On April 21, 1928, Japan's Acting Consul General in Ji'nan, Nishida Koichi, reported to Japan: Zhang Zongchang rejected the Japanese army's request to intervene in Jinan, and threatened that once the Japanese army intervened, he would stop it at all costs! He even defected to the Northern Expeditionary Army.

That’s okay!

This made the Japanese cabinet extremely angry! Because at this time, 5,000 people from Lieutenant General Fukuda, commander of the Japanese Sixth Division, had left Qingdao to march to Jinan, and 460 people deployed from Tianjin to Jinan had also arrived! At this time, they actually learned that Zhang

Zong Chang refused the news and even sent troops to fight. How could this not make Japan angry?!

On the one hand, the Japanese cabinet urgently ordered Nishida Koichi to continue negotiating with Zhang Zongchang, even if he gave up some interests! The most important thing is to let them and the Northern Expedition continue to fight! It cannot stop, only a divided China is in line with Japan's interests in China!

On the other hand, Lieutenant General Fukuda, commander of the Sixth Division, was ordered to arrive in Jinan before April 25th! No matter how Zhang Zongchang reacts by then, Jinan must be captured! Japan must do it

The purpose is to interrupt the Northern Expedition here and let China continue to be divided between the north and the south!

They have done this kind of thing before. They sent troops during the first Northern Expedition. This was only their third time sending troops. After Koichi Nishida received a telegram from Japan personally sent by Prime Minister Tanaka Giichi,

Nishida Koichi asked to see Zhang Zongchang again, but Zhang Zongchang refused to see him. Instead, he stepped up his war preparations! This made Nishida Koichi anxious, but he was helpless for a while. After all, the only Japanese troops outside Jinan City at this time were from Tianjin.

Only 460 people were transferred!

Even if they were one to ten, Zhang Zongchang had more than 20,000 troops in Jinan City! So Nishida Koichi had to send a report to the country: Zhang Zongchang refused to negotiate and stepped up war preparations! It seemed that he had no intention of relying on the empire anymore.

After receiving a call from Koichi Nishida, Prime Minister Giichi Tanaka was silent for a long time. He convened cabinet members for another meeting. The content was about where Japan would stand in the Jinan Incident and what excuse it would use to send troops. To send troops, now for Japan

It is necessary, but the method of sending troops is particularly important! They cannot arouse the resentment of Britain and the United States. At this time, Baldy Chiang has cleared the obstacles to exchanges with Britain and the United States because of the "Nanjing Incident", and the two sides are flirting with each other.

At this time, in Japan's closed cabinet meeting, Japan's senior cabinet officials were having a heated discussion based on the telegram brought by Tanaka Giichi!

"Your Excellency Tanaka! There must be no mistakes in the empire's Manchuria-Mongolia strategy!" Japanese Army Minister Shirakawa Yoshinori took the urgent message from Nishida Koichi and loudly said: "China must be fought! Only their constant consumption and internal strife can

It is in the interest of the empire! A complete China is not a good thing for the empire!"

"The interests of Manchuria and Mongolia in the empire must be guaranteed, but we must also take into account the reactions of Britain and the United States and other countries! Shirakawa-kun!" Kisaburo Suzuki is currently the Minister of Internal Affairs of Japan. He is also a member of the Japan Constitutional Friendship Association. Compared with the radical military

faction, they are more focused on political influence rather than direct military intervention.

"If we were invited by Zhang Zongchang, even if it was a non-public treaty, then our march would be understandable. But if we didn't have this treaty and marched directly, what would Britain and the United States think?! Will they regard the empire as an enemy?

?! Or think that we like to use military force too much and feel threatened?! Then we turn to support the Guo Min Party?!" Suzuki Kisaburo looked at Shirakawa Yoshinori and said slowly: "You know, the attitude of Chiang Kai-shek in handling the 'Nanjing Incident'

The communication barriers between him and Britain and the United States have been cleared. In the eyes of Britain and the United States, he is an anti-red pioneer! Therefore, if we rush into the army rashly, no one can predict whether it will lead to a tilt in Britain and the United States' China policy! In that case, the interests of the empire will be more dangerous.

!”

After listening to Suzuki Kisaburo's words, all the cabinet officials fell silent. At this time, Britain and the United States were still giants to them. Even though Japan could compete with Britain and the United States in some aspects, the actual national strength of the two sides was still far apart! After all, Britain and the United States were still very different.

The industrial base and wealth accumulated by the colonies over the centuries are beyond their reach.

"However, if it is not stopped, the Northern Expeditionary Army can easily attack Beijing!" Navy Minister Okada Keisuke said slowly after being silent for a long time: "When the time comes, unified China will definitely first consider taking back the empire's interests in China.

After all, compared to countries such as Britain and the United States, the empire is always the weakest. With the support of Britain and the United States, our interests in China, especially those in Manchuria and Mongolia, will not be protected unless we launch a war."

