Fang Lang never expected that Marshall would say such a thing.
Although he had never thought of keeping his actions in his hometown secret, it was a bit exaggerated that even a retired American general knew about it.
And considering the other party's identity, Fang Lang didn't believe that he would say such words for no reason. Could it be that the other party came here for this purpose?
This is different from what I expected.
However, Fang Lang quickly denied his guess. After all, Chiang Kai-shek was still nominally in charge of his hometown. Chiang Kai-shek had a very good relationship with the US government. There was no reason for him to object to his immigration actions at this time!
Besides, his immigration actions should not have much to do with the United States! Could the other party still cause trouble for him? Thinking of this, Fang Lang stopped thinking about it and smiled at General Marshall.
"I didn't expect Mr. Marshall to pay attention to such a small matter, haha... I don't need your help. I mainly see that there is constant war in my hometown, and many innocent people are displaced.
My industry in Brazil is in urgent need of enough cheap labor, so I am recruiting workers from my hometown to fill the vacancies. There shouldn’t be any problem with this, right? "
Hearing Fang Lang's words, General Marshall waved his hand and quickly explained with a smile:
...
...
"Fang, please don't misunderstand me! I have no objection to your recruiting of laborers from my hometown. On the contrary, I support it very much. This has indeed found a new way out for the people who are trapped in the suffering of war.
To be honest, I have a deep connection with your hometown. As early as 1924, I was sent to work in Tianjin. During the three years I worked in Tianjin, I not only learned Chinese, but also made many friends.
Even you, who were born in Brazil, may not have spent as much time in your hometown as I have, so that place is not only your hometown, but also one of my hometowns.
As long as it is beneficial to your hometown, I will do it with both hands."
Fang Lang didn't believe that General Marshall really regarded his hometown as his own. After all, he was originally stationed in Tianjin as a garrison in the concession.
In their eyes, the American Concession in Tianjin at that time should be like an American colony, which is a shame for all Chinese people.
On the contrary, for Americans, it is something to be very proud of. Fang Lang would never believe that Marshall would have a sense of belonging to Tianjin just because he had been stationed in Tianjin as a garrison in the concession, and regarded Tianjin as one of his hometowns.
But Fang Lang could also tell from his words that the other party was trying to find common topics with him and was obviously trying to show goodwill to him.
In this situation, Fang Lang certainly couldn't refuse the other party's kindness. He smiled as if he had never known Marshall's experience and said:
"Oh! Mr. Marshall was stationed in my hometown for three years. No wonder you speak Chinese so well!
To be honest, although I am Chinese, I have never lived in my hometown. If I had not joined the Pacific War, I would not even know the exact location of my hometown.
It was during the Pacific War that I learned about the situation in my hometown, and I began to think about whether I could make good use of the huge population resources in my hometown. That’s how we started the business of recruiting laborers from my hometown.
At first, I didn’t want to recruit so many people, but I didn’t expect that the local labor force was so cheap. We recruited a large number of strong laborers at almost no cost.
Now our company’s staff gap in Brazil has actually been filled, but the Chinese people’s hard-working and diligent character has also begun to be welcomed by some local Brazilian companies.
Therefore, our current labor dispatch business can create considerable results for the company every year.
Now that the war has broken out again, more and more people want to come to Brazil to work. Even many wealthy people have heard that Brazil is vast and sparsely populated, and the land is fertile, so they want to immigrate to Brazil. So, we have also started to develop some immigration business. "
Regardless of Marshall's purpose in mentioning labor and immigration, Fang Lang still briefly explained his purpose. Regardless of whether the other party believed it or not, he had to explain these situations.
In fact, what Fang Lang said was basically close to the facts. Although his goal was to increase the population proportion of Chinese in Brazil, this business did generate certain profits as he said.
Especially the current immigration business, which has squeezed a lot of money out of the wealthy people in the hometown. Even if Marshall goes to investigate, he will definitely not find anything unusual.
