Manstein's face instantly went pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
He hadn't expected the other man to be so blunt, giving him no face at all.
"Ahem..." He coughed awkwardly twice, then hurriedly changed the subject. "We Prussians are practical. Unlike certain island nations, who have nothing but stirring up trouble on their minds and only care about their own interests. We sincerely want to be friends with you, General!"
As he spoke, he also subtly slandered the British.
Zhang Xueming acted as if he hadn't caught the insinuation and merely nodded faintly.
"Mm, you're right."
"So I don't intend to sell the Type 2 Tank to the British."
Manstein was delighted.
"As for the kind of Fighter Jet you've been dreaming about—the one used in the surprise attack on Wafangdian—I might consider selling that to them."
Manstein's smile froze on his face as soon as Zhang Xueming finished speaking.
What kind of move was that?
Sell the strongest land-warfare weapon to Prussia, a land-power, and the strongest air-warfare weapon to Ying Country, a naval power?
Was he trying to keep them at each other's throats, balancing one against the other?
"General Zhang, you..."
"Don't rush." Zhang Xueming waved a hand, cutting him off.
"I won't sell you the Type 2 Tank."
Manstein's heart sank straight to the bottom.
"I'll sell you the production line."
The next second, Manstein jerked his head up. His pupils contracted violently, and his face was full of disbelief.
Sell... sell the production line?!
How... how could that be possible?
Weren't weapons this revolutionary supposed to be kept as the highest state secret?
"I think your 88-millimeter Anti-aircraft gun is quite good." Zhang Xueming ignored his shock and continued as if to himself. "Have you ever thought about mounting it on a tank chassis? Making some Self-Propelled Artillery, specifically for taking out tanks?"
"Then whatever kind of tank it is, one shell per target. What could be better?"
Zhang Xueming's words were like a bolt of lightning, splitting the fog in Manstein's mind.
That was right!
Use an Anti-aircraft gun to fire directly at tanks!
The idea was so crazy—and so ingenious!
Seeing Manstein's astonished yet ecstatic expression, Zhang Xueming smiled.
He added, unhurriedly:
"Of course, as for the price..."
"You know how it is."
Manstein came back to his senses, his face flushing with excitement. He nodded vigorously. "I understand! I understand! The price is no problem!"
In the lounge.
The members of the Ying Country delegation shifted restlessly in their seats. Montgomery in particular kept looking at his watch, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
"Sir, could those Prussian bastards have gotten there first?" he asked Humphrey anxiously.
Humphrey held his teacup, his expression gloomy, and said nothing.
Just then, the door opened.
Zhang Xueming walked in alone.
"General Montgomery, you look like you're in quite a hurry. Are you hoping to buy our J-1 Fighter Jet?" Zhang Xueming pulled out a chair and sat down with commanding ease.
"Yes! General Zhang!" Montgomery charged forward in a single stride, his manner almost ingratiating. "As long as you're willing to sell, we can negotiate the price! We can give you anything! We can even send you our most beautiful palace..."
"Stop right there." Zhang Xueming raised a hand to cut him off.
"The J-1 is precious to us. It's not for sale."
Montgomery's face instantly fell, like an eggplant struck by frost.
"But..." Zhang Xueming changed tack. "In light of our long-standing friendship, I can sell you the blueprints for an export-version production line, along with the complete technical package."
"As for its performance, it'll be just a tiny bit worse than the J-1. But it'll still be more than enough to crush every other plane in the world."
Montgomery was stunned.
A production line?
Blueprints?
This happiness had come so suddenly!
"Furthermore, I'll throw in another technology." Zhang Xueming held up a finger and said mysteriously, "Incendiary Gasoline Bomb technology. In other words, bombs that can spread burning liquid, as you call them."
"Just imagine: entire squadrons of planes, carrying these bombs, flying over an enemy fleet or city..."
Montgomery didn't dare imagine any further. His blood was boiling.
That was a weapon fit for a god!
"Of course, the price will be very high." Zhang Xueming looked at his feverish expression and spoke slowly.
Montgomery's heart pounded in his chest.
A production line!
Blueprints!
And... Incendiary Gasoline Bomb technology!
This was a gift only the gods could bestow!
He felt his very soul trembling, and his happiness nearly swept him away.
Yet Zhang Xueming's words, "the price will be very high," dragged him back down from the clouds.
"Zhang Shaoshuai, my friend..."
Montgomery rubbed his hands together, his face piled with ingratiating smiles.
"You see, although our Great Ying Empire was on the winning side, the national treasury was emptied by this war."
"There are hungry mouths everywhere, and we... we're really a little short on funds."
He began to play for sympathy, hoping to win Zhang Xueming's compassion.
"Could you... lower the price a little?"
Zhang Xueming picked up his teacup and gently blew the tea leaves floating on top. He didn't even raise his eyes.
"General Montgomery."
"How many colonies does your Empire on which the sun never sets have around the world? How much money do you collect from them every year?"
"A camel, even when thin as a rake, is still bigger than a horse."
"Don't try to make me feel sorry for you. It won't work."