Perhaps the late-night interview was just to show closeness, or perhaps there were more important things to talk about with Ying Zuo Zhenzhao. After some nonsensical encouragement, Gui Lianxuan, following Wang Jingwei's suggestion, invited Master Chen to the inner courtyard and followed him. Mei Siping, a well-known May Fourth cadre, lived in the same room.
He truly deserves to be the pioneer who led the way for Wang Jingwei to surrender to the sun. Even so late, he was still writing at his desk. Manuscripts a foot high were piled all over the desk. He didn't even touch the supper brought by the guards, and he was even more oblivious to the arrival of Young Master Chen. Not aware yet.
"Mr. Mei, haven't you rested yet?"
Gui Lianxuan knocked on the half-open door, and while beckoning Young Master Chen to come in, he said apologetically: "Master Biao is here, and there is no room available for the moment. Can I squeeze in with you and wait until dawn?" Make arrangements."
"Of course it's no problem," Mei Siping put down the pen and paper and stood up to greet me with a smile on his face, "Sit down Young Master, please sit down quickly. Look at how messed up I am. I don't even have a place to stand."
Young Master Chen did not dare to show off to Wang Jingwei's most trusted subordinate in front of him. He rolled up his sleeves to help clean up, and said with a smile: "Mr. Mei has many things to do, and he is busy with national affairs. You are busy with your work." , leave me alone."
"What are you talking about, Master Biao?" Mei Siping pulled him to sit across from him and said softly: "Leave these jobs to the servants. Let's sit down and talk. By the way, have I seen you?" Cousin-in-law?¡±
"I've seen him before. He is talking to General Yingzuo in the pavilion."
"Oh" Mei Siping nodded, then changed the subject and asked with interest: "Master Biao has been in Peiping for half a month, how is the recruitment of troops?"
"It's been almost a month! We've done well in recruiting troops, and we've fulfilled our mission. If it weren't for the fact that we couldn't buy a ticket, you really wouldn't be able to see me today."
"Where's General Liu?"
Young Master Chen was not surprised when the scholar took charge of the military. After all, according to Gui Lianxuan, Zhou Fohai, Tao Xisheng, Fu Shishuo and others who also went to Japan have returned to Shanghai first. Wang Jingwei has only one close confidant beside him, so he naturally has to be concerned about the imminent issue of army building.
Young Master Chen told the truth and told everything that happened in the afternoon.
"It's true that people should not be judged by their appearance. It seems that General Liu has made the right choice." Mei Siping nodded with satisfaction, and while inviting Young Master Chen to have tea, he said thoughtfully: "Since the situation is favorable to me, Then you might as well recruit more people, and form a special agent group in addition to the trainees and trainees of the Central Officer Training Corps. In this way, plus General Zhang Cheng's security brigade and Master Biao's direct regiment, the new government's military The preliminary team is ready.
Young Master Chen seemed to have heard something, and couldn't help but ask: "Mr. Mei, so you said that General Liu solved the matter in the afternoon by himself?"
"Yes, so people should not be judged by their appearance," Mei Siping smiled, and then said: "But Mr. Wang is not ignorant about this. In fact, before sending him to Peiping, he knew that he had someone with the Japanese army in North China. A fellow countryman who has good relations with the headquarters.¡±
Young Master Chen suddenly understood and blurted out: "Mr. Hu?"
"Hu Youzhi is a student studying in Japan. It seems that Master Biao has met him before."
¡°I¡¯ve never seen it, I just heard it mentioned a few times by Liu Peixu¡¯s adjutant.¡±
The intention of harming others cannot be used, but the intention of letting others go is indispensable.
Although Liu Peixu made great contributions to the founding of the army, his unclear relationship with the Japanese made Wang Jingwei and Mei Siping very worried. Because in their view, if even the only military power they have is controlled by the Japanese, then the new government under preparation will really become a puppet. In comparison, Master Chen, one of his own, is much more reliable.
