Someone is scolding people in Berlin, and the scolded person will naturally feel it. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 At this time, Kong Xiangxi, who was mediating in London and hoped to issue bonds in the London financial market, sneezed several times in a row - the others had not yet fallen asleep, and his secretary, Zhang Pingqun, was reporting to him the details of the negotiations with Britain in the past few days; Song Ailing also didn't sleep in the inner room, and when she heard her husband sneezing, she asked her subordinates to send a piece of clothing out.

Half an hour later, looking at her husband who returned to the room, Song Ailing complained: "Why do you have a lot of things, don't sleep?" ”

"State affairs are difficult!" The wife has always been in charge of the family, and Kong Xiangxi had to explain the reason. "My brother's telegram has become more and more urgent in the past few days, and I am afraid that this war will be inevitable."

"War is inevitable?!" Song Ailing looked at her husband, and immediately felt no sleep, her eyes were purring, but she still said: "Isn't it just that a few shots were fired outside Beiping City, and once the countries mediate, this war can still be fought?" ”

"Mediation?!" Kong Xiangxi sighed and said, "The current Britain is not the Britain of the past. In the Far East she appeased Japan, and in Europe she appeased Germany. The domestic economic depression in the United States has been repeated, and isolationism has become the mainstream. We want to mediate, but who wants to mediate? Mediation is to send troops, even if there are no troops, there will be a trade embargo, and now that all countries are eager to stimulate the economy and sell goods, who will embargo Japan......"

When Kong Xiangxi was in Washington, he exchanged views with Roosevelt on the North China Incident at the White House banquet where President Roosevelt welcomed him, and he was able to judge the underlying thinking of the Americans about the incident, that is, 'America first.' That was why he rushed to Europe at once, but the British did not seem to want to rush into the troubled waters.

Their understanding was simple: there were only 6,000 Japanese troops in North China, while the Chinese army numbered in the tens of thousands, and most of the senior Japanese officers were on vacation on the day of the incident, so if the incident did not happen by chance, it was caused by a deliberate provocation by the Chinese side. According to Kong Xiangxi's understanding, it is of course clear why the British understood it in this way -- as early as the former Qing Dynasty, the situation in China was that signing a treaty was one thing, and implementing a treaty was another. But in the eyes of foreigners, if you lose the war, whether you are willing or not, as long as you sign a treaty, you have the obligation to implement the treaty.

Of course, treaties are not immutable, and if you feel confident that you can win the war one day, then everyone will fight again, and if you win, the treaty will be null and void; If you lose, the treaty is doubled, and everyone admits defeat. If you don't dare to fight, or you will never be able to fight, then you have confirmed the theory of white superiority, and everything stems from your incompetence! Colonies are not infallible, and North and South America are all from colonial origin.

China's situation is that the treaty signed is invalid, and it has to fight several times before it is reluctantly implemented, but this is the former Qing Beiyang, the Nanjing Nationalist Government treaty will be signed, and it will be implemented on the surface, but in private, the Blue Coat Society and other spy groups will sabotage and assassinate from time to time, and the victor cannot obtain rights and interests in accordance with the treaty. Because of this, in response to the September 18 Incident, the investigation report issued by the League of Nations the following year did not support the Nanjing government, but preferred the joint administration of Manchuria by various countries. In this North China incident, the British government, based on the observation of Pingjin diplomats, quickly determined that the party responsible for the incident was the Nanjing government, and in addition to the urgency of the European situation, she refused to intervene at the beginning.

The diplomatic statements are tactful, but the meaning of the inside and why the other party thinks so, Kong Xiangxi is clear in his heart. However, his understanding does not mean that Chang Kaishen understands that in his opinion, Chang Kaishen is often contradictory to himself -- you can't shout for the defeat of imperialism while hoping that imperialism will come out to mediate. Only when imperialism has sufficient interests in China will it intervene and drive imperialism away because of its rights and interests in China, and then it will have no desire to seek foreign aid......

