Chen Qiang came to the U.S. Embassy in Washington and found Hu Shi. At this time, the special envoy Song sent from Chongqing was still in the United States and did not go back, after all, he had come to ask the United States for help, and he did not ask for a penny of aid, and the special envoy Song was embarrassed to return to China, so he decided to continue to stay in the United States to see if there was a turnaround.

It is precisely because of the existence of Special Envoy Song that Hu Shi, as the ambassador to the United States, has become the second-in-command, and all the decisions of the embassy in the United States must be made by this Special Envoy Song.

Chen Qiang found Hu Shi and inquired about donating planes to China.

"Sir, I heard that there are a lot of overseas Chinese in Nanyang who have donated planes to China?" Chen Qiang asked.

Hu Shi nodded: "Since the Anti-Japanese War, overseas Chinese have donated more than 1,000 planes to support the Anti-Japanese War. ”

"Then how should this plane be donated? Do you give money directly, or do you buy a plane to transport it over? Or is there someone in charge of it? Chen Qiang then asked.

Hu Shi didn't answer, but asked rhetorically: "What?" Why do you ask this? ”

"I also want to donate planes to China." Chen Qiang said.

"The plane is not a hemostatic gauze, that thing is precious." Hu Shi paused, and then said: "Chen Qiang, I know that you want to support the domestic war of resistance, but you must also do what you can. ”

"I've made some money recently." Chen Qiang had no choice but to confess: "The hula hoop that many people are playing with now is what I made." ”

"I often see people shaking a plastic ring that you made it. I can't see that you kid is still going to do business! Hu Shi didn't ask Chen Qiang how much he earned, if he knew that Chen Qiang was already a millionaire, he would definitely be shocked.

I only heard Hu Shi then explain: "The overseas Chinese in Nanyang donate planes, mainly because they have nothing else to donate, there is no industry in that place in Nanyang, and those overseas Chinese in Nanyang donate planes directly, which is much easier than donating other things." Of course, there are also many overseas Chinese in Nanyang who spend money to buy food, medicine, or other materials and donate them to China, but in that case, the procurement and transportation process is more complicated than donating airplanes. We are in the United States, which is different from those overseas Chinese in Nanyang, the United States can buy everything, so the overseas Chinese in the United States are mainly donating materials. ”

After Hu Shi finished speaking, he sighed a little helplessly: "In this situation, no matter what you donate, it's useless, and you can't transport it to Chongqing at all." The French closed the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, the British also closed the Yunnan-Burma Highway, and I heard that the Japanese army had entered Vietnam, and the domestic and foreign transportation channels had been completely cut off. ”

"Didn't Chongqing think of a way?" Chen Qiang asked.

"Of course I have found a way, France can't even keep Vietnam, and the Yunnan-Vietnam railway must not be counted on, and now I only hope that the British can reopen the Yunnan-Burma highway, I heard that the current situation of the British is not optimistic, maybe it won't last long. I heard that the British troops in the Shanghai Public Concession had withdrawn, and it was estimated that it would not be long before all the Shanghai Concession would fall into the hands of the Japanese, and perhaps the Japanese would attack Hong Kong. ”

Hu Shi said this, pointed to the location of the next room, and continued: "On the side of the Song envoy, he receives telegrams from Chongqing every day, sometimes two a day, urging him to get assistance from the Americans as soon as possible, and the Chongqing side also hopes that the Americans can put pressure on the British to reopen the Yunnan-Burma Highway." ”

"If the Americans are willing to help, they may be able to reopen the Yunnan-Burma Highway." Chen Qiang said, looked at Hu Shi's unkind face, and asked, "Is it that the Americans are unwilling to help?" ”

"It's not that the Americans won't help, it's that we can't see Roosevelt at all now!" Hu Shi said helplessly.

"Is it that Envoy Song can't see it, or can't you see it?" Chen Qiang immediately asked.

"I can't see it!" Hu Shi's expression became more and more helpless, and he continued: "We have repeatedly asked to see Roosevelt, but we have been blocked from the door, and the White House said that President Roosevelt is busy running for re-election, so the focus of the next work will be on the United States." ”

"It's just an excuse, right? Running for president will not delay him in dealing with international affairs. Chen Qiang said with a smile.

"yes, I know it's an excuse." Hu Shi lowered his voice again and said: "I used my connections to secretly find someone to inquire, it is said that after the defeat of the Battle of Zaoyi, Chongqing did not carry out a counteroffensive, which made Roosevelt very disappointed, he is now worried that Chongqing will not be able to hold on, and it is very likely that he will surrender to Japan, so he has also wavered about whether to continue to aid China." The reason why Roosevelt was reluctant to see us was mainly because of the relationship between the envoy Song and the Chongqing one. Roosevelt couldn't trust the Chongqing one, so naturally he couldn't trust the Song envoy. ”

Chen Qiang nodded in realization. After entering the second half of 1940, the Chongqing man was not very enthusiastic about resisting Japan, but on the contrary, he was very keen on "sorting out party affairs", which was also the sequelae caused by the treason of Chongqing's No. 2 person.

