Age of Rebirth

Chapter 440

Chairman Jiang's ambiguous attitude made Tang Qiuli puzzled. The old man seemed to be trying his best to avoid a question, whether Japan would continue to expand the war?Or just stop the invasion of China?

When Tang Qiuli learned through other channels that Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Konohashi had arrived in Shanghai with a large diplomatic delegation, all his doubts and puzzles suddenly became clear. I also understood the real reason why Generalissimo Jiang tolerated the repeated actions of the Japanese army in North China, but only in Shanghai, where he used his wealth to fight to the death with the Japanese army.

The Military Commission headed by Generalissimo Jiang considered fighting in Shanghai, which was more convenient than fighting in the far northern Great Plains. All the military supplies of the Central Army came from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, which was traditionally controlled by Generalissimo Jiang. And it can avoid the Japanese army with superior motor power. The water network in the south of the Yangtze River is the natural nemesis of the Japanese army's mechanized troops.

Moreover, Shanghai is an international metropolis with foreign concessions, so starting a war here is very likely to cause the intervention of major powers. If it is fought well, it may win a glorious peace under the mediation of foreign countries, and then frustrate the Japanese army's ambitions for North China. It is extremely powerful for a small and weak China. [

At that time, Generalissimo Jiang hoped that the foreign powers would intervene in the sanctions against Japanese aggression. He never gave up such an idea. The battle in Songhu was forced by the Japanese as a last resort. The purpose of the "fight" was to In the future, we will be able to "talk" better. I am afraid that we still hope for a decisive battle in Shanghai, which will easily lead to the intervention of the international community. However, given China's national conditions at the time, it was impossible to allow Generalissimo Chiang to stand still in Shanghai and watch the Japanese troops deploy at will in Shanghai—— Public opinion and princes will really suspect that the central government in Nanjing has a tacit understanding with Japan.

At that time, the League of Nations was going to hold a "Nine-Power Pact" meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on November [-], to discuss the Sino-Japanese War. Chairman Jiang pinned his hopes on the meeting of the League of Nations. The second stage was at a critical juncture, and he made it very clear in a speech at the Nanjing Military Commission.

Chairman Jiang said: "The Nine-Nation Pact Conference of the League of Nations has a great bearing on the fate of the country. I ask the front-line troops to make greater efforts to support the Shanghai battlefield for another period of time, at least ten days to two weeks, so that the international We have received strong sympathy and support from the Internet, and Shanghai is a very important economic base for the government, if it is abandoned prematurely, the government's finances and materials will be greatly affected."

It can be seen that Generalissimo Jiang at the time was not optimistic about the prospects and outcome of the Songhu Battle. He used the word "very strong" to stand up for the League of Nations to speak out, because Shanghai has too many interests of foreign powers in China. However, he did not believe that those great powers could sit back and watch the Japanese monopolize their interests in China.

As a result, the result of the Battle of Songhu was beyond his expectations. The Japanese army moved again from then on, and the power in Shanghai was uprooted. At the same time, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Konohashi came to Shanghai again and expressed his intention to seek peace. He judged On the one hand, Japan failed in Shanghai and suffered heavy losses. On the other hand, it was frightened by the Nine-Power Pact Conference of the League of Nations and was afraid of international sanctions, so it had to come to the negotiating table.

In the eyes of the Generalissimo, the deterrent power of the League of Nations is greater than the victory of the Chinese defenders in the Battle of Shanghai. Under such circumstances, negotiating with Japan can take advantage of the right time, place and people, and take more initiative Quan, Tang Qiuli understands too well that the so-called "international intervention" is pure fantasy. At that time, European appeasement was prevalent, and Britain and France acquiesced in Hitler's German occupation of the Sudetenland region. Japan at the threshold turned its face and made chestnuts out of the fire for China.

The current attitude of the Japanese to cover up their sinister intentions is to buy time for the next larger-scale attack. At the same time, it is also to paralyze the National Government, especially Chairman Jiang. The fierce and arrogant Japanese are very happy to be able to take the initiative to seek peace, thinking that this is an unprecedented event in a century.

From the late Qing Dynasty to the early years of the Republic of China, they were not forced to sign an alliance with the big powers under the city, but they were beaten dizzy by others. After looking for teeth everywhere, they were forced to sign various agreements that forfeit power and humiliate the country. But this time, the Japanese took the initiative Suing for peace was an unprecedented victory in military and diplomatic history. The senior officials in Nanjing celebrated each other, but they did not see through the Japanese intentions.

Zhang Zhizhong, who was on the front line in Shanghai, and the few senior generals in the government were worried about this. They may not be able to see through the confusing international situation, but based on the experience gained from bloody battles with the Japanese, they instinctively felt that things were okay. So simple, how could the Japanese give up just because they lost a battle?And there are millions of soldiers in North China and Chen Bing.

However, Tang Qiuli had a clear understanding of the intentions of the Japanese. At the beginning of the war against China, they thought that as long as they attacked China's newly established industrial belt and military and political center, and at most invaded China's coastline, China would definitely surrender. How could China be capable? Retreating to the backward areas in the southwest, can you still fight against Japan?