When Kong Xiangxi was discussing his brother-in-law, Song Ailing finally made up her mind, she said: "So, we should have stockpiled a batch of arms and medicines earlier......

The wife thought about it for a long time and thought about making war money, and Kong Xiangxi was not surprised by this. Just as he could not deny it, he suddenly heard someone talking outside, and said, "Who is it?" ”

"Sir, it's an urgent telegram from Berlin." Yao Wenkai, the housekeeper outside, replied.

"Berlin again!" Kong Xiangxi said a word, he hesitated for a moment before getting up, and a few minutes later, he came back in chagrin.

"Who's coming from Berlin in the middle of the night?" Song Ailing also saw her husband's unhappiness, and was even more unhappy that her money-making plan was interrupted, so she asked.

"Who else!" Kong Xiangxi laughed. "Then Li Kongrong is really crazy, he is worried that his younger brother will start a war in Shanghai, saying that this is to lead the enemy south and damage his heart."

"Li Kongrong?!" Song Ailing didn't know who this person was.

"It's the same lieutenant who refuted the Luftwaffe commander, Admiral Goering." Kong Xiangxi said, he said that he was afraid that his wife would be angry, and said: "This person is indeed a talent, and it is rare to judge the international situation accurately." When he left Germany the month before last, he repeatedly begged me to persuade my younger brother that the central government must not ...... in Shanghai."

"He's a little naval lieutenant actually urging you, the vice president of administration......" Song Ailing heard that it was Li Kongrong, but she didn't lose any temper, just complained, but after a while, she forgot about this stubble, and continued the previous unfinished topic: "If there is a war in Shanghai, then we can only stock up in Hong Kong......"

Kong Xiangxi and his wife talked about private affairs after chatting about official affairs, and taking into account both public and private interests, public and private interests are the foundation of the Kong family. And in Nanjing, Chang Kaishen, who had already returned to the official residence, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. He had already read the telegram from Britain from Kong Xiangxi -- 'Unless we are quite sure about the Sino-Japanese incident, it seems appropriate to consider the long term. Judging from the international situation, it is difficult to hope that any country will really help us, and in the United States, I have tried my best with my cousin (Wang Zhengting, ambassador to the United States), but I have only received lip service from the United States. The British attitude is to seek a mediator in the impossible; Russia seems unwilling to venture out alone, but it is ...... to deal with Japan by taking its own ability as the criterion' [Note 22: "Kong Xiangxi's Telegram to Chairman Chiang," Revolutionary Documents, vol. 45, p3245. ]

But even so, the government of this war cannot back down as before, and if it retreats, Beiping will become the second Shenyang, and Jicha will become the four northeastern provinces. Of course, there are also turnarounds: on the 11th, Song Zheyuan and Qin Dechun had reached an armistice agreement with the Japanese side, but that was more than ten days ago, on the evening of the 25th, the Japanese army attacked the 38th Division stationed in Langfang, on the morning of the 26th, the Japanese army began to attack Guang'anmen, and on the morning of the 28th, the Japanese army launched a general attack on Beiping.

At this time, Chang Kaishen remembered the information that he deliberately delayed, and then learned that he spent 10,000 pounds and became angry. It has long been said in intelligence that on July 11, the five-phase meeting of the Japanese cabinet made a decision to launch a war in North China and "urge the Chinese government to introspect," but he still pinned his hopes on the provisional agreement reached between Soong Zheyuan and the Japanese side.

