"I know a little bit about the Japanese coveting North China. What do you mean by a peace offensive?" The young marshal was a little confused.
Everyone else also looked suspicious, but no one dared to ask questions casually.
"In fact, it is to use money and status to seduce those who are not determined, to seduce them to promote the independence or semi-independence of North China, and further undermine the control of the Republic of China government over North China," Lu Ming said.
"Well, they have always wanted to split China, so that the Chinese people will be in chaos first, so that they can take advantage of the opportunity to cause chaos." The young marshal frowned and said to the point.
"I think this is the step taken by the Japanese military in planning to further invade China, to divide it first and then eat it." Lu Ming boldly expressed his thoughts.
"From the information you got, who are they planning to attack?" the young marshal asked.
"I have a list of names and resumes of the parties here. They are the targets that the Japanese government is planning to attack or hunt. Please take a look."
Lu Ming opened his wallet, took out a stack of paper and handed it to the young marshal.
The young marshal took a look, and then asked the adjutant to distribute the list to everyone present.
"Song Zheyuan, Zhang Zizhong, Wang Yitang, Yan Xishan, Han Fuju, Shang Zhen, Wu Peifu..."
This is a long list, including almost all the upper-class figures in North China provinces. Even Wu Peifu, who has long been living in seclusion, is on the list.
Lu Ming continued: "The Japanese side summarized this peace offensive as an autonomous operation for the five provinces of North China, with the purpose of dividing the five provinces of North China from China's territory and further weakening China's anti-Japanese strength."
"Young Marshal, this little Japanese ambition is absolutely intolerable. You can lead us back and fight back. First stabilize North China and then regain our hometown in the Northeast." A Northeastern Army general stood up angrily and said.
"It has only been more than two years since the Songhu Anti-Japanese War. The Japanese are not honest anymore. I don't know what Chairman Chiang thinks. Are they just watching the little Japan push for more?" Hu, another general who is slightly older and has a higher rank.
He stared wide-eyed.
Everyone also expressed their opinions in a flurry of opinions. Basically, they all believed that they could not sit idly by and the day had come to settle accounts with Little Japan.
"Calm down, calm down. The closer the critical moment is, the more calm you must be." The young marshal waved his hand.
"Young Marshal, we must not sit still and wait for death. If the five provinces of North China fall into the hands of the Japanese, we will never be able to return home." A general said with tears.
Lu Ming said nothing. He understood the feelings of these people, but with the hundreds of thousands of troops in the Northeast Army, it was undoubtedly impossible to fight back to the Northeast.
The issue now is not whether we can regain the territory of Northeast China. The top priority is whether we can protect North China. North China has reached a critical moment.
"When did the Japanese start implementing this plan? Do you have reliable information?" the young marshal asked.
"The official start will be next summer, but now they have begun to infiltrate the people on the list." Lu Ming said.
"Does the government know about this situation?" the young marshal asked.
"I've already reported it, I don't know if the higher ups will take it seriously." Lu Ming said with a bitter smile.
He reported to the Nanjing Military Commission at noon. According to his idea, the Nanjing Military Commission should immediately convene all members to discuss and study ways to counter Japan's plan.
If this is the case, the young marshal should have been recalled to Nanjing for a meeting. After all, he is the deputy commander-in-chief of the national army. However, the young marshal still held a dance party at home, which shows that Nanjing has no intention of responding immediately.
"This information is very important. Is the source reliable?" the young marshal asked.
"Reliable. My people received information from the Japanese government and the Japanese military headquarters, and confirmed it from the Kwantung Army headquarters. This peaceful offensive was jointly launched by the Kwantung Army and the Tianjin Garrison Army. Dohihara, the head of the Kwantung Army's secret service agency
He is the main person responsible for this operation."
"Brother Lu, it's not that I don't believe you. Your people haven't had much time to go to Japan. How could they possibly know the plans of the Japanese government and military? Could it be that the Japanese deliberately released false information to confuse us?" A general asked.
Asked in doubt.
Lu Ming smiled. He opened his wallet again and took out a document, which was all in Japanese.
"These are the minutes of a joint meeting between the Japanese government and the military. The peace offensive is an official document drawn up based on the minutes. This document has been approved by the emperor."
He handed the document to the young marshal, who read it and passed it on to everyone.
The generals of the Northeast Army often dealt with the Japanese in the past, and they knew some Japanese. Even if they were not proficient in Japanese, they could still understand a document, and they were all familiar with the format of Japanese documents.
