Episode 53 Conspiracy against U.S. arms purchases

Xiang Xiaoqiang looked at this plate of fruit, suddenly remembered something, and said angrily:

"By the way, Your Majesty, now the officers and men of our Left Army Group have entered the northwest region, all of them are southerners, not adapted to the dry climate of autumn in the north, and many of them are suffering from nosebleeds...... Also, everyone kept licking their lips, and the more they licked, the drier they became, and they all ended up bleeding...... Their diet lacks water and vitamins, and drinking plenty of water alone won't solve the problem. The soldiers did not lack meat, but the vegetables they ate were all melons, radishes, potatoes and the like that were easy to transport. The military doctor said that they should eat more green leafy vegetables, but green leafy vegetables cannot be transported over long distances, and they are basically not eaten on the front line. Now our military is discussing whether to ask Your Majesty to ask the War Department, or the Ministry of Agriculture, or something, to organize a batch of seasonal fruits to be sent to the front for everyone to eat? It is best to ensure that the soldiers have a fruit to eat at each meal. ”

It was the first time Zhu Yourong had heard this question. She was concerned, let out a soft "oh", groaned, and said:

"Yes, that's right, we have to solve this problem...... It's only autumn now, and in winter, the drying problem is even worse. …… Luckily, the fruit in our south is not in season, and it is fully supplied in winter. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang says:

"In winter, it's not just nosebleeds. At least there are cracked hands and feet. …… However, this is easy to solve, and it has been thought of in the pre-war plan. In November, we will deliver a batch of hand oil to the troops and distribute it to everyone. It was easy to carry, and one was in the shape of a small stick, like a lipstick. Another is a small iron box, which is so big as a matchbox. I can wipe my hands and lips, and I won't crack when I wipe it. ”

Zhu Yourong nodded, turned to Wei Zijin and said:

"Zijin, write it down, and inquire about this matter with the War Department when you go back, and see how they can solve the front-line fruit problem."

"Yes."

Fourteen Gege looked at Zhu Yourong, hesitated, and said with a smile:

"Your Majesty, since the troops are now in Guanzhong and Shanxi, you can let them buy apples nearby. There is no pressure to transport, and the cost is low. ”

Zhu Yourong and Xiang Xiaoqiang both looked at her and said in unison:

"Apples?"

Fourteen Gege laughed:

"The Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi is the largest apple producing area in the Northern Qing Dynasty, where the apple production is the largest and the best quality, and it is the harvest season. In previous years, it had to be transported out, but this year's war, the peasants are probably worried, thinking that the apples are going to rot in their hands. It just so happens that our Army Group Left can take them all. The apples in northern Shaanxi are enough to feed hundreds of thousands of troops. ”

Zhu Yourong and Xiang Xiaoqiang glanced at each other, both nodded, and immediately felt that this was a good idea.

"Buckle ...... Your Royal Highness the Eldest Princess," Xiang Xiao Qiang said with a smile in a sneering voice, "This is another good plan from you...... Your Majesty probably has to thank you on behalf of the soldiers...... Buckle ......"

Zhu Yourong glanced at him, still holding Fourteen Gege's hand, and smiled affectionately:

"Yes, my sister really made another good suggestion...... I really have to thank my sister for the soldiers. ”

……

The three of them drank this afternoon tea and drank it into a strategy meeting. Xiang Xiaoqiang said another idea that he and Fourteen Gege had discussed together. You can take advantage of this to import a batch of hand oil, canned fruits, and of course, buy a batch of chocolate by the way.

Nanming has a rich people and a developed light industry, so of course these things can be produced by themselves, and their own output is enough for the front line. Except, of course, canned fruit. It's not that canned fruit can't be produced in sufficient quantities, but if the army relies on canned food, the cost is too high and not cost-effective.

Hand oil, canned fruit, chocolate, these things are the same as tent sleeping bags, they are also between "military supplies" and "civilian supplies", but this time they are more like "civilian supplies" than tent sleeping bags. These things, bought for the common people, are civilian materials. If you buy it for the army, it is military material. It depends on how the U.S. federal court decides.

The last camping tent and camping sleeping bag, although they also have the characteristics of dual-use military and civilian use, but last time Nanming purchased tens of thousands of sets at once, it is obvious that the army will use so much, if it is insisted on being used by the people, then the American ** official will feel fooled. Because this is obviously talking nonsense with open eyes, which country's people can digest tens of thousands of camping tents at once? The people of Nanming are not camping, and there is no gold rush in Nanming.

