On the 12th, Xiang Xiaoqiang told Zhu Yourong about the Soviet emissary. Since this was a strategic issue involving diplomacy, Zhu Yourong invited Shen Rongxuan and several major ministers to discuss it. The results of the discussions among the ministers , basically the same as the views of Shi Shigege and Sun Jiye. Regardless of who the Ming Dynasty pulls and fights next, it is very necessary to reveal the Ming-Su negotiations to Japan.
So a plan was made. At noon that day, Xiang Xiaoqiang took a team of his own - Qiu Qiu, Xiu Xiu, Hu Jiong, Wu Yanbin, and several staff officers from the mobile team, and flew to Lanzhou to inspect the situation of the war against the Soviet Union.
At six o'clock in the evening, the plane landed at Lanzhou Airport. Several major generals from the People's Guard Lanzhou Command, led by Zhao Cunnian, drove to the airport to greet them, and then took Xiang Xiaoqiang and his party to the headquarters for dinner. After dinner, Xiang Xiaoqiang appeared He was 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 in the war against the Soviet Union. .
To be honest, Xiang Xiaoqiang's "sudden arrival" really surprised the generals of the Lanzhou Command. Especially Zhao Cunnian, who had ulterior motives, was quite murmuring in his heart. But that night, after Xiang Xiaoqiang completed his inspection, With a few followers, he and Zhao Cunnian took a walk under the shade of the trees in the headquarters compound, and told him the "original story" of this sudden inspection.
Zhao Cunnian felt at ease after hearing the "top secret situation" quietly told to him by Xiang Xiaoqiang. It turned out that Nanjing had received a secret "communication" from the Soviet emissary, and the two sides might achieve a ceasefire soon... In this way, Nanjing's decision-makers naturally have to go through a comprehensive weighing. The focus of the weighing is naturally how the current war against the Soviet Union is going, whether it is possible to make significant progress in the near future, and whether our casualties, logistics, etc. can be sustained... If the situation is really not optimistic and the prospect of the northwest war is still a stalemate, then the decision-makers in Nanjing will naturally have to seriously consider the Soviet Union's armistice proposal.
…
"Zisi," Xiang Xiaoqiang said while walking in the mottled moonlight under the shade of the trees with his hands behind his back, "this matter is still top secret... Even in the People's Guard, very few people know about it. Just know it now." Well, don’t tell anyone else yet.”
Zhao Cunnian's eyes flashed and he nodded:
"Don't worry, sir, I know what I'm doing."
Xiang Xiaoqiang continued:
"Originally, this is a political and diplomatic matter. We are soldiers and should not get involved. That is to say, the Soviets found our People's Guard, so we took care of it... Alas, what will our Ming Dynasty do next? This is so important. If we really want to reach an armistice with the Soviet Union, then we can naturally turn all our energy to the east. Needless to say, we can defeat Japan very quickly.
"But...hehe, you also know that Princess Liaoyang has always been relatively pro-Japanese. She grew up in Japan, which is normal. She suggested that we should do the opposite, take advantage of Japan's defeat in the war, and reach an agreement with Japan to cease the war. Go overboard and beat up the Soviet Union. What she means is that the Soviet Union is much stronger than Japan. It can be said that the long-term threat to the Ming Dynasty is also much stronger."
Zhao Cunnian nodded while listening to Xiang Xiaoqiang's sigh. After listening for a while, he felt that the opportunity had come, so he cautiously interjected:
"My lord... I feel that Princess Liaoyang's words are not unreasonable. This subordinate... thinks this way: The conditions proposed by the Soviet Union are actually for us to recognize their occupation of northern Xinjiang, and the bargaining chip they offered is just
They just ended the war with us, stopped supporting Japan, and supported us in taking back Manchuria and Outer Mongolia. It seemed like it had given up a lot, but if you look closely, this condition can be said to mean that the Soviet Union does not have to do anything from now on and can just sit back.
The advantage of owning Northern Xinjiang, the result of their invasion, seems to be too great."
Xiang Xiaoqiang's face was calm, and he just nodded slowly, looking thoughtful. But in his heart, he secretly thought: Zhao Cunnian is indeed speaking for Japan.
Zhao Cunnian knew that although Xiang Xiaoqiang said that "soldiers should not interfere with politics," there were few people in the entire Ming Empire who could influence the formulation of national policies as easily as he did.
