Chapter 291 Redeem the captives? The highest bidder wins! (Second update!)

The specific details still need to be discussed, but this meeting allowed the two sides to reach a preliminary cooperation.

With Zhang Fakui as the middleman, a lot of unnecessary trouble will be reduced.

At the same time, it also strengthened the connection between the two sides. After all, many things cannot be explained clearly by telegram alone.

After the discussion was over, the two had a simple meal and said goodbye to each other.

At this time, Meng Fanle, who had been holding back from speaking, finally opened his mouth and asked.

"Will Stilwell agree?"

He knew that Cun Yunsheng did not elaborate, which must be inconvenient, but there was no one else around.

"Yes, as long as we have the strength to defeat the Japanese army in Southeast Asia alone, why wouldn't Stilwell agree to you? After all, we are directly under the Allied Command." Cun Yunsheng said confidently.

After hearing this, Meng Fanle still felt that it was unlikely. According to Cun Yunsheng's theory, if they defeated the Japanese army in Nanyang, would they have a say in Nanyang in the future?

Is it that simple?
After Meng Fanle expressed his confusion, Cun Yunsheng smiled, organized his words and continued.

"The strength of the Japanese Southern Army is not weak, with about 400,000 or 500,000 troops? These are all formed by elite troops, so their combat effectiveness is naturally not weak. Although some of the elite troops are now being withdrawn to India, the Japanese headquarters has also withdrawn some elite troops from the Chinese battlefield and formed a new army with new recruits."

"That is to say, the Southern Army still has 400,000 to 500,000 troops. If we can defeat these Japanese troops, why don't we have a say?"

"For the great powers, strength means the right to speak, and in their eyes, nice words are synonymous with being easy to bully."

Cun Yunsheng's words shocked Meng Fanle deeply. Although he had been influenced by Cun Yunsheng for many years, this was the first time he had heard such straightforward words.

For a moment, Meng was confused and didn't know what to say. After a long while, he sighed.

"Then how many troops do you think are needed to completely defeat the Japanese army in Southeast Asia?"

Hearing this, Cun Yunsheng gave the answer without hesitation.

"At least 200,000 fully armed American troops, equipped with a certain number of warships and a large number of fighter planes."

At this time, Meng Fanle finally understood Cun Yunsheng's true thoughts.

It is too slow for the Sichuan Army to train on its own.

Now, after all the efforts, we have only managed to gather an elite force of about ten thousand people.

As a result, these few people were stationed in important towns throughout the country to prevent a counterattack by the indigenous people.

"Is two hundred thousand enough?" Meng Fanle thought for a while and felt that two hundred thousand might not be enough. The Japanese army had four or five hundred thousand people.
There is also a navy and a large number of fighter jets.

Although these main forces are all in the Pacific battlefield, if the Japanese army is really hurt, they will probably have to withdraw troops to provide reinforcements.

So that's why he felt that two hundred thousand was too little?

After all, Nanyang is so big.

"To be honest, it's not enough, but this is the limit. If there is more, I'm afraid we may not be able to supply it." Cun Yunsheng said with a wry smile.

"But by then, the indigenous troops who are being trained by the Japanese Fourth Division will be able to play a role. Let them fill in the battlefield and reduce our casualties."

Hearing this, Meng Fanle suddenly felt that he was overthinking, and his boss already knew the situation.

I was just talking too much.

Thinking of this, Meng Fanle stopped asking questions.

When he returned to Hanoi, before Cun Yunsheng had time to rest, someone else wanted to see him.

"Who wants to see me? The French want to see me? Which side?" After listening to the report from his subordinates, Cun Yunsheng was confused for a long time.

"Both sides want to see you." The reporting staff officer said helplessly.

"Didn't you say what?" Meng Fanle asked.

"I didn't say anything specific, but it's an important matter and I will definitely not let you down." The staff officer scratched his head and asked the other party, but he said that he would not answer until he met Cun Yunsheng.

Hearing this, Cun Yunsheng frowned slightly. The French on both sides wanted to see him at this time? What was going on?
To be honest, this was the first time he encountered this.

"Sir, you are not here for those French prisoners, are you?" Meng Fanle suddenly reminded in a low voice.

