Early May, 1941.
In the office.
Lin Zheng, as a time traveler, had a clear understanding of the historical timeline.
Lin Zheng knew that a massive famine was brewing in Henan Province!
Lin Zheng knew that the province had already suffered a wheat harvest failure in 1941, and in 1942, there was no rain at all! A massive famine gradually erupted in the Henan region, leading to the death of approximately 3 million people.
As a time traveler, Lin Zheng couldn't accept the outbreak of the famine.
In his office, Lin Zheng dialed a long-distance call to Chiang Kai-shek.
"Beep..."
Lin Zheng directly stated the cause of the famine.
Chiang Kai-shek listened intently on the other end of the Red Alert phone.
Chiang Kai-shek gradually furrowed his brow. He knew this famine was terrifying, but his current capabilities were extremely limited; his own grain supply was simply insufficient!
How could Chiang Kai-shek possibly deal with a famine under these circumstances?
Chiang Kai-shek: "Damn it, I'll think of a way to deal with the famine."
Lin Zheng didn't want to give the other party face at this time, so he directly exposed their true thoughts.
"Chairman, you don't have enough grain to solve the problem, do you? Your grain has all been sold off!"
Since taking office as chairman, few people in the Republic of China had dared to directly expose Chiang Kai-shek's thoughts. Lin Zheng's lack of respect turned the chairman's face red.
"Damn it! Yes!!"
Lin Zheng chuckled a few times, prepared to solve the famine himself, hung up the satellite phone, and ignored the embarrassed and furious Chiang Kai-shek.
...
To solve the famine, there are typically two methods.
One is to prevent the outflow of grain from the province, and the other is to have enough grain to provide relief.
The Japanese had four independent mixed brigades in the province. The independent mixed brigade's organization was separate from the divisions, with cavalry, artillery, and engineering units, totaling 5,000 to 7,000 personnel.
Independent mixed brigades could even be expanded into Class C divisions. The Japanese established 104 such brigades during World War II!
The commander was Lieutenant General Koten, who belonged to Prime Minister Tojo's faction. Prime Minister Tojo had already controlled the Japanese cabinet.
Lieutenant General Koten: "...Baka! Prime Minister Tojo sent me to collect grain, and I've only collected over a million bags of flour. Why are you so slow!?"
Lieutenant General Koten planned to retreat north after collecting the grain.
Lieutenant General Koten's dream was shattered because his northward retreat path was blocked.
The Red Alert Airborne Division had already completed training and was equipped with various advanced weapons, including RPG-7s, mortars, automatic rifles... The Red Alert Airborne Division had reclaimed a large amount of grain, which solved the problem of grain outflow. As long as it was allocated properly, it could deal with the famine.
...
Lin Zheng's second key point was providing enough grain relief.
Enough grain was easy to obtain in modern times, but it was not easy during World War II.
During World War II, the Great Powers, even the Japanese Empire, had limited domestic grain reserves. The Republic of China had even less, and most of its people were starving, with very little grain reserves.
Lin Zheng could solve this problem because of the agricultural development over the past two years.
The Red Alert base had a chemical plant to produce fertilizers for agricultural reform.
In addition to fertilizers, there was also a farmland plan that stretched across Australia and Southeast Asia.
Lin Zheng's relief grain exceeded 800 million kilograms.
Combined with the flour and grain that the Japanese hadn't managed to transport, it could solve the famine problem.
...
At this time, in the Chairman's mansion in Chongqing.
Chiang Kai-shek stroked his gleaming bald head and couldn't help but sigh.
Dai Li stood beside him.
Chiang Kai-shek: "Dai Li, you've had contact with Lin Zheng. Do you think he can solve the grain famine in one province?"
Dai Li thought carefully for a long time, "He should be able to solve the grain famine!"
Chiang Kai-shek's expression became serious as he contemplated, "Actually, I am aware of the severity of the grain problem. Even if we mobilize other provinces, it would be difficult to solve this famine."
"Even the Japanese Empire doesn't have much grain distribution, and even Britain and the United States don't have much."
Chiang Kai-shek turned to Dai Li and said.
"Damn it, do you understand the severity of the problem now? He's not just solving the problem of one province! Mobilizing grain for tens of millions of people in a single province, this is a level of grain mobilization that surpasses the Western powers!!"
"Grain is a vital strategic resource, and Lin Zheng has such a strategic resource for World War II.
"In World War II, whether it's Britain, France, Japan, Red Alert, or even the Soviet Union and the United States, they will all be drawn in. Now I can't see who will win."
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