Chapter 369

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi sat on the sofa in the conference room, waiting for the British envoy to pay a visit.

Soon, Britain's Cartwright representative walked in.

The two first exchanged polite greetings, celebrating the great victory at Huangchuan and the victory in the campaign.

Finally, Cartwright stated his purpose: "The Burma Road is now open, from Rangoon to Kunming; this lifeline carries not only supplies, but also Great British Empire's promise to its ally."

"General Lu, for this war we have not hesitated to offend the Japanese; I think you have seen this."

Lv Muzhi nodded slightly, but did not respond.

Cartwright continued: "So, your country's War of Resistance bears the expectations of the international community; in order not to disappoint the expectations of the international community, we hope Xia Guo can increase the intensity of strikes against the Japanese."

"Especially in the South China region, you know, the Japanese army has already occupied Guangzhou; if they continue southward into Southeast Asia, that will directly threaten the safety of our friend France."

Lv Muzhi raised his eyes, feeling somewhat amused: "The safety of the French should be a matter for the French themselves to worry about."

"Mr. Envoy, when did you become so enthusiastic?"

Cartwright gently pushed his gold-rimmed glasses, smiling: "Of course it is for international justice, maintaining regional stability, resisting aggression; this is the common responsibility of the civilized world."

Lv Muzhi suddenly laughed: "Mr. Envoy, you might as well put it more plainly."

"What you truly worry about is probably not the safety of France, but that the Japanese have already reached into Britain's dish, right?"

Cartwright frowned slightly, but still maintained his composure: "I don't quite understand what you mean."

"Then let me put it even more plainly," Lv Muzhi stood up, paced to the window, his back to the ambassador, "Although you and Japan have no direct military conflict, the capital forces of both sides have long been fighting fiercely."

"As an old capitalist empire, this is something you find hard to tolerate."

Cartwright tilted his head slightly, staring at Lv Muzhi's back, listening quietly.

"Starting this year, the Japanese army, in the name of military control, has in large quantities obstructed British merchant ship navigation at the two ports of Yan Tai and Qingdao; your country's cargoes have been detained, requisitioned without cause, and even expelled."

"Now the Japanese army has also forcibly occupied Guangzhou Customs, controlling the most important import and export channel in South China; your capital and commodity circulation in Xia Guo is further obstructed."

"In addition, the Japanese army has established a series of national policy companies in the occupied territories, with various 'kabushiki kaisha' growing wildly."

"Using military and economic means, they have almost squeezed British capital out of the Xia Guo market..."

"The British-owned textile mills and British trading firms in Shanghai have gone bankrupt or been transferred one after another. Mr. Envoy, you should know these things better than I do."

The smile on Cartwright's face finally disappeared; he remained silent for a long time, then slowly removed his glasses and wiped them slowly with a handkerchief.

"General Lu, you are very different from what I imagined."

"Indeed, the Japanese are harming Britain's interests."

"But this also means our interests are consistent on this point—you drive out the invaders, we continue doing business; why not?"

Lv Muzhi sat back down: "Interests may be consistent, but the price may not be."

"Acting according to your meaning, increasing strikes against the Japanese army, especially increasing troops on the South China battlefield, would interfere with my strategy, and this requires money, a large amount of money."

"My army needs equipment, supplies, and expansion."

"And the current fiscal situation of the Xia Guo Government, Mr. Envoy surely understands; I cannot easily change my operational strategy just because you open your mouth."

Cartwright leaned back against the sofa: "Money? How much?"

"At least twenty million pounds sterling in special loans, for troop deployment and supply reserves, before we can further expand the offensive against the Japanese army."

"Twenty million pounds sterling..." Cartwright thought for a moment; this was no small sum.

Lv Muzhi hugged his knees, and inadvertently glanced at Cartwright, saying intentionally or unintentionally:

"You need to know, the Japanese army is now in a position of having mounted a tiger and being unable to dismount, relying entirely on a war economy; to plunder sufficient resources, where will they reach their hands?"

"The Soviet Union? Southeast Asia?"

Cartwright thought carefully: the Japanese army, in order to plunder resources and wealth, was now giving no face to Britain at all.

And Xia Guo would certainly strike the Japanese army; on this he need not doubt.

To ensure Xia Guo's victory, this money had to be spent.

Spending these twenty million pounds sterling, put bluntly, was like buying a mercenary army; it was far more worthwhile than personally going to war with the Japanese army.

"Whether or not the little devils can be driven out of Xia Guo, at least don't let the devils flow from South China into Southeast Asia; this is most important!"

"It can also be considered spending a small amount of money to accomplish a big thing; reporting back like this, perhaps those capitalist elders at home will be satisfied."

After a long silence, Cartwright finally stood up and extended his hand: "General Lu, you have convinced me. After returning, I will write a detailed report; your proposal, we agree in principle."

Lv Muzhi grasped that hand: "Thank you for your support, Mr. Envoy."

When Lv Muzhi had seen off several diplomatic missions and ordered someone to draft a summary of the diplomatic achievements of these past few days, preparing to submit it to the Central Government.

It can be said that the diplomacy of these past few days was very fruitful, obtaining weapons, financial support, and trade orders from many strong countries.

And at this very moment, the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters was holding a state funeral ceremony.

At Yasukuni Shrine, the nuclear music played on site.

The senior officers of the Japanese army were mourning those generals, princes, and barons who had fallen in the campaign.

However, the funny thing was that among those devils mourned at the funeral, not a single corpse had been brought back to the country; the Japanese high command could only build cenotaphs for these devils and erect memorial tablets.

During the intermission of the funeral, the officers gathered together to discuss the course of the war.

Field Marshal Kan'in-no-miya Naruhiko said: "This time the Central China operation ended in defeat; our army is already powerless to launch a large-scale offensive against Xia Guo; overall, Xia Guo also has no intention of surrendering..."

"Before the war situation undergoes a major change, all we can do is hold onto the occupied territories, especially Manchuria, which is our foundation."

Navy Minister Mitsumasa Yonai nodded: "The quagmire of war has deeply dragged us down; the empire needs more resources to continue this war; I propose that we should turn our gaze to Southeast Asia to obtain the grain, rubber, and oil there..."

"Otherwise, before the army defeats Xia Guo, our country will collapse first!"

The Army Minister had wanted to instinctively rebut the Navy Minister, but still did not shout, for he seemed no longer to have the capital to speak loudly, merely saying cautiously:

"Emperor Chuo's Northern Expansion Policy deeply influenced the Kwantung Army, particularly the Zhanggufeng Incident in August; the Kwantung Army's generals were eager to avenge that one arrow against Soviet Russia, and in the eyes of the Army's officers, the northern expansion plan must still be carried out, wanting to seize Soviet Russia's Far Eastern territory and resources......"

Navy Marshal Fushimi-no-miya Hiroyasu scolded: "A bunch of arrogant fellows, let them see the situation clearly; right now, only the Southern Expansion Policy to Southeast Asia is the best strategy!"

The Army Minister asked: "If we go southbound, the Army can advance directly from Hua Nan in Xia Guo to the south, first seizing France's colonies!"

"Yoshi! But before that, we must still telegraph the Kwantung Army to keep calm, do not provoke Soviet Russia!!!"