But this time it's different. This time, I purchased hand oil, canned food, and chocolate. There is a great demand for flexibility in the private sector for these things, and even if there is more purchased, it can be said that it is for the private sector. Because objectively, the people can completely digest it, and it makes sense. As long as the federal ** official of the United States has a good impression of Nan Ming and wants Nan Ming to win the lawsuit, he can judge that these are not military supplies, and the other party has nothing to say.

The United States pays a lot of attention to precedents, and the hearts and minds of the people are also on the side of Nanming. In this way, as long as this opening is opened, the tent sleeping bags and the like below may also be judged as civilian supplies. Then next, Nanming can "inch in" and buy other more "sensitive" things. Finally, you can buy a car. Because at the end of the day, trucks are also dual-use goods. At most, I won't let you spray paint, I bought it back and sprayed it with the Ming Army logo myself.

Cars are what Daming most wants to import in large quantities from the United States. At present, the automobile production of Ford and General Motors in the United States alone is higher than that of other countries in the world combined, and it can fully meet the needs of tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of military vehicles in the Ming Dynasty in one or two years. And with such a large amount, Daming's own output is completely unattainable.

Zhu Yourong listened to them and felt that it was also a way. However, she felt that this was just "a solution", not a long-term solution. The long-term solution should be to take advantage of the general favorability of the American people towards the Ming Dynasty and the general dislike of the Northern Qing Dynasty to win a complete victory in this "arms procurement game."

In addition to moral likes and dislikes, Daming's arms purchases will also stimulate the economic recovery of the United States after the Great Depression and provide a large number of employment opportunities for the American people. The president and the government of the United States love votes, and no politician will have a grudge against votes.

The United States is a Protestant country, and it is also one of the few countries in the world where values are paramount. Many of their major internal and external decisions, and even the launching of wars, are largely influenced by national values.

The Ming Dynasty wanted to buy armaments from the United States, and the Northern Qing Dynasty did not allow the United States to sell armaments to the Ming Dynasty. Then the American electorate will have their own judgment. They will think that the Northern Qing Dynasty is a dictatorship and does not conform to their values. And Nanming is a democratic-sovereign state, which is in line with their values. Therefore, they supported the sale of armaments to the Southern Ming Dynasty. What's more, it can also increase the job bowl for the country and increase its own income. If Roosevelt succumbed to the pressure of the Northern Qing Dynasty, accepted bribes from the Northern Qing Dynasty, and refused to sell armaments to the Southern Ming Dynasty, then the American people would think that the government bowed to evil, supported the dictatorship, and wanted to take away everyone's jobs, and would turn to support the Republican Party, and Roosevelt would not be elected in next year's general election, and Roosevelt and his Democratic Party would step down.

Then, whether the Beiqing hates the United States so much that it is itchy to the teeth, whether it is scolding the United States as the number one villain, or saying that the senior officials of the United States accept money and do not give them services, there is basically nothing they can do.

The only trouble now is the federal courts. The people in the federal courts, especially the ** officials, are the only ones who do not need to be swayed by votes and public opinion in this arms purchase incident. **The official's tenure system and high sense of professional honor enable him to ignore the pressure from all parties and rely entirely on his own values and professional vision to determine the facts.

It can be said that Daming can influence American voters to influence the president of the United States to a certain extent, but it cannot influence the ** official in any case. Because the president needs votes, many things must be compromised to the sentiment of the people. And ** officials don't need votes, so they don't need to compromise with anyone. In this sense, the current "loopholes" and "blindfolds" have some uses, and if the people in the federal courts are also moving towards the Ming Dynasty, then there will be a step down in the law.

However, if the ** official is an old stubborn who eats the ancients, an old old-fashioned who rigidly abides by the provisions of the law, and if his professional ethics are far higher than his values, then it is very likely to judge that the Southern Ming will lose and let the Northern Qing temporarily win. And even if the whole country in the United States hates this ** official, there is basically nothing they can do. Unless there is evidence to prove that the official committed a crime, such as accepting bribes from the Northern Qing Dynasty. Journalists from government-related agencies and media outlets will also investigate the issue with enthusiasm and pervasiveness.

