706 turns to the seven bitter "meat" of war?

July 15, 1934, Washington, D.C., Admiralty Building.

"I sincerely hope that the United States of America and the Republic of China will conclude a treaty aimed at limiting the naval armaments of the Pacific region and jointly reducing the number of aircraft carriers in order to ensure permanent peace in the Pacific......

This request was made by U.S. Secretary of the Navy Claude Brown. Swanson, a kind-looking American grandfather from Virginia, was originally a senator and was an old friend of President Roosevelt. The well-fitting hand-sewn fabric and high-end suit reflect his gentlemanly demeanor. His silver-white hair made him look respectable. Moreover, when facing the chief of the general staff of the Chinese National Defense Forces and the Chinese minister of foreign affairs, the US secretary of the Navy was very humble and polite, and he did not see at all the arrogance of the future world hegemon.

In fact, although the United States has the most powerful navy in the world, its pocket army of more than 100,000 people really makes the "color" of the United States, a military power, a little insufficient. Moreover, there are many peace-loving members of the U.S. Congress who are bent on continuing to reduce the size of this army...... However, the Americans still attach sufficient importance to the navy, which is directly used to defend the United States from aggression, but today, the US Secretary of the Navy has actually proposed to sign a treaty with China to limit naval armaments! It's just so puzzling.

Chinese Navy Minister Long Tenghui, who was sitting there and listening, suddenly had doubts in his heart. He glanced at Luo Yaoguo and Wang Jingwei, who were presiding over the negotiations, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and did not speak. Luo Yaoguo is still polite, and Wang Jingwei is even more satisfied with the courtesy he has received in the United States, and has long lost the necessary vigilance and "sex".

Hu Hanmin has been at the White House with US President Benjamin Franklin. Roosevelt held formal talks, and then collapsed in the White House, and received the highest courtesy, and it is clear that the United States has regarded China as a first-class power on an equal footing! The talks between Hu Hanmin and President Roosevelt were described as friendly and fruitful according to the joint communiqué issued by the two political authorities.

At least the two sides have reached a consensus on a few points. First, China will pledge not to encroach on the security of the Philippines, whether it is a U.S. colony or not. Hu Hanmin promised this without hesitation. Although Luo Yaoguo once raised objections to one point, he scared Hu Hanmin and Wang Jingwei enough that he no longer insisted...... In fact, Luo Yaoguo's idea is not to invade the Philippines, but to get the United States to lift all obligations to the Philippines and make the country completely independent, even if China provides security guarantees to the Philippines instead of the United States. Because he was a little worried that the Philippines might become a fuse for the United States to get involved in World War II! To be honest, he doesn't want the United States to participate in this war, no matter which side it is on.

Second, a trade agreement will be signed between China and the United States, and China will further open its market to the United States and reduce tariffs on American goods imported into China. In return, the U.S. government will provide China with a $1.5 billion credit guarantee line to give it enough foreign currency to pay off its debts that will mature over the next few years. This trade agreement is a win-win agreement between China and the United States, ensuring that U.S. capital and U.S. goods have access to the Chinese market over other foreign capital and goods. And the Chinese government will also get enough foreign exchange to prepare for war! However, it is not without a little problem, that is, Japanese goods that have just returned to the Chinese market by virtue of their low prices and good quality will be squeezed out of American goods because of unfair tariffs, and the contradictions between Japan and the United States will inevitably deepen as a result. However, Hu Hanmin, Wang Jingwei, and even Luo Yaoguo didn't bother to think about this problem.

The third point of consensus is the "Sino-US Treaty on Technical Cooperation in Military Equipment" proposed by the Chinese side, according to which China and the United States will jointly develop radar, aircraft engines, marine power systems, tank engines, new materials, various electronic equipment, and finally, of course, the most important isotope separation technology! Although China has acquired a lot of advanced technology through Sino-German cooperation and has recruited some Jewish scientists, China's scientific research base and industrial base are still far inferior to those of the United States, and now, China can use the scientific research strength of the United States to improve its own weapons and equipment through Sino-US military-technical cooperation. The United States, however, readily agreed to the treaty, but proposed two additional provisions. First, the U.S. government hopes that the Chinese defense forces will be able to hire people including Douglas. A group of retired U.S. Army officers, including General MacArthur, served as military advisers...... It's just the kind of consultant who hires me to ask questions. Second, the Chinese government assured the United States that after the expiration of the "Anti-GC International Treaty" (that is, the date of the demise of the Soviet Union), China and Germany would not conclude a new alliance treaty. In this regard, Luo Yaoguo agreed without much thought.

And after the Americans have given China such a big preferential condition, they naturally have to put forward some demands that are favorable to the United States. That is the "Sino-US Naval Treaty" that is currently being negotiated, but what is somewhat surprising is that the United States has proposed to work with China to reduce and limit the aircraft carriers it owns! The United States hopes that China will reduce the total tonnage of its aircraft carriers by 20,000 tons to 80,000 tons. The United States, on the other hand, will reduce the tonnage of aircraft carriers by 15,000 tons, bringing the total tonnage of aircraft carriers to 120,000 tons.

