Chapter Seventy-Nine: So Diplomat
So the diplomat "tsk" Li Dawei decided to carry out the vulgarity to the end." You see how much you shout like this, lacking the gentlemanly demeanor of the British, and damaging your image as a diplomat in the British Empire. Learn from the Qing government officials in my country in the past, they are not as graceless as you. You England want money for money, and land for land. Look at you again, in order to get back the wounded of your British Empire, you will shout and blackmail you for a few broken ships, this is your fault." Li Dawei looked at Hu Jiesen, who was angry and green, and said with a long sigh, "Hey, those wounded prisoners of war are really pitiful, they were deceived to the smelly place of North Korea, they were beaten through their intestines, they were missing arms and legs, they were in a foreign land, far away from their relatives. I can't bear it when I see it, so let's let them go back to their relatives as soon as possible." As he spoke, Li Dawei pointed to the thick 20 books of materials on the table and said: "This is the list and medical records of the wounded prisoners of war of the British army," totaling more than 1,997 wounded.
Hu Jiesen was a little discouraged, but he still wanted to fight for Britain and said: "50 people for a boat, adding 600 construction machinery is too expensive. "Don't say it, I really feel sorry for you British Empire, and I really feel sorry for the wounded who suffer every day." Li Dawei said with a sad face: "If these wounded people knew that their political axe said this, how sad they would be, these people really shouldn't have come to North Korea. You can't let these wounded warriors shed blood and tears. You talk about human rights at every turn, I think it's bullshit. Human life and dignity are priceless, and any machine can be made, but human life is once in it."" But this time you're asking for military supplies that can be used directly in the war." Hu Jiesen was surprised by China's offer of 30 LST1 amphibious tank landing ships. He said, "I can't be the master of this."
After hearing this, Li Dawei said while packing his bag: "Aren't prisoners of war military materials directly used in war?" Li Dawei stood up and put his leather bag in his pocket and said: "You can't be the master, what else are we talking about, then let the one who can be the master come."
Hu Jiesen hurriedly said, "I'll ask for instructions right away. Prime Minister Ed Lee will give you an answer as soon as possible."
In the cabinet room of Building 10 Downing Street in Renton, England, British Prime Minister Ed Lee is holding a cabinet meeting to discuss Hu Jiesen's Yenching telegram.
Everyone first complained about the United States, dragged Britain into Korea, a war that had nothing to do with Britain, and complained that the United States was too selfish at a critical moment, only cared about itself, and complained about such a big event as changing prisoners of war, and did not even say hello in advance. Complaining that China's asking price is too high
The more Ed Lee listened, the more annoyed he became." Let's not talk about these complaints, let's study the prisoner of war issue. To change or not to change?" Then he turned his head to the Minister of Defense and said: "Giving China 30 tank landing ships will pose a threat to us?" I don't think it poses any threat to us," replied the Secretary of Defense: "These tank landing ships are mainly used for landing operations, and if China wants to take back Hong Kong, it doesn't need to go through any landing operations, and they can attack Hong Kong anytime and anywhere on land."
Ed Lee turned his head to the Secretary of the Navy, who was sitting on the side, and said: "Tell me about the LST1 amphibious tank landing ship."" LST1 amphibious tank landing ship. The total length is 328 feet, the maximum width is 50 feet, the minimum draft is 3 feet 9.5 inches, the standard displacement is 2197 tons, and the full load displacement is 3960 tons. "The Secretary of the Navy began to introduce the LST1 amphibious tank landing ship to the cabinet members." The main role of this ship is to transport landing troops, tanks, vehicles, artillery and other weapons and equipment for ocean voyages, and to land directly on the enemy's beachhead, and the medium-sized ships can lift the bow slightly when landing on the beachhead, so that the tanks and vehicles can go ashore more conveniently. Produced in '44, due to the increased design size, the bow door has also been widened accordingly, and the ramp has been widened to 12~14 feet, so that it can carry more kinds of vehicles. The tank landing ship has two 40-mm naval guns. It can transport tanks and other vehicles with a total weight of 2,100 tons. The tank compartment is well ventilated to supply oxygen to the tank engine, and vehicles on the main deck can access the lower tank deck via a lift and then land on a ramp. When sailing across the ocean, in order to ensure sufficient stability, there must be a certain draft, and when landing, the draft must be as shallow as possible due to the water depth of the shore, in order to meet the contradictory requirements of deep draft navigation and shallow draft beaching, the ship designed a large ballast tank. During deep-sea crossing, the ballast tank is injected with seawater; When landing, the seawater in the ballast tanks is pumped out. Now many military experts believe that due to the advent of the atomic bomb, amphibious landing ships have ceased to be so important and have come to the end of their lives. It can even become history. However, not long ago, the successful landing operation of the joint [***] in Incheon, South Korea, once again proved the importance of tank landing ships. If we give this offensive weapon to Chinese mainland, it will not be a threat to us. But it will definitely greatly improve the long-range combat capability of [***] and pose a huge threat to Taiwan."" What does Taiwan have to do with us?" said the Minister of the Interior very disapprovingly: "Our priority now is to consider the safety of our prisoners of war and let them return to their relatives as soon as possible. Their relatives and friends should stop making trouble, and stop shouting every day to dissolve the cabinet and let us step down."" Will this affect the relationship between Britain and the United States," said Foreign Secretary Bevan with some concern.
