Chapter 3512
Chapter 3512
Chapter 3512
In a conference room at Zhoushan Naval Base, Tao Donglai, Yan Chujie and Bai Kesi were meeting with the King of Korea, Li Yi.
This was a bilateral meeting scheduled before the forum began to discuss the development of relations between the two countries and some new cooperation projects.
Li Yi and these high-level figures of Hai Han were old acquaintances, so the atmosphere of the talks was relatively relaxed, and they quickly reached consensus on various issues.
The cooperation project discussed this time mainly focuses on the field of ships. Hai Han will provide technical support to North Korea and build a shipyard in Pyeongtaek Port, 150 miles south of Seoul. After the Pyeongtaek Shipyard is completed, it will be able to build and maintain various Hai Han standard warships with a displacement of less than 500 tons.
At the same time, Hai Han will also assist Busan Shipyard in upgrading its technology and expanding the existing slipway and dock to further enhance its production capacity.
However, Tao Donglai, on behalf of the Executive Committee, gave a clear rejection to Li Yi's proposal to transfer gun manufacturing technology.
"Although the relationship between our two countries is close, and my country is also happy to help your country make progress in military industry, the time is not yet ripe for the transfer of gun manufacturing technology. Your country needs to wait patiently for a while."
As for whether this "period of time" was one year, ten years, or longer, Tao Donglai did not elaborate. Presumably, he had no intention of giving a clear time limit.
Li Yi was somewhat disappointed after hearing this reply. He had thought that Hai Han would loosen the loophole of military technology transfer and introduce advanced gun manufacturing technology to North Korea based on its performance in recent years. But now it seems that Hai Han has no intention of loosening the reins tied around North Korea's neck.
Li Yi said somewhat unwillingly: "Our country made such an application not only to enhance our military strength, but also to take into account the current changes in the international situation and to maintain regional stability. The Japanese civil war is about to break out. As the country closest to Japan, it is very necessary for our country to maintain its response capabilities and share some of the pressure for your country."
Yan Chujie responded, "Li Li, you may have forgotten that our country has a Sasebo base in Kyushu, Japan, and the troops stationed there are sufficient to cope with changes in the local situation. As for North Korea's security, there is no need to worry about it being affected by the Japanese civil war. The ships of the warring parties will not cross the Tsushima Strait, so you can rest assured to be a spectator."
Yan Chujie's tone was a little tough, and it was obvious that he was somewhat dissatisfied with Li Li's lack of tact.
Hai Han’s support for Korea was not just to cultivate an obedient vassal state; of course, there was also the intention of using Korea to contain neighboring countries.
Japan and the Qing Dynasty are both Hai Han’s arch-enemies, and in the past a large number of armed forces were needed to guard against them. However, with the containment of North Korea, the pressure faced by Hai Han has been reduced a lot.
Providing military assistance to North Korea and helping it build a new army are actually all for this purpose. But if North Korea begins to develop ambitions and thinks of becoming independent, Hai Han will not hesitate to put the brakes on it.
Li Yi could of course sense the warning in Yan Chujie's words. He no longer dared to insist on his own opinion and quickly said that he would follow Hai Han's arrangements.
Tao Donglai said: "Li Li, don't rush to attack the Japanese when they are down because of the civil war. If North Korea intervenes rashly, it may become the common enemy of the two warring parties. You should know that Japan has also bought a lot of weapons and equipment from my country in recent years, and its strength is not much worse than North Korea. If you don't have absolute confidence in defeating them, don't rush to wade into this muddy water."
Li Yi broke out in a cold sweat after hearing this and nodded his head repeatedly.
Li Yi was of course aware of Japan's purchase of arms from Hai Han in recent years, but he had no definite information on the level of Japan's armed forces as a result of these arms trades.
But Hai Han, as the seller, must have known clearly that Tao Donglai's strength was not much different from North Korea, which meant that North Korea did not have much military advantage. Li Yi did not dare to bet whether this was a threat or the truth from the heart.
If they lose the bet, North Korea might have to lose all the wealth it has accumulated with great difficulty on the battlefield.
But even so, Li Yi was still very curious about how Hai Han would handle the situation in Japan, and could not help but ask, “So, your country is organizing this inspection just to observe the progress of the war, and you don’t intend to interfere?”
Tao Donglai asked back: "Then let me ask you, how will the situation in Japan develop in the best interests of our country?"
Li Yi responded without hesitation: "Of course, it would be best for your country to let them fight to the point of mutual destruction. By then, no matter what your country is going to do, both sides will be powerless to resist."
Tao Donglai nodded and said, "It's good that you understand this principle."
Li Yi said: "So your country's true attitude is not to support the Kyushu vassal states to become the winners in the civil war?"
Tao Donglai said noncommittally: "Does it matter who wins or loses? What we need to do now is to keep the battle balanced and not let them decide the winner too quickly."
Li Yi suddenly realized: "The real winner is not on the battlefield at all, but your country!"
Tao Donglai and the others all smiled without saying anything, seemingly agreeing with Li Li's opinion.
Only then did Li Yi finally understand Hai Han’s plan. It was to weaken Japan’s local forces by creating a civil war and to increase the warring parties’ dependence on Hai Han by providing arms.
By the time this country is destroyed in the civil war, Hai Han will surely have made a fortune in the arms trade. When it steps in to clean up the mess, it will not encounter much resistance and will be able to easily control the ruined Japan.
After Li Yi figured out the key, he couldn't help but feel a little scared. If Hai Han's tactics were applied to Korea, which is divided into North and South, a civil war would probably be unavoidable.
However, what Li Yi could not have imagined was that the Executive Committee had not yet made any plans to clean up the mess in Japan.
The Executive Committee had no interest in occupying or controlling Japan. The purpose of creating this war was simply to destroy this island nation.
The Executive Committee was unable to explain to Li Yi the reasons for doing so, so naturally they would not tell him about these ideas.
But no matter what, Korea and Japan are sworn enemies, and this matter will benefit Korea in every way, so there is no need to worry that Li Li will oppose Hai Han's approach.
Although Li Yi failed to achieve his goal, he did not return empty-handed from this meeting. At least the shipbuilding industry will be strengthened, and the dependence on Hai Han in this area is expected to gradually decrease. This is far more meaningful than directly purchasing warships.