Chapter 40 3. After making a secret agreement

As early as in Lushun, Zheng Xiaoxu negotiated with Benzhuang Fan the conditions for me to be in power and him to be the prime minister.Zheng Xiaoxu didn't let me know about this matter until the eve of Benzhuang Fan's resignation. On August 18, 1932, Zheng Xiaoxu came to Qinmin Building, took out a bunch of documents and said to me: "This is an agreement between the minister and Commander Ben Ying, please approve it." When I saw this agreement, I became angry. "Who asked you to sign this?" "This is the condition that Itagaki negotiated in Lushun," he replied coldly, "Itagaki told his superiors earlier."

"Who did Itagaki tell? I haven't heard him say it. Even if he did, tell me before you sign!" "Itagaki also ordered this, saying that I am afraid that Hu Siyuan and the others don't understand the overall situation, and bringing it early will only cause trouble." "Who is in charge? Is it you or me?" "How dare you. These agreements are really expedient measures. If the emperor wants to rely on them, how can he not allow conditions? This is a fait accompli. In the future, another treaty can be made, stipulating that the rights and interests will be taken back in a few years."

What he said was actually true. The rights Japan wanted in the agreement were things it already had.This agreement has 12 articles, and there are supplementary provisions, schedules, and subsidiary agreements. The main content is: "National defense and public security" of "Manchukuo" are all entrusted to Japan to manage the railways, harbors, waterways, and airways of "Manchukuo", And can increase the various materials and equipment needed to build the old army, and "Manchukuo" will be responsible for supplying the old ones with the right to develop mines.Yuan Zijiu himself had to act as an official in "Manchuria", and he had the right to emigrate to "Manchuria" and so on.In this agreement it is finally stipulated that it will be the basis for a formal treaty between the two countries in the future.What Zheng Xiaoxu said is also true, since it is necessary to "rely on", why not pay the price?But though it was so obvious, I couldn't help feeling annoyed.What annoys me is that Zheng Xiaoxu is too arbitrary and dares to use "my" country to make deals with the Japanese at will. I am also annoyed at the excessive blackmail of the Japanese. Instead of giving me the "emperor's throne", I have to go for so many things .

Annoyed and helpless, I ratified the fait accompli.Zheng Xiaoxu took the secret agreement I signed and went, and Hu Siyuan followed him in as usual.I told him this, and he immediately said angrily: "Zheng Xiaoxu is outrageous! Chen Baochen said earlier that he is used to being generous to others! How dare he be so arbitrary now!" "It's a done deal now!" I said dejectedly. "Maybe not all, let's see the news from Tokyo." Many days ago, we knew the news that the commander of the Kwantung Army would be changed and that Japan would recognize "Manchukuo".Hu Siyuan attached great importance to this matter. According to his opinion, the replacement of the commander of the Kwantung Army in Japan probably required a change of attitude, and he should take this opportunity to send people to Japan for activities.He said that it is impossible not to give benefits to Japan, such as mines, railways, resources, and national defense can be managed by Japan, but in terms of official system, the right to appoint and dismiss must rest with me.I adopted his idea, and according to his recommendation, I sent Lin Qianchen, a former lawyer, and Taiwanese Cai Faping, to Tokyo to find his Taiwanese friend Xu Bing, and through Xu Bing to find upper-level military figures to go on activities.Lin and Cai met Jinzaburo Masaki, Chief of the Army General Staff in Tokyo, Kohei Kashii, the former commander of the Japanese Garrison in Tianjin, and Nobuyoshi Muto, who was about to succeed the commander of the Kwantung Army, and others, and put forward my specific request to them:

For the State Council, the governing party shall propose a separate list of appointments; This is also what Hu Siyuan drew up for me.According to him, he does not expect Japan to accept all of them. As long as it agrees to the national system and the appointment and removal of officials by me, it will be considered as having achieved its goal.But the conditions should be mentioned more, in case the other party counter-offers. Two days later, Hu Siyuan told me enthusiastically that there was good news from Tokyo.According to the letter from Lin and Cai, some people in the Tokyo Veteran Faction and the military department sympathized with me and were dissatisfied with Honjo's attitude towards me; they expressed their willingness to support my various demands.Hu Siyuan said, from this point of view, after the successor commander takes office, the situation will change, and I will exercise my powers and govern my country according to the regulations.But to govern well, there must be an obedient prime minister.I heard what he said was reasonable, so I decided to replace Zheng Xiaoxu.I researched it with him, and I think Zang Shiyi is more suitable. If he is appointed as the prime minister, he will definitely be grateful and repay his virtue, and follow my command.After the discussion was settled, Hu Siyuan and Xu Baoheng were ordered to talk to Zang Shiyi.

Zang Shiyi's attitude is still hesitant, Zheng Xiaoxu's son Zheng Chui came. "I heard that the superior sent someone to Tokyo to find Nobuyoshi Muto." Standing in front of me, he said this without thinking.After all, stare at me and see my reaction.Needless to say, he saw that I didn't want to admit it, so he went on: "There are rumors about this in Tokyo, saying that the higher-ups are planning to reorganize the State Council. After hearing this, I have to tell the higher-ups. I hope It's a rumor." "Why do you hope it's just a rumor?" "I hope so. This plan is impossible. Even if it is achieved, everything will be decided by the Manchus, and the ministers will not be able to control it. No matter whether it is Zang Shiyi or whoever, it will not be possible."

