A few days later, the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the USSR made representations to the Nanjing authorities on the question of the Mongolian region. At the same time, the Soviet side also consulted with the American side, claiming that such a move would harm cooperation among the anti-fascist allies. When President Roosevelt heard this, he immediately said that he would not allow such a rift between allies.

On the same day, US Ambassador to China Goth approached Foreign Minister Soong Tzu-wen and said that President Roosevelt's personal envoy wanted to meet Huang Ke on this matter.

Foreign Minister Soong Tzu-wen met with U.S. Ambassador Goss and U.S. President's personal envoy Edward Aino in the Zhongshan Hall. Song Ziwen said that Huang Ke invited them to a manor not far from Xuanwu Lake for a meeting, and the two gladly agreed after glancing at each other. Because it shows that the talks are not as formal as the negotiations of the conference.

Jinling in autumn is very beautiful, the green waves of Xuanwu Lake are swaying, Zhongshan Road is golden, and now the Japanese Air Force has rarely "patronized" Nanjing, and the powerful Sino-US joint air force has basically controlled the situation here, so some temporary air defense controls have also been canceled. The successive development of various urban infrastructure projects has also made the city glow with the prosperity and beauty of the past.

A short drive will take you to the estate. It is said to be a manor, but it is actually a larger courtyard, because it is adjacent to Xuanwu Lake and has been repaired in the later stage of artificiality, and the scenery here is also very good.

When you get here, you are checked by the guards and let you go. Immediately afterwards, Song Ziwen, Chen Liewen and others led Gao Si and Aino towards the inside.

Huang Ke, who was wearing a crisp suit, was already waiting at this time, and after seeing the two of them coming, he enthusiastically walked up and shook hands with the two.

Ainaud and Gao Si are both old acquaintances of Huang Ke, and it is needless to say that Gao Si is familiar with him as an ambassador to China. Aino was met by Huang Ke during his visit to the United States, when he was a member of President Roosevelt's New Deal Committee and one of his right-hand men.

His father was a Christian and a doctor at Union Hospital of Yenching University, and he was sent to China by the Church at that time, and he also came here with his father.

He once followed his father to treat a rickshaw driver, who was covered in bruises, but a few days after the treatment, he saw the rickshaw driver wrapped in bandages at the gate of Yenching University in the western suburbs of Beijing.

He angrily asked the rickshaw driver why he didn't rest, and the rickshaw driver smiled and didn't answer. Later, he gradually realized that the rickshaw driver must have been forced by life, and the pressure of life naturally drove them to come out to work prematurely.

And this incident left a deep impression on him, on the one hand, the people of this country in the midst of warlord warfare, and on the other hand, the tenacity and patience of the middle and lower classes.

……

After a brief greeting, Huang Ke invited them to sit and talk at the back of the courtyard of a small pavilion next to it. As soon as a few people sat down, Huang Ke sent someone to bring some delicate snacks and make a pot of tea.

After Aino sat down, he didn't have time to taste the Soviet-style pastries, so he said directly: "Mr. Chairman, I am here this time for Mongolian affairs, to be precise, for Moscow. You know, this is a big headache for us, and President Roosevelt hasn't slept for days. ”

Huang Ke put down a piece of mung bean cake that had just been put in his mouth and smiled: "Mr. Enault, I feel guilty when you say this, President Roosevelt is a friend of the Chinese, if he can't sleep well, then I will blame myself." ”

As he spoke, he picked up a purple clay pot in front of him and poured tea for Gao Si and Aino personally, both of whom bowed slightly to show respect.

Gao Si smiled bitterly: "Mr. Chairman, I won't go around in circles. We know that you and your government urgently need to maintain a military presence in Mongolia, but at this time, we do not believe this is the right time. ”

Huang Ke didn't answer positively, but picked up the teacup and said, "Drink tea first!" ”

Aino was made lose his temper by him, so he had to pick up the teacup and drink it all, and Gao Si, the ambassador to China next to him, saw that Aino was so anxious, and he just smiled helplessly. Today Ainault is the protagonist, he just came to foil.

It is naturally known that Ainaud is an impatient character, and President Roosevelt sent him not unknowingly, but because he has some friendship with Huang Ke and can speak.

