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spn Chapter 142 The North-South Confrontation

At the end of 1931, the Southwest People's Army used the Southwest Navy Task Force for the first time in the battle to liberate Qiongzhou, using aircraft carriers and aircraft to "force" the British three-ship formation back, resulting in the humiliating death of a British captain.

Known as the Qiongzhou Incident.

For the first time, the Southwest Navy's aircraft carrier was displayed in front of all Chinese people. The whole country rejoiced for a while. Large and small newspapers reported on the Southwest Navy's war to expel the British Navy. They felt unprecedentedly proud that the Chinese had such a huge warship for the first time.

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The front pages of almost all newspapers are occupied by a huge photo. This photo taken from the air clearly presents the entire Kunming aircraft carrier to the Chinese people. In the photo, although the entire surface of the aircraft carrier has been

There was no camouflage, but there was a warship and aircraft that had just taken off on the deck. Compared with the aircraft carrier, the aircraft looked much smaller.

This is the largest ship with a full displacement of 170 meters. China has never owned such a giant ship in any era.[

Maybe the Chinese people who read newspapers don't understand what an aircraft carrier is.

Maybe the Chinese people who read newspapers don't understand the difference between an aircraft carrier and a battleship.

Perhaps the Chinese people who read the newspapers do not understand the strategic significance of aircraft carriers to a country.

However, they understand that the history of China's large ships will never return. Especially the people along the coast and rivers are used to seeing foreign warships running rampant in China's territorial waters and inland rivers. It would be false to say that they are not angry.

, However, anger alone is not enough. The Chinese fleet and the Manchu fleet were all defeated by foreigners. Later, the "governments" of the north and the south were even more powerful. The entire country's fleet, the Chinese Navy, could not let the fishing boat formations ram and sink the enemy.

China is a great country, but it has to tolerate a few foreign warships. It can only allow these great powers to show off their power on China's territory.

Over the past century, the great humiliation China has suffered, except for the bullying by Tsarist Russia in the north, all came from the sea. Precisely because there is no powerful navy and a long coastline, the enemy can land from any place and cross the sea at will.

Foreign troops came to ravage China, which had a weak navy.

Interestingly, regarding the fact that the Southwest Army occupied Qiongzhou, although the Nanjing government issued a very stern warning, it was drowned out by the wave of national self-strengthening triggered by the Southwest Navy, and was not even seen in the newspapers.

Debate on this aspect.

At this time, Zhang Shusheng, the top leader of the Southwest Joint Government, made a rare public speech in front of many Chinese and foreign reporters in Kunming. In his speech, Zhang Shusheng first paid tribute to the Southwest Navy for its great contribution in this Sino-British conflict.

He fully affirmed. Then, he mentioned the issue of the Sino-Japanese War of 1898 and combined this naval battle with the current Northeast War of Resistance, affirming that the Southwest's determination to resist the War will never waver, whether at sea or on land, the Southwest will not waver.

Will sit back and watch the Japanese invasion.

"Mr. General, how do you reflect your so-called determination to resist the war? As we all know, the current Northeast War of Resistance is led by the Nanjing National Government. Southwest Africa did not send troops to the Northeast, but also took the opportunity to seize Qiongzhou. I would like to ask General Zhang, what exactly is this?

Is it anti-Japanese or internal strife?" A well-dressed reporter was the first to grab the right to speak. His tone was so aggressive that all the reporters present were stunned. Unexpectedly, this guy came and opened fire on the spot.

Zhang Shusheng smiled. If this question had been asked to him a few years ago, he might have gone crazy and kicked the reporter out. But now, having been in a high position for a long time, he has become much more cunning and tolerant. "The September 17th Incident,

The southwest "government" responded to the Japanese invasion immediately, expelling the Japanese, confiscating Japanese properties in the southwest, and at the same time

After the declaration of war, while the Nanjing National Government was still busy with government affairs, the first batch of arms supplies from the southwest had been delivered to the hands of General Zhang Xueliang from the northeast. Please see, what these staff members are holding is the handover of military supplies.

Photos of the scene, as well as General Zhang Xueliang’s autographed acceptance of the Southwest Anti-Japanese War fund of 1 million yuan.”

The staff immediately took out a lot of photos, which were indeed photos of Zhang Xueliang personally receiving the supplies in Jinzhou, as well as a copy of the receipt. Both the signature and the seal were Zhang Xueliang's.

"As for your idea of ​​sending troops to join the war, I personally support it with both hands. As long as you can represent Mr. Chiang Kai-shek and agree that the Southwest People's Army will go north to fight the Japanese through Shaanxi, Shanxi, or the Jinpu Railway, I will boast that the army will be able to fight against Japan in a week.

