"History is not good at assuming that." Zhang Xueliang said with a wry smile.

"I believe that the mainland's praise of you as a 'national hero of resistance against the Chinese Communists' is entirely based on politics rather than facts. Because Jiang Gong not only had to resist, but also had a detailed strategic plan. Therefore, the Xi'an Incident did not prompt Jiang Gong to resist, but only destroyed the original strategic deployment of gaining time and accumulating strength; The timetable for all-out resistance has been brought forward. This is not only beneficial to himself, but also a huge disaster for the Chinese. The ferocity of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression later proved this point, as China was ill-prepared in all respects. ”

"That's what you said."

Zhang Xueliang couldn't help but feel very surprised that there was unspeakable pain in this "self" voice.

"Yes! At that time, China was still a little too anxious in choosing the timing of the resistance, and if it could be delayed for another five years, the situation would probably be completely different. Because before the United States declared war on Pearl Harbor in 1941, China's war of resistance against China basically did not receive the support of the international community. General Zhang and General Yang launched the Xi'an Incident, which forced China to hastily and comprehensively resist in advance, which did all kinds of harm to the Chinese and the Chinese nation. This kind of patriotism is actually harmful to the country. ”

"Yes, so no matter how the coffin is closed in the future, I, Zhang Xueliang, am not a hero." Zhang Xueliang said as if laughing at himself, "Since ancient times, heroes have been lustful, but they may not be lustful heroes; I'm not a hero, but I'm a hero. ”

"By the way, some people say that although you had 200,000 Northeast troops in your hands, you were addicted to big smoke and women, and you were a famous playboy. And you said that your mind at that time was not on protest, but on social activities such as flirting with Mussolini's daughter. What do you think of this statement. ”

"Hehe, it's not entirely true, but it's not too much. Now that I am over 90 years old, I still have three loves: I love to play mahjong; Love to tell jokes; Love to sing old songs. As long as I have something to play, I won't get tired......"

The scene in front of him slowly disappeared, Zhang Xueliang suddenly felt his whole body soaked in cold sweat, he groaned and woke up.

The door opened, and an adjutant walked in.

"Young marshal, the marshal wants you to come over."

"Okay." Zhang Xueliang straightened up, took a deep breath, and walked out with the adjutant.

When he came to the main hall, Zhang Xueliang saw Yang Shuoming standing with his father in a black Han suit, and his heart suddenly tensed again.

Yang Shuoming was talking with Zhang Zuolin with a smile, and when he saw Zhang Xueliang coming in, he nodded with a smile. Zhang Zuolin saw that everyone was gathered and beckoned everyone to sit down.

Zhang Xueliang noticed that Yang Shuoming's entourage was only a beautiful woman in black, and couldn't help but be a little surprised. Although the beauty of that beauty far surpassed Zhao Qixia and Yu Fengzhi, at this time, he just couldn't help but look at her twice, and was not in the mood to appreciate her beauty as usual.

"Han Qing's complexion is so haggard, is he not feeling well?" Yang Shuoming stared at Zhang Xueliang for a while, and suddenly asked.

Zhang Xueliang's cold sweat trickled down again, he wanted to say something, but his throat seemed to be choked, he could only nod in a panic.

"Han Qing should go to the hospital for a check-up to determine the cause." Yang Shuoming turned his head and no longer looked at him, but said to Zhang Zuolin, "Since Han Qing's body is indeed not suitable for such heavy official duties, then don't do it anymore, hand over your duties and concentrate on recuperating at home." ”

"What Han Zhi said is extremely true." Zhang Zuolin nodded immediately, turned his head to Zhang Xueliang and asked, "Little Liuzi, what do you mean?" ”

"Okay, okay." Zhang Xueliang immediately understood his father's intentions, he felt relieved, and his words were immediately much sharper, "I have long felt incompetent, this time I can unload the burden and recuperate with peace of mind, it is better......" He felt the strictness in his father's eyes, realized that he had said too much, and closed his mouth.

"Then it's decided." Zhang Zuolin turned his head to Yang Shuoming and said, "Go back and let him write his resignation, and ask the political axe to arrange meritocracy as soon as possible." ”

Yang Shuoming nodded, "Very good, that's all." ”

"My son, there are still some chemical factories in Rehe, by the way, he also has some soybean processing factories in his hands, and the benefits are not very good, if Hanzhi doesn't dislike it, it's better to give it to Hanzhi." Zhang Zuolin said.

Yang Shuoming smiled quietly and said, "I'll find someone to study it, and if possible, take it back to the country." ”

"That relationship is good, that relationship is good." Zhang Zuolin looked a little happy, smiled and nodded.

Zhang Xueliang knew that in the words just now, a deal had been reached, and behind this deal, it was actually his father who was cooking a mess for himself.

"I heard that Han Qing likes to collect antique calligraphy and paintings, and is quite good at it, right?" Yang Shuoming stared at Zhang Xueliang's eyes and asked calmly.

"It's nothing to play around, just a little bit of skin." Zhang Xueliang said in a hoarse voice.

