Reborn in Brazil As a Plutocrat

Chapter 697 The huge impact of war

 Wulf Fairclough's eyes couldn't help but shine even more when he heard that Fang Lang wanted to combine the advantages of the United States and Germany to develop this new tank.

But when he heard that most people in the Brazilian Army were unwilling to support domestic self-research and only wanted to purchase ready-made equipment from the United States and the Soviet Union, he could only lower his head and sigh helplessly.

This situation is not just random talk by Fang Lang. This argument does exist in the current Brazilian Army, and a large number of soldiers believe that Soviet tanks are better than American tanks.

  Not very satisfied with the American Sherman tanks currently equipped by the two armored divisions, they have submitted multiple applications to purchase the T54 tanks that were just installed in 1947 in quantity.

It's a pity that the current Soviet Union is not a poor settlement that sold everything. Instead, it is a real world-class one. It is naturally dissatisfied with Brazil, an American brother who has severed diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. How could he be willing to sell his new tanks to Brazil? .

In the end, Brazil had no choice but to apply to the Ministry of Defense for procurement of Pershing tanks from the US military. However, in the eyes of the United States, Brazil is just a little brother, far from being able to equip you with Pershing tanks.

 So, in the end, the War Department had no choice but to give up and continue to use the current Sherman tank.

Even so, while the Air Force and Navy are promoting the localization of equipment, no one in the Army is willing to apply to the Ministry of National Defense to develop their own domestic equipment.

Had it not been for Defense Minister Marshal Morais and Logistics Minister General Leta to fully promote Fangyuan Arms Group’s domestic artillery equipment, it is estimated that many army officers would not be willing to equip Fangyuan Group’s domestic artillery.

But as an army officer, Wolf Fairclough actually understood the performance of Fangyuan Group’s domestic artillery. Because of the use of self-tightening barrels, electroslag remelting technology and barrel chrome plating technology, Fangyuan Group’s domestic artillery The performance has already far exceeded the artillery that the US military is willing to sell to Brazil.

As for whether the reason behind this is related to the fact that Fangyuan Group is the property of Fang Lang, a naval general family, no one dares to say.

As far as Woolf Fairclough knew, ever since Fang Lang led the Marine Corps and quickly eliminated the Eddie Brothers rebels who had caused the Army to lose face, the Army seemed to have suddenly begun to harbor concerns about the Yuan Group. An inexplicable hostility.

 Only after formally understanding these circumstances, Woolf Fairclough was able to understand Fang Lang's words. He looked at Fang Lang with a deep look and said slowly:

“However, given the Army’s xenophobic situation, it is not easy for you to have a say in the Army. With my status and influence, it is almost an impossible task to change this situation in the Army.”

 After saying that, the mood that was a little excited and expectant just now involuntarily became depressed.

Seeing this, Fang Lang smiled slightly, patted his shoulder and said:

"Don't worry! If the two of us can't change this situation, we can definitely look for more friends! By then, when we have enough partners in the army, it will be time for us to completely change the army."

Hearing this, Woolf Fairclough pondered for a long time, and then said in a lost tone:

“Then the development of this tank will continue to be postponed?”

“Haha... Don’t worry! Although I can’t influence the Ministry of War now and get them to take the initiative to develop new tanks. But it doesn’t mean that I can’t influence the Ministry of National Defense from the top and get them to take the initiative to research domestic tanks.

 At that time, after the Ministry of National Defense agrees, it will be useless for the Ministry of War to object. If they don't like a new tank after it is developed, wouldn't it be possible to equip it directly to you? "

Fang Lang is of course not someone who just sits there and waits for death. After the road from bottom to top is blocked, won’t he open up the upper channel and go from top to bottom?

 “Really? Haha…that’s really great.”

Seeing Woolf Fairclough acting like a child, Fang Lang couldn't help but smile. He began to think seriously about how to push the Ministry of Defense to agree to his self-developed tank plan.

In fact, this matter is not difficult for him. The real power of the Ministry of Defense is now in the hands of General Crook. Regardless of whether the officers of the Army Department want it or not, the Ministry of Defense makes its own decision and allocates If a part of the army's military expenditures were used to develop such a domestic tank, the army would have no legitimate reason to refuse.

