Yang Zhen was not half embarrassed about being exposed by Kovalev. In fact, for Yang Zhen, although Kovalev was right, he did have enough cars on hand, and the quantity was enough to meet the needs of coal transportation in the Heli area. But the car is not a horse, you can run with some forage. It requires a lot of gasoline.

Therefore, Yang Zhen, who was not embarrassed about Kovalev's behavior of revealing the truth, just said lightly: "Comrade Kovalev, what you said is not wrong, I do have a sufficient number of cars." But you also know that this car burns oil when it runs. But what I lack most now is gasoline. ”

"With only the ability to fight on captured gasoline, I can't afford to come up with too many cars to transport these non-military supplies. As you can see, even when I came to Tsurudate this time, I rode a horse, not a car. I think you should understand the difference in comfort between riding a horse and riding a car. ”

"Comrade Kovalev, I do not mean to blackmail the great Soviets. If I had any other way, I could have given this plane to the Soviet comrades for free. But we do need a lot of smokeless gunpowder now, and we hope that the Soviet side will understand this need. ”

"A big war is imminent, and we must make every effort to ensure the stockpiling of war materials. You are also a soldier and should know how much supplies are needed for a campaign. General Zhukov's material consumption during the Battle of Nomenkhan, I think you should have an approximate figure in your mind. ”

"Of course, neither the mechanization nor the firepower of my troops can be compared with General Zhukov's troops. But at least the amount of ammunition required is not too different. Rocket artillery is an important weapon against the heavy group of Japanese troops, and it can be said that it is very important for our next operation. It is directly related to whether we can completely break the heavy siege of the Japanese army. ”

"And even if we stop all the production of weapons that use smokeless gunpowder, we will do our best to ensure the production of rockets. With the amount of gunpowder in stock and the still limited production capacity, it is not possible to make too many rockets. So turning to the great Soviets is almost the only and best option we can do at the moment. ”

Speaking of this, Yang Zhen's face became extremely stern and said, "Comrade Kovalev, maybe you don't know that this battle is related to our life and death. Once the battle is lost, we will have no way back. And the investment in front of the great Soviets will also be lost with the collapse of my troops on all fronts.

Looking at Yang Zhen's sincere gaze, as the supreme person in charge of the GRU Military District in the Far East, it can be said that he has a certain understanding of the movements of the Japanese army in the northeast, and even Kovalev, who knows quite a lot, knows that what Yang Zhen said is not alarmist. As far as he knew, the Japanese army had mobilized two newly established field divisions alone, and this did not include puppet troops such as the so-called Manchukuo Army.

Yang Zhen's subordinates, who are currently trapped in several counties in the Xiajiang region and have hardly any rear, will face the danger of complete defeat once they lose the battle. Because in addition to the base areas of these counties, in the northeast under the strict rule of the Japanese puppet army, except for the deep mountains and old forests, they can no longer find any place to rest and replenish.

And as he put it, once his troops were defeated in battle, all the painstaking investment that the Soviets had made in them in the early stage would be in vain. There will be a repeat of the mistakes of the Spanish Civil War.

In fact, Lieutenant Colonel Kovalev came this time, and the Soviet General Staff was not at all prepared for Yang Zhen's possible sky-high asking price. But the General Staff of the Soviet Army meant that some of the raw materials for the military industry could be given, but the weapons could not be given again. Because the war clouds were already thick, the European shape was about to erupt, so that the Soviet army did not dare to take the risk of fighting on both sides, and caused a full-scale war between Japan and the Soviet Union.

Moreover, judging from the meaning of the General Staff, the General Staff is preparing to control this Chinese comrade's troops. So that one day in the near future, after the outbreak of the European War, it can be used as an important force to contain the Japanese Kwantung Army living in Manchuria.

And without affecting the stability of the Far East and not causing a large-scale war between Japan and the Soviet Union, he made it as strong as possible, so that the Japanese army had no time to advance north. Therefore, let him find a way to control this strong fighting force in order to make it work for the interests of the Soviet fatherland.

Therefore, in the face of material assistance, let him try to avoid gratuitous assistance and the form of exchange, but he can propose a loan model. In addition, while assistance to its weapons cannot be increased, its self-sufficiency in weapons must be brought to a relatively low level.

