Chapter 460: Bright Lightning
readx; In view of the tremendous pressure from the 21st Army in the Guangzhou area, the Tokyo base camp dispatched two bomber squadrons from the mainland to the Guangzhou airfield to strengthen its air power, and at the same time transferred an infantry brigade from the Kwantung Army to reinforce it. Pen Γ fun Γ Pavilion www. ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ γ info Toshiyoshi Ando contracted his forces, forming a dense situation near Guangzhou, and then transferred elite troops to form an assault force of two infantry wings, and then closely monitored the middle [***] team on the periphery, and waited for the other party to reveal a flaw before giving a fatal blow.
At the beginning of December 1938, after the capture of Guangzhou, Emperor Momoto convened a meeting of imperial ministers in Tokyo, the central topic of which was to analyze the situation after the fall of Wuhan and Guangzhou, and to formulate the policy and strategy of the war against China.
The Emperor's assessment of the situation was that in the autumn of 1938, in order to gain an opportunity to end the war, the Imperial Empire carried out an active campaign to capture Guangzhou and Wuhan, and achieved remarkable results. However, the Kuomintang central power led by Chiang Kai-shek remained in the western provinces, trying to restore its combat strength, building supply routes from Xinjiang Province to Sichuan, and seeking supply ports in French India* to continue the war of resistance to recover the decline. However, with the loss of the Central Plains and the flight to the interior, as well as the loss of major land and water communication routes, abundant resources, and the majority of the population, if we take appropriate measures, we can at least reduce it to a local government, if not deepen its internal collapse.
Therefore, from a strategic point of view, it can be said that the empire has smashed the Chinese regime that resisted the Chinese government, and has entered the stage of carrying out a strategic offensive and achieving satisfactory results. Therefore, creating favorable conditions for the central power of New China, which is about to be born, and supporting its growth is an important task for our army to achieve the goal of the war. The essence of the war against China is a protracted war, and instead of blindly using force to pursue the Chiang regime, which has become a local political power, it is better to maintain the necessary combat strength and advance toward the construction of a new China
Emperor Moto and the base camp were overly optimistic in their assessment of the situation: in their view, Chiang Kai-shek and his national political axe had been reduced to a small local regime. At the same time, they still have the strength to continue attacking, but they feel that it is boring to blindly go deep and chase after them, so they stop and do not chase or fight, but concentrate on building the so-called "new China." However, in fact, at this time, the strength of the army in the country was only one guards division, and it was completely singing empty and honest plans. In China, 30 divisions have been deployed, and the ability to continue the offensive has been completely lost. Some strategists even admit that the main force of the [***] squadron has reached the limit of its attack if it fails to annihilate the main force of the [***] squadron in the war against China, and if it wants to completely defeat the [***] squadron, it is necessary to expand more divisions and regiments.
However, based on this optimistic judgment of the situation, Emperor Samoto and the base camp formulated new strategic guiding principles for the war against China, the core points of which were: First, the army should change from a strategic offensive stage to a long-term and protracted war stage; Second, the army should adopt local operations, focusing on attacking the main forces of the Central Army assembled in Jiangxi, Hunan, and other places, and the 19th Group Army in northern Guangdong and Fujian, so as to secure the occupied areas. Third, the main task in the future is to independently guide the construction of new China.
The purpose of supporting the new central power in the occupied areas is to contain China with China and to nourish the war with war. However, in order to re-establish a central power with the surname of the whole country and obtain the national political axe of the Kuomintang, it was necessary to find a suitable candidate, and after many investigations, they took a fancy to Wang Ching-wei, vice president of the Kuomintang, chairman of the National Political Council, and the number two figure in the Kuomintang and in the Kuomintang political axe.
From the point of view, Wang Jingwei has been following Sun Yat-sen's revolution since the end of the Qing Dynasty, and he is very respectable, and now he is in an important position in the ruling Kuomintang, not only has appeal to the middle and upper classes of China, but also has influence among overseas Chinese, and his wife is the daughter of a wealthy man in Nanyang. As long as Wang Jingwei is willing to clean up the mess, China will certainly enthusiastically support it. As soon as a "new China" headed by Wang Jingwei was established, Chiang Kai-shek's anti-political axe was isolated, and the great cause of conquering China was successfully accomplished.
Wang Jingwei, who had always opposed the use of force to confront the Japanese army, became even more explicit in his opposition to the War of Resistance after the fall of Wuhan and Guangzhou. He believes that if China continues to fight, it will not be long before it will become occupied by the Chinese army, and since this is the case, it is better to make peace with the Chinese army before it is completely defeated, and still be able to maintain some strength and strive for some conditions for "self-reliance."
