No matter how fierce the fighting on the front line is, the life of the common people still has to be lived, and the New Year is even more important.

In the provincial government building, Su Tong was sitting in his office reviewing documents that seemed to be signed every day, when a confidential secretary walked in, "Chairman Su, this is a front-line telegram just transferred from the headquarters. ”

Su Tong didn't raise his head and said, "Oh, put it on the table, I'll see it later!" ”

After a long time, Su Tong put down the documents in his hand, picked up the pen on the table, and let out a long sigh after signing his name on this plan, "The 'Hetao Development Project' has finally reached the second stage, and next year we will finally be self-sufficient in grain and even have a little surplus, and we don't have to go around to buy grain in the domestic and international markets." ”

Su Tong knew that when World War II broke out next year, the international grain was priceless and unmarketable, and grain would become a strategic material during the war, and there could be no shortage of food if there was anything lacking; now the first phase of Ningxia's Hetao large-scale development project has been completed, and the second stage will be after the New Year, and the annual output of grain in the Hetao Plain will reach more than 10 million tons, which can already supply the needs of the people in the four Chahar provinces.

"Now that the food problem has been solved, it's time to take Suiyuan into his arms, otherwise it's not a matter of having a Suiyuan between Chahar and Ningxia Qinghai, but now Suiyuan is under the jurisdiction of Yan Xishan, the commander of the Second Theater of Operations, who is a rich man who picks the door, and it will touch his nerves to occupy Suiyuan." Regardless of him, I will say hello to Yan Laoxi after the New Year, if he doesn't know each other, I don't mind accepting Shanxi as well. ”

After thinking for a long time, Chief Su stretched out his hand and picked up the message on the table, and after reading it, a smile appeared on his face, "Is this message only signed by Luo Zhuoying, the chief of staff?" It's really interesting. It seems that as a result of the last bombing of Tokyo, Japan's military industrial base has been greatly damaged, and the production of fighter planes can no longer keep up with the speed of attrition, and it will take at least half a year for the Japanese to recover to the previous level. In this half year, we can take the opportunity to develop our own military industry and agriculture and clean up the surrounding areas to prepare for the upcoming World War II. ”

Unlike all the high-level leaders in Chahar, Su Tong clearly knows how far-reaching the arrival of World War II will have on the world, this is the last train, if Huaxia can't catch the last train of this trip, then it will take a lot of effort to re-emerge, so how to take advantage of World War II to strive for the greatest interests of China has become a problem for Su Tong to consider at this stage.

Su Tong thought for a long time and still didn't figure out a clue, "Forget that the boat is naturally straight to the bridge, today is the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve, presumably Fei'er, Yuxin and Yulia are all waiting at home, right?" It's time for me to go back too! Well, no, Hawkins and Alice are still staying in the provincial government's guest hotel, we still have to ask him, let's just call them together for the New Year today! ”

At this time, in the government guest house not far from the provincial government building, Hawkins was writing to President Roosevelt in his room:

"Your Excellency, since I was ordered to come to China for inspection, everything I saw and heard on the road was a smoke of gunpowder, and although the central government, which had retreated to Chongqing, still controlled nearly half of the territory of China, according to my observation, although the troops of the Chiang regime had the courage to fight the Japanese, and they also had more than 3 million troops in name, they were also losing ground at this stage due to their inferior equipment and uneven command and tactical level. On the other hand, the Chahar troops led by General Su Tong are different, their weapons and equipment have reached the world's advanced level, their officer body is more vigorous and enterprising, and the air of freedom and democracy is also wafting in this young city, I once exchanged views with the young General Su, although he does not fully agree with our American values, but he has the same views on democracy and freedom, so I think"

At this time, there was a knock at the door, "Uncle Hawkins, are you there?" ”

"Please come in!"

"Click!" The door opened, and Alice, who had just finished bathing, pushed the door in a bathrobe and slippers and said to Hawkins: "Uncle Hawkins, General Su sent someone to invite us to spend the New Year with them, and the car is waiting outside, how can we reply to him?" ”

Hawkins smiled, "Why not?" Oh, dear Alice, can you bear to let me, a lonely old man, spend the Chinese New Year alone? ”

Alice glared at Hawkins coquettishly, "Didn't I spend it with you?" You know, I've spent two years in China. ”

Hawkins looked at Alice, who was already slim, with pity, thinking of her being a girl wandering alone in a foreign country, he couldn't help but feel pity, but said with a smile on his face, "Then we are going to go even more, since someone has a treat, then we are going to have a big meal today, this General Su's business in the United States is very prosperous, we must eat enough for this meal." ”

Alice "fluttered" and smiled, "Uncle Hawkins, look at what you said, well, I'll go change clothes right away, and you can get ready." ”

When the well-dressed Hawkins and the succinctly dressed Alice stepped into the door of Chief Su's house, they found that there were many people in the living room of this small villa.

