Chapter 381: Grand Ceremony

(...I am a soldier, and my attitude towards my enemy is so clear that many people later directly accused me of being the initiator of the breakdown of the relationship between the two parties; I don't refute this, and the two parties will never compromise. This is my attitude... Excerpted from "My Memories of the War of Resistance - Cao Xiaomin")

The delayed Wuhan China's highest military decision-making meeting was finally held in a speculation of war and harmony. In addition to a large group of generals from the ** side, the Eighth Route Army Commander-in-Chief Zhu De and the New Fourth Army Commander Ye Ting also arrived at the meeting.

Under Chiang Kai-shek's clear order, Cao Xiaomin would not be so rude to the leaders of another camp during this meeting. On the contrary, he took the initiative to express friendship with these historical celebrities who had only read in another time and space before. Although the Communist Party had long designated him as the most stern representative of the reactionary faction, everyone still made a good deal of the situation. Cao Xiaomin and the representatives of the ** side shook hands one by one, as if they wanted to make up for what they had owed at the train station last time, and they were extremely enthusiastic.

The ceremony to award Cao Xiaomin the title of second-level general before the meeting was cancelled. Some people speculated that it was because of the consequences of the fire of the pistol during the competition with Farkenhausen. Some people said that it was Cao Xiaomin himself who had to accept the rank of second-level general after a great victory in the Wuhan Battle. What was the reason? Only those folk politicians who showed off their knowledge after dinner in the restaurant would pursue it. The people attending the meeting only knew one thing: Cao Xiaomin had been designated as the deputy chief of staff of the Wuhan Battle, formerly the deputy commander-in-chief, second only to Chiang Kai-shek, Li Zongren, and Bai Chongxi!

"If Wuhan area falls, China can say that half of the country will fall into the hands of the Japanese invaders. Every Chinese should be in a desperate situation at this time, and there is no reason to retreat! In this battle, all departments of the New Fourth Army will do their best to implement military orders and swear to deal with the Japanese army to the death. The headquarters will do their jobs!" Before taking a photo at the entrance of the venue, Ye Ting expressed his determination while communicating with Cao Xiaomin.

"General Cao's mighty power on the battlefield of the Anti-Japanese War was known to everyone in the whole country, but this time I came not just to see General Cao's style; I came to let General Cao see the determination and courage of our Eighth Route Army against the enemy Japanese army. Therefore, as long as this battle is a task of our Eighth Route Army, our troops will ensure that we complete it..." Zhu De expressed his opinion on behalf of the Eighth Route Army when he met Cao Xiaomin.

Judging from what the two of them said, it seems that they are really sincere, but whether it is true or false, it is useless to me! Cao Xiaomin sneered in his heart, but his smile never faded, and he was dealing with all the military officials.

"...In my opinion, the ** side will definitely raise objections to our military deployment, so we might as well make a very excessive draft of the defense layout, and then give in step by step, and disagree in some places, and eventually let their defense zone be completely within our design! For some places where both sides do not make concessions, the results can be achieved through some material commitments. In this way, most of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army will be within the range that I can easily encircle and annihilate; after confirming the defense zone, they will not be able to transfer at will, as long as they dare to mobilize themselves, I will dare to destroy him!..." Chiang Kai-shek looked at Cao Xiaomin and Zhu De from a distance, and Ye Ting shook hands and said joy, but Cao Xiaomin's voice on the entire plan report sounded in his ears.

Who knows that the combat conference for the Wuhan Battle had actually ended long ago. This conference was actually just a layout meeting that imprisoned the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army!

Just like any film festival in later generations, which movie wins an award is not the most important thing for many people. The most important thing is the red carpet. This is the same with this sensational military conference. Before the meeting officially enters the agenda, meeting and taking photos from various factions outside the venue is more important in the minds of many local factions than the meeting itself. This is an occasion to show your identity, and you can also know some people you want to know to lay the foundation for future relationships.

The most popular military in Wuhan recently is of course Cao Xiaomin. He is always surrounded by people. Generals from small local factions are particularly enthusiastic about him. Cao Xiaomin is a unique new general who is not from Huangpu but is particularly favored by Chiang Kai-shek. Cao Xiaomin himself didn't know that many local factions have already had the idea of ​​the Northern Jiangsu faction in private, and he has become a leading figure! The reporters who entered the scene to shoot almost surrounded Cao Xiaomin and tried hard to take photos without leaving. As a result, they didn't have to leave at all, and all important figures would come over automatically.

If everything is harmonious, it would be abnormal. In order to add some trouble to the meeting, Cao Xiaomin deliberately used some other moves to distract the concentration of the Communist Party representatives. He had already arranged a scene: it turned out that the third person Zhang Guotao made a debut!