"Oh, this seems to be true."
"Well, it does look like an official text."
"This is the official text of this plan. There is nothing to doubt."
…
Lu Ming smiled and said to everyone again: "I can only guarantee the accuracy of the intelligence, but I cannot tell you the source of the intelligence. This is top secret. It's not that I don't believe you. This is the highest decision of the Nanjing Military Commission."
The young marshal nodded and said, "Don't have any doubts. My brother has taken responsibility for bringing this document to everyone."
Lu Ming smiled and said: "I can't say responsibility. My eldest brother is the deputy commander-in-chief and has the right to know top-secret information."
The young marshal laughed at himself: "Don't laugh at me. I, the deputy commander-in-chief, am just a memorial tablet. I show it when needed and keep it in a drawer when not needed. I am not as good as Chen Cheng. Why do people like Yingqin have real power?"
The generals began to discuss in a flurry. It is said that there were many territories in North China that belonged to the Young Marshal, but now they belong to other people. However, the Young Marshal still has great influence in North China.
The old commander was the commander-in-chief of the Republic of China's navy, land and air force in Beijing, and he also made some arrangements in North China. Although he later returned to the pass due to the intense war in Northeast China, the forces remaining in North China should not be underestimated.
What everyone was discussing was how to use the Young Marshal's influence to do something in North China, at least to pave the way for the Northeastern Army to return to North China with honor.
Lu Ming smiled bitterly at the side. These generals really didn't know much about flowers falling in their dreams. They still dreamed of fighting back to North China and liberating the entire Northeast.
What do those powerful people in North China think? They don't even buy into the Republic of China government's account. How much face will they give to the young marshal?
What's more, this is a battle for territory and interests, not a matter of face at all. Historically, even fathers, sons, and brothers would not give in to each other.
After the Northeast Army withdrew from Northeast China, although the Marshal himself advocated resistance to Japan, he had no choice but to fall under the command of Commander-in-Chief Chiang Kai-shek. The Northeast Army was transferred to the front line to encircle and suppress the Red Army, which met with opposition from the people across the country.
The pain in the young marshal's heart can be imagined. Now that the Japanese want to expand further and have begun to pursue North China, his indignation is unimaginable by anyone in the world.
The discussion lasted for more than an hour, but no results were reached in the end. Others all hoped that the young marshal would come forward and shouted, as if all the provinces in North China could gather to respond.
However, among the generals of the Northeast Army, many of them are still living in the past glory of the old marshals and young marshals, and cannot see clearly the situation or reality.
Things are not what they used to be. Fortunately, the young marshal is still sober. What is the national situation like and what is going on with him personally? Looking at the country and the country from afar, one cannot rely on self-indulgence to accomplish things.
Of course, the young marshal could understand the feelings of his generals towards the Northeast, and was naturally very concerned about their mood, but he also knew that relying on passion and blood, it would be impossible to return to the imperial court with his troops.
The cruel reality told him that the Northeast Army alone could not march into North China, let alone recover Northeast China. If he wanted to hold North China, he must rely on the power of the Republic of China government.
This meeting was not originally the theme of today. It was held on the spur of the moment because Lu Ming had obtained information. It could only be regarded as a briefing meeting. How to deal with the situation in North China still requires long-term planning.
The young marshal announced the adjournment of the meeting, and all the generals stood up and naturally sang together, "My home is on the Songhua River in the Northeast, where there are soybeans and sorghum all over the mountains and plains, September 18th, September 18th..."
As they sang, all the generals, including the young marshal, burst into tears. Lu Ming also took out a handkerchief and kept wiping his eyes.
September 18th is a scar engraved on the hearts of all Northeastern Army soldiers. It is also a wound engraved on the hearts of the people across the country. No one will forget it, and it will always be engraved on the hearts of the Chinese people in the future.
The young marshal led Lu Ming out of the study and came to the hall on the first floor. The dance here had already begun, and everyone found their partners to dance.
Just coming out of the impassioned and tragic mood in the study room upstairs, and then hearing the melancholy sounds downstairs, Lu Ming felt like he was in a dream.
Sheng Youde once told him: What is war? Look at the essence through the phenomenon. On the one hand, it is glory and sacrifice, on the other hand, it is debauchery and shamelessness.
These are two extremes of human nature, but they are fully reflected in war.
At this moment, Lu Ming thought of the white mountains and black waters, and the people of that land that carried glory and sacrifice, blood and death. What kind of life were they living?