Chen Qiang followed Secretary Song to the Chinese Embassy and met Ambassador Hu.

Chen Qiang and Ambassador Hu met several years ago. At that time, Hu Shi was the dean of the School of Literature and the head of the Department of Chinese Literature of Peking University, and Chen Qiang had no funds to participate in the Los Angeles Olympics, so he went to Peking University to raise donations.

Although later generations have a lot of controversy about this ambassador, he was still very competent during his tenure as ambassador to the United States. Hu Shi took office after the July 7 Incident, when China was only facing the most critical moment, Hu Shi was also appointed to become a Chinese diplomat as a scholar, and during his tenure, although he did not let the United States directly send troops to aid China, but he got a loan of 12.5 billion US dollars from the US government, which was undoubtedly of great help to the Chinese people who were in the difficult period of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Moreover, after the news of Hu Shih's appointment as China's ambassador to the United States reached Japan, Japan felt even more pressure, and public opinion in Japan at that time proposed that three people should be sent to serve as Japan's ambassador to the United States at the same time, so as to curb Hu Shih's ability. The three are Yusuke Tsurumi, Kikujiro Ishii, and Yoyo Matsuoka. Among them, Tsurumi is an expert in literature, Ishii is an expert in economics, and Matsuoka is an eloquent.

Chen Qiang plans to live in the United States in the next few years, so naturally he can't avoid the embassy in the United States, and he will inevitably get involved with Hu Shi, the ambassador to the United States. So when Chen Qiang saw Hu Shishi, he was naturally respectful and thoughtful.

Hu Shi is a scholar, not the kind of bureaucratic person, and he is straightforward in dealing with people. If you say it's good, you're approachable, gentle, and kind, but if you don't hear it, you're a nerd, and you also have that kind of stubbornness in your body.

But such a person is easy to socialize, and you don't have to think about any intrigue when chatting with him.

Hu Shi introduced Chen Qiang into the living room, and after the guests and hosts sat down, Hu Shi asked, "Chen Qiang, why did you come to the United States?" I haven't received a telegram from Chongqing here, so I shouldn't have sent you from Chongqing, right? ”

"Hey, that's a long story!" Chen Qiang encountered an air raid when he evacuated Nanjing, and then hid in Rabe's house, and then was invited by the Germans, and was cut off by the Americans on the way, which was told in detail.

After Hu Shi listened, he couldn't help but sigh, Chen Qiang's experience can be written in eight chapters of the story!

"I really didn't expect that after the fall of Nanjing, you would encounter such a tortuous experience. Speaking of which, you can be regarded as a tiger out of danger! Hu Shi sighed lightly and continued: "I came to the United States in August last year, and I only have a general understanding of the domestic situation, but I don't know much about it. Last month, we blew up the Yellow River dam at Huayuankou to temporarily block the Japanese army from moving south, but we heard that the Japanese army was gathering forces again and preparing to attack Wuhan. I don't know if Wuhan can be saved! ”

Hu Shi said, his voice changed, and he asked, "By the way, do you have any plans for coming to the United States?" ”

Chen Qiang shook his head: "I was arrested by the Americans temporarily, so what is the plan." ”

"If not, then don't go back to China, the current situation in the country is not very good, you may still be in danger when you go back, it is better to stay in the embassy." Hu Shi said.

Chen Qiang thought about it, anyway, he had nothing to do for the time being, and he stayed in the embassy to take care of food and housing.

So Chen Qiang nodded and agreed: "Then I will bother Mr. Hu." ”

"Don't bother, don't bother." Hu Shi waved his hand, and then said, "Speaking of which, I still have to do something with you!" ”

"Mr. Hu, please." Chen Qiang said.

"I heard you know President Roosevelt?" Hu Shi asked.

Chen Qiang could only nod stiffly, but he didn't know in his heart whether Roosevelt, who was a busy man, remembered himself or not.

Hu Shih continued: "I want you to find an opportunity to visit President Roosevelt, and take me with you by the way." ”

"Mr. Hu, you are China's ambassador to the United States, is it still difficult to meet President Roosevelt?" Chen Qiang asked a little puzzled.

"It's hard, it's harder than climbing to the sky!" Hu Shi shook his head, and continued: "Now it's not just I want to see President Roosevelt, the Japanese also want to see him, the British and the French are also lining up to see President Roosevelt, I heard that on the European side, Germany is going to do something against Czechoslovakia." Many other Jews also wanted to see him, hoping that the United States could help them and free the Jews who were imprisoned in German concentration camps. So now if you want to meet President Roosevelt, you have to wait in line for months! ”

Ambassador Hu said, shaking his head helplessly: "I have made an appointment with the White House for a long time, and I haven't lined it up yet!" This time, I went to President Roosevelt, mainly hoping that he would give him some loans, and now the situation in the country is becoming more and more difficult, and money is needed in all aspects. I had mentioned this to President Roosevelt before, but he did not respond. It would be even better if the United States could help us with some machinery and equipment, and even weapons! ”

"Okay, no problem, then let's go and meet with President Roosevelt as soon as possible, the situation in the country is so tense, it won't be too long." Chen Qiang agreed without hesitation.

