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After the September 17th Incident, the whole country was shocked. Not only well-known newspapers, but also some well-known social groups, social sages, religious figures, etc., all issued anti-Japanese declarations. Some famous people such as Cai Yuanpei, Lu Xun, etc. Launched some patriotic activities, calling on the Nanjing "government" and the Northeast Army to work together to resist the enemy and counter the Japanese invasion of our three northeastern provinces.

After Zhang Shusheng, the commander-in-chief of the Southwest, issued a radio declaration of war, Chiang Kai-shek was not far behind. He changed his previous slow response and issued a proclamation to the people of the Nanjing National Government in Nanjing. In this eloquent anti-Japanese declaration, Chairman Chiang decided to Japan launched a counterattack and immediately ordered Zhang Xueliang to organize the elite Northeast Army to carry out effective resistance.

"...the northeastern part of our country is vast, populated, and rich in resources. It is one of the foundations of China. The Japanese are rampant and occupy the rivers and mountains in our northeast. Although Zhongzheng was a great sage in the ancients, he also knew the importance of protecting his family and the country. Immediate order General Zhang Xueliang of the Northeast Frontier Defense Command organized the elite Northeast Army, led hundreds of thousands of fierce warriors, and sent troops to Shenyang to defeat the enemy and relieve the siege..."

The order from the Nanjing "Government" was very strict this time. Several emergency telegrams were sent out, asking Zhang Xueliang to send his troops north to relieve the siege of Shenyang. After receiving the order from the Nanjing "Government", Marshal Zhang did not delay any longer and set off for the Northeast as soon as possible. While mobilizing the rest of the Northeastern Army in the Northeast, he also mobilized the elite Northeastern Army in the Ping-Tianjin area to prepare to personally lead a large army to rescue Shenyang.[

Shenyang has to be saved.

Although Shenyang is now besieged by three Japanese divisions and a large number of garrison troops, there are still nearly 10,000 people in the city including the 7th Brigade and police forces led by Wang Yizhe and others. Amid rising calls for resistance against Japan across the country, Shenyang has It has become a symbol. Anyone who loses Shenyang or fails to save Shenyang will become a national sinner.

However, the situation developed so quickly that it exceeded everyone's expectations.

When Zhang Xuehao managed to collect enough military expenditures, raised some combat supplies, and spent all his money to rescue Shenyang, Shenyang was captured.

After a week of bloody battles, the main force of the 7th Brigade was led by Chief of Staff Rong Zhen of the Northeast Army to break through from the north gate. As a result, it was blocked by the 19th Division of the Japanese Army Garrison in North Korea and the 2nd Division of the Kwantung Army. The troops suffered losses. It was extremely heavy, with less than 2,000 people breaking through.

Before the city was captured, Lieutenant General Wang Yizhe committed suicide at the Northeast Frontier Defense Command Office in Shenyang and died for his country.

The Japanese army successfully captured Shenyang. On that day, they wiped out the remnants of the Northeast Army for the sake of the people, burned, killed, and looted, and committed numerous murders in Shenyang City. However, before the Northeast Army broke through, officers and soldiers of the former 7th Brigade Special Operations Battalion blew up the Shenyang Arsenal. and arsenals, and even many aircraft at the Shenyang Military Airport were completely burned by fire, leaving the Japanese with ashes all over the ground.

On the other hand, the Japanese army not only transferred the 19th Division and the First Division of the Korean Army from North Korea, but also urgently transported two divisions from China to land in the Northeast. At this point, the total strength of the Japanese army in the Northeast reached five divisions, plus the original Railway garrison and Japanese soldiers in the countryside, the number of troops is approaching 200,000.

In order to transport reinforcement divisions to prevent the Kwantung Army from being eaten up by the reactive Northeastern Army, the Japanese not only urgently transported two divisions to land in Northeast China, but also mobilized a special task force headed by the aircraft carriers Akagi and Kaga. Arriving at the Bohai Sea. After occupying Shenyang, the Japanese army completely repaired Shenyang Airport in less than a week. At this point, the Japanese air force also began to join the military operation to invade Northeast China.

Zhang Xueliang was unable to advance or retreat, so he had to lead his army to stay on the front line of Jinzhou, wait and see the Japanese army's actions, and no longer rush northward.

By this time, it was already late October 1931.

Cai E originally went to Peiping, but unfortunately he didn't meet Zhang Xueliang, so he went all the way north to Jinzhou.

