Chapter 56: News, Electrification, Preparation (Recommended, Collected)

  Drake finished speaking and began to pick his teeth, completely ignoring Chen Nade's expression.

  After listening to Drake's words, Chen Nard hesitated for a moment and agreed to serve as Soong Mei-ling's military advisor.

  Sun Xiang finally let out a sigh of relief, good guy, if this military genius was squeezed away, it would be a great loss, Chen Nade's level of training pilots is not inferior to Ried, the air combat genius.

  Sun Xiang tightly grasped Chen Nade's big hand: "Nice cooperation!"

  Chen Nade: "Being able to work with you is the happiest thing for all commanders." Sun Xiang smiled in surprise, who says serious people won't wear high hats?

  Tai Fu Lou's dishes are considered to be representative of Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine. This meal lasted for two hours, and the wine served was Shaoxing yellow rice wine. Sun Xiang had never drunk yellow rice wine before; in the army, he and his comrades only drank high-proof liquor. The taste of this low-proof wine is actually quite good, no wonder people from Zhejiang like it.

  After a meal, people on both sides became familiar with each other. No wonder the Chinese like wine culture and discussing things over drinks, as it really helps to narrow the distance between each other.

  Eating dinner, Soong Mei-ling arranged for everyone to rest. Old Chiang instead took Sun Xiang and Chen Nade to the Shanghai Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters. The driver was Dai Li, who apparently temporarily played the role of a chauffeur. Shanghai Military Intelligence Bureau, reception room.

  Dai Li instinctively stopped at the door of the reception room, his eyes casually swept over Sun Xiang, and his gloomy gaze made Sun Xiang feel quite uncomfortable. Then Dai Li closed the red wooden door of the reception room.

  Chiang Kai-shek personally poured two cups of tea for Sun Xiang and Chen Naide, Sun Xiang looked at him with a faint smile, this old Chiang was indeed a very interesting person, but being able to do so was really good at winning people's hearts, otherwise there wouldn't be so many knowledgeable scholars who would risk their lives for him.

  Sun Xiang calmly said: "Mr. Chiang, if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to speak up. Since you've come to China, my goal is to help the country drive out the invaders." Sun Xiang then translated this sentence for Chen Nade to hear.

  Chiang Kai-shek hesitated for a moment before saying, "The current situation is not optimistic. The Japanese side is quite strong and always looking for excuses to provoke us. If we engage in an all-out war with the Japanese now, I'm afraid we will suffer greatly. Does Mr. Sun have any understanding of the domestic situation?"

  Sun Xiang paused for a moment, his eyes staring straight at Old Jiang: "Since Mr. Jiang asked me, I'll say something about my own thoughts. First, let me ask you a question. If you were the leader of Japan and found that a massive entity that had been oppressing your country for thousands of years suddenly became weak and powerless, and this massive entity was split into two sides fighting each other, what would you do?"

  Chiang Kai-shek sighed: "I didn't expect Mr. Sun to be so concerned about the situation in China from afar in Europe and America. I understand what Mr. Sun means now. Originally, my proposed strategy was to first stabilize the interior because scattered forces are certainly not as strong as concentrated ones. However, with a great enemy before us, if the Japanese dare to launch an attack, I will definitely put aside our differences and join hands to resist the enemy together. Zhou Enlai also told me this, and I believe the Communist army has the same idea."

  Chen Nard listened quietly, although these political matters were none of his business now, but knowing more about them wouldn't hurt, after all he was currently serving under the President of the Republic of China.

  Sun Xiang was hesitant, not knowing how to tell Old Chiang about Japan's impending general offensive. While he was at a loss, he steeled himself, thinking that this concerned preparations for war, and if they could prepare ahead of time, they wouldn't be beaten so badly by the Japanese.

  "Mr. Chiang, if I'm not mistaken, the Japanese will launch an attack in July and suddenly start a full-scale war."

  Chiang Kai-shek suddenly stood up and exclaimed: "What did you say?"