Looking at Su Tong's happy family of four, Hawkins couldn't help but sigh and said to Su Tong, "General Su, I have to admit that you are a happy man, and even God will feel jealous of this happiness!" ”

Su Tong laughed and said: "It's a pity, I'm not a Christian, but I think it's everyone's natural right to strive for happiness, and we are all working hard for the happiness of ourselves and the people around us, but only if we don't hurt others." ”

Hawkins glanced at Su Tong thoughtfully and said with a smile, "Your words are always so wise. ”

"Miss Alice, please come in! Mr. Hawkins, please come in! ”

Su Tong, as the male hostess, welcomed the two into the house and introduced the people here to a man, Mr. Hawkins, let me introduce you, this is my father-in-law and mother-in-law, this beautiful little girl is the sister of my wife, and this is our chief of general staff in Chahar, General Jiang Baili, and his wife, Ms. Zuomei.

"Hello, hello!" Hawkins and Alice and these people greeted one by one.

Hawkins knew that their relationship with the Soviet general must be extraordinary when the New Year was coming, so they all greeted them warmly.

Jiang Baili did not wear a military uniform today, but wore a traditional Chinese long horse coat and a pair of gold-wire glasses, like a scholar more like a soldier. But Hawkins did not underestimate him because of this, because according to various intelligence, this General Jiang Baili was the second person in Chahar's million-strong army, and many of Chahar's affairs became orderly through his hands.

Su Tong stretched out his hand and motioned for Hawkins and Alice to enter the small dining room next to him and take a seat, and said with a smile, "Okay, Mr. Hawkins, we're just waiting for you to come to dinner, if you don't come again, we'll be hungry." ”

Looking at the sumptuous banquet on the table, Hawkins and Alice were dazzled, and Alice stammered and asked, "General Su, don't you Chinese people want to make dumplings during the New Year?" ”

Su Tong and others laughed, Su Tong smiled and explained, "It is true that Chinese people have the custom of eating dumplings during the New Year, but that is the habit of northerners, my wife and I are authentic southerners, and we don't eat dumplings during the New Year." ”

"Oh!" Alice nodded as if she didn't understand.

After everyone sat down, Su Tong waved his hand, "Okay, let's go."

Alice and Hawkins were amazed by the sumptuous feast and the dazzling delicacies, and Hawkins said with emotion: "General Su, when it comes to food, the United States is more than a thousand years behind China!" ”

Su Tong said with a smile: "But when it comes to other aspects, Huaxia is now lagging behind the United States for more than a few decades!" ”

Hawkins nodded: "As long as we both join forces and work together sincerely, everything will be fine." ”

After hearing this, Su Tong and Jiang Baili glanced at each other, and neither of them spoke.

After everyone finished dinner, Jiang Baili put down the napkin in his hand and said with a smile: "Mr. Hawkins, let's go to the small living room and sit down." ”

"Absolutely!" Hawkins agreed with a smile: "I have long heard that Chief of Staff Chiang of Chahar is an outstanding military strategist, and I just happened to ask you in person. ”

Su Tong and the three of them came to the small living room next to them and sat down, Su Tong smiled and asked Hawkins: "Mr. Hawkins, you have been here in Chahar for several days, I don't know what you think and suggest to us Chahar?" ”

Hawkins smiled and said: "General Su, I have seen the map and information of Zhangjiakou three years ago, and after comparing it with the current Zhangjiakou, I have to admit that under your leadership, this city and the surrounding provinces are developing at a rapid pace, and it has now become the most active city in China and the financial center of China." ”

"Mr. Hawkins, thank you for the compliment!" Su Tong nodded and said: "But this is not enough, our motherland is still moaning in pain under the iron hooves of the invaders, and to defeat the Japanese, we need the help of your country, both diplomatically and politically!" ”

Hawkins also nodded: "I personally support this, but you also know the policy that our government is pursuing now, and I think it will be difficult for me and the president to convince Congress to abandon Japan and support you, after all, Japan is a country, and you are just a local government."

Listening to Hawkins' words, Su Tong and Jiang Baili looked at each other, and secretly thought in their hearts: "Could it be that this Hawkins has any idea again?" ”