Chapter 760
Telegrams Connect All War Zones! Traitors Brought to Justice, Writing a New Chapter!
On the runway of Quancheng Airport, the C-47 transport plane carrying Zhu Peiji, the chief of staff, stayed for less than 24 hours before roaring into the sky again and flying southwest.
This news spread like wildfire, instantly reaching all the intelligence networks that were paying attention to the matter.
too fast.
It's faster than anyone could have imagined.
As everyone expected, Chu Yunfei's release of the "Fair Sacrifice" draft, which was practically "deadly to the powerful and wealthy," was bound to provoke the fury of the Shancheng authorities.
Even if this negotiation doesn't turn into a war of words, table-pounding, or eye-rolling, it will at least be a long and painful tug-of-war.
But now, Zhu Peiji has left with a beaming smile on his face?
Even before boarding the plane, someone photographed him shaking hands and chatting amicably with Chief of Staff Fang Ligong on the tarmac, showing no signs of tension.
This game was supposed to be a long and drawn-out battle, but Zhu Peiji left with a beaming smile on his face.
From the outside perspective, Chu Yunfei's draft of "Fair Sacrifice" was practically digging up the ancestral graves of powerful figures in the rear, and was bound to provoke thunderous wrath.
Rumors spread like wildfire, and speculation abounded.
"Could it be that Chu Yunfei chickened out?"
I think so.
"After all, you can't fight city hall. It's about cutting off someone's livelihood. No matter how tough Chu Yunfei is, he wouldn't dare to really go head-to-head with the entire bureaucratic group in the rear, would he?"
Just as all parties were still observing and speculating whether Chu Yunfei had "backed down," the first thunderclap resounded from Longcheng, Shanxi.
……
Longcheng, the headquarters of the Second War Zone.
Holding the secret telegram from Quancheng that he had just received, as well as the official text of "Fair Sacrifice," Chu Xichun's gray eyebrows relaxed, and the furrowed brows that had been tightly furrowed for days due to the issue of autumn harvest grain requisition finally loosened.
"Excellent! What a brilliant strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao,' and 'robbing the rich to save the country!'"
Chu Xichun slammed the telegram on the table and laughed loudly at Su Tao, the secretary of the administrative office: "Yunfei's mind is really quick!"
"I was worried before that the 'support the army and donate grain' policy would damage the farmers' livelihoods. But now it's all good. As long as this knife is used against those fat and wealthy merchants, not only will the Nationalist government's financial hole be filled, but the people will also applaud!"
"Su Tao!"
Chu Xichun's expression turned serious, and she adopted the authority of a superior officer: "At a time like this, we must be the first to stand up for him and support him. We absolutely cannot let him fight alone on the front lines!"
"Immediately restore power nationwide!"
"All military and civilian personnel of the Second War Zone firmly support the Wartime Social Equity and Sacrifice Act proposed by the North China Joint Command!"
"Shanxi Province was at the forefront of the War of Resistance against Japan, and the people had long been sacrificing their homes to alleviate their suffering."
"Now that we have such a good law that benefits the country and the people, all officials, merchants and gentry within our war zone should prioritize the country and pay taxes in accordance with the law. No mistakes will be tolerated. Violators will be dealt with according to military law!"
This telegram, like the first domino to fall, instantly shattered the silence.
Then, just two hours later, in Yan'an, northern Shaanxi.
Inside the cave dwellings of Yangjialing, the lights were on.
"We Communists will never lag behind in anything that benefits the overall war effort!"
……
Headquarters of the Third War Zone Command, Shangrao.
Gu Zhutong stood with his hands behind his back by the window, looking at the continuous rain outside, his brows furrowed.
As an "unshakeable figure" in the National Revolutionary Army, his sense of political trends was frighteningly keen.
Zhu Peiji's rapid return journey made him sense something unusual.
"Commander."
Gu Zhutong turned around and looked at Chief of Staff Zou Wenhua behind him: "Has Han Deqin replied yet?"
"Just received it."
Zou Wenhua handed over a coded telegram: "He seems to have some concerns; the telegram is written hesitantly."
"It was supposed to involve top secret, but under your strict orders, Commander, he still revealed a few key points."
"read."