  Sun Xiang waved his hand and stood up, saying: "From the Japanese side, there is a strong desire for war domestically, and at the same time, an external war is needed to shift the attention of the domestic people. Moreover, now that the KMT and the Communist Party are about to sit down and negotiate again, what would you do if you were the top decision-maker on the Japanese side?" After hearing Sun Xiang's words, Chen Nade also became tense, completely not expecting the war to break out so quickly. Now, he knew nothing about the Chinese air force's strength, it seemed that he had to set out immediately to investigate the air force.

  Chiang Kai-shek's momentary distraction, then immediately picked up the phone and dialed Yan'an: "Hello? I'm Chiang Chung-cheng, let Zhou Enlai answer the phone."

  The conference room was relatively quiet, and Sun Xiang clearly heard a "hello" on the phone, his mood couldn't help but be excited, it was Premier Zhou's voice!

  Chiang Kai-shek said quickly: "Enlai, hurry up and convene the Lushan Conference, we must discuss all the things that need to be discussed, at the latest tomorrow, I want to see you, time is running out."

  Zhou Enlai on the other end of the phone was taken aback and asked: "Jieshi, what's going on?"

  Chiang Kai-shek: "I'll let Sun Xiang tell you." He then handed the phone over to Sun Xiang.

  "Hello? Hello, Mr. Zhou, I'm Sun Xiang."

  "Steve Sun? Sun Xiang?" Zhou Enlai's voice suddenly rose up:

  Xun Xiang nodded unconsciously: "Yes, it's me, I'm back, now in Shanghai!"

  "Good! That's exactly what we need - heroes like you to boost the nation's morale!"

  Chiang Kai-shek impatiently said: "Mr. Sun, quickly state your conjecture, we can discuss it later."

  "Mr. Zhou, based on my reasoning and the intelligence provided by the American side, if nothing unexpected happens, the Japanese army will launch a full-scale invasion of China within two months. Japan urgently needs a war to shift the domestic public's attention, the military is eager for war, and the Japanese people do not take our troops seriously at all. Moreover, our own frequent movements at home have further strengthened the Japanese determination to go to war. We must be prepared, Mr. Zhou! The Japanese ambition has reached its limit!"

  "Alright, I'll talk to Runze about it. I'll call you back in an hour, don't leave."

  Zhou Enlai hastily hung up the phone and contacted various party leaders and management personnel for an emergency meeting.

  Chiang Kai-shek continued to make phone calls: "Help me get through to the commander of the 18th Army, Luo Zhuoying. What? Who am I? You damn thing, I'm your father!!!" As soon as the operator heard the word 'damn thing', he knew he was in trouble and immediately connected Chiang's call to Commander Luo Zhuoying.

  The 18th Army of the Nationalist Party was born in January 1930, and is one of the "Five Big Kingpins" of the Nationalist Party. It has the earliest establishment, the strongest strength, and the most famous generals among all the old-brand powerful troops. It became famous during the warlord melee, expanded during the encirclement and suppression of the Red Army, made achievements in the anti-Japanese war, and was defeated on the battlefield of Huaihai.

  Luo Zhuoying took over as the commander of the army in 1934. In the spring of 1934, Chen Cheng resigned as the commander of the army and was succeeded by Luo Zhuoying, with Liu Shaosen serving as deputy commander. The army had jurisdiction over: the 11th Division, with Huang Wei as division commander; the 14th Division, with Huo Kuiyuan as division commander; the 67th Division, with Fu Zhongfang (later Li Shusen) as division commander; and the 94th Division, with Zhu Huaibing as division commander. In 1935, the army was transferred to Zhejiang Province and participated in the "mopping up" of the Red Army's guerrilla forces that remained in Jiangxi Province after the main force of the Red Army had completed its Long March.

  It can be said that at this stage, the trump card army in Chiang's hands is the 18th Army. It seems that Old Chiang is going to make a ruthless move.

  An hour later, Zhou Enlai called and immediately took emergency consultations. The KMT and the Communist Party need to sit down and talk once.