"Principal, we'd better go see Zhang Xueliang early."

The accompanying secretary Xiu Chenghao noticed that Cai E was in a daze and reminded him in a low voice.

"Let's go, let the master walk slower."

Sitting on the rickshaw, Cai E looked at this strange city with some trance. Whether it was Peiping before or the cities all the way north to Jinzhou, they all gave him a very strange feeling.

At that time, he gave up the military and became a scholar. In a blink of an eye, he has been serving as the principal of the Huaxia Military Academy for 15 years. From his thirties to forty-nine, he was so high-spirited back then that he was already in high spirits now. Compared with those years, he is now

Although Cai E is no longer in charge of the military, he has become more majestic. Even Xiu Chenghao, his secretary who has been with him for many years, will occasionally feel a sense of fear.

After living in the southwest for many years, Cai E has become accustomed to life in the Huaxia Military Academy. Speaking of it, the number of times he leaves the Huaxia Military Academy is pitiful. In the early years, when he was tired of running around, he was not as good as Jiang Baili and moved his family directly into the accommodation area of ​​the Huaxia Military Academy.

, get up to the sound of the military bugle every day, and accompany the students for morning exercises.

He was also used to the prosperity of the southwest, from Lishuping to Huize, and then to Kunming. Even he was accustomed to the prosperity of the southwest, without realizing what that drastic change meant to China today. In fifteen years

Here, Southwest has left the whole of China behind. For example, in Kunming, there are more and more small cars on the road, buses plying the major streets, and even school buses and hospital ambulances. There are no homeless or beggars on the streets.

son, people face

There are no longer hungry dishes on the street, faces are filled with happiness, everyone’s steps are vigorous and powerful, even the voices of small vendors are particularly loud. The wide streets are lined with taller buildings.

In the shops on the lower floors of the building, you can always buy many products that are exported to foreign countries, from household appliances to new lighters, as well as cigarettes, fancy candies, etc., a complete range of products, most of which are priced even for ordinary workers or ordinary workers.

Farmers can also afford it.[

And what about Peiping? What about Jinzhou?

Backward cities are filled with low-rise slums, poor children running around barefoot, and coolies carrying goods through the streets and alleys.

There are trams in Peiping, but Cai E himself is not used to riding on those iron bucket-like trams.

"Hanqing, how is your new house?"

After getting off the rickshaw, not far ahead was Zhang Xueliang's temporary station in Jinzhou. Guards with guns could already be seen at the door. They changed their lazy style of the Northeast Army and straightened their backs.

"Haha, it's pretty good. It's on the fourth floor and has good lighting. It's also close to the hospital where Chang Zhi and Wan Jun work. It's convenient for young people to go to work."

Xiu Chenghao just moved into a new house last month. The house that was originally located in the dormitory area of ​​the Huaxia Military Academy was not free, but had to be deducted from the salary year by year. After his son got married, it also seemed a bit small. In order to let His son-in-law's work was closer, so he decided to move out. He commuted to get off work by bicycle every day, which was very convenient.

"Well, I passed by that area once and I saw it. It was a nice small building, six or seven stories high, which is very suitable for the younger generation to live in." As Cai E spoke, he looked around and saw that everything was shabby, like a ten-year-old man.

The Southwest a few years ago was so ordinary, I couldn't help but sigh, "Oh, I don't know when the entire land of China will be able to live like the life in the Southwest. Now the Nanjing "government" has not fallen, but the Japanese have come, and the nation is suffering

, where is the head.”

He knew that Zhang Shusheng was not a cruel leader, and was even too cautious when liberating certain areas. Before being ordered to go to the north at the critical moment, he had a long talk with Zhang Shusheng and suggested that he should relax his hands and liberate more places.

Zhang Shusheng revealed to him on the spot that he was formulating a new liberation battle plan, which made him very satisfied.

"General Cai"

Zhang Xueliang received a report from Lu Zhengde, the confidential secretary, saying that Cai E had rushed from the south to Peiping and from Peiping to Jinzhou to discuss matters after traveling thousands of miles away.

Speaking of Cai E, although he was a famous protector of the country, Zhang Xueliang did not have much interaction with him. And the old commander Zhang Zuolin only had some quarrels with Jiang Baili. Regarding Cai E, Zhang Xueliang was more famous for a long time.

