Natural disasters are accidental, but civil strife is carefully planned.
After the establishment of the Guangzhou National Government, on July 18, Shi Yousan launched an army against Chang Kaishen and Zhang Xueliang.
On July 21, the Guangzhou National Government issued an order for the Northern Expedition against Chiang Kai-shek.
On July 22, Chen Youren, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Guangzhou National Government, secretly visited Japan and met with Japanese Foreign Minister Shigehara Kijuro many times. He expressed his willingness to exchange Northeastern rights and interests for Japanese support, but received no response. Chen Youren then met with the Soviet Ambassador to Japan to seek support.
was rejected.
On August 5, Yan Xishan took a Japanese military plane and returned to Shanxi to resume power.
At the end of August, Feng Yuxiang instigated Lei Zhongtian, an old commander in Gansu, to rebel against Chiang Kai-shek, and for a time took control of Gansu's military and political affairs.
On September 1, the Guangzhou National Government carried out general mobilization and appointed Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Han Fuju, Zou Lu and others as members of the Northern Military and Political Commission.
On September 2, the Guangzhou National Government officially sent troops.
On September 13, the Guangdong-Guangxi Allied Forces attacked Hunan in five groups.
On September 18, the Japanese Kwantung Army took action.
Chang Kaishen no longer even dared to "suppress bandits" and hurriedly transferred his troops to deal with the anti-Chiang coalition. Zhang Xueliang also had people keep an eye on the northwest and north China, and did not dare to slack off at all. How could he have the energy to deal with the Japanese?
If everything was a coincidence, it would be too much of a coincidence.
…
Peking.
Zhou Hexuan came to Zhang Xueliang's official residence angrily and asked in front of Yu Fengzhi: "Sixth Commander, why haven't you mobilized your elite troops to defend the Northeast?"
Zhang Xueliang was stunned for a moment, then waved to his wife and said, "Sister Yu, please step aside for a moment while I discuss important matters with Mingcheng."
Yu Fengzhi nodded and smiled at Zhou Hexuan, and said, "You two take your time and chat."
After Feng Zhi left, Zhang Xueliang said: "Yan Baichuan has returned to Shanxi, and Feng Huanzhang is constantly stirring up trouble. Now the armies in North and Northwest China are unstable and may join forces to rebel at any time. How can I dare to use the army without permission?"
"Then the Japanese are not on guard?" Zhou Hexuan said, "The Japanese have a big conspiracy in the Northeast. It is already known to everyone in Sima Zhao's mind. Don't tell me you don't know!"
"Of course I know, but that is the decision of the Japanese military headquarters." Zhang Xueliang looked confident.
When the situation has developed to the present point, Chang Kaishen, Zhang Xueliang, and Yan Xishan all know that the Japanese will take action, and even Chinese and Japanese newspapers have relevant news.
As early as July, He Yaozu, who was aware of the Japanese conspiracy, sent a secret telegram to the Nanjing National Government: "The Japanese Military Councilors' Meeting decided to set up a standing division in South Manchuria. This is extremely detrimental to our country's sovereignty, that is, it is detrimental to the integrity of our territory.
A great danger has occurred... Check that the Japanese government's policy toward Manchuria has recently changed... As Governor Ugaki officially stated, Manchuria used to be ruled under a dual system, but now it has been changed to a unitary system..."
Zhang Xueliang took out a confidential document, handed it to Zhou Hexuan and said, "Don't worry, please take a look at this first."
Zhou Hexuan opened the document and read it carefully, but it was intelligence sent back from Japan by a spy. The intelligence clearly stated that the Japanese Kwantung Army was preparing to take action at the end of September. However, the Kwantung Army's conspiracy had been leaked, and the Japanese government was deeply angry about this. Foreign Minister Shigehara
Questioned the Minister of War Nanjiro about this.
After Zhou Hexuan read the intelligence documents, Zhang Xueliang said: "Mingcheng, your judgment on the Northeast is very accurate. But we don't have to worry. The Japanese cabinet is opposed to the military sending troops, and they will restrain the Kwantung Army's bad behavior. Moreover,
The conspiracy that the Kwantung Army had planned for a long time has been completely exposed. In this case, they can only scrap the plan."
