Chapter 848 847 [Don’t Speculate]

Before leaving Guangzhou, Zhou Hexuan couldn't help but meet Wu Tiecheng.

Now that Guangzhou is a transshipment center for imported materials from China, Wu Tiecheng and Zeng Yangfu are extremely busy all day long. On the one hand, he was busy dealing with the Japanese bombing, organizing emergency repairs of railways, factories and houses; on the other hand, he was busy with the transportation and scheduling of strategic materials. There were too many twists and turns, many of which required Wu Tiecheng's personal intervention.

"Brother Zichen, you're fine!" Zhou Hexuan clasped his fists and said with a smile.

Wu Tiecheng quickly signed a document, then stood up and said, "Brother Mingcheng, why did you come to Guangzhou?"

Zhou Hexuan said: "I was ordered by the central government to visit the United States."

Wu Tiecheng spoke in an official tone: "Mingcheng is a great sage in the country and has a prominent reputation in the West. He will definitely gain a lot from going to the United States."

"Brother Zizeng is over-praising me, I just tried my best," Zhou Hexuan said modestly, "When I came to Guangzhou this time, I found that there were Japanese bombings along the way. I am afraid that Guangzhou will soon become the target of the Japanese invaders. "

Wu Tiecheng was quite confident and waved his hand and said: "Let's be honest, Guangzhou is close to Hong Kong and is the focus of British interests. The Japanese invaders will definitely not dare to invade Guangzhou, otherwise it will inevitably lead to British intervention."

"Shanghai is also the focus of the interests of the great powers, more important than Guangzhou." Zhou Hexuan reminded.

"That's different," Wu Tiecheng explained in detail. "Although Brother Mingcheng is an expert on international issues, he only knows one and not the other. There is another inside story about this matter. As early as the Battle of Songhu just ended, the Japanese invaders prepared Attacking South China, but because Japanese planes bombed American and British warships, it aroused strong protests from the United Kingdom and the United States. Therefore, at the end of last year, the Japanese invaders were afraid of causing interference from the powers, so they changed their combat plan. The enemy will not attack them in the next one or two years. Attack South China. Furthermore, the Soviet Union signed a peace agreement with China, and the Japanese invaders had to send troops to the north to defend the Soviet Union. There were simply not enough troops to go south."

What Wu Tiecheng said was the truth, and it was also the fundamental reason why commanders at all levels, from Chiang Kai-shek to Yu Hanmou, completely ignored the defense of South China.

As a result, Chiang Kai-shek not only failed to strengthen the defense of Guangdong, but also continuously transferred elite Cantonese troops from Guangdong to the north. Although Fujian and Guangdong were set up as the fourth theater, they were all just fake and had only one name. Even a theater command organization was not established.

Historically, one month before the Japanese invaded Guangzhou, Wu Tiecheng urgently reported to Chiang Kai-shek that he had received news that the Japanese army was going to attack Guangzhou. Until four days before the Japanese invaders attacked Guangzhou, Wu Tiecheng urgently called Chiang Kai-shek, saying that the British intelligence agency in Hong Kong had sent news that the Japanese invaders would launch an attack around the 11th.

Chiang Kai-shek dismissed this and thought it was a Japanese rumor. Instead of instructing Guangzhou to strengthen its defenses, he continued to deploy Guangdong troops to reinforce Wuhan. Two days before Guangzhou was attacked, Chiang Kai-shek issued an order to Yu Hanmo: "In any case, an additional division must be sent to reinforce Wuhan. If this division can be added, Wuhan can be secured. Otherwise, Wuhan will be lost and Guangdong will be lost." It cannot be guaranteed. As long as Wuhan can defend it, Guangdong will have no worries. I sincerely hope that my brother will risk everything and send out a division of elite troops to protect the overall situation."

Yu Hanmou had no choice but to dispatch Cantonese troops to reinforce Wuhan. Before the troops were dispatched, the Japanese invaders had already launched an attack on Guangzhou.

