Chen Mingxiang was no stranger to this news. The expeditionary force of the Yamacheng government fought side by side with the British army and fought fiercely with the Japanese army in Burma. However, the problem was that although the expeditionary force fought bloody battles, the British army had diarrhea. The situation was not optimistic.
Both Myanmar and India are subtropical countries with dense forests and humid climates, where mosquitoes are rampant, and are particularly threatened by malaria. The number of deaths from malaria among the expeditionary force and the Japanese army was quite terrifying.
Quinine, commonly known as cinchona in China, contains the main alkaloid chemically called cinchona alkaloids in the bark of the rubiaceae plant cinchona tree and its congeners. It is currently the only specific drug for the treatment of malaria. In the 17th century
It was introduced to China at the end of the century.
Cinchona trees are native to Bolivia and Peru in South America, in cool and humid rainforests. They are planted in India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, India and other countries in Asia. They are also grown in southern Yunnan Province and Taiwan Island in China.
Plant in small quantities.
The Japanese have very strict control over drugs. The sale of drugs such as sulfa and quinine is prohibited. Since the occupation of the public concession, external channels have almost disappeared.
"Your Excellency, General, I am very grateful for your advice. I also hope to get quinine for the imperial army. But you also know that there is not much quinine on the market. It originates from countries such as the Philippines and India, and is currently in the imperial army."
Do we still lack such medicines in the hands of the army?" Chen Mingxiang asked.
Although what this old devil said is not entirely true and there must be something to hide, Chen Mingxiang has to admit that these words are reasonable. In order to gain the trust of the enemy, it is necessary to make some "dazzling achievements", which will be beneficial to himself.
benefit.
Although doing this seems to be aiding the enemy, many people in the Military Command Bureau and the Yamashiro government are doing this kind of behavior. While purchasing quinine for the Japanese army, they can also provide a batch of support to the Yamashiro government, which finally makes sense.
"When the Imperial Army invaded Southeast Asia, they almost destroyed local factories. Even though there were raw materials, it would take time to resume production and collect and refine the bark and roots of the cinchona tree. The Imperial Army's field troops really couldn't wait."
Kinoshita Eiichi shook his head and said.
War is often accompanied by killing and destruction. The factory capable of producing cinchona was bombed by the Japanese army. Many workers and technicians were also killed. The machines were turned into scrap metal. The raw materials in the warehouse were blown up. It is easy to build after being destroyed.
It's hard to get up.
"The reason why we were able to get quinine in the past was because we relied on the British and American Concessions. When ocean freighters came, they would always bring some scarce medicines. But now the sea transportation is not smooth. We only rely on the little goods from French merchants.
It’s a drop in the bucket, I’m also worried about medicines!” Chen Mingxiang said.
This is a real situation. Most of the quinine in the Shanghai market relied on trade between Southeast Asia and the concessions. At that time, it belonged to the colonies of the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands, and some of it was supplied by the British and American countries.
But now during World War II, Britain and the United States did not have enough for themselves, and exported very little to the outside world. In addition, Britain, the United States, and Japan were in a state of war, and there were no merchant ships to communicate with the Shanghai stock market. Quinine became a medicine in short supply.
"The reason why you don't have channels is because I didn't give you enough authority and didn't open up your mind. I know that you have a good personal relationship with the former directors of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in the public concession. This matter can be solved with the help of their contacts with the national government."
communicate."
"If you run it well, I believe you can do it. The Military Police Headquarters can give you authorization and there will be a relaxed environment for foreign nationals in the concession in the future. This condition is very attractive."
"Especially since you have an ocean-going cargo ship that can be transported to Southeast Asian countries, protected by the Imperial Navy along the way, and smooth sailing along the way, this matter is very important to you and me." Kinoshita Eiichi said.
Damn you, no wonder you agreed so happily, you old devil is really sinister and vicious!
Until this moment, Chen Mingxiang didn't know why even a veteran like Ying Zuo Zhenzhao was so afraid of Kinoshita Eichi, saying that he was a fussy person.
I still underestimated him. To be able to be a military police major general is indeed not a simple person. He can think very fast. It is indeed not easy to be able to calculate all such ways.
Using thousands of foreign nationals in the public concession as bargaining chips to force the former director of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to contact the country is tantamount to kidnapping and extortion. But it is the Japanese who come forward to do this. The Japanese people do not have to admit it. This is a behind-the-scenes operation.
So does Chen Mingxiang want to take this path? Nonsense, it will benefit him without any harm, why not do it?
In fact, the U.S. government was no better than the Japanese invaders. Just in March, the U.S. government sent all Japanese-Americans to concentration camps, deprived them of all rights and personal freedoms, and confiscated their property.
How should I put it? Japan and the United States should be said to be of the same species. Neither side should criticize the other. They both consider their own interests.
Even in a state of war, the diplomatic departments of Japan and the United States have ways to communicate, but Chen Mingxiang does not need to consider this.
"This transaction is just me, in the name of Huatong Trading Company, purchasing a batch of quinine, sulfa and other drugs from American companies. The purpose is to exchange for a better living treatment for the British and American expatriates in the public settlement, try to save everyone's lives, and insist on
There is hope as long as there is life.”
"I am just an insignificant small businessman, and I am just trying to survive. From the perspective of a businessman, I personally think that this matter is still worthy of action. You all know the situation in the Shanghai stock market now. Every day is getting worse.
It is said that the next step is to implement food distribution based on ration."
"How to make a request to your own government needs to be discussed by you. However, the telegram was sent by an agency of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The wording must be more rigorous. I think your government also understands what the facts are. It is just a
It’s just a high-sounding excuse.”
"On March 20th, the U.S. government has sent all Japanese expatriates and Japanese-Americans to concentration camps and confiscated all their property. I think the Japanese government may also adopt such measures. I will give you the opportunity to fight for it.
When the time comes, it’s your problem how to decide." Chen Mingxiang said.
He is not worried that these former administrative officials of the Ministry of Industry and bureaus will not agree. That is impossible. In order to protect the lives of expatriates in this country, this price is completely worth it.
"We have no room to think about it. We will do it according to the method you said. As long as we can persist until the day of victory of the Anti-Japanese War, everything can be changed. I will write a message now, but you don't seem to have got anything from it.
What." Riddle said.
Chen Mingxiang is a businessman and will never do anything that is not beneficial. It is not easy to obtain a condition. He must have his own purpose.
"Being able to gain the friendship of your Excellency and thousands of overseas Chinese is already a huge reward. My cargo ship will depart from Shanghai and go directly to the port in India to pick up the goods. For this reason, I can apply for the release of several families as handovers between the two parties.
