In response to Stalin's question, General Abanashenk, who was indistinguishable in the Far Eastern Military District, did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly said: "They not only provided information on these new weapons, but also provided a considerable amount of information on the Japanese troops in the Far Eastern Military District. Allow me to report back to you using the map. ”

After seeing Stalin's nod, Abanashenk walked directly to the map of the Soviet Far East that had been hung up in Stalin's office, picked up the baton and said: "Comrade Stalin, according to the Chinese comrades, the Kwantung Army occupying Manchuria has begun to build various fortresses on the Sino-Soviet border on a large scale since 1934. ”

"A large number of laborers recruited by the Japanese army, as well as a large number of prisoners captured in the war against China, began at Hunchun at the entrance of the Tumen River in the east, and built a large number of fortified areas along the Manchu-Soviet border, as well as strong permanent fortifications."

"These fortifications start from Hunchun in the east, and are located in Hunchun, Dongning, Lumingtai, Suifenhe, Guanyuetai, Banjuhe, Miaoling, Hutou, Fujin, Xingshan, Hormojin, Aihui, Heihe, Fabela, Wunuer, Hailar, and Ershan areas from east to west."

"At present, the eight fortresses of Dongning, Suifenhe, Banjuhe, Hutou, Khormojin, Aihui, Heihe, and Hailar have been completed. Nearing completion is the Xingshan Fortress at Heli, which has been captured by the Chinese comrades, and is the largest of the fourteen fortresses under construction or completed. As for the rest, most of them have just started construction. ”

"Eight of the fortresses that have been completed can be used as starting points for their attacks on the Soviets. These fortifications generally accommodate one or two divisions according to the Japanese army. Judging from the distribution of these fortresses provided by the Chinese comrades, the greatest threat to us is the fortresses located in Dongning and Hutou. ”

"The Dongning fortress can accommodate three Japanese divisions, and the distance from Vladivostok is only 200 kilometers in a straight line. If the Japanese army organized a strong assault corps and set out from the fortress of Dongning, once they destroyed our defensive line, they could capture Vladivostok, our most important port in the Far East and the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet, within a few days. ”

The Hutou Fortress in the Hulin County region is located at the central point between Khabarovsk, where the headquarters of the Far Eastern Military District is located, and Vladivostok, where the Pacific Fleet is mainly stationed. Its firepower deployment can contain the Ussuri railway line, the lifeline of our Far East. ”

"This Tiger Head fortress is equipped with a powerful artillery group, which is equipped not only with 300-mm and 240-mm heavy guns, but also at least six 150-mm cannons with a range of about 20 kilometers and a large number of 150-mm howitzers."

"The guns were located in semi-underground permanent fortifications made of a large number of reinforced concrete, and their fire range could directly hit the Iman Iron Bridge, an important choke point on the Ussuri Railway, which was the lifeline of the Far Eastern Military District. As soon as the Iman railway bridge is blocked by its firepower, the land connection between Khabarovsk, the command of the Far Eastern Military District, and the Pacific Fleet will be completely cut off. ”

"Comrade Stalin, although our intelligence department knows that the Japanese army has been building permanent fortifications, the scale of the fortifications, the specific number, and the number of troops and firepower are due to the tight blockade of the Japanese army and the massacre of laborers after the construction of the fortifications is completed, so that our intelligence services have very little information in this regard."

"A lot of long-range reconnaissance can only be carried out by flying aviation on our territory. But Comrade Stalin, you know that the information thus obtained is very inaccurate. It does not play much role in judging the movements of the Japanese army. It can even cause us to misjudge in many cases. ”

In addition to the movements of the Japanese army, they also obtained some information about the German army through the German embassy in Manchuria. They clearly told us that the Germans would launch an all-out attack on Poland on 1 September, led by tank divisions. Comrade Stalin, this intelligence is important. ”

In response to Abanashenk's answer, Stalin pondered for a long time before he said slowly: "Comrade Abanashek, what do you think of the current strength of the Chinese comrades who are still insisting on the northeast?" Our support for them had no effect on the consolidation of the great Soviet line of defense in the east. You know, we're focusing our energies on the western region right now. ”

In response to Stalin's question, Abanashenk hesitated for a moment and said: "Comrade Stalin, I think that the activities of these Chinese comrades in Manchuria will help us contain the Japanese army. As long as they develop and grow, they will be able to contain more Japanese divisions and regiments to stay in Manchuria. ”

"The Japanese have always believed that resource-rich Manchuria is the lifeline of their survival, and despite the tense war in China, they still maintain a large number of troops in Manchuria's Kwantung Army, and are constantly transferring in and forming new divisions."

