I am Jiang Weiguo in World War II

In the calm Pingjin area, dark clouds suddenly overwhelmed the city, and the mountains and rain were about to come, and the calm before the storm began to recede.

Just half an hour later, Qin Dechun received a call from the senior staff officer of the Japanese North China Garrison Headquarters (actually the head of the Japanese intelligence agency’s Beiping Special Mission Agency) Tajiro Matsui. Chinese culture, known as "China hand".

On the phone, Matsui informed Qin Dechun aggressively, claiming that "the Japanese army was suddenly bombarded for no reason by the Chinese garrison in Wanping City when they were conducting routine exercises in the area where the Japanese army was legally stationed, which caused serious losses to the Japanese army and seriously insulted the Japanese army." The dignity of the Japanese army has been destroyed, and the goodwill between Japan and China and the friendship between the two militaries have been destroyed. China must immediately apologize to Japan, compensate, and punish the murderers. The Chinese garrison in Wanping City must withdraw immediately, and the defense of Wanping City must be handed over to the Japanese army. The commander of the Chinese garrison in Wanping City must be handed over to the Japanese side, etc.”

Qin Dechun was shocked and angry at once. He was surprised that such a big thing happened suddenly, and he was angry that the Japanese asked for a lot of prices and made a bunch of unacceptable and unreasonable demands that seriously damaged China's sovereignty and interests.

Holding back his doubts and anger, Qin Dechun said some kind words to Matsui in a nice voice, and after hanging up the phone, he hurriedly called the garrison of Wanping City.

"Mayor Qin, it's me!" It was Jiang Weiguo who answered the phone.

"Second...Second Young Master!" Qin Dechun's heart skipped a beat, "What's going on? What happened?"

"A certain unit of the Japanese army raised three manned reconnaissance balloons near Wanping City at about [-] o'clock this afternoon to spy on the deployment of our troops and weapons and equipment in Wanping City. Therefore, I ordered the artillery unit to shoot down one of the balloons with anti-aircraft guns!" Jiang Weiguo said His attitude was straightforward, and he directly admitted that it was his own order.

"This..." Qin Dechun was dumbfounded, and secretly groaned. He had already guessed that it was Jiang Weiguo's order. After all, only the second son of Jiang was so "brave and reckless", but he did not dislike Jiang Weiguo's move.

Qin Dechun is the mayor of Beiping City, and also serves as the deputy commander of the 29th Army (the 29th Army has two deputy commanders). Although he was born in and served in a local military faction, his position is to the Nationalist Government. Song Zheyuan and others Everyone believed that Chiang Kai-shek had no intention of resisting the war or passively resisting the war, but Qin Dechun firmly believed that Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist government were "meticulously preparing for the war of resistance."

"Second Young Master, you did the right thing!" Qin Dechun took a deep breath, expressing his attitude, "You have fulfilled your duty as a soldier, which is justified and understandable.

I will try my best to negotiate with the Japanese and try my best to resolve this matter peacefully. In addition..." He hesitated for a moment and said in a very tactful tone, "Second Young Master, you and your troops must exercise restraint in the future, and don't let the situation escalate! "Although he supports Jiang Weiguo, he doesn't want to make things big all at once.

"Mayor Qin, please don't worry!" Jiang Weiguo said, "If people don't offend me, I won't offend others. If people offend me, then don't blame me!"

Qin Dechun didn't feel relieved at all, because he could hear that Jiang Weiguo's tone was not tense and dignified, but rather relaxed, as if he was the one who controlled the situation in North China.

However, after thinking about it, Qin Dechun smiled wryly, because Jiang Weiguo did have this capital, and his troops were elite to the toes and armed to the teeth.

The high-level officials of the two sides began to contact and fight each other. Since the incident was not too serious, Song Zheyuan, who was far away in his hometown in Leling, Shandong, and Chiang Kai-shek, who was far away in Lushan Mountain, did not receive any reports. The greater the impact, the Chinese and Japanese sides in the Beiping area agreed on this matter. Qin Dechun did not notify Song Zheyuan and Chiang Kai-shek, and the Japanese side did not report to Tokyo. Although the two sides coincided with each other, their goals and motivations were very different. don't.

Qin Dechun wanted to "make big things into small things, and make small things into small things", but the Japanese side is completely different.

"What? The Chinese army fired at us?"

This is a solid building located near Fengtai Railway Station, Fengtai District, Beiping City, China. It was originally a warehouse. million square meters of open space.

At this time, the open space was full of scenes of military training in full swing. Thousands of soldiers were sweating profusely and carrying out military training neatly with slogans.

