Three hundred and ninetieth eight chapters take what they need
After listening to Su Tong's words, Hawkins smiled slyly: "Of course, our industry in the United States of America is the most developed in the world. We can build you any ship you want."
"The implication of Hawkins is that he wants you to pay for it yourself." After hearing what Hawkins said, Su Tong felt a sense of contempt. In fact, Su Tong knew a little about Hawkins' purpose. Historically, Roosevelt was also quite worried about the rise of Japan.
Yes, if the Americans want to occupy the Pacific, they must not let the Japanese become too powerful. However, isolationism is prevalent in the United States now, and Roosevelt is not ready to jump out into the open. Did you know that in the future, this man will even resort to cruel tricks?
, It’s really well-intentioned, but now history has changed a lot. Since the power of Chahar has emerged in China, Roosevelt naturally wants to support it. Now everyone on earth knows that Chahar’s shortcoming is the navy.
It seems that Hawkins, the special envoy, also received some authorization from Roosevelt.
However, what makes Chief Su despise is that if you want to support someone, you have to pay for some benefits. Even if you want to support a few warships, you want him to pay for it yourself. This is really stingy.
A look of embarrassment appeared on Su Tong's face, "Mr. Hawkins, you also know that our place in Chahar is a famous backwater in China. In order to fight against the Japanese invaders, we almost spent our last copper coin, and we have
In order to stop the expansion of Soviet Russia, we have no choice but to station a huge army in Siberia all year round. It is also a bottomless pit. We really do not have the power to purchase warships."
After listening to Su Tong's complaint, Hawkins nodded with understanding on the surface, but secretly cursed in his heart: "In order to stop the expansion of Soviet Russia, it is you who are expanding now, okay? Your troops have all reached Lake Baikal. In order to deal with it,
The economic development of Soviet Russia has slowed down, and you still act like a victim. Who are you trying to deceive?"
Hawkins remained calm, but that didn't mean that Alice behind him couldn't bear it. The upright-tempered foreign girl couldn't help but speak, "General Su Tong, as far as I know, you have about 400,000 of your most elite troops stationed at all times.
In the confrontation between Ulan-Ude and General Zhukov's 700,000-strong army, small-scale battles have broken out from time to time until now. Is Lake Baikal also the land that your country occupied by the Tsar?"
"Of course." Su Tong nodded without shame, "Miss Alia, you are right. Lake Baikal has been the territory of China since ancient times. Su Wumu, a great diplomat of our country, visited China more than 2,000 years ago.
Sheep have been grazing there, so it is enough to prove that it has always been our country's undisputed territory. It was also snatched away by the Tsarist Empire at the hands of the Manchu Qing government, and now of course we want to get it back."
Naturally, no one in China would have any objection to Su Tong's words, but in the ears of Hawkins and Alice, this is not the case. They also have some understanding of China's history. Oh, your ancestors are here.
Does having sheep grazing there prove that the land is yours? Come on, it was because your ancestors were caught herding sheep there when they failed to live up to expectations, okay? If you have been herding sheep for a few years, that land will be designated for you.
Over there, go to Lana. One of your Ming Dynasty eunuchs visited the Cape of Good Hope in Africa more than 600 years ago. Why don’t you say that Africa has been your territory since ancient times?
"You" Alice pointed at Chief Su and was so angry that she was speechless.
"Okay, let's not talk about these issues for now." Seeing that Alice was about to get angry on the spot, Hawkins quickly stopped Alice and said quickly: "Okay, the matter of Lake Baikal is a matter between the Soviet Union and China.
As outsiders, it’s not appropriate for us to interfere. Now let’s get back to the topic.”
"Well, Mr. Hawkins is right. We did go off topic, so let's get back to the topic." Su Tong also hurriedly stopped. The little girl next to him was so angry that his face was almost deformed.
"Okay, let's continue the topic." Su Tong paused and said, "What Mr. Hawkins said just now makes sense. We really need your help. And we have the Siberian Tiger tank and the heavy bomber.
It’s not impossible to give you the information, but we’re not without conditions.”
"Oh, General Su, please speak," Hawkins said seriously. It's normal if there are conditions, but it's abnormal if there are no conditions.
"We need your country to support several heavy cruisers or light cruisers in our navy that are under construction, such as the USS New Orleans and USS Astoria in the "Treaty Type" cruisers and the Omaha-class light cruisers. We hope that your country
It can support us with no less than two heavy cruisers and four light cruisers, so that we can expand our navy more quickly." Chief Su said with a calm look, in short, it was very
Casual look.