However, Mei Siping would only keep these words in mind, so he changed the topic and said nonchalantly: "Since all the Nanyang children have arrived, it is natural that Young Master Cousin cannot stay here for a long time. Don't worry about the train tickets. Mr. Wang and Ying are here." General Zuo is here, isn¡¯t it just a matter of words?¡±
Young Master Chen said that the wind was like the rain, and he stood up immediately and said: "This is the best, so as to save you the trouble of asking for help. Mr. Mei, how about I take the first step, after all, so many people are traveling far away, eating and drinking cannot be unprepared." ¡±
"Young Master, please be patient." Mei Siping waved his hand and motioned for him to sit down, while saying meaningfully: "Mr. Wang naturally has the intention of keeping you overnight. What's more, it's so late, even if you go back There¡¯s nothing we can do, it¡¯s better to wait until dawn.¡±
There is no way to leave, so Young Master Chen can only make peace with what he has come.
Early the next morning, Wang Jingwei called Master Chen to the living room and asked him to put on a brand new uniform of a Japanese army officer. He said that he would accompany him to meet guests with Guilianxuan later.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??Breakfast, four cars with plaster flags arrived as scheduled. Under the escort of military police with live ammunition, they picked up Wang Jingwei, Ying Zuo, Quan Yangjian, Mei Siping, Guilianxuan and Master Chen, etc., and arrived in a grand manner. Driving out of the compound, we headed to the destination of Wang Jingwei's trip - the North Branch Expedition Army Headquarters (North China Expedition Army Headquarters).
The 59-year-old Commander of the Japanese Expeditionary Force in North China, Moto Sugiyama, stood straight on the lawn in black leather boots and waited. Wang Jingwei just got out of the car, and hurried forward as if greeting an old friend reunited after a long separation. He held his hand tightly and said, "Welcome, Mr. Wang. Although we have met for the first time, we have become close friends." In this sense, they should be old friends.¡±
"I sincerely thank you, Marshal, for your sincere support for me," Wang Jingwei bowed slightly and said with a smile on his face: "I am very happy and honored to see you today."
"Thank you for your hard work, please come in."
Perhaps because he felt stuffy while sitting in the living room, after drinking a cup of tea, Yuan Sugiyama accompanied Wang Jingwei and his party for a stroll in the garden.
This was once the residence of the 19th princess of the Kangxi Emperor. After the fall of Peiping, her descendants all fled to "Manchukuo", and it became the ideal office space for Yuan Sugiyama. Pavilions, ponds, rockeries, and dozens of clusters of green bamboos and cypresses are arranged in a circle, forming a green wall, which looks particularly quiet.
Out of his inherent hatred for the Qing Dynasty, looking at all this, Wang Jingwei seemed to recall the scene where he plotted to bomb the regent Prince Zaifeng 29 years ago, was caught and sentenced to life imprisonment. After talking about the incompetence of the Qing government, he sighed with emotion. Said: "The collapse of the Qing Dynasty is a historical necessity! The collapse of Chiang Kai-shek's regime will also be a historical necessity!"
Sugama Gen responded quickly and added, "Because he wants war, not peace."
This sentence obviously played into Wang Jingwei's hands, and he said angrily: "Those who are belligerent will lose. This is the truth."
"Victory will eventually belong to the wise people who insist on peace talks and truce," Yuan Sugiyama immediately changed the subject. While looking around at Mei Siping, Young Master Chen and others, he said nonchalantly: "What happened on the 11th of this month, I don't know. Do you know? Zhang Yinwu's troops in Hebei attacked the G Party's rear offices and killed more than 460 officers and soldiers. Immediately afterwards, Yang Sen's troops of the 27th Group Army stationed in the Hunan-Hubei border area besieged the communications office of the New S Army in Chiayi Town, Pingjiang. These news They all come from GCD¡¯s "New China News" and must be authentic and reliable."
You are here to discuss cooperation, why are you bringing this up?
Despite this, Wang Jingwei still analyzed it carefully: "Mr. Chiang's motive for doing this is nothing more than to test the waters in certain places. If the pressure of public opinion is high, he will end it temporarily and wait for the opportunity; if the reaction is not so strong, he may make a counterattack." . Because the increasingly powerful Eighth Army and the New S Army are a threat to Chongqing, it is only a matter of time or sooner to counterattack. "
Sugiyama Gen nodded, suddenly raised his eyebrows, and said meaningfully: "In my opinion, Jiang had another motive for doing this. Because seeing that the imperial government had clearly supported Mr. Wang's rule, he was unwilling to give in. I want to use the empire¡¯s urgent demand to fight against G to win the empire¡¯s trust, in an attempt to make the empire give up its support for Mr. Wang.¡±
?????????????????????????????????????????? away, don't you want to give Wang Jingwei a show of strength? Young Master Chen felt really pitiful for his cousin-in-law who was walking in front of him. He was being manipulated and kept in the dark without even realizing it.
