Speaking of this, Yang Zhen paused slightly, and then said in an unusually firm tone: "We can't change the national policy of the Soviet Union and Britain in the European theater first, and once you enter the war, you will need a lot of equipment. To us, how much is left? To put it mildly, it would be nice if we could get a tenth of the Soviet Union and Great Britain. ”

"I ask Mr. Hopkins to remember, however, that our enemy is definitely not just the Kwantung Army, but the entire Japanese army that invaded China. Those Japanese troops that ravaged most of our China and slaughtered tens of millions of my compatriots. Those Japanese troops who took us Chinese as the object of bacteriological warfare. Those two-legged brutes who don't let go of even the children who can just walk, the nursing babies in their mothers' arms. ”

"We are not going to compromise with them in this war. If you ask me about my attitude, it's non-dying. Even if it is the last bullet, the last person, we will persevere. From the day more than 100 of our prisoners of war rushed out of the Japanese bacteriological warfare base, we vowed to fight them to the end and would never compromise anything. ”

"But Mr. Hopkins, the battlefield cannot rely on mere bravery. Fighting against a formidable opponent armed to the teeth, we also need to be well-equipped. We are not afraid of sacrifice, but sacrifice is not the same as giving up our lives in vain, and our sacrifice must be worthwhile. ”

"Your national policy of putting Europe first and then Asia is your own problem, and I have no right to intervene or interfere. But you want us to take on our so-called responsibilities, and you can't give us a lot of heavy equipment. But it's time for us to have the ability to replenish the battle-damaged equipment ourselves. ”

Yang Zhen's words were categorical, and even a little mean when many people heard them. The rest of you who don't know the future national policy of the United States don't quite understand what he said. But Hopkins and Pearson, who are here, clearly understand the meaning behind his words. Neither of them expected that Yang Zhen would judge the entire strategic policy of the United States so accurately.

Looking at Hopkins, who chose to remain silent without any answer after listening to his words, Yang Zhen clicked on the list in front of him and said, "Mr. Hopkins, do you tell the truth more than what you promised to provide to the Soviet Union?" ”

"I'm afraid the amount of supplies you have allocated to them will far exceed ours. Yes, they have far more troops than we do, but we're always expanding. Because if our strategy is realized, these armies in our hands will definitely not be enough. ”

"It's just that our current population base is limited, and we can't massively expand our forces in a short period of time. However, the population in the pass is huge, and we can only get more reinforcements if we fight out. As long as we open up the land connection with the Kannai, the size of our forces will be expanded to what you expect. ”

"There is no doubt that we have to fight out in order to contain more Japanese troops and expand our troops on a larger scale. Because with our current strength, even if we try our best, it will be difficult to completely contain the Kwantung Army. We are trying to survive in a cage, we don't have enough soldiers, we don't have enough equipment, how can we live up to the expectations of our American allies? ”

"On other issues, I have expressed our thoughts with Lieutenant Colonel Pearson. But today I still want to say that we will not retain any strength in the war against Japan. In this war, we will never shirk our responsibilities. ”

"As for the quantity of supplies and equipment, can we discuss it slowly. This figure is only an approximate number that we have proposed, and we still need to sit down and talk about how much can be implemented. Mr. Hopkins, isn't that why you've come to the Northeast in such a busy situation? ”

After listening to Yang Zhen's full explanation, Hopkins thought about it for a while before replying: "General Yang, no matter what your reason is, but with such a large amount of supplies, we will not agree to it anyway." For it is far beyond our ability to bear and beyond your ability to accept it. ”

"It is true that your argument is very reasonable, but even if your industry is doubling, it will not be able to absorb such a large amount of material. General Yang, in terms of industrial equipment, we can provide you with a part to increase the number of your own weapons and equipment production, but the quantity is definitely not so large. ”

After that, Hopkins picked up the thick list that Yang Zhen handed him, and after reading it carefully, he said to Yang Zhen: "That's it, I'll take this list back and study it." As for the final figures, we'll give you an answer after thinking about it. ”

"And the question of how much equipment we can give will have to wait for Admiral Wavell to return, and we will study it together. You must know that the matter of aiding you is not a matter for the United States. And a lot of the supplies you need, we need the help of the British to solve. ”

"General Yang Zhen, I admire your strategic vision. You are so young and in such a closed situation, you can still have this kind of strategic vision. However, although General Yang admires your personality, it is not a pleasant thing to negotiate with you. ”

