novelAbuy Chapter 1848 'We are different'
Chapter 1848 'We are different'
Chapter 1848 'We are different'
"It's not like you haven't flown on a plane before, and it's not comfortable at all," Liu Xia complained.
"That's better than being attacked by a bomb," said Cheng Qianfan.
There was a lingering look of fear in his eyes.
"You know what, after this incident, maybe Deputy Minister Chu won't have the courage to take a plane when he goes on a visit abroad in the future," Liu Xia said with a smile.
Cheng Qianfan didn't laugh, he didn't think it was a funny joke.
Just at this moment, there was the sound of footsteps in the corridor, and then the door was pushed open.
"Uncle Chu." Cheng Qianfan struggled to sit up from the hospital bed and said quickly.
"Minister." Liu Xia also quickly stood up to greet him.
"Sit down, sit down, no need to be polite." Chu Mingyu said.
Then he turned to the guard at the door and said, "Don't let anyone eavesdrop."
"clear."
……
"Why did Uncle Chu come here at this time?" Cheng Qianfan asked, "Didn't Secretary Liu say that you were very busy today and didn't have time to come?"
"I just met with Mr. Imamura and Rong Tieling." Chu Mingyu said, "I came out for a walk and thought I would come to see you."
He asked Cheng Qianfan, "Are you feeling better?"
"Nothing serious." Cheng Qianfan said, "It's mainly skin injuries caused by the derailment of the train due to the explosion."
"You are lucky," Liu Xia said. "I learned about the situation at the time. When the explosion occurred, the train was not going fast or at full speed. Otherwise, it would have been terrible."
"Those who survive a great disaster will surely have good fortune in the future." Chu Mingyu said comfortingly.
Cheng Qianfan forced a smile on his face.
"Minister, did today's talks not go smoothly?" Liu Xia couldn't help but ask when she saw Chu Mingyu's expression was a little grim.
"The Japanese side is really asking for too much." Chu Mingyu sighed and said, "If it was just a request for economic materials, it would be easy to deal with."
As he spoke, Chu Mingyu shook his head.
Cheng Qianfan had a bewildered expression.
Liu Xia then explained a few words to Cheng Qianfan.
After the war between Germany and the Soviet Union broke out, the Kwantung Army was on full alert.
During the Wang-Japan-Manchuria trilateral talks, the Japanese side put forward many demands on Nanjing.
This included asking the Nanjing government, especially factories in Shanghai, Nanjing and other places, to produce military supplies for the Japanese army. Some of the materials were transported to Japan's anti-Soviet front via Manchukuo.
……
"In extraordinary times, the Japanese economic and material demands may be excessive, but there is nothing we can do about it," Liu Xia said after thinking.
"Uncle Chu is in a bad mood. Do the Japanese have other excessive demands?" Cheng Qianfan asked thoughtfully.
"The Japanese side asked us to provide them with intelligence on the Chinese battlefield and assist Japan in monitoring the Soviet Union's movements in the Far East," said Chu Mingyu.
Cheng Qianfan heard this and thought about it. He glanced at Chu Mingyu and seemed to be hesitant to speak.
"Just say whatever you want to say." Chu Mingyu glared at Cheng Qianfan.
Cheng Qianfan and Liu Xia were not only his secretary and assistant, but also his trusted juniors. In fact, he did not seek their opinions when he talked to them, but more because only in front of Cheng Qianfan and Liu Xia could he let down his guard and not have to worry about anything.
"Uncle Chu, objectively speaking, the request made by the Japanese side is not excessive from the perspective of diplomatic relations with friendly countries," said Cheng Qianfan.
"That's not the problem." Chu Mingyu took out his cigarette holder and took out a cigarette. Cheng Qianfan quickly picked up the lighter on the bedside table. Liu Xia took the lighter and helped Chu Mingyu light the cigarette.
Chu Mingyu took two deep puffs of his cigarette and frowned as he said, "According to Imamura, the Japanese side asked us to send troops to participate in the Kwantung Army's special large-scale exercise together with the Manchukuo Army."
He told the two men, "At this special moment, any military movement is enough to cause unrest in many parties. Japan's request is very sensitive."
……
"A special large-scale exercise of the Kwantung Army?" Cheng Qianfan looked surprised.
"Yes, the Japanese side informed us that the Kwantung Army has decided to conduct a special large-scale exercise lasting at least 40 days starting from the end of the month," said Liu Xia.
"According to what we know now, or what the Japanese side has revealed," she said, "the Kwantung Army will continue to increase its troops in this special large-scale exercise, gradually increasing the number of Kwantung Army from the current 300,000 to 700,000."