This also caused Roosevelt to distrust Chongqing. I lent you money to let you fight the Japanese, and since you are so inactive in fighting the Japanese, then why do you continue to lend you money!

And the Song envoy was the brother-in-law of Chongqing, and Roosevelt couldn't trust the Chongqing one, so naturally he couldn't trust his brother-in-law, so he simply avoided it.

Thinking of this, Chen Qiang couldn't help but sigh lightly, and said secretly in his heart: "It's really my own death, can't I go to Japan in a down-to-earth manner?" You have to do so many tricks that even Roosevelt can't trust you. ”

Hu Shi on the other side continued: "The most important thing now is to let the British reopen the Yunnan-Burma Highway and open up international supply lines. Many of the guns and medicines I purchased last time have not been shipped back, and overseas Chinese in the United States have also donated a batch of supplies, which are now stored in the warehouse. The Yunnan-Burma highway is not open, and these things can only stay in the warehouse and become moldy. ”

"Sir, if you can meet Roosevelt, can you persuade Roosevelt to find pressure from the British to reopen the Yunnan-Burma Highway?" Chen Qiang asked.

Hu Shi nodded very calmly: "This shouldn't be difficult, besides, the tung oil and tin ore in Yunnan have to be shipped out and handed over to the Americans!" I think the Americans also hope that the Yunnan-Burma Highway can be reopened. ”

Chen Qiang hesitated for a few seconds, and finally made up his mind, he said: "Sir, I'll figure out a way to meet Roosevelt!" ”

……

Roosevelt wasn't lying, he was really busy with the U.S. presidential election at the end of the year.

In 1940, Roosevelt was about to bid for his third term, and if he succeeded, he would be the first president in American history to win three consecutive terms.

But Roosevelt's re-election was not smooth, and his support was nowhere near as it had been in 1936.

Many Americans do not want Roosevelt to be re-elected, not because Roosevelt did not do well enough, but because there has never been a situation in American history where a president has been re-elected for three consecutive terms. For Americans, they'd rather accept a bad president every four years than a good president for life.

And Wendell Wilkie, the Republican nominee, was also more powerful than Herbert Hoover in 1932 and Alf Langton in 1936. According to the latest polls, Roosevelt's support rate is only 4% ahead of Wendell Wilkie, and in the U.S. presidential election, less than 5% is considered a margin of error, that is to say, this 4% lead cannot be regarded as a lead at all, it is likely to be an error in the polls.

In the 1940 U.S. presidential election in history, the winner was, of course, Roosevelt, but it was also Roosevelt's most difficult victory, and it was also the least Republican Party lost to Roosevelt. In the months leading up to the election, the two sides were indeed in a very anxious state.

In the end, Roosevelt won 55% of the votes, and Wendell Wilkie won 45% of the votes, but because the United States adopts an electoral system, Wendell Wilkie's 45% of the votes only won 10 states, and in general, Roosevelt won by a big margin.

Roosevelt was not a time-traveler, and he did not know that he would eventually succeed in re-election, and he was struggling with that 4 percent lead in the polls.

One of Roosevelt's campaign aides walked over.

"Mr. President, we received a $10,000 campaign fund." The campaign assistant spoke.

"Ten thousand dollars? Which rich man is so generous? Roosevelt asked with a straight face.

After all, this was only 1940, and even those prominent figures in the Democratic Party, that is, who would sponsor one or two hundred dollars as Roosevelt's campaign funds, and those who could pay $10,000 at one time were all big capitalists. In terms of purchasing power at that time, this 10,000 US dollars was definitely worth 1 million US dollars in later generations, and if it was placed in a future presidential election, those who could sponsor 1 million US dollars in campaign funds would definitely be able to become the president's guest.

I heard the campaign assistant reply: "The sponsor of this $10,000 campaign fund is your old friend, the Chinese athlete Chen Qiang." ”

"It turned out to be him!" When Roosevelt heard Chen Qiang's name, he couldn't help frowning.

Roosevelt pondered for a moment and said: "Chen Qiang is Chinese, this money may be funded by the Chinese government, which does not meet the regulations of political contributions, and this money cannot be wanted." ”

"Mr. President, we have asked Chen Qiang about the source of funds, and we can be sure that this fund is normal operating income and not provided by the Chinese government." The campaign assistant paused, and then said: "The hula hoop that has become very popular recently was made by this Mr. Chen, and it is preliminarily estimated that he can make at least one million dollars through this hula hoop." ”

"It turns out that he sold those hula hoops. Since it is the income of normal business, it does not violate the law of political contributions. Unexpectedly, the young Chinese was already a millionaire. Roosevelt let out a long sigh, and then asked, "Chen Qiang won't donate $10,000 to me for no reason, right?" What does he ask for? ”

"He hopes that Mr. President can take the time to meet with Mr. Hu Shih, the Chinese ambassador to the United States." The campaign assistant replied.

