Chapter 1099: Use small things to make big things happen
Due to Marshal Zhang's ambition and lack of talent, there was a disconnect in the deployment of troops. In addition, the Japanese had ulterior motives in setting up obstacles layer by layer. As a result, the two ace main brigades of the Northeast Army, the 17th and 15th, which were defending in Manchuria, were defeated by heavy Soviet troops and aircraft and artillery.
With the cooperation of tanks, the siege lasted for more than a month without any assistance, and finally the entire army was wiped out.
The two most powerful units in the Northeast Army were completely annihilated by the Soviet army, and the subsequent battles presented a one-sided situation. On November 27, the Soviet army severely damaged the 9th Brigade of the Northeast Army and then occupied Hailar. On September 8, they then occupied Suifenhe, Northeast China.
The situation fell into crisis instantly.
Faced with the huge sacrifices of the Northeast Army, Marshal Zhang completely underestimated the direction of the war and had no emergency measures at all. In panic, he could only submit a ceasefire request to the Soviet army. This day was November 26, 1929.
On December 20, under the mediation of the United States, Marshal Zhang was forced to sign the "Protocol of the Sino-Soviet Union Conference" with the Soviet Union. According to the agreement, China not only failed to take back the slightest right in the Middle East Route, but also lost Heixiazi Island.
Zhou Wen believed that it was the failure of the Middle East Route War that completely destroyed the spirit of Marshal Zhang and the Northeast Army.
In particular, the Northeastern Army, which considered itself to be a strong force, was beaten to a pulp against Lao Maozi. So, wouldn't it be even worse if it faced the Japanese army that defeated Lao Maozi in the Russo-Japanese War?
Since then, the Northeastern Army, including Marshal Zhang, became even more fearful of the Japanese army and no longer had the slightest confidence to fight against it.
Moreover, Marshal Zhang, who lacked sufficient knowledge of the Japanese ambitions, not only had fear but also had an unrealistic sense of luck when the Japanese attacked Beida Camp in Shenyang.
Just because when the Northeastern Army was defeated in the Middle East Route War, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nanjing National Government notified the signatories of the Non-War Pact, requesting the Soviet Union to stop. In the end, thanks to the intervention of the great powers, the Soviet Union agreed.
armistice.
Therefore, this time Marshal Zhang also imagined that he could get the mediation of the great powers and get the Japanese army to cease the war.
It is a pity that the Japanese are different from the Soviets. The Soviets' strategic focus is in Europe. Although they also have ambitions for China's territory, because they were internationally isolated by the Western powers at the time, they were afraid of causing public anger. In addition, they were in the Far East.
Their military strength was not enough to launch a large-scale war, so they borrowed donkeys to go downhill and agreed to a ceasefire.
Anyway, Maozi took advantage and also gave the United States some face. It can be said that he killed two birds with one stone.
However, the Japanese are different. The little devils are not here to take advantage of you, but to swallow you whole without spitting out any bones.
What's the point of stopping the Lie emphasis? I can't even open the pot at home. How can I live if I don't rob you and take advantage of you?
Therefore, Marshal Zhang, who underestimated the ambitions of the Japanese and lacked the courage to fight them. At the same time, he also fantasized about letting the League of Nations mediate, and issued a non-resistance order that was deeply hated by later generations of Chinese people.
As a result, the three northeastern provinces were easily occupied by more than 20,000 Japanese troops. It also caused him and many officers and soldiers of the Northeast Army to never have the opportunity to set foot on their hometown again in this life.
The principal naturally has his responsibility, so that he will continue to be condemned in the history of later generations.
However, the person who is most responsible is the incompetent, courageous and ignorant Marshal Zhang.
Of course, these are just Zhou Wen's hidden views in his heart, and naturally he cannot express them openly to the principal.
Seeing the principal's signal, Zhou Wen continued to state his opinion.
"Therefore, I believe that those who are most likely to be unable to endure such a long period of time are probably the middle and low-level Japanese officers. Because they have underestimated the combat power and determination of our Chinese army from the bottom of their hearts, and after the September 18th Incident,
I tasted the sweetness of provoking trouble without authorization."
"After the September 18th Incident, the Battle of Jehol and the Battle of the Great Wall, these Japanese officers and soldiers have experienced a series of victories, and their arrogance and arrogance have expanded to the extreme. Seeing the two most prosperous cities in northern China, Peking and Tianjin, are so close at hand.
If a wild wolf sees two pieces of fat near its mouth, how can it endure it?"
"So I believe that these Japanese troops will definitely continue to stir up trouble in the Pingjin area, and within 4-5 years at most, they will take the initiative to launch a new round of attacks with the intention of invading our Hebei area."
"Principal, please forgive me for being rude. I just want to ask, if the Japanese army stirs up trouble in our Pingjin area again in a few years, will we still have room to retreat? Will we negotiate with the Japanese army again and then bring Peking and Tianjin together?"
Will Tianjin, the heart of China, be surrendered to me?"
Faced with Zhou Wen's almost rude question, the principal did not get angry, but closed his eyes and pondered.
But at this time, he was a little shocked. He didn't expect that the opinions put forward by the little bandit in front of him were very reasonable, and they were also blind spots that were not considered in the staff's analysis.
The starting point for everyone, including the principal, to consider Sino-Japanese relations has always been to analyze the intentions of the Japanese government and the direction of Japanese public opinion, and international analysts also make speculations based on this.
However, looking at the military conflicts that have broken out between Japan and China in recent years, all of them were not led by the Japanese government, but were launched unilaterally by the local garrison, and they all won at a small cost.
This further indulged and inflated the Japanese army's gambler mentality of using small gains to make big gains.
Even on the second day of the September 18th Incident, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a special note to the Nanjing government, explaining that the Japanese government had no intention of going to war with China, and also promised to severely punish the perpetrators.
Because Japan's finances were on the verge of bankruptcy at that time, there was no military expenditure to fight the war. Some cabinet members had even proposed disarmament and reduction of military expenditures.
However, what shocked the whole world was that the Japanese army, which did not even have a division, only used one-third of their own ammunition reserves. In just three months, it took nearly 800,000 square meters.
Kilometers of land were collected, and the total value of the money snatched from various banks, businesses and private individuals in Shenyang exceeded 20 billion.
And this number does not include the finished products and machinery and equipment of major factories in Shenyang, including the Fengtian Arsenal, known as Asia's largest, and a large number of weapons and equipment.
And how much price did the Japanese army pay?
Speaking of this number will make all Chinese people feel ashamed and humiliated.
More than 20,000 Japanese troops attacked the three northeastern provinces with a population of 20 million, an area of 800,000 square kilometers, and 200,000 troops stationed. The cost was only 24 casualties and the consumption of ammunition and supplies worth 110,000 yen.
