At the end of Yang Zhen's reply, he transferred Hopkins' unkind evaluation of him to Hopkins without any politeness. He even compared Hopkins, who controls all the power of distribution of aid in the United States, to Balzac's famous miser Grandet.

Listening to the two of them facing Mai Mang here, the face of the old handsome man next to Yang Zhen changed somewhat. He was very worried that Yang Zhen's unkind speech would anger the Mr. Hopkins in front of him and make the two of them pinch each other. I have read all the world's famous books, and I know very well who Grande is, and the old handsome knows Grande's evaluation, which is not a good thing.

This Hopkins is not last night's Major General Stilwell, and both power and status are far from comparable. Yang Zhen, who has always been quite calm, why is he still so frizzy and unkind this time? Doesn't he want to think about the consequences of saying this?

It's just that the old handsome man who was faintly worried about Hopkins getting angry didn't expect that after listening to Yang Zhen's evaluation of himself, Mr. Hopkins not only didn't care, but laughed heartily: "Yang, we are all the same people, but each other, each other." If I were Balzac's Grandet, you would be Shakespeare's Shylock. ”

With that, he stood up and stretched out his hand to Yang Zhen and said, "Yang, it looks like we are the same kind of people. All the efforts to do it are for the sake of their motherland. I like what you say about me, because I don't have the money right to pay American taxpayers, not even a penny. ”

"It's like you, for the sake of your army and your country, would never have been willing to put your hand in our pockets, wouldn't you? Yang, although it is not a pleasant thing to get along with you as a person. But for you, I personally like it. ”

"Even though you are much younger than me, friendship knows no age. General Yang, I think we're friends from now on, aren't we? Although as your friend, you have to always carry the things that are calculated by you, and you are worried that the contents of your wallet will be extorted by you unconsciously. But I still sincerely hope that the two of us can become friends. ”

Regarding the olive branch handed over by Hopkins, Yang Zhen did not hesitate to reach out and hold Hopkins' outstretched hand and said, "Mr. Hopkins, I think we are already friends, don't we?" When you come to Harbin at this time, instead of Berlin or Tokyo, it means that we have become true friends. ”

Yang Zhen's statement, Hopkins smiled knowingly and said, "However, General Yang." Even if we become friends, I need to remind you. I will not agree to your requests lightly. Because of my sense of duty, I must be faithful, just as you are on the battlefield. ”

Hopkins's answer, Yang Zhen also smiled and said, "Mr. Hopkins, I also need to remind you." You should be more generous to our allies and not be so stingy, and it is not against your American interests. There is a saying in China called willingness, willingness, and giving will be gained. ”

"We have to think of ways to make this exchange more beneficial for both sides, rather than one side taking advantage and the other side just being dumb and suffering, right? Mr. Hopkins, I sincerely hope that you will make our time with us a little more pleasant when you are bored when you go back. ”

Looking at the two people who were holding hands together, they kept saying that they wanted to be friends, but the words in their mouths were still there-for-tat, and the old handsome man who had put his heart down could only shake his head and look at Yang Zhen with a wry smile. This guy simply refuses to eat at all, not even the loss on his mouth.

After returning to his room, Hopkins pondered for a moment and then said to Pearson: "You will make a record of the evening's conversation and make a detailed report to Washington." At the same time, I told the White House that I believe that the amount of supplies and equipment we provide to them should not be limited to the amount of supplies given to Chongqing. ”

"At the same time that you report to Washington, send a telegram to General Marshall, Chief of Staff of the Army. I thought it would be more appropriate to provide them with a batch of tanks and artillery before March '42. Let the War Department think about how many tanks we can come up with without affecting the aid to Britain and the Soviet Union? ”

"In addition, you ask, if we now transfer all the Army Air Force's B17 bombers and P-40 fighters in the Philippines to the Anti-United Nations side, will it affect our defense in the Philippines? If this batch of aircraft is withdrawn, how soon can the army complete the replenishment of this batch of aircraft. ”

"You tell Major Sù Rodriguez that if there is any reply from Washington, you must send the report to me at the first time. Remember, no matter what time it is. During my time in Manchuria, all domestic communications had to be made to the embassy in Moscow, not to the embassy in Chongqing. ”

"You'll tell Yang and his colleagues in a moment. I'm sorry, but I'm not feeling well. It would be better to postpone the two-day talks. As for negotiations with them, I will wait until Admiral Wavell returns, and I will renegotiate with the British before entering into new negotiations with them. ”

"As soon as you send the report back, you rush back. I have one more room here that I can leave for you. During my time in Manchuria, you worked hard to serve as a liaison officer between me and the Anti-Japanese League. All my reports on them are sent back to Washington by you through the embassy in Moscow. ”