"Collecting and appreciating the cultivation of family names is very helpful to body maintenance, and Han Qing may wish to put more effort into this regard in the future." Yang Shuoming said.

Zhang Xueliang understood the intention of Yang Shuoming's words, and a big stone in his heart finally landed.

He knew that his surname should have been saved.

It's just that he still doesn't know what kind of price his father paid in order to reach this deal.

Yang Shuoming and Zhang Zuolin chatted for a while, then got up to say goodbye, Zhang Zuolin sent Yang Shuoming out, Zhang Xueliang wanted to go out, but was stopped by his father's stern gaze at the moment of turning back.

Zhang Xueliang stopped and stood there, he watched the figure of Yang Shuoming and his party disappear at the door, and let out a heavy sigh.

After a long time, Zhang Zuolin came back, he saw his son who was still standing there stupidly, he held back his anger and did not attack, waved his hand, and an officer immediately stepped forward and handed a thick briefcase to Zhang Xueliang.

"See for yourself, if there is nothing missing, if there is nothing missing, you know what to do." Zhang Zuolin said.

Zhang Xueliang immediately knew what was inside, and his body couldn't help but tremble like chaff.

"Also, that person has already fallen into his hands." Zhang Zuolin looked at his son's appearance, sneered, and said.

"Oh." Zhang Xueliang agreed silently, looking at his son's shaky appearance, the dissatisfaction on Zhang Zuolin's face became even stronger.

"He promised to help you dispose of it, don't worry." Zhang Zuolin said.

Zhang Xueliang listened to his father's answer, he couldn't support it anymore, and his body was about to collapse as if he was about to collapse, so the two officers hurriedly stepped forward and helped him.

"Why don't you take a boat?"

Xi Xue, who was sitting in the train box, looked at Yang Shuoming who was looking out the window thoughtfully, and asked softly.

"Why take a boat?" Yang Shuoming asked rhetorically.

"I think it's safer to take a boat." Xi Xue said.

"Now on his Zhang Yuting's turf, his 'blue train' is safer." Yang Shuoming couldn't help but laugh when he remembered the famous train bombing in Chinese history, but his eyes were still looking out the window.

"You can't afford to do it again." Xi Xue said, her eyes turned to the window.

"I know." Yang Shuoming held her hand and said, "I am not handling it this way because of how magnanimous I am, but out of other considerations. He Zhang Yuting is a smart person, he knows the stakes in this, and he will not do stupid things like his playboy son. ”

"Oh." After listening to his explanation, Xi Xue didn't ask any more.

"This time, it can end like this, which is a good thing for all of us." Yang Shuoming looked at her and said a little apologetically, "It's just that you can't be a 'shadow guard' in the future." ”

"It's okay." Xi Xue let out a low groan and hung her head with a heavy heart.

At this moment, an agent in a black suit walked in.

"Chief, the matter is settled, you can take a look."

Yang Shuoming nodded and got up, Xi Xue also stood up, Yang Shuoming pressed her shoulder, signaling that she didn't have to follow.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine." Yang Shuoming said, "I'll come when I go." ”

"Okay." Xi Xue nodded obediently and sat down again.

Yang Shuoming and the agents came to a carriage together, and several other agents stayed here, and when they saw Yang Shuoming coming in, everyone retreated behind him.

Yang Shuoming saw Liu Desheng, who was already dead, lying on the carpet, with a hideous face, eyes widening, and the muscles on his face extremely distorted, obviously dying after great pain.

Unlike his ugly death, on the sofa not far away, there were four mother and son embracing each other, and they fell there, looking peaceful, as if they were asleep.

"Is she walking calmly with the children?" Yang Shuoming asked, his voice somehow becoming a little hoarse.

"Yes, Chief." An agent replied.

"After the bodies are cremated, let's bury them together." Yang Shuoming glanced at the dead mother again, and the children around her who had stopped breathing as if they were asleep, and sighed, "The family can finally be together in the end." ”

"Yes." One of the leading agents replied.

Yang Shuoming returned to his carriage, and Xi Xue saw that his expression was a little unnatural when he came back, so she got up and greeted him.

"What's wrong?" Xixue asked.

"Nothing." Yang Shuoming pulled her back to her seat and sat down.

"The war is about to begin, and I can't let these things interfere with me anymore." Yang Shuoming said, "I need a closure, and it's not bad to end it in this way." ”

"War? What war? Listening to Yang Shuoming's words, Xi Xue asked with some puzzlement.

"War all over the world." Yang Shuoming said.

Moscow, USSR.

"Alright! I'll sign it, and I'll sign whatever I want! I confessed that I had tried to kill all the Politburo members and to put Hitler on the throne of the Kremlin. But I must add in my confession a small detail that in addition to the accomplices that you have imposed on me, I also have a comrade, this person with the surname ...... Morchanov...... Yes, not bad at all, it's Molchanov! ”

In a courtroom, the prisoner screamed hysterically.

"Listen, since you think that someone must sacrifice for the interests of the party, then let's both sacrifice together and die!"

