Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Chapter 504: Unexpected Changes (Subscription Request)

The next day, the sky was just getting light.

The sky of Longcheng was covered with a thin layer of industrial waste gas.

A light rain last night brought a chill to the air and washed away much of the dust brought by the war.

Headquarters of the Second War Zone Commander.

The atmosphere in a heavily guarded meeting room was quite solemn.

There were figures scattered on both sides of the long conference table.

One side is the core negotiating representatives sent by the Second War Zone, Fang Ligong and Qian Bojun, the translator.

Fang Ligong sat upright in the chair, his expression calm, his fingers tapping the table from time to time, his eyes sharp as he examined the Soviet representative opposite him.

Qian Bojun seemed a little anxious, frowned slightly, and adjusted his sitting position from time to time.

It was obvious that he was not calm inside, as negotiation was not something he was good at.

On the other side was the Soviet delegation headed by Lieutenant General Yevgeny and Colonel Yakov Dzhugashvili.

Yevgeny is tall, wearing a neat military uniform, with a shining star on his shoulder. He has a formal smile on his face, but his eyes occasionally flash with a hint of imperceptible shrewdness.

Yakov seemed much quieter, playing with a pen in his hand, and occasionally glancing at Fang Ligong with a bit of inquiry.

Today's negotiations are related to the introduction of new submachine gun technology mentioned in Chu Yunfei's previous telegram, which is crucial for improving the firepower of grassroots teams.

Fang Ligong was fully aware that this trip was a heavy responsibility, and Commander Yan gave him full authority to take charge of the matter.

"General Yevgeny, Colonel Dzhugashvili." Fang Ligong spoke first, his voice steady, breaking the silence in the room: "Welcome everyone to Shanxi again.

my country and your country are both important members of the anti-fascist camp, and we should help each other in the fight against the common enemy."

He paused for a moment, observing the other party's reaction, and continued, "General Chu Yunfei called a few days ago and mentioned that your country's newly developed PPS43 submachine gun has excellent performance in urban attack and defense and close-range combat, and the production process is simple, making it very suitable for large-scale deployment.

Our Second Theater is currently under tremendous pressure on the front battlefield and is in urgent need of such weapons to enhance the close combat firepower of the troops.

Therefore, we hereby make a request to you, hoping to introduce the technical verification drawings of the PPS43 submachine gun so that we can produce it ourselves."

Fang Ligong spoke sincerely and directly to the point, clearly stating his own needs and the strategic significance of cooperation.

Qian Bojun added: "General, Colonel, as Chief of Staff Fang said, our army is in urgent need of new submachine guns.

If we can get technical support, it will not only be able to effectively kill the Japanese invaders, but also reduce your country's military pressure in the Far East. This will benefit both sides."

Lieutenant General Yevgeny heard this, his smile remained, but his tone was a bit official: "General Fang, General Qian, your troops fought bloody battles on the front battlefield and made great contributions to the world anti-fascist war. The Soviet people deeply admire this."

He changed the subject, revealing his businessman-like shrewdness: "The technology of the PPS43 submachine gun is indeed the result of the painstaking efforts of our country's ordnance experts. Its superior performance has been fully verified in battlefields such as Stalingrad, but..."

Yevgeni deliberately lengthened his tone, picked up the teacup in front of him, and gently blew away the foam. He glanced at Fang Ligong with a hint of amusement, "This kind of military technology is the core secret of our country's national defense. Its research and development has consumed huge manpower and material resources. If we want to transfer the technology, I'm afraid the price needs to be carefully considered."

Colonel Yakov remained silent throughout the whole process, but when Yevgeny mentioned the word "price", his eyebrows moved slightly and the pen in his hand stopped moving.

Fang Ligong understood clearly that Chu Yunfei and Commander Yan had already expected the Soviets to make such an exorbitant demand.

He remained calm and continued, "General, what you said is absolutely right. The transfer of any technology naturally requires a corresponding price.

Although our Second War Zone is not wealthy, we are willing to discuss with you with the utmost sincerity a plan that is acceptable to both parties.

For example, the high-quality tobacco, coal and some rare minerals that are produced in abundance in Shanxi can all be used as exchange conditions.

In addition, we have been fighting the Japanese army for a long time in North China and have mastered a lot of intelligence about the Japanese army's deployment, tactical characteristics and logistical supply, which can also be shared with you. "

"Tobacco? Minerals?" Lieutenant General Yevgeny sneered as if he had heard something funny. "General Fang, although we in the Soviet Union also need these things, compared with the PPS43, a weapon that can change the local situation on the battlefield, the quantity is probably far from enough."

