On the dock, Su Jin and Zhang Zhizhong saw an unexpected person, the arrival of this person surprised Su Jin, who had originally come to greet him out of courtesy, and this person turned out to be the current US Secretary of State Cordell Hull.

Originally, when he saw Hull, Su Jin didn't care, thinking that this old man was just an ordinary entourage, but when the interpreter on the boat told him that this was the current US Secretary of State, he and Zhang Zhizhong were stunned.

What is the U.S. Secretary of State? From an administrative point of view, it is a senior administrative official second only to the president and vice president, and is the president's main adviser on foreign affairs, and in terms of official position, he is the vice premier and foreign minister of the ******, and in the old Chinese saying, he is a senior official above 10,000 people under the two, and its importance is naturally self-evident.

Hull is an old man who is nearly seventy years old, he is already in good spirits, with silver hair and a gentle smile, at first glance he looks like a gentle old man next door, I saw him shake hands with Su Jin and Zhang Zhizhong respectively and smiled: "Oh, I'm really sorry, Your Excellency General, Mr. President, I was abrupt, first of all, I want to apologize very much for my presumptuous arrival." As soon as the two sides met, Hull bluntly expressed his apologies to Su Jin and Zhang Zhizhong: "But I am on the orders of President Roosevelt, and I have important matters to discuss with your government, and in view of the need for secrecy, I will come to your country in this way, so I ask your government to forgive me." ”

After being surprised, Zhang Zhizhong hurriedly smiled and said: "Mr. Hull is too polite, I would like to extend a warm welcome to your arrival on behalf of the Zhejiang Provincial Government, as for what kind of way you said to come to Huaxia, it is not a big problem, as long as you come, it will be our most honored guest." ”

Hearing Zhang Zhizhong's words, Su Jin secretly frowned in his heart, but he still didn't say anything, and said in English with a smile on his face: "Your Excellency, I would like to express my sincere welcome to your arrival on behalf of myself, although I can express my understanding that you need to keep it secret and come to China in this way, but for your safety and for reasons such as hindering the laws of our country, I need to immediately report the information of your arrival to Chongqing as soon as possible. Before receiving the latest order from Chongqing, I hope you will not leave Taizhou first, and I hope you can understand. ”

Hearing this, Zhang Zhizhong's face on the side changed slightly, he originally wanted to invite Hull to Hangzhou, but he didn't expect Su Jin to say such a thing, which couldn't help but make him a little unhappy. He just wanted to speak, but when he saw Hull laughing, "General Su, I didn't expect you to speak English so well." As you said, since I have come to your country, I will naturally abide by the laws and regulations of your country, so you can rest assured. ”

Su Jin said with a smile: "That's good, I hope this place can give you a pleasant memory." I will send someone to take you to your place to rest for a while, and then Chairman Zhang and I will have a banquet for you in the evening. ”

"Okay!"

Soon, Su Jin asked Bai Qishan to send a company of guards to escort Hull and his party to the temporary residence to rest, and after Hull and his party went down, Zhang Zhizhong's face immediately changed, and he said to Su Jin with a calm face: "General Su, what do you mean by this?" But the U.S. Secretary of State, that's how you entertain people, is this place in Taizhou a place to entertain guests? The most important thing we should do now is to send them to Hangzhou by plane immediately to wait for Chairman Chiang's instructions, instead of staying in this shabby place! ”

Su Jin turned around and said, "Chairman Zhang, I know very well what I'm doing?" You also know that the other party is the secretary of state of the United States, do you know what it means for him to be a dignified secretary of state to come to China quietly? If the president of our government council suddenly ran to the United States without prior greeting, do you think the Americans will treat us as warmly as you say? Because, according to diplomatic principles, it is very rude for an important official of one country to suddenly come to another country without prior notice, so I have a very valid reason for doing so. ”

"You...... You ......" Zhang Zhizhong's mouth was open for a while, and he was speechless for a while, and finally held back a sentence: "But he is an American!" ”

"What's wrong with the Americans? Can Americans ignore the rules of diplomacy? Su Jin said coldly and stopped talking, although he could understand Zhang Zhizhong's reaction, but he couldn't help but feel a bitter emotion in his heart, the country has been weak for a long time, so that the Chinese people unconsciously feel inferior when they see foreigners. But he doesn't have a good way to do this, let alone now, in another time and space, until the 21st century after the great rise of China's national power, it has not been completely eradicated, but this involves the problem of the lack of traditional culture and beliefs.

