In fact, there was a golden opportunity for China to take back the Middle East Road, which was in 1919 when the Soviet Union was first established.
In order to gain China's recognition and support, Lenin expressed his willingness to give up all the rights and interests seized by Tsarist Russia in China. By 1920, the Soviet Union issued the "Second Declaration on China", reiterating the principles of the first declaration and proposing peace and peace.
China’s intention to co-manage the Middle East Road.
However, the Soviet Union was a scourge at that time. The Beiyang government was afraid that after establishing diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, it would offend great powers such as Britain, France, and the United States, and ignored the two "good intentions" released by the Soviet Union.
At that time, Zhang Zuolin was not strong enough. Externally, he was busy playing tricks with Duan Qirui's Central Committee, and internally, he was busy trying to win over the power of the three eastern provinces. If he could free up his hands, he could just take back the Middle East Road by force, and he would probably get Lenin's support.
Appreciation. Because the Russian troops and staff stationed on the Middle East Road at that time were all remnants of Tsarist Russia and were considered "white bandits" in the eyes of the Soviet government.
Just one year after the "Second Declaration on China", the Soviet Union generally calmed down the domestic chaos and sent people to China for the third time. At this time, the Beiyang government gave up again and had no choice but to establish diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union under pressure, but Lenin had promised
The promise I made was broken.
What a great opportunity wasted!
In addition to railways, the Soviet Union controlled the Middle East Road, including telegraphs, telephones, mines, libraries, observatories, schools, etc.
At the beginning of the year, Zhang Xueliang ordered the withdrawal of telephone rights to the Middle East Road. The Soviet Union actually acquiesced and only demanded repayment of millions of telephone installation fees.
Even two months ago, Chang Kaishen, in order to deal with Feng Yuxiang and fearing that Zhang Xueliang and Feng Yuxiang would join forces, deliberately sent a secret message to Zhang Xueliang, saying that Feng Yuxiang organized a rebellion of the Party Protection and National Salvation Army, which was related to the Soviet consul in Harbin, and intended to completely turn the Northeast red.
Zhang Xueliang actually believed in such a low-level plan to sow discord, or he dared not believe it, because the Soviet Union did have various small tricks in the Northeast.
Zhang Xueliang took advantage of the situation to search the Soviet Consulate in Harbin and arrested the Consul General. A total of 39 Soviet officials and staff were arrested.
The Soviet Union actually did not want to go to war with the Northeastern Army because the country was implementing the First Five-Year Plan and was short of money and food and could not afford to fight. Faced with Zhang Xueliang's provocation, the Soviet Union promised that as long as Zhang Xueliang released the arrested people, the Soviet Union was willing to return part of the China Eastern Railway Administration
Permissions.
If it were Zhang Zuolin, Le Diantian would have agreed!
Perhaps it was the goodwill released by the Soviet Union that Zhang Xueliang regarded as a sign of weakness, which made him even more convinced that the Soviet Union was strong on the outside and capable on the inside. He was unwilling to take back the Middle East road step by step, but planned to do it once and for all. As long as this was done, he would not only be able to establish authority and consolidate power, but also
Alleviating the financial crisis in Northeast China will better make good relations with the Nanjing government and European and American powers.
In Beidaihe, Zhang Xueliang stayed in the Zhu family villa.
On July 10, the Middle East Road Incident broke out, and the Northeast Army forcibly took back various businesses on the Middle East Road.
It was already July 19th. Although the conflict between the two sides lasted for more than a week, there was no actual exchange of fire. The Soviet Union only sent troops to demolish key road and bridge facilities to stop the Northeast Army's offensive speed and buy time for the Soviet Union to dispatch reinforcements.
Zhang Xueliang was enjoying the cool air in the garden when his adjutant Zhu Guangmu hurried over with a telegraph newspaper: "Commander, there is an urgent call from Shenyang, please return quickly!"
"What's the matter?" Zhang Xueliang asked.
Zhu Guangmu said with a serious expression: "The Soviet Union announced that it had severed diplomatic relations with China because of the Middle East Road incident!"
