Chapter 151 Hard Changes

"A series of abnormal actions by the Sichuan Army are worrying. If we regard the Sichuan Army's occupation of Yichang and the dispatch of troops to Daye as a simple act of interest, then we would be very wrong!"

Speaking of this, Chiang Kai-shek stood up excitedly. His expression was very plain, with straight body and no movement on both hands, which made people feel a little stiff and clumsy. He did not naturally produce great infectiousness with gestures like Wang Jingwei, but the official words in Fenghua accent were clearly spoken and calmly:

"I believe that the Sichuan Army's actions over the past six months are completely purposeful and planned expansion of power, and they will inevitably receive support from political affairs at all levels in Sichuan and the rapidly developing Democratic Party. You may wish to recall what did Sichuan Governor Xiao Yimin and Governor Zhang Lan do this year?

"In the west, they did the most thoroughly and successfully. They have been orderly adhering to the Xikang construction and Xikang immigration plan for five consecutive years, and have achieved great results. The Sichuan Army not only successfully occupied the entire Xikang and most of the **, but also continues to repair roads, assimilate the Kang Tibetans, and have passed the battlefield for 30,000 yuan and are well-equipped Sichuan border troops, now advancing southward step by step.

"It can be seen that Sichuan's military and political circles have reached a consensus. They are willing to brave the counterattacks of European and American powers and the isolation of international politics, and to resist the pressure of trade sanctions from the great powers, and use extremely rare tough means to force the British to make concessions. Judging from the public remarks made by the British ambassador to China and many consular officials, Xiao Yimin and Zhang Lan have succeeded...

"But three months ago, who wouldn't criticize Sichuan for its childish ignorance and whimsicality? Who wouldn't make fun of Xiao Yimin's domineering and ignorant ability?"

Sun Yat-sen slowly leaned on the back of the chair and began to ponder.

Wang Jingwei looked at Chiang Kai-shek, who was more dull than agile and more agile in his impression, with more action than words. His eyes were extremely complicated, and the gentle and charming smile on his face slowly disappeared.

Only Liu Bing, who was with Chiang Kai-shek day and night, nodded and agreed.

I'm afraid that in the entire revolutionary base camp in Guangzhou, only Liu Bingxian knew Chiang Kai-shek's depth and wisdom, and understood Chiang Kai-shek's extraordinary thinking ability and lofty vision.

Chiang Kai-shek subconsciously raised his hand, wiped the corner of his mouth that was itchy with a short beard, and continued: "From the current stability in the Kangzang area and the reactions of the British, Sichuan has completely solved the problems of threats from the west and native rebellion. Otherwise, they would not have the energy or ability to suddenly turn around and move eastward. First, they used the excuse of responding to the call of Beijing's political fu, and sent troops to Yichang and occupied it at a surprising speed. Then, Xiao Yimin came forward with a high-profile meeting with Beijing's political fu officials, Hubei provincial political fu officials and Japan.

"As a result, everyone saw that a Sichuan Army division and six gunboats had a legitimate and steadily occupied Yichang, occupied this strategic location that guarded the throat of the Yangtze River and connected the business roads of the five provinces. There was no chaos and war predicted by our comrades and major forces across the country before. This had to make us reflect carefully. After all, our views were proven to be completely wrong."

"Yes! At the beginning, even I thought that Xiao Yimin would be under the strong pressure of Hubei, Beiyang political power and Japan. He had to withdraw Sichuan and eliminate the war. Even Wu Peifu, a young general in the Beiyang Army, made the same prediction, but the result... was really unexpected!" Sun Yat-sen was deeply moved and blamed himself.

Wang Jingwei was the one who was least optimistic about Xiao Yimin at the time. All his remarks on the Sichuan Army's dispatch of troops to Yichang were criticisms and ridicule of the Sichuan Army and Xiao Yimin. He never expected that things would go far beyond his understanding. Therefore, when he heard Chiang Kai-shek's intimate angry words and saw the self-blame and loss on Sun Yat-sen's face, Wang Jingwei sighed and did not speak at this time.

"Keishi, sit down and say, go ahead."

Sun Yat-sen seemed to be greatly touched and his expression became serious.

Chiang Kai-shek sat down and made up his thoughts scattered due to excitement: "Since the Sino-Japanese War of 1894, I'm afraid that China will never have a military force to confront the powerful Japanese warships, but Xiao Yimin dared to do it, so he got a reward that no one of us dared to imagine. Although he still faced revenge and suppression by the Japanese from all aspects, at least he occupied Yichang openly, occupied this bridgehead and traffic throat that was extremely important to Sichuan, thus laying the most favorable foundation for the Sichuan army to leave Sichuan."

"Secondly, before everyone could not see his purpose, Xiao Yimin immediately threw out the news that he owned more than 40% of Hanyeping's shares and wanted to completely acquire Hanyeping, which caused a huge shock in the country and also triggered patriotic enthusiasm among the people across the country. It is undoubtedly a major crisis for Japan, which has just given up interfering in Yichang.

"The Japanese who have transported millions of tons of iron ore from Hanyeping every year for more than ten consecutive years, how can they still have the energy to entangle with Xiao Yimin's lost interests in Yichang? The development of the matter, as my name shows, the Japanese have to put aside the agreement with the British, and a representative of political officials and Japanese entrepreneurs came forward to negotiate with Xiao Yimin, who has become the largest shareholder of Hanyeping.

"Sir, everyone, all of these things are the result of careful planning and long-term preparation. Each move is amazing and admirable. However, our party generally despised Xiao Yimin and Sichuan Political Fu, and even thought that Sichuan military and political circles were extremely naive and reckless. I wonder if everyone still holds such a view now?"

