From August 1st to August 2nd, more than 30,000 former Qing prisoners of war and current Ming citizens held sit-in rallies in front of the official residence of the Chief Minister, holding various slogans expressing their unwillingness to return to the Northern Qing Dynasty, and demanding that the Chief Minister Come out and speak and give everyone an answer. Various media in Ming Dynasty and various foreign media have reported on them in a high-profile manner.
But Shen Rongxuan never came out to meet them. Instead, he kept bringing them ice water and mung bean soup. At first, these "new citizens" were very moved by the ice water and mung bean soup. They had only heard about the Ming Dynasty before. The officials are all honest and good officials, but I didn’t expect them to be so good. I came to block the government to ask for an explanation, but the government instead gave me water and mung bean soup... On the first day, many people felt that if the gathering continued like this , I’m very sorry that such a good official once thought of quitting.
But other companions, as well as the reporters around them, told them that they cannot leave at this time. The government is in a dilemma at this time, and you have to put pressure on it. If you withdraw at this time, the government will probably exchange you for that. Thousands of prisoners of war from the Ming Dynasty have gone. As for bringing you some ice water, mung bean soup, etc., that's what you should do. Otherwise, if someone faints in front of the chief minister's official residence, the government will also be condemned by public opinion.
There are many civil and opposition political groups, and opposition figures also gave impromptu speeches at the scene, or helped them analyze. They also said that in the past, mass gatherings asked relevant officials to come out to speak, and the officials basically came out to meet quickly. Regardless of whether they agreed or No, at least they will give an explanation first. But this time is a bit abnormal. Normally, in the previous small gatherings, the chief minister would not come out unless he came out, but this time the large gathering of tens of thousands of people had such a huge impact that Shen Rongxuan could not come out. Meeting them is unjustifiable. This shows that the cabinet government is indeed at a moment of hesitation and there is still a high possibility of sending them back to Beiqing. Therefore, it is not yet possible to come out to face them and say "don't worry" to them.
Therefore, on the next day, August 2, the first and assistant ministers abnormally did not show up all day and only delivered mung bean soup. Coupled with the "instructions" from opposition figures and reporters, more than 30,000 former Qing prisoners of war had already There was a feeling of fear and uneasiness. Many people originally did not want to come to meditate on a hot day, just because they were embarrassed by their former comrades and brothers. But on the second day, everyone spontaneously Fighting for his own destiny.
On the afternoon of August 2, the new citizens, who had only been chatting during the sit-in, began to unite and shout slogans. There were Shandong accents, Henan accents, Hebei accents, Northeastern accents, Northwest accents...more than 30,000 people. "Beiqing accent" shouted in unison:
"Resolutely defend the Constitution of the Ming Dynasty!"
"The life and freedom of citizens are sacred and inviolable!"
"We are citizens of Ming Dynasty!"
"Citizens may not be arbitrarily deported or exiled!"
"Citizens have the right to stay in their own land!"
"Citizens are protected by the Constitution!"
“The government should not violate the constitution!”
…
People from all walks of life and the media watched all this with interest, and everyone had their own feelings.
Half a year ago and yesterday, these Manchu soldiers who were the most ignorant, ignorant, poorest and least respected, who only wanted to invade Nanjing and rape and plunder, were already sitting in front of the official residence of the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty half a year later. Shouted "Citizens' lives and freedoms are sacred and inviolable".
The longest time they were released from the prison camp and truly integrated into the social life of the Ming Dynasty was only three months. The speed and thoroughness of their "transformation" surprised many people. At this time, many of them
They still can’t read a single Chinese character.
What's more, their demands were chosen very accurately. They did not emphasize how much we love the Ming Dynasty, nor how pitiful we would be if we were sent back, but they firmly grasped the "Ming Dynasty Constitution" and grasped that we are already the Ming Dynasty.
Citizen Facts: We don’t care what we were six months ago
What kind of people, anyway, we only know that we are citizens of the Ming Dynasty now. Those thousands of Ming army prisoners of war imprisoned in the Beiqing are citizens of the Ming Dynasty. We are also citizens of the Ming Dynasty. No one is more miserable than anyone else. We have not broken any laws. If the government
To force us out of the country would be a violation of the Constitution.
Whether the Constitution is respected or not is related to whether Ming Dynasty can continue on the road of constitutional monarchy. This is also the common voice of many civil political elites and social activists gathered around the gathering.