What made him convinced was that Wang Jingwei's mind turned faster and he actually said seriously: "If Mr. Chiang sincerely supports your government's third statement on China, I can immediately give up the plan to take charge and be willing to be the leader of the Communist Party of China." An ordinary citizen.¡±
"The empire no longer trusts Chiang. It didn't trust him as early as last January when he issued his first statement on China." Yuan Sugiyama could not tell that Wang Jingwei's words were not sincere. He said in a comforting tone: "Even if My analysis just now was correct, Jiang cannot gain the empire¡¯s trust.¡±
"Your Excellency, Marshal, Jiang's current anti-G behavior may have another motive," Mei Siping said without losing any opportunity: "It is to please the United States and Britain in order to obtain some kind of assistance from them."
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? The reason why Sugyama Yuan mentioned the recent friction in the National G was just to give Wang Jingwei power, and naturally he would not continue to dwell on this issue. So he ignored Mei Siping and said straight to the point: "I received a letter from Prime Minister Hiranuma on the 20th, saying that Mr. Wang is willing to cooperate with Mr. Wu and promised to come to Peking this time to visit him, right?"
"Yes."
Wang Jingwei's mood was filled with indescribable melancholy. Seeing his chest rise and fall, Gen Sugami understood that he was unwilling, so he said: "The morning before yesterday, I met with Mr. Wu in the reception hall of the headquarters and informed the imperial government. According to his opinions, he agreed to deduct 2 million yen from China's customs duties every month as a fund for his activities for five months.Cooperating with Mr. Wang, he asked that he be allowed to think carefully for a few days before making a reply. "
He glanced at Wang Jingwei and added: "Seeing that Mr. Wu was a little hesitant, I did not tell him the position he was asked to hold."
"To be honest, he is not so willing, and we are also not so willing," Mei Siping vaguely revealed Wang Jingwei's difficulties, and then added gold to his face, "Of course, Mr. Wang agreed to cooperate with him out of respect. Your government¡¯s wishes are based on the overall interests of China.¡±
Wang Jingwei's trip to Tokyo was obviously not in vain. Yuan Sugiyama was very defensive, but he still defended him on "principle" issues. Suddenly his face straightened and he said decisively: "In this case, Mr. Wang does not need to take the initiative to visit him. Just invite him to my place to meet. Because he is still hesitant. The more you take the initiative to visit him, the more arrogant he becomes. Why bother?"
"Isn't this inappropriate?"
"It's nothing! If Prime Minister Hiranuma asks about this matter, I will be responsible for explaining." After finishing speaking, he turned to Kagesa, Inukai, Yano and others, "Please also be responsible for explaining."
Wu Peifu was a candidate that was favored by his rival North China Secret Service Chief Seiichi Kita. Of course, Yingzuo Zhenzhao did not want Wang Jingwei, whom he had single-handedly supported, to succumb to him. He agreed without thinking, "Yes, Your Excellency, Marshal."
Wang Jingwei was overjoyed and said immediately: "Out of respect for the Marshal, I have no choice but to obey."
In the next half hour, Shanshan Yuan turned the topic to the dismantling of the Provisional Government in Peking, saying that he had vented his anger with Wang Kemin, and asked Wang Jingwei when he planned to talk to the traitors in North China.
However, before Wang Jingwei could confirm the time, a telegram disrupted all plans. Zhou Fohai called to say that Liang Hongzhi, Wen Zongyao, Chen Qun and other reform government leaders had arrived in Shanghai and were waiting for Wang Jingwei to return for discussions.
Thank God, I finally no longer have to be a personal follower of the number one boss on the traitor list, let alone take the train and suffer that! As soon as Young Master Chen got in the car, he couldn't wait to say: "Cousin-in-law, how about I go back with you? It would be nice to have someone to take care of you on the way, so that my cousin won't worry."