"The increase of Japanese troops in Manchuria put great pressure on the Far Eastern Military District. As a result, we had to maintain a large number of living forces on the Manchu-Soviet border, and spend a lot of time and money to build a strong fortified area to defend against the attack of the Japanese heavy army. ”

"If the Chinese comrades can grow stronger, they will be able to attract more Japanese troops, which will greatly reduce the pressure on us. Moreover, in the situation of instability in the rear and the emergence of a strong partisan detachment, the Japanese army could not attack our Far East in a big way. ”

"Comrade Stalin, at the beginning of my tenure, these Chinese comrades were in a very difficult situation. They were compressed by the Japanese army and could only move in the mountains and forests. But at the beginning of this year, that changed. A very capable general appeared there in them, and this person led them to break the encirclement and suppression of the Japanese army many times, and developed and grew. ”

"Just some time ago, shortly after the outbreak of the conflict in the Normenheim area, they also crushed the main force of a Japanese division in one fell swoop and drove it back to the place of departure. Comrade Stalin, I think that if these Chinese comrades can receive some appropriate assistance and develop stronger, it will greatly reduce our pressure in the Far East. ”

"And they can give us more information about the activities of the Japanese army in Manchuria, which can greatly facilitate our policymaking. Comrade Stalin, much of this information is not available to our intelligence officers. ”

As for what General Abanashenk meant, Stalin understood. He understood that the general had agreed to provide some necessary support to the Chinese comrades operating in Manchuria in order to contain the Kwantung Army, the largest group of heavy troops at present deployed by the Japanese army in Manchuria.

Stalin put down the iconic pipe he had been holding in his hand, stood up, walked around the office a few times, and said: "Comrade Abanashenk, come and see what our Chinese friends want, are they like their Nationalist government?" ”

Abanashenk hurriedly took out the materials that Yang Zhen had drawn up from the leather bag beside him, and respectfully handed them to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, it's strange that they only need a few sniper-type Mosin Nagant rifles and anti-aircraft weapons, and the rest are almost all military raw materials. ”

"But they made such a choice, I think they should have an arsenal in their hands, which can manufacture at least some of the small arms and the corresponding ammunition. In addition, it is likely that they captured a large number of weapons and ammunition in the course of fighting the Japanese army, at least to meet their current needs. ”

In response to Abanashenk's answer, after looking through the list of supplies, Stalin shook his head and said: "Comrade Abanashenk, you underestimated the ambitions of our Chinese comrades. ”

"They want these materials not only to prove that they have a large-scale arsenal in their hands, but also because they want to build their own military industry under limited conditions, and they don't want to rely too much on us."

Speaking of this, Stalin smiled and said: "Comrade Abanashenk, how do you feel?" You are the commander of the Far Eastern Military District and have the most say in this matter. Do you think we should give them these supplies? You should know the reason why I transferred you to the Far Eastern Military District to replace Admiral Stenn. I want you to be able to come up with your own ideas and not be a subservient person to your superiors. ”

In response to Stalin's rhetorical question, Abanashenk said in a firm tone: "Comrade Stalin, I think it should be given to them." As the commander of the Far Eastern Military District, I believe that we must help them become stronger, so that they can hold back the heavy forces of the Japanese army, so as to effectively reduce the risk of a full-scale war in the Far East. ”

In response to Abanashenk's reply, Stalin did not answer him directly, but said: "Comrade Abanashenk, what do you think of these Chinese comrades, and whether they can achieve the goal we hope for?" Also, can they control zhì in our hands? ”

Stalin's question did not make Abanashenk stunned, but he only hesitated for a moment, and then immediately said: "Comrade Stalin, these Chinese comrades are staunch anti-Japanese fighters, and they are all staunch communist fighters. We should not deny their determination to resist Japan to the end. However, Comrade Stalin, I do not think that it is beneficial for us to directly accuse them. ”

"If they can become people like Sheng Shicai in Xinjiang, it will be more beneficial for us to let them develop independently." This would prevent us from directly clashes with the Japanese army. Unless you're planning to expand the battle that is currently taking place in Normenhan. But I don't think it's in the interests of the Soviets. ”

