"Mr. Chen, the first batch of materials has been successfully handed over. One thousand tons of pig bristles and four thousand quintals of tung oil are being transported to the UK by freighter. These are strategic materials that are urgently needed in the country. Mr. Ambassador asked me to convey my gratitude to you. Thank you for your help for us.
help," Smythe said.
The two sides completed the first transaction in early June. These were indeed the military supplies that Britain was most eager to obtain during the war. Chen Mingxiang kept his word and doubled the number of goods delivered. Naturally, he was highly regarded by the British.
Appreciate.
"The current situation in the concession is very pessimistic. I am also worried that a war will break out between the two parties and this kind of business will not be sustainable, so I am doing my best to fulfill the contract." Chen Mingxiang said.
On the one hand, this sentence is true. As long as one is not blind, anyone can see that the concession has been controlled by the Japanese. The British and American Concession Board of Directors and the Ministry of Industry Bureau have become completely decorations, maintaining the dignity of face.
Another point is that he wants to spy on information about the war between Japan and the United States. He still lacks channels and sources for this kind of national war, which may affect whether he can be promoted to major general.
"In view of the importance of the people in the concession, I have been in frequent contact with the embassy recently and got some news. In fact, the British government has made a strategic assessment on this. A war between Japan and Britain and the United States is inevitable. The key lies in when to launch it."
"If the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom and the United States are implemented, Japan will lose its sources of oil and steel, and its war capabilities will be greatly weakened. I believe war will come soon."
"Most people still don't know that Japan's Prime Minister Konoe is in private contact with the U.S. government, and they don't want to fight for the time being."
"Japan's strategy is to hope that Britain and the United States will recognize Japan's occupation of China, stop assisting the Yamashiro government with loans and supplies, and continue to export to Japan. Then, Japan will withdraw its troops in Southeast Asia and Nanyang, thereby maintaining a situation of mutual non-aggression.
." Smythe said.
Chen Mingxiang was a little stunned. He really didn't expect that Japan would sacrifice China in exchange for U.S. trade relations with Japan and avoid war with the United States. At the same time, it also cut off the channels for the Yamashiro government to obtain aid. Its intentions are not unscrupulous.
"What is the US government's attitude towards this?" Chen Mingxiang asked.
"The United States is worried about Japan joining the Axis powers. This is the major premise. The issue of China is secondary, although the United States also has huge interests here."
"Everyone can see that the war launched by the Japanese army has now entered a stage of strategic stalemate, with little hope of victory. Japan's war potential has been maximized and it cannot swallow China, which has a vast territory and a large population."
"In fact, this was a negotiation that could not be reached, and neither side could meet the other's demands, so the British government believed that war was inevitable," Smyth said.
You almost scared me to death, Chen Mingxiang secretly cursed in his heart, but he still decided to report the situation to the bureau headquarters. This is just a prediction by the British government. In case the results are not consistent with the predictions, Japan and the United States will reach an agreement
What about the agreement?
Since the strategic stalemate between the Japanese invaders and the Yamashiro government has entered, the situation of quick victory no longer exists. The Yamashiro government is confident that it can continue to hold on, so it ignores the Japanese government's inducement to surrender.
In other words, Shangfeng is not very worried that if the United States cuts off trade and aid, China will be destroyed. Without the United States, the war will have to be fought as it is.
So far, the United States has exchanged materials. In December of the 27th year of the Republic of China, the U.S. government gave the Shancheng government a loan of US$25 million, which required 220,000 barrels of tung oil to pay for it.
From March to September of the 29th year of the Republic of China, the U.S. government loaned US$45 million, which had to be repaid with tungsten ore and tin ore. In the 30th year of the Republic of China, there was an equalization fund loan of US$50 million.
Even with the rapid depreciation of legal currency, American loans are still very important to the mountain city government. The economy of the Kuomintang-controlled areas tends to collapse, and the finances have long been exhausted. If you want to purchase weapons and equipment, you have to rely on loans.
However, at this stage, the help provided by the U.S. government is not as much as that provided by the Soviet Union, because the U.S. government's strategy is to put Europe first and then Asia.
The famous Lend-Lease Act also just became effective for China. On the 6th of last month, the U.S. government announced that this method also applies to mountain city governments.
"Those international affairs are too far away from me. This time I came to visit you specially to seek your help on something." Chen Mingxiang said.
At this point, there was nothing new. Chen Mingxiang decided to change the topic. Even he could tell that the Japan-US peace talks were not reliable.
"Mr. Chen, please tell me, as long as it is within my ability, you will be satisfied." Smyth said.
"I won't make it too difficult for you. I want to arrange a few people to work in several patrol rooms. This will be easy for you." Chen Mingxiang said with a smile.
"From the Secret Service Headquarters or from Japan's Special High School?" Smythe asked.
As the Chief of Police, some of the following things cannot be hidden from his eyes and ears. If he doesn't even have this skill, he is not worthy of being the Chief of Police.
Chen Mingxiang is from the Secret Service Headquarters and has a special relationship with the Japanese Military Police Headquarters. In his opinion, these two parties must want to arrange spies and eyes in the patrol room.
"No, there are enough secret agents in the Secret Service Headquarters, the Special High School Section, and the development of patrol houses in the public concessions. Of course, these people are definitely not underground parties."
"You can think of them as my people. Their role is to supervise changes in the situation in the concession, especially the hunt for military commanders and central commanders. Some people want to understand the behavior of the Japanese army intelligence agency." Chen Mingxiang said with a smile.
This sentence mentioned the Japanese Army Intelligence Agency. Smythe's thinking was immediately distorted by these words. He remembered that the Japanese Navy and Army had always been incompatible, and the relationship between Chen Mingxiang and the Japanese Navy
, that’s not news either.
"This is just a sentence to me. If you provide me with the list and positions, I will make arrangements as soon as possible. Although the Japanese are becoming more and more powerful in the police force, we have decades of foundation after all.
"
"I also know that the Special Section 1 of the Special High School and the Secret Service Headquarters are trying to bribe the Chinese arresters, hoping to use their familiarity with the concession and their law enforcement powers to lay a big net against the military commander. However, although I am very disgusted
, but there is no way to avoid it.”
"In fact, in Shanghai, the power of the Japanese Navy cannot be ignored. One day in the future, when Japan and Britain and the United States go to war, the role of the Marine Corps will be far greater than that of the Japanese Army Military Police."
"The closer your relationship is with the Navy, the more I will get in the future. Maybe I will have to seek your help." Smythe said with a wry smile.