It stands to reason that the army in Chinese territory is naturally Chinese soldiers, but there is a doorplate written in Japanese on the door of this building. On the doorplate is a line of Japanese that is so thick and black that it can be described as sinister: The Empire of Japan, China, is stationed in the Tun Army Infantry Brigade Brigade Headquarters.

Over the buildings and on the training ground, dazzling sun flags fluttered one after another. The soldiers undergoing military training are not Chinese soldiers, but Japanese soldiers. Japanese.

Outside the barbed wire and the iron fence, the Chinese people who passed by were all expressionless, and they didn't make a fuss, obviously they were used to it.

In late June and late August of last year (1936), two "Fengtai Incidents" occurred in Fengtai District, both of which were provoked by the Japanese first. Song Zheyuan, commander of the 29th Army, made two concessions in order to avoid "small incidents turning into big ones". The area was originally the garrison of the 29th Army, but after the two "Fengtai Incidents", the 29th Army endured humiliation and withdrew from here, and the Japanese army swaggered, swaggered, and occupied the place grandly and set up the brigade headquarters here.

A part of China's territory, a part of Beiping City, Fengtai, just surrendered without a fight and became a Japanese-controlled area.

In later generations, this kind of thing is almost unimaginable to the Chinese, but it is unacceptable but "very normal" at this time.

The longer Jiang Weiguo stayed in this time and space, the more he hated Japan, and at the same time, the more he hated China for not being self-improving, because he strongly felt this kind of national humiliation that would be unbearable and completely inconceivable in future generations.

The humiliation endured by China and the Chinese during the Republic of China is almost unimaginable to the Chinese of later generations.

"What? The Chinese army fired at us?"

In the brigade headquarters, a Japanese army commander was holding a report, trembling all over while reading it, and couldn't help blurting out this sentence at the same time.

The general's appearance is the same as that of most Japanese men at this time, and he can directly play Wu Dalang's five short stature, bow-legged, strong figure, neck as thick as his head, a mustache, eyebrows that are also in the shape of a splayed, and a pair of small eyes shining brightly , full of arrogance and coldness.

At this moment, the Colonel's eyes were shining, his face was also shining, his whole body was trembling slightly, and the paper in his hand was rattling.

Apparently, the Colonel was not shocked by such a gaffe, because the corners of his mouth were trembling like a convulsion. He really wanted to restrain the real emotions in his heart, but unfortunately, he couldn't hold back, and the two corners of his mouth rose out of control together, making His mouth formed an upward arc, "Ha...haha...hahaha..." Dazuo laughed loudly, his face flooded with joy, "Great! The Chinese army fired at us! Hahahaha!" He was not sad, nervous, or terrified, but extremely excited and ecstatic.

The time at this time was 1937:7 pm on July 7, 2.

"Mutaguchi-kun, are you excited?" A major general at the scene asked in a lukewarm but meaningful tone.

"Hashimoto-kun, aren't you excited?" Da Zuo looked at the major general with bright eyes.

This major general is Hashimoto Group, Chief of Staff of the Japanese Army Garrison in North China, and this Colonel is Colonel Renya Mutaguchi, commander of the First Wing of the Garrison Brigade.

"Why should I be excited?" Hashimoto smiled slightly, he actually understood Mutaguchi.

"The commander and the head of the brigade don't know yet, right?" Mutaguchi didn't answer the question, his expression was eager and excited.

Hashimoto nodded slightly: "I just informed Director Matsui!"

The Japanese North China Garrison was divided into several places in the Pingjin area. The headquarters was in Tianjin, the brigade headquarters was in Beiping, the first regiment was in Beiping, the second regiment was in Tianjin, and the artillery regiment and most of the affiliated troops were in Tianjin.

Right now, Lieutenant General Tashiro Wanichiro, the commander of the Garrison Army, is in Tianjin, and Major General Kawabe Masazo, the commander of the Garrison Army Brigade, happened to be inspecting the troops in Qinhuangdao today. Therefore, the one who has the decision-making power in Beiping right now is the Chief of Staff of the Garrison Army, Major General Hashimoto Gun , while the Japanese army in Beiping is the first regiment, and the captain of the regiment is Renya Mutaguchi.

After receiving the "Balloon Incident" report, Hashimoto Group immediately invited Mutaguchi Renya and other officers to discuss.

Seeing the report, Ren Mutaguchi also laughed loudly: "That's great!"

Hashimoto seemed to understand Mutaguchi's joy, he smiled: "I should report to the commander and brigade commander!"

