bookrandom Chapter 581 Post-war garrison rights are obtained!
Chapter 581 Post-war garrison rights are obtained!
Sun Tzu said it well: a ruler should not raise an army out of anger.
The current international situation is that the White Eagle is the only dominant power. The Russian Bear will have to wait until the 1960s and 1970s to have the real strength to compete with the White Eagle.
Therefore, Zhang Chi did not feel embarrassed to bow to Commander Luo and say nice things.
After all, a word he said could very well result in billions of dollars in aid.
He then reiterated his core position: "Nanyang is happy to remain within the post-war international system you have planned. We are not destroyers of order; on the contrary, we are also maintainers of order."
Nanyang is finally qualified to sit at the table and eat. Zhang Chi will not learn from the crow and overturn the table. That will not benefit him at all.
Commander Luo's tense nerves seemed to relax a little, and an expression that could truly be called a smile appeared on his face.
The young man before him didn't act too aggressively. Instead, he acknowledged and was willing to play by the existing rules. He had no intention of challenging White Eagle's global leadership, only seeking to obtain a share of benefits commensurate with his status. This greatly soothed his concerns.
"Very good, Zhang. I admire your pragmatism and foresight."
The atmosphere of the talks relaxed.
Zhang Chi knew that it was time to seek the final and most strategically significant bargaining chip.
He changed the subject and mentioned casually:
"Mr. President, regarding how to deal with the defeated countries, Yalta has already formulated a plan for Hans to divide and occupy them. So, what about the culprit in the East—Neon? Should they also be treated the same?
Should all the Allies who made great sacrifices to defeat it have the right to participate in the occupation and transformation of its homeland? In particular, should its capital also be divided into sections and garrisons by the major Allies, just like Berlin, to completely eradicate the soil of its militarism?
Commander Luo's eyes lit up. Occupy the Japanese homeland in sections?
This is definitely an extremely tempting proposal. It can not only completely eliminate the Japanese pirates and prevent them from resurfacing, but also pin the forces of other allies on the Japanese homeland and reduce their ambitions to infiltrate other parts of the Asian continent. It perfectly fits the White Eagle's strategic conception of controlling the Asia-Pacific after the War.
Moreover, if this issue was raised by Zhang Chi, the leader of an Asian country, in a diplomatic setting, it would seem even more "natural."
"Absolutely!" Commander Luo's voice suddenly rose. "Neon fascism must be punished most severely. Its homeland must be completely occupied and transformed. All the Allies who made great sacrifices in the Pacific theater and on the Asian continent have the right to participate.
Tokyo, like Berlin, must become a symbol of Allied co-regulation, the only way to eradicate its war machine."
"Well then." Zhang Chi immediately seized the opportunity, fearing that Truman would later deny his agreement. "To ensure the implementation of this important principle and avoid future disputes, should we sign a memorandum now? Clearly recording our mutual agreement on this?"
Commander Luo seemed to be briefly lifted up by this "great idea" and said without hesitation, "Of course. Hopkins!"
He summoned his trusted aides and said, "Immediately draft a brief memorandum on the principle of consensus on the post-war implementation of the Allied military occupation and management of the Japanese mainland, especially its capital. Your Excellency Zhang Chi and I need to sign and confirm it."
Watching Hopkins quickly record and begin to draft the text, Zhang Chi felt relieved and smiled.
The right to station troops after the war is obtained!
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A day later, in front of Livadia Palace, the sun rarely broke through the dark clouds of Crimea's winter.
The Big Three sat in the front row, ready to take a historic photo.
As a specially invited important participant, Zhang Chi was arranged to stand in the second row, next to White Eagle's Secretary of State Stettinius.
This position clearly and unmistakably declared the status of the United States of Southeast Asia as an emerging great power in the new post-war order.
Zhang Chi smiled politely and looked ahead.
At the photographer's direction, Commander Luo tried to straighten his back and force a signature, infectious smile. But the moment the shutter clicked, his formidable spirit seemed to crumble, and an unconcealable sense of dejection and fatigue quickly spread.
The attendant next to him immediately took a half step forward, his eyes filled with deep worry.
The steel-like uncle standing in front of him lingered on the hunched figure of Commander Luo for more than a second.
His bushy eyebrows knitted together imperceptibly, then he regained his usual unfathomable calm.
Zhang Chi was silent in his heart. As a time traveler, he knew this cruel countdown better than anyone else.
This old man, braving his ailing body and striving for his ideal world order, is in his final two months of life. Historically, he will collapse on April 12th.
The Yalta system he strongly promoted, which was based on "consensus among major powers", was quickly distorted, torn apart and subverted after his death by his successor Truman and the increasingly sharp Cold War iron curtain.
Yalta's brief, idealistic honeymoon and compromise will eventually become a thing of the past.
President Luo's "Principle of Consultation among Great Powers" is undoubtedly brilliant. It attempts to use rules and systems to restrain powerful countries and outline a path for the world to avoid sliding into the abyss of new confrontation.
Zhang Chi wholeheartedly agreed with the core of his philosophy - this was not inconsistent with his plan for Nanyang to "make a fortune in silence" and rise in the cracks, and it was even an ideal cover.
But the cruelty of history lies in the fact that no matter how brilliant the idea is, it needs a strong physique and enough time to be implemented, consolidated and deeply rooted in people's hearts.
A good body is so important.
'What a pity... Commander Luo...' Zhang Chi sighed inwardly, with a hint of complicated respect, but more of cold calculation.
"Your ideal country is destined to be short-lived. Your successor does not have your ability to control the situation, your idealistic appeal, or your delicate sense of balance in complex situations."
Time is running out, he must speed up frantically to seize the golden window of the last few dozen days while Commander Luo is still in office and his prestige and promises are still effective.
Taking advantage of this idealist's obsession with the "new order", his "good feelings" towards Southeast Asia, and his ignorance (or unwillingness to admit) of his own deteriorating health, the empty talk on paper was turned into a done deal before the ink on the Yalta framework had even dried.
Sumatra’s “special rights” must be immediately transformed into actual control.
The details of the "trusteeship leadership" of Borneo, Ryukyu and other places must be finalized as soon as possible.
The quasi-alliance relationship with the White Eagle should be strengthened while the iron is hot to sign a more specific cooperation agreement.
The strategic appeasement of the Russian bear must be accelerated...
In addition, the newly obtained promise to occupy the divided areas of the Japanese pirates' homeland must be immediately transformed into a program for subsequent actions.
And today is the real beginning of his use of foresight to frantically grab practical benefits in the gaps between the giants and lay a century-old foundation for Nanyang.
From now on, every minute and every second will be precious.