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Chapter 1790 Killing Many Birds with One Stone

From Nanjing, there are several routes to Nanhua by rail. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

One is from the Suzhou-Jiangxi-Hunan Railway to Nanchang and Changsha, and then from the Southwest Railway to Guiyang, Liupanshui and Kunming, and then from Kunming directly south to Xinjing. This railway artery, which runs through southwest China and the south of the Yangtze River, was completed as early as the beginning of 38 years. It is precisely because of the existence of this railway that the strategic materials produced in the southwest can be continuously sent to the front line in the Central Plains and North China to support the needs of the Anti-Japanese War.

The second is to take a boat from Nanjing to Wuchang, go south from the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway to Guangzhou, and then from Guangzhou to Nanning via the Liangguang Railway. After that, by the newly built Nanxin Railway, through Chongzuo, Pingxiang, arrived at Zhennan Pass, and then from Zhennan Pass to Xinjing through Langshan. This railway line was opened to traffic in the middle of last year, and its complete completion means that there is a more convenient and efficient means of transportation from Nanhua to the interior of the motherland, linking China and Nanhua, the two main battlefields against Japan.

There is also a variant of the second line, in Qinzhou Port, there is no need to go north to Nanning, but along the plain area in the south of the 100,000 Mountains, through Fangcheng Port to Dongxing on the border line, and then from Mong Cai and Ha Long Bay to Xinjing. This branch railway, which was opened to traffic at the end of last year, organically connects the major ports of the Beibu Gulf and greatly shortens the distance between Nanhua and Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway, which is of great strategic significance.

This time, Chiang Kai-shek and his wife went south to Xinjing, so they chose the third route.

In order to show respect for China's supreme head of state, South China Premier Xu Ziliang and Foreign Minister Ngo Dinh Diem personally greeted him in Qinzhou. When the train crossed the border and entered Mong Cai, Chiang Kai-shek and his wife were in high spirits and got off the train to visit this border city, which has a large number of French and English buildings and is full of white people on the streets.

Mong Cai is famous for curing hundreds of thousands of people who have been affected by the Australian disease. Since most of the wealthy people were able to go to Nanhua for isolation and treatment, they brought huge spending power and quickly stimulated the prosperity of the tertiary industry in Mong Cai and the surrounding areas. Today, the city is connected to the Chagu Peninsula in the south, and buildings of various styles have sprung up, with nearly one-third of the population of more than half a million being white.

Chiang Kai-shek was amazed at the number of white people here, and after a visit, he learned that many Australians had simply settled here after being cured of the epidemic, making Mong Cai his second home. By the middle of last year, the spread of the plague in Australia had been largely contained, and some people who owned industries in Australia had returned home one after another, but to prevent accidents, these people left their wives and children in South China.

Chiang Kai-shek and his wife were in high spirits, and they stayed in Mong Cai for a day to meet and talk cordially with overseas Chinese in England and Australia before continuing south.

On the morning of Chinese New Year's Eve, 7 February, the special train finally arrived in Xinjing.

At ten o'clock in the morning, on the platform of the railway station in the northwest of the city, the crowd gathered, and the sound was boiling.

An Yi stood in front of the crowd, in order to avoid irritating Chiang Kai-shek, today he did not wear a military uniform, but a festive red Tang suit, Ou Chuer on the left and Feng Jieyun on the right, also dressed in red court costumes, looking graceful and luxurious, and generous.

Behind An Yi, Gu Changfeng, Xia Jian, Cheng Chengguang, Yang Fei, Yang Guan and other generals stood straight, in order to avoid causing Chiang Kai-shek's unhappiness, Yang Jie and visiting relatives in the name of going back to Dali, Yunnan. More than a dozen generals whispered, all discussing the intentions of Chiang Kai-shek's visit.

On the other side of the station, MacArthur was dressed in the uniform of a U.S. Army general, and he was meeting with U.S. Ambassador to South China Alfred and U.S. High Commissioner to Manila Francis Anderson. Serge talks.

Mrs. Arthur Joan was dressed in a dress, and little Arthur was wearing a decent black suit and pants, leaning on his mother's lap, but the little guy was absent-minded and turned his head to look straight at Feng Jieyun and Ou Chuer.

