Chapter 132: Year

In May 1933 in Jinling, the plum rain had just begun. Inside the President's Office, the Chairman was bent over reviewing documents, and familiar footsteps sounded outside the door. He looked up and saw Li Yuxuan, dust‑covered and weary, standing at the entrance, his military uniform still stained with Southwest dust.

"Jingxing is back," the Chairman put down his pen, his tone calm as if the two had only parted yesterday.

Li Yuxuan strode in, neglecting all propriety: "Young Master, I've heard about the Tanggu Agreement. We should immediately organize Anti‑Japanese forces! The Japanese ambition will never stop at the Northeast!"

The Chairman rose slowly and walked to the window: "Japan is not worth fearing. What you should do now is stabilize the Southwest."

"Stabilize the Southwest?" Li Yuxuan said, his voice heated as he moved beside the Chairman, "Young Master, look at the current situation! The Japanese have already made gains in Huabei, and we are still here…"

"Jingxing!" the Chairman sprang up, his gaze sharp, "Are you trying to teach me how to act?"

The office fell silent for a moment. Li Yuxuan inhaled deeply, striving to calm himself: "I wouldn't dare. It's just… it's just thinking of our compatriots in the Northeast, of the soldiers who fell on the Great Wall…"

The Chairman's expression softened slightly; he patted Li Yuxuan's shoulder: "I understand your feelings. But Jingxing, governing a nation is like playing chess; you can't focus on a single move. Japan is indeed detestable, but the Red Bandits are the real internal threat."

They talked from afternoon to dusk, the tea changing several rounds, yet their views never aligned. Finally, Li Yuxuan sprang to his feet: "Since the Young Master insists, I have no choice but to return to the Southwest."

The Chairman offered no plea, merely saying lightly: "Remember, stabilizing the Southwest is your current duty."

After returning to Kunming, Li Yuxuan immediately launched a massive operation. He ordered that the arms factories relocated from the Northeast and the ones he had previously established be moved entirely to the Southwest Hinterland.

"Director, where should these pieces of equipment be shipped?" the engineer corps commander asked.

Li Yuxuan stood before the map, his finger pointing to the deep mountains of Guizhou: "Here, and also here. Choose locations that are hard to reach but rich in resources. Remember, disperse the layout to avoid being wiped out in one net."

In the months that followed, transport teams shuttled through the towering peaks of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. After being dismantled, the machinery was hauled by mule‑horses into hidden valleys. Local Miao and Yi peoples were hired to help, and hidden arms factories sprang up in the deep mountains.

Long Yun sensed Li Yuxuan's moves and realized trouble was brewing. One deep night, he summoned his confidants for a secret meeting.

"Li Yuxuan is planning to take root in the Southwest," Long Yun said, his expression grim, "He relocates arms factories, reorganizes the army; the next step is to eradicate us Local Warlords completely."

"Chairman, what should we do?"

"Go!" Long Yun decided on the spot, "While we still can, prepare to evacuate immediately."

Three days later, on a rainy night, Long Yun led dozens of confidants and a large amount of gold, silver, and cash, slipping away from Kunming and fleeing to French Indochina.

Just as Li Yuxuan was intensifying his Southwest strategy, in November 1933, Fujian sent shocking news: Li Jishi, Chen Mingshu, Jiang Guangnai, Cai Tingkai and others launched an anti‑Jiang, anti‑Japanese incident, establishing the "Republic of China People's Revolutionary Government".

When the news reached Jinling, the Chairman was having breakfast. After reading the telegram, he slowly set down his chopsticks and said to Qian Dajun, "Notify the Military Affairs Department and convene an emergency meeting at once."

Inside the Jinling Presidential Office, the atmosphere was heavy. He Yingqin spoke first: "Chairman, the th Route Army is about to rebel! We must suppress it immediately!"

Chen Cheng continued: "Their slogan of uniting with the Red Bandits to resist Japan is highly incendiary. If not crushed early, it may trigger a chain reaction."

The Chairman remained silent for a long while, then suddenly asked: "What response is there on Jingxing's side?"

"Chairman Li called for instructions, asking whether troops should be dispatched to assist in quelling the rebellion."

"No need," the Chairman said with a laugh, waving his hand, "Let him stay in the Southwest. Send the order to Wei Lihuang to lead his troops into Fujian immediately."

At the same time, Fuzhou City was in high spirits. At the th Route Army headquarters, Li Jishi, Chen Mingshu and others were discussing grand plans.

"We must quickly establish contact with those people," Cai Tingkai said, "Relying on ourselves alone, we cannot confront the Chairman's Central Army, let alone Li Yuxuan's Fifth Army, which is still in the Southwest and could strike at any moment."

Jiang Guangnai said anxiously, "But will those people trust us? After all, we once encircled and suppressed them."

"Times change," Chen Mingshu said firmly, "Now that the nation faces peril, since those people have expressed willingness to unite against Japan, they should not refuse us."

While they were deliberating, the Chairman's forces had already begun advancing toward Fujian. Wei Lihuang led the Fifth Route Army, splitting into three columns, charging straight at Fuzhou.

In Kunming on the other side, Li Yuxuan closely monitored the developments in Fujian.

"Chairman, should we make a statement?" Huang Wei asked.

Li Yuxuan stood before the Military Map, silent for a long while. Finally, he said, "Send a report to the Chairman, expressing firm support for the Central Suppression. At the same time, order all units to strengthen vigilance against unforeseen events."

"The Director is worried…"

"I worry about nothing," Li Yuxuan interrupted, "It's just that the current situation is turbulent; caution is paramount."

He walked to the window, gazing toward the Northeast, murmuring, "Anti‑Japanese… anti‑Jiang… these people, they think the problem is too simple."

The Fujian incident ultimately ended in failure. In December 1933, under the Chairman's massive encirclement, the "Republic of China People's Revolutionary Government" collapsed. Li Jishi, Chen Mingshu and others were forced to flee to Hong Kong.

When the news arrived, Li Yuxuan was inspecting the newly built arms factory. After hearing the report, he said lightly, "Understood."

"Chairman, is that all for this matter?"

"Finished?" Li Yuxuan chuckled, "This is only a beginning. The Japanese are still watching hungrily, and domestic factions are openly and covertly battling. The real storm is still ahead."

He turned to Huang Wei and said, "Accelerate the arms‑factory construction schedule. I have a feeling it will be put to use soon."