Beiyang reactionaries

"I see. Hurry up and get the car ready."

464

"What is the specific situation?"

"Prime Minister, the thing is like this. Japan has a large copper mine base in North Hamgyong Province in North Korea. The Japanese have invested heavily in the past few years to build it. It is one of the copper mines with high output in Asia. [-]. Half of the copper needed in Japan comes from this copper mine. So this place has always been the target of the Korean Independence Army. Two days ago, the Korean Independence Army sent two battalions of troops to attack this copper mine base. Unexpectedly, it was attacked by the Japanese army Got bitten."

1925 5 Month 3 Day.

One and a half years have passed since the last Sino-Japanese war, and the Chinese and Japanese armies suddenly clashed on the Yalu River.Without any warning, a conflict broke out between the armies of the two countries without warning, an armed conflict.

This is no small thing.

As two major countries in the Far East, China and Japan, every move between the two countries will affect the situation in the Far East.And for China and Japan, each other is the biggest enemy.

So after receiving the telegram from the Northeast, Duan Xun immediately held a meeting.All the cabinet members were present, followed by Yan Shichao, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and generals from the military.

Xu Yongchang, Chief of the General Staff of the Military Department, explained to everyone what happened.

The Korean peninsula is really not short of resources. On the contrary, as a small country, it is very rich in resources, especially a lot of various minerals.As the prices of materials exported by China have become higher and higher in recent years, tariffs have also become higher and higher, which has put too much pressure on Japan's finances.Because in 1924, Japan imported resources from China, which cost more than 5000 million yuan more than the previous two years, which is not a small amount.Therefore, Japan has increased its exploration and mining of minerals on the Korean Peninsula in the past two years.Looting various resources from the Korean Peninsula will greatly ease Japan's financial pressure.

There is a huge copper mine base in North Hamgyong Province, which is the largest large copper mine base in Asia.The copper mines mined here will be directly pulled to Japan.The development of industry has a great demand for copper, and the demand for copper in an industrial country like Japan is even more amazing.

Although Japan itself also has copper mines, it has been unable to meet Japan's own needs.China is currently also a copper-deficient country, so Japan imports copper ore from other places.There is also a lot of pressure on their finances.Looting North Korea's copper mines is the best way.

These days, the Korean Independence Army is attacking coal factories, iron ore factories, gold mines and silver mines.The Korean Independence Army has long wanted to remove this copper mine base in North Hamgyong Province.This time, the Korean Independence Army made a complete plan to keep making troubles in other areas. After mobilizing the Japanese troops here, they chose to attack this mine.In order to attack this mine, they were even equipped with mortars.

Mission accomplished.

Completely scrap the machinery and equipment of this copper mine base in North Hamgyong Province.Once such a mining farm is destroyed, it cannot be restored within a year or two.But after the task was completed, the Korean Independence Army was bitten by the Japanese Gendarmerie.The Japanese Gendarmerie Division currently in North Korea is based on the original Kwantung Army troops.

"The Korean Independence Army saw that the opponent's number was small, and wanted to swallow the opponent's troops. But it failed to annihilate the opponent for a long time, and instead recruited the surrounding gendarmerie troops. The Korean Independence Army suffered a lot and retreated back to our country. Unexpectedly, the Japanese military police The team did not stop advancing when they reached the Yalu River. Instead, they crossed the Yalu River from Houchang County, North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, and drove straight in from Badaogou Village, Fourth District, Changbai County, chasing a unit of the Korean Independence Army. Prime Minister, and leaders, Badao This is where Gou Village is located, in the middle of Changbai County and Linjiang County in the northeast of China. The Japanese army crossed the Yalu River from here. After the Japanese troops crossed the Yalu River, Commander Dong Songyan, who was stationed at Linjiang and the Changbai Yalu River defense line, ordered troops to encircle and suppress this place. There was a Japanese army, and the two sides exchanged fire in Linjiang."

"Are we at a loss?"

"No."

Xu Yongchang said on the map: "The number of Japanese gendarmerie crossing the Yalu River is not large. There is only one squadron, which is to pursue the troops of the two battalions of the Korean Independence Army. We have a full division of troops in Changbai and Linjiang areas. "

"Humph."

Duan Xun was very annoyed when he heard that only one squadron had crossed the Yalu River.The courage of these people in the Japanese army is really getting bigger and bigger, and a squadron of troops dared to enter the Northeast.

They really regard China as their home.

"now what?"

"This army was surrounded by us. However, the Japanese Gendarmerie troops still had reinforcements, and they exchanged fire with our troops directly on the Yalu River. There was a brigade of troops coming from behind, and the current situation shows that the Japanese army's large troops continued to gather. The location of the incident."

Duan Xun stood up and looked at the map.

There are not many people in the Changbai and Linjiang areas at present, but it would be nice to have tens of thousands of people.But here is a very important area of ​​the border.And more importantly, it is also an important forestry base in Northeast China.

The trees needed by many cities in the Northeast are provided by this area.In addition, this is an important border area, so many troops are deployed here.

"How many troops can the Japanese army gather here?"

"Not many. At present, the number of Japanese troops on the Korean Peninsula is limited. It is impossible to have many troops here. According to the current situation, there will be no more than two brigades at most. And once the troops of the two brigades are concentrated here, Then there will inevitably be defensive gaps in other areas. The Korean Independence Army and the resistance forces in North Korea can continue to attack Japanese forces.”

