There was some discontinuation. Zhuang Jihua looked around. Although he knew that Chiang Kai-shek had made a decision to accept Japan's conditions, this meeting was just a unified understanding and sharing of responsibilities. He still wanted to say something.

"Principal, the student has something to say." Zhuang Jihua stood up and said to him.

"Tell me. Today, I will make a lot of things go through." Chiang Kai-shek's eyes flashed a little.

"Students oppose accepting the Japanese conditions. On the contrary, we should put forward our conditions and ask the Japanese to negotiate according to our conditions." Zhuang Jihua's exit surprised the generals present. Negotiating according to our conditions. Under the current situation, the Japanese will agree. That would be equivalent to announcing the rejection of negotiations.

"Principal, generals. As far as the current situation is concerned, we are indeed unfavorable. But this kind of unfavorable is sometimes strategic but tactical. So we don't need to rush to seek peace." Zhuang Jihua talked freely, and glanced at Chongxi, He Jian and others: "The Sino-Japanese War is conducive to quick war. We are beneficial to a long-term battle. It has only been five months since we fought. We have just met with Japan's strategic interests. At this time, the first and second, the peace talks are now. Let's not talk about whether the conditions of the Japanese side will change. How do domestic people explain? Politically, GCD and the Third Party have just united under the banner of anti-Japanese resistance. If we negotiate with Japan now, what will they react? How will the domestic people view the government? How will the principal? " Zhuang Jihua looked at Chiang Kai-shek. The latter was dissatisfied and his expression was a little loose.

"In the era of Napoleon, there is a saying in Britain that we can lose a hundred battles. But we can win the war. We have only lost one battle now. But we have not lost the war yet. On the contrary, the war is developing in the direction we expected. The future is very bright." Then Zhuang Jihua added: "I always believe in the final victory."

The conference room was even more silent for a while. He Yingqin said slowly: "This. The Cultural Revolution. The current military situation is that if we don't talk about it, Nanjing can be lost. In this way, our negotiation situation will be even more difficult. I think these conditions are not unacceptable. There is no requirement to recognize Manchuria. There is no claim for compensation. It is basically consistent with the Chairman's conversation in Lushan. I think it is OK.

”

He Yingqin's words made the anger in the conference room a little more active. Yang Yongtai took over He Yingqin's words and said: "Minister He said that these conditions do not involve China's sovereignty and what the Chairman said does not involve China's sovereignty. Moreover, after Inner Mongolia Autonomy, the conflict between the Soviet and Japan will inevitably rise. This team will help us join forces with Russia to fight against Japan."

This is a bit wishful thinking. Zhuang Jihua shook his head in his heart. Soviet Russia is not a fool and he will not take advantage of China's fire. He will also use the country to hold Japan. He can let go against Germany.

"In general, this is not a national condition." Bai Chongxi's eyes flashed behind his lenses. He looked proudly at Zhuang Jihua's gaze. He said with a careful look: "And if the peace talks are successful, we can take back the large-scale losses of Taiyuan, Hebei, Chahar, etc. without a fight. I agree with this peace talks."

"I think it's okay to talk about it. But how big is the area in North China? And how big is the area in Shanghai's unarmed belt? These must be clarified." Liu Fei, deputy director of the Military Command, also expressed his attitude.

Then Xu Yongchang, Gu Zheng and others also spoke one after another to support the peace talks. Zhuang Jihua now understood. It turns out that these people had wanted to have a peace talk a long time ago. No wonder what his speech just now made the room angry a little embarrassed.

Tang Shengzhi, the only one who did not speak, sat silently. Of course, Chiang Kai-shek allowed this. Those who attended the meeting today must express their opinions: "Meng Xiao. What do you have to do?"

Tang Shengzhi, the commander of the Eighth Army, suffered two defeats after the Northern Expedition. He eventually lost all the chips in his hand and became one of the princes.

"I haven't figured out whether this peace talk is good or bad. I'd like to ask the Chairman to consider it." Tang Shengzhi said indifferently: "But judging from the current situation, we can talk about it. But it's best to do it secretly to avoid damaging morale and people's spirit."

How did Tang Shengzhi become like this? Zhuang Jihua was a little surprised. Tang Shengzhi was not very military and political, so he was eliminated early in the political arena of the Republic of China. However, when he saw his conversations, he was somewhat straightforward and had a military style. But now why did he become like this?

"I suspect that this condition is the condition that the Japanese lure us." Zhuang Jihua stood up again. He could not let the meeting slip in the direction of peace. Now he is preparing for the moment of peace talks from time to time. Although the Battle of Song failed, his morale is high. He can continue to fight: "Since the September 18th Incident, Japan has repeatedly used negotiations to delay time. The Lugou Bridge Incident. Japan also used negotiations to delay time and mobilize troops. Is this the same? In addition, the direct cause of the outbreak of the war was the Japanese instigating North China Autonomy. Now the conditions they have stepped forward do not involve this at all. We have reason to doubt. These conditions are just the Japanese's inducement of surrender. Their purpose is to disintegrate my determination to resist the war and make our country panic. Then force us to agree to North China Autonomy."

Zhuang Jihua's words hit the nail on the head. The Lugou Bridge Incident seemed to be an accidental conflict. The deep reason behind it is the North China Autonomy initiated by Japan. North China Autonomy is the direct target of Japan's occupation of Northeast China. Now Japan has a great military advantage. North China is under its control. Japan will give up

'Hua doesn't think so.