Hawkins' face darkened, "There are no less than two heavy cruisers and four light cruisers. Do you think it's as simple as buying two pounds of cabbage on the street? That's all for light cruisers. Anyway, that thing is the U.S. Navy
You can squeeze it out casually, but the treaty-class heavy cruiser is a quasi-capital ship built by the Western powers based on the Washington Treaty signed in 1922. It has a displacement of 9,700 tons and is equipped with 33 203 mm main guns.
Cannons, the 127mm secondary guns of the 81 and dozens of anti-aircraft guns are the main battleships second only to aircraft carriers and battleships. You want two of them at one go. Why don’t you go and grab them?”
Seeing that Hawkins' expression was not right, Su Tong said with a smile: "Mr. Hawkins, with all due respect, considering the strength of your country, the two cruisers can be supplemented very quickly, and we don't need you in vain.
We can purchase these two warships at the price of scrap metal. In this way, your country has disposed of two useless warships, and we have also obtained the weapons we need to encircle the sea. Isn’t this the best of both worlds?
You have to know that if you want the horse to run fast, but you don’t want to feed the horse grass, how can there be such a good thing in the world?"
Hawkins rolled his eyes, "How about scrapping these two treaty-class heavy cruisers, which were new warships that were put into service in 1934, less than four years ago? Can you find a few scrapped warships like this to be scrapped?
Sell it to me?"
However, Hawkins also had to admit that Su Tong's last sentence was very reasonable. If you want a horse to run fast, you have to feed it grass. The United States wants Chahar to become a force to counter the Japanese in the Pacific.
What's the point of having a certain level of strength? Besides, he didn't ask for it for nothing. Selling it to him at scrap price would just shut the mouths of the big bosses in Congress.
When Su Tong saw Hawkins' expression softening, he knew there was something interesting about it. As expected, Hawkins was reserved for a while and finally nodded, "I personally agree with this matter, but in the end it still needs the president's consent. I will give it to the president."
Your Excellency is sending the report, hoping to get his consent."
"Well, and" Su Tong interrupted at an inappropriate time after seeing Hawkins agree: "Not just warships, I also hope that Guohai can send a group of naval officers to Vladivostok to help train our naval soldiers. After all, we
The foundation is too weak." Su Tong said to Hawkins sincerely: "Now our navy only has a few destroyers with a total tonnage of less than 20,000 tons, and our navy has just started and is extremely short of officers. I hope your country
It can help us train a group of qualified officers and sailors, and of course we will pay the relevant expenses."
Su Tong said these words very sincerely. Hawkins looked at him deeply and finally nodded, "Okay, I can express my agreement on behalf of the President."
"Okay, thank you very much." Su Tong was overjoyed. In fact, this was the point of what Commander Su wanted to say. In fact, he didn't really care about the cruisers mentioned earlier. It was just a pretense, but he couldn't be compared to others.
Say I don't care about your shabby warships. Just send me thousands of officers and sailors. Then even an idiot will know that you have a problem. Besides, don't let the things you get for free be free.
After solving the navy's problem, Su Tong's mood suddenly improved, and he was always laughing and talking with Hawkins. Chief Su began to tell a few little jokes about future generations.
"Well, on the wedding night, the groom looked at the bride's body and couldn't help but praise: "It's so beautiful, baby. Every line of your body is so perfect. I should hire a sculptor to carve you."
Come down." Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The groom asked loudly: "Who is it?" The man outside the door said: "I am the sculptor who lives next door to you."
"Haha" Hawkins laughed, and Alice, a little girl, laughed so much that she couldn't even stand up while lying on the table.
"General Su, I didn't expect you to be such a humorous person." Hawkins finally stopped laughing and said to Su Tong with a smile.
Chief Su said very modestly, "Oh, my wife also said the same thing. If you would like me to show my favor, I would like to invite you and Miss Alice to my home for dinner tonight. I just don't know if I can."
What an honor.”
Hawkins smiled, "Of course, I am very honored to be invited by you. I have heard of the name of Chinese cuisine for a long time, but I have never had such a good taste. I think Alice will have the same feeling as me."
Alice behind her finally stood up straight, glared at Su Tong fiercely, then nodded in agreement with a blushing face.
Su Tong is also very satisfied. Being able to have a good relationship with Hawkins, a popular figure in front of the President of the United States, will be very beneficial to his future plans and work. In China, the best place to make relationships is over the wine table.