Chapter 146: The Xi'an Incident 7

On the other side, inside the yaodong, the atmosphere of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee's emergency meeting was as cold and grave as the winter air of the Shaanbei plateau outside the cave. Smoke swirled, reflecting the stern faces of the attendees. The urgent telegram from Xi'an on the table was Zhang Xueliang's notification and invitation, like a red-hot branding iron searing into everyone's hearts.

Gu Yue took a deep drag of his cigarette, slowly exhaled, and swept his gaze over Su Lin, Liu Huaizheng, Zhang Wentian, and the others present: "Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng have poked a hole in the sky in Xi'an and detained the Chairman! This is a sudden incident, and the situation is extremely complex. How we handle it concerns the fate of our Party, and even more so, the fate of the entire nation and people."

Zhang Wentian adjusted his glasses, his tone cautious: "Zhang and Yang—especially Zhang Xueliang—their enthusiasm for the Anti-Japanese cause is genuine. Their eight-point proposal, to stop the civil war and unite against external foes, aligns with the will of the people nationwide and is consistent with the spirit of the Anti-Japanese National United Front we've proposed. On this point, we should affirm and support them."

Liu Huaizheng frowned deeply, with a soldier's characteristic pragmatism: "Supporting their Anti-Japanese stance is necessary. But we must clearly recognize the Chairman's position and influence. If he's killed or held for a long time, what will the consequences be? The pro-Japanese faction within the Jinling Government, people like He Yingqin, are just looking for an excuse. They will surely raise the banner of 'suppressing the rebellion' and launch a large-scale civil war—exactly what the Japanese most want to see! At that point, instead of resisting Japan, we'll plunge the nation into an even deeper abyss of civil war!"

Su Lin took over the conversation. Though he had just arrived, travel-worn, his thinking was exceptionally clear: "Liu Huaizheng is right. Moreover, we must consider an extremely important variable—Jingxing in Xi'an City, along with his Fifth Army and 18th Army." At the mention of this name, the air in the meeting room seemed to grow even heavier.

"This man Jingxing is too unique," Su Lin continued his analysis, his tone calm but every word carrying immense weight. "He grew up with the Chairman. Even though he's now under arrest, he has his own territory and a powerful army that obeys him completely, and his thinking is... more complex. Based on what we know and his previous statements, he agrees with the Anti-Japanese cause and has shown unexpected restraint during this incident. But this restraint has a precondition—ensuring the Chairman's personal safety."

He paused, looked around at everyone, and emphasized: "We can make a conjecture: once the Chairman meets with misfortune in Xi'an, dying at the hands of Zhang and Yang, or from any unclear circumstances. Given Jingxing's personality and the formidable combat power of his troops, he might not hesitate to first agree to jointly resist Japan with us and even Zhang and Yang, because resisting Japan is a matter of great Status and righteousness—he cannot defy it and must use it to unite the military and the people. But—"

Su Lin's tone grew heavier, a sharp light of insight flickering in his eyes: "Once the Anti-Japanese War is won, or once external pressure eases slightly, given his Loyalty to the Chairman and his vengeful, promise- and bottom-line-obsessed, and extremely controlling personality, he is very likely to turn his guns around. Under the banner of avenging the Chairman and purging the Betrayal, he will launch an unrelenting purge against Zhang, Yang, and even us. At that time, he will hold the moral and legal high ground, and the energy and destructiveness he unleashes will probably be far more terrifying than the likes of He Yingqin. So, the Chairman cannot die now—at least not in Xi'an."

Gu Yue nodded heavily, stubbed out his cigarette, and made a decision: "Looking at it comprehensively, if we kill Chiang, civil war will inevitably break out, Japan will profit, and Old Li might not treat us the way the Southwest does. If we release Chiang and force him to resist Japan, then peace is possible, and the united front can be achieved. Therefore, our current policy should be: resolutely oppose a new civil war, advocate for a peaceful resolution between Jinling and Xi'an on the basis of united resistance against Japan. Use every method to ally with the left wing of the Kuomintang in Jinling, win over the centrists, oppose the pro-Japanese faction, and push the Jinling Government toward resisting Japan. Give active, practical military and political aid to Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng, urging them to firmly solidify their Anti-Japanese convictions. At the same time, make preparations to meet a possible punitive expedition from He Yingqin."

He looked at Su Lin: "Comrade Su Lin, you are the most suitable person. The Central Committee has decided that you will lead a delegation to Xi'an immediately to consult with Generals Zhang and Yang, state our Party's position, strive for a peaceful resolution, and promote the realization of a nationwide Anti-Japanese situation."

Compared to the swift decision-making of the Chinese Communist Party in Shaanbei, the chaos in Jinling continued to intensify after the thirteenth. The clamor for a "punitive expedition" at He Yingqin's residence grew louder by the day. Military deployments were already underway; the Central Army began advancing toward Tongguan, reconnaissance planes frequently buzzed over Xi'an, and the clouds of war gathered thick.

"We can't wait any longer!" He Yingqin was practically roaring at the Military Affairs Department meeting. "The Chairman is in distress, the nation's dignity is trampled! The punitive expedition order must be issued immediately, crush Xi'an by force! Delay will bring change, and the Party and the nation are in peril!"

However, Song Meiling, Song Ziwen, and Kong Xiangxi—the core of the "pro-British-American faction"—along with some elders, fought back vigorously. Ignoring accusations that "women should not meddle in politics," Song Meiling personally stepped forward, using her influence to rush around everywhere, desperately trying to stop He Yingqin's extreme military action.

In a fierce confrontation with He Yingqin, her eyes glistened with tears but her tone was firm: "Mr. Jingzhi! You keep talking about suppressing the rebellion to save the nation, but if your planes bomb Xi'an and hit the New City Building, the first one to die will be the Chairman! Are you trying to save the Chairman, or harm him? Is this Loyalty to the Party and the nation, or do you have other motives? Besides, Jingxing's Fifth Army and 18th Army have long been outside Xi'an City. Instead of worrying about the Chairman, you'd better think carefully—if the Chairman really gets hurt, how will you face the great army in the Southwest?"

At the same time, she constantly tried to contact Zhang Xueliang in Xi'an through radio, encrypted telegrams, and even by risking the use of foreign journalist and advisor Donald's channel. "Hanqing, I ask you to ensure the Chairman's safety! All issues can be discussed, but the precondition is guaranteeing his life! You must give me this guarantee!" On the phone, Song Meiling's voice carried an unmistakable urgency and a hint of a woman's unique pleading, which to some extent swayed Zhang Xueliang, at least making him more certain that he must ensure the Principal's absolute safety—especially thinking of Li Yuxuan's Fifth Army and 18th Army lurking outside the city.

Thanks to the full mediation efforts of Song Meiling and others, and with Kong Xiangxi having taken over as acting head of the Executive Yuan, using procedures to temporarily restrain He Yingqin, on the nineteenth, the Jinling side finally reluctantly agreed to let Song Ziwen go to Xi'an first in a "private capacity" to scout the situation and pave the way for subsequent negotiations.