Therefore, at that time, Japan's argument of "destroying China within three months" was rampant, and the whole country believed in it. When the war broke out, in less than 20 days after the July [-]th Incident, Japan lost troops in North China. Suffering heavy losses, the first World War determined North China, and then the strategic concept of going south to the Central Plains not only failed to be realized, the Japanese army in North China was beaten to retreat in the Pingjin area, unable to fight back.

Afterwards, despite the large-scale increase in troops, Tang Qiuli's North China Independent Division, with a tough posture and superb combat effectiveness, could not be scattered or driven away, and firmly entangled more than a million Japanese troops in North China. Deadlock, in short order, signs of change.

At this time, the Japanese base camp was extremely annoyed and anxious about the result that ran counter to the original judgment and calculation. Japan is an island country with limited resources. Competing with China, a huge country, for its endurance and tenacity, cannot afford to consume it. Yes, so the only way is to make a quick decision and hit China, a mud-footed giant, to the ground in one go. Only then can the war with China be ended quickly, and then compete with the Russians for Siberia in the north, and compete with the United States and Britain in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Western countries compete.

The Japanese base camp tried their best to find an effective way to break the current deadlock and end the war against China as soon as possible. At this time, the navy’s idea of ​​going south to fight gained the upper hand, and because the army’s successive defeats in North China, the base camp acquiesced in the navy’s direction in Shanghai. Hands-on planning.

Starting from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, where China's economy and industry was the most developed at that time, could destroy the industrial base that China relied on to maintain the war. It is feasible, but there is also an obvious intention to compete with the army, which is completely different from the army's strategic vision of going from North China to Jiangnan.

As a result, the Japanese navy took action, and the "August [-]" incident in Songhu broke out. On the first day of the war, the navy was beaten to the point of vomiting blood by the squadron, and lost Hongkou and Yangshupu, two bases that had been in operation for six years. The entire army of the war team stationed in Shanghai was wiped out and lost face. As a last resort, the navy threw this mess to the army again.

The result was still a miscalculation. Matsui Iwane’s dispatched troops in Shanghai were beaten to death, and they could only hide and wander in the open sea. The Japanese base camp felt the seriousness of the situation. The war against China seemed to be in the distant future. This is what the Japanese can’t do. Accepted the results, and the domestically formed divisions have all been sent to the Chinese battlefield, and the soldiers on hand can be adjusted.

It will take time to recruit reservists and form new divisions. Therefore, there is a scene where Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Konohashi comes to Shanghai to seek peace. This is obviously a smoke, covering up the actual actions of Japan's busy conscription, and paralyzing the people The government let down its guard, let down its arms, and made a comeback.

After Tang Qiuli analyzed the Japanese plan, he didn't mention it to anyone, including Chairman Jiang. At this time, can the old man believe it?When someone marries a daughter-in-law, you go to play the funeral song. If you don't get it right, you will be charged with sabotaging the peace talks. Why bother! [

He sent a telegram to Brother Qiusheng that the East China Army should vigorously strengthen the fortifications and strengthen the training of soldiers in anti-landing operations. They can build extensive anti-landing obstacles within their own defense lines. At the same time, from Huangyadong The Jiang Yanming Department of the Garrison Brigade mobilized 1 troops from four regiments to supplement and strengthen the strength of the Sulu Mobile Corps, including two infantry regiments, a heavy artillery regiment, and an air defense regiment.

The garrison regiments of the counties in the Taihang Mountain base area were immediately upgraded to supplement the strength of the Huangyadong garrison brigade, and a new garrison regiment was formed in each county. After all this was done, Tang Qiuli was in Shijiazhuang, watching the Japanese play clown mentality, pay attention Looking at the Sino-Japanese peace talks in Nanjing, there must be a lot of excitement and good dramas, the Japanese are proud, the Chinese are fooled again, the senior government officials are excited, and the Japanese actively seek peace.

On October 16, Tang Qiuli received an urgent telegram from Nanjing, asking him to go to Nanjing immediately to participate in the Sino-Japanese peace talks, and to assume the post of deputy head of the Chinese delegation. The Secretary-General is Gao Zongwu, Director of the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The members include General Zhang Zhizhong, the current commander of the Shanghai Garrison, and Yu Hongjun, the mayor of Shanghai at the time, and a total of [-] members. There are as many as ten military representatives.

Tang Qiuli was stunned by this telegram. He was not good at this kind of mouth-to-mouth litigation and he didn't like it. Maybe seeing the ugly faces of the Japanese, it's hard to say how many people were killed on the spot. Besides, what is there to talk about with those Japanese bastards.

First get all those soldiers on Chinese land back to their hometowns, so that there is a basis for negotiation. Besides, the Japanese don't really want to talk, but they just want to buy time. , When I see the Japanese, I get angry, kill one, lose one, and those guys, what is there to talk about?

Later, when I calmed down, I pondered over the list of members of the delegation, and when I discovered the mystery, I couldn't help but smile knowingly.

(To be continued) (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to *** (******) to vote, ***, your support is my biggest motivation.)