Speaking of this, Chiang Kai-shek increased his voice: "So, why did Xiao Yimin suddenly send a regiment of heavy troops to occupy the Daye mining area and docks at the critical moment of negotiations with the Japanese in the name of quelling the strike of the Daye Iron Mine Workers? Could it be that he repeatedly challenged the interests of the Japanese and was not afraid of Japanese revenge? Is there any other political interests that we cannot see when he did this?

"At present, the delegation led by Tan Yanjian from Hunan is still visiting Sichuan. Zhang Xun, who is trying to restore the throne, has just been ousted by the two factions of Beiyang and our Kuomintang. The coastal provinces are in great turmoil, but they still cannot cover up the huge shocks brought to the country by Xiao Yimin and the Sichuan Army.

"So, I have been thinking about what Xiao Yimin wants to do? What will he do next? And how should we deal with our relationship with Sichuan? If we launch public criticism of Xiao Yimin again, will Xiao Yimin cut off contact with us from now on? Will he not even sell a bullet to us?"

After Chiang Kai-shek finished speaking, he sat down straight, sweat flowing on his face, but it felt relieved.

After so many days in Guangzhou, including those in the years of the revolution in Japan and Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek had never said so much in public, so he still felt nervous after sitting down, but a feeling of joy surged in his heart.

Sun Yat-sen's eyebrows trembled frequently, nodded to Chiang Kai-shek with great appreciation, and then fell into long periods of contemplation.

Wang Jingwei looked at Chiang Kai-shek with a smile, his eyes were extremely complicated, unexpected, admirable, and indescribable loss. Chiang Kai-shek had seen many substances that Wang Jingwei had not seen, and at the same time proposed important choices and crises that the Kuomintang encountered in its strategic direction. Wang Jingwei was shocked, but also saw Chiang Kai-shek's broad vision and lofty ambitions, as well as the depth and ambitions that Chiang Kai-shek had never expressed before.

After savoring it quickly and weighing it a little, Wang Jingwei realized very clearly that Chiang Kai-shek had attracted the great attention of Mr. Zhongshan and was no longer a simple general. Chiang Kai-shek was using his unique wisdom and actions to prove his ability to Mr. Zhongshan, and gradually moved towards the core circle of the Kuomintang.

At this time, Sun Yat-sen faced a painful choice, military failure, political division, and numerous factions in the revolutionary camp, which consumed his great energy and time. The revolutionary regime in the southern region he established was in a shaky state. Maybe the next decision was made, the beginning of the split in the revolutionary camp.

Under the strong pressure of the northern regime and warlords of various provinces, Sun Yat-sen nominally controlled the entire Guangdong, but had no financial power or military jurisdiction. The vast majority of the so-called revolutionary parties and revolutionary armed forces in the country were all painstakingly working for the interests of his own small group. All their actions seemed to be carrying out under the name of revolution and Sun Yat-sen, verbally shouting revolution, but without any scruples in action. Sun Yat-sen found that he had never really had the power to mobilize any army, and the newly established guard brigade led by Chiang Kai-shek and Liu Bingxian, who were loyal to him, was the only army he could rely on.

However, when this situation is extremely complicated, it is difficult for Sun Yat-sen to make the choices and changes in Chiang Kai-shek and Liu Bingxian's hope. The composition of the entire Southern Revolutionary Party camp is too complicated, with mixed fish and dragons and factions. No matter how you look at it, it gives people a sense of powerlessness that is chaotic and difficult to reverse. Any change and choice may trigger division.

Among the military forces that are in charge of their own affairs and are temporarily united in the name of revolution, there have been voices of political rebellion. Sun Yat-sen's status seems to be stable, but in fact, the government orders issued have been greatly invalidated. There are many people who are lying on the ground, not to mention occupying all parts of Guangdong in the name of revolution, and then expending the severity of the various foreign troops that have grown stronger by themselves. The so-called revolutionary troops entrenched around Guangzhou do not obey any arrangements of the central government with him as the core. Any political division in the revolutionary camp may lead to a civil war.

The study was so quiet that it was uncomfortable. Chiang Kai-shek and Liu Bingxian didn't even dare to breathe loudly. They looked at Sun Yat-sen, who was in deep thought and his face was constantly changing.

After more than ten minutes of silence passed, Sun Yat-sen was once again excited, his firm eyes slowly passed over Wang Jingwei and Chiang Kai-shek's face, and finally stopped on Liu Bingxian's face: "Zi Cheng, what do you think?"

Liu Bingxian gritted his teeth: "United! Join with the Sichuan Army! If the students' speculation is good, General Tan Yankai may have reached a cooperation agreement with General Xiao Yimin. In addition, General Cheng Qian and General Xiao Yimin have always had connections and appreciate each other. As long as General Xiao Yimin makes certain commitments and support to General Cheng Qian, the two major forces, Cheng Qian and Tan Yankai, who have no principles, can be matched together.

"In this way, the situation in Hunan will change tremendously. Once the Tan Yankai's troops who are inclined to revolution and the Cheng Qian's troops who have raised the banner of revolution are combined, they will become the largest military force dominating Hunan. If Xiao Yimin's Sichuan army maintains pressure on western Hubei and Jingxiang, the Beiyang troops will not dare to go south to fight against Tan Yankai and Cheng Qian's troops, Hunan will also be able to embark on the unified path that Sichuan is taking.

"So, we must unite with Sichuan and Hunan, and the key is unite with Sichuan! Mr., I suggest you write a letter to Xiao Yimin."

Wang Jingwei looked at Liu Bingxian with a firm look, then turned to Sun Yat-sen with a gloomy face, and once again a depressed silence appeared in the study.

Sun Yat-sen stood up, walked towards the window step by step, and looked at the green Yuexiu Mountain outside the window and remained motionless for a long time.

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Chapter completed!