Zhou Hexuan instantly wanted to understand why Chiang Kai-shek suppressed the anti-Japanese movement in China and why he sent secret messages to Zhang Xueliang not to provoke Japan.
It turned out that both Chang Kaishen and Zhang Xueliang were aware of the conspiracy of the Japanese Kwantung Army and that the Japanese cabinet was firmly opposed to the military plan. Therefore, they pinned their hopes on the Japanese cabinet, believing that the cabinet could restrain the Kwantung Army.
They made their own decisions, and what the Northeast Army needed to do was to be patient and patient, and resolutely not give the Kwantung Army an excuse to send troops.
Zhou Hexuan smiled bitterly and said: "Sixth Commander, do you really think that the Japanese cabinet can restrain the Kwantung Army?"
Zhang Xueliang said with certainty: "This is natural. Japan is different from China. They are a unified government with a stable political power. Since the Japanese cabinet opposes military expansion, how can the Kwantung Army succeed?"
"Japanese civilian officials are against it, but the military generals have long been thinking about fighting," Zhou Hexuan shouted loudly. "Although the Kwantung Army's plan to take action at the end of September has been exposed, they will never cancel the plan. Instead, they may take action in advance. The date of action is likely to be
In mid-September!”
"Mingcheng, you are thinking too much," Zhang Xueliang explained soothingly. "In the past year, I have stepped up my intelligence work in Japan. The Japanese cabinet and the Ministry of War have opposing views. The Ministry of War wants to expand in Northeast China.
, but has always been denied and suppressed by the cabinet. We must cooperate with the Japanese cabinet, be tolerant as much as possible, and not give the Japanese Kwantung Army an excuse to send troops. Once we react violently, it is likely that the Japanese cabinet will not be able to suppress the military. At this time,
In these troubled times, with frequent natural disasters and civil strife, even if we want to take action against the Japanese, we have to overcome the immediate difficulties first."
Zhou Hexuan stared at Zhang Xueliang with cold eyes and asked: "In other words, if the Japanese Kwantung Army attacks Shenyang, will you choose not to resist?"
"The Kwantung Army is not that bold and will at most make provocations on the South Manchuria Line," Zhang Xueliang said confidently. "Even if the Kwantung Army really attacks Shenyang, we can contact the Japanese Cabinet and the League of Nations to order them to withdraw immediately to avoid further deterioration of the situation.
"
Zhou Hexuan asked: "What if the Japanese Kwantung Army, after capturing Shenyang, disobeys the orders of the Japanese cabinet and continues to attack and occupy the entire Northeast?"
Zhang Xueliang said: "It is impossible. The Japanese cabinet and the League of Nations will not allow the Kwantung Army to act recklessly."
"Have you decided yet?" Zhou Hexuan asked disappointedly.
Zhang Xueliang nodded and said: "It has been decided, and this is the only way to do it. It is the best way to solve the problem."
"Then you just wait to become China's sinner. Farewell!" Zhou Hexuan walked away with a puff of sleeves. He wanted to go to the Northeast in person.
Zhang Xueliang's old habits have come back again, and his character has never changed. During the "Middle East Road Incident", Zhang Xueliang pinned his hopes on the civil strife in the Soviet Union and did not dare to fight a large-scale war; and when the "September 18th Incident" was about to break out, Zhang Xueliang again
They pinned their hopes on the Japanese cabinet and the League of Nations, hoping to wait for the Kwantung Army to withdraw on its own initiative.
To strike, you need to be strong yourself. How can you wait for the other party to make mistakes?
The Japanese cabinet does oppose the Kwantung Army sending troops, but their interests are consistent on the Manchuria and Mongolia issue. As long as the Kwantung Army creates a fait accompli, the cabinet must compromise. Historically, after the September 18th Incident, the Japanese cabinet strongly opposed this
, indeed as Zhang Xueliang expected, he urged the Kwantung Army to withdraw its troops as soon as possible.
But what was the result?
By October, Japan's young military officers launched a coup. Although the coup ended in failure, it frightened the Japanese Prime Minister. In order to extend the life of the cabinet, the Japanese Prime Minister had to begin to coordinate military-political relations and support the Kwantung Army's occupation to a certain extent.
northeast.
The Japanese Army Ministry was not satisfied with this, and finally forced the Japanese cabinet to resign collectively in December, so that they could implement the expansion plan more unscrupulously.