Hearing his words, the other person's face suddenly turned into a blank piece of paper. His embarrassed appearance was very satisfying to the prisoner.

"Do you know what I'm thinking?" The prisoner continued. "I was thinking that if I really put this condition on Yezhov, he would be happy to accept it. You know, for Yezhov, when the issue involves the interests of the party, the life of a Morchanov is nothing! In order to get a figure like me Radek to agree to appear in court, he will silently add instructions to Morchanov in passing! ”

"It was I, while carrying out Trotsky's orders, that I confirmed to a German diplomat at a banquet that the underground coalition against Comrade Stalin had indeed authorized Trotsky to negotiate with the German political axe, and that it was indeed intent on ceding to Germany the territory to which Trotsky had promised."

"I would also like to tell you that a diplomat of Ben once asked our distinguished Deputy People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs on the reliability of Trotsky's proposal to Germany during an official visit to Sokolnikov, and Sokolnikkov confirmed to the diplomat that Trotsky had indeed been given the power to conduct such negotiations."

"The brilliant achievements of our country under the wise leadership of Comrade Stalin had a great influence on me and made me realize that I had committed a heinous crime at the instigation of Trotsky."

"Should the state return to capitalism for the sake of Trotsky's beautiful eyes? This is simply nonsense! ”

"It was Trotsky's criminal directives that drove me and the other cabal leaders to a dead end. How is it that we, the old Bolsheviks, who had worked faithfully for the revolution for decades, have suddenly become conspirators of the anti-Party underground? How to explain to the members of the opposition that they should now fight for the victory of fascist Germany over the Soviet people? Yes! This is a complete loss of mind! The execution of Trotsky's directives can only anger all the members of the organization and prompt us to expose the whole conspiracy to the Ministry of Internal Affairs......"

"I feel like I'm in an insane asylum!"

"Have you taken any steps to get rid of it?" Vyshinski suddenly interjected and asked.

"The only way out should be to go to the Party Central Committee, confess the crime, and confess all the participants. But I didn't. I didn't go to the State Political Security Bureau, but the State Political Security Service did find me."

"This confession of yours is very convincing!" Vyshinsky nodded with satisfaction and said.

"It's also painful to confess." The prisoner said with a sigh.

Vyshinsky knew that in order to save his life, the prisoners not only fulfilled, but also overfulfilled the instructions of Comrade Stalin.

But despite this, Vyshinsky was not satisfied. In his view, the task of the prosecutor general is to inflict fatal blows in the courtroom against defendants who have been knocked to the ground and kowtow to beg for mercy.

"Don't forget, you refused to confess your crimes and accomplices, and you have denied any membership of the cabal for more than three months since your arrest." Vyshinsky subtly reminded the prisoners, "Think about it, can these acts of resistance of yours make us take the 'doubts' and 'pains' you just said seriously? ”

"Yes! If you do not admit the fact that all the conspiracy plans and Trotsky's secret orders that you know are the work of my own people, then you can certainly not take my words seriously! Vyshinsky's provocation infuriated the prisoner, and he immediately retorted.

Vyshinski could hear the threat in his words. Here, the prisoner deliberately sends a dangerous signal and threatens him with the phrase "from the mouth of one of my people": neither the Ministry of the Interior nor the public prosecutor of his country has any evidence against him or the other defendants except the prisoner's own confession!

Vyshinsky knew that, on the surface, the prisoner named Radek would never be a real conspirator, but he was best suited to play a conspirator in Stalin's court. In order to play this role well, he is really well-read and has a wealth of materials. As a genius demagogue, he has always believed that truth and lies are indispensable means to an end. Sophistry and eloquence were his forte, and he used to play tricks with the magic of the master magicians, subtly referring to the white as black or the black as white. Now, when he ostensibly agreed to Stalin to lie in court in order to save his head, he was determined to fulfill his "obligations" more actively and with the vigor of an excellent athlete. No matter what the occasion, he has to be in the limelight, this is his typical style, and now, he wants to go to the court to take the lead. Even playing a pathetic accused, an accused murderer and spy, is seen by him as an opportunity to get ahead; An opportunity to engage in mental competition with other defendants, even with the Prosecutor General.

In the courtroom, Raddic's performance was so wonderful and his acting skills were so perfect that many people who did not know the truth believed his nonsense. When the other defendants confessed their crimes to the court, they were all weak and miserable, as if they were reciting a long-forgotten lecture on ancient history. And Raddic simply played the trick alive. He tried to pour true passion into everything he said, as if what he was saying was entirely true, and that it had only happened a long time ago.

As a brilliant actor and a psychologist par excellence, he began his statement by avoiding the crimes of which he was said to have conspired with other defendants, or the contents of the so-called secret letters that Trotsky had given him. For he did not talk about it, but first presented to the court a whole bunch of questions that puzzled him, and caused him a lot of pain. He said that he felt these doubts and pains as early as when the "doctrine of intra-party struggle" led him step by step to the mire of crime from which he could not extricate himself.

(To be continued)