"First, when Director Zhu left, he not only took the draft with him, but also a person."
Zou Wenhua lowered his voice: "Secondly, that person is a 'big fish' caught on the front lines in Haizhou."
Gu Zhutong's eyes narrowed: "A big fish?"
“What big fish could there be in a place like Haizhou that would warrant Zhu Peiji personally escorting it?”
It's highly unlikely that a Japanese division commander would be arrested; so, were high-ranking officials of the Wang Jingwei regime arrested instead?
Zou Wenhua paused, then lowered his voice even further: "At the end of the telegram, Han Deqin only wrote three words—Huaqing Palace."
"This humble servant suspects it is very likely."
"Mount Li".
Gu Zhutong was taken aback at first, then his pupils suddenly contracted, and the folding fan in his hand snapped shut with a crisp sound.
"Sun Mingjiu?!"
Aside from Sun Mingjiu, who caused a sensational incident at Huaqing Pool in Lintong Mountain, Xi'an, and brought great humiliation to the Chairman, who else could be worthy of the implication of these three words?
"I see. I see!"
Gu Zhutong paced back and forth in the room, the gloom on his face vanishing, replaced by a shrewd realization: "What a clever move by Chu Yunfei, using someone else's flowers to present to the Buddha!"
"He's using Sun Mingjiu as a pledge of loyalty, as a stepping stone for Chiang Kai-shek to step down!"
"With this head, the Chairman has vented his anger of many years, regained face, and gained prestige."
“Now that we can discuss the draft proposal,” Gu Zhutong stopped, his eyes gleaming. “That would be a natural progression!”
Zou Wenhua tentatively asked from the side, "Then, sir, how should we express our stance? That draft is a matter that could offend people. And if it's not handled properly, even the Chairman's own position won't be secure."
"Offend someone?"
Gu Zhutong sneered: "What we've offended are those parasites who are profiting from the national crisis in the rear. What does it have to do with us who are leading troops into battle?"
"Just think about it, if that special war tax is really collected, the soldiers' pay will be sufficient, and the pensions will be high, wouldn't the brothers below be extremely grateful?"
"Moreover, Chu Yunfei's move clearly indicates that he and Shancheng have reached some kind of tacit understanding. The fact that Zhu Peiji left so quickly shows that the overall situation is already settled!"
"There will definitely be troops entering Sichuan to protect the wartime capital and assist the Chairman in clearing the southwest."
"At this point, anyone who still can't see the situation clearly is going against the Chairman and against the interests of the entire army!"
Thinking this through, Gu Zhutong gritted his teeth and made a decision: "Quick! Draft a telegram!"
"Telegraph the Chongqing Command Headquarters and send a nationwide telegram!"
"All officers and soldiers of the Third War Zone firmly support the Wartime Social Equity and Sacrifice Act!"
"The soldiers on the front lines are fighting bloody battles, and the well-off families at home should naturally sacrifice their own wealth to help the country in its time of crisis. This is a matter of course and a matter of law!"
"We earnestly request the Chairman to issue a clear order as soon as possible to reassure the troops and set the record straight!"
……
Meanwhile, in Changsha, at Yuelu Mountain.
Ninth War Zone Command Headquarters.
Xue Yue was sitting in a rattan chair, holding a newspaper in his hand, a mocking sneer on his lips.
"Sir, Commander Gu of the Third War Zone has sent a telegram."
Chief of Staff Wu Yizhi rushed in, his face full of surprise: "Has Commander Gu changed his mind this time? He actually rushed to express his support for something that would offend so many people?"
"That old fox Gu Mosan, he won't do anything without a profit."
Xue Yue put down his newspaper, picked up his teacup and took a sip, his eyes burning: "He's sure the Chairman has already given his tacit approval, and he wants to be the first to do so."
However...
"I must support this too! And I must support it wholeheartedly!"
"Why?" Zhao Zili asked with some concern. "Sir, that would offend all the officials back home."
"So what if they offend me! I'm not afraid of them!"
Xue Yue slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup shake violently: "Look at our brothers in the Ninth War Zone, what are they eating and what are they wearing?"
"The pensions from a few years ago are now so low that they can't even buy a cheap coffin!"
