The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

The tragedy in Jinan City has not been reported for the time being. Even the radio base of the Northern Expeditionary Army was blown up by heavy artillery, and the telephone and telegraph lines in the city were also cut off.

When the diplomats of the Negotiation Office were brutally massacred, there were only a few Japanese soldiers in Jinan City, while the number of the Northern Expeditionary Army was more than ten times larger.

In the case of superior military strength, Principal Chang ordered to bear the burden of humiliation and not to resist, imagining that the matter should be resolved peacefully. What he waited for was the Japanese heavy artillery. The Japanese army outside the city began to attack the city, and the Japanese army inside the city also opened fire immediately.

A few days later, the city of Jinan fell.

The massacre on May 3 was only small-scale, after all, the area occupied by the Japanese army was not large at that time. But on May 11th, the Japanese army completely occupied Jinan and once again raised its butcher knife to the Chinese soldiers and civilians.

Even the Beiyang soldiers who were captured by the Northern Expedition and did not have time to escape, the Japanese soldiers did not miss it.

In just one day, nearly 8,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians were massacred.

The subsequent impact was even more terrifying, because the corpses had not been properly disposed of for a long time, which caused a plague in Jinan City in summer. Coupled with the citizens fleeing here one after another, the population of Jinan dropped sharply from 300,000 to 200,000 within a year.

The person who escaped from the negotiation office was Zhang Hanru, an orderly of Cai Gongshi. He was the only survivor and witness of the negotiation office.

After the large-scale massacre in Jinan City, things finally couldn't be concealed. Zhang Hanru also told the story of the killing of Chinese diplomats by Japanese soldiers. The whole country and international public opinion were in an uproar.

Even Britain, Japan's ally, severely condemned this barbaric act.

In modern civilized society, diplomats are still killed, and such brutal killings are unimaginable.

China's major newspapers reported the incident in detail, and Zhou Hexuan's radio station also made a special program. While denouncing the Japanese, it also highly praised more than a dozen diplomats headed by Cai Gongshi.

Activities to commemorate Cai Gongshi were immediately launched in various places. Students took to the streets to hold demonstrations. Businessmen took the opportunity to call for a boycott of Japanese products. The anti-Japanese sentiment in China reached its peak in an instant.

The biggest headache is for Japanese merchants. Since the tragedy was exposed, the sales of Japanese goods have plummeted. Countless Japanese merchants are secretly cursing the Japanese Army.

...

Tianjin, Young Marshal's Mansion.

Zhang Xueliang had quit opium at this time, but kept smoking cigarettes, he asked: "Hexuan, what can you do now?"

Zhou Hexuan smiled wryly: "I can't help it, and I can't invite heavenly soldiers and generals."

Zhang Xueliang didn't really want Zhou Hexuan to find a solution, he was just looking for someone to talk to, and said with a dejected look: "At the beginning of the year, I suggested that my father, Marshal, step down as the commander-in-chief of the Anguo Army, and change the banner to join the Southern Nationalist Government. He also agreed personally. This matter turned out to be a game of delay, discussing peace openly, and secretly mobilizing troops. It would be great if the troops could be suspended at that time, the Jinan tragedy would not have happened, and so many soldiers would have died less.”

Zhang Xueliang's heart aches, he has been in the Northeast Lecture Hall, and he has many brothers who eat with the same spoon in the army.

However, the wars in the past one or two years have caused the death of many of his old brothers, and even two of his former adjutants died.

Zhou Hexuan said: "The only way out for the Northeast Army is to leave the border. Commander Six, beware of the Japanese."

"Beware of the Japanese?" Zhang Xueliang didn't understand what he meant. In his view, the Japanese sent troops to Shandong to create the Jinan tragedy because they were helping the Northeast Army.

Zhou Hexuan analyzed: "Judging from the incident in Shandong, the Japanese have already decided to invade China. The truth of the Jinan tragedy is nothing more than the Japanese trying to test the reactions of all parties, not only the reactions of China, but also the reactions of the great powers of other countries. .”