Zhang Xueliang stood up awkwardly: "Is it so serious?"
Well, Zhang Xueliang still had a sense of luck, thinking that the Soviet Union was really strong on the outside and on the inside it would not dare to fight.
Zhang Xueliang took a look at the telegram and cursed angrily: "Chang Kaishen is a bastard!"
The telegram said that the Soviet Union had announced that it had severed diplomatic relations with China two days ago, and they learned this news through intelligence personnel in Tokyo...
It's just ridiculous.
For such a big event, the Nanjing government did not notify Zhang Xueliang. They still needed to get the news from the Japanese.
Chang Kaishen played this game insidiously and was determined to make Zhang Xueliang fight with the Soviet Union, so that he could find time to deal with Feng Yuxiang and Yan Xishan.
Zhang Xueliang cursed Chang Kaishen ten thousand times in his heart, suppressing his anger and said: "Get ready to go back to Shenyang!"
At this moment, Adjutant Hu Ruoyu came to report: "Commander, Mr. Zhou sent someone to deliver a letter."
"Let him come over." Zhang Xueliang said.
Sun Yonghao was led to the garden by his adjutant, who handed him a thick envelope and said, "Commander Zhang, sir, you asked me to tell you that you should never be indecisive when doing big things."
Zhang Xueliang took the letter, nodded and said: "You go back and tell him, I will consider it carefully."
After the adjutant sent Sun Yonghao away, Zhang Xueliang began to read Zhou Hexuan's letter, which was 12 pages thick.
In this long letter, Zhou Hexuan elaborated on the situation in the Soviet Union, compared the power gap between the two sides, and listed the advantages and hidden dangers of each.
Finally, Zhou Hexuan made two suggestions to Zhang Xueliang:
First, there is still room for easing the matter, immediately release the arrested Soviet personnel, and use the Middle East Road enterprises in their hands to conduct peace negotiations. Judging from the situation in the Soviet Union, the other side does not want to fight, and the negotiations will be successful if they show sincerity.
Second, if you are unwilling to negotiate, you must act quickly and try to stabilize the war before the Soviet reinforcements arrive. Do not delay it any longer and give the enemy an opportunity. As long as you grasp the initiative on the battlefield and guard the favorable terrain,
The Soviet Union absolutely cannot afford to delay. Because the Soviet Union lacks money to fight the war and needs to be on guard against Europe. In addition, the Far East is far away, so the Soviet Union cannot sustain large army consumption for a long time. By then the other side will naturally compromise, and everything can be resolved at the truce negotiation table.
Historically, Zhang Xueliang took back the Middle Road by force, but he was completely unprepared for a backup plan.
The frontline asked for Zeng soldiers, but Zhang Xueliang was unwilling to go to war with the Soviet Union and refused to send troops on the pretext of lack of money. It was not until the Soviet Union's "Special Far East Army" was assembled and headed to the Northeast that he realized that it was impossible not to fight, so he panicked
He issued a mobilization order for the war against the Soviet Union, only to lose the opportunity.
After Zhang Xueliang read Zhou Hexuan's letter, his indecisive character emerged again. He felt that the Soviet Union had announced that it had severed diplomatic relations with China, and the peace talks were absolutely impossible to succeed. If he wanted to have peace talks, the Northeast must make concessions. This move would increase his prestige.
He suffered a huge loss and could not suppress his bellicose soldiers.
But Zhang Xueliang was unwilling to go to war with the Soviet Union. Because Northeast China was currently in financial difficulty, a war would result in heavy losses regardless of victory or defeat, and there would be no hope of recovery within three to five years.
Zhang Xueliang was completely unable to make a decision, and even began to regret not listening to Zhou Hexuan's dissuasion, and impulsively took back the Middle Road by force.
In this state of worrying about gains and losses, Zhang Xueliang took a special train back to Shenyang and convened a meeting with his military, political and diplomatic personnel.