He looked at Fang Ligong with an oppressive gaze: "From what I know, the United States seems to be more generous in its aid to your country.

The Thompson submachine gun has excellent performance. Why didn't your army seek assistance from the United States instead of seeking help from a distant country?"

This is obviously a question asked despite knowing the answer. The manufacturing cost of Thomson is high and it is impossible to be put into service on a large scale.

When Qian Bojun heard this, his face darkened and he was about to open his mouth to refute, but was stopped by Fang Ligong with a look.

Fang Ligong remained calm, and said in a neither humble nor arrogant tone: "General, you are wrong.

Although American equipment is good, its production process is complicated and the cost is high, which cannot quench immediate thirst with distant water.

Your country's PPS43 submachine gun is known for its easy production and low cost, and is more suitable for our current national conditions and military industrial base.

As for the so-called "giving up the near for the far", in my opinion, the two countries are closely connected and jointly fought against Japanese fascism, so how can there be any talk of near and far?"

He keenly caught the strange look in Colonel Yakov's eyes when Yevgeny mentioned American aid.

Fang Ligong's heart moved, and he wondered if the Soviet side had some concerns about the relationship between China and the United States?

Lieutenant General Yevgeny said with a wry smile: "General Fang's words make sense. But the transfer of technology is a serious matter, and it is not something I can decide alone.

We need to carefully evaluate the exchange conditions you can offer and the comprehensive impact of this move on our national interests."

The first round of negotiations quickly reached a deadlock due to the half-hearted probing by both sides and Lieutenant General Yevgeny's deliberate obstruction.

The Soviet side did not mention any specific conditions, but repeatedly emphasized the value of the technology and its own difficulties, obviously hoping to wait for a better price.

Fang Ligong and Qian Bo looked at each other and saw seriousness in each other's eyes.

This bone is harder to chew than expected.

As the sun sets in the west, the night of Dragon City quietly falls.

In the banquet hall specially set up at the commander's headquarters, the lights were on and the atmosphere was filled with the clinking of glasses.

Yan Laoxi did not show up today and only sent his deputy commander Yang Aiyuan to accompany him. Fang Ligong and Qian Bojun sat on both sides of the Soviet delegation. The atmosphere seemed warm on the surface, but there were undercurrents.

This is a contest without the smoke of gunpowder, and the clash of wine glasses is also a game of interests and wills between the two countries.

Fang Ligong raised his glass and said to Yevgeny with a smile: "General, Shanxi is not as prosperous as Moscow, but it also has some unique flavors. This 'fried meat' is a local specialty, please try it."

Yevgeny laughed, picked up the wine glass and drank it all, then unceremoniously picked up a piece of fried meat and put it into his mouth, chewed it for a few times, nodded and praised: "Hmm, it tastes good, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the aroma is fragrant! Your country's food culture is indeed profound!"

He praised the delicious food, but was thinking about the strategy for tomorrow's negotiations.

The urgent needs of the Republic of China made him feel that he had a sure win and he would be able to squeeze enough profit from this deal.

Qian Bojun sat next to Colonel Yakov.

He tried to gain a breakthrough with this seemingly calmer Soviet officer.

"Comrade Colonel." Qian Bojun lowered his voice and said with a somewhat sincere tone, "Now German fascism is raging in Europe, and Japanese militarism is rampant in Asia, and we are all deeply affected by them.

Our common goal is to defeat the common enemy as soon as possible.

If the PPS43 submachine gun can help our army, it will also indirectly help your country share the pressure. "

Upon hearing this, Colonel Yakov paused for a moment as he held the glass in his hand.

He raised his eyes to look at Qian Bojun, his gaze deep, as if he was thinking about something.

After a long while, he slowly spoke in a low voice: “I personally agree with what the general said.

As a soldier, I also long to completely eliminate the invaders from our land as soon as possible.

It’s just that exchanges between countries are often mixed with too many factors other than military.”

His words were spoken in a subtle way, but they also revealed a bit of helplessness.

Fang Ligong keenly caught this and exchanged glances with Qian Bojun.

It seems that Colonel Yakov is not as "profit-driven" as Yevgeny.

The banquet is over.

Fang Ligong took the opportunity of toasting and came to Yevgeny again.

"General, although there has been no substantial progress in today's negotiations, I believe that as long as both sides are sincere, we will be able to find a point of convergence for cooperation." Fang Ligong's tone remained unhurried: "Tomorrow morning, we will prepare a more detailed exchange plan and hope to discuss it in depth with you, General."