"Departure"

The reporter still wanted to fight back, but saw that Zhang Shusheng had already pointed his finger at another reporter. His face turned red, but he had something to say and could not say anything. Zhang Shusheng dismissed him with two simple words. The reporters present also

They all nodded, and everyone knew the current situation. No one knew whether the Nanjing "government" was sincerely resisting Japan, but it would never allow the southwestern army to take the opportunity to move northward.

"Hello, Mr. Zhang, this is reporting reporter Wang Yin. I would like to ask Mr. Zhang, does the Southwest Navy, especially the Kunming aircraft carrier, simply defend the Southwest 'government'? Or does it protect the entire Chinese nation?" said a fashionably dressed Shanghainese.

The beautiful reporter asked a rather tricky but polite question. The Kunming may not be a big deal in the navies of traditional Western powers, but in this weak ancient Eastern country, it is something like thunder.

Zhang Shusheng, "Whether it is the Southwest Navy or the Kunming aircraft carrier, they will fight to defend the entire China. Today, I take this opportunity, Zhang Shenxing, on behalf of the Southwest 'Government', to announce two pieces of good news to you. I also hope that everyone can take this

The good news is delivered to more people. First, through the Supreme Military Commission of the Southwest Joint Governance Government

It was decided that the aircraft carrier Kunming will be named the aircraft carrier China, and this order will take effect immediately. Second, there is currently a second aircraft carrier Chengdu under construction in the Southwest Shipyard, which is expected to be completed four years later, in 1936.

After completion, the Chengdu aircraft carrier will form a task force with the China aircraft carrier to defend China.

One thing I hope everyone can write clearly is that no matter how many political factions there are in the country, the Chinese nation will always be a whole, and the highest historical mission of the Southwest "government" is to realize the rejuvenation of the entire nation. Everything done in the Southwest will be

Taking the revitalization of China as the benchmark, all the praying mantises that stand in the way of this revival will be crushed one by one."

Zhang Shusheng's public speech in Southwest China quickly spread throughout the country and once again made the headlines of newspapers everywhere, becoming another explosive news.

In the past, some naysayers were still saying that what would happen if the Southwest Navy had a large ship? The Japanese have many such large ships, not to mention the British. An ordinary large battleship is larger than the Kunming.

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However, after the news that Southwest was building a second aircraft carrier was revealed by Zhang Shusheng himself, such doubts disappeared. Southwest’s attitude is very obvious. Let’s not talk about the strength of the aircraft carrier. If you want to fight, you will fight and you will never be timid. Even the British

The Royal Navy can expel the Japanese, let alone the Japanese. Dare to challenge is an attitude, but speeding up shipbuilding to strengthen the navy is a substantive action. The Southwest is doing it with both hands, which at least gives a lot of Chinese people hope.[

At the same time, a lot of news suddenly appeared in newspapers criticizing the Nanjing "government".

For example, some newspapers accused the Nanjing "government" of being unfavorable in the War of Resistance. War correspondents reported in a conclusive tone that the Nanjing "government" intended to use the opportunity of the War of Resistance to weaken the Northeastern Army. Chen Cheng's 18th Route Army entered Peiping but was unwilling to launch an offensive.

Go to Jinzhou and cooperate with the Northeastern Army to build the Ningjin Defense Line.

Some newspapers also accused the Nanjing "government" of not paying attention to the development of the navy at all. Even the famous Jiangnan Shipyard was sold to foreigners. After this old and rotten sesame matter was dug up, the Nanjing "government" suddenly fell into extreme

The embarrassing situation has become the target of public criticism.

"It's nonsense, it's nonsense"

There was a bang in Chiang Kai-shek's office of the National Government in Nanjing, and even the secretary of the Attendance Office outside was startled. Chairman Chiang was furious again. Sure enough, soon, Chen Shaokuan, Minister of Navy of the National Government, and Song Ziwen, Minister of Finance,

Foreign Minister Gu Weijun and three others walked into Chiang Kai-shek's office.

"Houfu, how did you become the Minister of the Navy? Huh? Look, look at what is written in these newspapers. Navy ships, sold shipyards at a low price. It is true that the navy is capable, and it will bring harm to the party and the country." Since Southwest became more and more high-profile,

Chiang Kai-shek's mood was getting worse and worse. He always wanted to maintain the majesty of a superior, but was repeatedly knocked down by anger. Just now, Chiang Kai-shek asked the attendants, and he had the most detailed understanding of the navy.

Before that, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek, who had focused almost all his energy on the army and air force, did not even know how many ships the navy had. When he asked, he found out that they were all shabby old gunboats, even the two thousand destroyers that competed with the Southwest destroyers.

