If I don't think so, I think the Chinese government is likely to be able to fight. I just think [the government's judgment is wrong." At this time, a voice came from the periphery of the crowd, and everyone turned around and saw that the person talking was a slightly fat middle-aged man.

"Miss Mei, this is Mr. Chrys Weber, a Chinese commentator at the Washington Observer." Thomas enthusiastically introduced to Mei Youlan. He did not hide his intentions, and others seemed to be dissatisfied.

Mei Youlan blinked her eyes and looked at Webber. She looked a little sloppy, with a lot of hair missing, a slightly bald forehead, and a pair of old-fashioned glasses on the bridge of Gundam's nose. A little fat suit covered her slightly raised belly.

"You are Mr. Weber. I have been revered for a long time. I often read your articles and I have read your articles when I was in school." Mei Youlan warmly greeted her and admired her colleague for a long time. When she was in school, his reports were once teachers' education courses for students.

Like Stilwell, Weber is a famous Chinese expert in the American press and an expert in the Eastern issue of the press. He spent as long in China as Stilwell had spent in China. In the past twenty years, he has written many in-depth reports, including the Northern Expedition, the Ninghan Confluence, the impact of the September 18th Incident, the Northwest drought, the floods in the Yangtze River Basin, the political struggles of the senior leaders of Nanjing, etc., which are of great importance in the Washington press. It is said that the US State Department must refer to his reports when dealing with Far East things.

"Miss Mei, I met your brother, Mr. Mei Yuntian when I was in Chongqing. He once talked about you. What is the reason why the Yuzhou Evening News can achieve such results today? I finally understand that with an editor and boss like you, it will be difficult for the Yuzhou Evening News to not develop." Weber smiled slightly and flattered Mei Youlan, and then he turned to everyone present and said, "I don't know if you have been to Chongqing, but I have been to Chongqing. During the Xi'an Incident last year, I was in Chongqing. I interviewed Chongqing Mayor Mr. Li Zhilong and Director of the Industrial Bureau Mr. Lu Zuofu. Gentlemen, my conclusion is that the Chinese government has prepared for this war for a long time. In the southwest, they have built a military industrial system with a beginning scale. This system is not complete, but it is enough to support the war. The Chinese government will never give up easily. The war will last for a long time."

Weber looked at Mei Youlan with some regrets when he said this. He wanted to interview Zhuang Jihua, the actual controller of the Southwest, but Zhuang Jihua was too busy and never gave him time. However, from the conversations with Li Zhilong and Lu Zuo and others, they highly praised the leader, which added to his regret. However, he heard another statement that Zhuang Jihua never accepts interviews with reporters, except Mei Youlan.

"The Yuzhou Evening News once serialized the "On National Defense" by General Jiang Baili, the chief instructor of Chongqing Military Academy and currently the deputy commander of the group army. I have the honor to read it. Many of the views are very inspiring. I think that as long as the war continues, the Chinese will win sooner or later." Weber's conclusion surprised the generals present.

Stilwell's heart moved, he did not object, it was not without reason that he went from Peking to Shanghai, and the Sino-Japanese War was intensifying. He led a military intelligence team with the main purpose of evaluating the development of the Sino-Japanese War and Japan's war capabilities.

"Mr. Weber, I have been to Chongqing two years ago. Chongqing does develop very quickly, but I think Chongqing's industry is very primitive. No matter how fast it develops, it cannot exceed the basic laws of industrial development. What can they do in two years unless there is another ten years." Logan shook his head and said that he went to Chongqing for interviewing Penicillin two years ago, but he returned empty-handed. Moreover, the request for interviewing Zhuang Jihua was rudely rejected, which made him feel resentful.

"Two years?" Weber nodded, he failed to catch up with the penicillin incident. At that time, he was interviewing Gandhi in India: "If this is the case, then the Chinese have created miracles. What I see may be very different from what you see. 90% of China's industry is in Chongqing. Even if the Japanese occupy Shanghai, Nanjing, and blockade all Chinese ports, China can still persist because the Southwest has developed all raw materials except oil and rubber. If China and Japan declare war at the same time, and Western countries strictly adhere to neutrality according to the neutrality bill and stop exporting iron ore, oil, rubber and other strategic materials to the two countries, Japan may collapse in less than a year because it has nothing."

"But the Japanese can obtain iron ore, coal and other resources from the Northeast. On the contrary, China has no support for Western local materials, especially in urgent need of weapons and ammunition. The collapsed place may only be China." New York Times reporter Mike retorted. He only came to Shanghai from the United States this year. The former New York Times reporter in Shanghai was transferred back to China. Unlike many American journalists, Mike is very willing to come to China. He has read some articles in Edgar Snow and was fascinated by this ancient and mysterious country. He is particularly yearning for the Great Northwest.