"Brother Jie, Beiping...... Lost. Lieutenant General Xu Yongchang, Minister of Military Orders, who hurried to Chang Kaishen's office, reported the bad news as soon as he entered the door, followed by He Yingqin, Minister of Military Affairs, "Song Mingxuan evacuated Beiping ...... last night"

"Beiping is lost, and the blame lies with Song Mingxuan!" He Yingqin said angrily. He repeatedly negotiated peace with the Japanese army, but he was unprepared, and when the other people's forces were assembled, they were torn apart as soon as the deployment began. Brother Jie, kill Song Mingxuan Xie Guoren! ”

"Beiping has been lost, Tianjin is also difficult to protect, most of North China has fallen, Yu is the country's highest military commander, and also bears administrative responsibility, the failure of Pingjin is not related to the Song Dynasty, and I am willing to bear the responsibility of Yu Yi." Under the banner of the blue sky and white sun, Chang Kaishen was not panicked about the loss of Beiping, but his tolerance of Song Zheyuan really surprised Xu Yongchang. However, He Yingqin was not surprised, since Chang Kaishen became the chairman of the NPC National Committee, he began to establish morality -- magnanimity to outsiders, but blindly demanding of himself and the Whampoa department.

"So what's the case now?" Xu Yongchang said. "At present, two divisions of our 26th Army, one division of the 40th Army, the 53rd Army, and the 84th Division have either arrived in Baoding and Shijiazhuang, or are about to arrive. But these troops alone are not enough, and there is no danger to defend Zhili, the Jinpu line can only fight and retreat, with the Yellow River natural danger as the key point, the key is Shanxi, if Shanxi is used as a base, Taihang Mountain as a barrier, when threatening the Japanese army along the Pinghan Road directly south, enter Wuhan......"

Xu Yongchang meant to continue to increase troops to the north, but Chang Kaishen waited for him to finish speaking, but said: "Brother Cichen, what if the Japanese land from Shanghai when our army goes north? In the previous defeat of Songhu, the Japanese not only set up fortifications in Shanghai, but also stationed thousands of Japanese pirates. Once the fighting in the north is fierce and the Japanese invaders land from Shanghai and attack Nanjing, will we not be attacked on both sides? ”

As soon as Chang Kaishen mentioned Shanghai, He Yingqin sighed in his heart. As the Minister of Military Affairs, of course, he Zhang Zhizhong's affairs in Suzhou, but he was opposed to it, and he also heard that this Zhang Wenbai had a very close relationship with the Red Party. Now it is only the North China incident, and as soon as Shanghai goes to war, there will be another East China incident, and at that time, it will be the enemy on both sides.

"Brother Jie, what do you mean ......" Xu Yongchang, who didn't know the situation of the 9th Army, asked, and he began to think about it according to Chang Kaishen's thoughts.

"Annihilate the 3,000 Japanese robbers in Shanghai to help the morale of our army and people." Chang Kaishen put aside a little of the plan he had been thinking about, looking forward to the reactions of Xu Yongchang and He Yingqin. As for the 10,000-pound purchase of the Japanese traitor's information, he had long since forgotten - it was one thing to know and make a reinforcement plan, and quite another to actually bring troops over. There are more than 20,000 German armor divisions in 87 and 88, and he doesn't believe that he can't wipe out these 3,000 Japanese soldiers!

"Brother Jie, this matter must not be done!" Before Xu Yongchang could speak, He Yingqin spoke up. "At this time, it is only the North China incident, and if Shanghai goes to war, it will be the East China incident, and then our side will be attacked on both sides."

After He Yingqin finished speaking, Chang Kaishen didn't answer, he looked at Xu Yongchang again, Xu Yongchang was cautious after all, he said: "Brother Jie, according to the Songhu Armistice Agreement, our army cannot enter Shanghai......"

"How can that kind of agreement be kept?!" Seeing that Xu Yongchang also opposed the war in Shanghai, Chang Kaishen's face was immediately displeased. "The Japanese are unusually violent and untrustworthy, and if the agreement is really useful, they should not provoke a war and capture Beiping. Beijing and Shanghai are important places in the country, and they must not be occupied by the Japanese people, and it is fundamental to eradicate their Shanghai strongholds and eliminate hidden dangers as soon as possible. Shanghai is also a place where the forces of various countries converge, and once a war starts, it is easy for all countries to jointly mediate and eventually eliminate the war. ”

"This ......" Xu Yongchang understood Chang Kaishen's temper very well, what he wanted to do would always be done, so he had to say: "Isn't the Supreme Military Council going to be held in a few days, I see if this matter will be discussed at the meeting?" ”

