I Will Stage A Coup D'état-Chapter 70: Declaration of War against Germany (4)

Chapter 70: Declaration of War against Germany (4)

Chiang Kai-shek was excited by Korea’s declaration of war against Germany.

The world’s greatest powers, Germany and Korea, were fighting.

In a situation like this, Pyongyang would also find it burdensome to drag out a prolonged war with China.

Chiang Kai-shek sent his close aide to Hong Kong, where it was easy for the Koreans to make contact and open a negotiation channel.

But no matter how long he waited, Korea did not respond.

Rather,

“Chairman, Your Excellency. The guerrillas have expanded the occupied areas to 20 more locations. At this rate, even Wuhan is in danger.”

“Wang Jingwei’s moves are also suspicious. The bastard is arbitrarily reinterpreting the Three Principles of the People (Note: The ideology of the Republic of China advocated by Sun Yat-sen) and spouting nonsense about Pan-Asianism (Note: Advocating an Asia for Asians). The problem is that there are those who are falling for that absurd story.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Chiang Kai-shek couldn’t believe it.

Where in the world were there Chinese people who would fall for the trashy words of Wang Jingwei, the ultimate traitor?

“There are reasons. Wang Jingwei is deceiving people by saying that Korea is not an invader but a savior rescuing the Chinese people from the warlords. In fact, various miscellaneous taxes related to national defense have been abolished in the direct-controlled areas of the Wang Jingwei regime.”

Chiang Kai-shek slumped powerlessly at those words.

Are they cutting taxes?

For the extremely poor Chinese people, nothing was more important than money.

Whether one was a traitor or not was a matter of emotion, but taxes were a matter of survival.

For the first time, Chiang Kai-shek felt threatened by Wang Jingwei.

At this moment, Wang Jingwei was more threatening than the Reds.

“How on earth is that possible?”

Chiang Kai-shek couldn’t help but ask.

“Wang Jingwei has given up on military power itself.”

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“Oh my.”

Honestly, he was at a loss for words at the absurdity.

Does that even make sense?

Doesn’t that mean he has given up on the idea of becoming a sovereign state, even for show?

He couldn’t understand how someone could be such a thorough traitor.

“Chairman, Your Excellency. We must now face reality. We are being pressured by Wang Jingwei in the front and Mao Zedong in the back.”

He Yingqin’s point was painful but worth listening to.

“So what do you suggest?”

“I think we should be the ones to propose negotiations to Korea first.”

Throwing in the towel first.

Chiang Kai-shek couldn’t accept those words.

“You call that a suggestion?”

“Chairman, Your Excellency. The Western powers have no intention of mediating for us. Didn’t you see the attitude of the US Ambassador the other day?”

Clarence Edward Gauss, the US Ambassador, showed no sympathy for China.

The US Ambassador spouted nonsense that China’s attempt to join the Axis powers and provoke Korea was the cause of the war, shifting the responsibility for the war to the Chinese side.

“Still, we can’t do that.”

Chiang Kai-shek could never show weakness to Korea.

No, he shouldn’t.

If he became a leader who suffered two consecutive defeats after being unjustly provoked by Korea, who would believe in and follow him?

Chiang Kai-shek had already lost a considerable amount of political power.

If he took another hit here, he would never be able to recover.

“But, Your Excellency. What means do we have to continue the war? Our China lacks supplies, time, and money.”

“Director He.”

“I also want to give you hopeful news, Chairman. But what can we do when reality is like this? Please make a courageous decision for the sake of 400 million Chinese people.”

“You may leave now.”

He Yingqin bowed and withdrew from the office.

Chiang Kai-shek wasn’t unaware that the situation was difficult.

But he had to hold on.

If Germany could just defeat the Soviet Union, Korea’s stubborn attitude would change.

If he could just hold out until then.

At that moment, as Chiang Kai-shek was having such thoughts, the telephone rang.

“This is the Military Committee Chairman.”

“Chairman. Something terrible has happened. The Soviets, the Soviets.”

“What about the Soviets?”

“The Soviet Army has occupied Xinjiang.”

Chiang Kai-shek felt the world turn white.

He collapsed right there on the office floor.

The Soviet Army’s occupation of Xinjiang was truly lightning-fast.

Sheng Shicai, the owner of Xinjiang and the Northwest Warlord, instead of resisting the Soviet Army, quickly raised the white flag and conveyed his intention to submit to Moscow.

From the beginning, Sheng Shicai was a person with no loyalty to the Kuomintang Government.

Kirill Meretskov, who led 100,000 Soviet troops into Xinjiang, expressed contempt for the pathetic attitude of the Chinese.

“When those who have no will or preparation to defend their country are calling themselves generals and governors, it’s no wonder this country is in this state.”

Although Meretskov said that, when he actually met Sheng Shicai, he treated him with a very friendly attitude.

“General Sheng’s decision has prevented unnecessary conflict. Moscow highly appreciates the general’s actions.”