After the results of the peace talks were achieved, the Chinese army withdrew and occupied it, and with the vigorous support of the Chinese people, China worked hard again, carried out construction again, and then strived for complete autonomy in reading power, and then competed with foreign powers.
However, in the midst of the cheers and cheers of many countries in the world for the war of resistance to the end, Wang Jingwei felt that he could not convince Chiang Kai-shek, let alone the ruling Kuomintang's line of resistance. Therefore, we are determined to make a desperate bet, stand up and clean up the mess, take the road of "protecting the seed and protecting the people", and take the road of "saving the country through peace" and "saving the country with a curve".
As early as late October 1938, Wang Jingwei secretly sent his cronies Gao Zongwu and Mei Siping to Shanghai to secretly discuss the matter of making peace with the special agents Kagezo Zhenzhao, Imai Takeo and others.
On 20 October, the two sides reached an agreement, that is, Wang Jingwei left Yucheng, and then Wang and Yue issued a statement on peace talks with each other.
On November 30, the emperor approved the "Adjustment of the Policy for New Relations with China", the basic content of which was that "New China" recognized "Manchukuo"; North China and Mongolia are special zones for military cooperation between China and China; The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the coast of South China are the special economic cooperation zones of China; It is stipulated that the form of political power in "New China" shall be partition and cooperation. In the subsidiary clauses, China is also required to compensate for the loss of rights and interests suffered by its citizens in China since the outbreak of the incident.
On 18 December, Wang Jingwei and his wife Chen Bijun, as well as Chen Gongbo, Zhou Fohai, Lin Bosheng, Tao Xisheng, Zeng Zhongming, and others, took advantage of Chiang Kai-shek's military conference in Wugong, Shaanxi, to take a plane from Yucheng to Kunming via Chengdu, and with the help of Yunnan Provincial Chairman Long Yun, chartered a plane and fled to Hanoi, Vietnam.
December 21st,. Chiang Kai-shek was presiding over a military conference in Wugong, Shaanxi, and conveying the spirit of the Nanyue military conference to the generals in the northwest, when he suddenly received a telegram from Yucheng from Zhang Qun, vice president of the Executive Yuan, saying that Wang had gone to Hanoi to negotiate peace with the Yue side.
Chiang Kai-shek was very surprised when he saw the telegram, because Wang Ching-wei held an important position in the Kuomintang and within the Kuomintang and the Kuomintang Political Axe, and his sudden departure from Hanoi would certainly cause an uproar. He urgently telegraphed Yunnan Provincial Chairman Long Yun to inquire about the details, and asked Long Yun to forward his telegram to Wang Jingwei, urging Wang to return to China and not to engage in peace talks. Chiang Kai-shek also sent an urgent telegram to Foreign Minister Wang Chonghui, who was carrying out state activities in Hanoi, to meet with Wang, urging Wang to wake up and return to China and not to be used by the enemy.
However, Wang Jingwei made it clear that he would seek the road of "peace and salvation" and refused to return to China.
Chiang Kai-shek was afraid that Wang's departure and peace talks would cause people's hearts to fluctuate, and he was also afraid that his family scandal would be publicized, so he ordered the relevant departments to strictly seal the news.
On December 22, when the local side learned that Wang Jingwei had successfully left Hanoi, they were overjoyed. Prime Minister Konoe immediately issued a statement on behalf of the political axe, calling Wang Jingwei a man of great insight in China and calling the Han annihilation force a momentum of rejuvenation.
Konoe said in a statement: This year, Konoe has repeatedly stated that he will always sweep away the anti-Japanese national political axe by force, and at the same time share China's worries and cooperate with far-sighted people to move forward to build a new order in East Asia.
At this time, when the revival of various parts of China was in full swing and the trend of construction was flourishing, the political axe made clear to the people at home and abroad the general policy of adjusting relations with the new China, with a view to thoroughly understanding the true meaning of the empire. It is said that the three countries should unite with the common goal of building a new order in East Asia, and work together to achieve good-neighborliness and friendship, joint defense against communism, and economic cooperation.
On December 24, Yucheng. Chiang Kai-shek, in view of the fact that Chiang Kai-shek had openly extended an olive branch to Wang Ching-wei for peace talks, and that the news that Wang Ching-wei had sneaked into Hanoi spread far and wide, and world and domestic public opinion were in an uproar. In particular, the German radio news said that Wang had gone to negotiate peace with him on behalf of the National Political Axe and the Military Council. Chiang Kai-shek had to repeatedly state his position and views in public in order to clarify the truth.
