Fang Lang expressed his thoughts without hesitation. After all, he was not a true pro-American. He just wanted to use the Americans.
General Morais was very satisfied with Fang Lang's answer, which showed that Fang Lang was a Brazilian citizen who truly possessed Brazilian nationalist sentiments. This was very important.
"Tell me, how are you going to rely on yourself!"
It's not good to get to the bottom of things! As a general, is it appropriate for you to get to the bottom of things like this? Although Fang Lang thought so in his heart, he certainly couldn't say it out loud.
After all, this person is now his direct superior. He could only answer:
"I plan to have my family invest in building a steel mill and a shipyard. Sooner or later, we will build a powerful navy of our own!"
General Moraes was so shocked by Fang Lang's words that his eyes almost popped out. In 1940, Brazil danced back and forth between Germany and the United States for a steel plant. Finally, the United States loaned 10 million US dollars to build Brazil's first steel plant in Volta Ranch.
It also officially represented that Brazil abandoned Germany and joined the American camp, which led to the later incident of German submarines attacking Brazilian merchant ships.
It's only been a short time, and your family is able to build a steel plant and a shipyard. Why didn't you do it earlier?
...
...
"Are you serious? Your family is so powerful!"
Fang Lang certainly understood the principle of not showing off one's wealth, and he would never let Morais know that he had such financial strength.
"Of course my family doesn't have such financial resources. However, we have the ability to raise these funds. Of course, this requires the support of the government."
Such a huge investment cannot be landed in Brazil for no reason. The Brazilian government must step in and pay some benefits.
Otherwise, if I were to foolishly build a steel plant and a shipyard in Brazil, I would be exploited by the local government or local tyrants and become a sucker.
Just by solving local employment problems, you can enjoy a series of benefits from the local government, such as land fee discounts, tax reductions, etc.
Morais never expected that he would have such a harvest today. He looked at Fang Lang seriously and said:
"Fang, I will report this matter to the President personally. I understand your idea! Don't worry, if you can really make this project land in Brazil. Then, I assure you that I will fully support you on behalf of the military!"
Fang Lang understood very well General Morais's statement. It represented the military's full support for him, which certainly did not only refer to support for his factory construction, but also necessarily included his position in the military.
This statement was extremely important to Fang Lang because General Morais had a very special position in the Brazilian military. Although he was only a major general, he was also a Brazilian Army Marshal.
As the Chinese say, his students and old friends are all over the government and the opposition. If he has his support, at least in the next few Brazilian coups, Fang Lang will no longer have to worry about the safety of his family and the factory.
"Thank you for your support, General. If you agree, I will explain my idea to my family tomorrow. I believe I will get a clear answer soon!"
General Morais was very satisfied with Fang Lang's statement and couldn't help but slap his thigh and said:
"Good! Good! Good! If this is accomplished, then I believe that no one will dare to express any objection to you taking on such an important position at such a young age!"
General Morais' words made Fang Lang stunned, but it was normal to think about it, in a dictatorial country like Brazil, with a slightly feudal hierarchy.
How could Fang Lang, a young minority with no family background, be able to quickly rise to his current status without any opponents!
No wonder Colonel Parisi said he was going to be promoted to colonel. But when he arrived at the headquarters today, he did not receive a promotion order. It turned out that there were obstacles!
It seems that building steel mills and shipyards in Brazil is no longer a simple economic issue! It must be elevated to a political issue.
Fang Lang, who already had a plan in mind, remained calm and did not respond to General Morais's words.
After expressing his feelings, General Morais spoke again:
"Alas! If this is the case, our plan to build a strong navy will have to be postponed!"
Looking at the somewhat dejected General Morais, Fang Lang could only sigh. After all, his grand wish of riding a horse to climb Mount Fuji could not be realized!
Colonel Parisi, who had been standing by like a transparent man, suddenly spoke up:
"Fang, is the plan to participate in the Pacific battlefield also not feasible?"
General Morais was stunned by what Colonel Parisi said. While he was still thinking about what the plan was, Fang Lang had already spoken.
