Chapter 131

In Kunming in 1933, spring was in full bloom yet hidden murder intent. Li Yuxuan stood by the window of the Wuhua Mountain Provincial Government, overlooking the Spring City he had controlled for nearly a year. On the desk behind him lay the freshly intercepted encrypted telegram—evidence of Long Yun's secret contact with Guangxi's Li Zongren.

"Director, Long Yun has been active frequently in western Yunnan lately, I'm afraid…" Huang Wei reported in a low voice.

Li Yuxuan raised his hand to interrupt: "After all these years, when it comes to work, let him handle the position. Moreover, he is now a cornered beast still fighting; I want to see what tricks this Yunnan king can still pull."

At this moment Long Yun was trapped in his own residence. On the surface he remained the Provincial Chairman of Yunnan, but in reality Li Yuxuan had sidelined him. The former Southwest warlord now gave his confidant a wry smile: "Li Yuxuan's move is truly watertight."

"Chairman, we still have former Yunnan troops…"

"Useless." Long Yun shook his head, "Since Li Yuxuan arrived, he has not only seized military‑civil authority, but also holds the economic lifeline in his hands. Now even our troops' pay must go through him."

He walked to the desk, unfolded a map: "For today's plan, we must retreat to advance. Go at once to contact our former units in Burma and have them ready. If… if the situation becomes untenable, we still have a fallback."

While the Southwest undercurrents churned, Huabei was already ablaze with war. In early 1933, Japanese forces advanced on Shanhaiguan, sparking the Great Wall resistance.

At the Gubeikou position, the 29th Army soldiers were locked in a life‑or‑death fight with the Japanese. The eighteen‑year‑old young fighter Wang Shan clutched his big sword tightly, a weapon unique to the Northwest Army.

"Brothers! Let the Japanese taste the might of our Big Sword Team!" the commander brandished his big sword and leapt out of the trench first.

The battlefield instantly rang with killing cries. Huaxia soldiers braved a hail of gunfire, engaging the well‑equipped Japanese in close‑quarters combat. Wang Shan slashed a Japanese soldier in two, his own arm also cut by a bayonet. He ignored the pain and kept charging forward.

"Watch out!" the squad leader shoved him aside, only to be hit by a bullet himself.

"Squad leader!" Wang Shan lunged forward, seeing a blossom of blood bloom on the leader's chest.

"Kid… stay alive… fight the devils…" After uttering the last words, the squad leader's eyes closed forever.

Tears welled up in Wang Shan's eyes; he grabbed the squad leader's big sword and roared toward the enemy lines. In that moment, he was no longer the farm‑boy newcomer, but a true warrior.

In Yuzhang Ruijin, within the Yaodong of the provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic, Yong Zhi was drafting an important document.

"Yong Zhi, would this be too radical?" Wu Hao looked at the manuscript, somewhat concerned.

Yong Zhi set down his pen, his gaze firm: "The Japanese have reached our doorstep; are we still hesitating here? This declaration is to let the whole nation know that our people are willing to cooperate with any anti‑Japanese force!"

On January 17, 1933, the 'Declaration of War Against Japan' was officially issued. The declaration stated clearly: "The provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic is willing to conclude combat agreements with any armed forces to oppose Japanese Imperialism's aggression."

The declaration caused a huge reaction at home and abroad. In Modu, progressive students flooded the streets, calling for an end to the civil war and unity against the outside. In Yanjing, professors spoke passionately in class, praising the anti‑Japanese stance there.

Even the Chairman far away in Jinling, upon seeing the declaration, was moved. He wrote in his diary: "The Red Bandits' proposal is truly a move to buy public sentiment. Yet its words are not without reason…"

In February 1933, inside the Hongdu camp, the Chairman was delivering a speech to party, government and military officials.

"We must implement the New Life Movement!" the Chairman's voice echoed in the hall, "Ritual, righteousness, integrity, and shame are the four pillars of the nation. If the four pillars are not upheld, the nation will perish!"

In the hall, officials sat upright and solemn, but privately they whispered endlessly.

"The Chairman wants to copy those people's mass‑movement tactics," an official whispered.

"Shh! Keep it low. But seriously, with the nation in crisis, doing this is…"

The New Life Movement quickly spread nationwide. In Jinling, police took to the streets correcting pedestrians' attire. In Modu, students organized propaganda squads. In Jiangcheng, merchants were ordered to keep shop fronts tidy.

However, to the grassroots, these measures seemed ill‑timed. An old farmer, looking at the "New Life Movement" slogan on the wall, muttered: "We can't even get enough to eat, and they talk about ritual and righteousness?"

Amid Huaxia's internal and external crises, across the ocean the United States welcomed a new president. On March 4, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in at Washington.

"The only thing we should fear is fear itself." Roosevelt's inaugural address was broadcast worldwide via radio waves.

In Huaxia, the enlightened saw hope in those words. Hu wrote in 'Independent Review': "Roosevelt's New Deal might offer inspiration to Huaxia."

However, Japan's invasion continued unabated. In May, Japanese forces advanced into Chahar. Unexpectedly, former Kuomintang General Feng Yuxiang resurfaced, joining Ji Hongchang and others at Zhangjiakou to form the Chahar People's Anti‑Japanese Allied Army.

Outside Duolun City, Ji Hongchang was leading the anti‑Japanese Allied Army in fierce battle against the Japanese. The former Kuomintang general now raised the banner of anti‑Chiang anti‑Japanese resistance.

"Brothers! Today's battle decides the nation's survival!" Ji Hongchang brandished his big sword, leading from the front.

Incredibly, this ad‑hoc army composed of various forces recaptured Duolun in late May. The news spread, uplifting the whole nation.

In Modu, newspapers featured the victory on the front page. In Yanjing, students marched in celebration. Even the Chairman in Jinling had to admit: "Ji Hongchang's action truly lifts people's spirits."

Yet, as the anti‑Japanese Allied Army's victories kept coming, a heartbreaking report arrived from Jinling.

On May 31, 1933, the National Government signed the 'Tangu Agreement' with Japan. The agreement not only recognized Japan's occupation of the Northeast, but also designated Eastern Hebei as a 'demilitarized zone.'

The news spread, causing a nationwide uproar.

In Yanjing, professors were anguished. In Modu, businesspeople jointly protested. In Guangzhou, students burned Japanese goods in protest.

Upon learning the news in Chahar, Ji Hongchang wrote furiously: "Better to die standing than live kneeling!"

Meanwhile, far in Kunming, Li Yuxuan stared at the telegram in his hand, silent for a long while. Finally, he told Huang Wei: "Prepare, I'm heading back to Jinling."

"Chairman, the matters here…"

"Long Yun is no longer a concern." Li Yuxuan looked toward the northeast, "Now, the real battlefield lies there."