Looking at this US Secretary of the Navy, who may be a little old and confused, Luo Yaoguo just thought quietly in his heart. The United States is not the shattered British Empire, and does not have the financial resources to maintain an overly powerful navy. In fact, the United States has enough industrial power to maintain a maritime power several times larger than it does now, but China has no spare capacity to expand its navy. And at present, it is not only China and the United States that have powerful navies in the Pacific region, but also Britain and Japan have a large fleet, especially Japan! According to information sent by the Military Intelligence Agency, Japan now has three aircraft carriers, and is also preparing to convert one capital ship under secret construction into an aircraft carrier, in addition to three new large aircraft carriers! By the time these shipbuilding plans are completed, Japan will have at least seven aircraft carriers, six of which will be large aircraft carriers! If China and the United States reduce the tonnage of their aircraft carriers, the number of aircraft carriers they have will be less than that of Japan...... Aren't Americans worried about the Japanese at all?

"This ...... Permanent peace in the Pacific is, of course, the goal that our government has always pursued. However, China and the United States are not the only great powers with strong naval forces in the Pacific region......" Luo Yaoguo thought for a long time, and finally answered, he pondered his words, as if he was in a dilemma: "Especially the Japanese Empire, in addition to the public shipbuilding plan, they also have a shipbuilding plan to secretly expand the number of naval aircraft carriers...... As far as we know, at least three large aircraft carriers have now been built on Japanese slipways, and a secretly built battle cruiser is being converted into an aircraft carrier halfway through...... If all these aircraft carriers are built, the total tonnage of Japan's aircraft carriers is likely to exceed 150,000 tons, or even more than 160,000 tons! And the total tonnage of aircraft carriers in China and the United States is only 80,000 tons and 120,000 tons, is it too little? ”

The elderly US Secretary of the Navy seemed to let out a cold snort and said lightly: "The Japanese Navy is only a second- or third-rate maritime power at best. The country does not have enough oil, nor does it have advanced aircraft, nor does it have a strong industry as a base. Those aircraft carriers can't exert any power in their hands, and they are purely "waving" money. I've heard that the Japanese Navy is still using two-winged wooden aircraft for training, and there are several outdated products that were developed in the late stages of World War I. And the aluminum that they now use to make new aircraft needs to be imported from you in China, and even the aircraft engines are going to be 'co-developed' with you, in fact, they want to buy your obsolete technology...... Not long ago they also bought the technology for our 450 hp R-1340 star engine. That's just a backward product with nine cylinders, and now we both have a mature product with 14 cylinders, and even an 18-cylinder star engine is already in development! I really don't see what kind of "sexual" threat the Japanese aircraft carriers can pose to our two countries. ”

Luo Yaoguo hadn't spoken yet, but Wang Jingwei on the side couldn't help but "interject": "Mr. Minister, can we China and the United States consider including Japan in this treaty aimed at limiting the naval arms race in the Pacific region?" If China and the United States put pressure together, Japan will probably give in, right? ”

After listening to Wang Jingwei's impromptu suggestion, the US Secretary of the Navy actually nodded seriously: "That's right, the US government also has such a meaning, if China agrees to sign the "Sino-US Naval Treaty," the United States will start relevant negotiations with Japan in the next step. But...... The U.S. government does not want to exert pressure to force Japan to join the treaty, and we believe that Japan can be invited to join the treaty through friendly consultations. After all, Japan's industrial power is the weakest of the three countries, so they should need such a treaty more than we do, right? ”

"Auxiliary marshal, the Americans did not let us participate in the negotiations with Japan, I'm afraid there is something wrong with this, right?" Long Tenghui leaned into Luo Yaoguo's ear and reminded in a low voice: "I'm afraid the Americans want to use the treaty to limit our naval strength, and then contact Japan to contain us, right?" ”

"I hope so!" Luo Yaoguo sighed in his heart, a trace of melancholy flashed in his eyes, but in a calm tone, he whispered to Long Tenghui: "We must agree to the Americans' request to participate in this treaty, because in the next few years, we will have to go all out to prepare for war with the Soviet Union, and the navy is not destined to be the focus of development." As for whether the United States will unite with Japan to contain us, there is no need to worry too much, after all, with our land power and air superiority, there is no need to fear any threat from the sea at all. ”

……

After reaching a preliminary agreement with the Chinese delegation on the U.S.-China Naval Treaty, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Claude Brown. Swanson immediately returned to the White House and reported to the giant in a wheelchair. In the Oval Office of the President of the United States, he also met with U.S. Secretary of the Army George W. Deen, who was formerly the governor of Utah, was tall and tall, with a big nose that bulged high, a large mouth but thin lips, and two thick eyebrows twisted together, looking very majestic.

