The battle lines between the Southeast Asian National Defense Force and the Japanese Army once again fell into a strange calm. With the Wei River separating them, neither side took the initiative to launch an attack.

Only the sporadic sound of cannons and gunshots proved that this was still a battlefield. Otherwise, a stranger who didn't know anything would have thought that this was just the border between the two countries.

In order to prevent the attack of the National Defense Forces, Sugiyama Yuan spared no effort to lay a large number of mines in front of the position. At the same time, bunkers, bunkers, etc. were built step by step along the Wei River.

Baoda sadly agreed to Sugiyama Motokai to form three more divisions of the Annan National Army to assist the Japanese defense against Weijiang. Thailand and India, on the other hand, had already formed more than ten divisions to come to the position to help.

Japanese troops defended.

Compared with Baoda, which had suffered losses, the leaders of these two countries were still optimistic about the Japanese army. After all, the Japanese army had never experienced a disastrous defeat in front of them.

In their view, Japan defeated the proud and arrogant white people. This is admirable, and Japan's ally Germany directly occupied the entire England in Europe.

Now, they are about to conquer the Soviet Union. Soon, their own troops will even be able to join Japan and Germany in entering the Americas to jointly create a new world order.

"No! Your Excellency Ribbentrop, what we need is a large number of machine tools, technical support and weapons. Without these, we cannot arm our own troops. Let alone perform our tasks in the war..."

Negotiations between the Soviet Union and Germany were going on secretly. Kalinin and Ribbentrop were constantly fighting each other in a verbal battle in order to get more benefits for their motherland.

"Chairman Kalinin, you know that Germany is also preparing for war now, and our opponent is the extremely powerful United States. Although the United Kingdom and its huge strength have been consumed by us, they still have a certain industrial base in Canada...

"

Ribbentrop said to Kalinin: "As for industrial machine tools and technical personnel, in fact we in Germany are also in short supply. Perhaps we can provide you with some technical personnel from the occupying countries, such as the French and British who were captured by us.

And the Dutch, what do you think?!"

"Only a part of it is definitely not enough. Especially in terms of machine tools, we need Germany to provide us with high-quality, latest machine tools." Kalinin shook his head and said: "If we want to fulfill combat responsibilities, we need it.

More weapons and ammunition to arm our troops..."

"We need it ourselves, Chairman Kalinin." Ribbentrop emphasized: "The Soviet Union's main obligation is to provide us with resources and manpower assistance. We will try our best to provide the Soviet Union with the machine tools you need. But weapons

We really can’t do anything about it and the technical staff. You need to understand that.”

It's understandable, but unacceptable. This is Kalinin's attitude.

Because the United States and the United Kingdom have promised that as long as the Soviet Union and Germany go to war, they will send their own technical personnel to help the Soviet Union build a series of facilities including arsenals, aircraft manufacturing plants, automobile production lines, etc.

Even Ford, Boeing and other companies have responded to the request of the US government and are conducting inspections of the Soviet Union. In comparison, what the Germans can offer is too little.

"We also need to coordinate in terms of resources, Mr. Ribbentrop." Kalinin sighed and said: "It is impossible for us to hand over all those oil wells and mines to Germany. Both parties operate jointly, and Germany

It is acceptable to provide machinery to help us increase production..."

"No! We must take full responsibility for the mining industry. Otherwise, we cannot increase the production of oil wells and mines." Ribbentrop shook his head. This was Hitler's death condition.

The Soviet Union's takeover of those mines and oil wells during the European War left Germans with lingering fears. Now, what they desperately hope is to be able to fully control these resources again.

Even if the Soviet Union eventually takes it back, at least Germany can do its best to exploit these resources while they have control over them.

"Your Excellency Ribbentrop, it was an extraordinary period for the Soviet Union. That's why there were mortgages on mines and oil wells, but didn't we already repay Germany's debts later?!"

Kalinin was very dissatisfied, and he was extremely angry about this matter. Including Stalin's sale of Vladivostok, these were decisions that made him extremely heartbroken.

Even now, no one dares to mention these two things in front of him.

"We were in a mess at the time, and it was inevitable that the upper management made some wrong decisions. But we did not deny it afterwards. On the contrary, we still repaid all the loans from Germany, didn't we?!" Kalinin pointed at the table and said.