At present, China is about to enter the most difficult period, and at this time, being able to get more assistance from the United States is also an extra boost to the War of Resistance against Japan.

……

In the White House, the Oval Office of the President of the United States, President Roosevelt was busy sitting at his desk, next to him, the presidential secretary was reporting to him on the upcoming schedule.

"Mr. President, do you remember that there was an athlete in China whose name was Chen Qiang? He's in the U.S. now and wants to visit you! The presidential secretary spoke.

"That Chen Qiang came to the United States? I remember the first time I met him, I was the governor of New York! Roosevelt's memory was good, and he immediately remembered Chen Qiang.

"So Mr. President, do you need to make an appointment for this Mr. Chen Qiang?" The presidential secretary asked.

"Well......" Roosevelt hesitated.

Now that Asia has started fighting, Europe is also full of war clouds, the United States still has a mess of things, President Roosevelt is busy like a dog, how can he have the time to meet a Chinese athlete, but after all, they are old acquaintances, and if they can't say anything, they seem to be too impersonal.

The secretary of the president, however, was very understanding, and he said, "Mr. President, I will find a reason to resign." ”

However, Roosevelt suddenly remembered something, and he asked: "By the way, when I was running for re-election two years ago, Chen Qiang happened to win seven gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, and the Republican Party seemed to attack me with this, saying that the sports facilities I built were useless, and American sports were defeated by Chen Qiang alone, is there such a thing?" ”

"Yes, but at that time, we arranged for someone to conduct an exclusive interview with Chen Qiang, and in the interview, he expressed his admiration and admiration for you without reservation." The presidential secretary spoke.

When the reporter asked Chen Qiang's opinion on President Roosevelt, of course Chen Qiang could not say bad things about Roosevelt, he had to pick up good ones, and Chen Qiang also hoped that after returning to China, he would use his relationship with President Roosevelt to be a fake tiger, so Chen Qiang said a flattering word, and what adjectives such as wise elders, people, mentors, etc., were applied to Roosevelt.

In order to build momentum for Roosevelt's campaign, American reporters also added fuel and vinegar when reporting, so in American newspapers, Chen Qiang described Roosevelt as a saint!

(See Chapter 197 for details)

President Roosevelt thought about it and felt that in this kind of thing, he should behave like a "perfect person", and he couldn't turn his face and deny people! So he said, "Then let's meet him." ”

"Did you see Chen Qiang alone?" The presidential secretary continued: "The letter of this visit was sent by the Chinese Embassy, and I think the Chinese Ambassador will also accompany Chen Qiang. ”

"That Chinese ambassador must have come to borrow money!" Roosevelt patted his head with some distress, and then continued: "It took the Japanese less than half a year to capture the capital of China, and I don't know how long China can last. But the other party is the ambassador to China, and everyone is here, so I can't hang him out alone, so let's see you together! ”

……

On the bus to the White House, Chen Qiang asked, "Mr. Hu, how much money do you plan to borrow from the U.S. government?" ”

"Naturally, Han Xin ordered troops, the more the merrier, anyway, no matter how much you borrow, it's not too much." Hu Shi said.

"Then there must be a goal!" Chen Qiang said.

"Let's borrow 50 million first!" Hu Shi replied.

"Dollars?" Chen Qiang asked subconsciously.

"Dollars, of course! If you borrow money from the United States, you still have to borrow fiat currency! Hu Shi nodded and said.

Chen Qiang smiled helplessly: "You really dare to ask for a price!" I now finally understand why President Roosevelt won't see you! ”

Hu Shi also smiled awkwardly: "50 million US dollars is a bit much, but the national disaster is at hand, and at this time, I can only open my mouth!" ”

Chen Qiang admires Hu Shi a little now, this guy's personality is too upright, even if he slanders people, he is straightforward, he doesn't look like a diplomat, I really don't know how he got 12.5 billion US dollars from the United States in history.

"Mr. Hu, I don't think it's 50 million US dollars, even if you cut it in half and get 25 million US dollars, it's not easy to hear." Chen Qiang said.

"25 million is fine, anyway, as many as you want." Hu Shi still looks upright.

"I mean, even if it's 25 million, people won't want to lend it to us!" Chen Qiang paused, and then said: "The situation in China is very bad, the Japanese are determined to destroy China, and it only took them a year to capture North China and East China. ”

"What do I do?" Hu Shi asked.

"If you can't understand it, you can only tempt it to take advantage." Chen Qiang lowered his voice and said: "After all, the United States is a commercial society, and if it really can't work, you can only find something as collateral and borrow money from the Americans!" ”

"Are you making me traitor? No, absolutely not! Betraying the country, I Hu someone will never be able to do it! Hu Shi hurriedly shook his head.

"How can mortgage borrowing become a traitor! You go to the bank to borrow money, and if you don't have anything as collateral, the bank won't lend it to you! Chen Qiang said.

"How do you say it, but how can the things of the state be easily mortgaged to foreigners!" Hu Shi said one by one.

