Chapter 55: Loss (Second Update)

  The defeat in World War I made the German upper class willing to sign the humiliating Treaty of Versailles rather than see a revolution break out! They all urgently hoped to extinguish the sparks of revolution in their infancy. As is well known, the birthplace of communist thought was Germany, and the first country to dare to eat crabs was France, while the first victorious one was Russia, which has now formed the Soviet Union with eleven allied countries.

  The signing of the Treaty of Versailles suddenly plunged Germany into economic ice point, and Germany's prestige was ridiculed unprecedentedly. This also prompted the German military high-level to reflect on their pain and develop with all their might! Due to the rise of Russia, in order to counter the expansion of communism, the West had to adopt a soft policy towards Germany, making Germany a fortress against Russia! Germany gradually began to recover, entering the 1920s, Germany began to refuse to pay the remaining reparations under the Treaty of Versailles. After the Western compromise, Germany refused to fulfill the treaty's coal clause.

  This result finally made the Western powers, Britain and France, lose their patience and erupt in anger. On the 11th, a British-French coalition force of about one million men launched an attack on Germany's Ruhr industrial area, suddenly plunging the economic order that had just been restored into turmoil, and also causing Germany's already fragile prestige to plummet to new depths.

  Bao Wei, like many traditional Germans, is inevitably angry! And Mao Feng thought of this piece of history, he also tentatively said it out loud, and the result was just as Mao Feng had expected.

  Bā Wèi didn't suspect how Máo Fēng knew, nor did he care about how Máo Fēng analyzed it. He was now filled with grief and indignation, hating England and France, and also feeling ashamed of the country's current status!

  "Mr. Bao, I must say that today's Germany and our current China have too many similarities. Both were once powerful nations, both were humiliated by Britain and France, and to be honest, neither of us has good feelings towards them! Since we share a common enemy, why not join hands? Although my strength is currently insufficient, I believe that as long as we are friends, there will always be opportunities to help each other. Remember, sometimes the help between close friends doesn't require any compensation!"

  Bawei looked at Mao Feng, his expression changing repeatedly, and it was clear that he was thinking about more things. Bawei sighed and said: "Although we have just met, I believe that at this moment we can be considered friends, but as a friend, I am not in charge, so regarding the introduction of the weapons production line, I can agree, and the steel production line technology I can also agree, but to introduce advanced weapon equipment or delay payment to obtain weapon equipment conditions, then it is impossible, not that I don't want to help, but I don't have this power!"

  Mao Feng originally thought it was still not possible, but now it sounds like there's too much progress. Ambition shouldn't be too big after all. Food also needs to be eaten one mouthful at a time. With such a great discount, what else can Mao Feng be disappointed about?

  Next, Mao Feng and Ba Wei began to discuss the cost of the production line! The military instructor can be arranged, as for the salary, Mao Feng must talk about it in person. If the negotiation fails, the round-trip fare and compensation fees must be paid! In principle, it cannot be less than 300 taels! Mao Feng naturally had no objection to this price. However, Mao Feng also put forward his own conditions, that is, the prerequisite is that he must want to stay here to teach, not just come to speculate or purely for the sake of the 300 taels!

  Bao Wei was very serious about this and unhesitatingly wrote the clause into the agreement. Finally, it came to purchasing weapons, which roughly included the equipment of a German armed division, three infantry regiments, an artillery regiment, as well as ammunition supplies that could support one month of combat! The total price would definitely not be less than 5 million taels!

  These are the minimum bottom lines. Mao Feng knows that no matter how hard he tries, there will be no progress! Everything has a first time, and the first time is always the hardest. But once you've had the first time, can the second time be far behind?

  Invite Bawi to visit the military camp, see Maofeng's subordinates training, Bawi is still very polite and gave praise. Maofeng knows his own affairs, he has done his best, but his personal power is extremely small, let alone he doesn't have the energy, this is also why Maofeng wants to invite German officers to serve as instructors.

  Bawi didn't leave, instead he made a suggestion that delighted Mao Fengzi the next day, which was to set up the office in Chaozhou from now on! Mao Fengzi welcomed it on the spot.

  Ba Wei sighed and said: "I'm afraid that in all of China, even the entire Far East, it's only here with you that I feel the warmth of friendship!"

  After Bawei left, Mao Feng received some bad news: Lin Hu's troops had all retreated to Guangdong Province, to be precise, they had all withdrawn to Chaozhou and Meizhou. And Lin Hu asked Mao Feng to come see him!

