Beiyang reactionaries

Duan Xun does not care about the specific cooperation method.

Those specific things are not within the scope of Duan Xun's work.When Duan Xun and Luang Phibun Songkham met, they talked about general direction and strategic issues.If the two people reach an agreement on the general direction, then the cabinet will naturally send someone to discuss specific matters with them.

It will involve various aspects of political cooperation, military cooperation, and economic cooperation.

Luang Phibun Songkham was silent.

He wanted to think about what Duan Xun meant.What Duan Xun said was cloudy and foggy. If it was only on the surface, nothing could be seen at all, so this needs to be understood by Luang Phibun Songkham himself.Fortunately, although Luang Phibun Songkham is a soldier, he is a very shrewd political figure.

What Duan Xun said, he thought about it carefully for a while, and slowly figured out something.Duan Xun talked about the relationship between the Ming and Qing dynasties and Thailand, and said that the Thai envoys came to the Ming and Qing dynasties.Speaking of that time, Thailand sent envoys to pay tribute to the Ming and Qing dynasties.And at that time, even the legitimacy of the Thai royal family needed to be recognized by the Ming and Qing dynasties.In other words, Thailand at that time was still one of China's protectorates.

When the Ming and Qing dynasties were strong, many surrounding countries were protectorates of China.At that time, China was the largest country in Asia, and it should be said that it was the suzerain country of Asia.How many surrounding countries pay tribute to China, and how many countries' cultures are influenced by Chinese culture.

It's just that later the European and American powers came to Asia and broke the Asian order.Because of China's slow decline, it lost those protectorates and its influence in Asia.Now that Duan Xun is bringing up the events of that year again, this is a hint.

It is a naked ambition for China to restore its position in Asia.Luang Phibun Songkham hesitated.After all, Thailand is currently an ally of Japan, so why not defect to China now?

But soon Luang Phibun Songkham figured it out.

Didn't I go north this time just to seek refuge in China.Anyway, swinging left and right is their skill.In Luang Phibun Songkham's heart, "The losers are their enemies, and the victors are their allies."Whether it is China or Japan, if it is beneficial to itself, it is an ally, and if it is unfavorable, it is an enemy.

So he quickly said: "The friendship between China and Asian countries is formed in history, and we should inherit the friendship handed down from our ancestors."

"Prime Minister Songkham, you are right."

Duan Xun smiled.

Duan Xun likes to talk to smart people.In fact, Duan Xun doesn't care what Luang Phibun Songkham thinks in his heart, nor does he care whether he really wants to make friends with China from the bottom of his heart.There is no such pure friendship between countries.

When China falls, how many of those allies will never leave.

Blaming those small countries for their lack of loyalty and double-faced swords are all childish words.For small countries, they also have to survive and have their own interests.It is impossible to be buried with other countries.

Your own strength is the most important thing.

Those friendships were preconditions.As long as China is stable, these surrounding countries will continue to maintain their friendship with China.When China needs them, they will naturally stand up.Just that is enough.

Therefore, he said: "Prime Minister Songkham, I believe that through the efforts of our two countries, our traditional friendship will definitely be pushed forward."

"Yes."

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"Prime Minister Songkham, you should know. Foreign exchange was precious during the war years. It is impossible for us to spend foreign exchange to buy rice and cassava from your country."

"I understand."

Luang Phibun Songkham and Duan Xun did not talk too much, only about two hours in total.Then Duan Xun invited Luang Phibun Songkham for lunch, and thus ended the meeting with Luang Phibun Songkham.Unless there are some important matters, the meeting between Duan Xun and Luang Phibun Songkham will be over this time.

During the whole process, Duan Xun did not talk about anything specifically, and occasionally talked about the glorious history of China, and also talked about the current world war.If we say that the only thing we talk about specifically is about the development of the Mekong River.

Xun is very interested in the Mekong section.

Because the Mekong really matters.Whoever controls the Mekong River is equivalent to controlling Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, because the Mekong River directly passes through these four countries.These countries are inseparable from the Mekong River.So Duan Xun and Luang Phibun Songkham talked about how to develop the Mekong River, how to make good use of the shipping here, and how to use the Mekong River to increase the cooperation between the two sides.It is also proposed that China and Thailand each send gunboats to form Mekong patrol forces to protect shipping on the Mekong River.

Others pulled a lot.

However, both of them are smart people, and they know what they mean when they don't speak clearly.Duan Xun always recalls when China was strong in the past, and always talks about the "friendship" between China and Asian countries in the past.Of course Luang Phibun Songkham understood what Duan Xun meant.China is now strong and ready to restore the power and influence of China back then.