If it doesn't work, he can also propose it in the name of the navy. However, what their navy needs is not the current main battle tank that looks like a Leopard 1. They can only design and develop an excellent amphibious tank. However, this It can be regarded as an exploration of the research and development of this kind of Tiger One tank. It will be much easier to develop the Tiger One when the time comes.

"Don't worry! I will not only push the Ministry of National Defense to launch a self-developed tank research and development plan, but also look for more insightful people like you in the army. When more people realize that only self-developed tanks are the right path, and If you are willing to work with us to change the current situation of the Army, then we will not be far away from taking control of the Army's voice."

Hearing this, Woolf Fairclough seemed to have thought of something, and looked up at Fang Lang thoughtfully:

“I know a lot of outstanding officers like me who have been wasting their time in the army because they have no background. However, there are some people whose abilities I have only heard of but have not really come into contact with.

If General Fang thinks it is useful, I can provide you with a list, and then you can go and check it out for yourself. "

He wisely did not suggest directly recommending several officers to Fang Lang, because he had just joined Fang Lang's camp. At this time, if he directly recommended people he was familiar with to Fang Lang, it might cause Fang Lang's confusion. A misunderstanding.

"Really? That's great. Those who can be recommended by Woolf must be outstanding talents in the Army. If they can all join us, our team will be a lot stronger."

 The time is getting closer for us to have the say of the Army. "

Fang Lang knows that people with similar interests can often play together. The circle formed by these people may not necessarily have great influence, but the people inside have more or less something in common.

And Woolf Fairclough can recommend him, which saves him the time of searching slowly. As for whether these people will form their own small circle with Woolf Fairclough, Fang Lang didn't care.

 After all, if there are no factions in the party, everything will be strange!

Of course, Fang Lang did not tell Woolf Fairclough that he was infiltrating the grassroots level of the army through the military academy cadets. By then the Army will be his people from top to bottom.

With Woolf's recommendation, Fang Lang naturally would not let it go, and immediately began to arrange for the Intelligence Bureau to conduct a detailed investigation of these people. After the specific investigation results were sent to Fang Lang, Fang Lang directly arranged for people to Individual invitations were issued to these individuals.

In just one month, Fang Lang recruited more than 20 mid-level officers above lieutenant colonel in the army, as well as two major generals. It can be said that he has initially gained his own influence in the army.

Time passed unknowingly, and these officers who joined Fang Lang's camp began to spread the news among the army, intentionally or unintentionally, that the Ministry of National Defense was interested in promoting the research and development plan of domestically produced tanks. Even the Navy had submitted a new research plan for domestically produced amphibious tanks. For a time, the Army began to have a heated discussion on the respective benefits of Soviet, American, and domestic tanks. During the discussion, the Army unconsciously began to divide into three factions.

Then, as the Ministry of National Defense officially approved the independent research and development plan for naval amphibious tanks and armored vehicles, especially when the design data of domestic tanks leaked out, more and more people in the army began to spontaneously support domestic tanks.

At this time, the senior officials of the Ministry of National Defense also noticed this situation, and the Chief of General Staff, General Letta, came forward to interview several key persons in charge of the Ministry of the Army and conveyed to them that the Ministry of National Defense was prepared to allocate funds from the army's military expenditures. Part of it was used to entrust Fangyuan Group to carry out the research and development plan of independent tanks.

 After feeling the dual pressure from the Ministry of National Defense and the Army, the army officers who supported Soviet and American tanks had to wisely choose to give in. It was decided that the Ministry of the Army took the initiative to submit an independent tank development plan to the Ministry of Defense.

When the research and development information on the Tiger One tank that Fang Lang showed to Wolf and others appeared on the desks of everyone in the Army Department, these old-fashioned guys who looked down on Fangyuan Group were severely shocked.

 Everyone naturally has no objections to the research and development plan of self-developed tanks. This is undoubtedly great news for those officers within the army who joined Fang Lang's camp and were the first to promote the development of the army's self-developed tanks.

It is equivalent to the fact that they, the weak groups in the army, defeated the big military leaders who have always been in control of the army, which greatly improved their self-confidence.

At the same time, they were secretly glad for their decision to join Fang Lang's camp, which also made them more determined to believe that joining Fang Lang's camp was a way to completely change the current situation of the army.

