1932: Playing with the Japanese Communist Party with a doll

disagree?

Well, well, well, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, who issued the order not to resist, has already "repented" and "decided to resist Japan." And you, Zhang Xueliang, are still "unrepentant," right?

Are you still from Northeast China?

You are still not Chinese!

Well, well, well, you are indeed the culprit for the loss of the three northeastern provinces! Heaven punish you, traitor!

and...

"... Marshal Han, the soldiers of our Northeast Army are homesick. If we don't do something, the morale of the army will completely collapse..."

Zhang Xueliang sighed deeply and had nothing to say.

This was another important reason why the Northeast Army had to obey orders. The Northeast Army was about to collapse.

This is not an exaggeration, but a true fact.

If the Japanese invaders had imposed high pressure on the Northeast and carried out a massacre like the Port Arthur Massacre, the Northeast Army would have hated the Japanese invaders to the core and would have united.

But the problem is, the damn Japanese don’t do that now! Everything has changed since Lord Fujiwara took control of the Northeast.

Establish Manchukuo, severely punish arson and murder, crack down on looting, ban drugs, repair roads, restore order, organize production...

If the above is not enough, then what about land reform and distributing land to the vast number of farmers in Northeast China?

This is simply digging up the roots of the Northeast Army!

As the restrictions outside the Great Wall were slightly relaxed under the orders of Fujiwara no Kanezane, more and more news came into the Great Wall and the discussion became louder and louder.

Especially some time ago, a group of Northeast Army robbed a convoy departing from Tianjin and heading to the Northeast. After being told that the convoy was transporting relief grain for the people of the Northeast, the army's morale could no longer be suppressed.

Many Northeast Army soldiers who had been determined to resist at the beginning were now wondering if it would be better for them to let the Japanese rule.

If it really doesn't work out, can we quit the army and go back to our hometown to farm?

It's much better than wandering around in the interior like this and being called a "coward"!

No matter how much Zhang Xueliang emphasized that "those were all Japanese lies", a large number of deserters still appeared within the Northeast Army. Some of them even argued after being caught:

"My mother sent me a letter through someone! My hometown has been allocated 20 acres of land! 20 acres! If I go back, I'll get another 20 acres! The 386th Brigade even sent people to build a new house for my family! You're not letting me go back? Tian Wenjing! I'm Tian Wenjing!!"

Many Northeast Army soldiers who received the news or even letters from home also made a commotion, so that the officers above did not dare to stop the soldiers from resigning, did not dare to seal off the passes, and did not dare to shoot deserters, for fear of triggering a mutiny.

If we don't think of a solution, as time goes by, the Northeast Army will become more and more divided, and may even cease to exist!

That would have fulfilled Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's wish to reduce the power of the feudal lords!

It's all done by the Japanese again!

Therefore, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek asked the Northeast Army to counterattack, and as long as Zhang Xueliang still wanted to continue to lead the Northeast Army, he really could not refuse.

"...So, Marshal Han, there's no need to worry about Chiang Kai-shek taking action against us. This seemingly grand, but in reality perfunctory plan is just a ploy to fool the people. I'm afraid Chiang Kai-shek only came up with it to save face."

After Wang Zhuoran explained, Zhang Xueliang felt relieved, but he was still worried.

"But if we send troops in such a high-profile manner, will it further irritate the Japanese?

33

After hearing this, Yan Baohang couldn't bear it anymore.

Provoking the Japanese?

Damn it, Northeast China has been lost for a year, and you are still afraid of provoking the Japanese? Aren’t we the ones who will be provoked?

Yan Baohang wanted to curse, but Zhang Xueliang was his benefactor, so he couldn't be so rude:

"Don't worry, Marshal Han. The Japanese will probably see through this plan and won't react too strongly... Besides, they probably won't make any major moves."

"Why do you say that?"

"Someone sent me intelligence that Lord Fujiwara recently left Northeast China and returned to Japan. It seems he has another mission and won't be back for a while."

"Oh? Where did you get this information? Is it credible?"

"I don't know, but whether it's credible or not doesn't matter. Even if the Japanese army launches a small-scale counterattack, we can just withdraw and defend Shanhaiguan and Chengde. It won't cause any losses."

"Well..."

Seeing that Zhang Xueliang was already moved, Wang Zhuoran added:

"Han Shuai, don't forget that Tang and Shen have always had ulterior motives..."

Young Marshal Zhang's face darkened.

As his father's former rebel general, Tang Yulin, the hedonistic and rough old man, had always looked down on him and was not trusted by him;

Shen Honglie was the one he personally recommended to Chiang Kai-shek, but now he's getting closer and closer to Chiang, launching a massive purge and practically monopolizing the entire Northeast Navy!

These two bastards!

