dhibooks Chapter 256 Obeying Orders, Not Decrees
Chapter 256 Obeying Orders, Not Decrees
Fuzhou, Southeast Military and Political Reception Center.
Sunlight couldn't penetrate the somewhat shady meeting room, and the charcoal brazier inside crackled and popped.
Zhou Qiheng sat on one side of the long table, his face somewhat ashen.
In front of him lay a telegram that had just been sent from Guangzhou, the ink still wet.
"President Mo, the reply from headquarters has arrived."
Zhou Qiheng looked at Mo Huixin sitting opposite him and spoke in a dry voice.
Mo Huixin picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and remained calm.
"Oh? So, Principal Chang is planning to settle the 50 million pounds sterling reorganization expenses?"
Zhou Qiheng gave a wry smile and shook his head slightly.
"President Mo is joking. The Northern Expedition is currently under intense pressure at headquarters; where would we find the funds to pay such an exorbitant sum?"
"The principal said that the headquarters really doesn't have any money."
"But since Southeast Asia is devoted to the Republic of China, it must accept the title of reorganization."
"As for the military expenses, the General Headquarters can make concessions and agree to let the Southeast 'raise the funds themselves'."
After hearing this, Mo Huixin smiled faintly, but did not reply.
Hu Qiankuan, standing behind her, took a step forward, his leather boots making a dull thud on the ground.
"Self-financed?"
"So, does General Headquarters intend to simply issue a letter of appointment without paying a single penny and then incorporate our 300,000 elite troops into your ranks?"
Zhou Qiheng sighed, somewhat awkwardly avoiding Hu Qiankuan's sharp gaze.
"Lieutenant Hu, headquarters is also facing difficulties."
"However, the principal also made two conditions."
"First, the list of registered officers at the division and brigade levels and above in the southeast must be sent to the Ministry of Military Affairs in Guangzhou."
"Secondly, the Southeast must fully guarantee the routes and provisions for the Northern Expeditionary Army's passage through the region, in accordance with the regulations."
"Representative Zhou, this isn't a condition. This is pushing your luck."
Suddenly, the wooden door to the conference room was pushed open.
Chen Zijun, dressed in a crisp German-style military officer's uniform, strode in.
His expression was calm, but the oppressive aura of a superior made all the delegation members in the room shudder.
"Young Marshal."
Hu Qiankuan and Mo Huixin stood up together.
Chen Zijun waved his hand, gesturing for them to sit down, and then leisurely walked to the head seat.
He looked at Zhou Qiheng with a cold gaze:
"Does Principal Chang think I, Chen Zijun, am a fool who loves to listen to grand theories?"
Zhou Qiheng quickly stood up and cupped his hands in greeting: "Young Marshal Chen, the headquarters is also working towards unification..."
"Alright, stop talking to me about unification."
Chen Zijun raised his hand, coldly interrupting him.
"Since the headquarters can't afford it and has agreed to let us raise the money ourselves, then I, Chen Zijun, will have to set the rules for this self-financing."
Zhou Qiheng felt a dryness in his throat: "What does the young marshal mean?"
Chen Zijun bent his finger and tapped it three times on the table.
"First, since it is self-funded, the headquarters cannot touch a single penny of the customs duties, salt tax, shipping likin, and all taxes of the five southeastern provinces."
"Second, the appointment and removal of generals of the Southeast Area Army shall be decided by the Southeast Military and Political Committee, and the Guangzhou side shall not arbitrarily transfer or replace them."
"Third, the defense of the Southeast is its own responsibility, and the General Headquarters has no right to interfere in foreign affairs or local conflicts."
The moment these three points were mentioned, the air in the conference room froze.
The delegation's secretary suddenly stood up, his face flushed:
"Young Marshal Chen! This is clearly tantamount to establishing your own independent regime!"
"If we follow your three points, what difference is there between the Southeast Army and a separatist warlord, besides having a nominal title?!"
"presumptuous!"
Hu Qiankuan snorted coldly, his large hand on the holster tightening slightly.
Immediately, a crisp sound of a gun bolt being pulled back came from outside the door, and several guards carrying German-made submachine guns instantly poked half their bodies out.