Huang Ke filled Enault's cup with another cup of tea, then put the teapot down gently, leaning back, "Mr. Enault, Chinese tea should be tasted slowly, only in this way will you perceive the taste of it." ”

Aino obviously didn't understand the subtle sound, Huang Ke leaned forward slightly and said, "I understand what you say. So, let me guess what the Soviets asked for when they went to you? I think Stalin must have said, 'The Chinese and Soviet troops will withdraw from Mongolia and let the region remain autonomous'? ”

Aino didn't speak, and Goss smiled and agreed with him.

Huang Ke continued: "It's not that I'm clever, it's just that the Soviet diplomatic department has also conveyed to us this meaning before. This proposal may seem reasonable at first glance, and the troops of both sides will withdraw at the same time, but in fact they ignore an important point, that is, Mongolia is our territory. ”

"It's not that simple. Moscow is rightly motivated by its own considerations, but we must not harm the interests of the country for the sake of war against Japan. At this stage, we maintain our military presence there because the Soviet troops were stationed in Kulen long before we did, and if we are not able to maintain a certain military presence there, then they will eat away at us little by little, just like drinking Chinese tea. ”

When Aino saw Huang Ke say such a thing, he naturally knew that his attitude was very resolute. He has rarely been in contact with diplomacy, so naturally he will not understand the subtleties and mysteries, so at this time he pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose and said very seriously: "Mr. Chairman, do you mean that you must compete with Moscow at this time?" Even at the cost of using the means of war? ”

Speaking of this, Ambassador Goss kept signaling to Ainault with his eyes, because this was too direct, would such words anger this supreme commander from a military background?

But Ainault ignored Goss's gesture and continued: "In that case, I will regret to tell you that the United States will have to suspend aid to both of you. Because we do not want to see the weapons we aid become instruments of the internal war in the countries of the anti-fascist coalition. ”

After saying this, Huang Ke didn't make any response, and his expression didn't even change at all. Gao Si next to him was a little anxious, this Aino was really too hasty to speak and do things, how could he say such a thing? Isn't this a *naked threat?

Gao thought about explaining, but he wanted to say nothing, he looked at Huang Ke, and could only see Huang Ke's next reaction and make a response.

After a while, Huang Ke waved his hand unexpectedly and said with a slight smile: "This is a mistake!" Just because we don't back down doesn't mean we have to go to war now. There are many forms of diplomacy between the two countries, and there are even wars going on between the two countries, but there are areas where cooperation can be carried out. ”

"We don't back down because we can't back down. As soon as we back down, the Soviet Union will prop up an independent power, and now maintain a military presence in Mongolia to prevent this tendency. ”

Aino understood Huang Ke's words, but peace was not wishful thinking, he said: "This is also what we expect. However, maintaining a military presence in Mongolia will inevitably lead to a series of conflicts, which will sooner or later lead to war. ”

Huang Ke waved his hand, "A small-scale war will not affect the big environment. At present, China and the Soviet Union are not capable of solving the Mongolian problem, and neither China nor the Soviet Union wants to have a war now, we have to deal with the Japanese, they have to deal with the Germans, and neither of them has the energy to fight another war. I think that only when this war is won will there be a possibility of a fundamental solution to this problem. Only then will the two sides face this issue head-on, and whether to fight or make peace depends on the attitudes of both sides. ”

"Of course, the attitude of you Americans is also important." After speaking, Huang Ke added.

Aino nodded, "Then Mr. Chairman, what is your plan?" ”

Huang Ke thought for a while and said, "Maintain the status quo." ”

After listening, Ainault and Goth looked at each other, and they would inform Moscow of such a demand, and even if they did not agree, there would be a way to get them to agree. On the whole, today's conversation between the two is quite satisfactory, at least they have found out China's attitude and solved a lot of problems, and it is finally worth the trip.

After talking, Huang Ke stood up and said, "Okay, after the business is over, let's talk about private matters, there is a good place over there to feed the fish, let's go over and have a look." ”

After hearing this, the two happily accepted the invitation and followed Huang Ke to stroll through the manor. Chen Liewen and Fourteen Tsai came over and handed over some fish food, and the three of them came over to feed the fish.

At this time, a big yellow dog wagged its tail and ran over, Aino said that he had seen this kind of dog, which is a very common dog for Chinese people to take care of their homes.

Huang Ke said that this is a native dog in China, and the common people call him a local dog, which is actually a very intelligent dog. "I called him Rhubarb, and the others didn't dare to shout, saying that they were afraid of tabooing my name."

As they spoke, several people laughed.

At this time, Chen Liewen came over and handed over a telegram, saying that "the goods have arrived."