Luang Phibun Songkham clearly told Duan Xun that Thailand supports China.

This is the purpose of meeting Duan Xun and Luang Phibun Songkham.Duan Xun hadn't cared about the affairs of Southeast Asia before, in order to allow Japan to completely smash the forces of Britain, the United States, France and the Netherlands. When Japan's troubles were almost over, Duan Xun was ready to take over Southeast Asia.So Duan Xun has been quietly watching Japan's development of power in Southeast Asia.

It's almost time now.

Duan Xun wants to slowly strengthen relations with Southeast Asian countries.Including getting in touch with those national liberation leaders in Southeast Asia, and slowly increasing China's influence in these areas.Only in this way, when Japan withdraws from Southeast Asia in the future, China will smoothly penetrate into Southeast Asian countries.

Thailand is the first.

After all, even if other countries in Southeast Asia have established governments, they are all Japanese puppet governments, and they must listen to Japan in everything they do.The government agencies of those governments, the military, and the police system, the Japanese have sent so-called advisers.Many of those consultants are too emperor, with great power, directly in charge of power.It is equivalent to saying that those countries are all Japanese colonial governments.

Only Thailand is different.

Although also influenced by Japan, Thailand was smart enough to keep its own independent status.Thailand's politics, military, and economy are still independent.Therefore, winning over Thailand will be of great use to China's next deployment in Southeast Asia.

During the whole process, Duan Xun was neither too affectionate nor indifferent, but just talked with Luang Phibun Songkham very calmly.But Luang Phibun Songkham didn't feel wrong.Because China is a big country and a powerful country in Asia, Duan Xun is the leader of China.If Duan Xun is too enthusiastic, it is a problem, but it will make Luang Piwen Songkan panic.Duan Xun's attitude now, in Luang Phibun Songkham's view, is the attitude that a leader of a big country should have.

After Duan Xun and Luang Phibun Songkham discussed the general direction, the specific matters were handed over to the cabinet.However, because of Thailand's special status in Southeast Asia, Prime Minister Dai Kan personally talked with him.

Luang Phibun Somkham's first request was simple.

That is to sell unsalable agricultural products to China. This is Luang Phibun Songkham's biggest idea.Only by selling those unsalable items can Thailand become rich and solve the current economic problems in Thailand.When you have money in your hand, you can speak easily.

But Dai Kan will not pay.

China's foreign exchange is very valuable.Needless to say, gold reserves are the most important guarantee for China to stabilize its currency in the future.As for the US dollars in China's hands, and a small amount of British pounds, they are all useful.Because even now, China still needs to buy a lot of machinery and equipment from Europe and the United States, and there are still many technologies that need to be imported from Europe and the United States.Therefore, it is no small matter to use every penny of the foreign exchange owned by China.It is impossible to waste foreign exchange in order to buy those agricultural products from Thailand, especially those agricultural products that do not have to be imported.

"Prime Minister Dai, I heard that when your country did business with Germany 20 years ago, both sides lacked foreign exchange, so they adopted the method of bartering."

"Correct."

"Prime Minister Dai, see if we can adopt such an approach."

Luang Phibun Songkham made a lot of preparations for his visit to China this time.

Especially with regard to economic issues, he thought a lot.Gold in troubled times, if China uses gold to buy these agricultural products, it is of course the best thing.But Luang Phibun Songkham knows that it is not China that asks of itself, but that it is asking China to buy its own agricultural products.So it is impossible for China to come up with precious gold.

So what is the only way?

Luang Phibun Somkham thought of it.Exchange their own agricultural products for Chinese things.Bartering is currently the most suitable trade method between China and Thailand.

"of course can."

Dai Kan smiled.

Thailand's size is too small, and China's root hair is enough for Thailand.China is now buying Thailand's agricultural products in order to tie Thailand together.In fact, there is not much demand for rice and cassava in China.

Bartering is a method adopted by China and Germany, including China and Japan, because of the lack of foreign exchange.The situation in China and Thailand is similar now, so bartering is a good way.

"I don't know what kind of products your country wants?"

"Daily necessities."

Luang Phibun Songkham spoke immediately.

The current situation is that things from Thailand cannot be sold.However, too few daily necessities are imported, which has led to a sharp rise in domestic daily necessities prices, which has led to soaring domestic prices in Thailand.If there is a batch of daily necessities, it will be able to suppress domestic daily necessities prices and stabilize domestic prices.As long as domestic prices are stabilized, half of Thailand's economic problems can be solved.

"It's the little things."