Episode 100 Gas Bombs

On the 12th, since this was a strategic issue involving diplomacy, Zhu Yourong asked Shen Rongxuan and several major ministers to discuss. The result of the discussion of several ministers is basically the same as the opinion of Fourteen Gege and Sun Jiye, it is very necessary for the Ming Dynasty to reveal the Ming-Su negotiations to Japan, regardless of who will fight who will fight next.

So a plan was decided, and at noon that day, Xiang Xiaoqiang took one of his own teams, Qiu Yu, Xiuxiu, Hu Jiong, Wu Yanbin, and several staff officers of the mobile team, and flew to Lanzhou by plane to inspect the situation of the war against the Soviet Union.

At six o'clock in the evening, the plane landed at Lanzhou Airport, and several major generals of the Lanzhou Command of the People's Guard, headed by Zhao Cunnian, drove to the airport to greet them, and then took Xiaoqiang and his party to the headquarters for dinner. After dinner, Xiang Xiaoqiang seemed very anxious, and regardless of rest, he asked Zhao Cunnian to inspect the headquarters, inspect the command system, inspect the logistics system, inspect the military hospital, and check the casualties...... He also listened to the reports of the generals of the Lanzhou Command and learned on the spot the latest progress of the war against the Soviet Union.

To be honest, Xiang Xiaoqiang's "sudden arrival" really surprised the generals of the Lanzhou Headquarters. Especially Zhao Cunnian, who has a ghost in his heart, is quite muttering in his heart. But that night, after Xiang Xiaoqiang's inspection, he took a few entourages and walked with Zhao Cunnian in the shade of the headquarters compound, and told him the "reason" of the sudden inspection.

Zhao Cunnian listened to the "top-secret situation" that Xiang Xiaoqiang whispered to him, and then he calmed down in his heart. -- It turned out that Nanjing had received a secret "communication" from the Soviet envoy, and it was possible that the two sides would achieve a ceasefire soon...... In this way, Nanjing's decision-makers will naturally have to go through a comprehensive trade-off. The key point of weighing is naturally how well the current war against the Soviet Union is being fought, whether it is possible to make major progress in the near future, and whether our side can sustain casualties and logistics...... If the situation is really not optimistic and the prospects for the war in the northwest are still stalemate, then the Nanjing decision-makers will naturally have to seriously consider the Soviet Union's armistice proposal.

……

"Zisi," Xiang Xiaoqiang said as he walked in the dappled moonlight in the shade of the trees with his hands behind his back, "this matter is still top secret...... Even in the People's Guard, there are very few people who know about it. Now that you know, don't tell anyone else. ”

Zhao Cunnian's eyes flashed, and he nodded:

"Don't worry, my subordinates know it."

Xiang Xiaoqiang continued:

"Originally, this was a political and diplomatic matter, and we were soldiers and should not have been involved. That is, the Soviets found our People's Guard, so we handled it. …… Alas, how we go next is too important. If we really want to agree on an armistice with the Soviet Union, then we can naturally turn all our energies to the east, and needless to say, we will soon be able to destroy Japan.

"But...... Hehe, you also know that Princess Liaoyang has always been more pro-Japanese, and she grew up in Japan, which is also normal. She advocated that we should take advantage of Japan's defeat in the war, agree an armistice with Japan, and turn around and beat the Soviet Union. What she means is that the USSR was much stronger than Japan. It can be said that the long-term threat to Daming is also much stronger. ”

Zhao Cunnian nodded while listening to Xiang Xiaoqiang's sigh. He listened for a while, and felt that the opportunity had come, so he cautiously interjected:

"Your Excellency...... The subordinates felt that Princess Liaoyang's words were not unreasonable. Subordinate...... Here's how I thought about it: The conditions put forward by the Soviet Union were actually for us to admit their invasion and occupation of northern Xinjiang, and the bargaining chips they offered were nothing more than an armistice with us, no longer supporting Japan, and supporting our recovery of Manchuria and Outer Mongolia. It seems that a lot has been conceded, but if you look closely, this condition can be said that the Soviet Union does not have to do anything from now on, and can sit on the fruits of their aggression - the northern frontier, which seems to be a little cheaper. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang's face was not shocked, but he nodded slowly, looking thoughtful. But in his heart, he secretly said: - Zhao Cunnian is really speaking for Japan.

Zhao Cunnian knew that although Xiang Xiaoqiang said that "soldiers should not be involved in politics", there were few people in the entire Ming Empire who could influence the formulation of national policies so conveniently like him.

