Republic of China: German-equipped divisions massacred as warlords guarded the nation's borders

Chapter 255 Changing Flags and Banners Requires Money First

Should we buy a few base camps?

Dare to say it!

This is the noble title left behind by the late Premier Sun Yat-sen!

"you!"

The secretary was so angry that her face turned red, but Zhou Qiheng raised his hand to stop her.

"alright."

Zhou Qiheng took a deep breath and turned his gaze back to Mo Huixin's face.

"President Mo, is it really true that Young Marshal Chen's bottom line cannot be lowered even by an inch?"

Mo Huixin smiled slightly, her expression dignified.

"Representative Zhou, this is not the young marshal's bottom line, it's the rule."

"Since the telegram from Guangzhou keeps saying 'Let's discuss the reorganization first,' then the Southeast will settle accounts according to the standards of the headquarters."

"If headquarters can't afford this, we have a compromise."

Zhou Qiheng's eyes lit up: "A compromise?"

Mo Huixin nodded.

"We don't need the money. But since the headquarters can't afford the military pay, the reorganized Southeast Area Army will naturally have to 'raise its own funds'."

"Since it's self-funded, the headquarters can't touch a single penny of the taxes, checkpoint fees, transit fees from the five southeastern provinces, or the central bank's allocations."

"Furthermore, in order to ensure the normal collection of taxes, the defense, expenditures, appointment and removal of officers, and foreign affairs of the Southeast must also be handled by the Southeast Military and Political Committee itself."

Zhou Qiheng's heart sank to the bottom.

This is hardly a compromise.

This is clearly a complete independence disguised as an adaptation!

If these conditions were agreed to, Chiang Kai-shek would probably be so angry in Guangzhou that he would vomit blood on the spot.

But if you don't agree...

Looking at the three heavy account books on the table, Zhou Qiheng felt a chill run down his spine.

Chen Zijun had no intention of discussing matters of principle with them.

He used account books as a knife and military funds as a shield, directly pushing Guangzhou to the edge of a cliff.

"President Mo, I need to immediately telegraph Guangzhou about these terms."

Zhou Qiheng said in a hoarse voice.

Mo Huixin stood up and gave a slight bow.

"Of course. Please go ahead, Representative Zhou. The young marshal is in Fuzhou, also waiting for a reply from headquarters."

The delegation members left in a sorry state.

Hu Qiankuan watched their retreating figures and scoffed coldly.

"The young marshal was absolutely right. These people really do show their true colors as soon as money is mentioned."

Mo Huixin gently shook her head, walked to the window, and looked at the thin mist outside.

"Chiang Kai-shek is not one to suffer losses. Once this exorbitant bill is sent over, he'll probably have to summon his staff overnight again."

"However, as long as this debt remains, he can forget about legitimately extending his reach into the southeast."

Meanwhile, in the Guangzhou Confidential Office.

Chiang Kai-shek was standing in front of a military map, a cigarette in his hand, his brows furrowed deeply.

"Principal! Urgent telegram from the southeast!"

The secretary rushed in, looking flustered, clutching a newly translated telegram in her hand.

"read."

Chiang Kai-shek left the tunnel without looking back.

The secretary swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly.

"Representative Zhou called... Chen Zijun agreed to accept the name of the reorganization of the Southeast Front Army."

Just as Chiang Kai-shek was about to let a cold smile appear on his lips, he heard his secretary continue reading:

"But...but Southeast Asia proposed that the reorganization fees for the four German-equipped divisions and the fleet, totaling 32 million pounds, must be settled in one lump sum."

"Annual military and political expenditures and salaries will require an additional £25 million. In total... £55 million."

"Clatter".

The cigarette butt in Chiang Kai-shek's hand fell to the ground, scattering sparks everywhere.

He turned around abruptly, his face ashen, and snatched the telegram from his hand.

"Fifty-five million?!"

"Why doesn't Chen Zijun just rob him!"

"Damn it!"

Chiang Kai-shek slammed his hand on the table in a fit of rage, making the teacups rattle and clang.

