Gifts

  "Lu's remarks, it seems we once discussed on the riverboat. However, at that time it was too hasty, I didn't have a chance to ask Lu for serious instruction. Today since it's brought up, can Lu give everyone a detailed explanation?" He Jichun said.

  Du Boss also wanted to hear Luo Yi's views, so he made a gesture to him, meaning that he could say whatever he wanted.

  Luo Yi thought for a moment and organized the knowledge he had learned from various materials in later generations, talking fluently:

  "Japan is currently the strongest country in Asia in terms of industry and military power, but at the same time it is a resource-poor country. For such a country to become a world power, the only way is through aggressive war, seizing more territory and resources. China has vast lands and rich resources, but due to the corruption of the Manchu government and years of warlord infighting, its national strength has weakened, leaving it completely at the mercy of others. This is like a weak child holding a large amount of gold and silver, while a strong man beside him has nothing - can you expect this strong man to remain unmoved? Therefore, I believe that there must be a war between China and Japan."

  "That's a good analysis." He Jichun nodded, "But why do you think this war will break out within two or three years?"

  "In the past three years, from September 18th to now, Japan has successively invaded Shanghai, Rehe, and Chahar, with Chinese troops retreating again and again. Currently, the Japanese army has established two forward bases in Shanghai and Eastern Hebei, ready to launch a full-scale invasion of China at any time. The reason why the Japanese army has not taken more action in the past year is mainly due to the impact of the economic crisis at home and the constraints of the League of Nations. Recently, I have noticed that Hitler has succeeded as President in Germany and begun implementing his large-scale expansion plan, with Europe facing a new threat of war. Once the League of Nations is too busy to attend to Chinese affairs, Japan will inevitably start its adventurous actions and launch an all-out war against China. I predict that this time will be at most around 3 years."

  He Jichun stared at Luo Yi with an incredulous gaze, remaining silent for a long time. Old Du asked, "How about it, Mr. He? Does Luo Yi's words make some sense?"

  He Jichun said: "Lao Lao's words are quite shocking and unconventional, but upon careful consideration, they do make some sense. Connecting the European situation with Sino-Japanese relations is a relatively unique perspective. However, looking at the recent behavior of the Japanese military in China, Lao Lao's prophecy is not entirely unfounded. I'm just a bit puzzled - Zhuge Liang knew the fate of the Three Kingdoms without leaving his thatched cottage, but that's an ancient legend after all. How can Lao Lao, living in a rural village in Jiangxi, have such sharp insights?"

  When Luo Yi heard He Ji Chun's evaluation, everyone looked at him together, especially Du Fu Ren and Du Xin Yu, whose eyes already had a hint of pride. Luo Yi hurriedly waved his hand and said: "Brother He is overpraising me, I just... usually like to read newspapers." In his heart, he naturally understood that his insight was only hindsight. At the time, it would have been impossible to predict the outbreak of World War II unless one had the ability to travel through time.

  "Luózi, you continue. You just said the National Army is powerless to resist the Japanese army, what's the reason?" asked Du Lao Ban with great interest.

  "Japan has been preparing for world domination for many years. The training level of the Japanese army is very high. I have a friend who came from the Northeast Army, and during the September 18th Incident, he had fought against the Japanese army. He told me that a small team of Japanese soldiers could resist an entire company of Chinese troops and even defeat them. The January 28 Incident and the Great Wall Battle were just small-scale conflicts, with limited Japanese forces deployed, but we still fought very hard. Currently, the domestic civil war is ongoing, and even within the National Army, there are many factions vying for power and hindering each other. Such national defense strength cannot compete with Japan at all. If the Japanese army launches a full-scale attack, how many combat-effective troops can we put up to resist?"

  "In your opinion, is China doomed?" He Jichun asked, but in fact he already knew Luo Yi's answer and was just provoking him.

  "No. Although China is economically backward and frequently plagued by internal strife, if faced with the threat of national subjugation and racial extinction, the vital energy of our entire nation will be released. If we can make every man fight for himself and every family defend its own home, then our 400 million compatriots will become 400 million warriors. Can a small country like Japan conquer 400 million people?"

  "Luozu said it well." Old Master Du clapped his hands and said, "If that day really comes, I am willing to ruin my family's fortune, take out all of my property, mobilize all of my apprentices, and participate in the war together. This old bone of mine should also be able to serve as a horseman under Mr. He's command, shouldn't it?"

  He Jichun smiled and said: "If Mr. Du wants to be a soldier, I dare not accept it. It's probably only the chairman who dares to want him. If Mr. Du goes to the army, at least he should be a lieutenant general or a high-ranking staff officer. At that time, He will still have to rely on Mr. Du for support."

  Du Lao Ban burst out laughing: "Mr. He is joking, I'm just a Shanghai gangster, what qualifications do I have to be a high-ranking official? Come on, for the sake of resisting Japan, let's finish this cup."

