Canteen System Assistance Notes

Comrade Tiechui hadn't yet recalled the answer he had written: "The sun is yang, the moon is yin, the moon's yin energy blocks the sun's yang energy, resulting in the mixing of yin and yang." Meanwhile, Political Commissar Cui on the stage continued his "public execution":

"We shouldn't be too critical of such trivia, right? But regarding current affairs, this comrade replied: 'The current supreme leader of the Soviet Union is Comrade Lenin. Wow! We have Bian Que and Hua Tuo in our group who can bring the dead back to life! Comrade Lenin died over ten years ago, and they were able to bring him back to life. It's truly remarkable!"

I think I got this question right! Wang Tiechui breathed a sigh of relief. He'd heard Commander Liu say back when he was his bodyguard: the Soviet Union's supreme leader is Comrade Steel! His last name is Steel, and his given name is Iron, representing the Communists' iron will! Continuously updating q@q@group@book@collection@81317*5933

"This comrade is even more amazing! The supreme leader of the Soviet Union is Marx! Comrades, Comrade Marx has returned to the world and is here to lead us in building communism!"

Political Commissar Cui paused, flipped the paper to the last page, and, with his eyes wide open in surprise, gritted his teeth and read aloud: "Oh! Here, this comrade! Who is the current president of the United States? He can tell our examiner that the current president of the United States is Chairman Mao!"

Ha ha ha ha!

Led by one person, all the company and platoon leaders in the audience burst into laughter. Even Wang Tiechui couldn't stand it anymore: How could someone answer a question like that!

He thought he knew a lot about this one of the authors of "The Communist Manifesto": that great pamphlet was published almost a hundred years ago. It was impossible to say that Marx wrote this book when he was born in Russia, and then participated in the October Revolution, withstood the test of the party all the way, and became the chairman of the Bolshevik Party - Marx would have been immortal long ago and must be being worshipped in the Soviet Martyrs' Cemetery.

And the American president? Although I can't remember his name, the United States is not a capitalist power, so the president must be "imperialist"!

Wang Tiechui thought confidently, I must have gotten full marks here.

Political Commissar Cui on the stage had already handed the papers to the clerk and was handing them out to everyone one by one. Regimental Commander Han Xuanfeng finally calmed down a bit and stopped talking. His voice was like a cannon firing, full of sulfur and gunpowder. He stepped to the front of the stage and said, "Our results this time are the worst in the division! I had promised the division commander before that our literacy campaign and cadre training were good, and our test scores would be the worst, if not the best."

Also the second…"

When we get the test papers today, we must reflect carefully on where we made mistakes, why we made them, and what we should pay attention to in the future! Our future educational work cannot be superficial anymore!"

"So, those whose scores are lower than the passing score of 60, go back and prepare carefully. Wait for notification in a few days. We'll organize our own exam. Don't bring shame to the 689th Regiment again!" Han Xuanfeng's tone softened slightly. "Comrades who did well in the exam this time, don't be proud and complacent. Be modest and share your experience with other brother units so that we can make progress together..."

Finally, the comrade next to him passed the test paper to Wang Tiechui. Feeling confident, Wang Tiechui unfolded the large octavo paper, but saw only a glaring red number. "Huh? ! ! 59 points? ? ?"

Chapter 142: When Spending Money....Received an Invitation?

"A-choo! A-choo!"

On the other side of the World Island, in France, Liu Helian suddenly felt an inexplicable chill and sneezed twice in a row. Before he could recover, he sneezed again. "A-choo!"

"Commissioner Liu, are you okay?"

A comrade wearing glasses beside him asked him, handing him a handkerchief. Liu He waved his hands and thanked him: "Thank you, it's okay. I think it must be someone in China who misses me. Three times in a row, ouch."

That must be an old acquaintance of yours. First, he's thinking, second, cursing, and third, worried. I'm afraid some comrade is worried about our overseas commissioner, waiting for him to return home soon so he can bring back these big, thick things! Haha."

Xie Zhixiang replied humorously. Ever since being rescued by the European branch and leaving Spain, he had maintained a stern expression, rarely smiling. It wasn't until Liu Helian, through the recruitment channel of China Resources, found the former anti-tank artillery officer of the International Brigade in Clermont-Ferrand and explained his current mission and the need for his assistance that Xie Zhixiang gradually regained his fearless demeanor.

"Of course not. Money is just money if it's in your hands. It's only when you buy something useful that it's considered good enough..." Liu Helian answered him, but then frowned at the strange scene before him. "Old Xie, has Schneider been putting his weapons in storage these days? How come he can make such a makeshift artillery piece?"

