Chapter 680 Grain for Machines (14th)

"Joseph, please contact the Germans recently. We need to buy all kinds of their machinery and equipment. The civil war has dealt a heavy blow to Russia's already fragile industry. Now that the civil war is coming to an end, we must hurry up. We need to develop our industry, let our industry recover and even become stronger," Ulyanov said.

"Yes, Comrade Chairman. However, do we still have money to buy German machinery and equipment? The Germans are only serious about gold and silver." Joseph said with some embarrassment.

The cloth party was originally relatively poor, and even now, it has not been able to solve the problem of food and clothing for the people. Although they took a lot of wealth when they overthrew the Romanov dynasty. However, some of them were swallowed up by those who participated in the revolution. Some of it went to Germany as war reparations. The rest is used as military expenses, which is almost consumed in the civil war.

It can be said that if the cloth party had not implemented the rationing system, they would have gone bankrupt long ago.

Under such circumstances, it is undoubtedly more difficult to purchase machinery and equipment from Germany.

"Can we get a loan from the Germans? Use the loan to buy machinery and equipment," Kamenev proposed.

"I'm afraid this is unlikely. Before our revolution succeeded, the Germans would use us to deal with Tsarist Russia, so they would spare no effort to support us. But now, the situation is different. If we become stronger, we will be against them It also poses a threat. Therefore, the Germans are unlikely to support us as before." Joseph was a little worried.

Ulyanov nodded, he knew that Joseph's worries were completely correct. Before the cloth party overthrew Tsarist Russia, they were pawns that the Germans could use. And now, they have changed from pawns to potential enemies of the Germans.

"Kaiser Wilhelm III is a very shrewd person. I really don't understand why he would continue to support us. If we want to buy machinery and equipment from the Germans, I'm afraid we have to pay real money That's it." Joseph continued.

"It doesn't work for the Germans, what about the Americans? Can the Americans give us loans?" Kamenev asked.

"The American army has just withdrawn from Russia. In addition, the Americans are completely businessmen, so it will be even more difficult to get a loan from them." Joseph shook his head.

The senior leaders of the cloth party and the military in the office were all silent. Although the revolution is about to be completely successful, the crisis they are facing has not diminished at all! For them, the road ahead is still very slim.

"Comrades, the current situation is very critical. But I believe that with the support of the people, we will be able to win!" Ulyanov cheered everyone up, and he did not want them to lose confidence.

"Although we have no money, we still have other things to exchange with the Germans. Whether it is food, timber or other mineral resources, we have abundant reserves. Whatever the Germans want, we can give them! As long as If we can exchange machinery and equipment from the Germans, we will soon become stronger. At that time, we will naturally not have to be afraid of the Germans," Ulyanov said.

"Yes, we can exchange with the Germans. Comrade Joseph, do you think the Germans will agree to this?" Trotsky also said.

"I don't know, but I am willing to talk to the Germans. Comrade Chairman, I will do my best to facilitate a deal with the Germans," Joseph said.

"Very good, Comrade Joseph. I hope you will succeed this time. The people will never forget your achievements," Ulyanov said.

"Comrade Chairman, this is what I should do!" Joseph said. But he was very happy in his heart. He didn't care that the people seemed to remember his exploits, as long as Ulyanov did. In this way, after Ulyanov went to see Marx, he would be able to inherit Ulyanov's position. Power and status are the most important to Joseph.

"Comrade Chairman, there is one more thing to report to you. The guerrillas we established in the German-occupied areas reported. A large number of German troops are marching to the above-mentioned areas. We judge that the Germans may be about to attack those guerrillas. The Germans The strength is too strong and the equipment is excellent. Our guerrillas may not be their opponents. I suggest that the guerrillas be withdrawn to preserve their strength." Trotsky suggested.

"Withdraw?" Ulyanov frowned.

"If we withdraw, wouldn't our previous efforts be in vain? I hope our guerrillas can take root in that land and persist in fighting the Germans. Only in this way, the people there will remember I am a Russian. Otherwise, the people will soon forget their identity and ours. In that case, will it be possible for us to regain that piece of territory in the future?" Ulyanov was determined, obviously not Agree to the retreat of the guerrillas.

After signing the "Brest Treaty", Ulyanov regretted it a bit. After all, in the treaty, their losses were too great. This also made Ulyanov obsessed with that piece of land. That's why Trotsky was asked to form guerrillas in those places, so that one day when they attack Germany, they can get the support of these guerrillas and defeat the German army under the internal and external attacks.

Another reason is to maintain their influence over the people there, lest they be forgotten by the people. Once it is forgotten by the people, those territories are really lost.

"Yes, Comrade Chairman." Trotsky nodded. However, he sighed inwardly. He knew that the guerrillas would definitely suffer heavy losses this time. How could they hold on in the face of the encirclement and suppression of the German army armed to the teeth?

The next day, Joseph set off to leave Moscow, preparing to rush to Berlin to hold a secret meeting with the German government to discuss the exchange of grain and other agricultural products and mineral resources for machinery and equipment. Joseph is still very concerned about the tasks assigned by Ulyanov. The more Ulyanov valued him, the more likely he would become Ulyanov's heir in the future.

However, even so, Joseph was not sure whether he could successfully complete the tasks assigned by Ulyanov during this trip to Germany.