"You're always setting traps for us to follow the route you've delineated. Yang, you're too cunning. At the same time, you're too greedy. However, hundreds of thousands of troops actually asked the United States to provide supplies that were not much different from those of the Soviet Union, which had more than ten times the number of troops. ”

"Yang, I appreciate your ambition. It is impossible for a general without ambition to win a war. But I don't like the greed in your heart, and the extreme cunning. In your Chinese language, you can't eat what's in the bowl and still look at the inside of the pot. This sentence was taught to me by the Chongqing ambassador to the United States, and I think it is very suitable to evaluate you now. ”

"But given the situation you're facing, I can promise you first. The problem with fuel is that by the end of the year, the US side will double the supply. And before March next year, help you build up a certain reserve. As for the high-grade alloy steel used to make artillery, we can also increase the quantity to you by March next year. ”

"In addition, by May, we will supply 200 P40 fighters and 100 A20 attack aircraft. And, depending on the situation, other types of fighters are supplied. In this way, the strength of your tactical aviation will be greatly enhanced compared with the current one. As for the amount of tank and artillery assistance, I would advise you to talk to the British first. ”

"We, the Americans, will not be able to meet your tank needs until at least next May. In terms of artillery, it is the same at the moment. However, we can first draw some of the anti-aircraft artillery from the original aid to the British. But you have to be mentally prepared that there won't be too many of them. ”

"But we want you to pledge that when the Japanese launch an offensive in Southeast Asia, a major offensive will be launched in Manchuria to relieve the pressure on the United States and Britain on the battlefield in Southeast Asia. At the very least, it is necessary to ensure that the Japanese troops in Manchuria are not transferred to the Southeast Asian theater. ”

Hopkins' reply and request, Yang Zhen smiled. Although he was not satisfied with the number, he knew that it meant that the attitude of the Americans was somewhat relaxed. Yang Zhen knew very well that no matter how much the Americans studied and needed to contain the Kwantung Army by themselves, the materials on that list would not be fully satisfied. What I can do now is to fight for as much as I can.

It's just that for Hopkins' request, Yang Zhen shook his head and said: "Mr. Hopkins, I said that until we get a new and sufficient number of tanks and aircraft, we are not capable of launching an offensive to cooperate with your operations in the Southeast Asian battlefield. Not to mention the Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia, even if the Japanese army hit Washington, we don't have that strength. ”

"And our current reserves are far from being able to cope with an offensive. Our previous stockpiles of artillery shells and aerial bombs have been depleted in this battle, and we are powerless to launch any offensive until we have enough supplies, especially artillery shells and aerial bombs. ”

"Mr. Hopkins, I have said more than once that the amount of material consumed in a battle is astronomical. I'll need to stock up on enough ammo to launch the offensive you need. By the end of the year, you will have to at least double the raw materials and equipment used to make shells and bombs to meet the needs of our offensive. ”

Yang Zhen's answer, Hopkins rolled his eyes very impolitely and said: "Yang, the British have what you need for tanks." As for the plane, I said that I would consider it, and the British would give it some consideration. Let's not include this in the negotiations, shall we? Yang, don't forget the promise you made enough. ”

Regarding Hopkins' mention of his promise, Yang Zhen also pointed to Mai Mang's words: "Mr. Hopkins, I have not forgotten my promise. But I've also said more than once that the premise of our offensive is to launch a campaign. Without enough heavy equipment, we don't have the strength to go on the offensive. You can't let us gnaw at the Japanese fortifications with our teeth. ”

"Mr. Hopkins, I have great admiration for your personality and professionalism. But I can say that negotiating with you is no less pleasant. You've been too stingy with us, a little too calculating. I am not asking for the same treatment as Britain and the Soviet Union, but you can't be so stingy. ”

"The lives of young Americans are precious, and the lives of Chinese are not bought with salt. In this exchange of interests, Hopkins we are equals. You use your supplies and equipment to help us defeat the murderous enemy on the battlefield, and we use our battles to help you Americans reduce the blood and lives that Americans have to pay, and reduce the pressure that you Americans have to bear on the battlefield. ”

"But in what would have been a fair deal, you are like Balzac's Monsieur Grandet and Shakespeare's Monsieur Sherlock, counting coins by coin."

"I can say unceremoniously that you and the people behind you are doing something inauthentic. Let your allies pay for the blood, but you are willing to pay only a small price. Mr. Hopkins, I think the United States Congress should award you the Congressional Medal of Honor for your dedication and stinginess as a reward for such careful consideration. ”

At the end of Yang Zhen's reply, he transferred Hopkins's 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.