Chapter 359 You Might as Well Plant Corn

In the year 1947 that was about to pass, Khrushchev's life was actually not good. After the war, he was the top leader in Ukraine until Kaganovich parachuted into Ukraine.

Kaganovich was a contemporary of Khrushchev, and the two were almost the same age. This made Khrushchev, who had stepped down from the top position to a supporting position, almost see no hope for the future, especially in response to the measures taken to deal with last year's drought. The huge loss of points in front of Stalin made Khrushchev quite depressed this year.

Especially this time when he and Shepilov came to Berlin, Khrushchev felt even more pessimistic about his prospects.

Shepilov is a rising star in politics in every aspect. He and Shepilov actually completed a task together. No matter how he thought about it, he could not be optimistic about the future.

Before the two arrived in Berlin, Alan Wilson also received a list of opponents for this negotiation. Of course, Khrushchev's name was not included. The Soviet representative for this negotiation was Shepilov.

The name is also unfamiliar to Alan Wilson, the man who succeeded Molotov as foreign minister after Stalin's death. However, his time as Foreign Minister was very short-lived and he disappeared from Soviet politics.

There is no controversy. Like Shelepin, Kosygin and other accomplished high-level Soviet cadres, people who are familiar with it may just sigh: "Would it be better if the country let him manage it?"

However, people like them cannot reach the highest position. They lack a fighting spirit, which is not a spirit of fighting against themselves, but a spirit of fighting against others.

In the appointment of cadres in the Soviet Union, excluding those who are promoted through normal channels, there are two extremes. One is the evergreens like Mikoyan, Gromyko, Kunayev, and Andropov; They stay in one position for as little as ten years or as long as several decades, until they finally retire or get promoted.

The other type is like Shelepin and Shepilov, who have knocked on the door of the central government in their thirties and entered the decision-making level in their forties.

If Shepilov successfully survives the Khrushchev period, he is likely to become Brezhnev's political opponent. Because the two were of similar age and had very similar political trajectories, Shepilov's resume was even more impressive during the war.

The foreign minister who was able to become the later foreign minister was already a big shot in the eyes of Alan Wilson. He did not know that a bigger figure than Shepilov had arrived in Berlin, Khrushchev, who was in the stage of being beaten by Stalin.

Although he did not know about Khrushchev's arrival, he knew that the Soviet representative was Shepilov, and Alan Wilson was very happy. Although Shepilov passed by like a comet,

However, he promoted détente during his tenure.

In the 1990s, the Soviet Union no longer existed. On his deathbed, Shepilov left his last words and concluded, "I have never relied on anyone. I have my own mind to judge things."

Such an opponent is at least sensible, and Alan Wilson feels that he will not face too many unreasonable demands.

There is no doubt that he now wants to knock on the door of the Soviet market. British India is about to become independent. Of course, Britain will definitely maintain its privileges over the subcontinent as much as possible, but after all, it can do whatever it wants without direct rule.

If we can knock on the door of the Soviet market at this time, it will be another big boost to the UK's already improving economy.

Trade is nothing more than making up for each other's weaknesses. As a high-latitude country, the Soviet Union had no reason to reject Britain.

"There won't be any difficulties, right?" Aiful already knew the purpose of Alan Wilson's visit to Berlin. As a British foreign affairs officer in Berlin, Aiful certainly knew about the stubbornness of the Soviets, and expressed his worries at this time.

"I have seen many battles. From New Delhi to Mumbai, I have traveled across the sub-continent and I am invincible." Although Alan Wilson was not very confident in his heart, he could not show his timidity in front of Aiful, and expressed his emotion that he was invincible in the world. .

In the past two days, Alan Wilson also prepared some information and decided to scare the Soviet Union.

He knew that the Soviet Union was actually focusing on its post-war vested interests in the early days after World War II and did not actually want to fall out with the West.

The most critical thing is that the situation in Ukraine has not calmed down with the end of the war. At least there are still many anti-Soviet armed forces in Ukraine. The importance of Ukraine to the Soviet Union is clear to any key politician.

In the evening, news came from the Soviet Union that the negotiation point this time was still at the Potsdam Palace, which was equivalent to the conditions that Alan Wilson had to face an away game, and the news was sent back to London at the same time.

Alan Wilson set out with a few diplomats and MI5 agents. The next day, he returned to the Potsdam Palace, the place where the Big Three had met, to continue negotiations with the Soviet Union.

"Dear allies, we meet again." This was the first sentence Alan Wilson said when he met Shepilov. The Cold War has not officially broken out yet, and there is no problem in calling the Soviet Union allies. At this time, The Labor government also considered the Soviet Union to be a dubious ally.

