Historically, Roosevelt was dragged out of his power by three allies and was forced to choose a middle ground. After all, geographically, Egypt is in the middle of China, Britain and the Soviet Union, and no one will feel that they have lost face and momentum.

According to Roosevelt's original plan, the Cairo conference was supposed to be attended by the heads of the four countries, and he included Stalin.

But Stalin didn't do it, because the Soviet Union and Japan signed a neutrality pact, and Japan and China were at war. Thus, after the Cairo Conference, Roosevelt had to arrange a Yalta conference devoted to wartime and post-war issues related to the Soviet Union.

Chang Kaishen was pleased with the Cairo location, asking: "Relations with China have repeatedly deteriorated because of Stilwell's problems. If I attend the summit, I will inevitably have differences with Roosevelt on some issues, and will this make Sino-US relations more rigid? If I hadn't rejected Roosevelt, wouldn't I have been able to fight for China's interests? How does Mingcheng think this situation should be resolved? ”

"Fight for what you should fight, Roosevelt is not a child, he will take care of the overall situation." Zhou Hexuan said.

Lao Chiang has always been not enthusiastic about attending the summit of the allies, and even the United States has set the meeting place in Cairo, but he still does not want to go. This situation made Roosevelt extremely speechless, and he could only coax Lao Chiang to be happy like a child, and especially proposed to list China in the "Moscow Declaration", and Lao Chiang was finally happy - in fact, the "Moscow Declaration" was the result of the meeting of the foreign ministers of Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union, and had nothing to do with China.

In addition to the fear that Sino-US relations will continue to deteriorate, there are two other reasons why Chiang is reluctant to attend the summit.

First, Lao Chiang felt that China was abandoned by Britain, despised by the United States, and envied by the Soviet Union (Lao Chiang's original words), even if he went to a meeting, he was only a foil and a wedding dress, and at most he could gain a false name as one of the big four in the world.

Second, Lao Jiang believes that he is not suitable for diplomacy and does not have skilled social skills. He once made a mess during a diplomatic event, so he warned himself: "From now on, you must rarely see European and American personnel, and you must not meet them unless you have to, let alone meet them often." The rest of the thick and short should be hidden but not exposed, and the country is self-respecting. ”

But no matter how many reasons, Chang Kaishen's reluctance to attend the international summit has exposed his short-sighted international vision.

What the hell is it that only fights and does not hold meetings to share the spoils?

If you are the leader of another country, who is not happy to go, eager to get more benefits at the meeting. Even if it is an unseen or tangible benefit, even if it is a benefit that you do not have the strength to get your hands on for the time being, it should be determined in the international document first.

And Lao Chiang chose to escape from reality, and if it weren't for Roosevelt's five or six invitations before and after, there would have been no Chinese face at all at the Cairo Conference.

Hearing Zhou Hexuan say this, Chang Kaishen said that he was very embarrassed: "The most important thing for China is to win the War of Resistance Against Japan, so it can't offend Britain and the United States too much." However, as the leader of China, I cannot betray my national interests, and I will certainly not be able to negotiate with Churchill on the issue of Hong Kong and Kowloon. What should I do if I can't fight and can't fight, and I can't fight without fighting? Alas, China's own strength is not strong enough, otherwise why bother looking at the faces of other countries. ”

Zhou Hexuan asked: "How many times has President Roosevelt been invited?" ”

"This is the third time," Chang said, "I was reluctant to go to the meeting, but if I refuse, I am afraid that Roosevelt will be angry." That's why I asked Mingcheng to discuss. ”

Zhou Hexuan said with a smile: "Why did Roosevelt invite Chinese leaders to meetings again and again? This shows that the Chinese battlefield has a pivotal position in the entire world war. This is China's confidence, and this is also the confidence of you, Chairman of the National People's Committee. The anti-fascist war is bound to be won, so the focus of this meeting is how to fight for China's post-war interests! ”

Chang Kaishen told the truth in front of Zhou Hexuan: "I'm afraid of another Versailles." ”

"Even if it's another Versailles, that's good for China, at least we've won the benefits on paper." Zhou Hexuan persuaded.

Chang Kaishen also said: "I have a bad relationship with Churchill, and I am afraid that we will not be able to discuss the Hong Kong-Kowloon issue and the Tibet issue at all. Is there any good way to do this? ”

may be because Zhou Hexuan's fame is too great, or it may be that Zhou Hexuan has written more than 100 international current affairs papers over the years and become a reality, so Lao Jiang believes in Zhou Hexuan's international vision very much, so he can't wait to invite Zhou Hexuan to discuss.

Zhou Hexuan thought for a while and said: "The key is in the United States. ”

"What does the Hong Kong-Kowloon and Tibet issue have to do with the United States?" Chang Kaishen didn't understand it at all.

Zhou Hexuan said with a smile: "When the war is over, Britain will inevitably lose its status as the world's number one power, and the United States will become the new hegemon." In order to consolidate its hegemony, the United States will definitely attack Britain, for example, by forcing Britain to give up certain colonies. The Hong Kong-Kowloon and Tibet issues, which you find embarrassed, are actually in the interests of the United States, and the United States hopes that Britain will make a compromise with China. Therefore, as long as you show support for the post-war strategy of the United States, I believe that Roosevelt will do his best to help you. ”

"Will Roosevelt really help me?" Chang Kaishen was skeptical.

In Chang Kaishen's diary during the Anti-Japanese War, his attitude towards Britain and the United States and other countries was inferiority and resentment. He felt abandoned and despised by Britain and the United States, and regarded both Roosevelt and Churchill as bastards who looked down on the poor, so he didn't believe that Roosevelt would help him at all.

"Yes, Roosevelt wished that Britain's overseas power would be weakened," Zhou Hexuan said, "and when you negotiate, you must be gentle in tone and tough in your attitude." You don't have to talk too much nonsense to Churchill, you just need to keep hinting to Roosevelt that China would support American interests in Asia and Europe after the war. ”

"I understand," Chang Kaishen took out a few more documents, "Mingcheng will look at this again, is there anything else that needs to be added?" ”

These documents were all discussed in Chang Kaishen's chamberlain, and they were about the interests of post-war China. The general contents are: Japan should return Northeast China, Taiwan, and Penghu to China, guarantee the independence of Korea after the war, ensure the independence of Thailand after the war, and guarantee the status of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asian countries. There are also proposals for the disposal of Japan, a plan for Sino-US economic cooperation, a proposal for the lend-lease of materials to the United States, and so on.

Zhou Hexuan smiled and picked up the globe, pointed to the southeast of China, and said: "Two more can be added to ensure the independence of the Ryukyus and the return of the Diaoyu Islands to China." ”

Chang Kaishen didn't take Ryukyu and Diaoyu Dao seriously at all, he said casually: "It's completely okay." Anything else? ”

Zhou Hexuan said: "If you want to befriend Roosevelt, then you can add a few more." For example, after the war, Japan was taken over by the United States, the United States could legally station troops in Japan, and Japan should provide the military expenses of the US military in Japan. I am sure that Roosevelt would have been pleased. ”

"Yes, that should be added." Chang Kaishen felt suddenly enlightened, and finally stopped being afraid of being a foil at international summits.