Chapter 181: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 181: Sanhao Tank Production Line

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi had long been prepared for the bad news William brought.

Hans State now had a mindset of wanting everything: it wanted Wang Jingwei Regime to restrain Mao Xiong State in the Far East region, wanted Xia Guo to restrain Japan, and wanted to gain something from Xia Guo and Lv Muzhi.

William wore a smile, leaning slightly forward: "Lv, let's get straight to the point. The penicillin samples you provided have caused a sensation in our high-level circles.

A high-ranking person in our country developed a severe infection after surgery; all sulfonamide drugs were ineffective, and his life hung in the balance.

Your penicillin pulled him back from the hands of death within twenty-four hours. After military evaluation, this drug will be a very important strategic reserve in possible future large-scale combat."

Lv Muzhi poured tea for himself and William without changing expression: "So, the good news is that you recognize its value. Then, how many do you want?"

"We don't insist on production technology, because I know that's not something you can control. We only request that within two years, you deliver at least twenty thousand units of penicillin to us as a strategic reserve. We need to establish our own strategic reserve depot."

William extended five fingers: "In return, we can immediately provide you with one hundred specially modified BF-109 fighter planes free of charge. These fighters will be equipped with our excellent 20mm cannons, enough to easily tear apart any enemy fighter currently appearing on the Far East battlefield. This is crucial for consolidating your air superiority."

Lv Muzhi gently blew on the steam from his teacup and shook his head: "William, my friend, one hundred fighter planes sounds not bad, but only planes? What about tanks? Send two more companies, twenty-four long-barreled Sanhao tanks."

"Penicillin, to be honest, isn't anything expensive. Its value lies in its monopoly, while your planes and tanks, though good—twenty thousand units of penicillin, if I put them on the black market, do you know how much money I could make?"

"You name your price. I want the Sanhao tank production line."

William frowned: "Lv, you must understand our difficulties. The BF-109 is our most advanced fighter plane. Providing one hundred already entails considerable risk. If the quantity is too many, it would be hard to explain to our new eastern friend. You understand what I mean—Japan is our new friend in the Far East."

"I understand." Lv Muzhi put down his teacup. "But just a few planes aren't enough. This thing currently can't win me too much advantage on the ground."

Lv Muzhi picked up a thick stack of documents beside him and pushed them in front of William: "This is the combat report of Zhou Weiguo Armored Tank Regiment, detailing multiple battles including the surprise attack on Japan's heavy artillery position."

"Inside, it focuses on analyzing the devastating strike effect of tank clusters' high-speed maneuvering against enemy traditional infantry, cavalry, and logistics nodes. Especially against cavalry..."

Lv Muzhi paused, observed William, and continued: "The report points out that before modern armored forces equipped with automatic weapons, any form of cavalry charge is tantamount to suicide. Steel, speed, and firepower are the masters of the future land battlefield."

William shook his head with a smile, but there was not a ripple in his heart.

Lv Muzhi leaned over and asked: "Providing you twenty thousand units of penicillin over two years—you must have some major operation, right? That plan? Is it settled?"

Taking the report, William feigned composure and flipped through it quickly. Especially when seeing that the 38T tank used its excellent mobility to outflank, and that the Sanhao tank crushed Japan's Type 89 Medium Tank in frontal combat and slaughtered Japan's cavalry units, William's expression became unusually focused.

Lv Muzhi struck while the iron was hot: "Our 38T tank, though its armor and firepower don't match the Sanhao, has high reliability and excellent mobility, very suitable for rapid breakthrough and deep-area insertion. Moreover, as far as I know, in Europe, Czechoslovakia has a complete 38T tank production line."

"The potential of this 38T tank is enormous. We have already developed anti-aircraft tanks on its chassis, and even conceived an assault gun, specially for low-cost anti-tank and fire support missions."

William raised his head, a flash of surprise in his eyes. He hadn't expected that after Lv Muzhi introduced the 38T production line from Czechoslovakia, he would so quickly carry out derivative development of tank chassis.

"Lv, you always bring me surprises. But the Sanhao tank production line... I can't make that decision."

"Then I have a compromise plan." Lv Muzhi seemed to have anticipated this. "I can provide you with the full set of blueprints from the Czech 38T original tank production line that we currently possess, as well as design blueprints for all derivative models we developed based on it, including blueprints for anti-aircraft and assault gun types."

"Think about it. If you obtain the 38T production line from Czechoslovakia, wouldn't you be able to immediately start modifications afterward?"

William was stunned: "From Czechoslovakia... Hahaha, Lv, what nonsense are you talking... We have no such plan..."

Lv Muzhi waved his hand: "I have a blueprint plan that might allow you to encompass everything of Czechoslovakia through diplomatic means."

William was stunned, recalling his conversations with generals and the leader after returning home. He tentatively asked: "You already have 38T tanks and derivative models. Do you still need our Sanhao medium tanks?"

Lv Muzhi said: "Why wouldn't we need them? The devils will upgrade their own tanks in the future. My main force 38T might not be enough by then. The Sanhao tank can make up for all this."

"Moreover, as things stand now, what I value in the Sanhao tank is its carrying capacity and modification potential, to develop the medium anti-aircraft and self-propelled guns I need."

"Our infantry needs more timely and more intense mobile fire support."

William fell into a long silence, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop. The exchange conditions Lv Muzhi proposed were quite tempting.

As for Czechoslovakia, when he returned home last month, he had contacted a group of officials, all of whom believed Czechoslovakia was a piece of fat meat at their lips.

As for their 38T tanks and Lv Muzhi's derivative technology, for Hans State, they could be quickly absorbed and utilized. In terms of light tanks, the 38T was indeed better than their own Type 1 and Type 2 tanks. Lv Muzhi was willing to provide 38T blueprints and derivative model blueprints. Most importantly, using diplomatic means to conquer Czechoslovakia—certain people domestically should be very interested.

Only the ticking of the clock remained in the conference room.

After a long while, William finally spoke slowly: "Lv, you are an extremely difficult negotiation opponent. Twenty thousand units of penicillin, in exchange for one hundred free 20mm cannon-equipped BF-109s, twenty-four Sanhao tanks, one Sanhao tank chassis production line and related technology licenses—this is the limit I can strive for."

Finally, Lv Muzhi delivered twenty thousand units of penicillin in multiple batches over two years, plus original version and derivative model design blueprints for the 38T light tank, and some small suggestions he gave Hans State, in exchange for one hundred BF109 fighter planes, one Sanhao tank production line and blueprints, and twenty-four ready-made Sanhao medium tanks. The fighter planes and tanks would be delivered successively starting from the end of the year.