……

"I'm thinking......," Zhu Yourong said in a deep voice, "If the U.S. federal court rules that these foods are not armaments, it will be the best." Then we can try upwards step by step until we strive to buy a car. If...... If we lose the case and we can't buy a car, then ...... We have to carry out a series of diplomatic activities against the United States, and make great efforts to win over the American people, influence Mr. Roosevelt, and influence the American Congress, so that Congress can approve Mr. Roosevelt's determination of whether the Ming and Qing dynasties were civil wars. If it can really be determined that the Ming and Qing dynasties belonged to civil wars and were not subject to the "Neutrality Law", then we can not only buy cars, but also buy anything we want. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled:

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Roosevelt, I understand that he was a staunch opponent of 'isolationism,' and what he wanted to do most over the years was to abolish the Neutrality Act. Don't worry, he will definitely support Daming. I had faith in Roosevelt, he was a good president. ”

Fourteen Ge Waner smiled:

"It's a good president of 'America.' No matter how good it is, it will only put the interests of the United States first, not the interests of the Ming Dynasty. ”

Zhu Yourong smiled and said:

"I understand what my sister means. This matter does not depend on whether Mr. Roosevelt is a good president, but whether he does things in the interests of the Ming Dynasty...... Hehe, for us, as long as Mr. Roosevelt is against isolationism and loves the vote, then he is a good president. ”

All three laughed.

Zhu Yourong groaned again:

"There's certainly no problem with the president. But before the president, we have to go through the U.S. Congress. First, the House of Representatives was asked to introduce a resolution that "it is necessary to determine whether the Ming and Qing dynasties were civil wars," and then the Senate voted on whether to give the ruling power to the president. After it was passed, our Mr. Roosevelt would be able to support us with a stroke of the pen. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang and Fourteen Gege both glanced at each other, and both shook their heads with sighs. When Zhu Yourong said this, they all felt that the president of the United States was still quite pitiful, and he couldn't make his own decisions about so many major affairs. The first thing to do is to pass the parliament, and the House of Representatives and the Senate are still "divided", and one thing has to be divided into two steps: one proposes a resolution, the other votes on it, and no one can monopolize all power. The system is set in detail and the power is dispersed, which is really breathtaking. If the president of the United States is locked in a cage, then every time there is one more checker and balance in the supreme power, there is one more iron fence in the cage, and the less likely it is that the power will escape and do evil.

朱优榕 says:

"The House of Representatives is still the same, and those members of the House are the most dependent on votes. They have a low threshold for candidacy, high competitive pressure, and short term of office, so they must constantly consider seeking re-election. They will do whatever it takes to please the electorate and cater to the electorate. Are they...... It basically reflects 100% public opinion. The key lies in the Senate. Senators, on the contrary, have a high threshold for candidacy, low competitive pressure, and long tenures, and once elected, they can concentrate on politics for a considerable period of time. They are more like ** officials, and many things do not need to be considered to cater to voters, but only need to make their own judgments from the perspective of national interests. Therefore, such a militaristic event is only left to the Senate for a vote...... It also makes sense. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang picked up the stubble very talentedly, and said with a smile:

Therefore, the House of Representatives represents the naïve ordinary people in the United States. We should explain righteousness to them, and tell them how bad the Northern Qing Dynasty was, how it oppressed the people, how it fished the people, what happened in those labor camps, and how the local people rejoiced and ate pot pulp every time we liberated a place...... Then the House of Representatives was on our side.

"The Senate, on the other hand, represents the national interests of the United States. For them, we should promise them that as long as we support the Ming Dynasty, how well the US economy will improve, how will unemployment improve, how will their political future be broad, and how will the Ming Dynasty reciprocate, we will become their best spokesmen for their interests in Asia, a strong fortress against the Soviet Union, a curb of Japanese militarism and expansionism, and defend the many interests of Europe and the United States in the South Seas...... And so on and so forth, and then, the Senate was on our side. Hehe, Your Majesty, that's what you mean, right? ”

Zhu Yourong's face flushed slightly, and he lowered his head and smiled:

"Hmm...... Almost...... It's just quite right, and what you said is too straightforward. ”

……

Just when the three of them were "conspiring" at the afternoon tea, Hu Jiong quietly walked over, handed a telegram to Xiang Xiaoqiang, and whispered a word to him.

Xiang Xiaoqiang was stunned for a moment, immediately opened the envelope, unfolded the telegram and glanced at it twice, and asked:

"The High Command knows, right?"

"Got it. This is specially notified to adults by Lord Du. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang then handed the telegram to Zhu Yourong and said:

"Your Majesty, the embassy in Japan is here. Guangwu ......"

He looked around as he spoke, and said in a low voice:

"Guangwu that kid...... Sending secret envoys to Japan to contact our people, probably to negotiate with us! ”

Fourteen Gege was stunned for a moment, then slowly squinted his eyes and leaned back in his seat, his index finger brushing his cheek in thought. She looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang for a while, and looked at the paper in Zhu Yourong's hand for a while, with a look of suspicion.

And Zhu Yourong, holding the newspaper in both hands, looked at it intently, frowning.