 This allowed Fang Lang's influence in the Army Department to quietly expand.

 Time came to the end of July 1954 unknowingly, and the Peninsula War, which lasted for more than three years, finally came to an end, finally ending with the re-signing of an armistice agreement between the two sides.

Fang Lang, who was far away in Brazil, breathed a long sigh of relief when he received the news. None of the Brazilian military and civilians expected the outcome of this war. In their minds, the U.S. military, the most powerful in the world, was beaten to the negotiating table.

 Suddenly, everyone’s perception of the Chinese began to undergo tremendous changes. And Fang Lang will definitely not miss this opportunity to enhance the national pride and identity of the Brazilian Chinese.

As a result, various Chinese organizations soon began to organize Brazilian Chinese to celebrate. At first it was just some small-scale Chinese gatherings. Later, as more and more Chinese joined in, it gradually turned into a rally and a procession.

 With the organization of Chinese groups, the rally and procession were in order. In addition to the people celebrating crazily, there were also a large number of service personnel to provide food and logistical support to the gathering crowd.

This made the Brazilian people who like to join in the fun excitedly join in. For a time, the scale of the entire rally and procession began to expand, and it felt vaguely more than a carnival.

Fang Lang is of course happy to see this happen. Originally, the Brazilian government wanted to limit the scale of rallies and demonstrations, but was stopped by the president.

Just like this, Brazil, thousands of miles away, actually had an event second only to its hometown to celebrate the victory of the Peninsular War. This made the U.S. ambassador to Brazil feel flustered and immediately informed the United States of the situation in Brazil.

For his younger brother, there were demonstrations celebrating his failure in the country, which naturally embarrassed many American politicians, and they secretly began to be wary of the Chinese groups in Brazil. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs even directly notified the Brazilian government, requesting that such anti-American behavior be punished. Restrictions will be placed on demonstrations of a certain nature.

But this time, President Scalia was surprisingly sensible and responded very clearly to the U.S. government: "This rally and march is a normal parade and celebration registered with the government. The Brazilian government has no right to prevent this kind of activity because it It’s the people’s freedom to march.”

Originally, this matter was just a simple diplomatic communication, and President Scalia did not take it too seriously.

 But the Brazilian Times the next day reported the incident in detail, praising President Scalia for being neither humble nor overbearing, and for his glorious image of safeguarding the freedoms and rights of Brazilian citizens.

But what happened next developed in a direction that people could not predict. First, an unknown tabloid in Brazil said in a different way that the US government's note to the Brazilian government this time was a serious interference in Brazil's internal affairs. Behavior.

I believe that Americans flaunt freedom but want to restrict the Brazilian people's freedom of demonstration. This is a typical example of saying one thing, doing another, and then bursting into anger at the U.S. government.

 After this report appeared, it unexpectedly resonated with many Brazilian people. Everyone came out to accuse the US government and supported President Scalia’s well-founded reply.

In the next few days, major newspapers and radio stations in Brazil launched heated discussions around this matter. As the discussion continued to deepen, more and more people came forward and published editorial articles in major newspapers to criticize blaming the actions of the U.S. government.

At the same time, many people stood up and made it clear that they believed that the Brazilian government should not always follow the U.S. government and even erroneously and arbitrarily cut off diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, another powerful country in the world. The Brazilian government has lost its national independence internationally.

 The raising of this topic immediately triggered reflection among many Brazilians, and everyone put forward their own opinions.

In fact, Fang Lang knew exactly how all this happened. The Soviet Union was behind the tabloid that accused the United States. If Fang Lang wanted to stop it, the news would not be published at all.

But he obviously would not do that. On the contrary, he also instructed his intelligence agents to remain on the sidelines, not to participate, and to take the opportunity to observe which people in Brazil are pro-Soviet forces and which are pro-American forces.

As for the subsequent public opinion war between the United States and the Soviet Union in Brazil, Fang Lang also sat on the sidelines and waited for the development of the situation.

I have to say that this time the Soviets did find a very good entry point. They used the topic of Americans interfering in Brazil's internal affairs to provoke many Brazilians to think about national independence and autonomy.

 The final result of this public opinion war ended with the Brazilian government taking the initiative to resume diplomatic contact with the Soviet Union.

 (End of this chapter)