"General Han, Chiang Kai-shek wants to use the Japanese to get rid of us. Why don't we follow his old wisdom and eliminate the internal traitors?"

"If we don't listen to Generalissimo Chiang, are we going to listen to President Wang?"

On October 10, the Nanjing regime's Military Committee publicly announced in the newspaper that the Nationalist army was organizing a large-scale military operation to counterattack the Northeast.

On October 11, Li Desheng sent a telegram to the whole nation, requesting the Nanjing government to send people to Yulin to receive Hu Zongnan and other captured Kuomintang generals, so that they could return to the army and join the fight against Japan.

On October 11, Zhang Xueliang sent a telegram to the nation, stating that the Northeast Army would fully obey the orders of the Central Government and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and that it would march out of Chengde and Yuguan to fight against the Japanese.

On October 12, Qingdao Mayor Shen Honglie, Shanxi Provincial Chairman Yan Xishan, and Rehe Provincial Chairman Tang Yulin sent telegrams to the entire nation, announcing that they would send their troops north to fight against the Japanese.

On October 12, Shen Bingwen, a former general of the Northeast Army and commander of the 10th Brigade, sent a telegram to the Chinese and foreign media in Hailar, officially announcing his appointment as commander-in-chief of the "Northeast People's National Salvation Army" and vowing to fight the Japanese to the death.

On October 12, General Ma Zhanshan, who had been in hiding with his troops since being "defeated" by the 386th Brigade, also sent a telegram to the nation, announcing that he would cooperate with friendly forces and seek opportunities to attack the Japanese and puppet troops in Northeast China.

On October 13, Wang Jingwei, President of the Nationalist Government's Executive Yuan, announced his resignation due to illness. However, anyone with a discerning eye knew that he resigned in anger because of his failure in the struggle with Chiang Kai-shek in recent months and because Zhang Xueliang had disobeyed his orders.

(It’s a shame, this guy ran away again)

In short, a grand "Northeast Counteroffensive" began.

In response to this, the Japanese army and the puppet Manchukuo troops in the Northeast...didn't even bother to blink an eye.

386 Northeast Army invades Northeast China

When Chiang Kai-shek, Zhang Xueliang and others were operating the "Northeast Counteroffensive" for various considerations, the "King of the Northeast" was indeed not in the Northeast.

The article "On Protracted War" had a greater impact on the Chinese top leaders than on the Japanese top leaders, but "Class Analysis" was completely the opposite.

Emperor Hirohito was furious and immediately recalled Fujiwara no Kanezane to Tokyo, wanting to hear the opinions of the author of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Principle" and the "Three Represents".

Otherwise, facing this kind of Xiongwen that even he was shocked and even felt a little scared, could he rely on the ideas of fools like Okawa Shumei to fight against it?

Japan has always been lacking a strategic theorist. Simply by shouting slogans like "Manchuria and Mongolia are Japan's lifeline," "Manchuria and Mongolia must be managed seriously," and "annex them first, then do whatever," it is impossible to truly conquer Manchuria and Mongolia, conquer China, or even confront Europe and the United States.

Hirohito was actually very clear about this, otherwise he would not have known in 1941 that Japan would definitely be defeated.

"...So, Your Majesty, don't worry. While this kind of thing is dangerous, it's not that dangerous. What we need to do is stabilize the people of Manchuria and build it into Japan's true headquarters."

Fujiwara no Kanezane smiled and patted his chest:

"I can guarantee you on this point that there may be some minor disturbances, but it will never be as big as before."

"You..."

After hearing the assurance from his most trusted minister, Emperor Showa finally put his worries to rest. After a moment's thought, he gave the order:

"But these two articles, especially the latter one, must be completely blocked and strictly guarded. No one should be allowed to read them. And...what do you think?"

At the end of his speech, his tone changed to one of discussion.

After all, Fujiwara no Kanezane was no longer the Fujiwara no Kanezane at the beginning of the year. Even the emperor, who was high above everyone else, had to be polite to this powerful "provincial governor".

Although Hirohito was not fully aware of this, his instinct drove him to do so.

Who made him the Emperor who only managed to hold on to the throne by inciting palace infighting?

n

idiot.

This will only make you look guilty. Reactionaries are just that: reactionaries, paper tigers. Fujiwara no Kanezane despised them in his heart, but he said, "Your Majesty, I don't think we need to bother with them." "Oh?"

"Your Majesty, humans are like this. The more you forbid them from doing something or watching something, the more curious they become and the more they want to see it. The more you let them go and the less you care about them, the less interested they become."

Biologist Hirohito fell into deep thought.

"As long as we ignore it and don't deliberately promote it, the common people at the bottom won't care about this kind of article. The upper class who do care are mostly tied to us. As long as the empire prospers, there won't be any problems..."

Hirohito nodded slowly.