Liu Helian's doubts were not unfounded. As a futurist, he saw Schneider guns from France as highly competitive across all calibers. From the classic and beautiful World War I artillery piece, the M1896775, to the still-functional M1917, to the long-range coastal fortress gun, the M1932, Schneider's products offered great power and long range, even to some extent influencing the development of later American and Soviet artillery, making them the undisputed choice for imported artillery during World War II.

So what's going on with the four big men in front of me, holding large wooden hammers and hammering nails into the ground while shouting?

Hey! This is just a 105mm gun! Didn't you guys design a spade?

Liu Helian had originally planned to purchase some long-range artillery for the Eighth Route Army. The 105mm caliber was a common caliber in the West, often used as divisional artillery. However, in domestic conditions, it would likely be used as corps-level artillery due to its heavy weight and mechanized traction. However, while inspecting the samples at Schneider, Liu Helian unexpectedly encountered a massive 5.6-ton gadget.

No, no, this definitely won’t work. It’s so heavy, I might as well just buy a larger size 155.

Specialist Liu, the manager, explained that this 105mm cannon is actually a cannon—its barrel is 48 times its caliber and can fire at ranges up to 20 kilometers, so its carriage is incredibly heavy. Xie Zhixiang translated the account manager's French. Because of his expertise, translating these technical terms was no problem for him. "It's numbered M1930... Honestly, I think it's too heavy."

"Aren't there any lighter 105mm guns?" Liu Helian asked. "They're so heavy, I might as well just buy 155mm guns and put them in the artillery column as direct firepower—they have to be towed by trucks anyway."

"We do have artillery designs, like the M134, which weighs 1.7 tons and has a range of 10.7 kilometers. It can be towed by mules, horses, or mechanized vehicles," Xie Zhixiang explained to Liu Helian after discussing it with Schneider's manager. "But we don't have any in stock. All orders for the 105mm gun have been filled recently. The French, Romanian, and Lithuanian armies are ahead of us... Schneider can't produce enough on its own, so if we want to buy one, we'll definitely be very far down the list."

"Well... let's ask them, Old Xie, what kind of artillery pieces are in stock."

In the 1930s, after discovering the lucrative electrical industry, Schneider's focus shifted. This old artillery factory established its own electrical subsidiary.

They began to enter the electrical field, and the French army was slow to pay its bills, so its artillery production

The production capacity is very limited - the huge Schneider produced the M1934 105mm howitzer for four years, and even with orders, it only manufactured more than 230 guns.

Even in recent years, when there were orders, Schneider often directly sold authorizations and licenses, and had the artillery produced directly in various countries. Liu Helian was certainly unwilling to wait. After all, in just over a year, this place would become a German-occupied zone. Who would he turn to for artillery then?

Xie Zhixiang, who acted as a professional translator, nodded and turned to continue negotiating with the noisy Frenchman. Liu Helian began to think - recently, he had purchased M1 camel-mounted mountain cannons in the United States overseas, improved the capabilities of the border area's assets of 60 and 82 mm mortars, and was trying to manufacture larger caliber mortars.

Next, considering the ongoing construction of the field army in the border area, it is only necessary to add some army-level suppression artillery and artillery directly under the artillery column to the border area. Compared with Europe,

As for the armies of the United States and the Soviet Union, due to limited conditions, domestic artillery

The usage level mostly needs to be raised one level, that is, the division-level artillery is used as army artillery, and the army artillery is used as an independent direct artillery unit.

If Schneider doesn't have the production capacity, who should we turn to? Britain? Forget it, the imperial system is too complicated. The Russians? Too bad the ZlS3 is still under design, otherwise there would be no need to consider so much... The M30 should be good, but it's a gun that was not finalized until 38. Will the Russians sell it?

Hmm...it seems I have to stop by Moscow on my way back home.

"Commissioner Liu, Commissioner Liu!"

Xie Zhixiang's voice pulled him back to reality from his thoughts. Liu Helian then realized that his comrades and Schneider's account manager were looking at him. "What's wrong? What's the result?" The account manager mumbled a string of French. When he finished speaking, Xie Zhixiang quickly translated it:

He said: "The only items available are some foreign trade samples and tail orders, mostly 155mm howitzers and howitzers, mainly 15-caliber and 22-caliber, with some 31-caliber ones. Some gun carriages have been used to manufacture other guns, leaving only the gun barrels."

Um?