"If this is the case, then there is nothing to talk about." Yang Yongtai first stated: "The premise of negotiation is the Chairman's speech. It does not involve national sovereignty and the appointment and removal of Chief Fang. These two are our bottom line."

"I think we can send a message to Todman. We can use these seven points as the basis. Negotiation. But we must reiterate our conditions. It does not involve national sovereignty and the appointment and removal of the Fang Chief Fang. Before this understanding is reached, the negotiations will be carried out in a secret way." Keishi finally made the decision. From the conversations of these people, his arrival was sufficiently supported: "We are not afraid of the Japanese delays. We also need to use negotiations to rectify the army. As long as the reinforcements from Yunnan and Sichuan arrive, we can fight again."

Chiang Kai-shek's words made Jihua feel a little relieved. It seemed that Chiang Kai-shek's mood was contradictory. On the one hand, he wanted to use negotiations to temporarily stop the war and restore the army to regain his vitality. On the other hand, he also held the Japanese to agree to reach an agreement based on the Lushan talks and stopped the war.

"If I continue to attack during the negotiations, Nanjing will definitely become its target. Now let's discuss whether Nanjing defends or not. How to defend?" Chiang Kai-shek raised the second issue.

The conference room was silent for a while. Bai Chongxi first spoke: "I have said before that with the current military strength, we should not defend Nanjing. We cannot defend it. Instead of letting Nanjing be destroyed by war, it is better to publicly declare Nanjing as an unpreserved city and protect the city and ordinary citizens."

Zhuang Jihua noticed that among the people in the city, except Chiang Kai-shek, the rest of the people nodded frequently. Liu stood up and said, "Chairman. The front-line army suffered huge losses. Most of the soldiers who supplemented were untrained recruits. The combat effectiveness was extremely limited. Some troops were already chaotic. Moreover, the shape of Nanjing is a typical easy to attack and difficult to defend. Nanjing is located in the curved part of the Yangtze River. Japanese warships can directly reach the Nanjing river surface to support or cover landing. In terms of the army, the transportation in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou is convenient. The two major transportation routes Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou Highways can provide fast transportation for the Japanese army. The Japanese army on the southern front can divide the troops into two routes to attack Zhenjiang. Cut off our army and the other route can attack Nanjing from the south through the water. In this way, our Nanjing defenders will be trapped in a siege."

"Second Chief Liu is right. The War of Resistance is a long-term process. We can now change and avoid the decisive battle. Give up Nanjing and continue to lure the enemy into depth. Whether it is strategy or tactics, it is extremely necessary." He Yingqin took over Liu Fei's words.

Chiang Kai-shek said with a gloomy face: "Nanjing is the mausoleum of the Prime Minister in the country's capital. It is a Chinese and foreign object. If you don't resist, give up how do you view us internationally? How do you explain to the people?"

"But where did the Chairman's troops come from? The troops retreating from the front line can no longer fight." Bai Chongxi ignored whether Chiang Kai-shek was angry and still insisted on his point of view.

In military terms, he was very conceited. He would not give up his own views easily and would not surrender to Chiang Kai-shek. Whether to defend or not, Chiang Kai-shek had long consulted his opinions. Among the people here, I'm afraid that only Zhuang Jihua did not know his attitude. Others have long stated that they should not defend.

"The Forty-Nine Army has arrived in Nanjing. They have 100,000 people and the equipment is the best." Chiang Kai-shek also retorted without hesitation: "In addition, the 58th Army led by General Lu Han has arrived in Hunan. The 60th Army led by Du Ming has also arrived in Xiangxi. As long as they guard for two months, they can come to rescue Nanjing."

"Two months? The 70,000 people in the Song Dynasty were fighting for three months. Can the 100,000 people in the Forty-Nine Army guard for two months?" Bai Chongxi shook his head and said, "Chairman, it's too risky. The military equipment advantage is as high as 200,000..."

Speaking of this, Bai Chongxi shook his head. Even Xu Yong felt it was not reliable: "Chairman, you should avoid a decisive battle now. Nanjing can be kept by rules, and not by rules. Anyway, it has been announced that the capital has been moved to Chongqing."

There was some gunpowder in the conference room. Seeing that no one supported him, Chiang Kai-shek's face was gloomy and a little scary.

"No!" Tang Shengzhi stood up suddenly: "The Chairman is right. Nanjing is the location of the Prime Minister's Mausoleum and the capital of the country. When you walk through another perspective, you must not ignore it."

"Meng Xiao said it well." When Chiang Kai-shek was fighting alone, he suddenly had a strong support. He suddenly felt a lot of green in his heart. The expression on his face also soothed: "Beijing must be defended to the death. If you don't want to defend, then I will defend."

Zhuang Jihua felt that Chiang Kai-shek and Tang Shengzhi glanced at him intentionally or unintentionally. Bai Chongxi's words just now meant that they had argued a long time ago. Both sides insisted. Bai Chongxi and He Yingqin started from the military situation and believed that they should not defend. Chiang Kai-shek started from the perspective of political and diplomacy and thought that they should defend. Tang Shengzhi gave him the feeling that he was speculating. With his eyes, it was impossible to see that Nanjing should not defend. But he insisted on defending. There were more interesting things in this.
Chapter completed!