Beiyang reactionaries

Who said that most of the people with military background are straightforward.In Alexander Cadogan's view, politicians with military backgrounds are far more cunning than ordinary politicians.Whether it is China's Prime Minister Duan Xun or Japan's Prime Minister Tanaka Yoshiichi, they all came from the army.Duan Xun was an army general appointed by the Beiyang government in his early years, and Tanaka Yoshiichi was also a general of the Japanese army.But both of them are more difficult to deal with than ordinary politicians.

So Alexander Cadogan changed the subject and said, "Prime Minister Duan, I see that your country has been expanding its military in the past two years. I wonder how many troops your country needs?"

"Army expansion?"

Duan Xun showed a very surprised look, and said: "Ambassador Cadogan is talking about this matter. This is not a secret. Our country is a big country. It has a large area and a large population, so it needs a lot of troops. Therefore, we have a meeting At that time, there was a plan for our country's standing army. Our cabinet believes that, based on our country's current land area and population size, our country's standing army should be maintained at about 300 million. If the air force and navy are added, then our country's standing army should be maintained at More than 350 million. We have increased recruitment and recruit training in the past two years to achieve this goal."

Duan Xun said it very easily.

But Alexander Cadogan didn't sound so relaxed.At present, the speed of Germany's military expansion is getting faster and faster, but the combined forces of all German services are less than one million troops.But even if it is less than a million troops, Britain and France have already attached great importance to it, and they dare not be careless.France even signed the "French-Soviet Mutual Assistance Treaty" with the Soviet Union to restrict Germany.But looking at China today, 300 million troops and 350 million troops are just casual words.

It's as simple as drinking water.

"Prime Minister Duan, this is an era of peace. Feeding so many troops is not good for peace."

"Ambassador Cadogan, you are joking."

Duan Xun looked straight at Alexander Cadogan and said: "The population of our country is more than ten times that of your country, and the area is forty times that of your country. Of course, the size of the standing army should be more than ten times that of your country. Even if it is two Ten times more is not too much. The size of our standing army is 300 million, or 350 million, which is a normal size. China is a peace-loving country, and our nation is a peace-loving nation. People who have come out understand the cruelty of war better than anyone else, so they hope for world peace more than anyone else. I will never admit that we are not good for world peace. If we really want to destroy peace and really want to fight, it will What is the military? With the size of our population, our industrial scale, and our reserve service system, I can expand the army by 500 million within three months and 1000 million within a year. Because I have enough people who have received military training The trained reserve force also has enough weapons and equipment to arm so many troops, and has enough ammunition production capacity. Ambassador Cadogan, what do you think?"

Alexander Cadogan frowned slightly.

But at the same time suddenly woke up.

Yeah, why would Germany look for China.Because China has money, people, and strength.Since the world economic crisis, the biggest buyer in the world is China.In recent years, 60% of the world's machinery and equipment exports have been bought by China.Even when there are many imported machinery and equipment, the proportion even exceeds 70%.Even if the third five-year plan is different from the second five-year plan, a lot of things still need to be imported.In particular, there is a large demand for construction machinery, so the import of machinery and equipment for the production of construction machinery has suddenly increased a lot.So now China's annual imports are amazing.

And look at the industrial data released by China, this is the national strength.Now Duan Xun casually said 500 million, 1000 million, and he didn't feel any difficulty at all.If it was Duan Xun's nonsense, Alexander Cadogan would not say anything.But the problem is that Duan Xun is not talking nonsense.China does have the strength to arm and mobilize so many troops.Even mobilizing and arming more troops is not difficult for China.

Alexander Cadogan knew that.

Regardless of the strength of the Chinese army, the scale of the Chinese army is already frightening.Thinking of this, Alexander Cadogan immediately put his original idea of ​​questioning Duan Xun behind him.Because he suddenly understood Germany and why Hitler tried to win over China.Compared with Britain, which claims to be the best in diplomacy, it lags behind in this respect.

Alexander Cadogan quickly figured out this verse.So he immediately smiled and said: "I heard that China is seeking to produce a new aircraft carrier and a new aircraft production line."

"I heard that China is seeking to produce a new aircraft carrier, as well as a new aircraft production line."

"Correct."

Duan Xun nodded.

Without any concealment, he said directly: "Our country has a long coastline and a vast land, so the development of the air force and navy is indispensable. However, our industry started slowly, so the industrial foundation is poor, and the accumulation of various technologies is insufficient. There are many problems in the construction of the navy and the air force. Therefore, our country needs the support of industrial powers, their funds, their technology, and their machinery and equipment. Therefore, our country has decided to introduce a complete set of technical support from industrial powers, and Directly purchase a complete set of production lines from industrial powerhouses."

seller and buyer.

It is a very interesting phenomenon.

Buyer's market and seller's market, different situations cause different groups to become strong.These things are never set in stone.No one can say that the seller is strong, nor can it be said that the buyer is strong.Different situations will cause different parties to become the strong one.Just like the current world, the economic crisis is not completely over.The Great Depression that started in the United States spread to the entire world and turned into a global economic crisis.

Industrial powerhouses around the world have been affected.