Duan Xun looked at the map and nodded.

Yes.

At present, the number of Japanese troops on the Korean Peninsula is too small to control the situation on the Korean Peninsula.Especially after the Korean Independence Army and the resistance forces in North Korea destroyed most of Japan's grassroots institutions on the Korean Peninsula, the Japanese military's control over the Korean Peninsula became even worse.They dare to provoke China.

Duan Xun looked at the map carefully and thought for a while before returning to his seat.Looking at everyone, he said, "Is this the intention of the Japanese cabinet? Or the meaning of the high-level Japanese army? Or was it just an accident? Director Yan, you are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, so please talk about it first."

Only by judging Japan's intentions can we be prepared.Although Duan Xun has his own judgment, he still needs to listen to everyone's opinions.

"Prime Minister, I don't think that's what the Japanese cabinet meant."

Yan Shichao stood up.

Duan Xun is very satisfied with Yan Shichao. He has governed the local area, led troops to fight in wars, and practiced in the diplomatic field.And this year is only 44 years old, so it can be said that he has rich experience.

After a period of training in the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, he can be transferred to other departments like Yan Huiqing.

"The reason?"

"Since the end of the European War, Europe, the United States and Japan have engaged in a naval arms race. Although it didn't last long, it seriously dragged down the economies of all countries. And after the war, the economies of countries around the world were not very good because of the war, which severely hit international trade. The shrinking of international trade has seriously affected the Japanese economy, which is mainly based on import and export. Therefore, since the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920), the Japanese cabinet has been advocating disarmament and reducing military expenditure. In the 12th year of the Republic of China (1923), Japan lost China After the rights and interests of the Northeast and Shandong, as well as the power to purchase China's minerals at low prices, Japan's financial pressure is even greater. Therefore, the Japanese cabinet has been promoting the reduction of military spending in the past two years. Within two years, about two divisions of the army have been abolished Troops. But even if military spending is reduced like this, Japan’s fiscal deficit is getting bigger and bigger. At this time, the Japanese cabinet will definitely not take the initiative to provoke a conflict with our country.”

Duan Xun nodded.

Yes.

The current Japanese cabinet is relatively conservative, or it should be forced by the situation.International trade is not doing well, and the United States, a giant industrial monster, wreaks havoc on world markets.At present, the annual export volume of the United States is more than 30 billion US dollars, and the European industrial countries and Japan are losing ground.

In order to prevent the dumping of American industrial products all over the world, Britain combined its colonies and countries within its sphere of influence to form a common market.Reduce tariffs internally, and raise tariffs for external countries. This method is used to prevent American industrial products.But this method has little effect, because the industrial strength of the United States is too strong.

A world hegemon like the United Kingdom cannot stop American industrial products, so it can only adopt this method, not to mention Japan.After the end of World War I, the world's international trade has been greatly affected, affecting Japan's exports.After the tension between China and Japan, Japan lost the Chinese market again.Therefore, Japan's economy has been greatly affected.

Japan's domestic market is too small, and once there is a problem with exports, the economy will be hit hard.Under such circumstances, the current thinking of the Japanese cabinet is how to tide over the difficulties.

The choice of the Japanese cabinet is to reduce military spending.Because more than half of Japan's finances are spent on the military, military expenditures put the greatest pressure on finances.Therefore, Japan has been disarming over the years.

It is impossible to have a conflict with China at this time.Japan also doesn't have enough money to fight a war right now.Those politicians in the Japanese cabinet have not yet reached the point where they were as crazy as World War II in history.

Still sensible.

The current situation, Japan and China at war?

"go on."

"Compared to the Japanese cabinet, I think the high-level Japanese military may provoke conflicts. Because the Japanese cabinet has been reducing military expenditures in recent years, which has greatly affected the interests of the Japanese military. The Japanese military has become dissatisfied with the cabinet. It is not a day or two. In order to fight for more interests and power, they may provoke a conflict with us. As long as there is a conflict, the Japanese cabinet cannot continue to implement their disarmament policy. But I think the possibility of high-level Japanese military Although there is, it is not very big. In recent years, the Japanese army has been reducing military expenditures and abolishing the army, and its strength has declined considerably. Even if they caused a conflict with us, it is impossible for the troops to cross the Yalu River. And now the Korean peninsula is in trouble. The Japanese military should first consider suppressing the rebel forces on the Korean peninsula, not conflict with us."

"You mean, it was an accident?"

"It can't be said to be an accident."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has its own intelligence system in this era.In fact, the consulates of various countries and institutions abroad have many functions.There is a special collection of information inside.

Japan is China's worst enemy, at least for now.Therefore, all Chinese intelligence systems pay great attention to the collection of Japanese intelligence.

"Prime Minister, in recent years, the Japanese cabinet has reduced military expenditures and abolished the army, which has made many people in the Japanese military very dissatisfied. Including the "Sino-Japanese Nanjing Treaty" signed two years ago, it is a huge issue in the eyes of many Japanese military personnel. The disgrace. Especially those radical young military officers, they are even more dissatisfied with the situation in the past two years. They have been clamoring to fight back to the Northeast, to fight us again, and wash away the shame of two years ago. The troops crossing the Yalu River are the original Kwantung Army troops. I suspect that these young officers at the front line decided privately, rather than the Japanese cabinet or the Japanese military's high-level ideas."

"kindness."

Duan Xun also thought so.