"When I return home, I will ask the War Department to allocate some communications equipment to you that can be used for direct contact with Washington in the shortest possible time. You, the Military Observer Mission, will report independently to Washington in the future. All the reports did not pass through the U.S. Embassy in Chongqing. ”

"At the same time, your job in the future will not only be the simple and monotonous job of the head of the Military Observer Mission, but also the supervisor of the use of Lend-Lease aid by the United States against the United States. You are responsible for overseeing the use of all their aid. ”

"Colonel Pearson, I would make a special recommendation to General Marshall, Chief of Staff of the Army. I hope you can prove with your work record that my recommendation will not be taken away by Lang. You can use your results to turn the silver eagle on your shoulder into a silver star. I hope you don't let me down, much less the White House. ”

These words of Hopkins are undoubtedly like a stimulant shot for Pearson. As a graduate of the Virginia Military Academy, which is not very popular in the U.S. Army, he knew that it would be difficult for him to carry a general star with him since he stepped into the intelligence system.

As an officer from the intelligence system, his position was not destined to be too high. At the same time, as a graduate of the Virginia Military Academy, it is very difficult to get ahead in the U.S. Army, which is full of West Point graduates. Relative to graduates of other U.S. military schools, the Army has always been the territory of West Point graduates.

Just like the U.S. Navy, it has always been the domain of graduates of the Annapolis Naval Academy. Non-West Point graduates are not easy to get promoted to general in the U.S. Army. Even the current Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General Marshall, is a graduate of the school. Personnel relations in the U.S. Army are no simpler than those in the Chinese Army.

But as a soldier, no matter what his profession is, becoming a general is a dream thing. Originally, I thought that Pearson, a non-West Point graduate and not a commander of a combat unit, could become a colonel. Suddenly I heard that the special adviser to the US president in front of me was ready to recommend himself to the chief of staff of the army.

Pearson knew very well that once he was on the list in the hands of the army chief of staff, it meant that he would be promoted. And he knows better the status of this Mr. Hopkins in the White House. He knew that as long as the unnamed vice president in front of him was willing to open his mouth to recommend General Marshall, then his promotion to general was no longer just a dream.

When Hopkins finished speaking, although he concealed it well, the excited look in his eyes still betrayed his mood. There is no way that in the U.S. Army, where the ascension speed is unusually slow, anyone who hears these words will be excited. He, Pearson, is like that, and others will not be much better.

Although Pearson was well concealed, there was a trace of excitement in his eyes, and Hopkins, who could see it clearly, only smiled slightly and did not give any evaluation. It was not a difficult thing for him to recommend someone to the Chief of Staff of the Army. Besides, this guy is doing pretty well, at least so far, isn't he?

Ignoring Pearson, who was somewhat excited after listening to his recommendation, Hopkins looked at the glass of tequila in his hand and was silent for a long time before saying, "A typical nationalist, a difficult opponent." For such a person who can always find the opponent's weakness in the shortest possible time, whether on the battlefield or at the negotiation table, he will become a strong opponent. I'm glad that now his enemy is not the United States. ”

"Despite his wings, he is far from truly plump up at the moment. But this person exudes a kind of arrogance that refuses to bow his head from the bottom of his bones. Having such a person as an ally, no matter how long it is, but for us at the moment, it is still a good choice. ”

"It's just a pity that such a person will never control someone else. For the United States, is it a pros or cons to have such an ally? Maybe we'll have to wait for time to tell. A cunning little fox, a respectable but hateful opponent. ”

After drinking the wine in his hand, Hopkins turned his gaze to the list of supplies and equipment submitted by Yang Zhen in front of him, although there was still no expression on his face, but the corners of his mouth showed a trace of unusual and even some weird smiles.

I don't know if Hopkins' comment was for himself or for Pearson in front of him. But for his evaluation of Yang Zhen, the short excitement passed, and the calm Pearson quickly regained his calm while agreeing, he was smart and didn't say anything.

For the subtle, somewhat weird trace of the corner of Hopkins's mouth, he smiled somewhat creepy. Pearson didn't see it at all, and at this time he knew very well that it was not a good habit to get to the bottom of it.

Hearing Pearson's request that Hopkins want to rest for two days before continuing negotiations, Yang Zhen didn't say anything. Just after asking Pearson to convey his concern for Mr. Hopkins' body, and with a smile that made people look equally weird, he nodded happily in agreement. Obviously, Yang Zhen clearly knows the reason why this Hopkins postponed the negotiations.