"I proposed this idea to General Chambers. However, it was rejected! After all, the US military has gained an absolute advantage in the Pacific battlefield. Moreover, the fleet in the Atlantic is also sufficient to support the Pacific battlefield."
"Wait, what exactly is this Pacific battlefield plan you two are talking about? How come I don't know about it?"
General Morais was obviously stunned by what the two said, but at the same time his curiosity was aroused.
Fang Lang and Colonel Parisi exchanged glances, and Fang Lang signaled Colonel Parisi to speak, after all, this was his idea.
However, Colonel Parisi obviously didn't want to be in the spotlight. After all, he had already decided to leave, and it didn't matter whether he had made any contributions or not. It would be better to let Fang Lang increase his political capital. So, he shook his head and motioned Fang Lang to speak.
Seeing the two pushing each other, General Morais became impatient and said to Fang Lang:
"Fang, tell me, what is the plan?"
Since Colonel Parisi was unwilling to speak, and General Morais had appointed his own general, Fang Lang could only say:
"This was Colonel Parisi's idea. He hoped to obtain the support of the US Navy for building our naval fleet by actively applying to join the Pacific theater. However, Vice Admiral Chambers rejected it on the grounds that the Pacific theater was not under his management."
Fang Lang's words made General Morais fall into silence. After a while, he said:
"As far as I know, the British Navy established the Pacific Fleet last November and wanted to participate in the Pacific War, but was rejected by the US Navy. But now the British Pacific Fleet is also active in the Pacific battlefield! Why can't we join?"
Fang Lang and Colonel Parisi stared blankly at Lieutenant General Morais, thinking:
The British and Americans are brothers, and the British Pacific Fleet has the support of many British dominions. Although it is not as powerful as the American Pacific Fleet, it is still not something that our two broken ships from Brazil can resist!
There was no need for Fang Lang and the others to speak out their thoughts, as General Morais had already asked and answered his own question:
"The British have a very strong Pacific Fleet. Alas! In the final analysis, it is because we in Brazil are not strong enough. Even if we take the initiative to help them, no one will want us to risk our lives."
No one dared to respond to such a question! The two could only look at General Morais awkwardly.
"Fang, why do you think the British must join the Pacific battlefield?"
Fang Lang was a little caught off guard by General Morais' sudden question, but he was a college student after all, so analyzing this simple question was no piece of cake.
After a brief thought, Fang Lang said:
"I think there are at least two reasons: one is to restore their ruling status in the Southeast Asian colonies occupied by the Japanese; the other is to gain more say in post-war Asian issues."
General Morais' eyes lit up at Fang Lang's answer. He never expected Fang Lang to be so insightful. He couldn't help but admire Fang Lang even more.
Colonel Parisi was stunned. Isn't this knowledge that only diplomats should master? Why do you all know this, and I am the only one who looks like a fool?
Brazilian schools don't teach politics, and there is no 5,000-year-old civilization to learn from like China. Although it's painful to study, knowledge is really good!
General Morais didn't know if he was really inspired by Fang Lang's words, and he actually started to mutter:
"The right to speak, the right to speak, this word is well used."
Then he stood up and started walking back and forth in the office. After a while, he said:
"Fang, you said that since Brazil is participating in the World War, as a victorious country, shouldn't we also have some say?"
Isn't this nonsense! If there is no benefit, would President Vargas choose to join the Allies and send troops to join the European battlefield? Is it really just for a few sunken merchant ships? Don't be stupid.
Fang Lang had to answer General Morais' question:
"Yes, General. We are also a member of the Allied Powers. We certainly have a say."
Hearing Fang Lang's affirmative answer, General Morais said leisurely:
"Then can we not ask for a strong naval fleet?"
This is not easy to answer. This is not something the military can decide on its own! Usually, such matters are discussed by the head of government and the diplomatic department. It is not the military's turn to make the decision.
Moreover, a powerful navy obtained in this way cannot be considered truly powerful. It must have its own sustained production capacity to be considered powerful.
"Perhaps, we should ask the government to come forward and talk to the Americans. Although our navy's contribution to the European War is only your four sinkings, our army and air force have made significant contributions. It's not too much to ask for an aircraft carrier fleet!"
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