An extraordinary life journey through old Beijing courtyard houses

In other words, even if you do nothing, the money is enough to support a two-year war.

But history played a cruel joke—

Why did this seemingly insurmountable advantage, built on real money, ultimately become Chiang Kai-shek's "bankruptcy liquidation"?

Behind Chiang Kai-shek's boastful claim that "the advantage lies with me" was a "shopping cart" overflowing with weapons.

With a stroke of the pen, the US sold the remaining warships, aircraft, and artillery from the Pacific theater to the Kuomintang for a "fire sale" price of $1.5 million.

John Bull went even further, directly advertising a "World War II weapons clearance sale" with a "GG" sign:

The Sherman tank, originally priced at 100 million, is now available for 30, with free shipping!

To give an explanation to the domestic audience, the American advisory group wrote in their report: "The equipment level of the National Revolutionary Army is the best in Asia."

What wasn't written was that half of these weapons lay rusting in the warehouse, while the other half were resold on the black market.

Even Chiang Kai-shek's close associates admitted: "The more American aid there is, the more rampant the corruption becomes."

Therefore, the turning point came faster than lightning!

In less than two years, the ruling party's political, economic, and public support systems collapsed one after another!

Even the military, which was built with massive amounts of money and was initially the most confident in, collapsed!

In 1948, when the East China Field Army used captured American-made 155mm howitzers to breach Fengkai City, the gun barrels were still engraved with "Made in USA".

Meanwhile, Chiang Kai-shek's "American-equipped ace strategists" collectively became "equipment movers"—

They moved weapons and equipment from their own warehouse into the hands of the enemy.

The Americans were furious: "Where are the planes we gave you? Why isn't our air superiority working?"

The answer is staggering: of the 1200 fighter jets, 300 were grounded due to lack of spare parts, and nearly half of them were surrendered by their pilots.

Even the remaining fuel was so scarce that it could only fly as far as the mahjong table.

Why all this explanation? Because this is why Tom came to plant flowers—

To expose Chiang Kai-shek's corruption and incompetence, thereby undermining the US government.

Yes, the US isn't a monolithic entity. When they provide hundreds of millions in aid, many people are envious and feel sorry for them.

In an effort to save Chiang Kai-shek, the United States enacted the Foreign Aid Act in April 1948.

Earlier this month, the United States and Chiang Kai-shek renewed the Agreement on Economic Assistance.

As a result, the United States allocated $4.63 million within a year, of which $3.38 million (actually $2.75 million) was "economic aid" and $1.25 million was "special grants".

The annual expenditure of Chiang Kai-shek's army was only a little over one hundred million.

The Americans are really going all out for their reactionary purposes.

Clearly, Tom's purpose in coming here was to sabotage things, or at least to embarrass the officials.

As for Jiang Baobin, he just chuckled and said, "Whatever you do is none of my business."

As long as I get paid on time every day after get off work, everything will be fine.

Who would speak well of a completely rotten regime? Nobody's a fool.

On the tricycle.

Tom kept clicking the shutter.

Thus: a towering but dilapidated city gate; a wide but desolate square; numerous but terrified starving people; mountains of stinking garbage...

He collected them all on film.

Furthermore, on one side are wage earners carrying sacks of banknotes, and on the other side are street vendors who would rather barter than accept cash...

Undoubtedly, everything has collapsed, and people have gone to two extremes: either apathy or resentment.

However, there is one view that is prevalent among people: take it one day at a time.

As for the future, well, who knows?

"Jiang, what do you think of this city?" Tom asked casually, rubbing his sore eyes.

How am I supposed to watch this? I'll just sit here and watch! Jiang Baobin thought to himself.

Starting from the Daoguang era, we have been robbed by you, and we have signed so many humiliating treaties that have ceded our sovereignty.

You have the nerve to ask me what I think of this city? If it weren't for you bandits running rampant, it would be a disaster.

Growing flowers would be ten or a hundred times better than it is now.

But what could we do? In the past hundred years, we have caught up with the rapid advancement of Western science and technology.

Emperors like Qianlong and Empress Dowager Cixi only knew how to close the country off from the world, and in the end, the once glorious nation suffered a century of humiliation!

However, from the perspective of later generations, being beaten is actually normal. Who told you to be ignorant and backward?

In the jungle world, if you don't become a lion that eats meat, you'll only become meat for lions to eat.

However, this is definitely not something Tom wants to hear.

As an employee, Jiang Baobin understands the need to flatter his boss.

So this guy started to self-criticize on behalf of the high-ranking officials in Beiping: "It's really shameful; the city should have been built much better."

"At least we shouldn't have mud and garbage everywhere after it rains, and we shouldn't have garbage piling up in the city."

"The stench permeates the entire city, which not only affects the quality of life but also poses a safety hazard."

"If this is not handled properly, it could cause a major outbreak of infectious diseases. This should not be allowed, it really should not be allowed."

Tom laughed: "No, this is nothing. London, Paris, and New York were like this a hundred or two hundred years ago."

"Do you know the biggest advantage of high heels? It's that when high-ranking officials walk through sewage, they don't have to worry about getting their feet dirty."

Seeing Jiang Baobin's incredulous expression, Tom burst into laughter.

Then, pointing to a group of people, he asked, "What did you see?"

The scene is actually very simple: a group of people are surrounding a beggar who has fallen to the ground.

Jiang Baobin replied, "I saw apathy; most people were just there to watch the spectacle."

Tom gestured for the rickshaw driver to ride over, then sighed:

"A numb nation has no hope; therefore, I conclude that this regime is doomed!"

"Even without a powerful enemy to fight against it, its demise is only a matter of time."

Tom jumped out of the car, parted the crowd, and bent down to press his fingers against the beggar's neck.

Perhaps because of the foreigners, people automatically moved to both sides.

His expression held a hint of curiosity and confusion.

Not long after, Tom stood up straight and shook his head regretfully at Jiang Baobin.

After getting back into the car, he asked curiously, "Tom, what would you do if he wasn't dead?"

Tom shrugged: "Give him some water, buy some food, that's about it."

He patted Jiang Baobin on the shoulder, as if explaining to him, and also as if telling himself:

"Chiang, we are just human beings, not gods."

"I see."

Tom shook his head: "Journalism is a terrible profession because you witness too much darkness and suffering."

"Therefore, many journalists either become complete villains, or simply go insane and commit suicide!"

"I don't want to become any kind of person, which is why I refuse to be numb, and I certainly don't want to become a cold-blooded animal."

"In situations like the one just described, I would offer some help, not so much to be a good person, but for peace of mind."

"Do you understand what I mean, Chiang?"

"I think I understand. You don't want to be a pushover, but you also don't want to be a callous and arrogant guy."