Nowadays, the young faction of the Northeast Army is gaining momentum, and most of them are clamoring for war, because only by fighting can they be promoted and make a fortune. Government officials are unwilling to fight, saying that the Northeast is in dire need of development and its finances are stretched thin, so there is simply not enough money to start a war.
Diplomats disagreed. Some said peace talks should be held, some said that Britain and the United States should seek a solution, and still others said that the Soviets had nothing to fear.
The entire meeting was a mess. Zhang Xueliang's head was pounding when he heard it, and his thoughts were even more confused than before the meeting.
In the end, Zhang Xueliang decided to adopt Zhou Hexuan's suggestion. While sending a mission to seek peace talks with the Soviet Union, he also strengthened defenses on the front line and allocated reinforcements to a main army.
If Zhou Hexuan knew about Zhang Xueliang's actions, he would probably be so angry that he would vomit blood.
Zhou Hexuan's suggestion was not like this at all. He gave Zhang Xueliang a choice, either to negotiate with sincerity or to concentrate all his strength on a thunderous strike.
And what is Zhang Xueliang doing?
He did not release the arrested Soviet personnel, and did not return the enterprises on the Middle East Road. He only wanted the Soviet Union to make concessions, and then take the opportunity to take back some of its rights on the Middle East Road.
The Soviet Union has already announced the severance of diplomatic relations and sent troops. Will they accept this kind of insincere negotiation? This is not a negotiation at all, but an insult to the Soviet Union!
In terms of military affairs, Zhang Xueliang did not prepare for a big war at all, and did not dare to take the initiative to attack and seize the opportunity. He only passively added fuel to the defense.
Not only will this negotiation not be successful, it will give the Soviet Union more time to increase its troops. However, the Northeast Army fighting on the mainland is unprepared and still hopes that the Soviets will give in.
Finally, at the end of July, the Soviet First Support Army arrived at the Sino-Soviet border and crossed the border to occupy various transportation arteries. The Northeastern Army did not even dare to engage the enemy in combat because there was no combat order issued by its superiors.
By mid-August, the Soviet army occupied Oupu County.
In the traditional thinking of the Chinese people, the occupation of a county seat means losing the city and losing land, and it also means that war is inevitable.
Zhang Xueliang finally issued a mobilization order for the war against the Soviet Union and sent 60,000 troops to strengthen the border defense.
What a fart!
All major transportation routes along the border have been occupied by the Soviet Union, and large forces have arrived for reinforcements. Are you just now thinking of issuing a combat mobilization order?
The most ridiculous thing is that although the China Eastern Railway was taken back by force by Zhang Xueliang, the majority of its employees were Soviets.
Now that the two countries are at war, the Soviet railway workers went on strike, causing the Northeast Army reinforcements to fail to arrive on time. What the hell is this called a local war?
Chang Kaishen also came out to fan the flames and issued a declaration of war against the Soviet Union in the name of the Chinese National Government, causing the war to escalate from a regional conflict to a national war.
By early September, the Soviet army had assembled 80,000 troops in the Northeast.
After the reinforcements arrived, the Soviet negotiators announced that the peace talks had broken down, believing that the Northeastern side had no sincerity in negotiating, and decided to launch a fatal attack on the Northeastern Army.
Before that, Zhang Xueliang only dared to increase troops and did not dare to take the initiative to attack the Soviet troops across the border. As a result, more and more military arteries and strongholds were seized in vain.
The fierce battle finally started. The Soviet Union dispatched its navy, land and air force, and a naval battle even broke out between the Chinese and Soviet navies.
With a powerful fleet, fierce cavalry, and a huge number of aircraft, tanks, and artillery, Zhang Xueliang finally understood what the Great Soviet Red Army was.
Throughout October, the Northeast Army was defeated and retreated.
Zhang Xueliang once again dug out Zhou Hexuan's long letter, and couldn't help but feel the urge to cry. He wrote to Zhou Hexuan: "It's too late to regret that I didn't listen to my wise brother..."
Zhang Xueliang also wanted to ask Zhou Hexuan how to remedy the situation, but Zhang Leyi from Tianjin wrote back telling him that Zhou Hexuan had already sailed to the United States.