Not long after Su Jin and Zhang Zhizhong had a small dispute over this matter, Hull was also arranged to live in a small courtyard temporarily, and at this time, Crawford, who had just received the news, also hurried over.

"Your Excellency, I'm sorry I didn't expect you to come, so I can't come to the dock to meet you personally, please forgive me!"

Looking at the panting Crawford, Hull smiled: "Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Crawford, my itinerary is confidential, it's normal that you don't know, but don't talk about you, even the Chairman Zhang and General Su in Huaxia were taken aback by my arrival." ”

"That's for sure." Crawford smiled, "I'd be surprised if it were changed, after all, the secretary of state of one country suddenly came to another country, and it really makes people think about it." But I guess that General Su's face must not be very good-looking, right? ”

"I'm really right, I'm not very happy to see him." Hull shrugged his shoulders, "Originally, I wanted to go to Hangzhou today, but that General Su didn't seem to be very happy, so I had to come here." ”

"It's to be expected." Crawford smiled, "With all due respect, your sudden arrival has made him very passive, and it would be good that he didn't embarrass you on the spot according to his temper." ”

Hull nodded: "I can see that General Su is supposed to be a nationalist, and I can detect a proud heart hidden under his polite surface." ”

"Mr. Hull, I have to admit that you are too observant." Crawford agreed: "What has impressed me most in my days with him is that he is very different from many officials in this country. The economy of this country is still in a state of self-sufficient agrarian society, their industrial strength is almost zero, and in order to obtain the support of our United States, their officials are almost responsive to our needs, and it is not an exaggeration to describe it as flattery, but it is particularly rare that this Soviet general can treat us with a normal heart. ”

"It's not surprising." Hull nodded: "If he didn't have that kind of courage, the Japanese wouldn't be so distressed that they would jump to their feet now, you must know what General Su did in Fukuoka that made the Japanese government still lick its wounds." ”

"Who let the Japanese him off?" Crawford pouted, "Kidnapping civilians to threaten the local army is probably something that only the Japanese can do." ”

The two chatted for a while, and Hull asked with a serious expression: "Lieutenant Colonel Crawford, I came secretly on the orders of President Roosevelt this time, in addition to talking to the Chongqing government about military aid, I also want to personally observe whether the General Su and his troops are really as good as you said in the report, which is very important for what we will do next. ”

"Of course, I can guarantee that." Hearing this, Crawford's expression also became serious, "If you still have doubts about my report, I can take you to a place after dinner, and I believe the facts will tell you everything." ”

Hull couldn't help but laugh: "Oh, if there is such a place, then I really want to see it!" ”

After dinner, Hull walked out of the lodgings, accompanied by Crawford, and since they were not far from the port, they arrived at the docks after walking for more than ten minutes. At this time, it was almost evening, and the sunset was shining the last light on the sea, but there were still many dock workers on the dock who were constantly busy, they were unloading bags of goods from the freighter, these things were trains, guns, artillery, ammunition, oil, etc., and there were rows of ten **** trucks parked on the dock, and the car would drive away immediately after filling a car.

Hull looked at it for a while, turned his head and said with some dissatisfaction: "Lieutenant Colonel Crawford, although I am old and my eyes are not very good, I still have basic observational skills, did you bring me here to show me how capable the dock workers in Huaxia are?" ”

"Of course not." Crawford pointed to the pier on the other side and said, "That's where I want you to look." ”

"Huh......"

Hull looked in the direction Crawford was pointing and let out a little surprise, and quickly walked in that direction. Soon, when he walked into the pier over there, he saw something different.

There was also a large group of people working on this unfinished dock, but unlike the pier before, the people who worked at this dock were not workers, but a group of people who worked under the coercion of whips and sticks.

"Mr. Hull, these are the Japanese prisoners captured by General Su during his attack on Zhejiang and the expatriates who had no time to evacuate, and now they are building a dock for the Huaxia people, I think seeing this should give you more confidence in the report I wrote." (To be continued.) )