Joan felt a little embarrassed and patted the little guy on the shoulder, and the little guy raised his head and pleaded, "Mom, the two aunts next to that uncle are so beautiful!" Mom, when did you wear that nice outfit? ”

Joan couldn't help but laugh, and then said to MacArthur: "Douglas, that kind of skirt is really good-looking, I heard that it is a traditional Chinese costume!" ”

When MacArthur heard his wife's words, he turned his head and looked: "It looks good, but don't the Chinese use robes and horse coats and cheongsams as their national uniforms?" Why is it so strange to wear now? ”

Ambassador Alfried explained with a smile:

"That is the newly popular Tang costume in Nanhua, which is said to have been inherited from the Han and Tang Dynasty costumes more than 1,000 years ago, and now it is advocated to wear this kind of clothing on major occasions in South China. Douglas, you forgot? The last time the Secretary of State came here, President An Yi and his wife were dressed in a similar way. I have heard from several friends that after the end of the war in the future, the South China Association will adopt legislation to determine the wearing of this kind of clothing on traditional Chinese festivals such as Qingming Festival, Chongyang Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival. ”

Joan asked curiously, "So, you can buy this kind of novel clothing in Xinjing's clothing stores?" ”

Ambassador Alfred nodded, and MacArthur smiled and said, "Madam, if you like it, I'll have someone buy you two sets another day." ”

Behind MacArthur, the Chief of Staff of the Far Eastern Army, Richard Brown. Sutherland, Air Force Commander Brilton, former North Luzon Force Commander Jonarin. Wainwright, Jones, commander of the South Luzon forces, Parker, commander of the Lucena forces, and other generals also gathered together to discuss the current situation in the Pacific.

Farther away, colorful flags fluttered, drums were noisy, and more than 5,000 students from Xinjing University, Middle and Primary Schools held the national flag of the Republic of China, or the flag of South China, or slogans, and shouted slogans neatly.

As the train slowly stopped, Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling stepped out of the carriage.

An Yi hurriedly greeted him, bowed, and said respectfully: "Principal, master, welcome to Xinjing as a guest. ”

Chiang Kai-shek saw a lively scene in the station in the carriage, and his heart was relieved, before that, he was very worried that An Yi, who was not what it used to be, would treat his visit to Nanhua in a cold way.

At this moment, seeing An Yi as respectful as ever, he was very happy, and patted An Yi's shoulder affectionately:

"An Yi, you deserve to be my best student! In the past two years, you have made such a great reputation, and the principal is sincerely happy for you! This time I went to Xinjing, I wanted to see with my own eyes how much my students have achieved and how they have done all this! ”

An Yi smiled and said: "Students are all cultivated by the principal, if there is no support from the principal, there will be no An Yi today......"

An Yi's posture was very low, Chiang Kai-shek was very useful, and just wanted to humble himself, Gu Changfeng, Xia Jian, Cheng Chengguang, Yang Fei, Yang Guan and other generals had already come over and saluted him neatly: "Hello principal!" ”

Most of these generals under An Yi have the experience of training in the general class of the Central Military Academy, so they can be regarded as students of Chiang Kai-shek. Now it is not as good as before, everyone here is famous, in foreign warfare outstanding achievements, commanding millions of elite troops, therefore, Chiang Kai-shek did not dare to slack off, hurriedly stepped forward, one by one, to show closeness.

At this moment, Feng Jieyun and Ou Chuer were already surrounding Song Meiling, calling each other "godmother", "mother", and "daughter", and affectionately shushing each other.

Kong Lingyi, who was followed by Song Meiling, quietly looked at An Yi, who was accompanying Chiang Kai-shek, and a flush flew over her gentle and watery face.

After Chiang Kai-shek shook hands with the generals of Nanhua, An Yi led him to MacArthur and his party, who had been waiting for him.

Although Chiang Kai-shek was very interested in MacArthur and others, as the head of state of a country, he did not show much eagerness at this time, and after a brief meeting, he made an appointment with MacArthur and others to discuss in detail another day.

Just when Chiang Kai-shek thought that the welcome ceremony was about to end, An Yi smiled and said: "Principal, the honor guard is ready in the square outside, please review it!" ”

Chiang Kai-shek was greatly surprised and waved his hand: "Take me to see, just to see the peak appearance of your army." ”

An Yi accompanied Chiang Kai-shek, walked on the red carpet, and came to the station square outside.

As his eyes suddenly opened up, Chiang Kai-shek realized that compared with the crowd here, the scene of boiling in the station just now was completely insignificant. I saw that around the wide parking lot square, densely packed with people, they waved colorful flags in their hands, shouted loudly, and it was spectacular.

On the high platform on one side of the square, the red flag of the Republic of China and the five-clawed golden dragon red flag of Nanhua fluttered in the wind.