  Lin Hu's vigor and spirit were nowhere to be seen on his body, his expression was listless, and he had bandages wrapped around his head and arms. The man who used to exude an aura of dominance now looked like an ordinary wounded soldier.

  Maofeng looked at himself and didn't know what his mood was like at this moment! Excited? Sad? Probably neither, but also possibly both, in short Maofeng's current mood is very contradictory.

  Lin Hu lay on the stretcher, he had just woken up. Mao Feng learned that Lin Hu's injury was very serious, hit by shells and bullets continuously, lost a lot of blood! Being able to save him was already a blessing from heaven!

  Lin Hu saw Mao Feng's spirit slightly lifted, and he said in a low voice: "You're here, sit down!"

  Maofengzhi sat down on a chair at the head of the bed, obviously prepared by Lin Hu. As soon as he sat down, Maofengzhi said with concern: "General, rest assured and recover from your injuries, I'll take care of everything!"

  Lin Hu's eyes didn't move at all, and he calmly said: "This time the loss is still my fault. I didn't expect Liu Guang to be like this, and the person sent over couldn't control him either. If I had known earlier, I would have killed him back then! There was no need to consider Chen Jiongming's face at all!"

  Mao Feng comforted: "General, now your body is important, it's not suitable to get angry!"

  Lin Hu let out a sigh and looked at Mao Feng's mouth, saying: "I, Lin Hu, have been through countless battles big and small throughout my life, and I've experienced defeat before. But this time, I don't accept it! It's not that Xu Chongzhi is formidable, but rather there's a traitor in our own household! Unacceptable!"

  Lin Hu was still muttering in discontent, and Mao Feng could only comfort him. Before long, Lin Hu fell asleep. Mao Feng tidied up his uniform and left the bedroom.

  As soon as Mao Fengyi came out, he saw Zhao Difei, the chief of staff, coming to greet him! Mao Fengyi still stood at attention and said: "Chief of Staff!"

  Zhao Di Fei's expression was also somewhat downcast. He waved his hand and said, "You and I don't need to be so formal, we're brothers, no need to stand on ceremony!"

  Mao Feng nodded, and then asked about the war situation. Zhao Difei also simply introduced the course of events. Finally, Zhao Difei angrily said: "Liu Xuanguang is nothing, but do you know? The morale of the first and second divisions is unstable! They all have the possibility of surrendering! If the commander-in-chief finds out, he will be furious!"

  Mao Feng's eyes suddenly became sharp, and he said in a cold voice: "You're seeking death! How dare you! The general is extremely close to these two division commanders, don't think that just because you have troops under your command, you can use them as a backing!"

  Zhao Difei sighed and said: "This is also the nature of human beings! At the critical moment of life and death, people still care more about their personal safety and even their own future!"

  Mao Feng's low voice said: "Chief of Staff, what do you mean?"

  Zhao Difei sighed and said: "What can I do? There are not many soldiers, and I can't even protect myself! Now it seems that Chaozhou is also impossible to defend! Guangzhou is probably in a similar situation! If the commander-in-chief is like this, let alone others!"

  Then Zhao Difei's expression turned serious, and he said: "Now the most important thing is still the general. As long as the general doesn't die, those two will have some thoughts left. If the general dies, I'm afraid they won't even surrender, let alone take over Chaozhou! It's also possible that they'll use this as a stepping stone to rise up!"

  Maofeng won't tell Zhao Difei about his own secrets, now everything needs to be cautious. Maofeng said: "Understood, so what do you plan to do next, Chief of Staff?"

  Zhao Difei said: "Younger brother, to be honest with you, I've thought about it too. If things can't be done, then I'll just become a rich man and spend the rest of my life in comfort! If younger brother wants to continue on this path, then if younger brother doesn't despise older brother me who eats for free, older brother will follow you!"

  Mao Feng's heart moved slightly, Zhao Difei was a person Mao Feng knew well, not the kind of ruthless and treacherous type, but rather the kind who wouldn't take the initiative to offend others unless provoked. Moreover, he was also a graduate of the Yunnan Military Academy and had good connections in Yunnan.

  Mao Feng's expression was firm as he said, "Old brother, our friendship is clear, and I have always remembered the kindness you showed me in the past. As long as I have food to eat, I will never let you go hungry!"

  Zhao Difei finally showed a smile, he let out a gentle breath and said: "Then thank you, so what are your plans now, little brother?"

  Mao Feng's killing intent was palpable as he said, "Plan? Of course, we must first stabilize the internal situation before dealing with external threats!"