Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 141: Flapping the Butterfly's Wings
In October 1936, the Japanese garrison in China held a large-scale autumn military exercise, driving tanks directly to Chaoyang Gate as a demonstration.

Chiang Kai-shek, who was nominally the head of the central government of the country, was busy encircling Long, Li, and Chen, the three towns in the south. At the same time, he was also busy in the northwest, organizing the so-called Tongwei Campaign.

On the contrary, the 29th Army, which was originally reorganized by warlords, was unwilling to be outdone. It organized three divisions and held an anti-war exercise in Gu'an, Hebei, confronting the Japanese army tit for tat, and many troops responded.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yi immediately sent a thousand powered delta-wing aircraft and $500,000 to the 29th Army, telling them to buy whatever they liked.

In November, Fu Zuoyi led the Suiyuan Anti-Japanese War and achieved great victories in Honggertu and Bailingmiao. By taking the initiative to attack the puppet troops, he achieved military victory and shattered the Japanese's sinister attempt to split Inner Mongolia.

For a time, Fu Zuoyi himself became the third person after Cai Tingkai and Ma Zhanshan to be worthy of the title of national hero. The whole country was excited, morale was boosted, and he received countless donations from home and abroad.

Zheng Yi and Penang naturally would not be willing to be left behind. Zheng Yi signed a check for two million US dollars without saying a word and ordered someone to deliver it to Fu Zuoyi. People in Penang sang and danced, beat drums and gongs, and organized a fundraising meeting.

Zheng Yi didn't care how much money others donated. Instead, Toyota Risaburo and the Yasuda family jointly donated 1.5 million US dollars, which was not much less than Zheng Yi himself.

This sum of 3.5 million US dollars alone allowed Fu Zuoyi to upgrade his wealth and become rich overnight.

Of course, because of this, Toyota Risaburo's reputation in Japan is now ruined. Zheng Yi specially invited Japanese media to interview Toyota Risaburo, hoping to publish his anti-war articles in Japan.

It’s a pity that the crazy right-wing Japanese government would never allow Toyota Risaburo’s article to be published.

In just less than half a year, Zheng Yi's reputation in the Japanese media, the public, and the media circles has undergone a 180-degree turn, from a good friend of the Japanese to a mortal enemy of the Japanese and a demon that divides Japan.

Lin Shaoliang also showed him a Japanese newspaper, in which the abuse against him was extremely harsh.
Moreover, all the Japanese businessmen who had worked with him in the past and had fallen on hard times published statements in newspapers, cursing Zheng Yi in particularly vicious language.

Of course, Zheng Yi didn't care about it. The enemy's insults and curses were the best compliment to the soldiers. He could understand Japanese, and he even felt happy to see the various insults against him in the Japanese newspapers.

Toyota Risaburo was somewhat depressed by the criticism from all walks of life in Japan, especially, even Toyota Kiichiro published an article specifically to abuse him, and it was a 360-degree slander from beginning to end, from small to large.

Although he knew it was just a double act, Toyota Risaburo was still depressed for a long time. After all, he was an orphan and was adopted by the Toyota family. In the end, the family even married their daughter to him, which is why he has achieved such success today.

But now Kiichiro Toyoda is calling him disloyal, unfilial, unkind, unjust, ungrateful and a white-eyed wolf.

It's not just in Japanese society, it's the same everywhere in the world. People with such backgrounds will be despised by the whole society if they break with their master one day and are scolded.

The entire Japanese community was donating money to Fu Zuoyi, and their enthusiasm for donations was even greater than that of most Chinese.
Zheng Yi did not stop them, but asked Lin Shaoliang to hint to them to donate slowly, after all, the fight had not officially started yet.

Zheng Yi's behavior is sending a clear signal to the country: I will support whoever fights against Japan, especially those who take the initiative!

You have to know that at this time, the morale of the northern warlords was not weak, and their preparations were relatively active. The Northwest Army could no longer bear it, and the Northeast Army was almost unable to hold it back.

Fu Zuoyi has become a national hero, but when people mention the Young Marshal, they still call him "the General of Non-Resistance".

The soldiers below were almost going crazy with frustration. The civil war could not be continued no matter what. There were even obvious signs of mutiny among the soldiers.

Strictly speaking, at this time, as long as we can integrate the various Chinese armies, a counterattack is not impossible.

At least, if all the armies can actively prepare for war and make preparations in advance, they can dig trenches when necessary and build fortifications when necessary.

The most important thing is that if the central government can give these northern warlords enough support, although we cannot say that we can win the formal war of resistance, we can at least resist it.

But it is impossible for the Japanese army to advance so quickly after entering the pass, and it is impossible for them to be so devastating in the early stages of the war!
Nanjing's lack of money was also a key factor. Of course, all the limited resources had to be used to attack the central army and the so-called direct line. After all, China at this time was too fragmented and was only unified in name.