Seeing An Yi and Chiang Kai-shek walking out of the gate of the station, the commander of the honor guard of the army, navy, and air force standing on the side of the red carpet at the entrance of the station shouted loudly, and all the officers and men immediately stood up and looked in the direction of the station entrance, and the military band immediately played a loud military music.

The commander of the honor guard held the command knife in his hand, erected his eyes, and strode straight in front of An Yi and Chiang Kai-shek: "Respected Chairman Chiang, the honor guard of the three armed forces of South China is ready and waiting for your review!" ”

Chiang Kai-shek didn't know what to say, so he nodded instead.

Immediately, the national anthem of the Republic of China was played: "Three People's Principles, the sect of our party, to build the Republic of China, to enter the ...... of Datong"

At the end of the song, the Nanhua national anthem "My Motherland" was played.

After the two national anthems were played one after another, "bang", the salute sounded again.

An Yi accompanied Chiang Kai-shek to inspect the honor guard of the three armed services.

Marching in front of the neat procession, Chiang Kai-shek, dressed in a robe and horse coat, constantly took off his politeness and nodded in greeting. Walking in front of the guard of honor, the twenty-one gun salute was just finished.

Two beautiful girls, dressed in the costumes of the Tang Dynasty court, walked up to Chiang Kai-shek and offered flowers.

Subsequently, An Yi accompanied Chiang Kai-shek to the review stand, and the loud military song sounded: "The wolf smoke rises, the rivers and mountains look north, the dragon flag rolls, the horse neighses, and the sword qi is like frost......"

The honor guards of the three services came in orderly steps and walked past the reviewing stand.

An Yi beckoned, Chiang Kai-shek took off his courtesy, and kept waving, and there was a deafening cheer in the square.

After reviewing the troops, the welcome ceremony was officially over, An Yi accompanied Chiang Kai-shek into the car, Ou Chuer and Feng Jieyun accompanied Song Meiling into another car, Xu Ziliang, Wu Tingyan, and Nanhua and US military generals who had become supporting roles got into the car one after another, and soon, the huge convoy slowly started and headed for the state guesthouse.

Entering the carriage and closing the huge cheers out of the window, Chiang Kai-shek's mood calmed down a little.

Looking at the crowds of people on both sides of the street, the continuous scene, and the ten-mile-long street raising flags and cheering, he asked with a smile: "An Yi, how many people have you invited to attend today's welcome ceremony?" ”

An Yi replied: "About 500,000 people...... As a sign of welcome to the principal, it's totally worth it! ”

However, An Yi did not tell the truth, today's large-scale mass activities are on the one hand to test the mobilization and organizational ability of the grassroots residents' committees, and on the other hand, it is also to show the strength of South China to the foreign powers through such activities. In addition, it also has a variety of functions such as setting off the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival and making Chiang Kai-shek happy, which can be described as killing many birds with one stone.

Chiang Kai-shek was so excited that he almost forgot his original intention of coming to South China. But seeing that there were many white people on both sides of the street who were also in the welcoming crowd, he suddenly remembered something and asked:

"An Yi, Yin Jinan's speech at the Louvre in Paris, did you mean it? Could it be that South China really wants to join the Axis powers? ”

An Yi was slightly stunned, and then said: "No, we still know the importance of the matter, this just shows our attitude." All along, Britain and the United States and other countries have adopted a policy of both wooing and suppressing us. Now that the international situation has reached the most critical stage, our role is becoming more and more obvious. If we choose to join the German chariot, almost the entire Eurasian continent will become a power of the Axis powers, and if Britain and the United States want to make a comeback, it will be very difficult!

"However, we will not do this, there are many internal problems in the Axis countries, and we have a national hatred and family hatred with ***, and we can't match them together at all, and the final result will inevitably be broken by Britain and the United States.

"If we want the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must stand on the side of the victor, there is no doubt that it is cost-effective to get close to Britain and the United States, we will not come nonsense!"

Chiang Kai-shek was a little relieved and continued to enjoy the spectacular scene of hundreds of thousands of people marching in line to welcome the colorful flags flying all over the streets.

When the convoy arrived at the state guesthouse on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake, An Yi had just gotten off the bus when he received an urgent report from Germany: At 2:30 a.m. Berlin time, the negotiators of the Turkish military government formally signed an alliance treaty with the Axis powers and joined the Axis powers with immediate effect.

The situation in the Middle East has thus taken a decisive turn.