When I really saw Cai E, I couldn't combine it with the rumored young general who was high-spirited and dedicated to the country and the people. Instead, he had a premature appearance, and his whole person had an awe-inspiring aura that was not in a high position but was better than a high-ranking and powerful person.

There were only two of them. This former famous general who protected the country came to Jinzhou with a secretary.

"Cai Gong, please take a seat. Cai Gong is highly respected and is the principal of the Huaxia Military Academy. He is very busy with academic affairs. How could the Han Qing be so virtuous and talented that he dares to bother Cai Gong thousands of miles to come to see him? All these teachings require only a telegram, and the Han Qing will definitely think deeply about it."

." Zhang Xueliang also knew that although Cai E was not a senior official in the Southwest, he was still a member of the Southwest. The reason he came to see him this time must be because of the war in the Northeast. The war in the Northeast was frequent, far exceeding his expectations, and he did not do much at the moment.

The gossip was put aside and the conversation started straight to the point.

"The Japanese are rampant and have repeatedly provoked wars in our Northeast. They have the evil intention to steal the entire Northeast. Although I am in the military, I also care about the Northeast. To be honest, Marshal Zhang came to the Northeast this time.

It is to convey some information to Zhang Shusheng, the top leader of the Southwest United Government." Cai E did not have empty words. Now that the situation was urgent, Zhang Xueliang stood still. Apparently he was intimidated by the arrogance of the Japanese and became a little timid.

"Director Zhang of Southwest China? Han Qingneng, I'm afraid he made Director Zhang laugh." Zhang Xueliang couldn't help laughing at himself. He didn't have any special resistance to Zhang Shusheng. In his opinion, he was nothing more than a more powerful warlord.

, the situation in China has just changed from many warlords to two major warlords, and there is no big division between life and death camps. "Cai Gong rushed to Jinzhou all the way, and must have heard a lot of news. The Japanese were rampant and the offensive was

It is fierce, the Northeastern Army is not as powerful as the Southwest Army, and may be invincible."

"I don't know about the young marshal's worries. The Northeastern Army has hundreds of thousands of men. Naturally, the head of the young marshal's family cannot be hasty. However, the Japanese attack is very fast. Even if the Northeastern Army attacks the entire front, the hinterland of Northeast China will be destroyed.

Difficult to preserve.”

"It's also my fault. I usually relax the requirements for the troops, which leads to insufficient training and poor ordnance." There is another point that Zhang Xueliang did not mention. Many troops and even their military salaries are depleted by middle and low-level Northeastern Army officers. This time they are still struggling here and there.

It took a lot of effort to make up for it. In general, the Northeast Army was in chaos. Apart from being able to command and mobilize the troops, Zhang Xueliang really could not guarantee that such a unit would be able to do anything when facing the Kwantung Army.

An elite force such as the 7th Brigade could not stop the Japanese army, let alone the other Northeastern Army, which was even worse.

How could Cai E, the principal of the Huaxia Military Academy, not be clear about the various problems existing in the Northeastern Army? Even in military academy teaching, the Northeastern Army has repeatedly become a negative teaching material. However, at this time, it is inappropriate to say who is responsible. For the Japanese, it is their business to prevent the Japanese aggression from spreading rapidly into the country.

"I would like to ask Mr. Cai for some advice on the current situation." What Zhang Xueliang said was the truth. In his eyes, Cai E was already a military master in the country. Now, whether it is Zhang Xueliang or the Northeast Army, they are all on the same side. At the cusp of the storm, there are orders from above, emotions from below, and in the middle, there are the long words of hundreds of millions of people.[

"At this point, the Northeast Army has only three options. One is to change direction and retreat towards the pass in large strides. The other is to immediately march towards the front line of Shenyang and compete with the Japanese army." Cai E said.

"Both the Northeastern Army and I have no way to retreat. If we retreat without fighting... As for marching into Shenyang, Cai Gong is a man who understands. With the Northeastern Army currently gathered, I am afraid it will be more serious than bad." Zhang Xueliang knew that this would be a disaster. Both roads are dead ends and neither workable. "As a soldier, I, Zhang Xueliang, am also somewhat bloody. There is nothing terrible about dying in the Northeast. But once these Northeast Army elites are buried outside the customs, the entire Pingjin area will not be safe." Already."