"Come on, Brother Kaiyin comes here..." Cao Xiaomin saw Zhang Guotao who had arranged for the appearance and quickly greeted him warmly. The latter was somewhat unnatural by a young man saying "Brother Kaiyin", especially when he came over to meet Zhou Enlai's gaze, he was obviously weak and lowered his eyes.

"No need to introduce me, right? You are all old friends, one of your founders back then. Now, Mr. Zhang Guotao, director of the "Special Political Issues Research Office"..." Cao Xiaomin looked at Zhou Enlai provocatively and said, "Mr. Zhang is willing to surrender to the position of director of a research office without continuing to sit in the third seat of your party. He is just dedicated to the fight against Japan and to reach the real battlefield of the anti-Japanese war. Today you have a different path!"

As soon as these words were said, Ye Ting, who was straightforward, immediately turned dark.

"I used to think I was walking along the way with Brother Kaiyin, but he walked away halfway..." Zhou Enlai smiled and said, "If Brother Kaiyin is willing to continue to get together with me today, I and the ** in Yan'an will be welcomed!"

Zhou Enlai's words made Zhang Guotao, who was pushed to the side and the other side, turn into a blushing Guan Gong, unable to say a word.

"I think Brother Kaiyin has always been walking the same path?" Cao Xiaomin hurriedly took over the topic: "I know that Brother Kaiyin was already a member of the Central Executive Committee elected by the First Congress of the Democratic Party of China in the 13th year of the Republic of China. He also made a special trip to Beijing when Prime Minister Mr. Sun was dying. He is a loyal follower of Mr. Sun..."

When Zhang Guotao went to Beijing to visit Sun Yat-sen, he was already the representative of **, but this action was taken by Cao Xiaomin as a reason for him to follow Sun Yat-sen, which changed the expressions of many representatives on **.

"Mr. Sun always believed that ** was included in the people's livelihood of the Three Principles of the People, so it was not wrong for people to follow Mr. Sun; but later some people misinterpreted Mr. Sun's theory, so it was normal for someone to leave..." Without waiting for Zhou Enlai to speak, Ye Ting, who was impatient, snatched the conversation as if he had returned to the debate between the two parties in the Whampoa Military Academy back then.

"Yes, our country was liberated from feudal colonies. People's understanding of ideology and country is still maturing, and many people have also taken detours, but as long as they return to the right path..." Cao Xiaomin said something extremely lethal to Ye Ting: "Just like General Ye followed the revolution of the first prime minister, and then fell into the contradiction of understanding of ideology, and then overturned his own understanding and lived in seclusion until now before returning to the original prime minister's ideology. It is really admirable to be great wisdom and courageous enlightenment..."

Ye Ting was once Sun Yat-sen's personal bodyguard commander, but later joined the **, but then he was again the **, and now he came out to serve as the commander of the newly-organized Fourth Army of the National Revolutionary Army. If there were so many changes in his position, no one present was right... Cao Xiaomin's words almost made Ye Ting so angry that he vomited blood!

Seeing that the verbal battle was about to spark, Chiang Kai-shek came over. This scene was actually arranged in advance. When the chairman was in trouble, the chairman's journey to end all disputes. It was obvious that Chiang Kai-shek did not expect that Cao Xiaomin's tongue was so sharp that he dared to attack a group of veterans after reading the information of everyone for a few days. He was very happy to see this scene, especially when his appearance could make all this come to an abrupt end, his extraordinary status was even more obvious.

Cao Xiaomin's goal was also achieved. After this, Zhang Guotao's relationship with the old friends should have been completely broken. Soon the editorials issued in the name of Zhang Guotao will be overwhelmed, and he can only admit his head.

This episode also made everyone understand that even in the current war, the positions of the two parties are still strongly opposed. Cao Xiaomin, who represents the new forces, and Cao Xiaomin and ** who hold substantial military power are still incompatible. Whoever dares to play tricks between the two major forces, with Cao Xiaomin's hawkish style that doesn't care about romance at all, might be killed!

The rest of the scene is the end of this star-studded walk before the official meeting. Cao Xiaomin didn't go to take advantage of the excitement. Anyway, he just surrounded Chiang Kai-shek without saying a word. But in his heart, he was already calculating the timing of the connection between various links. The bandit suppression operation he arranged will start today. Of course, this is an action to crack down on those bandit gangs that fell to the Japanese bandit gangs. However, a big show of verbal battle before the meeting today should also play a role in alarming the scene. The Communist Party should have been alert to the action of ** to wipe out bandit gangs in the Yellow River Flood Zone. However, when these news reached the meeting, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party should have completed the defense zone setting in time, and the Central News Agency will also directly announce the Communist Military Defense Zone incomprehensible at the first time!

The delegates at the meeting entered one after another. In Cao Xiaomin's eyes, he felt like a group of prey to be slaughtered. As long as there are people who disagree with political opinions, he will start without hesitation!

...


Chapter completed!