I'm sorry."
"It's nothing, it's bound to happen sooner or later." Lu Ming smiled calmly.
If Kenta denies it, he will look down on his friend, even if he is Japanese. However, if Kenta admits it, he feels that Kenta is very honest and can be a friend. That's how it is.
Lu Ming believed Qiantian's words. Those who engaged in diplomacy did not want to launch a war. It was not that they did not want to start a war, but they believed that they were not ready at all. If they believed that the domestic situation was suitable for launching a full-scale foreign war, the diplomats would probably be no less enthusiastic about war than
Japanese Military Department.
Perhaps it can be said that professional diplomats are the last group of relatively sane people in Japan, not as crazy as those in the military.
"Don't worry, I will notify you if there is really any danger, and then you can go back to the United States as soon as possible." Qiantian lowered his voice.
"Mr. Qiantian, what are you talking about? Is there any risk to me staying in Shanghai?" Lu Ming frowned.
"Lu Sang, any bad situation can happen. Let me tell you, in the end, there is only one absolutely safe place, and that is the United States." Qiantian said solemnly.
"Okay, I appreciate it." Lu Ming raised his glass and drank with Qiantian.
"Kenta-kun, I'll treat you to a drink today. Actually, I have something to ask you for help." Lu Ming smiled and turned to the topic.
"Whatever it is, just tell me." Qian Tian waved his hand and said.
"During the New Year, I would like to ask you to take me into the Japanese Concession. Is that okay?" Lu Ming said, staring into Qiantian's eyes.