"Why does Schneider still sell the gun barrel separately?"

Another string of French came out from the other side, sounding quite proud. "He said that's how Schneider's artillery is. The barrel and the carriage are arranged in a relationship. As long as the recoil and weight are appropriate, they can be compatible with each other."

Wow, isn't this modular in some sense?

Liu Helian felt his mind suddenly open up. His previous thinking had been going in circles, stuck in the path dependency of searching for shelf-stable products. If Schneider could perform permutations and combinations of its own gun mounts and barrels, then as a time traveler, why couldn't I, a later traveler, leverage the experience of others and create these combinations myself? Looking at the barrels lying in the warehouse before him, Liu Helian suddenly had an idea.

"Please give me a list of these gun barrels. We need..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the assistant came in and handed Liu Helian a telegram. After politely apologizing, Liu Helian walked to a corner and unfolded the translated telegram. "Hmm? An invitation...from the Republic of China Embassy in France?"

Chapter 143: Peace and Prosperity in Geneva

It was an invitation card, written in both Chinese and English, and stamped with the wax seal of the Republic of China's embassy in France. Liu He flipped through it, only to find a flamboyantly written English signature:

VKWellington Koo

Hmm? Who is this?

Oh! The next second, Liu Helian recalled that if there was a Chinese ambassador who didn't like Chinese and preferred a long English signature, there should be only one person working at the French Embassy: Gu Shaochuan. This string of beautiful, neatly cursive English characters was something Gu Shaochuan considered more important than his life.

He sent the invitation, which invited Liu Helian to attend the 1938 Christmas party.

Lu Yi thought for a moment, then found a deserted corner, pulled out his phone, and sent a text message to Zhou Bin and the others back in England. After being restored by the pain-inducing star, this chrysanthemum phone had the added function of sending wireless telegrams, which was incredibly convenient. He decided to meet the Republic of China ambassador.

Gu Shaochuan, then Chinese ambassador to France, was known as "the first diplomat of the Republic of China."

From the perspective of a person who had lived through history before his time travel, Liu Helian had his own understanding of this diplomat, who was highly regarded by many. Although history would ultimately determine his merits and demerits, he was certain of one thing.

This elegant gentleman, who graduated from a prestigious overseas university, has sufficient business skills. He is a diplomatic elite in the traditional sense, an Oriental hero in the Western sense, a completely Westernized pillar of the party and the country, and a figure similar to Robert Hart: the so-called capable and loyal minister of the Qing Dynasty.

Although serving as ambassador to France at the time, Gu Shaochuan was a vocal proponent of the Anglo-Sino alliance theory. His vision envisioned a joint effort between the Republic of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resist Japan. This would both protect Britain's colonial interests in the Far East and defeat the Japanese invaders.

His theory was that although Britain's power was declining, its foundation was still there, and it could still support China in dealing with Japan. And unlike the United States, which was obsessed with profit, it was a good partner! This idea was initially quite popular within the fruit industry. For example, the initial pricing of legal tender was based on the British pound.

However, Chiang Kai-shek's focus remained largely on the United States, and he paid little heed to Gu Shaochuan's ideas. At the behest of the Americans, the fiat currency was reverted to the US dollar, and Guo Jian's limited diplomatic resources were redirected towards the United States—for example, the $10 Hawke's 75 fighter jet his wife had purchased, and the interest earned from overseas bank accounts.

As for the purpose of the Christmas party, Liu He could easily figure it out—he had Chinese features, was an outwardly American citizen, a member of an international business association, and had recently discovered a large oil field in the UK. Hmm… probably a traditional art form, soliciting donations to aid the war effort.

Donations are fine, no problem. I'm happy to donate, but can it be directed to a certain branch of the National Revolutionary Army?

-------one

The Christmas holiday of 38 soon arrived, and the European continent celebrated the last peaceful Christmas of the 30s with laughter and joy. Liu Helian's affairs at Schneider had come to an end. He drove the hundred-plus kilometers in a car disguised as an eDonkey to Geneva, just across the border from France, to attend an invitation.

Nestled among the towering peaks of the Alps, Lake Geneva slumbers peacefully, like this small European nation, a nation of unyielding character yet fiercely neutral, seemingly dormant in a corner of the world. Meanwhile, on the lake's western edge, across from the famous Geneva Jet d'Eau, the Ambassador Hotel is ablaze with lights, and a throng of well-dressed people from all walks of life, many of them of Asian descent, mill about.

"It's really luxurious." The band invited to the banquet hall played elegant classical music. Liu Helian looked at the long table covered with white tablecloths and the high-legged small table with flowers on it.