"Hello, Mr. Allen." Shepilov took the initiative to extend his hand and shake hands with the other person as an expression of friendship.

That's all the goodwill the two sides showed, and the subsequent negotiations were far from as friendly as the greeting.

Alan Wilson mentioned the Rolls-Royce engine contract and said that in view of the Soviet Union's record of intellectual property rights, it is completely reasonable for the United Kingdom to review this transaction, and the Soviet Union has nothing to complain about.

Because of this, there is unfairness in the trade issues between the two countries. Alan Wilson said that the Soviet Union should open up the import of rubber and tin ore to balance the trade between the two sides. Trade should complement each other's strengths rather than one country taking advantage.

"The Soviet Union has been exporting timber and food to help Britain and even Western European countries complete reconstruction." Shepilov frowned, "And Mr. Allen, I personally don't appreciate your wording. You seem to have a condescending tone. Making unilateral demands on the Soviet Union is not the way to solve the problem."

"Can you try buying engines from the United States?" Alan Wilson said disapprovingly, "Do you think the Americans care about you?"

A country like the United States will never make some mistakes. How many idiots like the Soviet Union are there in the world to support an agricultural country into an industrial country from scratch? Forget about civilian industry, even military industry will help with construction?

Regarding Shepilov's rebuttal, Alan Wilson acted as if he didn't hear it, and his attitude was whether you like it or not. After passing this village, there is no such shop. What I regret is the Soviet Union.

"I heard that Mr. Allen has been working in the colonies for a long time. This time he may have got the wrong target. The Soviet Union is a powerful country, not a colony." Shepilov sneered, "The United Kingdom is not that strong in the eyes of us Soviets. , I know that some White Russians who escaped are walking around in European countries with the illusion of cowardice. This kind of behavior is nothing more than a bereaved dog begging its owner to throw two bones. After this war, I believe no one underestimates the power of the Soviet Union. ."

Wasn't this Stalin's response to European countries looking down on the Soviet Union before the war broke out?

"Mr. Shepilov has misunderstood. Of course I will not listen to the propaganda of some imperial Russian nobles one-sidedly like some people before the war." Alan Wilson waved his hand and said that he was not that kind of person, and then the conversation changed slowly. He swallowed and said, "But I believe that a country that has killed 20 million of its core population does not currently have the ability to restart the war. Why doesn't the Soviet Union announce its population losses? Now we all know how many people were lost in Germany, and how many people were lost in the Soviet Union. What? If you don’t announce it, you are being ulterior. If the Soviet Union releases the figures after this meeting, it can also be considered fake and just an official article to stabilize people’s hearts.”

"Do you think what I said is right?" At this point, Alan Wilson turned to ask the diplomats and agents beside him.

"Of course." For different reasons, both diplomats and military intelligence agents believed that Alan Wilson's words were correct.

On the contrary, the Soviet representatives were completely silent. The Soviet Union did not announce the population losses after the war. The British people in front of them are so determined, which makes people feel unsure.

"This is nothing more than a confused guess." Shepilov said gloomily, "British diplomats have always had a great reputation, but now they are very disappointing, using unfounded information to blackmail them."

"This is not blackmail, right? Isn't it a reasonable guess? Maybe Mr. Shepilov wants to tell me? When the German army attacked the Soviet Union, Qiu did not commit any crime. Except for the soldiers who died in the battle, no one in the Soviet Union died? Did the aggressor troops love and care for the Soviet people as if they were the people of their own country?"

Alan Wilson said sarcastically, "Then why do so many countries fight to the end? If Germany rules the world, maybe everyone will be better off."

In the first negotiation, Alan Wilson used the old blackmail method again. Taking the Soviet Union's population loss as a starting point shows that at present, the Soviet Union does not have the conditions for a lion to open its mouth.

It was not until the meeting came to an end that Alan Wilson briefly mentioned the requirements of the engine export contract. For the first batch of 300 engines, full payment must be paid first, and then Rolls-Royce will wait for shipment.

Shepilov was very indignant about this and said that this was an obvious blackmail. The two parties broke up unhappy and contacted each other at home. Before leaving, Shepilov solemnly declared, "The underestimation of Soviet technology may It would cost the UK a good contract."

"I have never underestimated the Soviet Union's technology, but some things are not a matter of technology." Alan Wilson said disapprovingly, "It's like growing corn in the high-latitude permafrost zone of Siberia. It's only a matter of success. Otherwise, just try it. try?"