Bright Sword: Leading the Special Operations Squadron to Fight the Japs

Chapter 852 Peace Talks

The passionate faction was completely speechless now. They were still at the stage where the Japanese Air Force was crushing the Chinese Air Force.

The speed of development of the Chinese Air Force is so rapid that it is no exaggeration to describe it as advancing by leaps and bounds.

“Since we can’t launch an air strike against them in the water network area, we can at least build enough reinforced concrete fortifications outside Shanghai, right?

As long as our fortifications are thick enough, we can resist the enemy's artillery and bombing, and then use anti-tank weapons to attack their armored clusters!"

The staff officer of the General Staff Headquarters threw out another stack of photos, which were photos of the famous Dongning Fortress and Hutou Fortress.

"Please take a look at the photos. The Tiger Head Fortress was breached from the inside and is now completely used by the independent column.

If the Hutou Fortress was attacked due to the Imperial Army's negligence in defense, then the Dongning Fortress was taken down piece by piece by the Independent Column using special bombs and armored units.

The Dongning Fortress and Hutou Fortress Empire mobilized hundreds of thousands of Chinese laborers and spent five or six years to build the defense line, but they broke through it. Then can the defense line you built in one month or even half a month hold up?"

The radicals were silent, and it seemed that they had indeed reached a desperate situation.

At this time, a young staff officer with flushed face and eyes stood up.

"Since we can't defend the outskirts of Shanghai, let's fight them in the streets!"

"Haha, I believe that with the firepower of the independent column, if they want, there won't be any alleys in Shanghai!"

"No, we still have the navy. They can fire from the sea. The large-caliber naval guns can easily destroy their armored clusters!"

"Our navy is now in Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, preparing for a decisive battle with the M Army. Even the warships in Port Arthur have been withdrawn, and there are no warships to support Shanghai!"

The excited staff officer angrily threw the papers on the table all over the sky and roared:

"We can build it right away. With our will to win, we can build warships in the shortest possible time! Moreover, the warriors of the empire can wrap themselves in explosives and perish together with the enemy's tanks, exchanging them for their tanks on a one-to-one basis!

In addition, the hundreds of thousands of prisoners they have taken to the rear can also revolt and break through from the rear!"

Even the radicals found this completely irrelevant speech too radical. Emperor Hirohito waved his hand helplessly and took the young staff officer away.

"My fellow pillars of the empire, you are all working hard for the future of the empire, but now the situation has become very complicated. I will carefully consider the opinions of the General Staff."

After sending the radicals away, Emperor Hirohito summoned General Sugiyama Hajime, the Chief of the General Staff, alone.

"If the negotiation condition is to give up all the empire's rights and interests in China and only retain the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong and Hainan Island, do you think the Chinese government can accept the peace talks?"

General Sugiyama Moto said carefully:

"Although I'm not 100% sure, based on my understanding of China, the domestic situation is gradually becoming clearer. If we want to negotiate, now is the best time.

If we wait until they form a coalition government, our bargaining chips may increase even more!"

His meaning was very clear. He wanted to take advantage of the gap between Chang Guangzhou and the Independent Column to sign an agreement with Chang Guangzhou or the Independent Column in order to provoke a civil war in China and leave him no time to look south.

"Okay! I'll leave this matter to you, and do it in secret."

"Hayi!"

General Sugiyama Motoko immediately flew to Shanghai the next day and started negotiations with Chen Bulei, Chang Guangzhou's representative, at a villa in Shangrao, Jiangxi.

Chen Bulei and Shan Shanyuan were both a little dazed at the moment. The two sides who were fighting to the death on the battlefield a second ago were now sitting at the negotiation table, ready to shake hands and make peace?

The 11th and 20th Group Armies of the Central Army have all crossed the Nujiang River and attacked Songshan, Tengchong and Mangshi respectively. After fighting for nearly two months, with countless casualties, they have still not recovered.

On one side there is war, on the other side there is peace.

"General Shanshan Yuan, I have roughly learned the purpose of your trip yesterday. I wonder when you plan to evacuate North China and East China?"

Shanshan Yuan originally planned to negotiate with Chen Bulei with a high profile, but unexpectedly, Chen Bulei now seemed to be sure of victory.

"Mr. Bray, I wonder if you can make a promise on behalf of all the forces of China. After all, as far as I know, the resistance forces in China are not just the Central Army, but also the powerful independent columns."

Chen Bulei had raised this issue at Shanshan Yuanhui a long time ago. After all, the independent columns that emerged in Northeast China, North China, Central China and Southwest China were all people's independent columns and had little to do with their Central Army.

Even though he and Chang Guangzhou were unwilling to admit this fact, there was no doubt that the reason why the Japanese wanted to negotiate was not because they were afraid of the Central Army, but because they were afraid of the Independent Column.

"General Shanshan Yuan, the Chongqing Central Government is the only legitimate government in China. The Independent Column belongs to the National Revolutionary Army and is under the leadership of the Military Commission and the Ministry of Military Affairs. Therefore, we have the power and confidence to command all armed forces in China."

Shanshan Yuan also nodded. Originally, their best negotiating partner was the Independent Column. However, considering that the Independent Column is now gaining momentum and is at its peak, even if the Independent Column is willing to sit at the negotiating table, their interests will be suppressed without limit.

That’s why we chose the Chongqing government.

“Okay, we have roughly three requirements. The specific details can be discussed, but it must be done quickly.

First, China withdrew from the world anti-fascist alliance and remained neutral.

Second, release all Japanese prisoners of war and give us two months to evacuate our compatriots.

Third, lease Hainan Island, Taiwan Island, and the Pearl River Delta Basin, and withdraw troops after the empire has established a firm foothold in Southeast Asia.

These three conditions were like pie in the sky for Chen Bulei and Chang Guangzhou. Compared with fighting to the death on the battlefield, being able to recover so much land with just a piece of paper was like a godsend.

However, there are also some difficulties. For example, withdrawing from the World Anti-Fascist Alliance is equivalent to tearing up the Yalta Agreement. In addition, the prisoners of war and expatriates are in the hands of the Independent Column.

They had originally planned to sign a secret agreement and not inform the independent column, and then send a telegram to the whole country after taking over the coastal areas.

It now seems that this is no longer feasible unless a central government recognized by the Independent Column and the Eighth Route Army is established immediately. With the areas currently controlled by the Chongqing government and the transferred coastal areas, Chang Guangzhou is confident that he can temporarily serve as the leader.

In this way, he could coordinate the resources of the whole country and order the independent column to hand over prisoners of war and expatriates, otherwise it would be to provoke a civil war. In addition, if the whole country is united and the powerful industrial system of the independent column is controlled, then withdrawing from the anti-fascist alliance can also be done, because there is no fear of the interruption of aid from the M army.

So, this seems to be a dead end.

Chen Bulei asked Shanshan Yuan to hand over the occupied area first.

Shanshan Yuan asked Chen Bulei to withdraw from the anti-fascist alliance first and release the prisoners of war.