No matter how fierce the war is on the front line, the people still have to live their lives, and the New Year even more.
In the Provincial Government Building, Su Tong was sitting in his office, reviewing and approving documents that seemed to be endless every day, when a confidential secretary came in and said, "Chairman Su, this is the frontline officer who has just been transferred from the headquarters.
telegraph."
Su Tong said without raising his head: "Oh, put it on the table, I will look at it later."
After a long time, Su Tong put down the document in his hand, picked up the pen on the table, and took a long breath after signing his name on the plan. "The Hetao development project has finally reached the second stage. Next year our food supply will be
Finally, we can be self-sufficient and even have a bit of surplus, and we no longer have to buy food from domestic and international markets."
Su Tong knows that when World War II breaks out next year, there will be no market price for food in the world. During the war, food will become a strategic material. Food will be indispensable for everything. Now the first phase of Ningxia's Hetao development project has been completed.
The second stage will begin after the New Year. By then, the annual grain output in the Hetao Plain will reach more than 10 million tons, which can already supply the needs of the people in the four provinces of Chahar.
"Now that the food problem has been solved, it is time to take Suiyuan into our arms. Otherwise, it would not be a problem if there is a Suiyuan between Chahar and Ningxia Qinghai. But now Suiyuan returns to the commander-in-chief of the Second War Zone Yan
Xishan is under the jurisdiction of this stingy local rich man. If you want to occupy Suiyuan, you have to touch his nerves. Ignore him. After the New Year, I will say hello to Yan Laoxi first. If he doesn't understand, I don't mind recruiting Shanxi too.
."
After thinking for a long time, Chief Su stretched his body and reached out to pick up the message on the table. He read it over and then a smile appeared on his face. "This message is only signed by Luo Zhuoying, the chief of staff. It's really interesting."
.It seems that due to the last major bombing of Tokyo, Japan's military industrial base has been greatly damaged. Fighter production can no longer keep up with the rate of loss. It will take at least half a year for Japan to return to its previous level. In
In these six months, we can take the opportunity to develop our own military industry and agriculture and clean up the surrounding areas to prepare for the upcoming World War II."
Unlike all the senior officials in Chahar, Su Tong clearly knew how far-reaching the impact of World War II would be on the world. This was the last train. If China could not catch the last train, what would happen to it?
It would take a lot of effort to re-emerge, so how to take advantage of World War II to obtain the greatest benefits for China has become a problem that Su Tong needs to consider at this stage.
Su Tong thought for a long time but still couldn't figure it out, "Forget it, the boat will be straight when it reaches the bridge. Today is New Year's Eve. I guess Fei'er, Yuxin and Yulia are all waiting at home in a hurry. It's time for me to go back."
Well, no, Hawkins and Alice are still staying at the Provincial Government Hotel. We still want to ask him, so we might as well invite them to spend the New Year together today."
At this time, in the Government Hospitality Hotel not far from the Provincial Government Building, Hawkins was writing a letter to President Roosevelt in his room:
"Your Excellency, since I was ordered to come to China for inspection, all I have seen and heard on the road is smoke. Although the central government that has retreated to Chongqing still controls nearly half of China's territory, according to my observation, the troops of the Chiang Regime
Although they have the courage to fight the Japanese and have more than three million troops in name, due to poor equipment and uneven command and tactics, they are also losing ground at this stage. On the other hand, the army led by General Su Tong
This is not the case for the troops in the Chahar region. Their weapons and equipment have reached the world's advanced level, and their officer group is more energetic and enterprising. The air of freedom and openness is also floating in this young city. I once worked with
The young Soviet general had an exchange of views. Although he did not fully agree with our American values, he had the same views on cooking and freedom, so I think"
At this time, there was a knock on the door, "Uncle Hawkins, are you there?"
"Please come in"
"Click" the door opened, and Alice, who had just finished bathing in a bathrobe and slippers, opened the door and came in and said to Hawkins: "Uncle Hawkins, General Su sent someone to invite us to spend the New Year with them. The car is here
Waiting outside, how should we reply to him?"
Hawkins smiled, "Why not? Oh, dear Alice, can you bear to let me, a lonely old man, spend the Chinese New Year alone?"
Alice glared at Hawkins coquettishly, "Didn't I spend time with you? You know I have spent two years alone in China."
Hawkins looked lovingly at the already slim Alice, thinking of her as a girl wandering alone in a foreign country. He couldn't help but feel pity for her, but smiled on his face and said, "Then we will go even more, since there is someone to treat us."
We are going to have a big meal today, General Su’s business in the United States is very prosperous, we must eat enough of this meal."