"Is this an adaptation? He's extorting the central government!"

The secretary cautiously shrank her neck.

"Principal, Representative Zhou said in the telegram that Chen Zijun stated that if the headquarters cannot come up with the money, then it must agree to the Southeast 'self-financing military expenses'."

"The General Headquarters shall not interfere in any way with the taxation, military power, personnel appointments and removals, or foreign affairs rights of the five southeastern provinces..."

"dream!"

Chiang Kai-shek roared and paced back and forth in the room in a fit of rage.

"He refuses to pay taxes, refuses to hand over military power, and still wants to raise funds himself! What's the difference between him hanging up the banner of the Southeast Army and declaring himself king?!"

"He's using the central government's authority as a shield!"

A staff member beside him whispered, "Principal, please calm down. Chen Zijun commands a large army and has just sunk a Japanese warship; he's currently riding high."

"If we firmly refuse, and he declares himself independent in the southeast, or closes off the defensive line, our Northern Expedition will be in jeopardy..."

Chiang Kai-shek took a deep breath, barely managing to suppress the anger in his heart.

"In your opinion, can the central government afford to pay this money?"

The aide smiled bitterly: "Fifty-five million pounds, let alone the central government, even if you seized all the banks in the south, you still couldn't scrape together half of that."

Chiang Kai-shek stared intently at the defense line in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai on the map.

He knew that Chen Zijun had taken this cunning strategy to its extreme.

You either have to pay.

Either grant authority.

"This Chen Zijun... is really more experienced than a young man."

Chiang Kai-shek sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples.

"Principal, how should we respond?"

The secretary asked in a low voice.

After a long while, Chiang Kai-shek opened his eyes, a sinister glint flashing in them.

Tell Zhou Qiheng.

"The central government won't give us a single penny. But Chen Zijun must accept the title."

"Since he wants to raise the funds himself, then let him raise them himself. But it won't be that easy for him to gain complete independence."

"Tell Zhou Qiheng to continue talking with Chen Zijun. Tell him that the General Headquarters can back down, but the list of generals in the Southeast Army must be reported to the Central Committee for record."

"Furthermore, the southeast must ensure the full supply of provisions and provisions for the Northern Expeditionary Army's passage through the region, in accordance with regulations."

"He likes to talk about rules, right? Then let's use his rules and keep grinding!"

Fuzhou, temporary coastal defense command center.

Chen Zijun held a cup of warm tea in his hand. After listening to Shen Li's report, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Register? What good will registering it do? Does Chiang Kai-shek think he can just transfer my officers to Guangzhou with a piece of paper?"

Shen Li lowered his head to sort out the telegrams, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Young Marshal, Principal Chang is clearly in a hurry. He's thrown an exorbitant bill at us, and now he wants the prestige but can't bear to part with the money."

Chen Zijun placed the teacup on the table and his gaze fell on the map.

"He was reluctant, but he had to let go."

"Tell Mo Huixin to keep at it with them."

"As long as Chiang Kai-shek doesn't agree to fully include tax and personnel authority in the agreement, our flag will only fly the flag of the Beiyang Central Government, and absolutely not his Blue Sky with a White Sun flag!"

"I want to see whether his Northern Expedition can afford to wait, or my railway in the southeast can afford to wait."

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Also, have Su Guiying keep a close eye on things in Shanghai."

"Chiang Kai-shek suffered such a huge setback. He can't do anything to me openly, but who knows what dirty tricks he's up to in the dark."

"Keep a close eye on Wangping Street. Anyone who dares to advocate for Guangzhou at this time should be thoroughly investigated, according to their accounts."

"yes!"

Shen Li accepted the order and left.

The command center fell silent once more.

Chen Zijun stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the first rays of sunlight finally pierced through the clouds and shone on the waves of gray-blue sea.

The faint sound of patrol boat horns could be heard along the coastal defense line.

Chen Zijun looked at the sea and sneered.

"Name?"

"These days, only those with strong military power are entitled to recognition and status."