Incidentally, this was also the reason why he never doubted Fujiwara Kanezane.

Because in Hirohito's view, Fujiwara no Kanezane and even the Fujiwara family were tied to him and were his "own people" through and through.

Even if the Fujiwara family would usurp the throne, the Fujiwara family and the imperial family had seamlessly transitioned many times. For Hirohito, who had no heirs, he had already thought of making Fujiwara no Kanezane the "crown prince". What was the big deal?

What's more, Fujiwara no Kanezane was not interested in the throne at all. He was always extremely loyal, completed his tasks extremely well, and taught his younger brother Takahito wholeheartedly. He was truly the best role model for a subject.

At least, before Hirohito gave birth to a son, he would never think that Fujiwara no Kanezane was a threat.

As for why his younger brother Yongren became a threat, and the biggest threat, that is another story.

"...Now, everything in Manchuria is going smoothly, and the situation at home is getting better and better. They have gained enough benefits and will not rebel. As long as they do not rebel, the empire will not be in big trouble..."

"Well.."

Hirohito nodded slowly again.

Despite the surging domestic resistance movement and the assassination of Inukai Tsuyoshi, the Japanese top leaders began to fear the power of the grassroots people;

Although this has led the Japanese government, which has always believed in "90% public and 100% private" and "Japan has always been a herbivorous nation", to unexpectedly start providing subsidies to farmers this year;

But in Hirohito's own eyes, the biggest threat to his position was still not the common people, but the local military leaders.

Chiang Kai-shek wanted to reduce the power of the feudal lords every day, but do you think Hirohito didn't need to do the same?

Do you think Hirohito didn't feel resentful after being a grandson for so many years before ascending the throne and being ordered around by military leaders and court officials at the beginning of his reign?

If he didn't hate him, how did Tanaka Yoshiichi die? How did Saionji Kimmochi lose power step by step?

As long as these bastards don't rebel, Hirohito's position will be as secure as a rock. "...So, Your Majesty, as long as we can keep these guys under control, nothing else will be a big problem. If you're worried about the intellectuals' whining, are their pens as powerful as our guns?"

Fujiwara no Kanezane's disdainful curl of his lips made Hirohito couldn't help but laugh:

"You're right, but we can't just leave this matter alone. You still have to find a way to shut up those intellectuals."

"Hmm... Well, let's do this. I'll find time to write another article to challenge 'On Protracted War'..."

"Okay, this incident..."

Just as Fujiwara no Kanezane was frantically planting seeds in Hirohito's heart, a close minister hurried in and bowed respectfully to the two of them:

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, there is urgent military information from Manchuria!" "Hmm?"

Hirohito took the intelligence and looked at it. His brows furrowed, then quickly relaxed. He handed it to Fujiwara Kanezane and said calmly:

“They really took action.”

As soon as General Shen Honglie and other generals sent out their telegram, even he could see that the political significance of the Nationalist Army's counterattack far outweighed its military significance, or even that it had no military significance at all.

So, I’m not worried at all. “Oh…”

Fujiwara Kanezane also took it calmly and glanced at it pretentiously.

Of course he was very calm. After all, the KMT's telegrams were monitored by UMP45 and other humanoids, and it was he who gave the order for Ma Zhanshan to "rebel" and cooperate with the KMT's actions.

It was just that Su Bingwen was a bit too tough and refused to have any contact with the Japanese. The Kwantung Army killed every lobbyist they sent.

In addition, Fujiwara no Kanezane had too many things to do and had no time to send his subordinates to make a trip, otherwise Su Bingwen might have had to "resist the Japanese" under the order of Prince Kanezane.

There's no way. The troops on the front line just have to follow orders and do whatever they want. Chairman Chiang and His Majesty Kanezane in the rear have too many things to consider.

"Small matters, the Kwantung Army can handle them themselves."

Fujiwara no Kanezane put the information aside. Although he knew Hirohito would not care and was also aware of the principle of "not rushing to win and not continuing to advance south", he still casually explained:

"Rehe and Shanxi are just for show. There will definitely be no problem in Jinzhou. The Communist Army and Su Bingwen's troops are too far away. You know Ma Zhanshan, I kept him there on purpose. As for the Nationalist Navy in Qingdao..."

"I don't know whether I should let Kudo-kun and Kimura-kun annihilate them without mercy, or hold back and leave the warships to Manchukuo..."

As mentioned earlier, the Japanese "retired fleet" led by Kudo Daibutsu and his recruited comrades is currently heading to Northeast China, preparing to be incorporated into the "Manchukuo Navy";

In other words, the Northeast Navy was almost 100% likely to collide with the "Manchukuo Navy" in Bohai, but Shen Honglie still sent out a fleet, which only shows that the National Army knew nothing about this.