** The official said: "The impact will definitely be there, but the impact is also the fault of the Americans, and it is they who are the first to make deals with the Chinese." **The muscles on the official's face jumped nervously a few times and said: "Who knows what other deals the Americans have made with the Chinese?" Beware of us being tricked by them again" "They must be trading with Chinese more than just a prisoner of war issue." The Chancellor of the Exchequer said: "Otherwise, the Chinese will not lightly release the big chips of prisoners of war in their hands." We don't care what deals the Americans made with the Chinese, and we will study those things later. Let's solve the prisoner of war problem first, and calm down this prisoner of war storm first. To change or not to change, do you have an opinion?" Ed Lee was still a little undecided and consulted the other cabinet members again." Change! That Chinese is right, things can be made, we can't let our soldiers shed blood and tears, anyway, after World War II, LST1 amphibious tank landing ships . It's useless to put it there, even if it fights with the USSR now, it's not necessary for the time being." The Minister of Defense was the first to take a stand." Otherwise, we will not be able to account to the people. Why can't we do what the Americans can do?" The Home Secretary also gave his opinion.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer had been calculating the value of these assets, and seeing that everyone was waiting to hear his opinion, he said, "Let's change it, I have no opinion, but we can't let the three countries share it too."
The foreign minister said: "Everyone agrees to the exchange, and I will let Hu Jiesen talk again. Shall we talk to them about the other POWs? And the Hong Kong problem?" The issue of prisoners of war can be discussed, but other issues should be put aside for the first time, so as not to cause extraneous complications." Ed Lee said, "Be quick, don't procrastinate. Lest you have too many dreams at night."
In the end, the British Cabinet decided to agree with China's opinion and exchange 30 LST1 amphibious tank landing ships manufactured after 1944, 10 10,000-ton freighters, plus 600 excavators, bulldozers and 4-ton trucks in Hong Kong for 1,997 wounded prisoners of war from Shiko. And urgently dispatched 200 tons of flour, 50 tons of edible oil, 100 tons of medical supplies and medicines, 10,000 blankets, and 10,000 pieces of cotton clothes to Andong in Hong Kong. The issue of prisoners of war should be resolved as soon as possible. It is easier to spend money to eliminate disasters than to involve some sensitive political issues.
Let Bewen talk to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and divide it among each family. In the end, Canada divided two 10,000-ton ships and four landing ships, Australia divided two 10,000-ton ships, four landing ships New Zealand divided two 10,000-ton ships and two landing ships, and the rest had Britain to deliver 20 landing ships and 5 cargo ships in Guangzhou, and 10 landing ships and 5 cargo ships in Tianjin.
Hu Jiesen received the telegram and immediately went to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Of course, this negotiation went very smoothly, and after the two sides signed the exchange documents, Li Dawei was extremely happy and enthusiastically invited Hu Jiesen to eat a meal of xxx roast duck at the Qianmen roast duck restaurant.
During the banquet, Hu Jiesen quietly asked the rest of the prisoners of war how to deal with them, and Li Dawei made a reflection and said, "Let me help you think about this."
Li Dawei took a bite of the pancake roll duck slices, chewed slowly, and thought that the roast duck roasted with traditional technology tasted really good, and it was not the same as later generations, even the green onions were green onion cores, not like later generations, even the old green onion skin was up. This process, the brand has to apply for a patent in the United States and Europe. Running a roast duck restaurant abroad is a foreign exchange earning project. By the way, promote Chinese food culture
Hu Jiesen looked at Li Dawei anxiously, waiting for his next step. After enjoying a roll of pancake rolls and crispy duck slices, Li Dawei took a sip of duck rack soup, then picked up a hand towel and wiped his hands slowly, saying: "The last time I was in contact with the representatives of the Volunteer Army, they said that after the war, they would set up a few farms and farm well after returning to China. But there's no fertilizer for farming. There is a Chinese proverb that says, 'A crop is a flower, and it all depends on dung'"
Hu Jiesen thought to himself: "Why is there so much nonsense" "When I went to the United States, they entrusted me and asked the Americans to help a few fertilizer plants. I've been busy in the United States and forgot to talk to the Americans for a while. I think so, you four countries will help them build a small fertilizer plant with an annual output of 150,000 tons of synthetic ammonia. I'll do their work again and see if it works. There is no way, the prisoners of war are all in their hands, and everything has to be discussed with them. Hehe, this cooking is not a good thing sometimes, everything has to be discussed, and it is difficult for those of us who do specific work to do it. Do you say?"
Hu Jiesen's Qiqiao smoke heart didn't know what to say for a while. I thought that you really dare to speak, and when you open your mouth, there are four 150,000-ton synthetic ammonia fertilizer plants, and the small fertilizer factories are at the expense of what you said." Isn't this too much" "What's the matter, do you want to say that the price is too high?" Li Dawei put down the chopsticks in his hand, and said with a very impatient look: "I see that you are a good person, this time the conversation is very good, and I gave you a discount, according to them, they want an annual output of 300,000 tons. No, forget it, I really don't want to do anything with you British. Indecisive, not at all cheerful, procrastinating in doing things and talking. Let's talk to the Americans. Americans are not like you, who want to bargain for everything. By the way, there is also the issue of Hong Kong. And they brought it up."
Hu Jiesen felt a tightness in his heart, and suddenly felt that his blood pressure increased, and he was most afraid of mentioning the Hong Kong issue. Alright, don't eat this meal, I'd better hurry up