After 10 o'clock that night, He Yingqin received a call from Chiang Kai-shek's chamberlain, asking him to go to Chiang Kai-shek's official residence immediately to rest.

He Yingqin had already rested, but when he looked at his watch, it was already past 10 o'clock, and he knew that Chiang Kai-shek must be in a hurry, otherwise he would definitely not look for him at this time. I didn't dare to slack off at the moment, hurriedly got dressed, and went straight to Xilu.

He Yingqin met Song Ziwen, who had just arrived, in front of Chiang Kai-shek's official residence, and both of them were very surprised when they met, which showed that Chiang Kai-shek was not just inviting them to discuss military or economic issues today, but that something big must have happened. The two briefly exchanged a few words, and then entered the courtyard together, and as soon as they entered the courtyard gate, they met Dai Li, who hurriedly came out of the official residence.

Dai Li's life at this time was still very low-key, and the members of his investigation and communication team were also cautious, so the two of them did not have any objection to Dai Li, who was now very favored by Chiang Kai-shek. Moreover, Dai Li was not only a student of Chiang Kai-shek, but also a student of He Yingqin, the chief instructor of Whampoa, so when Dai Li stepped aside and saluted the two, He Yingqin looked at a black Mercedes-Benz car parked in the courtyard and asked Dai Li: "Yunong, is the chairman meeting the Germans?" ”

Dai Li said in a respectful whisper: "Yes, the chief minister, the chairman of the committee is summoning the representative of the German minister to Beiping, Tao Demann, in Nanjing. ”

The news that Chiang Kai-shek was seeing the Germans was confirmed from Dai Li's mouth made He Yingqin's heart jump, and he waved his hand to Dai Li: "Yunong, you go and get busy." ”

Song Ziwen, seeing He Yingqin staring at Dai Li's departing back silently, felt a little strange when he thought about it, and pulled He Yingqin and said, "Chief He, what do you think the chairman is looking for us?" It can't be that Tang Shengzhi suffered the defeat of the Northwest Army in the Central Plains, right? ”

He Yingqin shook his head and said: "No, the Northwest Army is now a toothless tiger, it looks very scary, in fact, it's not a big deal, we have more than 200,000 troops in the Central Plains, Tang Mengxiao is not good, and he will not lose the battle, Song Zheyuan made a mistake this time, Feng Yuxiang was detained by Yan Xishan in Shanxi, with his prestige, he can't command the Northwest Army at all, and this time the problem of the Northwest Army must be completely solved." ”

"What could that be?" Song Ziwen asked.

He Yingqin sighed, and did not answer Song Ziwen directly, but asked with a worried face: "What do you say will allow the chairman to meet with the representative of the German minister in China overnight?" ”

Song Ziwen thought for a while, his heart tightened, and he said in a trembling voice: "Chief He, are you saying that there is a problem in the Northeast?" ”

He Yingqin nodded, and said worriedly: "Maybe the surname is very big, and if there is really a problem in the Northeast, it is not the Northeast Army, but Wenge's Fourth Route Army that has an accident in Manchuria, and it should be the Soviet Army that has done it on the Western Front." ”

"The Northeast Army can't beat the Soviets, can't Wenge's Fourth Route Army also beat the Soviets? Haven't you repeatedly praised the troops of Kwavongo as a first-class strong army in the country? Song Ziwen asked a little unwillingly.

He Yingqin shook his head and said: "It is true that Wenge's troops are first-class and strong in China, but it depends on who they compare with." Of the various forces in the country, only our Central Army and the Northeast Army have a few tanks and planes, and the Northeast Army has more planes than us, but no matter how many there are, there will never be more Soviets. Moreover, only our Central Army has just obtained some 105mm artillery from the Germans in the country, and the Northeast Army should also have a few of them, and these artillery pieces together are not enough to equip an artillery regiment, while each division of the Soviet Army has one such artillery regiment. Although Wenge's troops are better equipped with weapons than domestic troops, it also depends on who they compare with, and compared with the Soviets, it is like comparing the broadsword and spear of the Boxers with the machine guns and cannons of the Eight-Nation Alliance. ”

He Yingqin saw a guard coming, stopped and said to Song Ziwen: "Ziwen, Wen Ge is young and promising, with outstanding talents, looking at the Huangpu classmates, there are very few people who can stand out from the right. Wen Ge did not respect the central military order this time, and sent troops to the northeast without authorization, if he was defeated by the Soviet army, it would be a mistake for the party and the country! Ziwen, when the time comes, you have to say a fair word for Wenge! ”

He Yingqin put "disrespecting the central military order and sending troops to the northeast without authorization." "It's very important.

He Yingqin's words made Song Ziwen stunned, Song Zhewu sent troops to the Northeast to ask the central government in advance, although Chiang Kai-shek did not give a clear reply, but he also knew and acquiesced, these He Yingqin all knew? How can it be said that Song Zhewu "did not respect the central military order and sent troops to the northeast without authorization." ”

However, Song Ziwen immediately understood the meaning of He Yingqin's words. Explicit orders and acquiescence are completely different things, if it is an explicit order, Song Zhewu does not need to bear much responsibility if something goes wrong. Acquiescence was different, and Chiang Kai-shek could completely excuse himself from ignorance. Especially at this time, not only are Li Zongren and Feng Yuxiang really fighting against the national political axe led by Chiang Kai-shek, but there are also various local forces secretly preparing to make a move, intending to fight with Chiang Kai-shek openly and secretly, and there are even reorganization factions in the party headed by Wang Jingwei who are in contact everywhere and plotting to overthrow Chiang. It can be said that the current domestic political situation is surging undercurrent, and at any time a small wind blowing at an inopportune time will set off huge waves and knock Chiang Kai-shek, the helmsman of the Republic of China, into the sea.