After hearing Fang Lang's words, Marshall sighed softly, smiled bitterly at Fang Lang, shook his head and said:
"Alas! If the war breaks out again this time, it is also partly my responsibility."
Fang Lang was stunned when he heard this. What was going on? How did the war in his hometown have anything to do with this old guy? I don't think I've ever heard of this in the history I studied!
Although I know that Americans are behind Chiang Kai-shek, I have never heard that Americans participated in this war! Is there any secret in this?
"Oh! What do you mean?"
Since General Marshall brought it up, Fang Lang did not continue to think about it, but asked directly.
Seeing Fang Lang frowning with a puzzled look on his face, Marshall sighed and shook his head:
"It was a coincidence that I was able to attend your party this time. If your party had been held a few days earlier, I would not have had the opportunity to attend."
Without waiting for Fang Lang to ask, General Marshall continued:
"Because I just came back from China. This time I went to China because I was assigned by President Truman to mediate the relationship between the two parties in China and prevent China from falling into war.
But obviously my mission failed, and China fell into war again."
After hearing this, Fang Lang finally understood what was going on. What he didn't expect was that the person in charge of mediation was actually Marshall. He really didn't know this. After all, he asked people to collect information on Marshall only until he retired.
I didn't expect that this guy was still working for the United States after retiring. Fang Lang didn't care about the failure of the mediation. After all, from the perspective of the Americans, they would definitely fully support the pro-American Chiang Kai-shek government.
The so-called mediation was more like supporting Chiang Kai-shek. With the support of the Americans, Chiang Kai-shek would definitely launch a war without hesitation.
Not to mention asking Marshall to mediate, even if the dead Roosevelt himself came forward, it would not have any effect.
No wonder he said that he was partly responsible for the war in his hometown. If you think about it this way, it really had something to do with him. But it was obviously wrong to put all the blame on him.
Of course, Fang Lang didn't care about these, because he knew very well what the inevitable outcome of history would be. But he certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to express his own opinions, after all, his current identity required him to stand on the side of the United States.
So, he sighed with a look of pity and said:
"Oh! What a pity! Although the war has made my business better, it is really depressing to see my hometown fall into war.
However, this cannot be blamed on you, after all, you are only responsible for mediation and have no decision-making power. I just hope that the war can end as soon as possible and people's lives can return to peace as soon as possible."
In Fang Lang's heart, he didn't want to continue chatting with Marshall. After all, the purpose of holding this banquet was to gain more benefits from the European Recovery Plan.
His main guests today are the Rockefeller and Morgan families. He invited Rockefeller to attend this banquet in order to add some pressure to the ongoing negotiations with the Morgan family.
Although Marshall will be the leader of this plan in the future, he is not yet the future Secretary of State, and Fang Lang does not know whether he is involved in this plan now.
If he was involved, then his appearance here today must have a certain purpose, which would bring some uncertainty to Fang Lang's banquet today.
In fact, Fang Lang hoped that Marshall had not yet participated in it. If the other party learned about this plan through his own connections, it would definitely be very beneficial to him.
You have to know that this is the future US Secretary of State, and he also has unparalleled influence in the US military. If he gets the opportunity to lead such a great plan because of his own reasons.
He owes me a big favor. When the time comes, it will become very convenient for me to do many things in the United States or Brazil.
However, Fang Lang knew very well in his heart that he must have known about this plan, otherwise why would the other party suddenly show up at his banquet uninvited?
While Fang Lang was still thinking about the other party's purpose, Marshall sighed and said:
"Yes! I just hope the war can end soon so people's lives can return to normal soon."
Hearing Marshall, a retired five-star general of the United States, and himself, a Brazilian rear admiral, discussing the hope that the war in a country far away in Asia would end soon, Fang Lang suddenly felt a little absurd.
Therefore, Fang Lang took the initiative to end the topic, and then continued the other party's words tentatively:
"So, the purpose of Mr. Marshall's coming here today is to help people return to normal life as soon as possible after the war, right?"
This time, Marshall did not avoid the topic. Instead, he looked at Fang Lang with an interested expression and said with a half-smile:
"Why! I can't just be tired and come here to relax with your wine."