"Hashimoto-kun!" Mutaguchi looked at Hashimoto with burning eyes, "Wait for 10 minutes, please?"

"Oh?" Hashimoto looked at Mutaguchi meaningfully.

The atmosphere at the scene became weird and strange, and there was even a faint sense of arrogance.

"I want to give an order first!" Mutaguchi panted slightly, "Order the first regiment to surround Wanping City! Wait for the opportunity to attack!"

"Mutaguchi-kun..." Hashimoto said calmly, "You made your own decisions, and I'm afraid you will be punished by military law afterwards!"

"I know, but..." Mutaguchi's eyes glowed like a patient with a high fever, "as long as we can promote the great cause of the empire, as long as we can be loyal to His Majesty, even if we and the soldiers of the empire are smashed to pieces, why should we complain? Regret? Besides, isn’t this our divine destiny?”

Hashimoto smiled noncommittally and said, "Do you want to follow the example of Ishihara-kun and Itagaki-kun?"

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"Isn't it possible?" Mutaguchi's tone was very slight, while trembling, "Ishihara-kun and the others have seized Manchuria with a vast area and rich resources for the empire in one fell swoop. Now, it's our turn! Let us seize North China for the empire! Even the whole of China!"

Hashimoto didn't make a statement, he glanced at the other officers at the scene.

In addition to Hashimoto and Mutaguchi, there were four rank-and-file officers at the scene, namely Lieutenant General Morita Toru, Chief of Staff of the Brigade, Lieutenant Commander Changjiangguchi Shiro of the First Battalion of the First Wing, Lieutenant Assistant Ishida Hisashi, Chief of the Second Battalion, and The captain of the brigade, Major Kiyoshi Ichiki.

The four of them exchanged glances with each other, and they all saw tacit glances.

"Do it!" Ichiki said first, "Why don't we do it? Ishihara-kun and the others have set a glorious example for us in Manchuria! Even if this is a bit against the orders of the superiors, even if we may be punished by military law, it is worth it! Challenge Start a war and let the empire annex China! Even if we die, we will die with no regrets!"

"That's right!" Morita nodded again and again, his eyes flickering with fanaticism, "My lords, the time has come to serve the emperor and serve the empire! Why are we hesitating? Expand this matter! Let this matter not end! Let the empire It is justifiable to send troops to China!"

"We are about to turn a new page in the history of the empire just like Ishihara-kun and the others!" Kazuki was excited.

Eguchi and Ishida looked at each other, and they were a little silent.

"Eguchi-kun! Ishida-kun!" Mutaguchi looked at Eguchi and Ishida with mixed eyes of intimidation, encouragement, and seduction, "If you are afraid of the consequences and unwilling to be loyal to the emperor with us, you should quit! In this way, really Whatever happened to you, you will be spared! But, Morita-kun, Ichiki-kun and I will ask you to take care of us more in the future!"

Eguchi and Ishida were immediately filled with righteous indignation: "Your Excellency, Captain! What are you talking about? Since we are loyal to the Emperor, we are of course obliged! Moreover, since we are colleagues with you, how can we shrink back when you need us?" What? We will do it with you!"

"Good!" Mutaguchi was overjoyed, and he looked at Hashimoto.

Hashimoto narrowed his eyes and said calmly: "I will report to the brigade commander and commander in half an hour!"

"Enough!" Mu Takuchi was ecstatic, "Masters, please take your troops immediately and surround Wanping City within half an hour!"

The garrison of the First Wing immediately fell into the uproar and commotion of the upcoming battle.

Mutaguchi Ren is also an extremely arrogant Japanese soldier. The Japanese army in Beiping is his first regiment, while the second regiment, artillery regiment, and the chariot team, cavalry team, engineering team, and communication team directly under the headquarters of the Garrison Army , gendarmerie, military hospital, and military warehouses are all in Tianjin. That is to say, after the first regiment goes into battle, it will be isolated and helpless in the early stage, unable to receive assistance in time, and there are not even heavy artillery, but Ren Mutaguchi doesn't care about these at all. First of all, the brigade of the Japanese army has been greatly strengthened, and the degree of strengthening is no less than that of Jiang Weiguo's two regiments. A normal infantry regiment of the Japanese army is basically 3800 people, but the first regiment of Renya Mutaguchi has 6000 soldiers. The remaining troops (the Japanese Army Garrison in North China announced a total strength of more than 5700 troops, but the actual total strength reached 1.4, and this is how the extra troops came about), relying on the strength of their own troops, Ren Mutaguchi is so courageous; secondly, Mutian Kou Lian didn't care about the victory or defeat of this battle. Of course, he believed that the victory was a sure thing, but even if he lost, his goal was still achieved, because his fundamental goal was to expand the scale and influence of this "balloon incident" Force, let things get out of hand, thus provoking an all-out war between China and Japan.

