When Yang Zhen walked into the conference room, Hopkins and Wavell, who were talking to the political commissar of the Advance Army, stood up to welcome Yang Zhen. Especially Hopkins, who called Yang Zhen my little friend quite affectionately.

And those senior American and British officers behind them looked at Yang Zhen's eyes and changed. The contemptuous look when he first came to Beiman was no longer visible at this moment, but was replaced by a look of awe. Especially the Major General Stilwell, the expression on his face was even more varied, with embarrassment, admiration, and a hint of inexplicability.

Regarding the expression on the face of the US Army major general, Yang Zhen just smiled and said nothing. Obviously, in the past few days, this old man and his arrogant British colleagues have received a shocking education below, knowing the true combat effectiveness of the Anti-Japanese Federation, so that their self-righteous arrogance can only be swept away.

Yang Zhen listened to Chen Bo's report on the phone, and the Major General Stilwell talked with Hopkins and Admiral Wavell for most of the night after the reception banquet last night. As for what exactly is being talked about, it is not difficult for Yang Zhen to guess. After looking at it for such a long time, if this Major General Stilwell still can't come up with something, it will be really incorrigible.

After the two sides sat down, Hopkins said directly: "Yang, after a few days of deliberation and deliberation with Admiral Wavell, we have finally decided on the scale and amount of supplies that the United States and Britain will provide to your army. We're sorry, but we can't meet your requests. However, taking into account your current situation and your opinions, we have made significant adjustments to the original plan. ”

"The U.S. government and the government of the Kingdom of Great Britain have decided to start in March next year. One hundred and seventy tanks are provided to you each month, including one hundred light tanks and seventy medium tanks. However, in view of the current international situation, and the responsibilities you will soon assum, the Government of the Kingdom of Great Britain will provide two hundred or more tanks before the end of the year. ”

"As for the aircraft, we have consulted with the Government of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Also starting in March next year, we will provide you with one hundred and forty fighters and one hundred light bombers every month. By June of next year, the Kingdom of Great Britain will provide you with a batch of long-range bombers. ”

"For the same reason, in addition to the fighters I promised you, the Kingdom of Great Britain will provide you with two hundred light bombers by March next year. The United States will provide you with 100 trainer planes in the shortest possible time. The United States will provide a batch of 75-mm and 100-5mm howitzers, as well as a batch of anti-tank guns, by March next year. ”

"Starting at the beginning of next year, you will be provided with a thousand military vehicles, two thousand car tires, and sixty each of the M-3 half-track armored vehicles and armored reconnaissance vehicles every month. By May next year, the United States and Britain will each provide you with 20 air warning radars. ”

"Starting next year, the United States will provide you with 13,000 tons of various steels, 1,300 tons of electrolytic copper and brass, 1,000 tons of smokeless gunpowder and high explosives, and 15,000 tons of petroleum products every month. By the end of the year, we will give priority to providing 10,000 tons of jet fuel, 20,000 tons of gasoline and 20,000 tons of diesel. ”

"In addition, in terms of industrial equipment, the United States has decided to provide you with another complete set of equipment for a steel plant with an annual output of 500,000 tons of steel before May next year. And before December, send engineers to plan for you in advance and start the infrastructure. Strive for this steel plant to be put into operation before the end of four or three years. ”

"At the same time, starting from February next year, we will provide you with three steelmaking converters and two electric furnaces every month, so that by the end of next year, the output of your existing steel plants can be greatly increased. $600,000 per month for forging presses, metal cutting machines and special machine tools for 500 units per month. In addition, all the agricultural machinery you need, we promise to provide all. ”

"We will gradually increase the number of aircraft and tanks supplied taking into account the war situation. Rest assured, as the U.S. expands its industrial production capacity, the amount of heavy equipment we provide can only increase, not decrease. Yang, these equipment are already our best efforts. At least for now, it's the maximum amount we can come up with. ”

"And the rest of your list, except for duralumin, I can promise to give you half of it first. I'm sorry, but we won't provide aluminum for aircraft until your aircraft factory is in production, because that would be a kind of Lang fee for supplies. Once your aircraft factory is in production, we will consider supplying aluminium for the manufacture of aircraft. ”

"And the technologies you need, we need to negotiate with their companies. You know, we in the United States are free economies, and we don't have the right to force their companies to transfer their technology to you. Especially the technology for the production of trucks and several aircraft and car engines that you need, we need to go back and look at it with those big companies. I'll try to make it happen, though. ”

"We have this plan, if you agree to it, we can sign the agreement now. And we will urge all the materials and equipment promised to you to arrive in the shortest possible time. At the same time, we will make certain adjustments in the number of weapons and equipment according to the needs of the war situation. Of course, this adjustment will be negotiated by Colonel Pearson with you. ”