Cai E nodded, "The Japanese army is too aggressive, the Northeastern Army is underprepared, and the Nanjing 'government' is also underprepared. In this case, the young commander is not as good as garrisoning in Jinzhou and building a new line of defense in Ningyuan, Jinzhou, and Shanhaiguan. This brand new If the Ningjin Defense Line is equipped with nearly 200,000 troops from the Northeast Army, it may not be enough to counterattack the Japanese, but it will definitely prevent the Japanese from entering the customs and buy time for the whole of China."

"Guard Jinzhou?" Zhang Xueliang heard this and said for a long time. At present, this road is indeed the most suitable to choose. However, he also knows that once he chooses to defend Jinzhou, the entire Northeast Army will be in China. No matter how successful the lieutenant general is, he will never be able to leave.

Should we abandon our ambitions and fight to the death to stop the Japanese army from moving south, or should we retreat into the pass and find another way?

"Is this also what Mr. Zhang of Southwest Zhang Shusheng means?"

"General Zhang supports the young marshal's personal decision. He believes that the young marshal will definitely choose the right path. He asked me to tell the young marshal that as long as the Northeast Army is willing to build the Ningjin Defense Line to prevent the Japanese army from going south, the Southwest can provide Certain financial assistance and military assistance.”

It was Zhang Shusheng's intention to assist the Northeastern Army in resisting Japan and maintain a considerable resistance force on the Japanese army's way south. It was somewhat different from the original history. Since the war was progressing smoothly, the resistance of the Northeastern Army was beyond the imagination of the Japanese. , especially after the battle with the elite 7th Brigade of the Northeast Army in Shenyang, the Kwantung Army, which has re-evaluated the combat effectiveness of the entire Northeast Army, is plotting to go south.

This is quite different from what happened in history. If we do not stop it, but wishfully pray that the Japanese will not go outside the border, Zhang Shusheng is likely to become a national sinner.

Because in this era, no one knows better than him how great the Japanese ambitions are towards China and even Asia as a whole.

"Military aid and funds?" Zhang Xueliang was a little moved. These were the two things he lacked the most. Although the Nanjing "government" sent resistance telegrams over and over again, it did not give guns or send people. , three without giving money, just relying on shouting slogans to urge themselves to march into the Northeast.

Zhang Xueliang was not afraid of failure, but when he arrived at this field, it was hard for him to imagine that if the Northeast Army was defeated, the entire Pingjin area, and even the entire North China, would be plunged into war.

"I, Zhang Xueliang, am not a coward. If I can get effective support, I am willing to fight the Japanese in this battle. As long as I, Zhang Xueliang, do not die, the Japanese will not even think about marching southward."

Zhang Xueliang also knew that by now, both Chiang Kai-shek and Zhang Shusheng further south hoped that they could block the Japanese. He also received intelligence that the Japanese were increasing their troop levels. The Kwantung Army and the Japanese troops stationed in Korea reached a certain agreement.

In this tacit understanding, they jointly submitted a letter to the Emperor, requesting that the interests of the Empire of Japan in China be expanded to the territory of the country...

"As long as the young marshal has the determination to fight the war, General Zhang will naturally abandon the camps and coordinate the fight against Japan, and will not hesitate to support him. The first batch of 20,000 rifles and 120 artillery pieces have arrived in Tianjin, plus Cai's 1 million yuan in anti-war funds,

They will all be the first batch of support."

Zhang Xueliang was a little surprised. The secret passage to Southwest China was so fast. It took less than a month for the September 17th Incident to occur. He not only mobilized the first batch of arms, but also delivered them to Tianjin Wharf. He knew the value of 1 million Southwest RMB.

, which is definitely enough to fund the construction of the first phase of the defense line. "General Manager Zhang is really courageous."

In fact, Zhang Xueliang didn't really believe that Zhang Shusheng, who was far away in the southwest, would sincerely resist the Japanese. After all, with today's thinking, warlords, no matter how big or small, only care about their own affairs, and have nothing to do with matters thousands of miles away.

?

Maybe he is a true national revivalist.

Zhang Xueliang couldn't help but secretly thought that judging from various reports, this General Manager Zhang indeed used the political slogan of realizing the rejuvenation of China and making the people rich and strong.

Looking at the money order handed over by Cai E, Zhang Xueliang finally made a decision, "Forget it, we can't advance or retreat at this time. It may be the best way for the Northeast Army to stay in Jinzhou and build a defense line to prevent the Japanese from going south. But Han Qing can
To be continued...