What Zheng Yi meant was: I will give you what Nanjing cannot give you.

During this period, the United States was the only one who could provide you with whatever you wanted. As long as you had money, you would have no problem getting equipment and supplies. As long as you did a good job, Zheng Yi would provide financial assistance.

Anyway, he has money now.

Even if he has spent all the cash, he can still apply for a loan from Citibank, HSBC and other banks. With his current reputation, even if he asks for a loan of 100 million, the two banks will rush to lend him the money.

And this approach, of course, is a bit out of line.

In this time and space, thanks to Zheng Yi's funding and help, the uprising in Guangdong and Guangxi was not easily suppressed as in history.

The Cantonese clique, having been engaged in smuggling with Penang for years, had become significantly stronger than it had historically been. Needless to say, the Guangxi clique had always been Penang's closest domestic partner, amassing over 7,000 powered delta-wing aircraft alone. Furthermore, he had even managed to bring General Long over with him, creating a three-way synergy.

Under such circumstances, the Sichuan Army and the Guizhou Army, let alone obeying orders to encircle the enemy, sent envoys to meet Zheng Yi one after another, clearly indicating that they were ready to take action.

Although, just as in history, they quickly drove the Allied Forces out of Hunan after returning to provide support, that was all.

With Zheng Yi's support, there was no mutiny within the Guangdong Army this time, no series of chain reactions, and General Chen did not step down because of this.

As for fighting, Nanjing did not dare to really fight. After all, it was now fighting on all sides and was actually quite exhausted. Moreover, regardless of the north or the south, under the background of the whole country resisting Japan, it was the one who lost the righteousness.

Starting a war at this time would only waste energy. Moreover, the three-province coalition army supported by Zheng Yi would be able to easily defeat the enemy after their tried-and-tested tactic of internal instigation failed. How could they chew through this tough bone easily?
But no one had any idea for a moment and everyone was in a stalemate.

Afterwards, because Zheng Yi’s meaning was so obvious, the others also reacted.

Fu Zuoyi suddenly became so rich just because he fought two such small battles.

Although millions of dollars are just money, it will take time to convert them into real military strength.

But it is no exaggeration to say that if he used all this money to maintain the army, his Sui Army could easily kick out the Jin faction in front and work on his own.

Who wouldn’t be envious? Who wouldn’t be jealous?

As long as you raise the banner of anti-Japanese resistance, you can get 200,000 US dollars. 200,000 US dollars is really not a small amount of money.

And if I could be like Fu Zuoyi...

Who wouldn’t be moved?
Actually, by the end of 36, national sentiment had already been ignited, whether from north to south, from social elites to peddlers. The words "anti-Japanese" could not be said to be in accordance with the will of heaven, but they were definitely in line with the will of the people.

For a time, all the warlords abroad who had a little independence, and even the commanders of the National Army, took the initiative to raise the banner of anti-Japanese resistance, and sent telegrams to Nanjing one after another, requesting an end to the civil war and an all-out war of resistance.

The little butterfly's wings fluttered.

After spending millions of dollars, the domestic calls for anti-Japanese resistance were like huge waves, forming an unstoppable momentum.

With no other options, Nanjing had to start withdrawing its military forces, announce an end to the civil war, and prepare to resist Japan.

Although it was only a little bit earlier, the man was indeed not kidnapped or placed under house arrest.

The effect of deciding to resist Japan only after being kidnapped and being asked to resist Japan immediately by telegrams from almost all warlords in the country, both north and south, is naturally slightly different.

The wings of Zheng Yi's butterfly have begun to influence the course of World War II.

The time to prepare for the enemy was significantly longer than in history, the civil war ended earlier, the warlords became more united, and their financial resources were stronger.

With Zheng Yi spending so much money, they can at least buy some weapons and equipment from European and American Western countries, which will at least enhance their combat effectiveness.

For a moment, Zheng Yi actually felt quite honored, proud, and accomplished.

However, whether as a wealthy businessman or as an overseas Chinese, his interference in domestic political affairs has reached a point that some people can no longer tolerate. In ancient times, all these behaviors were called usurpation.

Not surprisingly, someone came to the door.

"Sir, Mr. Li Huaishuang has arrived. He didn't say hello in advance and took a special plane directly to Penang Airport. He specifically asked to see you. Do you think you can meet him?"

"Is he alone, or is he bringing troops with him? Is the special plane a passenger plane or a military plane?"

"We brought soldiers, probably more than 200 people, and the plane was also a military plane."

Zheng Yi couldn't help but laugh: "More than 200 people were brought to Penang. Who are you trying to scare? Let Li Xiaoshi receive him for me. I will see him when I am free.
Also, tell Li Xiaowei that if he takes away the guns of his men, anyone who dares to fight back will be killed.

I've spoiled them. Do they really think I have to give them face just because I'm a Chinese citizen?"

(End of this chapter)