Spy Wars: I have space, but I choose to work alone

"You're really out of line. You don't even dare to lend me this?"

At night, when Ma Liang read the reply from the government, he was devastated.

Ma Liang never expected that he had solved all obstacles to borrowing money, and even the problem of not being able to directly purchase weapons, and the only thing left was to feed food into the mouths of the Kuomintang government.

As a result, the government hesitated, saying that the annual interest rate was 11%, which was too high and the government might not be able to pay it back, so it needed to be negotiated.

Ma Liang took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

After calming down and thinking about it, Ma Liang understood the concerns of the National Government before the United States announced that its Lend-Lease Act applied to China.

I'm afraid there is no one in the entire Celestial Empire who would believe that there is a country willing to give a large amount of money and weapons and supplies to another country for free.

Ever since the foreigners used force to knock open the door to the Celestial Empire, all the powerful countries have been trying to bite off a piece of fat from the Celestial Empire and have never provided any free help.

Whether it was the aid from Hans or the Russians, it was all exchanged by China with its own precious minerals. China thus developed the mentality of an "honest man" who would pay back whatever it bought.

They were far from being as confident as modern actors when asking for help. They didn't have the humble attitude to beg for help at all and would just shout directly at others.

Ma Liang calmed down and thought about it again. Finally, he sent out a piece of information with just this sentence:

"The country is about to be destroyed, and you are still considering whether you can pay it back? Is now the time to consider these things?"

The senior government officials who received this information were silent immediately.

Soon, with Ma Liang's help, America and China signed a loan agreement of up to 100 million US dollars with an annual interest rate of 11%.

The greedy capitalists in the United States were like sharks that smelled blood. They were moved by such lucrative loan conditions and even took the initiative to increase the loan by 2 million.

If it weren't for the intention of not over-stimulating life, the total amount of this loan would probably be even higher.

China was also not allowed to use the loans to purchase weapons and equipment, but the contract additionally stated that China could use the loans to purchase "hunting equipment" and "agricultural machinery."

As soon as the news came out, it immediately sparked a heated discussion throughout the United States.

In a bar, a group of automobile factory workers who had just got off work sipped their beer and started discussing national affairs like modern men getting together.

"These bureaucrats have finally done a good thing this time. We Americans should not participate in any wars, stick to isolationism, and make some war profits." A worker spoke first.

Then a worker followed suit:

"That's right. The more profitable loans we have, the better. We can make money from the war in a safe and stable manner."

After that, all the workers agreed.

At this time, the only white-collar worker in the bar sneered with some dissatisfaction:

"Do you still have any compassion? Do you still remember the reports about the Chinese resistance in the newspapers, and the photography exhibitions held by Chinese people and diplomats? The Chinese people are in dire straits at this time. As a civilized country, we are unwilling to provide substantial help! We are also shamelessly offering an extremely high loan interest rate of 11% per annum. Aren't we sucking the blood of the Chinese people?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the bar stopped talking, especially the workers who had spoken the loudest just now.

Thanks to the unremitting propaganda efforts of the Chinese in America, and the fact that Henry Luther, the owner of Time, the best-selling magazine in America at the time, was born in China, he naturally had a favorable impression of China.

Therefore, in terms of public opinion guidance, the domestic media in the United States actively promoted the Chinese people's war of resistance and likened the Chinese militarism to the devil.

The general public in the United States sympathized with and supported China's war of resistance. According to the U.S. National Archives, a poll in 1938 showed:

How do you view China’s War of Resistance?

85% of the general public in the United States chose to support the Chinese Empire's war of resistance. Under the national conditions of the United States at that time, on the second day after the signing of this agreement, major mainstream media in the United States criticized the extremely high loan interest rate of %.

In particular, many sympathetic old ladies in the United States called directly to the U.S. government office, which once affected the normal work of the U.S. government.

Finally, under pressure from public opinion, the annual interest rate of this loan agreement was reduced from 11% to 9%.

Of course, that's all. Sympathy is sympathy. At this time, the Japanese army has not shown any intention of going south to compete with the United States for supremacy in the Pacific region. The United States will definitely not provide any substantial help to the Celestial Empire.

For example, what Ma Liang mentioned about sending civilian volunteers to China in the name of international humanitarian aid to help China fight the war is absolutely impossible at this time.

The first time the United States actually sent American personnel to directly intervene in the war of resistance was on April 41, 4, when the President of the United States ordered the emulation of the "Eagle Squadron" in the "Battle of Britain".

A volunteer force of 500 aircraft was secretly organized through unofficial channels, and reserve officers and soldiers who had retired from the army and naval aviation forces were allowed to join the American volunteer team going to China.

Moreover, the salaries of these volunteers are higher than those in the United States. Ordinary pilots earn $600 a month, team leaders earn $650 a month, and squadron leaders earn $700 a month.

In addition, there was a bonus of $500 for each Japanese plane shot down. At that time, the highest-ranking pilot in the Air Force, a colonel, had a monthly salary of 600 silver dollars. This was in theory, but in reality it was a discounted national disaster pay.

The entire flight team also loved to eat beef, and they ate all the oxen in a province in the southwest.

You have to know that the Celestial Empire at that time was still an agricultural country, and the importance of oxen as an important agricultural production tool is self-evident.

At this time, before the United States officially declared war in December 41, 12 American citizens "volunteered" to join the British and Canadian air forces to fight in the European battlefield.

What’s interesting is that these ordinary citizens who claimed to be willing to join the war were proficient in fighter piloting and attack techniques that were worth a fortune during the war years.

It can be said that the help provided by America to China during the War of Resistance against Japan is certainly worthy of gratitude, but this was based on its own practical interests. It hoped that China could hold on to its main force in order to live a normal life, so there is no need to thank it too much.

Because this is essentially an exchange of interests!

Just after the deal was reached, the Nationalist government vigorously promoted this good news to boost the country's declining momentum caused by consecutive defeats on the front battlefield.

Xiaozizi also sent an ambassador to conduct negotiations at the diplomatic ambassador level without any hesitation.

Damn it, the few good things I stole from China were all used to trade with you, America. I got nothing in return and lost the lives of countless soldiers.

Now you're trying to have your cake and eat it too?

Hedging your bets?

America, just tell me, do you want to play tricks on me?