There are also waiters walking around with drinks, "It really doesn't look like a war

"Everything the country has done. Old Xie?"

Xie Zhixiang was linked to Liu He. The former director of the German branch and artillery chief of the International Brigade was temporarily accompanying the trouble-making Central Commissioner as an interpreter. He chuckled, "Oh, my goodness, my dear Liu, don't you think this is exactly what's happening in China right now?"

"Not entirely," Liu Helian said softly, "at least not in the Eighth Route Army's territory... Ha, Old Xie, your translator's accent is really unbearable... The base area is getting better and better now. When you return to China, you must go and see it."

"I'll definitely go." Xie Zhixiang had no problem playing the role of a personal assistant. Together with the waiter, he guided Liu Helian to the lounge area and sat him down. "But are you sure Gu Weijun won't recognize me?"

"Don't worry, one of Mr. Gu's greatest talents is his penchant for the highbrow. Simply put, he's above the ordinary. He's a classic, old-fashioned bureaucrat, even nicknamed our acting president abroad. An artillery officer in the International Brigade wouldn't pay much attention."

The reception quickly began, naturally beginning with a rather uninspired opening statement. Ambassador Gu Shaochuan wore a sophisticated tuxedo suit, complete with a pocket square and even his cufflinks, all covered in satin. Following the formality of semi-formal evening attire, Gu Shaochuan eschewed a tie in favor of a black silk collar and bow tie. If one missed his oriental appearance, one would mistake him for a European gentleman of the most established tradition.

Liu Helian was dressed much more casually, a very simple four-piece suit, a high-end interview suit picked up from the campus supermarket. "The polyester and acrylic blended fabric has a bit of a shiny feel, which was not considered shabby at the time, and it also fits the personality characteristics of an "American in 38."

“Dear overseas Chinese friends, as Christmas is approaching, we gather here to celebrate the coming of the New Year. First of all, as the host of this reception,

Thank you all for taking the time to visit...”

Gu Shaochuan delivered a brief, impromptu speech in Fuyu, wishing everyone a pleasant conversation and a hearty feast. He made no mention of the war in his homeland, perhaps fearing that bringing it up at the outset would dampen the mood of the guests present. The purpose of this reception was already clearly stated in the name, so there was no need to emphasize it.

Liu Helian could only shake his head at this situation, which was completely unbecoming of a wartime ambassador. He turned to look at Xie Zhixiang, who had just returned from the battlefield, and the disgust on his face was almost unconcealable. Alas, this is really...

No, I would feel uncomfortable if I didn't cause some trouble for this bastion of the Party and the country. Liu He thought about it and came up with an idea.

Chapter 144: Gu Shaochuan Dedicates His Life to the Country

There is no difference between appetizers and main dishes and desserts at the cocktail party. The food is basically placed on high-legged tables and three-tiered racks for guests to help themselves, while the drinks are served in high-foot glasses and distributed by waiters in vests. If you want to drink something alone, you can also walk to the bar and ask the bartender in a vest shirt for a glass of iced "bourbon whiskey".

Liu Helian was a good drinker, and Xie Zhixiang, who had been a soldier, was not a big problem in dealing with alcohol. They talked with many overseas Chinese present and discussed some business information.

Domestic and international affairs, and occasionally "key politics",

They get along quite well.

Over the past year or so, Liu Helian had become somewhat famous in overseas Chinese circles. Under the guise of "American businessmen" and newcomers, many people secretly flattered and fawned over him. This made Liu Helian feel completely unable to "get carried away" and even a little bitter.

Well...to be honest, if the donated money can really be spent and put into practice, it can really play a real role in the war of resistance and national salvation, I should not have too much resistance to the current situation.

After ordering a glass of wine, Liu Helian was chatting happily with a guest. When the topic was changing from the 78 kinds of delicacies created by the Qing Emperor's secret visit to the development of oil and rubber in Southeast Asia, Gu Weijun, dressed in a formal suit, came over with a female companion and raised his glass to Liu Helian.

The main scene came. Liu Helian politely apologized to the Nanyang merchant, then turned to greet him. Xie Zhixiang, his "personal assistant," followed closely behind, ready to act as interpreter. Why did two Chinese people need an interpreter for their conversation? Don't ask; it's simply a practical necessity.

"Dear Mr. Liu, hello, I've long heard of you!"

Damn, it was actually French! An ambassador from his own country actually greeted me in French. Apart from Chinese, Liu Helian only knew English and Russian, plus some Portuguese for his meetings with the Haojing organization. During this time, he only understood the word "Bonjour."