…
Xiang Xiaoqiang is very concerned about this matter, but he feels that it is not suitable for him to get involved. This matter standardly belongs to "government affairs", which is the scope of the cabinet government. Xiang Xiaoqiang is from the military side,
Moreover, he is also the commander-in-chief of the Queen's personal army. Neither the military nor the Queen would interfere in this matter.
What's more, Xiang Xiaoqiang himself is also from the north. Although in the upper echelons of the Ming Dynasty, his background is that of a former British intelligence officer, but the default background is that he was an agent developed by the Ming Dynasty in the Beiqing. After saving the members of the Grasshopper last time, he escaped with him.
Came here
.So his position is rather embarrassing. He has a high position and has great influence on His Majesty. He is also a member of the "Jiangbei Gang". He is still a fellow villager with those former Qing prisoners. Therefore, it is not a matter of speaking for them. He does not help them.
Neither does talking.
But in the past two days, Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shi Shi Ge Ge sent people to the scene to observe the situation, collect various relevant reports, and pay close attention. Especially Shi Shi Ge Ge, she simply regarded this as her own business.
Tian even became a little nervous. Xiang Xiaoqiang also understood her position: that is, these former prisoners of war must not be handed over.
Because she herself was a "fleeer from the South", which was nothing more than a high status. In her opinion, if Emperor Guangwu could kidnap thousands of Ming Dynasty children this time, he could successfully get back tens of thousands of "Southern refugees" from the Ming Dynasty.
"Fugitive", then it is entirely possible that Guangwu will kidnap someone again next time and take her back, too. In that case, her end will be very tragic.
A large number of reporters also surrounded the entrance of the People's Guard Headquarters, demanding interviews with Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shi Shi Ge Ge. They mainly wanted to interview Shi Shi Ge Ge. However, Xiang Xiaoqiang strictly ordered that all personnel of the People's Guard, including Shi Shi Ge Ge, were not allowed to interview Xiang Xiao Qiang in private.
The media expresses opinions. Xiang Xiaoqiang has this power, and public officials such as the military and government do not express personal opinions to the media without authorization. This is also in line with traditional practice and reporters have no choice.
This is also the decision that Xiang Xiaoqiang made after following the warnings of Xiuxiu and his mother-in-law Shang Xiaojun. No matter what aspect of this matter, Xiang Xiaoqiang must keep a low profile, and it is best to stay away from everyone's attention. Because this is a spectacle.
Shen Rongxuan's chance to have a good show.
But Qiu Qiu's point of view is clear-cut: that is, the thousands of Ming soldiers in the hands of the Manchus must be replaced. In her opinion, regardless of whether the constitution is unconstitutional, although the thousands of Ming soldiers are small, they are for
They were captured for defending their homeland and resisting the Qing invaders. Although these tens of thousands of "new citizens" are numerous, they were still "
The "Qing captives" came south to invade the Ming Dynasty. We, the Ming Dynasty, were not hospitable and invited them here in eight sedan chairs. Many of their hands were stained with the blood of the Ming Dynasty soldiers and people. They had only been here a few months.
They made no contribution to the Ming Dynasty, but the Ming Dynasty gave them 100 mingyang each. Why should they share the same life and price with the thousands of soldiers of the Ming Dynasty?
Qiu Qiu's view also represents the views of many "grassroots" people in the Ming Dynasty. They do not have as strong a "constitutional consciousness" as the well-educated middle class and upper-class "elites", and most support the removal of these "former Qing captives"
Hand it over and exchange it for thousands of Ming's own soldiers.
Although Xiang Xiaoqiang did not allow the officers of the People's Guard to express their opinions to the media, he quietly conducted an investigation in the headquarters. He sent someone to inquire about it and learned that most of the officers in the headquarters advocated that,
At all costs, we must get our soldiers back. Xiang Xiaoqiang is also
He has been participating in the war planning of the headquarters. In the officers' cafeteria of the headquarters, the officers have been discussing this matter for the past two days. Xiang Xiaoqiang heard the common views of the officers and found that most of them wanted to take these tens of thousands of "former prisoners."
"Send it out and get back thousands of your own soldiers. Everyone seems to have a point of view:
Those thousands of officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty were all captured in order to defend their country. If we have the opportunity to exchange them this time and not exchange them, but let them live in the hell of Beiqing forever, never being able to reunite with their families, then who will do it in the future?