"As for your proposal for the assistance of the United States and Britain to the Soviet Union in terms of radio equipment, we will provide industrial raw materials, and you will be responsible for manufacturing part of it. Given your realities, we cannot accept it for the time being. Yang, I want you to be realistic. Your strength is limited, and you cannot afford the huge needs of the Soviet side. ”

"Yang, the more than 100 minesweepers, gunboats, frigates, torpedo boats and other ships you asked for are impossible for us to provide you with at all. Because you are not near any sea. Moreover, judging from the strength of the Japanese Navy, the ships we have provided to you will not only serve no purpose, but will increase our burden. ”

Regarding the string of numbers reported by Hopkins, Yang Zhen listened very patiently and meticulously, and did not let go of any details. When Hopkins finished talking about the amount of materials and equipment to be provided, Yang Zhen's heart breathed a sigh of relief. Although it did not reach the figures I had hoped for, it was not far off.

In particular, the number of industrial production machines and equipment has basically reached their expectations. In particular, the assistance of a complete set of equipment for a 500,000-ton steel plant can even be said to be a surprise for Yang Zhen. When this 500,000-ton steel plant was completed, coupled with the steelmaking converters and electric furnaces provided by the Americans every month, they could basically meet their own needs by the end of the Anti-Japanese War.

As for the refusal of the Americans to provide naval vessels, Yang Zhen did not care at all. Because those more than 100 ships were purely smoke bombs that he deliberately put forward in order to disturb the sight of the Americans. He didn't take it seriously at all, or didn't think that it would actually be implemented.

If the Americans really promised to come down and give it all to him, he would not have settled it yet. Do you really want to put all these ships in the Songhua River? Before the end of the war with Japan, Yang Zhen knew very well that he did not have the ability to build a navy, let alone enough financial resources to build a navy.

With the existing strength and capability of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, it is already quite difficult to ensure that the combat planes and tanks provided by the Americans are fully operational. There is still energy left, to engage in the navy? What's more, the navy is a more complex branch of the military than the air force, and the century-old navy is not just talking.

When Hopkins' voice fell, Yang Zhen smiled and said, "Old friend, I basically don't have too many problems with this agreement. As long as you, the United States, can really fully fulfill the agreement, we will be content for the time being. ”

"Of course, if you don't mind, I'd like to add one more to this agreement. That is, I want to be able to get all the tanks, cars, armored vehicles, and all the booty and steel helmets that the United States and Britain acquired when they fought against Germany. Please note that I don't want the German weapons and equipment I am talking about, and the Italian tatters captured by the British in North Africa. ”

"Mr. Hopkins, Admiral Wavell, you are well aware of the enormous attrition of war. Now that the United States has not entered the war, it is natural that the promised equipment will not break its promise. But once the United States is really engaged in the war, in the face of the enormous attrition of the war, how much equipment will we be able to get while still meeting the needs of Britain and the Soviet Union? ”

"I think the British side has the most say in this aspect of the consumption of weapons in the war. In particular, Admiral Wavell, you served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Middle East Theater and fought against the German African Army. It is clear that in a battle, the huge consumption of weapons and equipment is very clear. At present, the British side is only dealing with the North African theater of operations, and the consumption of equipment is still limited. ”

"But we all know that you are not going to be honest enough to hold on to a territory in North Africa. After defeating the German Afrika Army, you will inevitably counterattack the European continent and completely destroy the German Nazis. Now you are facing only a part of the African Army of the German army's major strategic groups, and the consumption of tanks is already quite staggering. ”

"When you're facing the German army on the European continent, the equivalent of fighting on your own soil, think about how much equipment you'll need to fill that big hole? The current Soviets are a vivid example of you. Two, I don't want to release our pigeons because you are focusing on Europe and sending all the equipment that should have been provided to us to make up for the losses in the European theater. ”

"To be honest, I don't like second-hand gear either. But I'll be unkind, the tanks that the British promised to provide before the end of the year are probably second-hand. If I'm not mistaken, the tanks provided by the British side were replaced by those supplied by the American side in the North African theater. ”

"Well, second-hand is second-hand, we're not picky. Who made us not have our own production capacity now, so we can only reach out to you and ask for food? It's not that I don't believe in the sincerity of your country, but under the huge attrition of the war, who can guarantee that the equipment you promised is in place? ”

"I believe that your two countries have the ability to produce their own production capacity and source of raw materials. However, the wind and the German and Japanese submarines and bombers, and the sabotage of the Soviet transportation system by German and Japanese spies all affected the quantity and efficiency of the equipment in place. You can delay it, but can the battle be delayed? So, I can only find a way to make amends or a temporary alternative. ”

"You can't be using German tanks and artillery in the war against Germany. Unless you want your troops to be in chaos and cannibalism when they fight. Therefore, the German weapons and equipment you have captured are of no use to you. Rather than leave Lang Fei there, it is better to hand it over to us and let them deal with the Japanese. ”