“Thank you. Whatever it is, human lives come first, don’t they?”

Sheng Shicai and Meretskov concluded the ‘Soviet-Republic of China Xinjiang Garrison Agreement’ on the spot.

The Soviet Union’s invasion was an act backed by several calculations.

To summarize their intentions:

1. Pressure for an early end to the Sino-Korean War.

By pressuring the Republic of China through the occupation of Xinjiang, it increases the likelihood of Chiang Kai-shek agreeing to a ceasefire.

2. Securing human resources.

As the Soviet Union mobilized a massive army for the German-Soviet War, they lacked manpower at the civilian level.

If they could bring in this shortage from Xinjiang, they could reduce the burden on the Soviet economy.

3. Laying the groundwork for the postwar period.

If they secure Xinjiang, they can create a buffer zone for the soft underbelly of the Soviet Union after the war.

While this calculation may be rational for Moscow, it was adding insult to injury for China.

Immediately, voices within the party noticeably increased, urging for a quick peace with Korea.

“At this rate, the country is about to crumble while sitting still. Not only Korea but also the Soviet Union has invaded, yet are you going to just repeat the words about continuing the war like a parrot?”

Concern spread like an epidemic within the party that at this rate, they might face a future where they would be divided up by the great powers like in the late Qing Dynasty.

Chiang Kai-shek couldn’t completely ignore this pressure either.

After much deliberation, he made a decision.

“Open a dialogue channel with the Communists again.”

He didn’t like negotiating with the Reds who had arbitrarily broken the Second United Front, but he absolutely couldn’t yield to Wang Jingwei and Korea.

In the end, the only channel Chiang Kai-shek could open was with the Reds.

Chiang Kai-shek decided to send Zhang Zuolin, the head of the Fengtian Clique who was under house arrest, as a special envoy.

Zhang Zuolin was moved by the fact that Chiang Kai-shek had forgiven(?) him, but soon became terrified when he learned the reason for his release.

“You mean to establish the Third United Front?”

“Yes. If you hadn’t ruined the Xi’an Incident, there would be no reason to attempt such a humiliating negotiation with the Reds, right? So, take responsibility and get the Reds’ seal of approval.”

But it didn’t make sense.

Why would those who had stabbed the Republic of China in the back by siding with Korea accept negotiations now?

If they were going to do that, they wouldn’t have betrayed them in the first place.

Zhang Zuolin wanted to say that, but he had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths.

The person who had detained Chiang Kai-shek in Xi’an and forced the Second United Front was none other than himself.

Zhang Zuolin stared at the floor and opened his mouth with difficulty.

“I will go to Yan’an.”

It could be a path to death.

But he had to think of his family.

Zhang Zuolin took a plane and flew straight to Yan’an.

When Zhang Zuolin arrived in Yan’an, surprisingly Zhou Enlai greeted him.

“Welcome, Comrade Zhang.”

The Chinese Communist Party welcomed Zhang Zuolin.

Well, they couldn’t treat him poorly since he was the very person who had saved the Communist Party from a predicament during the Xi’an Incident.

Zhang Zuolin felt his heart slightly easing as he received the lavish treatment from the Communist Party.

“By the way, where is Chairman Mao?”

“The Chairman is busy with work.”

However, it was absolutely impossible to meet Mao Zedong.

Even if he said he had something to talk about, even if he asked to relay a message, he was completely ignored.

Yet, high-ranking officials of the Communist Party continued to be in charge of treating Zhang Zuolin.

It was a bit difficult to describe this as neglect or disregard.

While Zhang Zuolin was waiting for negotiations in a state of confusion, the leader of the Communist Party, Mao Zedong, was sneering.

“That foolish friend still has no clue. Does he really think Chiang Kai-shek sent him to negotiate?”

Mao Zedong, who had fought Chiang Kai-shek for a long time, roughly guessed the thoughts of his rival.

Chiang Kai-shek sending Zhang Zuolin was just a show to display to the party.

I even released a traitorous scoundrel who threatened my life in order to negotiate with the Communists.

But if the negotiation results are not good, whose fault would it be?

Would it be the fault of Chiang Kai-shek who showed his best efforts and sincerity?

No.

It’s the fault of Zhang Zuolin who didn’t know gratitude and failed to bring the best results.

Chiang Kai-shek had sent Zhang Zuolin with this picture in mind.

Mao Zedong also knew this scheme of his rival, so he matched the timing.

Their thoughts coincided on the point that negotiation would be impossible anyway.

So, what reason would there be not to join hands with the enemy?

“Comrade Chairman. Even if this negotiation falls through, we shouldn’t actively attack the Kuomintang for a while.”

“I know that too.”

If they did that, they would incur the antipathy of the people.

Time is on our side anyway, so it doesn’t matter if we move leisurely.

Mao Zedong gave instructions to attach a few more women to Zhang Zuolin to let him have a more enjoyable time.