I am still willing to defend my country and risk being a prisoner again.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was so shocked that he broke out in a cold sweat. If this view is so popular among middle and senior officers, then it goes without saying for lower-level officers and ordinary soldiers. That is to say, whether it is the People's Guard or the Ming Army,
Anyway, the people in the army want to exchange those thousands of Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers at all costs. Otherwise, morale will be damaged.
…
During the regular war planning meeting at the headquarters on the afternoon of August 2, an adjutant came in and quietly called Zhang Zhao out first. When he came back, Zhang Zhao looked around at everyone and said:
"Everyone, it seems that we need to make a clearer expectation on the duration of the war. Now the government needs us to give a rough time for the war to start in order to decide the diplomatic strategy for this prisoner of war crisis. What the cabinet means is that the sooner we
The more likely it is to start a war, the more advantageous it will be to deal with this matter diplomatically. Everyone, although we have many differences on this issue, we cannot shelve it any longer. I suggest that a decision be made this afternoon to determine the approximate time for the war to start."
The generals in the conference room looked at each other and expressed their agreement.
Xiang Xiaoqiang originally advocated starting the war in the spring of 1937. This would give him a few more months to prepare, and it would also be a suitable season to launch the attack. If everything went well, the war could be ended before the harsh winter came. It would be best in late April, because that
It happens to be the time when crops are being sown in Huanghuai, North China, Northeast, Northwest and other regions. A war at this time will not have a great impact on the harvest in the second half of the year, nor will it cause widespread famine.
But Xiang Xiaoqiang hoped for an earlier Northern Expedition. Now because of the prisoner of war crisis, many generals are inclined to carry out the Northern Expedition this year. Unlike Xiang Xiaoqiang who wants to stay out of it, some core generals who participated in formulating the war plan have a The "conspiracy" was to use this prisoner-of-war crisis to hype up the situation, arouse the spirit of common hatred among the people and the entire army, and launch a "total war" against the Qing Dynasty.
A decentralized country with a majority of the middle class is less likely to arouse the war sentiments of its citizens. A centralized country with a majority of poor and ignorant people is, on the contrary, more likely to arouse the war sentiments of its citizens. , tightened its belly and engaged in "total war". Therefore, for the Ming Dynasty, this prisoner of war crisis was a rare opportunity. In short, no matter which one the Ming government chooses, it must make the whole country angry with the people and gods of the Northern Qing Dynasty. It is best Of course, it is not easy to reach the level of the Battle of Nanjing at the beginning of the year. But it is much better than nothing.
Zhang Zhaoxian smiled and said:
"Haha... It is said that war is a continuation of politics. It seems that you all have a good political vision... Mr. Shen Ge said that because of this matter, the earlier the Northern Expedition is, the more advantageous it will be. This should be what he means..."
…
After an afternoon of discussion, it was finally determined that the war against the Northern Qing Dynasty should start in October 36, that is, two months later. This will face winter operations. But this also has an advantage for the Ming army. In winter , the "green gauze tent" that is as tall as one person in North China and northwest China is gone, and "a flat river" has been truly realized, and the land outside the highway has been basically hardened. This will be immeasurable for the Ming army's mechanization and motorized corps to take advantage of it. Because all the fields were bare, the Qing troops on the ground had nowhere to hide, and the Ming army's air superiority could be maximized.
It may have only been two months, but the Ming Empire has actually been preparing for war since December last year and has never stopped. Up to now, the wartime economic system and military expansion preparations for more than half a year have been able to support the empire to fight for a while. Moreover, the two In a few months, the Yangtze River defense line will be reinforced and more indestructible. This is also the reason why most generals decide to take a chance.
——Our army has an absolute mobility advantage, and at most the attack will not go smoothly, and it is unlikely to be surrounded and annihilated by the Qing army. If it is really found that the strategic goal cannot be achieved in the short term, and there is a possibility of protracted war, then Just go back. Anyway, the Qing army is unlikely to break through the Yangtze River defense line and attack home.
The approximate time has been set. Thinking that in two months they will regain their homeland and conquer the Central Plains, the dream that their ancestors have not been able to realize for generations may be realized in their own hands. Every general seems very excited, and at the same time he feels a heavy weight on his shoulders. .Whether it is the veteran general Zhang Zhaoxian or the young general Ru Xiang Xiaoqiang, they all have a dream-like feeling: