Volume 1 Turbulent Times Chapter 173 After the declaration of war
China joined the Allies and officially declared war on the Allies. After the news was released, it shocked the whole world. In the pre-war or early stages of war, it would not be a big deal for the great powers whether it chose the Allies or the Allies camp. In the eyes of the great powers, China, which wins the weak, can only provide them with moral help at most. It can be said that there is not much more than one, and there is no less one. Of course, it is welcome to join itself, and there is no loss if it does not join.
But in a flash, a few years passed. As all European countries were trapped in the quagmire of war, tens of millions of soldiers in the two camps of Allies and Allied countries fought each other, and blood flowed into a river. The war became more and more fierce. However, China was burying its head and vigorously developed through the rare peace period, and its national strength was greatly enhanced in just a few years. Especially because of the long-term consumption of war, the labor and materials of European countries were extremely short of labor and materials, and its dependence on all kinds of commodities, military raw materials and materials from China continued to increase. At this time, China's role changed from being minimal at the beginning to become more important.
China suddenly announced its joining the Allies, which led to a subtle change in the balance of the European battlefield. While the strength of the Allies was weakened, the strength of the Allies was strengthened. When the ambassadors to China officially received a notice from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on joining the war and going to war with the Allies, the ambassadors of the countries belonging to the camp of the Dealing Power, except for the Japanese ambassadors, all the ambassadors of the Allies were smiling and raising their glasses. The ambassadors of the Allies were all gloomy and terrifying, as if they had died overnight.
"Marcos, as an old friend, I can only say sorry about this."
On the day when China declared war, Fang Zida specially invited his old friend and partner, German businessman Marcos, in Beijing. When China joined the Allied Power, it would inevitably expel diplomats, merchants, etc. from allied powers in China to fulfill the obligations of members of the Allied Powers. In recent years, Fang Zida has made a lot of profits from both national industrial and commercial development and private business with the help of Marcos. In other words, without Marcos' strong assistance, Fang Zida's national industrial and commercial development plans were not so easy to complete, and a large part of the credit was attributed to Marcos. Now China declared war on the Allied Powers. As a German businessman, although Fang Zida has no guilt in the national justice, he always feels a little sorry for his old friends.
Holding up a full glass of wine. Fang Zida stood up with shame.
"No need to do this, my friend." Marcos did not look gloomy like the German ambassador who received the news at noon. Instead, he shook his head with a smile: "Politics is politics after all, and our friendship lasts for a long time, right?"
"Thank you!" Fang Zida was slightly stunned, and clinked his glass with Marcos in his heart, raised his hand and drank it all.
Drinking the wine in the glass, Marcos pointed at himself and said with a smile: "Fang, although I am a German, I am also a Jew. You know that we Jews are a nation without a country. So in my eyes, all we focus on is the friendship between business and friends, and we are not interested in the war between your country and Germany. To be honest, I hate this boring war. No one on both sides is just justice or evil in this dirty war. In the final analysis, it is just that the robbers who are unevenly divided into stolen goods kidnapped the people of their country for profit and started the war, with the purpose of gaining profits. Fortunately, because of you, my friend, we have obtained our own things in this war. As for who will lose and who will win in the end of the war. So what? The world in the future will still be this world, and those in power will still be those in power."
Fang Zida immediately smiled. Marcos's words came to the forefront and even had some philosophical principles. People often say that Jews only have interests but no country in their eyes, and they can even sell their own country for the sake of interests. However, Marcos's words made Fang Zida hear the helplessness and indignation in his heart. Perhaps Jews are not just natural merchants, but natural philosophers.
"Okay! Let this shit war go hell! Come on, cheers!"
"cheers!"
Putting down the wine glass, Fang Zida and Marcos's eyes met and laughed knowingly. The slightly solemn atmosphere just now was wiped out.
"What are your plans next? My friend? From the perspective of a friend, I suggest you become a Chinese citizen. If you agree, I can help you with the procedures today." After eating the dish, Fang Zida asked.
"Thank you very much for your arrangement, but no need, because I will go to the United States." Marcos said casually: "Actually, more than a month ago, I had sent all my European family to the United States. A few days ago, they called me and said that they had arrived safely. As for me, I had submitted an immigration application to the US government a long time ago, and I guess I will officially obtain the status of American nationality in the next few days."
"What?" Fang Zida was a little surprised and looked at Marcos incredibly.
With a smile, Marcos raised a finger and shook it gently: "My friend, don't forget that I am a Jew or a businessman. The merchant's sense of smell has always been very sensitive. Although you concealed it well, the slight adjustment of the quota for exporting goods to Europe that began three months ago made me realize that China's joining the Allies was not far away. Two months ago, the recall of your Military Observation Group made me firmer this judgment, so I made this choice without discussing it with you."
Looking at the gray-haired old man, Fang Zida couldn't speak for a moment. He never expected that the clever cover he still could see the flaws. Fortunately, the other party was Marcos, his friend and partner. If the news was leaked in advance, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Sorry, I can't tell you the truth for the sake of confidentiality. Marcos, you won't blame me, are you?"
"How could that happen?" Marcos smiled and said, "Business is business, and friendship is friendship, let alone such a big event, it is normal for you not to tell me." After a pause, Marcos squeezed his eyes and smiled playfully, "Besides, aren't we cooperating well? In the words of you Chinese, you have a little understanding."
Fang Zida was stunned and nodded repeatedly. Marcos left a way out for himself in advance, which made Fang Zida feel a big stone in his heart. Fang Zida originally wanted to serve wine today to apologize to Marcos, and secondly, he was also preparing to help Marcos and settle his way out for him. After all, as a war in China, they would have a hard time, and as old friends, they would have to help them no matter what.
Who would have thought that Marcos had prepared it without hesitation. Fang Zida breathed a sigh of relief and felt even more sorry for Marcos. While smiling and shook his head, Fang Zida decided to compensate him well if he had the chance in the future.
"But there is one thing I want to ask." Marcos said after eating a few bites of the dish.
"Speaking."
"Although I have applied to become a US citizen, there are still many other German businessmen in China, and some Germans are also stranded in China. Now your country has joined the Allies. As a senior government official and one of the cabinet members, I would like to ask you how you deal with them?"
Fang Zida of course knew the intention of Marcos's question, and also understood that the disposal that Marcos was referring to was not only for the Germans, but also for their commercial investment and real estate in China, etc. These issues were also debated within the government. Some people suggested that since war began, all the property of the Allied Powers in China would be confiscated and all the personnel in China were expelled. This proposal was agreed by many people. If this was done, it would be a good thing for the Chinese government in the short term. If all the property of the Allied Powers in China was confiscated and all the borrowings from the previous few years would be dependent on the country to obtain huge commercial benefits, and financially
It will get great benefits. But Fang Zida, the deputy finance minister and the president of the central bank, did not agree with this. In his opinion, doing so would be a poison to quench thirst, greatly damage the government's international credibility and the recently established industrial and commercial market. This war can be fought for at most one or two years, and everything will start again after the war is over. Who can guarantee that China, which cut off its own way out for temporary benefits, will be criticized and hit by all parties in the future world? Therefore, the person led by Fang Zida proposed that even if the war starts, it cannot be done too much. Everything must start from the perspective of meeting each other in the future.
Of course, Fang Zida is not a good man and a woman. Of course, he has to rely on the borrowings of the countries of the allied countries. This money is not for nothing, and it is not criticized from an international practice. Private investment and expatriates must be carefully considered. Fang Zida proposed that private commercial investment be implemented in accordance with international business rules and Chinese commercial law norms, protect normal investment and provide certain care for ordinary expatriates. This not only reflects the demeanor of a great power, but also lays the foundation for future development and exchanges after the war.
As for those Germans who helped build the National Defense Forces in China, Fang Zida proposed not only to take good care of them, but also to persuade them to continue to stay in China and serve the National Defense Forces if possible. Anyway, the Republic of China implemented a multiple nationality system and declared war on the allies. The Chinese team was unlikely to directly engage in a head-on war with the German team. Declaring war was just a gesture and political requirement, and there was no need to cut off its own way out.
Fang Zida did not hide from Marcos, and directly expressed his views, and told Marcos that this plan had been approved by the Chinese government and would be implemented immediately.
"I'm relieved." Marcos nodded, looking very pleased: "I will tell my friends these news, and I think they will be satisfied after hearing it."
"I'll trouble you. I hope you can help explain in some aspects. If you encounter any problems in implementation, you can ask them to come to me directly."
"Thank you!" Marcos smiled and raised his glass and touched Fang Zida gently to express his gratitude. (.com your support is my greatest motivation.)
Chapter completed!