The secretary shuddered in fright and shrank back into her seat.
Chen Zijun didn't even glance at the secretary, but stared at Zhou Qiheng and said calmly:
"What? You're only allowed to get something for nothing in the main camp, but we in the southeast aren't allowed to protect our borders and people? Back when the old witch Empress Dowager Cixi was at the height of her power, our five southeastern provinces also tried to form a coalition for self-defense. How come Chang, the bald man, is more powerful than that old witch? Besides, if it really doesn't work, our five southeastern provinces will just send a telegram supporting a coalition for self-governance!"
Federal provincial autonomy?
This idea isn't nonexistent; in essence, it's about a loose city-state system without a central authority—how can it even be considered a nation?
Zhou Qiheng thought for a moment, his lips trembled, and after a long while he finally said:
"Young Marshal, if these first and second points are finalized, the headquarters will likely lose even the last shred of dignity in the eyes of the world."
"The appointment and removal of generals are not handled in Guangzhou, and the tax revenue is not deposited into the national treasury. This is simply unacceptable from a legal standpoint."
Chen Zijun gave a cold laugh.
"Can't we explain this?"
"Shen Li."
"Belongs to".
Shen Li, who had been standing to Chen Zijun's side and behind, stepped forward and handed him a newly translated telegram.
Chen Zijun took it, glanced at it, and then pushed it in front of Zhou Qiheng.
"Representative Zhou, take a look. This was just delivered by the Mawei Port Garrison Command."
Zhou Qiheng looked down and saw that it read: "Two destroyers of the Japanese Second Fleet crossed the outer sea warning line at dawn and have been forced back by our Zhen Dong and two minesweepers."
He was startled, but before he could speak, he heard Chen Zijun speak softly:
"The Japanese warships are sharpening their knives on my coastal defense line every day."
"As long as my cannons don't fire, the trade routes in the southeast will never be peaceful."
"Tell me, if the tax revenue is handed over to Guangzhou, can headquarters send two cruisers to guard the Wusongkou for me?"
"If the appointment and removal of generals are decided by Guangzhou, when the Japanese invade, will I have to submit a report to headquarters and wait for you to hold a meeting and reach a decision before I can open fire?"
Zhou Qiheng was speechless when asked the question.
Just then, a muffled loud noise came from outside the window.
"boom!"
The sound was extremely distant yet incredibly loud, like a muffled thunderclap exploding on the sea.
Immediately afterwards, the earth seemed to tremble slightly, and fine ripples spread across the teacups on the conference room table.
Several members of the delegation turned pale instantly, and some even instinctively covered their heads.
"This is……"
Zhou Qiheng suddenly turned his head to look out the window.
Shen Li, standing to the side, spoke coldly:
"Representative Zhou, don't panic. This is the Zhen Dong cruiser, which our young marshal just transferred to Mawei the day before yesterday. It's conducting live-fire gun calibration exercises."
"We also took the opportunity to test the rifling of the 15-inch heavy cannons at the Mawei Fortress."
Hearing Shen Li's flat, monotone voice, Zhou Qiheng broke out in a cold sweat.
This is hardly a drill.
This is clearly Chen Zijun trying to reason with him behind the negotiating table, using the caliber of a cannon!
"Young Marshal, if the clause regarding the registration of generals is not included, the General will never sign the telegram sent back to Guangzhou."
Zhou Qiheng gritted his teeth, making a final struggle.
Chen Zijun looked at him, his eyes icy cold:
"Filing is possible."
"But the headquarters only has the right to know, not the right to veto."
"The list of generals from the Southeast was sent to Guangzhou only as a copy for filing. As for whether your Ministry of Military Affairs issues the appointment letters, that's your business. Our generals only recognize the seal of the Southeast Military and Political Committee."
Zhou Qiheng leaned back in his chair, feeling somewhat exhausted.
He knew that this was Chen Zijun's final concession.
However, this concession still completely shut down Chiang Kai-shek's attempt to defend against Southeast Asia.
"And... what about the Northern Expeditionary Army passing through?"