He looked at Xiaoqiang and it was obvious that he had listened, so he kept talking and continued:
"Your Excellency, you might as well think about it. Even if you exclude the interest factor, there are also moral factors and ideological factors. The Bolsheviks want to 'liberate all mankind', but where and where do they 'liberate'?
The place is full of hunger, terror, and massacre. This is why
What is the reason why the Bolsheviks are the public enemy of the world? The Soviet Union is now a target of public criticism in the world. Weak countries are afraid of it, and strong countries are disgusted with it. At this time, we, the Ming Dynasty, cannot take the wrong position and accept that for the sake of immediate interests.
Working with the country has ruined one's own good image.
"Sir, please think about it, the Soviet Union has invaded us now, we are the victims, and international public opinion is sympathizing with us and condemning the Soviet Union. And even in some neutral countries, such as the United States, many people with a sense of justice are lobbying parliament to amend the "
Neutrality Act" to support us materially. Now if we turn to the Soviet Union, what will happen next?
Yu has ruined the whole world. What do people think of our Ming Dynasty? Oh, we are still here to sympathize with you and cheer for you. It would be better for you to quietly get involved with the Soviet Union. Then we
What's going on? Aren't you just taking it easy and not worrying about it? ... Then if something like this happens in the future, who will support us again?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang was now listening to Zhao Cunnian's analysis quite seriously. He nodded slowly, and then smiled:
"Well, in general, what you said makes sense. But what you said here is a bit too much. Even if we agree on a ceasefire with the Soviet Union, it is just a ceasefire between the two sides, and it is not the same thing as 'turning to the Soviet Union.' Now we
The whole world is watching the two-front war. If we end this situation as soon as possible, others will understand. This is okay."
Zhao Cunnian's eyes moved and he immediately said:
"Oh, yes, your Excellency is right. I am confused here. These are indeed not the same thing."
…
The next morning, Xiang Xiaoqiang inspected the garrison near Lanzhou again. After lunch, he took a group of people on the plane and flew back to Nanjing. On the evening of the 13th, Xiang Xiaoqiang returned to Nanjing.
It can be said that his purpose of coming to Lanzhou was successfully achieved this time. He naturally revealed the situation to Zhao Cunnian that "the Soviet Union offered to betray Japan in exchange for a ceasefire, and Ming Dynasty was hesitating between the Soviet Union and Japan." Zhao Cunnian knew, then Tokyo
You will find out soon. Moreover, Zhao Cunnian is still quite capable. Regardless of whether he is speaking for Japan or something else, some of his analyzes are still very reasonable:
——The conditions offered by the Soviet Union did not offer anything practical at all. What they are saying is: as long as you give me the northern and southern frontiers, I will do nothing and watch you two continue to fight. ——Co-author of the Invasion of the North
Did the Whites invade Xinjiang? Even if the Ming Dynasty defeated Japan, it would still be the enemy of the Soviet Union.
As soon as Xiang Xiaoqiang returned to the headquarters, he received the latest battle report on the Japanese front.
The first is that the Fourth Division of the People's Guard defeated two Japanese divisions on the Jinzhou battlefield and wiped out more than 8,000 enemy troops. However, almost all of the 8,000 enemy troops were killed and very few were captured alive. The main force of the Japanese army retreated northward.
The Ming army relied on the advantages of mechanization and motorization to pursue fiercely, and used tactics familiar from the unification war. They constantly outflanked the two flanks and divided the retreating enemy troops into small pieces one by one, forming several small encirclements.
However, the Ming army immediately felt the difference between dealing with the Japanese army and the Qing army. After surrounding the remaining Qing army, they only needed a bombing and artillery attack, not even bombing and artillery. They only needed leaflets and slogans, and the Qing army surrendered.
.But now the remnants of the Japanese army, although they have been surrounded from all sides and have no hope of standing out,
But they still resisted desperately, and their morale seemed to be the same as before. The Ming army fought very hard in the final battle, and they pursued very quickly at first. However, as the encirclement increased one by one, the Ming army had to send more troops to fight like this.
Squeeze in the middle. Every time the remaining Japanese troops in an encirclement were annihilated, it was a bloody and bitter battle.
In less than two days of fighting, the Ming army killed a thousand enemies and injured eight hundred.
The second battle report: At noon today (13th), the Japanese Tenth Division suddenly used poison gas bombs against the Ming army in Andong City!
The first battle report was what Xiang Xiaoqiang expected. But when he saw the second battle report, he couldn't believe his eyes.
"No way! Are the Japanese crazy? Aren't they afraid that the Ming army will also use poison gas to retaliate?"