After Xu Yongchang finished speaking, Colonel Wang Shihe came in and reported: "Principal, Minister Chen of the Navy has urgent matters to see!" ”

"Navy ......" Chang Kaishen thought about it for a while, and found that the big war was imminent, and it was really necessary to meet Chen Shaokuan, so he said: "Please Minister Chen come in." ”

It has been 10 days since Chen Shaokuan returned to China, and in the past 10 days, he has been in Shanghai for eight days to supervise the Jiangnan Institute to repair four torpedo boats, including Jiankang and Huyu, but fortunately, he personally went to the bank to borrow money, so that the four boats quietly sailed out of the Huangpu River last night and disappeared into the vast East China Sea. He pushed down the ambush plan, but it was just a few small boats, and no one would pay attention to it; However, it is a big deal for Ninghai to go overseas to break diplomatic relations, and the ministry held several meetings and finally reluctantly agreed, but Ninghai is a big ship, and the Military Command Department and Chang Kaishen have to report it.

"Report Chairman ......" As soon as Chen Shaokuan came in, he saluted Chang Kaishen, and when he saw Xu Yongchang and He Yingqin there, he saluted them again.

"Houfu doesn't have to be polite." Chang Kaishen stood up, "At this time, the Japanese have occupied Beiping, and the survival of the country and the nation is only in the blink of an eye, what is the current plan of the navy?" ”

"Report to the chairman, the Navy hopes that the Military Commission and the Military Command Department will approve the Navy's plan to extinguish the enemy navy in the Yangtze River at an early date!" Chen Shaokuan did not reveal Jin Shanwei's ambush plan at all, for fear that the spies around Chang Kaishen would obtain naval secrets.

"Excellent! However, at this time, the time has not yet come and the arrangements have not been properly made, and the navy should be on standby in order to preempt the enemy. Chang Kaishen forced a smile, and his reply to Chen Shaokuan's words was basically the same as the words in the telegram to Zhang Zhizhong.

"Yes, the Navy is ready to wait for the Chairman's orders!" Chen Shaokuan said, and after he finished speaking, he submitted a plan: "The Navy has drafted another plan for breaking diplomatic relations, and I will ask the chairman to approve it." ”

After reading the plan hastily, he handed the plan to Xu Yongchang and said, "Just go out on the Ninghai ship to break the friendship?" ”

"The early stage is." Chen Shaokuan said, "If Germany delivers two ocean-going submarines in the later stage, then the Ninghai and the submarine can cooperate in combat." Besides, the navy is full of old ships, and it can only send Ninghai to the sea to break diplomatic relations and threaten the enemy's sea lines of communication. ”

"Good!" Chang Kaishen, who did not know much about the navy, did not know that with Ninghai's speed and combat effectiveness, it would not be possible to achieve much even if the diplomatic relations were broken, but he still agreed with the navy's active offensive spirit. He said: "In order to prevent the Japanese army from blocking the mouth of the Yangtze River, the ship can go out first, but when to break the hand and wait for the military order of the military order department!" ”

"Yes!" Chen Shaokuan was overjoyed when he saw that Chang Kaishen agreed so easily. At the moment, he said: "However, when the Ninghai sails, the supply can only rely on foreign commercial ports, which requires an urgent batch of foreign exchange to purchase oil and ammunition for supplies......

Unexpectedly, Chen Shaokuan's next sentence mentioned foreign exchange rather than the indomitable spirit of the people, and Chang Kaishen, who was a little disappointed, said: "How much money do you need?" ”

"Report to the chairman, at least 100,000 pounds will be needed in the early stage." Chen Shaokuan said, "If the enemy's ships and materials can be captured and sold in the later stage, the foreign exchange required is very small. After he finished speaking, he said very uneasily: "At this time, the Japanese navy stationed in Shanghai has strengthened its vigilance, and it is best for Ninghai to go to sea today and tomorrow night, otherwise the opportunity will be lost!" ”