Lieutenant General Yevgeny narrowed his eyes, thinking that Fang Ligong was very patient. He laughed and raised his glass, saying, "Great! I am looking forward to General Fang's plan. Cheers to the common victory of our two countries!"

The banquet ended in a subtle atmosphere.

Fang Ligong and Qian Bojun sent the Soviet delegation to their accommodation before dragging their tired bodies back to their temporary offices.

"Old Qian, what do you think the Soviet Union is planning in this matter?" Fang Ligong asked, rubbing his swollen temples.

Qian Bojun sighed: "I think Yevgeni is a man who only cares about money and not people. He wants to take advantage of the situation and make a lot of money from us!
On the contrary, Colonel Yakov seems to have some conscience, maybe we can find a solution from him."

Fang Ligong pondered and said, "Well, Yakov is a very cunning man, and his words are very precise.

Although he did not make a clear statement, I feel that he is not completely opposed to this technical cooperation, and even intends to promote it. It is just that due to Yevgeny's attitude and domestic orders, he dare not give in easily. "

He stood up and paced a few steps, with a gleam in his eyes: "In tomorrow's negotiations, we must show greater sincerity, and at the same time, we must make it clear to them that we in Shanxi are not lambs to be slaughtered.

If we are pushed to the limit, we may not have no other choice!"

"Do you need to contact Chief Chu to report the situation?"

Fang Ligong shook his head and rejected Qian Bojun's proposal: "Since there is no progress at the moment, it is better not to disturb you..."

"Okay, I'll listen to you." Qian Bojun nodded slowly.

The next day, negotiations continued.

The atmosphere in the conference room seemed to be slightly more relaxed than yesterday.

According to the prior plan, Fang Ligong put forward a carefully prepared "interest bundling" plan.

In addition to increasing in-kind assistance such as tobacco and minerals, it was also proposed that the Soviet side could be given greater convenience in future intelligence sharing, handling of Japanese prisoners of war, and even limited tactical coordination with the Soviet army on certain specific battlefields.

After hearing this, Lieutenant General Yevgeny's smile faded a little, and a hint of excitement appeared in his eyes.

He had to admit that the conditions proposed by China were indeed more attractive than simple material exchanges.

In particular, intelligence sharing and tactical coordination have considerable strategic value for the Soviet Union, which is also facing pressure from the Japanese army in the Far East.

But at the same time, Fang Ligong also required his side to send relevant personnel to the Soviet Union to learn advanced military production technology, and to send some international students to some well-known universities in the Soviet Union to receive relevant education.

The price tag increased significantly, but the obligations that the Soviet Union needed to assume also increased significantly.

Colonel Yakov carefully studied the details of the plan and raised some technical questions from time to time. Fang Ligong and Qian Bojun patiently answered them one by one.

The atmosphere of the negotiations seems to be moving in a positive direction.

The two sides went back and forth, and although there were still differences on some key terms, at least substantive bargaining had begun.

Just when Fang Ligong was feeling a little optimistic and thought that there might be hope today, a confidential staff officer walked in hurriedly and whispered something in Fang Ligong's ear.

Fang Ligong's expression suddenly became solemn.

He signaled to Yevgeny with his eyes, requesting a temporary adjournment.

In the quiet lounge, Fang Ligong looked at the secret message in his hand with a frown.

Seeing this, Qian Bojun couldn't help but ask, "Lao Fang, what happened?"

Fang Ligong handed the telegram to Qian Bojun, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "Look for yourself, the guy from Shancheng has given us another 'surprise'!"

Qian Bojun took the telegram, read it quickly, and his face became gloomy.

The content of the telegram was very simple. Zhu Peiji, director of the Military and Political Ministry's secretariat, had been ordered by the chairman to rush to Longcheng overnight and would arrive soon.

Its purpose, needless to say, must be related to the negotiations on the introduction of submachine gun technology.

"Damn it!" Qian Bojun couldn't help but curse in a low voice, "Why did you come at this critical moment instead of earlier? Isn't it obvious that you are here to pick peaches and cause trouble for us?"

A hint of coldness flashed across Fang Ligong's eyes: "It's more than just causing trouble. I'm worried that the intervention of Shancheng will make all our previous efforts go to waste!"

He knew very well that once Shancheng intervened, the matter would no longer be a simple introduction of technology, but would inevitably involve more complicated factional interests and political games.