  Everyone had a drink, and He Ji-chun said to Luo Yi: "Luo younger brother, I noticed that your ambition is not small. You sent Miss Yuan to me to study telecommunications, and then sent Miss Zeng to learn first aid. It seems that you are planning to establish a fully-fledged army. Besides, there's something else I'd like to ask you not to mind, according to my intelligence personnel report, you also have contact with the arms dealer Smith, aren't you planning to procure arms yourself?"

  Luo Yi was not surprised, and replied: "I knew these things wouldn't be hidden from Brother He. Indeed, I have met with Smith twice, and indeed I am planning to purchase some equipment from the United States. As I said earlier, every man for himself, every family for itself, although Tongzhou is in the interior, if war breaks out, Tongzhou will likely not be spared either. At that time, I plan to organize a militia among the local people to assist the regular army in battle. Now, while the war has not yet begun, I need to make some preparations in advance."

  He Jichun nodded: "Your idea is not bad. Since you and I chatted on the riverboat, I have been thinking about the national resistance war too, and many ideas were inspired by you. I am preparing to submit a report to the high-level authorities, suggesting that various places compile and train local armed forces as a supplement to the regular army. In the future, if there is a full-scale war between China and Japan, the local armed forces will be a powerful supplement to the regular army."

  "He Ge's idea is great," Luo Yi said. "If your report can be approved by the higher-ups, let's use us as a pilot."

  "Pilot?"

  "Hmm... just try a few places first, see how it goes, and then summarize the experience and lessons learned for promotion."

  "This is a trial point, okay, I'll take you as a trial point." He Jichun said.

  Du boss took over the conversation, saying: "Luo Zi, since you want to be a test point, I'll support it first... Come on, bring the bill over." The last sentence was directed at one of the bodyguards beside him.

  The bodyguard handed over a bill and gave it to Mr. Du. Mr. Du took it, turned around and handed it to Luo Yi, saying: "A small gift, I hope it can be of some help to you, please don't despise it."

  Luo Yi took the receipt and was shocked, his eyes wide with amazement. The receipt read:

  Hanyang rifle 200 guns

  Mauser military 20-shot pistol 50 pieces

  MP18 submachine gun 20 pieces

  Czech-style light machine guns 10 guns

  Five Madsen machine guns

  One million bullets

  5,000 wooden-handled grenades

  Siemens wireless telegraph machines 4 sets

  Other military supplies etc.

  "Mr. Du, this...this gift is too heavy, isn't it?" Luo Yi was genuinely embarrassed this time. He didn't refuse other people's gifts, but a gift like this was really too heavy for him to dare accept.

  "It's not enough, not enough." Old Du said with a smile, "Just for saving Xinyu, I should have given you an even heavier reward. This bill is just a few tens of thousands of dollars. I once told Mr. He that whoever saves Xinyu will be rewarded with 100,000 dollars, and now I'm still short on my promise."

  Luo Yi looked at He Jichun again, and He Jichun smiled slightly at him, saying: "I don't know what's on the list either, but since it's Old Du's intention, you might as well take it."

  Lu Yi said: "Since that's the case, then I'll take them. Thank you, Uncle Du. However, these things, I need to transport back, don't know if there will be any trouble on the road."

  "Along the Yangtze River, I have friends everywhere," said Boss Du. "I'll give them a heads up, and from now on, as long as it's your goods, no one will bother you on the road."

  "Then thank you, Uncle Du."

  Luo Yi accepted the generous gift from Du Boss, and he was overjoyed in his heart. This trip to Shanghai was for procurement of equipment, and now he had unexpectedly received several hundred guns and other supplies like radios, it could be said that he was returning with a full load. Seeing Du Boss's generosity, he estimated that if he needed to ask Du Boss to continue procuring other equipment in the future, there shouldn't be any difficulty. Under the joy, he frequently raised his glass to toast Du Boss and He Ji Chun, drinking until he became dizzy, finally having to rely on Su Xiao Feng and Yue Jia Lin to help him decline more drinks, only then did he avoid getting drunk under the table.

  Mr. Du and his family sent He Jichun and the members of the assault battalion to the gate of the government office, when Luo Yi got on the car, Du Xinyu shouted: "Luo Yi, my father gave you something, how come you didn't say what to bring as a return gift?"

  "Xin Yu, Mr. Luo saved your and your father's lives, how can you ask Mr. Luo for a return gift?" Madam Du hastily stopped Du Xin Yu.

  Luo Yi, with a drunken gaze, said to Du Xin Yu: "My family's wealth can't compare to Uncle Du's. I'm so poor it's laughable. I don't know what Miss Du wants me to give as a return gift, just say it directly."

  "Give me the guitar you got from the foreigner."

  Luoyi said: "If Xinyu likes guitar, I'll go buy the best guitar in Shanghai tomorrow and give it to you."

  Du Xin Yu said: "I don't want it, I just want yours."

  Luo Yi said: "Alright, I'll give you that guitar tomorrow."