Weber's expression was very firm: "No. sir. As far as I know, China can make all light weapons, all ground guns below 150mm caliber, and cars. They are seeking tank and aircraft manufacturing technology. Chongqing's steel production has hundreds of thousands of tons. I have been to their arsenal. I have witnessed the production line of workers equipped with machine guns and cannons. If you want, I can show you the photos of the land. But the Chinese are very careful. All photos are indoor photos. Photos are prohibited from taking photos outdoors."

Webber said as he took out a few photos from his pocket in his suit and distributed them to everyone. Stilwell looked at it very carefully. At this time, one shot from a high place downward. However, it was clear that the huge factory building was busy on the assembly line. The other photo was a recent photo. The workers were concentrating on the photo to install a Czech light machine gun. The other photo was two workers fiddling with a heavy cannon. The caliber looked a bit like a 105 ammunition gun.

"God, Weber. How did you get the ground?" Logan was extremely surprised. He wanted to enter the factory to shoot, but was firmly rejected by local officials in Chongqing.

Webber felt a little proud. At the beginning, the Chongqing local officials also refused his request. However, he was reluctant to do so. Finally, when Zhuang Jihua left Chongqing for Wuhan, he persuaded Li Zhilong through Mei Yuntian and was able to enter four of the factories to shoot.

Stilwell stared at the photo in his hand. He felt the need to rewrite the report to Washington. The potential for war in China is by no means as poor as the appearance is revealed. The Japanese may be trapped in the quagmire this time.

This group of people gradually divided into two camps. One was the optimistic side of China, represented by Weber, backed by Mei Youlan and Thomas (friendly help), who believed that China could continue to fight;

The pessimistic side led by John Jr., they believe that even if Chongqing has a certain #7, the gap between China and Japan is still too big, and Japan's victory is obvious. The two factions each quoted the classics and launched a debate. They gradually became the focus of the cocktail party, attracting more and more people to participate.

"The West should come forward to stop Japan's invasion of China. In the long run, after Japan occupied China, the next target will inevitably be the South Pacific, where there is oil and rubber that Japan needs urgently needs for its development. If Japan sits on the sidelines of Japan's annexation of China, the West will pay the price for today's decision in a few years." Weber continued to talk. He is almost alone now, and Mei Youlan only supports two sentences at critical moments. Thomas is purely friendship and helps to strengthen his momentum.

"Mr. Weber is right. There should be justice in this world. Western society should play the role of China protecting people and stop the Japanese invasion of China." Another Frenchman stood up from the crowd. He was the French teacher Benoit of the Central French Institute of Technology. During the war in Shanghai, he stood up with a clear position to support China. For this reason, a French volunteer team was organized, which was recruiting players widely and even sent people to Annan to recruit players. Due to the efforts of him and his companions, the French Concession had a strong atmosphere of sympathy and support for China.

"Mr. Benoit, I also sympathize with the Chinese," John Little Sighed: "And I admire the courage of Chinese soldiers on the Hongkou battlefield, but wars are about strength. Our strength in the Far East is not enough to stop the Japanese's actions, and now we cannot draw more power to the Far East."

John is telling the truth. Hitler's Germany was crazily expanding its military forces to prepare for war. Last year, the armed forces entered the Rhine Demilitarized Zone and interfered with the Spanish Civil War. Now, it has made annexation demands against Austria, and the whole of Europe is trembling under his threat.

John's words made Mei Youlan's vision shine, and she concluded that Europe and the United States would take a stand-by-side approach to the war between China and Japan, at most, to provide moral support, which is worth it tonight.

"But we can take more measures. As long as we cut off Japan's oil and rubber supply and increase aid to China, Japan must consider whether he should continue the war." Weber further proposed his idea.

"Sir, do you think so?" Benoit turned his head and asked Philip, the British Consul General who was standing quietly beside him.

Philip showed a professional smile on his face and cursed the damn Frenchman in his heart. He was standing beside him, but he wanted to ask him.

"It depends on them, if they declare war, then I believe Whitehall will take corresponding actions."

"But we can completely refer to the policy of the Spanish Civil War. They did not declare war. Aren't we still declared an embargo?" Benoit pushed forward further.

"Mr. Benoit, do you want to embargo on both countries at the same time? Or do you just want to impose an embargo on Japan?" Logan was a little dissatisfied with Benoit's aggressiveness and promptly rescued the Consul General.