Chiang Kai-shek summoned the US and British ambassadors and formally informed the two countries that Wang Ching-wei had no right to negotiate peace with anyone, and asked the United States and Britain to believe that China's political axe would never surrender to him.
On December 26, Chiang Kai-shek took the opportunity of the Kuomintang commemorative weekly meeting to deliver a speech to senior party, government, and military personnel. In the 8,000-word long article, he strongly condemned and refuted the Konoe statement, pointing out that the Konoe statement was a poisonous plan in vain to annihilate China and a conspiracy to disrupt China's internal affairs, and that all circles in China should not be deceived by it, but should resist the war to the end.
Here, Chiang Kai-shek had already subtly revealed the defection of Wang Ching-wei. However, he still did not publicly condemn Wang, so that he would not exacerbate the contradictions with Wang and make public peace. He classified Wang Jingwei as an "internal" party, leaving room for him to retreat
In order to peacefully handle the crisis of the Wang Ching-wei incident, Chiang Kai-shek also called Guo Tai-chi, the ambassador to Britain, to Hanoi to personally exhort Wang Ching-wei, hoping that he would not continue to have contact with Yu himself, so as not to be taken advantage of by the enemy, and suggested that he go to Europe to inspect and recuperate.
However, at this time, Wang Jingwei has embarked on a road of no return!
On the morning of 31 December, Hong Kong's "South China Daily" published Wang Ching-wei's "Yan Dian" against Yue Tonghe. In the name of Wang Ching-wei and his organization, the telegram suggested to the Kuomintang Central Party Department, President Chiang Kai-shek, and the Central Executive Committee that China should make peace with the Kuomintang and join hands with the Kuomintang to defend against the Communists.
After the news reached Yucheng, Chiang Kai-shek immediately presided over an emergency meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the National Hall to discuss the handling of Wang Jingwei. The meeting lasted until late at night, and a resolution was made the next day: In view of the fact that Wang Jingwei left his post without authorization, disappeared in a different place, and disseminated ideas that violated the national policy when Wang Jingwei was in the emergency of the Anti-Japanese War. Everywhere for the enemy's requirements, bending the meaning of the text, reversing right and wrong, for the enemy's eyes. Violation of discipline and endangerment of the state. It was decided that Wang Jingwei would be permanently expelled from the party and that he would be removed from all posts.
Wang Jingwei was expelled from the party and removed from his post, but he is still a Chinese citizen. Chiang Kai-shek also sent Gu Zhengding to Hanoi, bringing passports and travel expenses for Wang Jingwei, Chen Bijun, and Zeng Zhongming, and urged these three citizens to go to Europe for inspection, but Wang Jingwei did not buy Chiang Kai-shek's account, and scolded Chiang Kai-shek, claiming that he was not fooled
Before Wang Jingwei fled to Hanoi via Kunming, he conspired with Yunnan Provincial Chairman Long Yun and told him about his plan to go to Vietnam to form another political axe, hoping to get his support.
Long Yun had always been dissatisfied with Chiang Kai-shek's policy of eliminating dissidents, and maintained a half-reading state towards the Kuomintang Central Committee. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Long Yun supported the Anti-Japanese War, and the Yunnan Army was organized into the Sixth Army, with Lu Han as the commander, and went to the front line to participate in the Anti-Japanese War. However, Long Yun was dissatisfied with Chiang Kai-shek's use of the War of Resistance to deliberately sacrifice non-descendant troops. After the Kuomintang political axe and army retreated to the southwest, Chiang Kai-shek actively infiltrated Yunnan, and Long Yun was deeply afraid that his territory would be eaten, and the contradiction with Chiang Kai-shek was further deepened, so he did not hesitate to agree to support it.
Long Yun not only wanted to rely on Wang Jingwei to preserve his territory and strength through "peace" between the central and intermediate governments, but also considered that the success or failure of the surrender to Wang was uncertain, and if he did not do well, he would be scolded by thousands of people, and he would also be pressed by Chiang Kai-shek's army and lose everything. Therefore, when Chiang Kai-shek, who was aware of his unstable movements, sent the Kuomintang * Li Gengen and Tang Shengzhi to Kunming to persuade Long Yun to face the reality and not act in accordance with the wishes of the Wang Jingwei clique, and Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi of the Gui faction also clearly expressed their opposition, Wang Jingwei set his sights on Gao Fei, the actual ruler of Guangdong and Fujian provinces.