Perhaps the General Staff thinks that it will be more cost-effective to get stuck in the arms and ammunition in terms of military raw materials, which are more difficult to make yourself, and will not arouse too much disgust from the other side. Therefore, one of Kovalev's tasks this time is to find a way to reduce the self-sufficiency of raw materials for the military industry and make it dependent on the raw materials provided by the Soviet Union, so as to better control this anti-United Nations armed force in his hands.

Receiving this order from Moscow, Kovalev immediately understood that this decision was not something that could be decided by the General Staff itself, but certainly from the upper echelons of the High Command. I am afraid that in just two months, the reason for the sharp change in the thinking of the Chinese comrades who insisted on the war of resistance against the northeast should be influenced by the growing tensions in Europe.

The interest of the General Staff in this new Italian bomber, which had been excellent at the time of the Spanish Civil War, was not very high. It's better if you can get it back, and it doesn't matter if you can't get it back. The Red Army already had several new, faster and better performing fighters being tested. The threat posed by such Italian aircraft to the Red Army was not very great.

It doesn't matter if you want a plane or not, but Kovalev is very clear about one thing. That is, according to the meaning of the General Staff, this Chinese anti-Japanese armed force must be controlled by the Soviet Union, at least strategically controlled by them to serve the Soviet Union. In other words, Kovalev returned to the Northeast this time, and the matter of this plane was just an introduction.

After being silent for a long time, Kovalev said: "Comrade Yang Zhen, we have asked to provide us with this plane free of charge, which at least shows Moscow the sincerity of our cooperation, so as to lay a good foundation for continued cooperation in the future." In addition, in view of your current form, we can provide the materials you need, but it must be in the form of a loan. ”

"We can sell the supplies you need on a loan at a slightly lower price than the international price. Due to the military pressure faced by the Chinese comrades, this batch of gunpowder could be shipped first. As for the price, it can be calculated later. In addition, in the future, other materials purchased by the Chinese comrades can be purchased using the form of loans. In view of the difficulties of the Chinese comrades, it is possible to keep accounts first, and then pay them after they have accumulated a certain amount. ”

"But Comrade Yang Zhen, you must be mentally prepared. In the future, we will not provide any more weapons and equipment for the Red Army in service. The only things that can be sold to the Chinese comrades are all the raw materials you need, as well as the basic supplies. If the Soviets believe that the Chinese comrades have lost the battle, that their situation has deteriorated, and that there is no possibility of continuing the fighting, we can break the contract at any time. ”

Hearing that Kovalev was finally relieved, Yang Zhen nodded without hesitation: "Yes, we will give you this plane for free." The supplies we need are provided to us by you in the form of secret loans. But there is a point where the interest cannot be set too high, and you also have to consider our ability to repay. ”

"In addition, when it comes to paying principal and interest, we want to be able to adopt a flexible payment model. You know, for hard currency, we don't have that big quantities. Payment can only be made in coal or other ores, depending on the circumstances. If necessary, please allow us to be in arrears for a certain period of time. ”

"In addition, we hope that the dear Far Eastern Military District can help us train a batch of pilots, and of course these expenses can be repaid as part of the loan. We also hope that the great Soviet Red Army will sell us one or two long-range aircraft. So that we can build an air bridge through Mongolia to Yan'an. ”

"Of course, under the current form, the maintenance and upkeep of a qiē also requires the help of Soviet comrades, and these can also be carried out as part of the loan."

Speaking of this, Yang Zhen smiled and said: "Of course, if we are defeated, even if the Soviet comrades want to implement this contract, there must be an object for execution, right?" Therefore, for the sake of the great Soviet Union's efforts to assist the Chinese comrades in vain, and for the sake of us being able to strike a more powerful blow to the Japanese fascists, I hope that the Soviet comrades will do their best to deliver the promised supplies. Our arsenal is still waiting for the rice to come out of the pot. ”

Both of them can be said to have ghosts in their hearts, and Yang Zhen wants to use the ideas of the Soviet Union to strive for more benefits for himself as much as possible. And Kovalev also clearly told Yang Zhen that although this is a contract, it depends on the progress of your war and can be torn up at any time.

It is a strange story in the history of negotiations that a loan and a contract for the sale of goods have not yet been signed, and each other is told that the contract may be torn up at any time.