In fact, apart from the ostensible reasons of "being loyal to the emperor" and "serving the empire", there is another important reason why Mutaguchi Renya and others want to carry out this reckless act regardless of the consequences and risks, and that is Their deep utilitarian ambitions.

The September [-]th Incident was brought about by a group of mid- and lower-level officers of the Kwantung Army, including Ishihara Kanji and Itagaki Seishiro. After the incident, each of them became a glorious "imperial hero". I just want to become the second Kanji Ishihara and the second Seishiro Itagaki.

Although doing so is disobedience to orders and self-assertion, and the consequences are very serious, but as long as you succeed by chance, not only will there be no consequences, but you will also gain fame and fortune.

To put it bluntly, Mutaguchi Renya and others are making a big gamble. After all, Ishihara Kanji, Itagaki Seishiro and others won the bet in the Northeast six years ago. Win a grand slam.

Soldiers, ambitious soldiers, all yearn for war and are keen on gambling. The logic is ready-made. How can the speed of promotion and the chance of making achievements in peacetime compare with that in wartime?

"Assemble all!" In the camps and training grounds of the First Regiment, officers at the grassroots level shouted hoarsely, "Get your weapons now! Get your bullets! Be careful! This is not a show! Things have changed!"

Amidst the heart-piercing whistle, soldiers in various moods, including astonishment, nervousness, confusion, joy, and excitement, ran towards the assembly point in a well-trained manner amidst the noisy footsteps.

Outside the barbed wire fence, passing Chinese people watched this scene with gaping mouths.

"Go! Go!" The Japanese sentinel waved the bayonet and the butt of the gun viciously, "Don't look! Things have changed!"

"As long as we fire three shots into the sky, the Chinese army will run away!" After the troops were assembled, Mutaguchi Ren also clenched his fists and roared fiercely, "My lords, for the empire, conquer Peiping, North China, and the whole of China!" His great cause has officially begun!"

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!" "Long live the Great Japanese Empire!" The first regiment resounded with excited cheers like a group of demons dancing wildly.

Flying under the flag of the rising sun, the first regiment of the Japanese army drove out of the garrison, and rushed towards Wanping City like a winding python.

On this midsummer afternoon, the first thunderbolt that shook the world was ushered in the dull haze of Peking.

Chapter 120 Countdown (8)

1937年7月7日下午2时30分，北平市市政府。

At the gate of the city hall, Qin Dechun was anxiously waiting for the Japanese investigators.

More than ten minutes ago, Qin Dechun had another phone call with Matsui Tajiro. The two parties agreed to jointly send investigators to jointly investigate this "balloon incident". The investigators sent by the Chinese side were Wang Lengzhai, the administrative commissioner of the third district of Hebei Province, and Lin Gengyu, a member of the Beiping Municipal Government. , Zhou Yongye, and Zhou Xuanzhong, among them, Wang Lengzhai is also the magistrate of Wanping County (Wanping City is the main part of Wanping County, but Wanping City is essentially a military castle, basically no residents, so Wanping County is a symbolic On the other hand, Matsui also promised on the phone that he would send Tokutaro Sakurai, advisor to the Hebei-Chahar Political Affairs Commission, member of the Japanese secret service Chusuke Terahira, and secretary Saito Kuriya to participate in the investigation.

Qin Dechun and the other five were waiting for Sakurai Tokutaro and the other at the gate of the city hall.

"Why haven't the Japanese come yet?" Qin Dechun was worried, "Is he playing some trick again?"

"It's very possible!" Wang Lengzhai said in an alert tone, "The Japanese have always been despicable, untrustworthy and capricious, and it is very likely that they are playing tricks on us again!" He looked at Qin Dechun, "Brother Shao Wen (Qin Dechun's name is Shao Wen) , haven’t you notified Ming Gong (Song Zheyuan’s word Mingxuan, and his subordinates respect him as “Ming Gong”)?”

Qin Dechun smiled wryly: "Before notifying Duke Ming, I'm afraid I should notify the chairman first!"

Of course Wang Lengzhai understood the meaning of Qin Dechun's words, and the defender of Wanping City was Chiang Kai-shek's son Jiang Weiguo.