Hearing this, Cun Yunsheng was stunned, and suddenly felt that it was really possible.

After capturing Hanoi, tens of thousands of French troops surrendered. As a result, those with skills were used to train soldiers, while the other unskilled soldiers were thrown to Stilwell for disposal.

He had originally forgotten about this matter, but the appearance of the French reminded him that he still had tens of thousands of prisoners in his hands.

"That's not right. Didn't we send them all to Stilwell for disposal before? Why are you coming to me again?" Cun Yunsheng considered that Free France was his ally, so he threw this hot potato to Stilwell for disposal.

Why are these French guys looking for him now?
"I've been too busy recently, so I've been delayed. They should still be detained in the POW camp, with one meal a day to ensure they won't starve to death." Meng Fanle slapped his head suddenly, then he remembered that these French soldiers should have all been handed over to Stilwell for disposal, but he forgot about it in his busy life.

The main reason was that when we first captured Hanoi, we were so busy that we forgot about these prisoners.

"Okay, as long as we have something to eat, we won't starve to death." Cun Yunsheng nodded, then thought for a while and spoke again.

"Well, put them all on one floor, and then meet again in two days."

Hearing this, Meng Fan was stunned. He didn't understand what this arrangement meant and looked at the other party with a puzzled look.

"Sir, what does this mean?"

"Since you are looking for me, you must want to redeem these captives, so you have to offer a price that satisfies me."

"Putting them on one floor is to let them find out each other's bottom line, so that I can get more bargaining chips." Cun Yunsheng showed a cunning smile.

There aren't many opportunities like this to cheat France.

And there are two Frances. This kind of thing will never happen again.

So the asking price this time must not be low.

"Let the people in the General Staff Office help me think about what benefits I should ask for. For example, equipment and so on, write them all down for me." Cun Yunsheng said excitedly.

"Yes."

When the French envoys from both sides met on the first floor, the scene was really awkward.

Now the two sides belong to different camps.

The key point is that they were colleagues before, which was very awkward. "Sir Henry, why are you here instead of staying in Paris? This is our Allied territory, aren't you afraid that you won't be able to go back?" At the corner of the stairs, Bernard looked at Henry, the Vichy French envoy in front of him, and couldn't help but snorted.

"Hmph, Mr. Bernard, don't forget that this is a colony of Vichy France. It was just occupied by you using despicable means." Special Envoy Henry naturally retorted without giving in.

This sentence made Bernard not know how to respond for a moment.

In theory, both sides were France, but the French Indochina colonies chose to support Vichy France, which hurt Free France a lot.

Of course, some colonies also chose to support Free France.

Compared with Vichy France's colonies, they had far fewer colonies.

"For the sake of our past as colleagues, please leave here. I will persuade those soldiers to join Free France." Bernard was silent for a while and then spoke.

"Impossible, they are all our Vichy France troops. We have the right and obligation to redeem them." Henry naturally retorted unwillingly.

"Don't forget that Marshal Pétain was the teacher of your so-called leader."

This sentence completely silenced Bernard.

"Then it all depends on your ability." After a long time, Bernard said slowly.

In fact, he felt that he had a great chance of winning. After all, they were allies and there would be no problem at all in getting his subordinates back.

Who knew that when the two found Cun Yunsheng, they were arranged to stay in two connected rooms.

They always feel that something is strange, but they can't put their finger on it.

"Special Envoy Henry, please speak frankly. I still have a lot of things to deal with." Cun Yunsheng pretended to be very busy and didn't want to waste time talking to the other party, asking the other party to hurry up and say what he wanted to say and not waste his time.

These words made Special Envoy Henry a little angry. When did these yellow monkeys dare to talk to him like this?
You know, in the past they always looked fawning and didn't dare to talk to me like this.

Thinking of this, Special Envoy Henry suppressed his inner anger and said.

"General Cun, according to our understanding, our soldiers are being held in prisoner-of-war camps by you. According to the Geneva Convention, we now demand the redemption of these soldiers."

As expected, they were really coming for these prisoners.

"Oh? I wonder what Your Excellency the Special Envoy is going to use to redeem them? And based on my understanding, it seems that the prisoners can only be redeemed after the war is over?" Cun Yunsheng still looked at the other party coldly.