Zhang Xueliang sat up straight: "And then?"

"There is no other way," Zhou Hexuan said sadly, "The southern government is extremely weak, and Britain, France and the United States only verbally condemn it. This undoubtedly gave the Japanese a reassurance. Their next move must be to conquer the three eastern provinces by force. And if the Feng army returns to the Northeast this time, it will inevitably intensify the conflict with the Japanese. Especially Marshal Zhang Zuolin, he must die, so that the Japanese can easily implement follow-up plans."

"You mean, the Japanese are going to attack the father?" Zhang Xueliang was very surprised.

Although Zhou Hexuan didn't have any good feelings for Zhang Zuolin, he still didn't want Zhang Zuolin to die early. He reminded: "The best time for the Japanese to do something is when Marshal Zhang is on his way back to the Northeast."

Zhang Xueliang said solemnly: "I will pay attention."

"Then I won't bother you anymore, let's say goodbye." Zhou Hexuan got up and said.

"Wait a minute," Zhang Xueliang called Zhou Hexuan to stop, took out the share book of "Ta Kung Pao" and said, "You keep this, just return the principal to me."

"Six handsome, this is not acceptable." Zhou Hexuan repeatedly declined.

"Take it," Zhang Xueliang patted the share certificate into Zhou Hexuan's hands, and said with a smile, "When Fengjun returns to the Northeast, Tianjin will be taken over by the southern government. I will continue to be the major shareholder of "Ta Kung Pao", and the newspaper may be taken over by the government." Deliberately making things difficult. As for the Hope Education Foundation, I will also resign as president, and you will be fully responsible in the future."

Zhou Hexuan didn't know what to say. "Ta Kung Pao" has developed rapidly and has become the largest newspaper in the north, with a value of at least 200,000 yuan. However, Zhang Xueliang voluntarily withdrew his shares, and only needed 40,000 yuan in principal, not taking any advantage.

If it were another warlord, he would have eaten it alive.

Zhang Xueliang smiled and patted Zhou Hexuan on the shoulder and said, "Okay, don't talk about it. Not only "Ta Kung Pao", but "Northern Pictorial" I also quit the shares. From now on, Feng Wuyue will be the boss."

"Six Commander Gao Yi, Hexuan has made a note! Farewell." Zhou Hexuan clasped his fists.

When Zhou Hexuan walked out of the gate, Zhang Xueliang sat back on the sofa in a dispirited manner, and sighed: "Oh!"

Now the situation in the north is precarious, the Northern Expeditionary Army has crossed the Yellow River, Zhang Zuolin ordered a full retreat. While retreating, he also telegraphed the whole country, appealing for peace, saying pitifully that he had stopped the attack, and domestic politics hoped that the people would have a notarized ruling.

In fact, Zhang Zuolin is still holding on, and seems unable to accept the current situation. He transferred Zhang Zongchang and Chu Yufeng to garrison Cangzhou, ordered Sun Chuanfang's subordinates to garrison Qingyun and Yanshan areas, and ordered Fengjun's descendants, Sun Chuanfang's main force, Zhang Zongchang's subordinate Sun Dianying, and Chu Yupu's subordinate Yuan Zhenqing to defend Hejian, planning to fight the Northern Expedition Army to the death.

During this period, Feng Yuxiang betrayed his teammates, causing Yan Xishan to go deep alone, and was surrounded by Fengjun regiments.

Fortunately, Principal Chang overcame his fear of the Japanese and made a detour from Jinan City to continue the Northern Expedition, thus saving Yan Xishan's main force.

And Zhou Hexuan returned to his study, spread out the manuscript paper and began to write a new book.

Zhang Leyi was broadcasting on the radio station, and she didn't come home at this time. Liao Yaquan came over curiously and asked, "What are you writing?"

Zhou Hexuan replied: "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword."