ebookland Chapter 1260 Transporting Arms
Chapter 1260 Transporting Arms
"Regarding the purchase of arms, I have already sent people to contact the European and American sides. The northern border is still under our control, so this batch of arms can be obtained from the northern border. As for the quantity to be purchased, you just need to find a way to raise the money. As long as there is enough money, I will be responsible for transporting the arms over."
Hearing Li Shaoyi's words, Minister He's face showed both joy and displeasure. This was because they could continuously import arms through Li Shaoyi's channel. However, the problem was that they lacked funds. Although the international community had donated a considerable amount, there were simply too many expenses, not to mention the numerous demands of the Nationalist government, large and small – satisfying their demands wouldn't be easy.
"I know about your financial situation..."
As soon as Minister He said this, Li Shaoyi immediately stood up, indicating that he did not want to follow along with him.
“Minister He, my financial situation is my own business. Right now, you want to buy things, and no one can sell them to you. I’m providing these things to you through a smuggling route. I’m not asking for a higher price; I only need the cost price. If you’re going to make me pay for it myself, that’s really unreasonable.”
Li Shaoyi said somewhat speechlessly, "The Nationalist government has received several donations in the past month. While this money may not be enough to cover the arms purchases of all troops, it should be sufficient for the main forces. However, as far as Li Shaoyi knows, a quarter of this money, as soon as it arrived in the mountain city, was immediately used to renovate their working and living conditions."
“Look how nervous you are. I didn’t say you should pay for it yourself. Could you get the Northern Bank to lend us some money? We can use various national taxes as collateral, or other guarantees, as long as you can provide us with a loan.”
The Minister of Military Affairs had already set his sights on the bank owned by Li Shaoyi. However, Li Shaoyi had no intention of taking advantage of this, because domestic tax revenues were already pledged to foreign powers. Although the Nationalist government was now independent, it fully recognized the agreements signed during the Qing Dynasty. So even if this portion were pledged to him, how much could he gain during the war of resistance? Trying to exchange a broken bowl for a golden one? There was no such thing as a free lunch.
“I told you, sir, don’t bother. I heard that overseas Chinese in Latin America just donated 600 million silver dollars. If possible, give me all of that money, and I can equip you with 600 million silver dollars worth of weapons and equipment, which can be delivered to the designated location very quickly, at the same price as before the war.”
Li Shaoyi took out a newspaper from the side, which described the scene of overseas Chinese in Latin America enthusiastically donating money. Many locals had even sold off all their properties to raise the funds, which would soon arrive in China.
"As you know, every donation requires the approval of the Military Commission. If I could personally approve this, I would sign it for you right now. But I don't have that much authority, do I?"
Minister He said with a bitter expression that he was very clear about the current situation in the country. Logically, everyone should be united in fighting the Japanese. However, some officials in Chongqing didn't consider this at all; they were only thinking about how to make money, even daring to reach for international donations for the war effort.
In the eyes of these people, there is no such thing as a crisis. They believe that when problems arise, someone else should step in. They think, "We were born to enjoy privileges." Minister He is utterly helpless regarding this group. However, they are not a minority; they wield considerable power throughout the mountain city, and even he cannot contend with them.
One side is only thinking about loans, while the other won't act until they see tangible benefits; therefore, this kind of negotiation is absolutely impossible to complete. Li Shaoyi had already made up his mind beforehand that no matter how difficult things were in various places, he had already helped a lot. There are also considerable international donations and support. We can't let our contributions go to waste and end up benefiting those corrupt officials.
"I just don't understand. The soldiers fighting bloody battles on the front lines are almost out of bullets, and these people in the rear want to renovate their offices and living conditions. I really don't know what these people are thinking. What can't we make do with things in the rear? Why do we have to make changes?"
Li Bei was furious when she heard the results of Li Shaoyi's negotiations. Liu Xiaoshan, standing beside her, was already used to it; he had encountered similar situations many times before. He had originally thought that they should help when the country was in trouble, but Li Shaoyi told him to observe more closely, and the guy immediately knew the situation in Shancheng.
It's not that we're truly poor; basically, each department has its own slush fund. If we were to search thoroughly, purchasing a batch of weapons wouldn't be a problem. Moreover, we're not at our wits' end yet; the Nationalist government still controls a considerable amount of territory. Under these circumstances, we're far from the poor situation they're claiming.
“Secretary Li, I thought you knew the situation here better than I did, but it turns out you're even less informed than an outsider like me. Look at the changes in Chongqing over the past six months. Before, there weren't nearly any entertainment venues. These people came all the way from Shanghai and Nanjing; they know that wherever the capital is, these entertainment venues will appear. When we first arrived in Chongqing, dances and karaoke bars had practically disappeared, but now they've all sprung up like mushrooms after rain. Do you think you're just wasting your time in places like this?”
As the convoy passed through a street, Liu Xiaoshan pointed to the entertainment venues on both sides of the road, noting that they had definitely only opened in the last month or two. Li Shaoyi smiled helplessly.
These businessmen had a good grasp of the Nationalist government's inner workings. No matter where they went or what the state of the nation was, they all believed that, under the current circumstances, it was essential to relax; otherwise, how could they dedicate themselves to the war effort?
Many people were just coming out of there, quite drunk, and you couldn't tell how concerned they were about the country and its people. But you could definitely tell that they had been having a great time, and were even planning to go out for another round of drinks together.