The three big bosses in Guangzhou, Wu Tiecheng, Yu Hanmou and Zeng Yangfu, were all very capable in the political arena of the Republic of China, at least they were not mediocre people. But they were deceived by Chiang Kai-shek, and in the end they had to stand up and take the blame for the fall of Guangzhou. Chairman Chiang really did a lot of harm to people.

Take Yu Hanmou, for example, a famous anti-Japanese general. The two battles in northern Guangdong he later commanded were extremely exciting, in sharp contrast to the messy Guangzhou defense battle.

Of course, although these three people are taking the blame, they cannot escape the blame. They have indeed done too many criticized things in Guangzhou. As a result, the three later avoided talking about Guangzhou and only boasted about their other achievements.

Zhou Hexuan felt that he could not convince Wu Tiecheng, so he could only resort to the next best thing and said: "Brother Zichen, no matter what, the Japanese invaders will definitely attack Guangzhou, because Guangzhou is the starting point of the Guangdong-Han Line. The arms and supplies China purchased from Europe are all How can the Japanese invaders just sit idly by and ignore it if they want to be transported in from Guangzhou? Even if, as you said, there is no danger in Guangzhou within a year and a half, what will happen after a year and a half? Therefore, I implore Brother Zizeng to order the transfer to southern Guangzhou as soon as possible. Area factories and schools to avoid panic."

"No," Wu Tiecheng raised his hand and said, "Since the Japanese invaders have no plan to attack Guangdong, if we move factories and schools now, it will inevitably cause panic in all walks of life and is an act of self-disruption."

Zhou Hexuan was so angry that he wanted to laugh, and continued to persuade: "Brother Zi Zeng, during the war, relocating factories and schools is normal behavior, and it is completely understandable by ordinary people."

Wu Tiecheng sighed: "Brother Mingcheng, let me tell you the truth. Guangdong is now burdened with important tasks and must deliver supplies to the front line and the central government. In the surrounding areas of Guangzhou, the machines are running continuously every day. They are bombed in the morning and need to be bombed in the afternoon. Hurry up and resume work. For what? We are not producing logistics supplies for the front line and the central government! Once we move, when can we resume work? And before we resume work, what will be transported to Wuhan?"

Zhou Hexuan was speechless immediately, he really had nothing to say.

Guangzhou is such an important transportation hub and such a dangerous coastal city. In the eyes of state officials, it is not a potential front line, but a strategic rear area responsible for the production and transportation of materials...

Resisting the urge to vomit blood, Zhou Hexuan took a step back and said: "Okay, the factories in Guangzhou need to complete their production tasks, what about the schools? Take Sun Yat-sen University for example. From the July 7th Incident to now, Sun Yat-sen University has been bombed In the past 10 times, several teachers and students died. Why not relocate? Why do students have to go to class under bombings?"

Wu Tiecheng explained patiently: "Sun Yat-sen University is the best university in Guangdong, and all walks of life are watching it. As long as Sun Yat-sen University is still in Guangzhou, it means that the National Government has not given up on Guangzhou. Once Sun Yat-sen University moves away, the people of Guangzhou will be in chaos. People's hearts and minds will be in chaos. If there is chaos, the situation will be out of control. At least the capitalists will be very worried and will think about moving their factories. The entire industry in Guangzhou will be completely destroyed, and Guangzhou’s logistics production tasks will not be completed!"

"You are making fun of people's lives and property!" Zhou Hexuan said angrily.

Wu Tiecheng said seriously: "In order to win the war of resistance, everything can be sacrificed."

"I..." Zhou Hexuan suppressed his anger and said, "Well, Sun Yat-sen University does not need to move, but other schools must move!"

Wu Tiecheng didn't want to quarrel with Zhou Hexuan and said perfunctorily: "I need to hold a meeting to discuss it first. After all, the relocation of many schools is a big project. How to move? Where to move? These all need to be carefully considered."

Meeting to discuss?

I'm afraid that the Japanese invaders are approaching the city, and the discussion has not yet concluded.

Zhou Hexuan said angrily: "Then I'll say goodbye. I hope Brother Zichen will take the matter of relocation to his heart."

"Mingcheng, go slowly." Wu Tiecheng had a good attitude and personally escorted Zhou Hexuan out of the provincial mansion.