102: Dragon country paved the red carpet to welcome Fang Le's state visit

China, Capital International Airport.

This was Fang Le's first time personally experiencing such a grand welcoming ceremony.

As he exited the cabin, he saw a long red carpet stretching from the bottom of the gangway.

On both sides of the red carpet, there were children holding flowers and wearing red scarves, innocent, lively, and enthusiastic. Additionally, there were etiquette ladies in cheongsams, an honor guard, red flag sedans for the welcome, and a large group of well-dressed, important-looking people.

The drummers and musicians played magnificent welcoming music.

As Fang Le, supporting himself on the gangway, stepped onto the red carpet on the ground, the first person in the welcoming party strode forward and extended a hand.

He was Minister of National Defense Dong Changjun. He wore a green Zhongshan-style military uniform adorned with many medals. Although over sixty, his expression was resolute, and his hair remained as black as ink.

Fang Le also shook his hand.

Dong Changjun smiled.

"Welcome, welcome, Commander Fang... We've finally met in person."

Dong Changjun's words implied both that the two had previously communicated via video on military equipment, and also alluded to the difficulty of Fang Le's current visit.

Being obstructed by the U.S. Military, blockaded in Darwin City, almost leading to a major war between two powers, and then the Anti-War Army's suggestion that turned the situation around, allowing Fang Le to successfully leave Australia.

If even one aspect hadn't been handled well, the global situation would not be as it is now.

Fang Le also sensed the profoundness in Minister Dong's words, nodding and saying, "Indeed, but after a long expedition, we have successfully taken this first step."

Minister Dong: "Please—"

Fang Le: "Please—"

Both sides smiled, shook hands, and observed all the proper etiquette.

This scene was captured by the official media present, and camera flashes flickered continuously.

At this moment, a reporter couldn't help but ask, "President Fang, may I ask what agenda your side hopes to achieve during this visit to China?"

Minister Dong raised his hand to stop him.

"Commander Fang has traveled a long way and is very tired. All interview questions can be raised at the upcoming press conference. Please make way, everyone."

Escorted by soldiers, Fang Le and Minister Dong boarded a Red Flag sedan, while Fang Le's accompanying personnel got into other official vehicles. The group drove along the designated secure channel towards the airport exit.

Soon, Minister Dong personally led Fang Le to the Capital State Guesthouse, a place specifically for hosting foreign leadership delegations, where all services were readily available, representing the highest level of hospitality.

In the President's suite arranged for Fang Le, he personally removed his mask, revealing his true appearance.

At this moment, Minister Dong had not yet left. Fang Le's action slightly surprised Minister Dong, but Minister Dong quickly adapted and said with a smile, "President Fang... you are young and promising, and as handsome as Pan An, enough to charm countless young women."

Since Fang Le landed in P City, H Province, and met his family, he had essentially exposed his original identity to the high-ranking officials of China, so there was no longer any need to conceal it.

Fang Le also laughed heartily, "You flatter me, you flatter me."

Minister Dong: "I wonder if President Fang is married. If not, I can introduce someone. I have a niece who just graduated from military academy this year."

He said this to build rapport by chatting about everyday matters.

In addition to official contacts, diplomacy between the two sides also requires a certain level of personal friendship.

After the casual chat, Minister Dong excused himself.

Fang Le rose to see him off, and the two shook hands in the corridor outside, speaking their final words:

"We'll meet again tomorrow."

Fang Le came to China with a mission, not for tourism.

Therefore, he had no time to waste and had to start the "negotiations" between the two sides tomorrow.

Early the next day, Fang Le's people and Minister Dong's people began negotiations in the specially designated meeting room at the State Guesthouse where Fang Le was staying.

Representatives from both sides filled the seats on either side of a long table.

Sitting at the head of the table for both sides were Fang Le, the leader of the Anti-War Army, and Minister of National Defense Dong Changjun.