"Is that what you're talking about?" "What I said is the truth..." "When you're done talking, go!" "yes" Zheng Chui left, and I was angry alone in the office.After a while, Hu Siyuan knew it, and raised his beard again. "Zheng's father and son are really in a mess. Zheng Chui is especially hateful. Last time when Xiqia sent mahogany furniture, he persuaded his superiors to be frugal. It was nothing more than jealousy. He was afraid that Xizhi would invite the heavenly family alone. This time he was wary of Zang Shiyi. coming!"

"It's really not human!" The more I listened to it, the more I hated it, and my determination became stronger, so I asked Hu Siyuan if there was an agreement with Zang Shiyi. "He won't." In fact, Zang Shiyi understood better than me and Hu Siyuan that without the Kwantung Army talking, he agreed to only make trouble. Zheng Xiaoxu knew that Zang Shiyi didn't dare, so he was even more confident. He actually resorted to the way Yikuang used to deal with my father back then.But he didn't expect that I had good news about Tokyo, so I was confident.When I saw him asking for leave, I took it as an opportunity and said without hesitation:

"It's time for you to retire. I won't force you. You can recommend someone." His baldness suddenly faded. "What I mean is to get sick for a few days." "That's fine too." As soon as Zheng Xiaoxu left, I immediately ordered Hu Siyuan to find Jia Shiyi, and asked him to act as prime minister first, and then find an opportunity to remove Zheng Xiaoxu later.But after five days, without waiting for Shiyi to express his attitude, Zheng Xiaoxu canceled his work. When Hu Siyuan found out that Zheng Xiaoxu had returned to the State Council, he sighed to me and said, "He exchanged the secret contract for the Prime Minister's seal, so he is naturally reluctant to lose it." His words were quite bitter.

I also have bitterness. Of course, this is not the seal of the prime minister, but that my authority in power cannot be used by anyone.This failure taught me a very important lesson.This was inspired by Hu Siyuan's bitter words. "Zheng Xiaoxu exchanged the secret agreement for the prime minister's seal, and the secret agreement became his capital for nothing. This is really unreasonable. Why can't the secret agreement be my capital, and I can get what I need from the Japanese?" I decided to wait until the new commander of the Kwantung Army arrives, and then make the five demands myself.Hu Siyuan supported this method and reminded me not to forget to ask the Japanese to replace Zheng Xiaoxu.Since Zheng Xiaoxu came to power as the Prime Minister, he has had this idea in his heart.

This is early September.In mid-September, Nobuyoshi Muto, the new Japanese Kwantung Army commander and first ambassador to Manchuria, came to Changchun.On the 15th, in the Qinmin Building, Muto and Zheng Xiaoxu signed the "Japanese Manchurian Protocol", which was an open agreement based on that secret treaty. Treaty agreements, other provisions, and all rights and interests in public and private contracts shall be confirmed and respected. After the ceremony and the champagne, I couldn't wait to have a private meeting with Muto.I am full of confidence at this time.Because Lin Tingchen and Cai Faping just returned from Japan not many days ago, they told me that Muto not only agreed to my request in Tokyo, but even agreed to consider restoring my title. Muto was promoted to an army general in the Taisho era of Japan, and served as the deputy chief of staff.Director of Education, Military Councilor, led the Japanese army to occupy Siberia in the Soviet Union in World War I.He came to the Northeast this time as a general and held three positions - the commander of the Kwantung Army (he used to be a lieutenant general), the chief of the Kwantung Office (the Japanese colonial governor in the Liaodong Peninsula before the "September 18th" incident) and the "Kwantung Army". Ambassador to Manchukuo", he was promoted to marshal shortly after he took office, and was the de facto supreme ruler of this land, the overlord of "Manchukuo".Japanese newspapers called him "the patron saint of Manchuria".In my eyes, this sixty-five-year-old white-haired old man is indeed as powerful as a god.When he bowed to me with great courtesy, I felt blessed.When I had finished speaking, he replied politely: "As for your opinion, I will take it back and study it seriously." He took away the few requests written by Hu Siyuan.But day by day passed, and the results of his research were not seen. According to regulations, I meet with the commander and ambassador of the Kwantung Army three times a month.Ten days later, when I met him for the second time, I pressed him about the results of his research, but he still said, "Research and research." Every time he met me, he was always polite, bowed deeply to me, smiled, said "Your Excellency" in one mouthful, and talked about each of my ancestors with a respectful expression, but he kept silent on all my requests do not mention.If I turn the topic to this aspect, he will talk about him left and right.I was dealt with like this twice, and I didn't have the courage to ask him again. Until the death of Muto in July 1933, every time I met with him, we could only talk about Buddhism, Confucianism, and "goodwill".During this period, my authority in the eyes of no one has increased, but his authority in my heart has increased day by day, and it has never ceased to increase.

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