Benoit was a little speechless, but Weber entered the battle group: "The Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-Nine-

"Mr. Weber, the Nine-Nine Convention has nine countries. Even if China and Japan are excluded, there are seven countries, and there are also League of Nations." Philip said calmly: "However, I believe that the parties to the Nine-Nine-Nine Convention will not sit idly by and watch Japan's actions in China. Do you think so? Mr. Braillava."

French Consul General Brillava shrugged. He had been the Consul General in China for only two years. Although the French Concession had a large territory, France had little interests in the Yangtze River Basin, so Paris paid very little attention to the Sino-Japanese War.

"This has to be decided by Paris, but I can reveal a little information that the parties to the Nine-Country Convention are in contact and preparing to convene an international conference on the Sino-Japanese conflict, where I think a unified action plan will be proposed."

"Is it a plan like the Litton report?" Mei Youlan's question was very sharp. After the fall of the three eastern provinces, the League of Nations sent British Sir Litton to lead a delegation to investigate in the Northeast. All classes in Chinese society had high hopes for the investigation team, hoping that the League of Nations could uphold justice, but the final result disappointed the Chinese. Although Litton concluded that the Northeast was Chinese territory, he attributed the September 18th incident to China's anti-Japanese activities and Soviet infiltration, and finally suggested that the Northeast be connected to international management. Even this conclusion that was obviously biased towards the Japanese, the Japanese did not accept it. After the League of Nations passed the League of Nations, Japan announced its withdrawal from the League of Nations, and the Litton report became a piece of paper. The Japanese made the League of Nations lose face and his prestige plummet. After Italy invaded Ethiopia and Hitler re-armed Germany, all of which were related to this, that was to see the weakness of the League of Nations.

"Sir Leeton's report is still basically fair. It can only be said that the Japanese seized a good period. The West was trapped in the serious economic problems brought about by the Great Depression and had no strength to interfere in the Far East." Logan defended his compatriots, but the defense statement was too pale and powerless, so that even John Jr. frowned.

"Gentlemen, the things that Litton reported have passed, so let's talk about something else." Svensen, director of the Department of Industry, came forward to resolve the situation. Weber shook his head at him. What else can he talk about? War, the war that is right around him is not the best topic.

"Yes, yes, we should talk about how to help the poor people gathered in the concession. The situation on the street is too chaotic now. If we don't come up with a solution, there will probably be many public security incidents." Brown, Secretary of the Police Department of the Department of Works, interjected.

"Mr. Brown, you don't want to drive those refugees out of the concession, do you?" Benoit asked with a smile.

"Of course not, I mean to find a way to resettle these refugees as soon as possible." Brown shook his head and said.

"War outside is fighting, and business is almost stopped. If you want to resettle these refugees, you may only have to wait until the war in Shanghai is over. The concession alone will definitely not work." Mike shook his head and said, "What we can do is to try our best to help these refugees."

Mei Youlan looked at these foreigners talking, but she felt a little dissatisfied. The attitudes of Britain, the United States and France were very unclear. It was obvious that the Battle of Shanghai seriously affected the interests of Britain and the United States in China. After Japan occupied the Northeast, it almost completely controlled the Northeast market. After the Japanese army entered North China, the sales of Japanese products in North China were

The US and British products have almost withdrawn from the North China market. Now Japan has reached out to the point. Is the US and British really sitting there? She doesn't believe it.

Although Mei Youlan was not satisfied, it was not the time. There were too many people around and those diplomatic veterans could not reveal any useful information, at most it was a little diplomatic order.

While their topics were transferred from refugees to business, Mei Youlan and Thomas left this together. They were swaying everywhere with glasses of wine in their hands, chatting with the general managers of Citibank and HSBC. The two banks had a close relationship with Chongqing and had a lot of knowledge about Mei Youlan's background, and they had a good conversation with each other.

After a while, a plump woman stood in front of the piano and sang "Figaro's Wedding" to the people attending the cocktail party. Applause from top hats sounded in the hall, and Mei Youlan also clapped her palms in a modest manner. In fact, she didn't sing well, but in Shanghai, especially in this period, it would be nice to listen to it.

"Miss Mei," Stilwell and a young lieutenant suddenly came over: "I'm going to Chongqing lately. I wonder if you are willing to go with me?"

"Go to Chongqing? Now?" Mei Youlan looked at Stilwell in a little surprised, and the latter nodded. Mei Youlan asked in confusion: "Do you no longer care about the war in Shanghai?"

