World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

"I'm telling you, every country makes its choices based on its own interests," Chen Feng said. "Currently, Lanfang's interests lie in maintaining the status quo, in keeping the war moderate but not escalating, and in letting Europe deplete itself while we develop. Merika's entry into the war will disrupt this balance and force us to recalculate everything."

He walked back to the table, but this time he didn't sit down.

"Mr. President, I am not threatening you, I am pleading—I am pleading with you to reconsider. Not for Lanfang, but for Meilika herself, for the future of the world. An escalating war will benefit no one except those who sell weapons and death."

Wilson also walked back to the table. The two faced each other across the three-meter-wide table, like two chess players watching a game that had already reached the middle stage.

“Mr. Chen,” Wilson said softly, “I want you to understand my situation. As President of Mexico, my primary responsibility is to protect the citizens of Mexico. When they are killed on the high seas, I must respond. When Congress and the people demand action, I must act. It is not the ideal option, but it may be the only one.”

"So you've made up your mind."

"I must submit a message to Congress within 48 hours." Wilson did not answer directly, but his meaning was clear.

Chen Feng nodded. He knew it had to end there. All the debate, all the logic, all the visions, were no match for the weight of forty-three lives, no match for the ironclad laws of political reality.

"Well," he said, "I have only one last request."

"Please speak."

"Whatever decision you make, remember our conversation today. Remember the consequences of escalating war, remember the possibility of peace. If one day, when enough blood has been shed, when reason returns, please give peace a chance."

Wilson looked at Chen Feng with a complex expression. There was respect, regret, helplessness, and a deep weariness.

"I will remember this," he said. "And I want to thank you, Mr. Chen. Thank you for your frank exchange, thank you for offering a different perspective. At a time when everyone is calling for war, it is very precious to hear a rational voice."

He stretched out his hand.

Chen Feng grasped it. This time, the handshake lasted longer than ever before.

"Mr. President," Chen Feng concluded, "Merica's decision will expand a war that was originally confined to Europe to the whole world. This is a tragedy for all mankind."

"I know," Wilson said softly, "but sometimes, regret is unavoidable."

The handshake ends.

The talks have ended.

But just as Chen Feng and Wang Wenwu were about to leave, Lan Xin suddenly spoke up.

"Mr. Chen, before we conclude, there is one more question."

Chen Feng turned around: "Mr. Secretary of State?"

Lansing pulled a document from the folder and placed it on the table: "This is an intelligence summary. It concerns Lanfang's efforts over the past two years to transport troops to Europe through Japan."

The air in the room, which had just begun to ease, froze again.

Wang Wenwu glanced at Chen Feng subconsciously, but Chen Feng's expression remained unchanged.

"According to our intelligence," Lansing continued, "Lanfang reached an agreement with the Japanese government: Lanfang would provide funding and equipment, while Japan would recruit soldiers to form the 'Far East Army Y' and send them to the European battlefield. Currently, more than 300,000 Japanese soldiers are fighting on the Western Front, nominally employed by Germany, but in reality... they are organized and funded by Lanfang."

He raised his head and looked directly at Chen Feng: "Mr. Chen, you just said that Lanfang is a neutral country and hopes to maintain the status quo. But sending 80,000 soldiers to the battlefield doesn't seem like something a neutral country should do."

The question is sharp and dangerous.

Chen Feng remained silent for a few seconds, then slowly walked back to the table, but did not sit down.

"Mr. Secretary of State, what are the official identities of these soldiers you're referring to?" he asked.

"They were 'international laborers,' employed by the German government to perform logistical and support work. But according to battlefield reports, they were actually engaged in combat missions."

"So, were they wearing Japanese military uniforms? Or were they wearing Lanfang military uniforms? Were they incorporated into the Lanfang army? Were they under the direct command of Lanfang commanders?"

Lansing hesitated for a moment: "...No. They wear German uniforms and have their own command structure."

"Then they're not soldiers, they're mercenaries," Chen Feng said. "And mercenaries are legal under international law. During the War of Independence, Monica employed soldiers from the German state of Hesse, and Britain used Swiss mercenaries in the Crimean War. This doesn't violate the principle of neutrality."

"But in terms of scale and nature..."

"The scale was determined by the Japanese government, and the nature was defined by the employment contract," Chen Feng interrupted him. "What Lanfang did was simply provide a business opportunity: Europe needed labor, Japan had surplus labor, and we acted as intermediaries to facilitate the transaction. Just like the Meilika Company selling steel to Britain, it was a normal business transaction."

He looked at Wilson: "Mr. President, if you believe this violates the principle of neutrality, then wouldn't the billions of dollars in loans that Milicia provided to Britain also be considered to be influencing the war? Those loans allowed Britain to buy more weapons, hire more soldiers, and prolong the war. By that logic, Milicia is not truly neutral either."

The counterattack was sharp and accurate.

Wilson didn't answer. He knew Chen Feng was right—in international law, mercenary recruitment and commercial loans fall into a gray area. Unless regular troops are directly deployed, it's difficult to define it as participation in a war.

Lansing persisted: "But Mr. Chen, the weapons, equipment, and training used by these 'mercenaries' all come from Lanfang. Their organizational structure, logistics system, and command chain are all closely linked to the Lanfang military. This essentially constitutes indirect participation in the war."

"Where's the evidence?" Chen Feng asked directly.

Lansing paused. He had intelligence, but no concrete evidence. Lanfang was extremely careful in this regard; all financial transactions went through third-party banks, all equipment was labeled as "civilian supplies," and all communications were conducted through intermediaries.

"We have reason to believe..." he tried to continue.

"Belief is not evidence," Chen Feng said. "Mr. Secretary of State, in international politics, we can speculate and doubt each other, but ultimately, we need to act based on facts and rules. Lanfang has adhered to all the literal provisions of international law and the principle of neutrality. As for the spirit... every country has its own interpretation."

He paused, his tone softening slightly: "But I must tell you the truth. Yes, Lanfang is cooperating with Sakura. But not to help Germany win the war, but to solve Sakura's economic and social problems. Sakura has a large number of unemployed youths, and if they have no jobs and no income, they will become a destabilizing factor in society. We provide a channel for them to go to Europe to work, earn foreign exchange, and learn skills, while also alleviating the pressure within Sakura. It's a win-win situation."

"But they killed people on the battlefield," Lansing said.