"And what about those bastards in the back?"
"Hoarding and speculating, buying and selling for profit, they live a life more carefree than the gods!"
"Chief Advisor Chu is right about one thing: why should the poor bleed while the rich get rich?" "The Ninth War Zone firmly supports taxing the rich! Anyone within our war zone who dares to resist taxes or transfer assets will be punished as a traitor! I'll execute them without hesitation!"
……
Enshi, Hubei.
Headquarters of the Sixth War Zone.
Sun Lianzhong looked at the telegrams that kept coming to him and made a bitter face.
"Gu Mosan has his power on, and Xue Boling has his power on too. Commander Chen, isn't the wind shifting a bit too quickly?"
"Director Zhu just left, and everyone who was previously observing is now starting to express their opinions. It's really strange."
As the leader of the "Civil Engineering Clique" and Chiang Kai-shek's true confidant, Chen Cixiu naturally had a higher perspective on issues than others.
"This is momentum."
"When Chu Yunfei handed over Sun Mingjiu, he gave the Chairman 'power'; when he proposed to form an armored group army, he gave the country 'power'; and the 'Fair Sacrifice' bill gave the millions of soldiers in the army 'power'."
"When these three forces come together, they become an overwhelming force; those who follow it prosper, and those who oppose it perish."
"Commander Gu understands. Although Xue Boling is a military man, he sees things more clearly than anyone else when it comes to money and supplies."
“If we don’t express our opinion, we’ll become backward elements who ‘don’t care about the big picture’.”
Chen Cixiu put his glasses back on, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes.
"Let's call it electricity."
"Our South China Joint Command supports all decisions made by the Central Committee that are beneficial to the War of Resistance."
"It is also recommended that the implementation of this bill should be subject to a strict regulatory system to ensure that tax revenue is used exclusively for frontline military supplies and compensation, and not misappropriated for other purposes!"
……
Within just one day.
With the first telegram sent by Gu Zhutong of the Third War Zone, it was like toppling the first domino.
Immediately afterwards, Xue Yue of the Ninth War Zone, Chen Cixiu of the Sixth War Zone, and the commanders of the First and Fifth War Zones, as if they had planned it together, sent telegrams of enthusiastic support one after another.
These powerful regional officials, who wielded considerable military power, may have had their own private agendas, but they showed a striking consistency in their approach of "collecting money from the rich and distributing funds to the army."
For them, this was a rare opportunity to legitimately snatch food from the mouths of the powerful figures behind them.
No one would turn down money, and even less would anyone turn down the gun in their own hand.
In Chongqing, amidst this wave of support, any potential resistance is being rapidly dismantled.
A reform that was originally considered "outrageous" was miraculously paved the way for Chu Yunfei's skillful political maneuvering and absolute power.
With the Second War Zone, Yan'an, and the Third War Zone all speaking out in succession, the tide has turned.
This wave quickly swept across the entire Northwest and Central Plains.
Lanzhou, Gansu.
Eighth War Zone Command Headquarters.
Commander Zhu Shaoliang looked at the telegrams and gave a wry smile: "The wind is changing too fast. Even that old fox Gu Mosan is ahead of us. If we are late, we will be considered as 'backward elements'."
"These eight war zones are almost abolished, shouldn't we stop making trouble now?"
Zhu Shaoliang shook his head: "Pass on the order: the Eighth War Zone should send a telegram expressing its support!"
Luoyang, Henan.
First War Zone Command Headquarters.
Although Jiang Dingwen may have had business dealings with many wealthy businessmen in private, he dared not provoke public anger at this critical juncture in the face of such overwhelming public opinion and the morale of the army.
"Send it, send it."
Jiang Dingwen waved his hand helplessly, "Since everyone is shouting for 'fairness,' we can't be the target of 'unfairness.' First War Zone, we support it!"
The Fifth and Fourth War Zones also made statements in succession.
In just a few days.
From the Loess Plateau to the water towns of Jiangnan, from the Northwest desert to the heart of the Central Plains.
Telegrams from various war zones and forces flew to the mountain city like snowflakes.
This grand "coup" drama, initiated by Chu Yunfei, using Sun Mingjiu as a human sacrifice and a thousand tanks as a blueprint, finally converged into an unstoppable historical torrent with the help of various forces.