"Seven hundred thousand troops, this will be the largest number of Japanese troops stationed in Manchuria in history." Chu Mingyu said with a serious expression, "In this way, the Japanese military strength in Manchuria will account for one-third of the total strength of the Japanese army."
Seeing Chu Mingyu's serious expression and the worry in his eyes, Cheng Qianfan seemed to be thinking about something. He thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Chu, are you worried that the Japanese are mobilizing troops in the name of a special large-scale exercise, but are actually preparing to attack the Soviet Union?"
"How can I not be worried?" Chu Mingyu sighed and said, "The Japanese failed to gain any advantage over the Soviets at Zhanggufeng three years ago and Nomonhan two years ago..."
Chu Mingyu did not continue speaking, but both Cheng Qianfan and Liu Xia understood that Chu Mingyu was not optimistic that the Japanese could defeat the Soviets.
"Uncle Chu, the Soviets have lost thousands of miles of territory and their army has been completely defeated by the Germans." Cheng Qianfan said, "From this, it can be seen that the Soviet military strength has declined greatly in the past two years."
Seeing that Chu Mingyu was listening carefully, he continued, "Moreover, judging from the speed at which the Germans are advancing in Russia, it is possible that Russia will soon be unable to hold on and surrender."
……
"Under this circumstance, the Japanese decided to attack the Soviet Union from the Far East." Cheng Qianfan thought and said, "From their perspective, perhaps the Japanese are confident that they can defeat the Soviet Union."
"Whether the Japanese have confidence or not is not important." Chu Mingyu said, "In a war, shouting slogans loudly and being full of confidence is useless. What really matters is the result."
"Now, the Japanese are asking our Nationalist government to send troops to participate in the special large-scale exercise, and at the same time asking the Manchukuo army to participate in the special large-scale exercise." He said to Cheng Qianfan, "It is obvious that the Japanese want to drag us and Manchuria into the water."
"Once the special large-scale exercise turns into an offensive posture, it will be equivalent to us and Xinjing declaring war on the Soviet Union and attacking it together." Chu Mingyu said.
He shook his head and said, "The Soviets may have lost a lot of military strength and don't have much of a way to deal with the Japanese, but they still have a good handle on us and the Manchukuo army."
Cheng Qianfan opened his mouth, as if he didn't expect Chu Mingyu to speak so bluntly, in a way that would boost others' morale and destroy his own prestige.
……
"I don't need to flatter you two." Chu Mingyu looked at the two juniors and said, "Participating in the special large-scale exercise itself will make the Soviet Union dissatisfied. Of course, even if the Soviets are dissatisfied, it's nothing. Haven't we scolded the Soviets enough? But it's different when we really participate in the war."
He shook his head and said, "I have visited Soviet Russia. The Soviet Russian factories and farms, just thinking about those forests of chimneys, makes me shudder."
"Perhaps the Japanese side only wanted to deter the Soviet Union and had no intention of taking action against it," said Cheng Qianfan.
Liu Xia took out a stack of newspapers from her bag and handed them to Cheng Qianfan.
"Look what this is?" Chu Mingyu said.
Cheng Qianfan took the newspaper and read it. It was the Asahi Shimbun from Japan.
On the front page of the Asahi Shimbun was a photo of the Kwantung Army gathering for war. The newspaper used the words "the elite of the Kwantung Army gathered" and also openly stated in black and white that "the war with the Soviet Union is imminent."
Cheng Qianfan remained silent. There is no need to explain much about the status of Asahi Shimbun in Japan. The fact that Japan allowed Asahi Shimbun to report on the Kwantung Army's special large-scale exercise in this way is in itself a statement of attitude.
"If we and Xinjing send troops to participate in the special large-scale exercise," Liu Xia said, "I'm afraid the Asahi Shimbun will report that 'Japan, the National Government, and the three countries of Manchuria have assembled their elite forces and are about to jointly attack the Soviet Union.'"
……
"Uncle Chu, what does Mr. Wang think about this?" Cheng Qianfan asked cautiously.
"Mr. Wang also attaches great importance to this matter. He asked us to talk with the Japanese and Manchurian sides first and not to rush to agree to anything." Chu Mingyu said.
As he spoke, his expression was solemn. "The international situation is changing rapidly. The national government is just starting out and is about to be revived. We cannot help but be cautious."
……
"Mr. Wang's idea is right." Liu Xia said on the side, "National affairs are of great importance to the military, not to mention the possibility of going to war with the Soviet Union, which cannot be taken lightly."
"I'm afraid it won't last too long." Chu Mingyu frowned and said, "The Japanese are pushing too hard."
"Uncle Chu, what is the attitude of Manchukuo?" Cheng Qianfan asked.
