Shenyang. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

The former Marshal's Mansion has now become the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the three eastern provinces.

Zhang Xueliang and Zhou Hexuan talked secretly here for two days, and no one knew what they said. But according to the memoirs of Hu Ruoyu, the adjutant's secretary decades later, "the commander was in a very depressed mood, with some confusion and determination on his face, and then he called a meeting of his henchmen."

In fact, the content of Zhang Xueliang and Zhou Hexuan's conversation is very simple, and it can be summed up in three points: first, secretly investigate and monitor suspected traitors; second, to guard against the invasion of the Kwantung Army at all times; Thirdly, be ready to transfer military supplies at any time.

These arrangements need to be made as early as possible, otherwise there will be chaos and chaos when things come to an end.

Moreover, Zhou Hexuan told him that he absolutely could not abandon the Northeast without firing a shot, and he should not take chances with the Japanese invasion. As long as the Kwantung Army dared to kill, it would fight back fiercely, and the number of Japanese troops was small at the beginning, and it was sure that it would be able to win.

As for Japan's increase in troops, it will be able to defend it, and if it can't defend it, it will fight and withdraw at the same time. Before evacuating, we should try to transfer materials and civilians as much as possible, and we must never fatten up the Japanese Kwantung Army, and we must make the Japanese invaders pay the price as much as possible.

Zhang Xueliang agreed and personally sent Zhou Hexuan out of the gate. But he was blown by the howling cold wind, and his brain suddenly "sobered up", and he felt that this secret discussion with Zhou Hexuan was a little unbelievable.

There is no sign of the Japanese invasion of the Northeast now, everything is just Zhou Hexuan's guess, what if Zhou Hexuan's guess is wrong?

Zhang Xueliang recalled that Zhou Hexuan was bound to succeed in the past two years, and he was inevitably worried again, afraid that Zhou Hexuan would become a proverb again.

You have to prepare early!

Zhang Xueliang convened a meeting of his henchmen overnight, and Zhou Hexuan only set a big strategy for him, and the detailed operation must be carried out with heart.

At nine o'clock in the evening, people braved the wind and snow one after another to come to Zhang Xueliang's Commander-in-Chief's Mansion.

The leader is called Wang Shuhan, a fat middle-aged man, wearing a cotton jacket and a round hat, like a Jianghu man running north and south. He is an old man left by Zhang Zuolin, who has been the governor and finance, and is now Zhang Xueliang's secretary general.

The person sitting next to Wang Shuhan is called Bao Wenyue, a Manchu, an officer of the Shaozhuang faction, and now the chief of staff of the Northeast Army, equivalent to Zhang Xueliang's chief military division. Well, he is another future traitor, who voted for Wang's puppet government after the Xi'an incident.

The young man at the bottom is called Wang Yizhe, and now his position is not high, just the brigade commander of the Northeast Army. However, he was highly regarded by Zhang Xueliang, and within four years he was promoted to five levels in a row, and he is helping Zhang Xueliang train a new army with thoughts, culture, and faith. A few years later, this person would secretly join the Red Party and play an important role in the Xi'an Incident.

Just looking at these three people, you can know how complex the composition of the Northeast Army is: one is a former Qing Juren, one is a future traitor, and the other is a future Red Party.

Will the Northeast Army be able to withstand the Japanese attack?

Even Zhang Xueliang's chief of staff is suspicious, and he belongs to a Manchu officer who will become a traitor at any time. If this battle really starts, it is estimated that the Northeast Army has just drawn up the battle plan, and the Japanese army will immediately be able to obtain detailed information.

Zhou Hexuan couldn't say it clearly, could he tell Zhang Xueliang directly: Ah, your chief of staff is a traitor, take him down quickly!

Who believes this?

Zhang Xueliang regarded Bao Wenyue as a confidant, how could he listen to this kind of chasing after the wind and shadows.

In addition to these three people, Zhu Guangmu, the adjutant's secretary, was also called to the meeting. This person is ostensibly a personal secretary, but he is responsible for the intelligence work against Japan in the Northeast, and belongs to Zhang Xueliang's secret confidant.

Zhang Xueliang slowly walked into the conference hall, and the four of them immediately got up and said, "Commander!" ”

"Sit down." Zhang Xueliang raised his hand to signal.