Seeing the other party's expression and not answering his question, Fang Lang understood the other party's intention.
He was not surprised by this. He relaxed at this moment and turned to his butler and said:
"Please bring me that box of Victory cigars. I want to have a good chat with Mr. Marshall.
By the way, after you bring the cigars, you can go downstairs! When the guests from the Rockefeller family and the Morgan family arrive, bring them in directly. "
As the butler, Zolph Henry understood what Fang Lang meant. Obviously, the topic they were discussing was rather confidential and definitely not suitable for him to listen to.
After all, he was just a servant who had been with his new master for less than a week.
Something that could be discussed by a retired five-star general of the United States and members of the Morgan and Rockefeller families must be a very important matter.
It might be a major event that could affect national politics. He must take it seriously and ensure that this meeting is kept absolutely confidential.
After understanding this, Zolf Henry nodded respectfully, turned around, took out a box of cigars from the cabinet behind him, and placed it on the low table next to Fang Lang.
He whispered to Fang Lang:
"Then I'll wait outside the door. If you need anything, feel free to call me."
After seeing Fang Lang nod, he looked up and nodded to Marshall before turning and leaving.
Fang Lang casually opened the cigar box next to him, took out two cigars and handed one to Marshall before slowly speaking:
"So it seems that Mr. Marshall was invited by Mr. Morgan, right?"
"Hehe... Why did Mr. Fang say that?"
After hearing Fang Lang's words, Marshall did not answer, but smiled and asked back.
Is there any need to say this? Anyone who can invite a big shot like Marshall is obviously not an ordinary person, so 90% of the people can be ruled out.
There were only people from the Morgan and Rockefeller families, and the person who hosted the Rockefeller family did not reveal his purpose, so the only person who knew about it must be the Morgan family.
Since I know that the other party was invited, and the person who invited him has not arrived yet, it is obvious that the other party will not say too much to me at this time, so I have been avoiding the topic.
Fang Lang understood all of this and said with a smile:
"Haha...I was just guessing too!"
Then, as if he suddenly thought of something, he bowed to Marshall and said:
"Then I will congratulate Mr. Marshall here first!"
This turn was obviously too fast. Marshall, who was about to listen to his explanation, was obviously stunned. She was very familiar with Fang Lang's gestures, but the other party's sudden congratulations made her stunned.
With a puzzled look on his face, he asked:
"Congratulations to me? Congratulations to me for what?"
Fang Lang smiled and said:
"Of course, congratulations to Mr. Marshall on your upcoming promotion and wealth!"
This made Marshall suddenly realize, and he laughed:
"Why does Mr. Fang think I can get promoted and make a fortune?"
Seeing the other party pretending to be stupid, Fang Lang didn't say much. He just smiled at the other party with a look of control over everything.
"After the plan is officially implemented, please give me your support, Mr. Marshall!"
This statement made everything clear. Marshall could only smile and shake his head, saying to Fang Lang:
"Mr. Fang, I am really surprised. No wonder you have achieved such great success in such a short time.
Before today, I thought it was all luck, but now it seems that I was too superficial. "
Fang Lang just smiled at Marshall's compliment, not caring at all. He bowed to Marshall and said:
"Mr. Marshall, thank you for the compliment. It is indeed my luck. Unlike you, Mr. Marshall, who has accumulated a lot of experience, I have achieved what I have today.
Your achievements today are enough for me to look up to for the rest of my life!"
The business compliments between the two obviously made them both relax. Marshall no longer deliberately avoided Fang Lang's identity, but instead said to Fang Lang:
"I think Mr. Fang's ability is a bit of a waste for him to be the commander of an aircraft carrier battle group. He should at least be the Minister of the Navy!"
These words made Fang Lang stunned. He didn't believe that General Marshall said this casually. Could it be that the other party wanted to compensate for his losses in grain exports by improving his status in the military?
If this were the case, Fang Lang would not be willing. With his current status, he was very popular in the Brazilian military and was a real power.
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