There is not even one "small ship" weighing tons.

All three of them bowed their heads and said nothing. Chairman Chiang's rule is that when he gets angry, you can only listen and wait until he has finished getting angry before you can explain. Even if he is wrong, you must absolutely bow your head.

After scolding for a while, Chiang Kai-shek relaxed a little, "I know about the Jiangnan Shipyard. Back then, Lu Yongxiang was greedy for small profits and sold it to the Americans at a low price. Even the American Minister to China was a witness. We.

It’s almost impossible to get it back.”

As for the humiliating allusion of Jiangnan Shipyard, Chen Shaokuan, as the Minister of the Navy, did not understand. He was more embarrassed than anyone else by the embarrassment of his large ships. "Jiangnan Shipyard is indeed a huge loss to the Republic of China Navy, but our own shipbuilding industry

The level of warships is indeed not enough, and building cargo ships is okay. If we are building complex warships, without detailed drawings and skilled workers to build military ships, even if Jiangnan Shipyard is still in our hands, it is nothing.

However, a light cruiser we ordered from the Japanese in the middle of last year will be able to return to China by the end of this year at the latest, and by then the Navy will change the history of large ships."

"Even the light cruiser with a displacement of more than 2,000 tons was signed by me." After Chiang Kai-shek calmed down, he also felt extremely helpless. The destroyers in the southwest had a displacement of more than 2,000 tons, and the navy of the National Government

He also had to count on the Japanese. At this time, he felt deeply powerless. He hated Zhang Shusheng for making the Nanjing government passive, but also hated the fact that the country was weak and industrially backward, making it difficult to express its ambitions.

Although the light cruiser ordered from Japan was worth more than 4 million French currency, it was paid in installments at a discount on Northeastern soybeans. If you want to counter the Southwest's theory of naval victory, what should you do?

"Actually..." Chen Shaokuan is a very upright person, but he seemed hesitant at this time. He almost said what he was thinking, and wanted to suggest that the chairman buy new ships, but he suddenly thought that in the chairman's mind, the reorganization

The most important thing is to expand the army and air force.

Where is the navy? Even if it is agreed, there is no money to pay. Nanjing is no better than Southwest. A destroyer can easily cost millions. It is already impossible to buy new ships from the Japanese, the British or other Western countries.

It is impossible to accept payment for crop prices.

"Houfu, if you have anything to say, just say it. There are no outsiders here." Chiang Kai-shek motioned for Chen Shaokuan to continue.

Chen Shaokuan saluted and said: "If we can raise a special fund, I suggest buying new ships. At this time, even if we buy another light cruiser, the domestic criticism will not be so loud." There is a saying.

He didn't say that if the Nanjing "government" has big ships, the navy in the southwest will not be the only one.

Even if there is a gap between the two, it will not be as huge as it is now. One side has aircraft carriers, but the other side only has tattered gunboats. It is impossible for the Chinese not to stand on the southwest side. What a great war caused by the navy.

In the political war, the Nanjing "government" did not even have the power to fight back, and the people's morale collapsed.

"Mother hopes to buy it, and we will buy it too. I don't believe that with all the efforts of our party and state, we will not be able to buy a big ship. Not only do we want to buy it, we also want to buy the best one."

The three people said that the Generalissimo fell into anger again before he even knew the cost of a battleship.

After a long time, after explanations by Chen Shaokuan and Song Ziwen, Chiang Kai-shek realized that warships are easy to buy, but money is hard to come by. For Western powers, it only takes more than a year to build a light cruiser, and the large ships currently in service waiting to be retired are not even considered.

The only problem is money.

"Ziwen, can we afford a cruiser? Even an old ship will do."

"No. The treasury is now empty. The only money we have is borrowed from the three countries. They have designated the use of the money. Moreover, once the last bit of money is used, the subsequent army military expenditure and air force military expenditure will not be funded.

, unless the air force construction plan is stopped, there will be

The money is used to buy warships. Moreover, according to the British operating principles, even the most dilapidated warships will command exorbitant prices." Song Ziwen simply and clearly rejected Chiang Kai-shek's idea of ​​​​purchasing warships. The Three Kingdoms loan has a designated purpose. Even his financial

Even the minister could not arrange its use.

Chiang Kai-shek pondered for a long time. In fact, he called the three people over and already had a draft, but he didn't throw it out directly. He didn't get the answers he wanted from Chen Shaokuan and Song Ziwen, and only Gu Weijun was left. "Shaochuan, are you ready?

Please make an appointment with the British Minister to have a high-level contact on the recent events. I heard that the British people are very angry and concerned about the Qiongzhou Incident. You must seize this opportunity to obtain further support from the British."

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To be continued...