Wang Shuhan was the oldest and asked, "I don't know what happened when the commander summoned him late at night?" ”

"On the matter of the north and the south, Wang Zhaoming and Yan Xishan invited me to go to Beiping to discuss the matter of joint opposition to Chiang," Zhang Xueliang did not say the real purpose, he asked, "What is the current financial situation in the northeast?" ”

Wang Shuhan smiled bitterly: "It's terrible. Lao Shuai fought a few years ago, and he wiped out the foundation of the Northeast, and he has not slowed down. Last year, we fought with the Soviets again, and we spent countless financial resources, but now the government can't pay salaries, and the army can't pay military salaries. Commander, you must not use troops for at least two years, otherwise you will drive the three finance ministers to suicide. ”

"yes, how can you fight if you don't have money?" Zhang Xueliang sighed.

As the chief of staff of the Shaozhuang faction, Bao Wenyue wanted to fight, and instigated: "Commander, the current contradictions between the central and local governments are a good opportunity for our northeast. It is better to agree to the matter of Beiping's anti-Chiang, to strengthen the prestige of the local warlords, and to provoke Yan Xishan and Feng Yuxiang to start a war with Lao Chiang. Let's have a praying mantis catching cicada yellow finch behind, only watching the excitement from behind, without spending a tael of silver. If the war is one-sided, we immediately declare ourselves on the side of the victors. If the war is at a stalemate, we will just sit back and reap the benefits, and whoever gives the most benefit will help him. Perhaps, our Northeast Army can enter the Central Plains again! ”

Wang Yizhe said dissatisfiedly: "Chief of Staff Bao, you are a corrupt warlord, where do you put the interests of the country and the nation?" ”

Bao Wenyue didn't bother to debate with Wang Yizhe, he smiled and said: "Commander, in the original Northern Expedition, except for Chang Kaishen, who benefited the most?" ”

"Yan Xishan." Zhang Xueliang blurted out.

"Exactly!"

Bao Wenyue said: "We are imitating Yan Xishan's old skills, and after this battle is fought, maybe the Northeast Army will take the most advantage." ”

Zhang Xueliang nodded noncommittally, Bao Wenyue's idea was the second choice given to him by Zhou Hexuan.

This strategy is very Zhang Zuolin's style, Wang Shuhan agreed: "I think Chief of Staff Bao is right, the Northeast Army does not need to wade into troubled waters, just watch the wind and watch the battle." Only when you get the benefits can you send troops, which can just solve the financial difficulties in the northeast. ”

Zhang Xueliang suddenly asked Zhu Guangmu: "What are the recent movements of the Japanese?" ”

"The situation in Japan is very bad, factories and companies are closing everywhere, and many rural people have started to sell their children, which is good news for us," Zhu said. However, it is worth worrying that the "Outline of the Japanese Reform Law," which was printed as early as 10 years ago, has now been turned out again and even openly distributed on the streets, and many young Japanese people are clamoring for the conquest of Manchu and Mongolia by force. ”

"What about the Kwantung Army?" Zhang Xueliang asked again.

Zhu Guangmu replied: "The Kwantung Army has not made any changes recently. ”

In fact, the Kwantung Army was already planning at this time, but there was no specific operational deployment yet. Ten months before the outbreak of the "September 18 Incident," the Japanese Kwantung Army had already identified Wicker Lake as the site to provoke the incident, and after another two months, it worked out a rough idea of the Wicker Lake Incident and spent four months drawing up a detailed plan.

Therefore, the "September 18 Incident" is not accidental, and the Japanese Kwantung Army has been planning for this for nearly a year. As long as the Kwantung Army provoked an incident, whether it succeeded or not, the Japanese War Department had a way to gain the support of the emperor.

Zhang Xueliang asked Bao Wenyue: "You said that once the Northeast Army enters the customs, will the Japanese take advantage of the weakness to enter?" ”

"How is that possible?" Bao Wenyue said with a smile, "The old man has entered the customs several times, and the Japanese would have done it a long time ago if they wanted to, so why wait until now." ”

Wang Yizhe said uncertainly: "The Kwantung Army should not dare to invade rashly." ”

Wang Shuhan also said: "The Japanese will definitely not dare to fight, they are in a mess in the country now, how can they have that strength." ”

Zhu Guangmu said: "I agree with Director Wang (Director of the Secretariat Office). ”

Zhang Xueliang was silent, his henchmen and think tank disagreed with Zhou Hexuan, how could he be good?

Zhang Xueliang decided to deploy in secret, because Zhou Hexuan warned him that there were many Japanese spies in the Northeast Army, and this matter could not be publicized. At the very least, the arsenals, ammunition depots, and materials such as aircraft, tanks, and warships in the Northeast should be ready to be transferred at any time.