Regarding Yang Zhen's request, before coming, Kovalev, who had been fully authorized, nodded without thinking about it: "Yes, except for the plane matter, which still needs Moscow's consent, I can agree to you now." Among the people I came here this time was an expert in this area. ”

Kovalev was simple, and Yang Zhen didn't drag his feet and said: "In this way, I will ask Minister Peng of the Logistics Department to negotiate with you." You also know that now that the war is about to break out, as the highest military commander, the commander of the Jidong Military Region, it is impossible for me to leave the front line for too long. ”

After that, Yang Zhen smiled and said, "I wonder if Comrade Kovalev is interested in returning to the front line with me to have a look?" Visit how we fought against the evil Japanese fascists? By the way, you can also attend my wedding. ”

Regarding Yang Zhen's invitation, Kovalev was obviously not very interested: "Comrade Yang Zhen, I have just returned from the battlefield of Nomenhan, and I have come to you again after working tirelessly, and I am already very tired. Besides, I have to urge our experts to reach an agreement with the Chinese comrades as much as possible, don't I? ”

"As for your newlyweds, I will give you a handmade zuò gift as a congratulatory gift. But Comrade Yang Zhen, do you think it is appropriate for you to get married now that the hostile situation is so severe? I think it's going to be bad for morale. ”

Regarding Kovalev's evaluation of whether his upcoming wedding was suitable or not, Yang Zhen did not care too much. From a Western point of view, it is indeed inappropriate to hold a wedding in a situation where the war is imminent. But in traditional Chinese concepts, this practice can be used to boost morale in disguise.

After the two ** reached the end of the discussion, they each transferred people to negotiate as quickly as possible. After all, the shape is getting more and more nervous, and the sooner it is better to negotiate, it can also solve the urgent needs that Yang Zhen is facing.

In Yan'an, thousands of miles away from Luo, just after listening to Mr. Lin's report, he received a telegram from Yang Zhen asking for instructions on continuing to purchase a batch of urgently needed strategic materials from the Soviet side in the form of loans, but the leader handed over the disposal power to Mr. Lin, who had just returned from Yang Zhen.

After carefully reading Yang Zhen's telegram requesting instructions, Mr. Lin smiled and said to the leader and commander-in-chief: "It's okay for the chairman, I think I can give him full authorization in this regard." ”

"After nearly a month of contact, he made a deep impression on me. If there's one thing that impresses me the most about him, it's his personality, aside from his daring combat experiences. ”

"It seems to me that he is a nationalist first and a *** member second. He had a strong national character, and although he didn't say it explicitly, subconsciously he gave me the feeling that he was extremely defensive of the Soviet Party. He was ready to use the Soviet comrades, but more defensive. ”

"I think his idea of taking out a loan to buy urgently needed supplies is, of course, that they are in urgent need of them at the moment, who have neither a direct line of communication with the rear nor a source of supplies. Second, I am afraid that it is not without the idea of taking the opportunity to make as much money as possible from the Soviet comrades. ”

"If you look at this so-called contract he signed with his Soviet comrades, what kind of contract is this, it can be said that they are calculating each other. This contract looks important, but after a careful taste, it is actually worthless. ”

"The Soviet side can tear up this contract at any time according to the change in shape. And they can also refuse to perform the contract according to the change of shape. I really don't know what large minerals they have in exchange for other than coal. ”

"And the coal mines concentrated in Heli are too affected by the war situation, and under the war-like situation, they can prevaricate the other party's demand for repayment by finding an excuse. You don't know, since this guy signed an agreement with the Soviet Union last time to exchange coal for grain, it has been half a month since everyone's grain has been shipped, but he has denied it in every possible way, and he has returned less than 1,000 tons of coal. When I come back, I'm afraid I won't pay a single penny. ”

"That is, he fully fulfilled the contract, and under the strict blockade of the Japanese puppet army, did he have a place to sell his coal except for the Soviet side? This little guy is very shy, and the Soviet comrades are afraid that it will be difficult to take advantage of him. This, of course, does not exclude the fact that the Soviet comrades had other purposes. But I have a feeling that we can rest assured that the shape of the northeast can be handed over to him, and there will definitely be no situation like the one we are worried about in him. He can't afford to lose. ”

"Besides, can the people he asks give him? He had a good idea, and used the loan to buy a few long-range planes from the Soviet side to open up their air communication with the central government. Don't we have a group of people who have learned to fly in Xinjiang? I think I can give it all to him. ”

Regarding Mr. Lin's evaluation, the leader pondered for a long time and made up his mind: "I think I can make this decision and give him power." Let him set the direction of development according to the shape shì himself. First, the premise is to take the overall situation of the Northeast War of Resistance and ensure the party's full leadership over the Northeast Anti-Japanese Federation. ”