: "Moreover, Lord Ribbentrop must know why we made such a decision at that time, right?!"

"This is an internal affair of the Soviet Union, and we never interfere with your ideas." Ribbentrop shrugged and said, "We were just doing business, and it was not the German government that purchased oil wells and mines from the Soviet Union at that time.

It’s a German company.”

Ribbentrop was telling lies with open eyes. He was a pioneer when he deceived the Soviet Union! He and the intelligence personnel at the time were the ones who did it, of course! The name was a certain company in Germany.

Of course, Kalinin also heard the meaning behind Ribbentrop's words. At that time, your Soviet Union was in internal strife, and that was your Soviet Union's problem. We were just doing business, so why don't we ask people to open a business if there is a business?!

Kalinin was speechless. Even if he knew that Germany participated in the Soviet Union's internal strife and even played a decisive role, at least on the surface Kalinin could find no evidence.

And if this matter continues to be involved, the first person to be unlucky will definitely be the Soviet Union itself. The group of people who followed Trotsky at that time all had more or less inexplicable relations with Germany.

If you start this thing, it will be endless.

"Mr. Ribbentrop, I think we both still need to coordinate with the top management regarding resource cooperation and technical support." Kalinin sighed and said, "So today's negotiations should end here. Let's go back and coordinate.

Let’s continue talking later.”

"Chairman Kalinin, I very much agree with you." Ribbentrop said sincerely: "In fact, I extremely hope that the Soviet Union and Germany can reach a cooperation agreement. I can even tell you about the negotiations with the Soviet Union.

I proposed this to His Excellency the Head of State."

"I have deep feelings for the Soviet Union. I hope that Germany and the Soviet Union can become the best partners. The new world order needs to be established by us together. I believe we will have a lot in common..."

Ribbentrop indeed hoped that the Soviet Union and Germany could establish cooperation, but this was not because he had any feelings for the Soviet Union. It was because he was extremely sensitive to the economy and had already sensed the crisis in Germany under its current prosperity.

The war has dragged Germany's economy to a halt. Germany urgently needs to devote a lot of resources to its own cultivation. But the war must continue because the threat from the United States is no joke.

The integration of occupied areas requires manpower, the restoration of production, and the acquisition of resources also require manpower. Germany has a limited population and a large number of adult males in the army. How can there be so many manpower?!

The biggest benefit of the Soviet Union is that it can share part of Germany's needs. From natural resources to human resources, it can share part of it.

"Dear Head of State, I still hope that you can consider certain cooperation with the Soviet Union. Even if this cooperation is temporary, at least cooperation can allow us to get support from the Soviet Union."

"Although Germany has now occupied all of Europe, our battle with the United States in the Atlantic has caused us to continue to lose blood. It will take time for the occupied areas to become productive. We need a lot of resources and manpower to complete our preparations for war...

"

"There is almost no possibility of compromise in the United States until now. We can only force them to sit at the negotiating table by attacking their homeland. But to maintain order in Europe, restore domestic production and ensure social stability, we need

There are too many…”

Hitler frowned and looked at the telegram sent by Ribbentrop. Hitler didn't like the statement in the telegram. But Ribbentrop's view was different from that of the current German Minister of Economy: Hjalmar Horace Gerrard.

Dr. Lilley Schachter totally agrees.

"Schachter, what do you think?!" Hitler threw the telegram to Schacht and asked: "Has Germany reached this point?! We have not already won the war, why is it still like this?

?!"

"Führer, we have indeed won the war. But we have not fully enjoyed the dividends of the war." Schacht said with a wry smile. Schacht is a famous economist. It can be said that the reason why the entire Nazis were able to turn Germany from

Being able to separate himself from the global economic crisis and prepare for war on a large scale is inseparable from his economic plan.

He drafted detailed plans for industrial mobilization and the integration of the Wehrmacht with wartime industry, and planned and implemented systems for stockpiling strategic raw materials and controlling foreign exchange, which played a major role in Germany's early military expansion and preparations for war and the organization of its war economy.

During his tenure, Germany basically eliminated the unemployment phenomenon that was common in other countries at that time and caused a trend.