"The Washington bureaucrats believed that the National Government might move to Chongqing. Let me go and see it. It is estimated that the US Embassy will also move to Chongqing in a while." Stilwell said in a relaxed tone. In fact, this was his first thought. The task of the military intelligence team he led was to collect war intelligence between Japan. Since Weber came up with new evidence to show that the heavy artillery equipped by the Chinese team was not purchased from Germany as he had guessed before, China's war capabilities need to be re-evaluated.

"I'm sorry, Colonel, I don't have any plans to go back to Chongqing for the time being," Mei Youlan smiled: "I plan to go to Nanjing after a while and then to Wuhan. I can't go back to Chongqing within half a year."

Stilwell's face showed a regretful expression: "Oh, let me introduce you to the young man, Lieutenant Zelston, from the Marine Corps."

Mei Youlan looked at Lieutenant Ping, she was a little surprised how Stilwell brought the lieutenant to her. Stilwell explained casually: "Zelston's father is my old friend. He was in the army with me, but his son joined the navy..."

Stilwell said, shaking his head, feeling a sense of regret. The originally calm lieutenant showed a little embarrassment on his face at this time. Mei Youlan couldn't help but be happy. In the United States, she knew that there was a deep prejudice between the US Army and the Navy. This prejudice could even be brought to the football game. The winner could talk about it for a year, even senior officers were no exception.

"Col. Does President Roosevelt really care about the Sino-Japanese War?" Mei Youlan just glanced at the lieutenant and pulled the topic to the issue he was interested in, and said sincerely: "China needs help now."

Stilwell looked around and sighed heavily: "You grew up in the United States and know the situation in the United States. American voters don't want to fight, and the president has no choice."

"Is it even possible to embargo?" Mei Youlan's beautiful big eyes showed a sense of sadness, which made people feel heartbroken.

"I don't know this," Stilwell shook his head and said, "My personal opinion is to impose sanctions on Japan and maintain a balance of power in the Far East. Moreover, the embargo must be cooperated with multiple countries to be effective."

After all, Stilwell is an amateur diplomat, speaking straightforwardly, unlike a professional diplomat, speaking roundaboutly. Mei Youlan nodded in agreement.

"The British and French may not agree." Zelston interrupted at the right time. When the senior officers were discussing, he had the urge to speak, but his rank was too low. Speaking at that time was not a good choice, especially when his boss was present, Stilwell was the only one who began to express his opinions: "They are now unable to take care of themselves and are unable to intervene in the Far East."

"What do you mean?" Mei Youlan asked in confusion.

"After Hitler became the head of Germany, he began to consolidate his troops. Last year, he drove his army into the Rhine Demilitarized Zone. In fact, his army only had a few battalions, but a total of sixty divisions of French teams shrank behind the Maginot line of defense and did not dare to move." Zelston showed a contemptuous expression on his face: "After Hitler succeeded in the Rhine Demilitarized Zone, Austria was also a member of the former German Federation, and should now return to the German Federation. His request made Britain and France very difficult. The Treaty of Versailles clearly stipulated that Germany and Austria cannot have any alliance or similar treaties. If Hitler succeeded, the Treaty of Versailles will officially turn into ashes, and the peace framework based on it will officially collapse."

Mei Youlan was very surprised by the young man's keen sense of smell. Before the exercise, Zhuang Jihua had talked with Mei Yuntian, believing that Germany would instigate a war in Europe and that its business in Europe should be withdrawn as soon as possible, and at the same time, it was trying to end the German authorization of penicillin. Unexpectedly, this young man actually had the same view as Zhuang Jihua.

"Lieutenant, are you a Marine?" Mei Youlan looked at Zelston, who nodded inexplicably. Mei Youlan shook her head gently: "No matter how I look at it, I feel that you should be a diplomat or a journalist. I guess you did the wrong job. We Chinese have a saying that women are afraid of marrying the wrong guy, men are afraid of entering the wrong job, and the Marine Corps is a little embarrassed."

"Haha," Stilwell laughed: "Miss May, you are right. He shouldn't join the Navy, he should join the Army."

Zelston shrugged awkwardly: "I am just interested in international relations. In fact, being a journalist is my second wish. I have a good impression of China. My father has served in China for ten years, and I often hear him talk about China."

"It's also the Marine Corps?" Mei Youlan asked with a smile. Today she was extremely satisfied. She began to plan a continuous report in her heart, which was about the attitude of the parties to the Nine-Country Convention towards the Sino-Japanese War. She wanted to completely break the fantasies that some people in China had for the West in this continuous report.

Weber and Benoit continued to fight among the officers' regiment. At this time, a huge explosion came from the city area. The room was shaking. The women exclaimed loudly, and then there were continuous explosions. People rushed to the window, and bursts of light cut through the dark night, dyeing the horizon red.
Chapter completed!