Alice smiled and said, "Uncle Hawkins, I see what you said, okay, I'll go change clothes right away, and you can get ready too."
When the well-dressed Hawkins and the simply dressed Alice stepped into the door of Chief Su's house, they found that there were many people in the living room of this small villa. Su Tong and the three ladies greeted them warmly, and the little nurse's gentleness
Keren, Xia Dazuo's shrewdness and ability, and Yulia's grace and splendor all appeared together, which dazzled Hawkins and Alice for a while.
Looking at Su Tong's happy family of four, Hawkins couldn't help but sigh and said to Su Tong, "General Su, I have to admit that you are a happy man. Even Yanjing would be jealous of this kind of happiness."
Su Tong laughed loudly and said: "Unfortunately, I am not a Christian, but I believe that striving for happiness is everyone's natural right. We are all working hard to strive for happiness for ourselves and those around us, but the premise is that we are not
Without harming others."
Hawkins glanced at Su Tong thoughtfully and said with a smile, "Your words are always so wise."
"Miss Alice please come in Mr. Hawkins please come in"
As the host, Su Tong enthusiastically welcomed the two people into the house and introduced the people here to a man. Mr. Hawkins, let me introduce to you. These are my father-in-law and mother-in-law. This beautiful little girl is
My wife's sister, this is our Chahar Chief of General Staff, General Jiang Baili, and his wife, Ms. Zuomei.
"Hello, hello." Hawkins and Alice greeted these people one by one.
Hawkins knew that being able to spend the New Year with General Su would mean that their relationship must be extraordinary, so he greeted them enthusiastically one by one.
Jiang Baili did not wear a military uniform today, but wore a traditional Chinese long mandarin jacket and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He looked more like a scholar than a soldier. But Hawkins did not underestimate him because of this.
According to various intelligence reports, this General Jiang Baili was the second most powerful person in Chahar's millions-strong army, and many affairs in Chahar were in order only after passing through his hands.
Su Tong stretched out his hand to signal Hawkins and Alice to enter the small restaurant next to them and take a seat. He smiled and said, "Okay, Mr. Hawkins, we are just waiting for you to come and start dinner. If you don't come, we will starve."
Looking at the sumptuous banquet on the table, both Hawkins and Alice were dazzled. Alice stammered and asked, "General Su, don't you Chinese people make dumplings during the Chinese New Year?"
Su Tong and others laughed. Su Tong explained with a smile, "It is true that Chinese people have the custom of eating dumplings during the Chinese New Year, but that is the habit of northerners. My wife and I are authentic southerners and do not eat dumplings during the Chinese New Year."
Dumplings.”
"Oh" Alice nodded as if she understood.
After everyone sat down, Su Tong waved his hand, "Okay, let's get started."
Alice and Hawkins were amazed by the sumptuous banquet and the dazzling array of delicacies. Hawkins even said with emotion: "General Su, when it comes to delicious food, the United States is more than a thousand years behind China."
Su Tong smiled and said: "But when it comes to other aspects, China has lagged behind the United States for more than decades."
Hawkins nodded: "As long as we both unite and cooperate sincerely, everything will be fine."
After hearing this, Su Tong and Jiang Baili looked at each other, and neither of them spoke.
After everyone finished their dinner, Jiang Baili put down the napkin in his hand and said with a smile: "Mr. Hawkins, let's go to the small living room and sit together."
"Of course," Hawkins agreed with a smile: "I have long heard that Chief of Staff Chiang Kai-shek in Chahar is an outstanding military strategist. I just want to ask you for advice in person."
Su Tong and the three of them came to the small living room next to them and sat down together. Su Tong smiled and asked Hawkins: "Mr. Hawkins, you have been in Chahar for a few days. I wonder what you think of our Chahar."
and suggestions”
Hawkins suppressed a smile and said seriously: "General Su, I have seen the map and information of Zhangjiakou three years ago, and after comparing it with the current Zhangjiakou, I have to admit that under your leadership, this city and the surrounding provinces are growing at a rapid pace.
With the rapid development, it has now become the most active city in China and the financial center of China."
"Mr. Hawkins, thank you for your compliment." Su Tong nodded and said, "But this is not enough. Our motherland is still groaning in pain under the iron heel of the invaders. To defeat the Japanese, we need your country's help, whether it is diplomacy."
Or politically”
Hawkins also nodded: "I personally support this, but you also know the policies that our country's government is currently pursuing. I think it will be difficult for the president and I to persuade Congress to abandon Japan and support you. After all, Japan is a country.
, but you are just a local political axe.”
After hearing what Hawkins said, Su Tong and Jiang Baili looked into each other's eyes and thought to themselves: "Did Hawkins have another idea?"