bookcurios Chapter 295: Trading Land for Equipment
Chapter 295: Trading Land for Equipment
Stam was racked with a splitting headache, consumed by regret. He hadn't anticipated how he had severely underestimated the German Alliance's strength while simultaneously overestimating his own capabilities. On the battlefield, the constant influx of bad news like a surging tide completely shattered his original battle plan.
"We launched three large-scale attacks on the German Alliance, but each time ended in disastrous defeat. Now, the Polish defense line is in danger, our casualties are extremely heavy, and the blood of our soldiers has dyed a large area of the land red." The adjutant's voice was low and heavy, and his face was full of worry and fatigue.
"What's worse is that those guys from the German Alliance are acting like crazy, opening up new battlefields on multiple borders at the same time. We are forced to disperse our forces and fight everywhere. Our troops are stretched thin, and our defense line is in danger of collapsing at any time." Another staff officer added, his tone revealing deep despair.
These pieces of news were like heavy bombs, hitting Stamu's heart hard again and again. For several days in a row, he tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep, and anxiety gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.
In just a few days, he'd lost several clumps of hair, looking emaciated. "From the start of this war, there's no turning back. No matter the cost, we must grit our teeth and persevere!" He clenched his fists, his eyes etched with determination.
At this moment, an experienced general stepped forward and said solemnly, "In terms of current firepower, we are far behind the German Alliance. If we want to quickly reverse this extremely unfavorable situation, I suggest purchasing advanced equipment from the Great Qin Empire. Otherwise, the battlefield situation will only become increasingly unfavorable to us, and the morale of the soldiers will be severely damaged, with disastrous consequences."
Hearing this, Si Damu felt a buzzing in his head, and his headache intensified. He knew in his heart that this was indeed the fastest way to improve combat effectiveness. Although his side had been increasing its investment and efforts in equipment research and development, it still had a long way to go to catch up with the German Alliance's equipment level.
Through these fierce battles with the German Alliance, he deeply realized the huge gap in equipment between the two sides. Those advanced weapons were like an insurmountable chasm that stood between them.
Stamu didn't dare to delay any longer and immediately called Ye Daofu. After the call was connected, he suppressed his inner anxiety and expressed his eagerness to buy equipment.
This call was exactly what Ye Daofu wanted. In his view, a major war between the German Alliance and the Soviet Union would be a good opportunity to consume some of the surplus population and weaken both sides, a perfect benefit for the Great Qin Empire. However, he wouldn't agree easily; he had to give the Soviet Union a warning first.
"Mr. Stamu, you should know that Demeng and I are business partners with a close cooperative relationship. We have also signed a formal contract. If I provide you with equipment at this time, wouldn't that be a blatant betrayal of our partners? This is neither moral nor logical." Ye Daofu's voice came from the other end of the phone, with a hint of feigned embarrassment.
Si Damu couldn't fail to discern the hidden meaning behind Ye Daofu's words. Anyone who holds such a high position must be meticulous and shrewd. "Mr. Ye Daofu, I understand your concerns. How about this? I'm willing to add an additional 10% to the market price. Does this price make you reconsider?" Si Damu gritted his teeth and made a sincere offer.
However, Ye Daofu showed little interest in this proposal. After all, he was now a wealthy man and didn't need the money. "Mr. Stamu, I have a proposal that will both save you money and actually help you resolve the crisis at hand," Ye Daofu said, deliberately keeping the question a secret. After a pause, he continued, "Sell me Sakhalin Island, and I promise to provide you with advanced equipment of equal value. Once deployed on the battlefield, this equipment will undoubtedly significantly increase your combat effectiveness."
Upon hearing this request, Stamu was stunned, a look of surprise on his face. In his mind, Sakhalin Island was not an important strategic location. The island was short of natural resources and had a very small population. He had never paid much attention to this place.
After thinking for a moment, Stamu said to the phone: "Mr. Ye Daofu, can you give me an hour to think about it? After all, this matter is serious, and I have to discuss it with my staff." After getting Ye Daofu's consent, Stamu immediately summoned everyone and held an emergency military meeting.
The atmosphere in the conference room was heavy and oppressive. Everyone sat in a circle, their faces solemn. Stamford elaborated on Ye Daofu's proposal, and then a brief silence fell. Everyone was weighing the pros and cons, considering the impact of this decision on the country's future.
After a heated discussion, everyone finally reached a consensus: sell Sakhalin in exchange for the Qin Empire's advanced equipment. They believed Sakhalin's value was limited, and they urgently needed to improve their combat capabilities to resist the German alliance's frenzied attacks. Only by preserving the nation's core interests could they have a future.
So, Stamu called Ye Daofu again and conveyed their decision, agreeing to sell Sakhalin Island to the Qin Empire.
Ye Daofu was secretly delighted upon hearing this news. He knew Sakhalin was rich in resources, but the Soviet Union's current technology and capabilities had yet to effectively develop and utilize them. Now that the island was about to be owned by the Qin Empire, its future development potential was immeasurable.
Ye Daofu acted decisively, immediately dispatching a large number of Y-40 transport planes, loaded with advanced equipment, to the Soviet Union. The transport planes formed neat formations in the sky, like giant steel birds, cutting through the sky.
At Soviet airfields, transport planes landed one after another, their roar deafening. Boxes of brand-new equipment were quickly unloaded, piling up into mountains. This equipment included advanced artillery, powerful tanks, accurate missiles, and superior fighter jets—a wide variety.
The Soviets quickly organized manpower and transported this valuable equipment to various battlefields. With the new equipment in operation, the Soviet army's combat effectiveness was like a shot in the arm, receiving a significant boost. The soldiers' morale was greatly boosted, and they were no longer as helpless in the face of the German Alliance's attacks as before.
The German League's once swift and furious advance was significantly hampered by this. They were surprised to find that the Soviet army's resistance had become increasingly stubborn, and every step forward came at a huge cost.
Having tasted the sweetness of equipment upgrades, Stamford decided to further increase his purchases. However, Ye Daofu still insisted on his terms: to exchange land for equipment.
Si Damu had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree. He sold all the remote areas of his country, which he considered unimportant, to the Qin Empire. In his heart, he even thought: Our ancestors were willing to sell even Alaska, so why not sacrifice some remote land for the safety of the country?
In this way, in this cruel war, all parties fought for their own interests.