He now wanted to see what conditions the other party could offer. Putting both parties on the same level would allow them to find out each other's bottom line.

Obviously, according to Cun Yunsheng's understanding, the stakes offered by Vichy France are higher.

As for Free France, it gave very little, just a little financial compensation, which made Cun Yunsheng sneer.

So you want to get it for free?
"Some of the equipment you urgently need are second-hand, but they can be put into use immediately." Henry handed over a list.

Cun Yunsheng took the list and glanced at it. He was not very satisfied as they were all equipment he already had.

"It seems that the Special Envoy has a good relationship with William. He even knows that I am short of equipment."

He didn't believe that the other party had no relationship with William, otherwise why would some equipment he urgently needed appear on it?

Hearing this, Envoy Henry did not refute, but looked at the other party quietly.

"The conditions are too low. I can't agree to them. These are my conditions. If the special envoy agrees, you can take the prisoners back. Otherwise, you can go back to where you came from. When two countries are at war, they don't kill envoys. We will abide by this rule and won't use force against you." After all, they are now representing the allied forces, and they usually don't do things like killing envoys.

Henry showed a hint of doubt on his face. Logically speaking, the stakes he offered were already quite high. He even specifically asked William what the Sichuan Army was lacking.

result?

The other party is still dissatisfied?

"Sir Henry, these are tens of thousands of prisoners, many of whom are naval soldiers. I believe that with them, your newly built warships can be launched into battle immediately. The situation in the Mediterranean has reached a critical moment." Before leaving, Cun Yunsheng threw out a sentence.

"Also, let me tell you, I hate it most when people talk to me in a condescending manner."

After saying that, he opened the door and strode out, not giving the other party a chance to think, and then came to the Free France's room.

As soon as they met, Bernard also looked arrogant.

"General Cun, I am here to receive the prisoners under the orders of the Free French."

"Oh? Sir Bernard, is this how you treat an Allied brigadier general?" Cun Yunsheng sneered.

Bernard was stunned and looked carefully, and found that Cun Yunsheng was wearing the uniform of an American brigadier general.

He immediately felt as if he had eaten a fly and was extremely nauseous.

Forgot this guy is directly under the Allied Command.

Stilwell even promoted his military rank some time ago.

Come to think of it, the two sides are really allies, and the opponent's Sichuan Army is the only one that is more capable of fighting nearby.

"Sir Bernard, just now Vichy France's special envoy Henry offered me a bargaining chip that I could not refuse. You want to take away tens of thousands of prisoners without giving anything. I'm afraid that's not appropriate, right?" Cun Yunsheng looked at the other party with a sarcastic tone.

As expected, Special Envoy Bernard blushed at his words.

"We will give a reward of 100,000 pounds to compensate the Sichuan Army for their hard work in this short period of time."

When he heard the other party's conditions, Cun Yunsheng looked like he was sending away a beggar.

Perhaps thinking that 100,000 pounds was too little, Special Envoy Bernard increased the amount to 200,000 pounds.

This is quite a lot, even though counterfeit British pounds are rampant nowadays, it is still a considerable amount.

"Sir Bernard, you still don't understand what I said. I'm talking about a bargaining chip that I cannot refuse. Your bargaining chip is too low and lacks any sincerity. Moreover, as far as I know, those soldiers are all soldiers of Vichy France. According to the Geneva Convention and the chivalrous spirit advocated by your side, they are qualified to exchange these prisoners." Cun Yunsheng's words made Special Envoy Bernard completely silent.

Special Envoy Bernard did not expect that this guy understood their Western spirit of chivalry so well.

"General Cun, we are our allies and you have every obligation to cooperate with us. Two hundred thousand pounds is already a lot." Sir Bernard suppressed his anger and even brought up Stilwell.

"Then let General Stilwell give me an order to hand over these prisoners, otherwise I will not be able to execute the order." Cun Yunsheng did not want to give in to the other party, so he turned around and left, but he left a word before leaving.

"We are indeed allies, but I also have to abide by the Geneva Convention. I believe that General Stilwell should understand my difficulties."

Hearing this, Bernard froze on the spot.

(End of this chapter)