sea ​​situation

How to bring people into the Japanese Concession, into the fraternity hall, Lu Ming said lightly to An Gonggen, as if he had everything in his mind.

In fact, Lu Ming was completely pretending, the purpose was to let An Gonggen and the others feel at ease and boldly follow.Although he has a careful plan, it is still a question mark whether the plan can be implemented smoothly.

Facing the reality, not only Lu Ming, but in fact, no one can be sure that he can successfully bring people into the Japanese Concession, let alone into the auditorium of the fraternity.

It's not that Lu Ming didn't do his homework well, he made several plans, and he wanted to implement the first plan with the help of his Japanese friend Hideyoshi Kenda.

The next morning, Lu Ming called Qian Tian and asked him out for lunch, and Qian Tian naturally agreed.

The two met at a Japanese restaurant near the Japanese consulate, chose a room, and started ordering food and drinks.

"Mr. Qiantian, is it okay to drink at noon?" Lu Ming asked.

"It's okay, as long as you don't get drunk." Qian Tian said a little depressed.

"What's the matter? Mr. Qiantian seems to be thinking, can you talk about it?" Lu Ming asked with a smile.

"Who doesn't have a mind now, they are all full of unspeakable suffering." Qiantian said in a depressed voice.

"Did you get hit by something? Are those rogues still looking for trouble with you?" Lu Ming asked in surprise.

"Ronin is nothing. The damn capitalist economic crisis kills people. Do you know the situation in the United States?" Qian Tian sighed.

"I heard something about the Great Depression." Lu Ming nodded.

Even if Frank didn't call him, he generally knew that several American newspapers and periodicals sold in Shanghai had comprehensively reported the depression in the United States after the economic crisis.

Although he left the United States and did not intend to go to the United States again in his life, Lu Ming would always involuntarily pay more attention to the things that happened there.

"Although the U.S. economy is in depression, a lean camel is bigger than a horse, so it can still recover..." Qian Tian took a long breath.

"Uh, do you mean the situation in Japan is bad?" Lu Ming asked.

"It's not very bad, it's not very bad, but it can't be worse." Qian Tian said with a sad face.

Lu Ming's heart trembled. Although he never had a good impression of Japan, he really didn't want the Japanese economy to be so bad that it would give the Japanese military an excuse to invade.

Once the opening is opened and a war of colonial plunder is launched, it will be a road of no return.

As the only industrial country in Asia, if Japan insists on launching a war of aggression, almost no country can be its opponent.

Compared with the armed forces of agricultural countries, the armed forces of industrial countries are a whole era behind, and they are not on the same starting line at all.

"Does Mr. Qiantian's family need a subsidy? If so, please feel welcome." Lu Ming asked tentatively.

"Thank you, my family has no problems for the time being. Although it is not as good as a noble family like Lu Sang, life is still passable. But I pity those unemployed workers and farmers who have lost their land. I am afraid that they will not see the light in this life. Their wives and daughters have to go to Nanyang to sell themselves to earn foreign exchange for the country to build damn aircraft and warships." Man Tian said bitterly.

"At this time, shouldn't the country take care of the lives of the people first? Why are you in such a hurry to build aircraft and warships?" Lu Ming's heart sank.

"Yes, a normal person should think this way, but how many people in Japan are normal? Even some workers and farmers who can't eat can't wait for the country to go to war immediately. They are blindfolded by the lobbying of the war maniacs. , I don’t know what war means at all, isn’t there enough people who died in Japan in the Russo-Japanese War?” Qian Tian said with tears in his eyes.

"Could it be that the citizens of your country collectively advocate war? I really can't understand it." Lu Ming shook his head again and again.

"It's not entirely true. Some politicians don't want a war, but they are firstly oppressed by the military forces, and secondly, they are coerced by unprecedentedly high public opinion, so they can't make a sound at all." Qian Tian explained.

"Japan has really become an island of darkness, and it will eventually suffer for itself. If you don't believe me, we will wait and see." Lu Ming was a little angry.

"Lu Sang's words make sense. Those of us who are engaged in diplomacy are also trying our best to find ways to avoid the outbreak of war, but the situation is worrying." Qian Tian said with a wry smile.

Maybe it's because he got acquainted with Lu Ming, Qian Tian didn't treat him as an outsider, and even said all these things that should have been kept secret.

After a while, the food and drink were served, and Qian Tian didn't care about Lu Ming, he drank a large glass of beer first, and then filled it up for himself.

Lu Ming could tell that he was trying to drink away his worries, because he had a block in his heart.

"Mr. Qiantian, if you have difficulties, you are really welcome. I don't have any more. Tens of thousands of yen are absolutely fine." Lu Ming laughed.

"No, it's not my business. I don't have any financial difficulties, but some of my colleagues have too many children and can't bear it anymore. Their monthly salary is not enough to send home. Use." Qian Tian shook his head and said.

"Is your salary very low?" Lu Ming was a little surprised. It stands to reason that it shouldn't be a problem for a diplomat to support a family by himself.

He didn't know the salaries of the diplomats of the Republic of China government, but with the salary of a middle-level government employee, there was absolutely no problem in supporting a family.

"It depends on how to say it. Our salary is definitely not low in Japan, but it is incomparable with your Chinese bureaucrats. Sometimes when I see the salary of your Chinese officials, I really can't believe that your country is so poor." Qian Tian said very seriously.

Lu Ming felt his face burn when he heard this. Indeed, the lives of Chinese officials and ordinary people are completely different.

As long as you are an official, your family has meat to eat every day, but the common people are struggling in abject poverty. In good years, they barely have food and clothing, and they have to eat chaff and vegetables.

"However, you are fine in China. After all, the land is vast. As long as there is no severe famine, you can always harvest food, and you are rich in coal and minerals. This is something we can't compare to. At least you still have resources to sell. What do we have? We only have [-] million poor people." Qian Tian drank another glass of beer and lamented.

"That's why everyone in Japan, including ordinary people, wants to launch a war with the outside world, just to invade us and steal our things, right?" Lu Ming asked.

"It's... a disaster..." Qian Tian choked up suddenly.

He couldn't say yes, and he couldn't say no, so he could only lower his head sadly in the end: "Lu Sang, I'm sorry."

"It's nothing, it's bound to happen sooner or later." Lu Ming smiled calmly.

If Qiantian denies it, he will look down on this friend even if he is Japanese, but Qiantian admits it, he thinks Qiantian is very frank and good enough for a friend, that's the way it is.

Lu Ming believed Qian Tian's words. Their diplomats didn't want to start a war. It's not that they didn't want to, but they thought they were not ready at all. Japanese military.

Perhaps it can be said that professional diplomats are the last group of reasonable people in Japan, not as crazy as those in the military department.

"Don't worry, I will notify you if there is any danger, and then you should hurry back to the United States." Qian Tian said in a low voice.

"Mr. Qiantian, what are you talking about? Is it still risky for me to stay in Shanghai?" Lu Ming frowned.

"Lu Sang, any bad situation can happen. Let me tell you, there is only one place that is absolutely safe in the end, and that is the United States." Qian Tian said solemnly.

"Okay, thank you." Lu Ming raised his glass and drank with Qian Tian.

"Mr. Qiantian, I'm treating you to a drink today. I actually want to ask you to help me with something." Lu Ming turned to the topic with a smile.

"What's the matter, just say it." Qian Tian waved his hand.

"During the New Year, I would like to invite you to take me into the Japanese Concession, is that okay?" Lu Ming said, staring into Qian Tian's eyes.