"Rong Tieling?" Chu Mingyu suddenly snorted coldly and said, "There is nothing that Rong cannot handle when facing the Japanese."
"Rong Tieling's behavior towards Imamura is simply disgusting." Chu Mingyu said sarcastically.
Cheng Qianfan glanced at Chu Mingyu. He never expected to see such a look of contempt for traitors on Chu Mingyu.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Wang Puppet Regime despised the Foreign Minister of Manchukuo for being too flattering to Japan. This was truly an eye-opener for him!
"It seems that Manchukuo will unconditionally meet all of Japan's demands." Cheng Qianfan said with a frown.
"What's the situation with Manchukuo? Xuantong is a puppet of the Japanese. This is well known." Chu Mingyu snorted coldly and said, "A puppet like Manchukuo cannot be compared with my independent government."
"It seems that the Japanese side's trilateral talks are mainly aimed at us." Liu Xia said, "So, even if the minister wants to delay, he won't be able to delay for long."
"Imamura will return to Shanghai the day after tomorrow." Chu Mingyu said, "That means the trilateral talks will have to reach an agreement by the morning of the day after tomorrow at the latest."
……
"Uncle Chu." Cheng Qianfan suddenly asked, "Did any military representatives come to Jinan with you?"
"No." Chu Mingyu shook his head. "The incident happened in a hurry, and the Japanese side did not notify the military representatives to come to Quancheng."
"That's strange." Cheng Qianfan said, "Since we are asked to send troops to participate in the Kwantung Army's special large-scale exercise, although our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is negotiating, the military should at least be involved."
"It's a little strange what you said." Liu Xia said thoughtfully, "On the Japanese side, no generals from the Guandong Army showed up. On the contrary, on the Manchukuo side, Rong Tieling was accompanied by several people from the Manchukuo Army."
Hearing what Cheng Qianfan and Liu Xia said, Chu Mingyu's expression changed slightly, as if he was thinking about something.
"I understand a little bit." Chu Mingyu said solemnly, "You two continue to discuss along this line of thought and provide me with some ideas."
"Yes."
"clear."
Cheng Qianfan and Liu Xia looked at each other, nodded and said.
……
"According to Uncle Chu, the Japanese side invited us and Xinjing to meet, and other requests such as economic, material, and intelligence are all reasonable." Cheng Qianfan said thoughtfully, "The main point of the Japanese side is to get us and the Manchukuo Army to send troops to participate in the Kwantung Army's special large-scale exercise."
"Xinjing has no diplomatic and military autonomy. They only follow the lead of Japan. They are different from us. There is no need to mention this." Chu Mingyu said.
"Yes." Cheng Qianfan said quickly.
"Since the Japanese side attaches the most importance to facilitating our sending troops to participate in the Kwantung Army's special large-scale exercise, then, according to convention, it should not only be the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that should come forward, but the military, at least the Kwantung Army should send important generals to attend." Liu Xia said thoughtfully.
"Moreover..." Liu Xia took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, then added water to Chu Mingyu's cup and continued, "The Japanese side should have informed us that they had invited military generals to come to Jinan with the minister, but they didn't."
"Yes, this is the strangest thing." Cheng Qianfan nodded.
He paused and said, "The Japanese side gave me the impression that they were eager for us to sign and agree to participate in the Kwantung Army's special large-scale exercise, but they didn't seem to be in a hurry."
……
"What they are anxious about is that we and Manchukuo need to sign and agree to participate..." Liu Xia interrupted.
"Rong Tieling is nodding and bowing, and he can sign at any time." Chu Mingyu snorted and said, reminding the two juniors.
"Yes, let's not talk about Xinjing." Liu Xia continued quickly, "They are anxious about our signing and agreeing to participate in the Kwantung Army's special large-scale exercise. At the same time, they did not send military personnel to attend the meeting. This gives me the feeling that they don't seem to be anxious for us to send troops or implement this."
"I see, that's right, Secretary Liu is right, I see." Cheng Qianfan said excitedly, "What the Japanese side values is the signature, that agreement, or in other words, they value the signing of the tripartite agreement, and what they value is declaring to the outside world that we and Xinjing are ready to send troops to participate in the Kwantung Army's special large-scale exercise."
"At the same time, the Japanese side is not in a hurry, or rather, they don't necessarily need it. In fact, when it comes to specific implementation, the Japanese side may not really want us to send troops to participate in the Kwantung Army's special large-scale exercise." Liu Xia said excitedly, speaking quickly.
After saying that, she and Cheng Qianfan looked at each other, and both of them breathed a sigh of relief, revealing joyful expressions.
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