Chapter 3512
In a conference room at the Zhoushan Naval Base, Tao Donglai, Yan Chujie, and Bai Kesi were meeting with the North Korean King Li Shi.
This was a bilateral meeting scheduled before the forum began, and the content was to discuss the development of relations between the two countries and some new cooperation projects.
Senior figures such as Li Zhi and Haihan were old acquaintances, so the atmosphere of the meeting was relatively relaxed, and agreement on various issues was quickly reached.
The cooperation projects negotiated this time mainly focus on the field of ships. Haihan will provide technical support to North Korea and build a shipyard in Pyeongtaek Port, 150 miles south of Seoul. After the Pyeongtaek Shipyard is completed, it will have the ability to build and maintain various Haihan-style warships with a displacement of less than 500 tons.
At the same time, Haihan will also assist Busan Shipyard in technological upgrading and expansion of the original slipway and dock to further enhance its production capacity.
However, Tao Donglai, on behalf of the Executive Committee, gave a clear rejection to Li Xie's proposal to transfer gun manufacturing technology.
"Although the relationship between our two countries is close, and our country is also happy to help your country make progress in the military industry, the time for transferring gun manufacturing technology is not yet mature, and your country needs to wait patiently for a while."
As for whether this "period of time" was one year, ten years, or longer, Tao Donglai did not elaborate. Presumably he had no intention of giving a clear time limit.
Li Zhi couldn't help but feel a little disappointed after hearing such a reply. He thought that with his performance in recent years, Haihan could loosen the door on military technology transfer and introduce advanced gun manufacturing technology to North Korea. But now it seems that Haihan has no intention of letting go of the reins on North Korea's neck.
Li Zhi said with some reluctance: "Our country has submitted such an application not only to improve our country's military strength, but also to take into account the current changes in the international situation and to maintain the stability of the regional situation. The Japanese civil war is about to break out, and our country, as a country separated from Japan, As a recent country, it is necessary to maintain response capabilities and share some of the pressure for your country.”
Yan Chujie responded: "Li Zhi, you may have forgotten that our country has a Sasebo base in Kyushu, Japan. The troops stationed there are enough to cope with changes in the local situation. As for North Korea's security issues, there is no need to worry about being affected by the Japanese civil war. Ships from both sides will not cross the Tsushima Strait, so you can rest assured to be a spectator.”
Yan Chujie's tone was slightly tough, and he was obviously dissatisfied with Li Xie's lack of sense of proportion.
Haihan's support for North Korea was not just to cultivate an obedient vassal state. Of course, he also had plans to use North Korea to contain neighboring countries.
Japan and the Manchu Qing Dynasty are both Haihan's old enemies. In the past, a large number of armed forces were needed to prevent them. However, with North Korea's restraint, the pressure faced by Haihan has also been reduced a lot.
Providing military assistance to North Korea and helping North Korea build a new army are actually intended to achieve this goal. But if North Korea begins to develop ambitions and the idea of establishing its own business as a result, Haehan will not hesitate to apply the brakes.
Obedient to the sound, Li Zhi could certainly sense the warning in Yan Chujie's words. At that moment, he did not dare to insist on his own opinion anymore, and quickly said that he would follow Haihan's arrangements.
Tao Donglai said: "Li Zhi, don't see the civil war break out in Japan and just rush forward to kill the dog. If North Korea intervenes rashly, it may become the common enemy of both warring parties. You must know that Japan In recent years, a lot of weapons and equipment have been purchased from our country, and their strength is not much worse than that of North Korea. If you don’t have absolute confidence in defeating them, then don’t rush into this muddy water.”
Li Xie felt the cold sweat break out from behind him, he lowered his head and said yes again and again.
Of course Li Xie knew about Japan's purchase of armaments from Haihan in recent years. However, there is no precise information on what level these arms trade has brought Japan's armed forces to.
But Haihan, as a seller, must be fully aware that Tao Dong is about the same strength as North Korea, which means that North Korea does not have many military advantages at all. Whether this was a threat or the truth, Li Zhi didn't dare to gamble.
If the bet loses, all the little wealth North Korea has managed to accumulate may be left on the battlefield.
But having said that, Li Zhi was still very curious about how Haihan would deal with the situation in Japan, and couldn't help but ask: "Then your country is organizing inspection activities, really just to observe the progress of the war, and not to intervene?" < br>
Tao Donglai asked: "Then let me ask you, how will the situation in Japan develop in the most beneficial way for our country?"
Li Zhen responded without hesitation: "Of course it is most beneficial to your country to let them fight in such a way that both sides will suffer losses. By then, no matter what your country is prepared to do, both warring parties will be unable to resist."
Tao Donglai nodded and said: "As long as you understand this truth."
Li Yan said: "So your country's true attitude is not to support the Kyushu vassals to become winners in the civil war?"
Tao Donglai said noncommittally: "Does it matter who loses and who wins? What we have to do now is to keep the battle balanced and not let them decide the winner too quickly."
Li Zhi suddenly said: "The real winner is not on the battlefield at all, but your country!"
Tao Donglai and others smiled and said nothing, seeming to acquiesce in Li Xie's opinion.
At this point, Li Zhi finally understood Haihan's plan, which was to weaken Japan's local power by creating a civil war, and to deepen the dependence of the warring parties on Haihan by providing arms.
By the time this country is destroyed in the civil war, Haihan must have made a lot of money from the arms trade. When the time comes to clean up the mess, he will not encounter much resistance and can easily control the broken Japan.
After Li Xie figured out the key, he couldn't help but feel a little scared. If Haihan's tactics were applied to North Korea, which was divided into North and South, it would be difficult to avoid the outbreak of a civil war.
However, what Li Zhi could not imagine was that so far, the executive committee had no plans to clean up the mess in Japan.
The Executive Committee has no great interest in occupying or controlling Japan. The purpose of creating this war is actually to simply destroy this island country.
The executive committee could not explain to Li Xie the reasons for doing so, and naturally it would not inform him of these ideas.
But in any case, North Korea and Japan are also feuding, and this matter will benefit North Korea without any harm, so there is no need to worry that Li Zhen will oppose Haihan's approach.
Although Li Zhi failed to achieve his goal, he did not return empty-handed from this meeting. At least the shipbuilding industry will be strengthened, and his reliance on Haihan in this field is also expected to gradually decrease. This is far better than directly purchasing warships. It makes a lot more sense.