At this time, if Song Zhewu really wanted to eat a defeated battle, Chiang Kai-shek shirked that it was completely possible that he did not know in advance, and let Song Zhewu carry the black cauldron himself. Song Ziwen knows his brother-in-law too well. Although his brother-in-law was born in the military, he is also a politician, and the creed of a politician is to only seek results, and never care about the process and means, even if he sacrifices his allies and subordinates, he will not blink his eyes.

Song Ziwen nodded solemnly and said, "Chief He, don't worry, Wen Ge and I hit it off at first sight, and we are very close to each other." ”

With Song Ziwen's words, He Yingqin can be regarded as relieved, if he really wants to be unfortunate by him, he must speak for Song Zhewu, others such as Lin Wei, it is okay to beat the side drum, but he will never dare and will not touch Chiang Kai-shek's tiger whiskers. If there is Song Ziwen, the "national uncle", who speaks up, the situation will be much better. The worst case is to pull Song Zhewu into the Central Army, which is a great thing for the Central Army, of course, this must be on the premise that Song Zhewu does not hold a grudge against Chiang Kai-shek.

The guards led the two to the reception room, where Zhang Qun, Chen Guofu, Yang Yongtai, and Foreign Minister Wang Zhengting were waiting, and it seemed that they had just arrived. Chiang Kai-shek brought in all the party, government, military, diplomatic, and financial officials at such a late hour, and it was definitely a big incident. He Yingqin and Song Ziwen glanced at each other silently, and they didn't speak with a heavy heart. Just nodded with everyone.

Soon, Yan Daogang came to inform them, and the chairman was waiting for them in the study. Almost all of these people thought that something big had happened, so they all walked into Chiang Kai-shek's study with apprehension.

In the study, Chiang Kai-shek could not tell whether he was happy or sad on his face, and leaned back quietly in his chair with his eyes half-closed. Lin Wei sat on the sofa with a calm face. Seeing that Chiang Kai-shek summoned Lin Wei alone, and that Chiang Kai-shek had just summoned the representative of the German minister, Lin Wei was obviously present, except for Yang Yongtai, who seemed to understand something, everyone else felt very strange.

After everyone came in, Chiang Kai-shek opened his eyes, as if he was very tired, and as if he was in good spirits, his eyes swept over everyone, and said lightly: "Everyone sit down." ”

Then, sit up straight, open the folder on the table, and take out a few telegrams and place them on the table.

Chiang Kai-shek looked at the telegram on the table and said lightly: "I brought you all here so late, do you know what it is for?" ”

Song Ziwen asked anxiously: "Chairman, is there a problem in the Northeast?" ”

Chiang Kai-shek nodded appreciatively and said: "Ziwen is right, that is, something happened in the Northeast, and it is a big event. ”

Although almost all of these people guessed that something big had happened in the northeast and they were all prepared, as soon as Chiang Kai-shek said it himself, everyone's hearts couldn't help but sink.

With a glimmer of hope, He Yingqin asked inquiringly: "Chairman, but Zhang Xueliang's Northeast Army has suffered another defeat?" ”

Chiang Kai-shek shook his head slightly and said, "The Northeast Army has not suffered defeat. ”

Chiang Kai-shek's words made He Yingqin's face pale for a while. Since the Northeast Army did not suffer defeat, it must have been Song Zhewu's Fourth Route Army that lost the battle, and since Chiang Kai-shek said that it was a big deal, that is to say, the Fourth Route Army was not only defeated, but also defeated.

He Yingqin admires Song Zhewu very much, he believes that Song Zhewu, a young man, is not only clear-headed, very politically far-sighted, but also resourceful and decisive, extremely accomplished in military affairs, absolutely a rare talent, and the most important thing is that this young man resolutely supports the central political axe, which is rare among local forces, and Song Zhewu's Fourth Route Army is almost a real central army.

At this time, the Fourth Route Army was defeated, and the blow to Song Zhewu would be very huge, if anything happened to Song Zhewu himself, the Fourth Route Army would immediately fall apart......

He Yingqin didn't dare to think about it anymore, hesitated for a moment and asked cautiously: "Is it that Wenge's Fourth Route Army was defeated, and how is he himself?" ”

Chiang Kai-shek looked at everyone, shook his head slightly, and said, "Wen Ge didn't lose the battle either, he is very good now." ”

Hearing that Song Zhewu was not only not defeated, but he himself was not surprised, He Yingqin couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Zhang Qun asked suspiciously: "Chairman, could it be that the Northeast Governor himself took the opportunity to cause some trouble?" ”

Zhang Qun's words reminded everyone at once, how could they forget about himself! He said that he has always regarded the Northeast as their sphere of influence, first in order to compete for interests in the Northeast, he fought with Tsarist Russia, and then sent the Yue Army to disguise himself as the Northeast Army to help Zhang Zuolin defeat the anti-Feng Guo Songling, and also blew up Zhang Zuolin, in order to prevent the Northern Expeditionary Army from leaving the customs, creating the Jinan tragedy. At this time, Zhang Xueliang was busy dealing with the war on the border of Heilongjiang, and if he took the opportunity to provoke an incident, Zhang Xueliang would never have the courage to start a war with the two powerful countries at the same time.

Everyone looked nervously at Chiang Kai-shek, hoping for a definite answer from his calm, somewhat unnatural expression.

(To be continued)