At that time, how can the interests of the Second War Zone be guaranteed?
What will happen to the little trust they had finally established with the Soviets?

Sure enough, just as the negotiations were about to end on the afternoon of the second day, the two sides had reached a preliminary consensus on some terms and were only waiting for their respective reports to be approved. At this time, the dusty Zhu Peiji, accompanied by several entourage, appeared outside the headquarters.

Fang Ligong and Qian Bojun had to temporarily suspend the negotiations and go to greet them.

"Commander Fang, Commander Qian, it has been nearly two years since we last met in Changzhi. I hope you are doing well!"

Zhu Peiji shook hands with the two men one by one with a hypocritical smile on his face, but his tone revealed an unquestionable authority.

After all, Fang Ligong and Qian Bojun are not Chu Yunfei, and there is a "代" in front of their positions.

The difference of one letter basically made them equals with each other as Zhu Peiji was the deputy director of the attendant office.

After a brief greeting, Zhu Peiji went straight to the point: "The Chairman deeply appreciates the technical cooperation with the Soviet comrades and the efforts made by your department to enhance the combat effectiveness of the national army.

I was specially ordered to come here to assist and guide the subsequent negotiations, and to strive for the greatest interests for the Party and the country."

"Assist in guidance?" Fang Ligong sneered in his heart, but his face remained calm. "Director Zhu has come a long way and has worked hard. We will do our best to cooperate with him."

The banquet that night was of a higher standard. Yang Aiyuan attended in person, while Zhu Peiji chatted and laughed with Yevgeny, appearing to be in a position to lead the negotiations.

Fang Ligong and Qian Bojun were sitting on the side, looking at Zhu Peiji's bossy look, and they both felt angry.

The next morning, the atmosphere at the negotiation table had changed drastically.

As soon as Zhu Peiji came to power, he completely overturned the initial agreement that Fang Ligong and others had finally reached with the Soviet side, and instead put forward a series of more demanding conditions.

Not only did they demand that the Soviet Union transfer technology at a lower price, they also demanded that the Soviet Union provide more technical support and personnel training, and even hinted that the US could "appropriately tilt" toward the Soviet Union in future distribution of US aid.

This statement not only made Lieutenant General Yevgeny furious, but also made him think that China was insincere and went back on its word.

Even the usually calm Colonel Yakov looked displeased.

"Director Zhu!" Lieutenant General Yevgeny slammed the table and shouted, "Your actions are a great disrespect to our Soviet Red Army!
We come to negotiate with sincerity, not to accept your charity or exploitation!
If this is your country's negotiating attitude, then I think there is no need to continue discussing this cooperation!"

Colonel Yakov also said coldly: “Technical cooperation should be based on equality and mutual benefit.

To be frank, the conditions proposed by Director Zhu have far exceeded the normal business scope and have too many political attachments.

This is not in line with the fundamental interests of our two countries in jointly fighting fascism.”

Zhu Peiji did not seem to take the Soviets' anger to heart, and continued to speak slowly: "Please calm down, Generals. I am just following orders.

The chairman believes that China and the Soviet Union are both members of the anti-fascist alliance, and your country should show greater sincerity and vision in technical assistance. "

He smiled meaningfully and said, "I believe you two are also aware that the current domestic policy direction of the United States is to first eliminate the Japanese on the Taipingyan battlefield, and then fully assist Europe. As for the degree of tilt of American aid, it depends on your performance in this cooperation."

The negotiations once again fell into a more deadlocked situation than the first day.

Fang Ligong looked at the scene in front of him, his heart filled with powerlessness and anger.

he knows.

Because of the arrival of Zhu Peiji and the greed of the mountain city he represented.

Shancheng basically holds a hostile attitude towards the Soviets and is determined to gain the greatest benefits in this round of cooperation.

Even because of the expeditionary battlefield, Chang Ruiyuan had already planned to fully side with Britain, the United States and other countries after the war.

This crucial introduction of submachine gun technology seems to be full of twists and turns, and there is even the possibility of complete failure.

He looked out the window. The sky of Longcheng was still shrouded in industrial waste gas, just like his mood at the moment.

This game concerning the future has become increasingly difficult due to internal constraints. The negotiation process has been completely disrupted with the arrival of Zhu Peiji.

Fang Ligong and Qian Bojun looked at each other, exchanged opinions in a low voice, and immediately decided to interrupt this round of negotiations.

"Director Zhu, Mr. Yevgeny, in my opinion, this round of consultations should be suspended. I will make a decision after consulting my superiors."

(End of this chapter)