"The fire cooks the oil, and the flowers bloom!" Schacht suddenly said a Chinese sentence, which was taught to him by diplomats from the coalition government with whom he had communicated.

"Führer, this sentence in Chinese explains our current situation. Before the dividends of the war can be shared, Germany is actually still consuming a lot of its own energy."

After a pause, Schacht continued: "Before we can completely win the war, we still need a lot of money, a lot of resources, and a lot of manpower. Germany does not have these now..."

"So, we need an ally that can provide these. Foreign Minister Ribbentrop's view is correct. In some respects, the Soviet Union is indeed a partner we can choose...or, in other words, one of the occupied territories."

Hitler pondered and did not answer directly. To be honest, Hitler did not trust the Soviet Union. It is the nature of the Slavs to go back on their word. There should not be too many such examples in history.

"Okay! I will consider your and Ribbentrop's opinions." Hitler nodded, indicating that he understood. At the same time, he let Schacht leave on his own.

Schacht didn't say much. He nodded and stood up to leave. He knew that the head of state didn't like people to provide so-called "opinions" without authorization when he was thinking. This would be considered offensive by him.

While Hitler hesitated, Churchill once again faced the roar of those MPs. This time their roar was because China demanded that they recognize the independent status of Southeast Asian countries.

"These damn greedy yellow-skinned monkeys! They won't even think about taking an inch of land from us, from India to Xiangjiang! We will give them nothing to let these idiots know that the British Empire is not someone they can play with."

!!”

Lord Halifax, the Foreign Secretary of the British Empire, roared at the cabinet meeting: "Come on! If they have the ability, they will try to occupy those places! By then our warships..."

"All our warships have sunk in the English Channel, my dear Lord!" Churchill couldn't bear it anymore. He sarcastically said to the Lord: "Our warships have either been sunk by the Germans or attacked by the Japanese.

It sank. Do you think we can defeat the Japanese National Defense Forces if they can repel them?!"

"How about our cabinet authorizes you to personally go to Southeast Asia to clean up the National Defense Forces?! I personally hope that you can personally lead the army to recover those places, and I will ask the best painters in the British Empire to paint your heroic appearance

Come down and hang it in the hall of the Cabinet Council for future generations to admire."

Halifax was stunned by Churchill's words with guns and sticks, and he did not dare to agree to these words.

"Your Majesty Prime Minister, Lord Halifax is just too excited..." Arthur Greenwood, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, found a way for the Foreign Secretary and said: "After all, India is the crown jewel of the Queen of the British Empire.

A shining pearl, if they are allowed to go out independently..."

"The reality now is that they have become independent, and our troops have been driven to the Middle East by the Japanese. We are even now facing the pursuit of Italian and German troops!" Churchill snorted coldly: "Okay! Who is willing to lead us in the Middle East?

Troops?! I can show my support now."

There is no difference between going to the Middle East and going to die. Although the German troops in the Middle East are not many now, they are enough to deal with the remaining British troops.

There is no doubt that almost no one in the cabinet will mention the troops in the Middle East. They are more concerned about the current Soviet Union. Because the situation in the Soviet Union will directly threaten Canada where they are now.

As for the troops in the Middle East?! Let’s wait until the British Empire is no longer threatened. As for whether the remaining troops can last until then, who cares?!

"What I can tell you is that the U.S. Congress has now passed the coalition government proposal. Now President Roosevelt is asking about our attitude." Churchill looked at these congressmen coldly and hummed.

"What I can tell you is that it is best to imagine that China coordinates Germany and Japan to launch a war against the Soviet Union. Think about this and you will be extremely sober. Don't be blinded by the immediate interests!"

It may be said that it is a small-country mentality, or it may be said that it is short-sighted. If you pay attention to the foreign policies of European and American countries, you will find that they seem to only care about short-term interests from the beginning to the end.

They almost never consider long-term interests. Chinese culture, on the other hand, has a completely different concept. Traditional culture teaches Chinese people more about persistence in long-term interests.

For example, the policies of European and American companies and European and American countries in Africa and the strategies they implement are just for the short term and they are carrying out crazy predatory harvesting.
To be continued...