"Report! There was a man at the door, who claimed to be a classmate of Mr. Cai Yuyan, and said that he had something important to discuss with the commander. The guards stood outside the door and reported loudly.
"Please!" Goofy lifted his upper body from the map and ordered without thinking. This is Cai Yuyan's hometown, he once served as a county magistrate, there must be a lot of relatives and friends, plus Gao Fei regards Cai Yuyan as a brother, the so-called love house and Wu, and even his classmates are courteous, otherwise, the dignified commander of the theater of operations, [***] General, how can he say that he will see him!
Goofy had just finished tidying up his military appearance and was about to go to the door to greet him in person, but the guards walked in with a man in a suit and leather shoes. The person who came walked in with a top hat in his left hand and a cane in his right hand, looking at his age of about forty years old, with a pair of gold-wire glasses on the bridge of his nose, a pair of eyes that rotated flexibly in a way that was not commensurate with his age, a pinch of black mustache on his lips, and fine wrinkles on his white skin, giving people a sense of maturity.
"General Gao, long admiration, long admiration!" Without waiting for Gao Fei to speak, the person who came took a step forward and said: "The contemptible Wei Qingfu took the liberty to visit, please forgive me!" With that, he clasped his fists with his hands at Goofy, and his eyes kept looking at each other
Gao Fei hurriedly said: "Where, where, I don't know that Mr. Wei is here, there is a disappointment, a faux pas, a faux pas!" β
After the two exchanged pleasantries, Gao Fei motioned for the guards to withdraw, and then asked straight to the point: "Mr. Wei is Mr. Cai Yu's classmate, I don't know what advice I have for Baili!" β
Wei Qingfu didn't answer the question immediately, but looked around, his appearance looked a little strange, Gao Fei saw this and hurriedly said: "Mr. Wei, this is my office, no one can enter or leave without orders, you don't have to worry about being heard by others at all." β
Wei Qingfu smiled hesitantly and said, "Yu Yan and I are classmates of this Imperial University, and the purpose of this visit is to invite General Gao to join the New Deal Axe on behalf of Vice President Wang Jingwei!" With that, his eyes glowed expectantly from behind the lenses
Wei Qingfu's image immediately became ugly in Gao Fei's eyesβeven the mustache on his lips was very similar to his own Danhu, and he said abruptly: "Mr. Wei, Gao Fei's attitude towards Vice President Wang and the New Political Axe is completely consistent with that of the National Political Axe!" Our Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Theaters have jointly sent a telegram to the Central Committee, demanding that the canonical punishment be clarified and that the traitors and national scum be severely punished! Isn't that clear enough? β
After that, he stood up and prepared to send off the guest, if this person was not Cai Yuyan's classmate, Gao Fei would have shot him at that time.
Wei Qingfu's face immediately rose two red clouds, he put his cane on the ground and slammed it, and said excitedly: "Isn't it a traitor to the country if you don't go along with Chiang Kai-shek?" With Wang Zhaoming's qualifications, can't he lead the whole country? Why are we scolded as Han annihilation and national scum as long as we mention peace talks, and if we want to take refuge in Yue, why don't we go directly to Nanjing, why go all the way to the territory of the French? β
Gao Fei's face turned blue and said loudly: "Scolding Wang Jingwei as a traitor to the country and a scum of the nation is not because he wants to fight against Chiang Kai-shek, but because he wants to bend his knees to make peace with Chiang Kai-shek, no matter how he fights with Chiang Kai-shek, it is the Chinese's own business, but if he wants to use the strength of the enemy country to achieve his own selfish desires, it will be intolerable and will be spurned by the 40,000 descendants of Yan Huang!" β
Wei Qingfu defended: "We are going to set up a new political axe, negotiate with Yuben on an equal footing, and discuss the end of the war, how can we say that we are bending our knees to sue for peace?" Less than two years after the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression began, most of the country's land had been lost, and if we continued to fight, we would definitely destroy the country and extinct the species. β
Looking at the other party's vigorous posture, Gao Fei felt that this Wei Qingfu was a little nerdy, it seemed that he was just being deceived by others, and he was not determined to be a Han annihilation, and the biggest surname who was patient with his ability explained:
"You have also seen the statement issued by the political axe and the conditions for peace talks between China and China, so why did the political axe repeatedly make concessions to the Soviet Union under the control of [***]? Why garrison troops in southern China, far from the USSR? If you want to be friendly with China and support China's development, why should you compensate for war losses? β
(To be continued)