It slammed violently into the gates of the decadent and privileged elites of the mountain city!
Luxi, Jinan, the front-line command headquarters.
Chu Yunfei sat at his desk, a thick stack of telegrams from various war zones in his hand, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
"Your Excellency, the situation is now settled."
Fang Ligong placed a cup of hot tea on the table, pushed up his glasses, and said with barely concealed excitement, "Gu Mosan, Xue Boling, Chen Cixiu, Jiang Mingsan."
"These regional officials, who usually don't respect each other, have been united by you this time."
"Tie together as one?" Chu Yunfei shook his head and casually tossed the telegram onto the table. "Brother Ligong, it's too early to say that."
"Don't forget, although they are soldiers, they are also bureaucrats, and they have a bunch of vested interests below them."
Chu Yunfei walked to the window, looked at the dark night sky outside, and said in a cold voice: "What they support is military funds that can end up in their own pockets, and the power that can be legitimately snatched from the mouths of the powerful and wealthy in the rear!"
"However, this is enough for us."
"Once this storm starts, the man in the mountain city will have no choice but to go with the flow. To prevent anyone from colluding and taking risks, send a secret telegram to Commander Wang, asking him to pass through Sichuan and Shaanxi to enter Sichuan for garrison duty."
"Yes!"
The next day, in the mountain city, at the Huangshan official residence.
After many days of gloom, the sky finally cleared, and the long-awaited sunshine shone on the green tiles of Yunxiu Tower.
however.
For Sun Mingjiu, who had just been escorted back, this was like the flames of hell.
Inside the study, Chang Ruiyuan stared at Sun Mingjiu, who was kneeling on the ground, bound hand and foot, his eyes bloodshot and filled with rage.
"Sun Mingjiu! How dare you face me?!"
Chang Ruiyuan slammed his cane down hard on Sun Mingjiu's head, making a dull thud: "Let's settle the score from back then today!"
Sun Mingjiu kowtowed desperately, blood streaming down his forehead: "Chairman, spare me! Chairman, spare me! I was blinded by greed back then, I was..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chang Ruiyuan roared, "Drag him out!"
"Send him to a military court immediately, complete the public trial within a week, and execute him by firing squad!"
Chang Ruiyuan's chest heaved violently as he suppressed his anger: "I want the whole world to see the consequences of betraying the leader, betraying the party and the country, and acting as a traitor!"
The military police dragged away the wailing Sun Mingjiu.
Chang Ruiyuan slumped into the rattan chair and let out a long sigh of stale air.
The nightmare that had haunted us for years finally came to a close today.
Zhu Peiji stepped forward at the opportune moment and gently placed two documents on the table: "Chairman, these are the amendments to the Fair Sacrifice Act submitted by Chu Yunfei, as well as the 'First Armored Army Formation Plan'."
"All major war zones have already sent their signals in support."
Chang Ruiyuan glanced at the bill, a complex look flashing in his eyes.
It was a "coup" forced upon him by the will of millions of soldiers, and also a "stepping stone" he could not refuse.
"Sign it."
Chang Ruiyuan picked up a brush and wrote the two characters "中正" (zhongzheng, meaning upright and impartial) heavily on the document, the force penetrating the paper.
"Since everyone wants fairness, then let's give them fairness."
"Since everyone wants armored formations, then let's build them!"
"The Executive Yuan must go through the process and pass the review within the month. The Wartime Social Equity and Sacrifice Act must be formally enacted before the autumn harvest."
"In addition, establish a 'Special Investigation Committee,' led by the Military Intelligence Bureau, to thoroughly investigate this matter."
Chang Ruiyuan paused, his gaze becoming profound: "Let the Military Training Department take full responsibility for the establishment of the organization."
"Chairman, for your personal safety, the North China forces are willing to postpone the counter-offensive plan and dedicate episode twenty-two to protecting the secondary capital..."
"For my personal safety?"
Chang Ruiyuan sneered: "I wish he really thought that way."
Zhu Peiji hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Chairman, if you're still worried... perhaps you could go to the North China front for a while. It's at least safer than staying in Chongqing." (End of Chapter)