Okada's words touched the hearts of the cabinet ministers. Now Japan can no longer lose any interests in China. After all, as a rising power, their colonies are limited. They finally won over China's interests.

Of course I don’t want to spit it out!

"In the final analysis, all we need is an excuse!" Minister Mitsuru Tadatsuo said slowly at this time: "Since it is an excuse, then we will send a telegram to Fukuda Hikosuke! Tell him to find an excuse to enter Jinan!

No matter what, we must drag the Northern Expeditionary Army to Jinan City, and then notify Fangze Qianji to try his best to persuade Zhang Zuolin to separate Manchuria and Mongolia!"

Everyone in the cabinet couldn't help but nodded after listening to Mitsudoshi Tadashi's words. This method is mature and prudent!

"The most important thing is: Zhang Zuolin must fulfill the "Four Civil Treaties" (the 21st) signed by the empire and the Beiyang government! He has delayed us for a long time, and we can't wait any longer!" Santu Zhongzao said fiercely

Said: "At least, we must capture Jinan in this North-South conflict in China! At the worst, we must control Jinan into another base of the empire!"

After hearing what Chuzo said, Suzuki Kisaburo hesitated for a while and looked at Chuzo and said: "Will this cause displeasure in Britain and the United States?! After all, we can send troops but we cannot stay in China for a long time, otherwise we will be exposed in our current form.

The strategy is detrimental to the empire."

After hearing this, Tanaka Yiichi nodded slowly and asked Army Minister Shirakawa Yoshinori: "Shirakawa-kun, do you think he can carry out the secret agreement between you and Suzuki-kun and Chiang Kai-shek?!"

The secret agreement between Japan and Chiang Kai-shek is a mystery that most people in later generations do not know. In fact, after Chiang Kai-shek was out of power for the first time, he traveled east to Japan and reached a secret agreement with the then Army Minister Shirakawa Yoshinori and Chief of Staff Suzuki Shorokuro. Four major

Secret agreement: (1) Chiang CSI recognized Japan’s special rights and interests in Manchuria; (2) Chiang CSI resolutely fought against the Red Army to the end; (3) Japan supported Chiang CSI’s regime; (4) Japan lent Chiang CSI 40 million yen to help Chiang CSI stabilize China.

, economic cooperation between China and Japan, etc.

Chiang CSI reached a secret agreement with Shirakawa Yoshinori and Chief of Staff Shorokuro Suzuki, and it was signed by Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Giichitatsu and came into effect. Chiang CSI then returned to China with huge sums of money to make a comeback!

"Chiang Zhongzheng cannot be trusted! This man is extremely cunning, and he often breaks his promises and gets rich!" Shirakawa Yoshinori thought for a while, then slowly said: "After he became the commander of the Guo Min Party, he immediately became closely connected with Britain and the United States!

It looks like he doesn’t want to fulfill these secret agreements at all! According to my personal judgment, this person is worse than Zhang Zuolin! At least Zhang Zuolin will take into account some of our interests, and Chiang Zhongzheng is a complete politician, he only wants what he wants!"

Tanaka Yiichi was silent for a long time after listening to Shirakawa Yoshinori's words. He slammed the table with a loud "bump!" and said fiercely: "Call Lieutenant General Fukuda Hikosuke. You must leave Jinan City before the Northern Expeditionary Army has entered after Zhang Zongchang's defeat."

Capture Jinan in front of Jinan City! Delay the Northern Expedition to me! Even if you provoke trouble and attack them, you will not hesitate! Inform Yoshizawa Kenkichi and ask him to prevent the north-south merger at all costs! Since Chiang Zhongzheng is already untrustworthy

People, then we might as well continue to support Zhang Zuolin! No matter what, China must be divided! It cannot affect the imperial strategy!"

"Hi!" After receiving the order from Tanaka Yiichi, all the members of the cabinet did not dare to neglect, and immediately stood up solemnly, nodded and bowed in response!

Late at night on April 21, 1928, Lieutenant General Fukuda Hikosuke, the commander of the Japanese Sixth Division, received an urgent call from Tokyo! He was required to arrive in Jinan before April 25 and arrive before the Northern Expeditionary Army entered Jinan.

Capture the city of Jinan! Delay the progress of the Northern Expeditionary Army's offensive, and support the pro-Japanese forces in Jinan! He will not hesitate to use force to delay the Northern Expeditionary Army!

On April 21, 1928, Fang Zhenwu, commander-in-chief of the Fourth Army, led Ruan Xuanwu's 34th Army, Bao Gang's 41st Army, Gao Guizi's 47th Army and Yu Nianci's independent

The cavalry division was on the left wing, starting from Jining, which the Fang troops had captured on the 20th, and continuing to advance north, while the remnants of the Lu army Zhang Zongchang's disastrous defeat from Jining retreated to the Tai'an area...

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Chapter completed!