27

Baking (2)

November 26, 1936

Presidential Office, Nanjing, China

"Welcome. "It feels like it's been a long time since I last saw you."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. President."

Chiang Kai-shek smiled brightly and welcomed German Consul General Hermann Kriebel.

Originally, Oskar Trautman, the German ambassador to China, was scheduled to meet Chiang Kai-shek, but Trautmann suddenly became ill, so Kriebel met Chiang Kai-shek instead.

The two weren't close friends, but that didn't mean their relationship was bad.

Chiang Kai-shek, who met Kribel for the first time in 1928 and was acquainted with him, held a grand welcome party for Kribel, whom he had not seen in a long time.

The two laughed and talked about various things until the end of the party.

A story about his hometown, a new personal hobby he recently developed, a complaint that his wife's scratching is getting worse and it's bothering him, etc.

The 'real conversation' started after the party ended.

"I heard that Führer Hitler had something important to tell me. Is this true?"

"That's right."

Although there has been a friendly relationship with Germany for a long time, there was no particular contact with Führer Hitler.

Did you read Mein Kampf at the recommendation of Sun Yat-sen and send a congratulatory telegram to Hitler when he was appointed chancellor?

But suddenly I have something urgent to tell you. Did something happen?

"Your Excellency, let me tell you straight. Please listen to the end."

"I understand."

Kribel hesitated and opened his mouth.

"Your Excellency, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Huqing, have been captured by the Communist Party and are planning to imprison you."

Chiang Kai-shek put down the teacup he was bringing to his mouth.

"Is that true? Or rather, where did you hear that news?"

"His Excellency the Fuhrer in Germany informed me. "You did not reveal where the news came from, but you said that this news should be immediately reported to President Chiang Kai-shek and the two should be arrested."

A few days ago, Dai Li, Chiang Kai-shek's most trusted subordinate and the leader of the Southern Doctors, suggested to Chiang Kai-shek that Zhang Xueliang and Yang Huqing should be arrested and interrogated because they were in secret with the Communist Party.

However, Chiang Kai-shek thought that Dai Li was overreacting and ignored his words.

We know that Zhang Xueliang and Yang Huqing showed weakness during the recent first attack operation and did not obey orders unconditionally.

Anyway, it's treason. Chiang Kai-shek thought that could not be possible.

However, when the same news came to Germany's Hitler, Chiang Kai-shek's confidence began to waver.

I don't know how he obtained the information, but I have an idea.

I guess I got it from an Afbear agent somewhere in China.

The person connected to that agent must be Zhang Xueliang or one of Yang Huqing's subordinates.

The important thing was that Hitler said the same thing as Dairi.

Who is Hitler's Fuhrer?

Wasn't he a giant who not only made China's potential known to the world through Mein Kampf, but also predicted the Great Depression and Japan's invasion of Manchuria?

In addition, he even showed his resourcefulness by taking over the Rhineland and Austria without firing a single gun.

For this reason, Hitler was regarded as a kind of prophet not only in Germany but also around the world.

Since that is what Hitler said, it is probably because there is such evidence.

However, Chiang Kai-shek still harbored some doubts.

"Do you have any proof that that is true?"

"I don't have any. However, the President knew that His Excellency would doubt his true intentions, so he left these words. Soon, Zhang Xueliang will ask His Excellency to visit Xi'an in person, and he must never go to Xi'an.

At the same time, he said that if those two were left alone, a great disaster would befall all of China."

"Is that what you said?"

Chiang Kai-shek closed his mouth and thought for a while.

At this point, those two guys might really be up to something.

Otherwise, there would be no way for Dairi and Führer Hitler to say the same thing in succession.

Unless the two met and planned some kind of plan.

"······I understand. "Think about it."

"The President said that the sooner your Excellency makes a decision, the more the future of China will change."

"Right. I have one more question. "Why did Fuhrer Hitler tell me this news?"

"The President said that only Your Excellency can take responsibility for China, and that China and Germany must maintain good relations for a long time."

The corners of Chiang Kai-shek's mouth went up without realizing it.

"Hehe, I never thought that Fuhrer Hitler would look at me like that. "This is truly an honor."

Praise makes even whales dance, and there is no one who would be offended by a compliment.

There is nothing more satisfying than receiving praise from someone you admire.

After Kribel returned, Chiang Kai-shek called Dai Li.

"You were right. I just met with the German Consul Kriebel, and he said exactly what you said before. "Führer Hitler informed me."

Dairi couldn't help but be surprised.

Did Germany's Fuhrer Hitler also know about the betrayal of Zhang Xueliang and Yang Huqing? By what means?

no. That's not what's important. There was something else to do now.

"Mr Chairman, we must arrest Zhang Xueliang and Yang Huqing immediately. Even at this moment, those two guys might be planning something."

"I understand. But before that, I want to speak to Zhang Xueyang."

***

When Chiang Kai-Shek called, Jiang Xueliang had just laid down on the bed.

When Zhang Xueliang heard that there was a phone call from Nanjing, he ran barefoot.