He looked at Xiaoqiang and obviously listened, so he didn't stop doing anything, and continued to speak:

"Adults might as well think about it, even if the factor of interest is removed, there is also a moral factor and an ideological factor. The Bolsheviks were going to 'liberate all mankind', and wherever they 'liberated', there was hunger, terror, and massacre. This is also why the Bolsheviks are the public enemies of the world. Now the Soviet Union is the target of public criticism in the international community, the weak countries fear it, and the strong countries hate it. And at this time, we can't stand on the wrong position, for the sake of a little immediate interests, we are willing to be with that kind of country, and ruin our good image.

"Your Excellency, you think, now that the Soviet Union has invaded us, we are the victims, and international public opinion is sympathizing with us and denouncing the Soviet Union. And even in some neutral countries, such as the United States, many people with a sense of justice are lobbying for parliament to amend the Neutrality Act to support us materially. Now, if we turn to the Soviet Union, it will be tantamount to shaking the whole world down. What do people think of our Daming? Oh, we're still here to sympathize with you and cheer you on, and it's better for you to quietly get started with the Soviet Union. So what's going on with us? Isn't it salty to eat radish and worry about it? …… If there is such a thing in the future, who will support us again? ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang is now listening to Zhao Cunnian's analysis quite carefully. He nodded slowly, then smiled again:

"Well, in general, there is some truth to what you say. But that's a bit too much. Even if we agree to a cease-fire with the Soviet Union, it will only be a cease-fire between the two sides, and it will not be the same thing as 'turning to the Soviet Union'. Now we are fighting on two fronts, and the whole world is watching it. We can understand that we should end this situation as soon as possible. It's nothing. ”

Zhao Cunnian's eyes moved, and he immediately said:

"Oh, yes, your Excellency is right. The subordinates are confused here. It's really not the same thing. ”

……

The next morning, Xiang Xiaoqiang inspected the garrison near Lanzhou again, and then after lunch, he took his group on a plane and flew back to Nanjing. On the evening of the 13th, Xiang Xiaoqiang returned to Nanjing.

It can be said that the purpose of his visit to Lanzhou this time has been successfully achieved. He naturally revealed to Zhao Cunnian that "the Soviet Union offered to sell Japan in exchange for a cease-fire, and the Ming Dynasty was hesitating between the Soviet Union and Japan". If Zhao Cunnian knows, then Tokyo will soon know. Moreover, Zhao Cunnian is still somewhat level. Regardless of whether he speaks for Japan or what, some of his analysis still makes sense:

- The conditions offered by the USSR did not pay anything practical at all. It is just saying: as long as you give me the north and the south, I will do nothing, and watch the two of you continue to fight. ——Co-authored the invasion of the northern frontier, and the white invasion? Even if the Ming Dynasty defeated Japan, it would still be a big wronged person to the Soviet Union.

As soon as Xiang Xiaoqiang returned to the headquarters, he got the latest battle report on the front line against Japan.

The first is that the Fourth Division of the People's Guard Corps defeated two Japanese divisions and regiments on the Jinzhou battlefield, annihilating more than 8,000 enemies. However, almost all of these 8,000 enemy troops were killed, and very few were taken alive. The main force of the Japanese army retreated to the north, and the Ming army pursued fiercely with the help of mechanization and motorized advantages, and resorted to the tactics that had been perfected in the unified war, constantly outflanking from the rear of the two flanks, dividing the retreating enemy forces into small pieces one by one, and forming several small encirclements.

However, the Ming army immediately felt the difference between dealing with the Japanese army and dealing with the Qing army. After the remnants of the Qing army were encircled, as long as there was a bombing and artillery bombardment, not even a bombing and artillery bombardment, as long as the leaflets and shouts, the Qing army surrendered. However, the remnants of the Japanese army, although they have been surrounded on all sides and are hopeless, are still desperately resisting, and their morale seems to be the same as before. The final battle of the Ming army was fought very hard, and the pursuit was quite fast at the beginning, but as the encirclement increased one by one, the Ming army had to send more troops to squeeze in the middle. Every time the remnants of the Japanese army in the encirclement were annihilated, it was a bloody and bitter battle.

In less than two days of fighting, the Ming army can be said to have killed 1,000 enemies and injured 800 themselves.

The second battle report: At noon today (13th), the 10th Division of the Japanese Army suddenly used poison gas bombs against the Ming troops in Andong City!

The first battle report can be said to be expected by Xiang Xiaoqiang. But when he saw the second battle report, he couldn't believe his eyes.

"No, it won't! Are the Japanese crazy? Aren't you afraid that the Ming army will also retaliate with poison gas? ”