"If you don't mortgage something, people won't want to lend us money! If there is no money, the situation in the country will collapse even more, and the Japanese army will occupy more of our territory. Instead of the domestic resources being robbed by the Japanese, it is better to mortgage them to the Americans and get money from the Americans, with money we can make weapons, we can recruit new soldiers, and then drive away the Japanese invaders! Chen Qiang said.

Chen Qiang's explanation finally moved Hu Shi, and Hu Shi also realized that it was no longer a matter of whether state-owned assets would flow out, and the national crisis was at hand, and now the first task was to drive the Japanese away. Even if the ancestors left behind a lot of gold and silver treasures, it would be useless if the descendants could not keep them, and in the end it was not cheaper for the Japanese.

……

Chen Qiang and Hu Shih met with the president of the United States, and in the end, Hu Shih obtained a loan of 25 million US dollars from the Americans, with an annual interest rate of 4 and a half percent, to be repaid in five years, and the loan was mainly used to purchase American supplies.

At the same time, China needs to use 220,000 tons of tung oil from Yunnan as collateral, and the price of each ton of tung oil is 440 US dollars, half of the proceeds will be used to repay the principal and interest, and half will be used to purchase American products.

Tung oil is an excellent dry vegetable oil with a wide range of uses and is the main raw material for the manufacture of paints. It can be used for waterproofing and anti-corrosion of construction, machinery, weapons, vehicles, boats, fishing gear, and electrical appliances, as well as making tarpaulin, oiled paper, soap, pesticides, etc. For an industrial country like the United States, tung oil is a very important raw material.

If you calculate carefully, the United States did not suffer a loss in this deal, but also made a profit, they were tantamount to lending money to China to buy American goods, stimulating the American economy, and also got 220,000 tons of tung oil.

This is the historical "Sino-US Tung Oil Loan Contract", which was called "Tung Oil Loan".

Those public intellectuals in the future sang the praises of how much aid the United States gave to China during World War II, as if the Americans were really learning to be helpful and giving free aid to China. In fact, the Americans are also unprofitable, and the reason why they are willing to give money is to reciprocate, because they want to make a profit from China. Therefore, the Americans helped us fight devils, and we should be grateful to others, but the United States also got what they wanted from China, and we do not owe the United States anything.

……

On 5 July, news came from Spain that the Committee for Non-Intervention had decided to withdraw all foreign volunteers from Spain, followed by the withdrawal of the "international brigades" of Britain, the United States, France, and other countries, but Germany and Italy ignored this decision, and the German and Italian armies were still involved in the Spanish civil war.

On July 6, the Evian-les-Bains conference was held in France, and although many European countries participated, none of the European countries were willing to accept Jews fleeing persecution, and only the United States announced that they were willing to accept 2,770 Jewish refugees.

Europeans of this era were completely different from later generations, who seemed to be willing to accept refugees from the Middle East and North Africa. At that time, however, European countries were reluctant to accept Jews from Europe.

On the contrary, the United States of the future will only create refugees, regardless of accepting refugees, whereas under Roosevelt, the United States was a country willing to accept refugees.

In August, the Battle of Wuhan finally began. At the same time, Britain and France were arguing over the affairs of Czechoslovakia. Germany's attack on Czechoslovakia was already a foregone conclusion, and at this time, Britain said to France that you have to fulfill its defense commitments to Czechoslovakia, while British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain planned to visit Germany in person and prepare to sell the Czech Republic to Germany.

It was also at this time that Chen Qiang saw such a news in the "Washington Daily": The 198 American National Tennis Championship will be held in New York on September 8, and the championship prize money of this competition is as high as 2,000 US dollars......

"The U.S. National Tennis Championship should be the predecessor of the U.S. Open, one of the four Grand Slams in the future! The prize money for the champion is as high as $2,000, and I can't imagine that in the thirties, the US Open champion could have such a prize money. ”

Chen Qiang suddenly remembered that Wimbledon, the first of the four Grand Slams, also issued tennis bonds every five years, the first one was in 1920, and that tennis bond directly raised 100,000 pounds for Wimbledon, and the Wimbledon venue was expanded, and Wimbledon gradually became a mecca for tennis.

In this way, Wimbledon in 1920 could get 100,000 pounds, and the US Open champion in 198 gave $2,000 in prize money is not much. And with the prosperity of New York, the organizers must have more than enough money to earn. ”

$2,000 is of course far from the millions of dollars in prize money of the later US Open, but considering the tennis players of the thirties, that is, the amateur level of later generations, and the lack of commercialization of tennis, $2,000 is already a lot.

Just imagine, in an amateur tennis tournament, the champion can get a year's salary for an ordinary American, and this result is already perfect.

Thinking of the $2,000 bonus, Chen Qiang suddenly felt a little moved.

"It's not a thing to always eat and drink in the embassy, and the funds in the embassy are not blown by the wind, and now that the national crisis is at hand, I can save the country a little bit, and I should go out and make some money."

Chen Qiang put down the newspaper in his hand, he planned to sign up for this American national tennis tournament to earn the $2,000 championship prize!

"The tennis players of this era are so weak, I am going to abuse vegetables again, I can pretend to be forced in front of the American people, I am so happy!"

——————

Ask for a guaranteed monthly pass. Genius remembers the first three or five in a second