"Claude, it seems that today's talks are going well, the Chinese agree to sign a naval treaty with us, right?" Roosevelt was delighted with Claude. Swanson, then turned to the Secretary of War and said: "With the naval treaty and the guarantee that the Chinese will not invade the Philippines, I think the US Army can withdraw from there, right?" Those lads must be homesick. ”

Secretary of the Army, George. Deen grinned: "That's great, to be honest, putting a small army in the Philippines doesn't make a difference, whether it's the Chinese or the Japanese, they can drive them into the sea without much effort." ”

"Then it's up to our navy to agree or not." The old man of the Admiralty wrinkled his white eyebrows and handed the draft treaty that had just been signed in his hand to the president: "Franklin, this treaty only restricts us and China, and does not have any restrictions on Japan, in case they do not agree to sign the treaty, then how can the security of the Philippines be guaranteed?" ”

Roosevelt took the text of the treaty, flipped through a few pages, and threw it in the pile of papers. For Claude. Swanson's question, he just shrugged his shoulders noncommittally and changed the subject: "George, have you talked to Professor Lawrence about uranium?" The Chinese seem to be "fascinated" with this kind of thing, knowing that they are fighting a world war at the same time! However, it gave the highest priority to the U Engineering Committee, and I don't think this is Marshal Luo Yaoguo's stupidity, but he is a very "shrewd" guy. ”

George. Deen shook his head disdainfully and said with a smile: "Mr. President, Professor Lawrence's opinion is just the opposite, he thinks that those Chinese are doing stupid things, and he can imagine that the only military use of uranium is to produce armor-piercing shells for fighting tanks or bunkers, because uranium is 2.4 times denser than steel, which is close to tungsten." But Professor Lawrence is sure that the Chinese do not use uranium to make armor-piercing shells, because China is the richest country in the world in tungsten ore. And they have long built a production chain of extermination, refining, and processing of tungsten, and there is no need for them to use uranium to make armor-piercing shells. ”

"And what do they do with uranium?" President Roosevelt lit a cigar, took a puff, and said, "The report seems to say isotopes and whatever, what is that?" Can it be used to make weapons? ”

"Definitely not!" The Secretary of War shook his head: "I asked Professor Lawrence about some other authorities on radiotherapy, sexuality, and chemistry, and the answer was yes. Although high concentrations of uranium-235 can cause a certain degree of death and injury with strong radiation, it is definitely not worth it given the cost. ”

"Is that kind of thing rare? I remember that uranium ore is not very expensive, right? Roosevelt asked.

"It's very hard to get it, Mr. President, and the cost is outrageous. Now, Chinese has invested $20 million in it, entrusting some large companies in the United States and Germany to design a series of extremely complex "fine" equipment to separate a small amount of uranium-235 in uranium oxide...... Now the equipment has been shipped to China and is being prepared for testing. ”

"Two million dollars, isn't it expensive, do we need to follow up immediately?"

"20 million is just the beginning, and it's a small fraction. Because the content of uranium-235 in uranium oxide is extremely low, and the difference between uranium-235 and uranium-238 is extremely small, the difficulty of separating them is unimaginable! And to separate this uranium-235, the biggest expense is not the equipment, but the power consumption...... According to Professor Lawrence's analysis, in order to obtain a kilogram of high-purity uranium-235, it may be necessary to "spend" tens of millions to 100 million dollars! But what good is such a little uranium-235? ”

"Oh my God! It costs so much money! Roosevelt shook his head and said with a wry smile: "It's too expensive!" It's just too expensive...... Even if I wanted to, the Congress would not agree to it, I am not a dictator like Luo Yaoguo. Maybe this dictator is really stupid. However, we should still pay close attention to this project, George, you ask General Electric and Westinghouse to report the information they have about China's U project at any time, and all the equipment that Chinese order from them that may be used to refine uranium-235 must be recorded, and the relevant drawings and materials must be carefully preserved, in case the military use of uranium-235 is discovered, we will consider whether to follow up on it in the first place......"

"Mr. President." See Roosevelt and George. As soon as Deen's conversation came to an end, the old grandfather secretary of the US Navy couldn't help but start nagging again: "The people in the Navy Staff think that we need to build more aircraft carriers, otherwise once Japan obtains new fighters, it may gain control of the Pacific Ocean, which is very unfavorable to the United States to defend the Philippines." ”

Roosevelt shrugged his shoulders and smiled, "Claude, you're overthinking." Japan does not dare to go to war against the United States, the difference in strength between the two countries is too great, Japan's industrial strength is less than one-twentieth of that of the United States, and they have only a dead end if they want to fight with us! As for the Philippines...... After the withdrawal of the Army, we will keep a detachment and a naval base there. Several cruisers were stationed and dozens of aircraft were deployed. That would be enough to deter the Japanese. ”

"Well, Mr. President, I'll do it according to your orders." Claude. Swanson nodded helplessly, turned and walked out.

President Roosevelt looked at the old secretary's back, sighed slightly, and said to the secretary of the army beside him: "Tell MacArthur that you must collect as much information as possible about the Chinese Army, including its preparation, establishment, training, operations, command, and so on. In addition, it is necessary to grasp the situation of the factions in the squadron, and strive to establish continuity with their various factions, including the army ...... of the Chinese GCD."