Britain is considered the least affected because they have a vast colony.But that doesn't mean the UK hasn't been affected.Therefore, in recent years, the buyer is very important.

In the past few years, no matter how our diplomatic relations are, the world powers have not despised the Chinese government, but have actively launched economic cooperation with China.Because in recent years, China has been one of the most powerful buyers in the world.

It is also the favorite country of the financial capital of European and American powers.

Because after the Great Recession, struggling businesses wanted loans.But financial capital doesn't believe them, and thinks they don't have the strength to repay.When the general environment is bad, these companies with poor operating conditions may go bankrupt at any time, so financial capital does not lend them money.And those powerful companies, in order to survive the cold winter, are cautious and will not take loans at will.The result is that financial capital has taken a big hit.

For financial capital, money can only make money if it keeps circulating.But if deposits cannot be loaned out, financial capital cannot make money.Therefore, during the Great Depression, European and American financial capital was very uncomfortable.

It just so happens that China is different.

Starting from the Chinese government, many large Chinese companies are willing to borrow from European and American powers.Not only the Chinese government needs a lot of loans, but Chinese national enterprises also need a lot of loans to purchase the machinery and equipment they need.The Chinese government and Chinese businessmen add up, and the loan amount is very considerable.The result is that the financial capital of European and American countries likes Chinese buyers, and the industrial capital of European and American powers also likes Chinese buyers.

Financial capital likes loans from Chinese buyers, and industrial capital likes Chinese buyers to buy a large amount of machinery, equipment and technology.

In this process, China has both sides among the European and American powers.

Not only borrow a lot from the United States, buy a lot of machinery and equipment, and introduce a lot of talents.They also borrowed from Europe to buy a lot of cheap machinery and equipment, and introduced their technology.

China has really caught up with the historical opportunity.

Now Duan Xun is showing off, and said to Alexander Cadogan: "Ambassador Cadogan, our country is too backward now, we need to import too much machinery and equipment, and we also need technical support from industrial powers. At present, the German Bank is willing to Give our country a loan of 4.7 million marks to purchase German machinery and equipment to support the technology we need. This includes aircraft production lines, tank production lines, truck production lines, and a complete set of ship parts production lines. Germany is also willing to send their latest aircraft and tanks , trucks, and warships to share with us.”

Nothing is hidden.

How could China casually sign the "Anti-Comintern Pact" with Germany?At present, although China also needs the support of Germany and Japan, compared with Germany, China's needs are not urgent.

Because at the moment, China is under little pressure.

Around China, apart from the Soviet Union in the north, there is no other country that directly threatens China.As far as the Japanese military is concerned, the navy currently overwhelms the army, and "going south" overwhelms "going north".As for Britain and France in the Nanyang region, it would be good to pray that China does not threaten them.The Soviet Union in the north has just begun to reorganize its troops in the Far East.In terms of strength, China still has an advantage in the Far East.

The real pressure is Germany.

Because Germany is surrounded by enemies of Germany.Therefore, Germany needs the support of China and Japan most now, and hopes that China and Japan can contain the Soviet Union, Britain, and France in the Far East.

That being the case, how can Germany do without some blood.

What China wants is German loans, German machinery and equipment, and German technology.China likes long-term loans. A loan is at least 15 years, and some loans are even 20 years or [-] years.Of course, under the economic crisis, European and American financial capital also like long-term loans.Because long-term loans can obtain stable income every year, it is the best solution when the economy is not good.China's annual import and export volume is so large, and the collateral is quite stable, so they are also assured of long-term loans to China.

What Duan Xun is most afraid of now is the loan.

Especially this kind of long-term loan.

After the outbreak of World War II, the war can be used as an excuse to temporarily suspend the payment of these loans.It will be much easier to continue paying the loan after the war is over.So Duan Xun is very supportive of the government's massive loans from European and American countries.

In addition to loans, Duan Xun currently attaches the most importance to military cooperation and industrial cooperation with Germany.At this stage, China needs the support of Germany in military technology and the support of Germany in industrial technology.

After China, Japan and Germany signed the contract this time, the cooperation between China and Germany has deepened.

"Prime Minister Duan, when it comes to machinery and technology, I can assure you that the empire is the best in the world."

"of course."

Duan Xun nodded.

He said with certainty: "Britain is the birthplace of modern civilization and the birthplace of modern industry. This is beyond doubt. British machinery and equipment and British technology are the best in the world. This is also true of our country. Very sure."

"Prime Minister Duan, since this is the case, I think our two countries can also have more foundations for cooperation."

Although in history, Alexander Cadogan, like British Prime Minister Chamberlain, has left "notoriety" because of the "appeasement policy".Even history books keep satirizing these people.But this is only a wrong choice they chose under special circumstances.Even their wrong choices have a strong public opinion base.

But later people don't care about that.

But although they have been criticized a lot, it doesn't mean they are really fools.

In fact, whether Chamberlain or Alexander Cadogan, they are all excellent government workers.Alexander Cadogan has been in the diplomatic arena and has been professionally competent.

This time, he originally wanted to question Duan Xun, but also to warn Duan Xun a little.