Fortunately, Xie Zhixiang, a master of language, calmly chimed in: "Bonsoir (Good morning, Mr. Ambassador!) Please allow me, on behalf of Mr. Liu and myself, to extend my warmest greetings to you. I hope you enjoy the same good weather as a good neighbor in the coming year."

After a whole string of long and difficult French sentences, all the synonyms were replaced with appropriate and elegant ones, without even a repeated word, and with impeccable intonation - damn, they really think we Communists have no talent. Xie Zhixiang, who is proficient in five languages, including English, French, Russian, Spanish and German, choked Mr. Gu Shaochuan, who only knows one and a half languages, and he didn't know how to answer.

By the way, the language Ambassador Gu speaks is Chinese.

However, as an ambassador, having a thick skin like the breeze is a basic professional quality. Gu Shaochuan smiled awkwardly, and after his female companion greeted him, he put away his French, which he had only learned to a basic level of conversation, and gently brushed off the matter, switching to English to talk to Liu Helian.

"During the reign of Emperor Taizong, our ancestors were considered wealthy, but because they offended the censors, they were exiled to Jinjiang, Qiong Province, where they associated with the local eccentrics and were influenced by them.

From then on, he switched from politics to business. Later, a branch of his family followed the tide of going to Southeast Asia.

They went to Australia and later to South America. Their ancestors worked hard and made great strides, fortunately surviving the Great Depression and eventually becoming part of the local clan.

South America was a vacuum for Guoju's diplomatic power, and given the slow and lagging flow of information worldwide at the time, Liu He, a resident of the information age, lied without hesitation, frantically adding drama to the script previously drafted with the central government. "Because he had previously come into contact with a Red Russian who had risen up in rebellion and later became a high-ranking official, my father used this as a connection to sell diamonds and minerals, and to purchase food and machinery for the Red Russians, who lacked trade routes."

Quite a success...

"I grew up in England and Russia. My family sent me out to gain experience and venture into the world. After I've achieved some success, I'll return home and make a decision..."

Ah, after half-forcedly listening to Liu Helian's "rise to wealth," Gu Shaochuan managed to maintain a rare polite smile. Seeing that he had finally gotten his chance to interrupt, he hurriedly tried to steer the conversation in the direction he needed. "Mr. Liu's achievements are quite remarkable!" he complimented. "They say fallen leaves return to their roots, and wanderers return home. I wonder if you've heard anything about the war that broke out back home on the same day?"

"Who has been abroad for years, traveling between countries? It was only by God's blessing that he was able to achieve such success in England?" Liu Helian asked sincerely, taking a step back. "Although I dare not forget my country, I often inquire about the situation back home. But I have been away from my homeland for a long time, and I am busy with exploration and negotiations. I wonder how things are going back home now?"

"Now, under the leadership of the Generalissimo, 400 million soldiers and civilians are united in resisting Japan and saving the nation, and have never dared to slack off for a single day."

Gu Shaochuan naturally had to speak well of Guo Su, which was fine; it was his duty. He mused to himself that this person seemed to be more concerned about the country, which increased his chances of successfully securing donations. "Japan is but a tiny nation; it will ultimately be unable to resist the might of China," he added. "With the unwavering support of many Chinese patriots at home and abroad, the anti-Japanese army and civilians will surely fight tooth and nail to save the nation."

When Gu Shaochuan's passionate words fell, Liu Helian did not show any expression of "patriotism" or "ambition" in his eyes, but

-Looking puzzled, the young man scratched his head and asked:

"Is the current chairman also the chairman of the committee? Who is the current chairman? I remember Mr. Lin Tianbo was the chairman of the party and the state, in charge of the overall situation, wasn't he?"

"Forehead....…"

Gu Shaochuan was stunned. He had imagined various situations, from the other party being inspired by patriotic enthusiasm to donate generously, to the other party politely smiling and shirking the responsibility, to the other party becoming a stingy person. He had coping strategies for all of them, but he never expected that the other party would ask such a question.

"The Chairman is..."

"Is that a pseudonym for Chairman? Oh, I see. This new Chairman has replaced Chairman Wang Zhaoming and will continue to carry out Mr. Sun's instructions after his death?" The young man in front of him added, his expression sincere and unpretentious. He said expectantly:

"Then this new chairman must be as outstanding as Chairman Wang, someone who loves the motherland, resists the Japanese invaders, and strives for peace for the nation."