inspire-indiana Chapter 580 Nanyang is White Eagle’s good friend!
Chapter 580 Nanyang is White Eagle’s good friend!
By February 10, the Yalta Conference, a grand event that determined the fate of the world, had become a mess.
It was still the same warm reception room. Zhang Chi sat in his old seat, his fingertips habitually stroking the smooth armrest.
Commander Luo opposite was wrapped in a thick blanket. His face looked an unhealthy sallow in the light of the fire, and his eye sockets were sunken, but his eyes still flashed with the last bit of light.
Recently, Commander Luo has had long private face-to-face conversations with other leaders every night, sometimes with Prime Minister Qiu, sometimes with the Man of Steel, and sometimes with Zhang Chi.
No one knows what they talked about specifically or what they promised each other except the parties involved.
But the high-intensity talks for several consecutive days have obviously drained his last bit of strength.
"Zhang." Commander Luo made an effort to adjust his sitting posture, trying to appear more powerful. "First of all, I must congratulate you again. I've seen the battle report of Operation Thunderbolt. It's magnificent. A cross-sea landing, coordinated operations by the navy, army, and air force, to seize the core oil fields and refining facilities on Sumatra..."
This proves that the Nanyang National Defense Force has become a powerful force with highly modernized combat capabilities. It is very impressive.”
His opening remarks were filled with genuine admiration, a recognition of the strength of his allies.
Zhang Chi knew that tonight would be another night of verbal exchanges. After all, dealing with a strong leader like Commander Luo always required a lot of effort.
He bowed slightly. "Mr. Franklin, you're too kind. This is thanks to our soldiers risking their lives, and we also benefit from the equipment and experience provided by our allies. We are simply eliminating this cancer entrenched on our doorstep."
He deliberately emphasized "at home", setting the stage for the upcoming confrontation.
Commander Luo changed the subject, and a hint of criticism quietly entered his praiseful tone:
"Yes, the fascist cancer must be eradicated. But, Zhang, I have to say, Nanyang's appetite... always seems so good?"
He raised his wrinkled eyelids and looked directly at Zhang Chi:
"Pegu, Siam, the Malay Peninsula, the area around Chittagong... and now the entire island of Sumatra? The wealth hidden in this land, especially oil, is enough to make any country jealous. Does Southeast Asia really need so much?"
The air seemed to freeze for a moment. The crackling of the fire was audible. This wasn't a question; it was an undisguised concern and warning from the leader of the world's most powerful nation: Your expansion in Southeast Asia is too rapid and too aggressive!
Zhang Chi's expression remained unchanged. Facing Commander Luo's scrutinizing gaze, he even managed to curl up a calm smile.
"Sir, you mentioned wealth, especially oil. That's exactly what I was talking about."
He leaned forward slightly, speaking sincerely, "The door to Southeast Asia is always open to White Eagle's capital and technology. We very much welcome your oil companies, refineries, and engineering experts to participate in the development of the Sumatra oil fields. We urgently need funds, but even more so, advanced technology and management experience. Joint development for mutual benefit and win-win results is our sincere proposal."
This is a case of giving and receiving, and a brilliant bundling. Bringing White Eagle Capital into the core interest zone of Nanyang is both a gesture of goodwill and a way to create a community of shared interests, increasing the cost of White Eagle's future caution in dealing with Nanyang issues.
Immediately afterwards, Zhang Chi's tone suddenly became deep.
It's showtime!
He began to pretend to be a genuine opinion leader representing the oppressed colonial people, and said in a tone full of compassion:
“As for ‘needs’… Mr. President, the people of Nanyang, whether they are the Chinese immigrants who have come from Bactria after many hardships, or the Pegu, Siamese, and Malays who have lived here for generations, we have one thing in common.
We missed the wheel of two industrial revolutions, and struggled to survive under the exploitation of colonizers and the ravages of war, living in poverty.
He paused and asked, "Commander Luo, aren't you advocating concepts such as "freedom" and "dignity"?
"Oil fields, capital, technology... these are not cold numbers, nor are they bargaining chips in the game between major powers. They are the key to changing the fate of millions of people. They are the hope that children can have enough food and clothing, that the elderly can enjoy their old age in peace, and that the sick can receive medical treatment.
This hope can only be truly realized when we, the people of Nanyang, take control of these resources and independently decide how to use them for the benefit of our people. The people of Nanyang, like all peoples in the world, have the inalienable right to pursue a better life.
These words are soft yet firm, and they go straight to the core.
It avoids naked geopolitical competition and elevates it to the level of the nation's right to survival and development, perfectly fitting the idealistic narrative of General Luo. However, it wraps the expansion of Southeast Asia in the halo of "legitimate defense" and "self-salvation", making it difficult for him to directly refute it.
Commander Luo was silent.
His gaze lingered on Zhang Chi's face for a long time, as if weighing the truth and weight of his words.
In the end, he did not take up this grand proposition about the "right to life", but just chuckled with ambiguous meaning.
"Aha."
He understood that it would be too costly to completely turn against the South Seas, which was on the rise and had just proven its military strength, just for the sake of Sumatra Island. It also went against his strategy of winning over the South Seas and stabilizing the Asia-Pacific.
But allowing Nanyang to expand without limit, turning it into the sole superpower in Southeast Asia, or even a potential challenger? This is definitely not a blessing for the White Eagle.
"John's Prime Minister Qiu and the Netherlands' Queen Minna..." Commander Luo cleverly changed the subject, his tone tinged with helplessness and mockery. "They've been complaining to me quite a bit lately. They still seem obsessed with their 'ancestral heritage' of the Eastern Sindhu Islands."
He was reminding Zhang Chi that the expansion in Southeast Asia was not without resistance. Although the old colonial empire was in decline, its influence still existed.
Commander Luo paused and said threateningly:
"I'm more concerned about the overall stability of Southeast Asia. Drastic changes and power vacuums often become hotbeds of chaos and extremism. Especially on Java Island. I've received intelligence that various forces are surging there, and some are eager to follow your example, Zhang, and establish an independent republic.
Chaos is the most fertile soil for certain... red forces. Zhang, can you ensure that the expansion of Nanyang will not ignite the powder keg of Southeast Asia?"
These words were both a warning and a test, and they also subtly put the "Red Threat" hat on the front, suggesting that if Nanyang could not control the situation, the White Eagle might not sit idly by.
Zhang Chi sneered inwardly. Java's independence movement? He understood its complexities better than Commander Luo, and he knew that Uncle Steel's focus at the moment wasn't there at all.
But the gap between Nanyang and White Eagle was obvious. He still immediately gave the answer that Commander Luo wanted to hear the most, with an extremely firm attitude:
"Mr. President, please rest assured. The United States of Southeast Asia is fully capable and determined to maintain stability and order within our sphere of influence.
We have no intention of exporting chaos; we pursue development and cooperation. We are highly concerned about the Java issue and will take responsible measures to prevent any external forces from exploiting the local situation and undermining regional peace.
This is of course nice talk.
As for how to solve the problem practically? Wait until Hans surrenders, and while the White Eagle and the Russian Bear are distracted by the confrontation between East and West Berlin, just throw those annoying oppositionists onto Java Island and watch them play a real-life "chicken-eating competition" on the island.