"I know what the Chinese are going to do. They simply hope that the United States will continue to provide them with assistance. Roosevelt began.

"Mr. President, would you like to meet the Chinese ambassador?" The campaign assistant asked again.

Roosevelt hesitated. Emotionally speaking, Roosevelt didn't want to see him, at this time he was gradually losing trust in Chongqing, and Chongqing's will to resist was not as strong as Roosevelt imagined, which was not at all like the performance of the country's ruin. Roosevelt was really worried, and one day he would wake up and see the news of Chongqing's surrender to Japan. After all, even France, a world-class power, has surrendered to Germany, and a weak country like China cannot guarantee that it will not surrender to Japan.

But the $10,000 campaign fund, Roosevelt was really reluctant, if it was 1936, Roosevelt might not care about the $10,000 campaign fund, but now it's 1940, Republican candidate Wendell Wilkie is pressing step by step, Roosevelt is only 4% ahead, and Roosevelt really needs a lot of campaign money for propaganda at this time.

But after receiving other people's money, you have to help others, at least meet Hu Shi, it is inevitable.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and a White House staff member in charge of intelligence walked in.

"Mr. President, just a few hours ago, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed a military alliance treaty in Berlin, and our intelligence officers have obtained the general contents of the treaty."

The staff said, handing Roosevelt a document.

After Roosevelt opened the document, he took a general look at it, and his brows suddenly wrinkled, because the treaty mentioned that Germany and Italy and Japan recognized each other's "new order", and the word "new order" made Roosevelt feel like a fish in his throat.

At the back of the document, there is also an analysis given by an American think tank, which believes that Germany will never be satisfied with promoting their "new order" only in Europe, and Japan will not only look at East Asia. What Germany, Italy and Japan are seeking may be a kind of "new order" for the whole world.

"I have long known that the United States cannot stay out of it, and even if we don't provoke others, they will push the so-called 'new order' to the United States." Roosevelt sighed lightly, and then said: "Reply to Chen Qiang, I can spare five minutes to meet their ambassador to the United States!" ”

……

$10,000 in exchange for a five-minute meeting with Roosevelt, this is the most expensive ticket Chen Qiang bought in his life!

Even in the future, you don't have to spend so much money to see the president of the United States, under normal circumstances, it is enough to donate 300,000 US dollars to attend the banquet at the White House, and if you donate 500,000 yuan, you will definitely have the opportunity to chat with the president of the United States. And $10,000 in 1940 was worth much more than $500,000 in the future.

However, when Chen Qiang thinks of the situation that the Yunnan-Burma Highway has been cut off and the country is currently being blocked, if it costs $10,000 to reopen the Yunnan-Burma Highway, then the $10,000 is definitely worth the money. After all, so many materials cannot be shipped into China, so they can only be placed in warehouses, and the loss and depreciation alone are more than 10,000 US dollars.

However, this kind of political donation method can only be used by Chen Qiang, and if he is an embassy person, he cannot use this trick. Because there are strict laws and regulations on political contributions in the United States, the restrictions on political contributions made by private individuals are very small, while political contributions from other governments are absolutely not allowed.

Hu Shih's luck was really good, because Germany, Italy and Japan signed an alliance treaty, and also proposed the so-called "new order", which caused Roosevelt to readjust his diplomatic strategy. Increasing aid to China and increasing the embargo on Japan are already inevitable.

The United States put pressure on Britain in the hope that Britain could reopen the Yunnan-Burma Highway, and the German-Italian-Japanese alliance treaty also made Britain realize that Japan and Germany wore the same pants, and Britain's colonies in Asia would sooner or later be attacked by Japan, and there was no point in blindly compromising.

So on October 8, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced the reopening of the Yunnan-Burma Highway, and China's only access to the outside world was reopened.

At the end of October, the Chinese army had successfully recaptured Nanning.

Then, at this time, the envoy finally met with Roosevelt, and then used China's tungsten ore as collateral to obtain a loan of 25 million US dollars from the United States and signed a "tungsten sand loan contract".

Chen Qiang did not expect this series of results in advance, he spent 10,000 US dollars, but it was just to match Hu Shi, so that Hu Shi could meet Roosevelt and let the Yunnan-Burma Highway open again.

But I didn't expect the Chinese diplomats to be really good, climb up the rope, and really get a loan of 25 million US dollars from the Americans.

In this way, Chen Qiang's $10,000 ticket money not only earned the reopening of the Yunnan-Burma Highway, but also borrowed $25 million from the United States, which is really a big profit!

——————

Ask for a ticket, thank you.