After listening to Abanashenk's answer, Stalin pondered for a while and said: "You know, the Chinese comrades in Yan'an should have already made contact with them. Their representatives in Moscow have offered to help them establish a land link between Yan'an and Manchuria in order to transport people. What do you think about this? ”

Stalin's question after question, even though Abanashenk has always been known for his quick thinking, is quite overwhelmed. As for Stalin's question, as a simple soldier who has always looked at problems from a military point of view, Abanashenk knew that it was difficult for him to answer clearly, so he simply said: "Comrade Stalin, I have not come into contact with the Chinese comrades in Yan'an that you mentioned, and I do not understand them. ”

"I am a military man, as the commander of the Far Eastern Military District. I did nothing but to ensure the security of the great Soviet Far East. It is my duty to thwart the attempts of careerists at home and abroad to conquer the Soviet territory, and the rest is not on my agenda. But I think what we have done should be in the interests of the Soviets. ”

This answer from Abanashek clearly satisfied Stalin. As a native of Transcaucasia, he admires Abanashek the most. A typical military style, he is resolute and capable, and never drags his feet. He never participated in political activities, nor did he have any ambitions.

Otherwise, he would not have placed him in the Far Eastern Military District, thousands of kilometers away from Moscow, to replace the veteran Colonel-General Stenn as commander. And less than a year after he was promoted to general, he was awarded the rank of general at the level of a first-class group army.

Stalin picked up the list of supplies on his desk, read it intently again, and after making a lot of corrections on it, handed it to General Abanashenk and said: "Take this list to General Shaposhnikov and General Kulik, Minister of General Ordnance, and ask them to help solve the needs of the Chinese comrades in the shortest possible time." ”

"Since they have also offered to buy some supplies and equipment at a discount in gold, then we will provide them with some discounts at the preferential price for their national government. The weapons on the list will be drawn directly from the armory of your Far Eastern Military District and the repair institutes at all levels. After the incident, the People's Commissariat of Defense will make up for you in the shortest possible time. ”

"In addition, don't you have in the warehouses of your Far Eastern Military District some of the captured weapons and equipment of the imperialist aid to the White Army? Check it out and give them all the good performance. The rest were destroyed in situ. Some people in the province always make small reports to me, saying that you want to stand on your own feet in the Far Eastern Military District. ”

General Abanashek took the list of supplies handed over by Stalin, and found that the 12 37 anti-aircraft guns on the anti-aircraft weapons had been crossed out, and the other side demanded that the 50 Deshka 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine guns be replaced by 120. The ammunition base was changed from 200,000 rounds to 2 million rounds. Twenty-four 120-mm mortars were additionally given. ”

Seeing the revised figures above, Admiral Abanashenk couldn't help but be stunned and said: "Comrade Stalin, these 120 Deshka anti-aircraft machine guns are almost all the equipment numbers of the Far Eastern Military District, and even some of them have to be drawn from the Pacific Fleet. All to the Chinese comrades, then the infantry anti-aircraft fire of the Far Eastern Military District will drop by a whole level. ”

Stalin shook his head and said: "You are not wrong, as long as they become stronger and stronger the more they fight, the less likely we will be in the Far East of a large-scale war with Japanese imperialism." Therefore, it is acceptable to exchange this bit of weaponry for peace in the Far East, even if it is temporary. Don't worry, I will let the comrades of the Ordnance Department do their best to fill the gap in the Far Eastern Military District. ”

"In addition, those nichrome steels and seamless steel pipes and other supplies that you do not have in the Far Eastern Military District, you have the General Ordnance Department call directly from the inventory. After you go back, tell the Chinese comrades that you will still have to rely on themselves in terms of equipment in the future. The Soviets will try to provide some of the necessary materials for the production of the military industry. ”

"You don't want to stay in Moscow for a long time, just rush back and do your best to meet the needs of the Chinese comrades. As for the rest of the supplies, General Kulik of the General Ordnance Department will send them to you in the shortest possible time. As for the drawings and production techniques of the weapons and equipment provided by the Chinese comrades, you have to solve them as best you can and send them to Moscow. ”

Speaking of this, Stalin blinked happily and said lightly: "It seems that our Chief of the General Staff and the Chief of Artillery are very interested in these new weapons, so why don't we satisfy their curiosity?" ”