In fact, Fang Le and Minister Dong were only present in name; the specific negotiation details were handled by their subordinates.

And while this was called a negotiation, it was actually a "cooperation."

Therefore, China first put forward its conditions:

"This is the first cooperation between our side and your side. To show our sincerity, our side will provide the following conditions."

"Our side will provide your side with a first batch of civilian goods totaling 1 billion RMB, including various daily consumption items for clothing, food, housing, and transportation. These goods will go through normal international trade channels, first arriving in Darwin City, and then Darwin City will be responsible for transporting them to places like Alice Springs for your army to receive."

"Our side will aid your side with a batch of military supplies totaling 10 billion RMB, including conventional firearms and equipment. This military aid will be directly transported to your army's base via sea and air as soon as a direct shipping lane is opened between our two sides."

"Our side will regularly conduct personnel and technical exchanges with your army, providing mutual guidance, including joint military exercises."

"Our side will subsequently send official representatives to your army to serve as diplomatic resident personnel and military observers, further facilitating unimpeded communication and exchange between both sides."

"Our side will engage in unlimited cooperation with your army in economic, trade, and other fields."

"Our side will speak out for your army on the international stage, on a reasonable and legitimate basis. Our side will officially recognize the legitimacy of your army's status within three months at the latest."

"Our side will protect all activities of your army outside Australian territory, in international waters, that do not violate international law..."

As the Chinese representatives articulated the so-called "conditions" one by one...

On the Anti-War Army's side, from Fang Le downwards, everyone was stunned.

This was not cooperation at all; it was entirely China unilaterally providing benefits to the Anti-War Army.

Moreover, these benefits covered every aspect, from military and economic to political.

Although, due to the Anti-War Army's deep penetration into enemy territory, land and air transportation could not be opened, and many cooperation clauses would only take effect when both sides opened shipping lanes, this was still incredibly impressive.

Since China was generous, Fang Le's side naturally couldn't be stingy.

He gave the other side a series of promises.

This included the Anti-War Army sharing all military intelligence it obtained with China, the Anti-War Army supporting China's diplomatic and military policies in future international forums, and the Anti-War Army engaging in lasting and comprehensive cooperation with China, among other things.

Overall, the Anti-War Army's promises were primarily verbal and theoretical.

However, the Chinese delegation did not pick a single fault with these theoretical promises from the Anti-War Army.

The two sides ultimately signed the cooperation terms into a "Memorandum of Cooperation."

The memorandum would remain valid until the next update of the cooperation terms between the two sides.

The negotiations concluded, followed by tedious paperwork. Fang Le and Minister Dong withdrew and met privately for a while.

Fang Le: "I have a question, Minister Dong. Why is China helping the Anti-War Army at such great cost and risk?"

Fang Le directly used the word "help," because since the Anti-War Army's emergence, what China had provided was truly help, and of an irreplaceable kind.

Minister Dong chuckled.

"People must help themselves before others will help them."

Minister Dong did not explain too thoroughly, but the meaning was clear.

When the Anti-War Army was still the Darwin City Defense Army, people around the world, including China, merely watched from afar, even if they paid attention.

But when the Anti-War Army successfully repelled the U.S. encirclement, completed its strategic transfer, and established its own base, the Anti-War Army had already proven its strength.

International affairs are like this: you have to have strength to qualify for cooperation.

Of course, in this process, Fang Le's Chinese ethnicity, the fact that most members of his army were also of Chinese descent, and his promotion of the mass line within the army, all increased China's natural affinity and trust towards the Anti-War Army.

Fang Le smiled in response, then suddenly became serious.

"Since China trusts my Anti-War Army so much..."

"Then this time, I think the additional transaction between the Anti-War Army and China can begin."

"Ouyang... please invite Chief Engineer Qian over."

Minister Dong was taken aback, not knowing what Fang Le meant.

Could it be that Fang Le had another transaction in mind for this trip?