President Jiang called me? suddenly?

"Sorry for being late, Chairman. "This is Zhang Xueyang."

- It's time to fly. Zhang Xueyang, I hear you have a lot to say to me.

Zhang Xueliang, who had been fooled by the Communist Party's propaganda, had previously advised Chiang Kai-shek that he should stop suppressing the Communist Party and cooperate with the Communist Party to deal with Japan first.

Each time, Chiang Kai-shek got angry and scolded Jiang Xueliang for being tainted by defeatism.

Are you sure you want to say the same thing this time? No, there was no way he would have called me this late at night just to do that. There's probably another reason.

"Yes, Chairman."

-Tell me now. honestly. Speak like a man.

"······Chairman, please review the first attack operation once again. "China's biggest enemy now is not the Communist Party, but Japan."

Chiang Kai-shek was silent for a while.

Zhang Xueliang broke into a cold sweat.

He expected that he would soon hear a shout coming from the receiver. However, Chiang Kai-shek showed an unexpected reaction.

-Keep talking.

"I know that the chairman hates the Communist Party. I also know that the Communist Party has been rebelling against the Chairman. But Chairman, now is the time to forget our grudges and cooperate. Only then can China be protected from Japan's ambitions.

Didn't you, Chairman, read Mein Kampf written by German Fuhrer Hitler? Japan will never stop at Manchuria and will target China and all of Asia. Cooperation with the Communist Party is essential to save the Chinese people from a tragic fate. "The people want it too."

Zhang Xueliang was completely unaware that Hitler had recommended Chiang Kai-shek to arrest him.

"How about the Chairman come to Xi'an in person? "I want you to come here and see the reality."

-······Is that what you think?

"yes."

-Okay. I understand. Anyway, my thoughts are complicated these days. So, come to Nanjing with Yang Huqing. I'd like to talk to you.

"Is that true?"

Zhang Xueliang couldn't believe it. Chairman Jang, who was as immovable as a stone Buddha, has finally changed his mind.

Although he had not yet declared that he would cooperate with the Communist Party, Zhang Xueliang thought it was a big change just because Chiang Kai-shek listened to his story.

If you meet him and tell him your true feelings, he will definitely change his mind.

"Okay, Chairman! "I will go to Nanjing soon."

-Good.

The phone was disconnected.

***

"What did Zhang Xueliang say?"

"He asked me to come to Xi'an. Wow, what Führer Hitler said was right."

Chiang Kai-shek shook his head as if it was not worth saying anymore.

"Arrest those two as soon as they arrive in Nanjing."

***

Chiang Kai-shek eventually accepted my advice.

Zhang Xueliang and Yang Huqing were arrested and taken away as soon as they arrived in Nanjing.

After interrogation, Zhang Xueliang first stated that he was in secret with the Communist Party and that he had invited Chiang Kai-shek to Xi'an and planned to detain him if he did not listen to what he said.

Yang Hu-qing also belatedly admitted his charges, but it was a futile act.

Zhang Xueliang was stripped of all his official positions and imprisoned for plotting treason, and Yang Huqing was executed by firing squad.

The Northeast Army, which lost its commander, revolted, but Chiang Kai-shek advised them to surrender and when artillery shells fell on the Xi'an area, they immediately put an end to it.

After the incident was resolved, Chiang Kai-shek thanked me through the Chinese ambassador to Germany.

He said that his fate and that of China almost fell off a cliff.

"Mr. President, how did you know such a thing was going on in China?"

"I'm sorry, Goering, but there are some things I can't tell you. "Just know that I have a secret source that you probably don't know about."

You can't say it's because I'm from the future. This incident was soon forgotten because everyone believed everything I said.

As a result, the 'Xian incident' never happened.

According to history, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Huqing, fooled by the Communist Party's propaganda, lured Chiang Kai-shek to Xi'an, detained him, and eventually obtained an agreement from Chiang Kai-shek to stop the attack operation and cooperate with the Communist Party.

The Chinese Communist Party, which escaped the crisis of destruction thanks to the two idiots, concentrated on expanding its power while the Kuomintang was fighting against Japan, and grew in size. After World War II, it started a Chinese civil war and took over mainland China.

China, controlled by the Communist Party, intervened in the Korean War and prevented the unification of North Korea, and in the 21st century, it cast a dark shadow on the world by engaging in all kinds of nuisances and evil acts, such as the Northeast Project and the Wuhan pneumonia.

Should I leave it like that?

If you are simply planning to make money by doing business with China, there is no need to tell Chiang Kai-shek about Jiang Xueliang's plot.

However, since I was born in a free country, I know better than anyone else the pain of division and the damage it causes, but I cannot just leave the culprit alone.

While gaining Chiang Kai-shek's favor, he also prevents possible disasters in advance.

Plus, it's great to resolve the grudges of veterans and separated families.

Chiang Kai-shek expressed to me that China needed Germany's excellent weapons and scientific technology and that he wanted to import them.

There was also an opinion that they would like to sit face to face and have a detailed conversation instead of sending a telegram.

Things are going smoothly.