Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 149 Overseas Chinese Anti-Japanese War
In a blink of an eye, another half a year has passed.

In the Battle of Shanghai, China was ultimately defeated.

Although Japan only has a population of more than 6000 million, it was able to mobilize a full 150 million people after militarization.

After withstanding the Chinese offensive in East China, they successfully pushed back, while the Northeast and North China Front Armies were not mobilized at all, and were even able to fight on two fronts in the north, fighting the Battle of North China and the Battle of Taiyuan at the same time.

This mobilization capability far exceeds the imagination of those in the domestic military.

The National Army only has 202 million people!
This was the result of decades of civil war, and more than half of them were ragtag troops that were of no use. The number of them who could actually go to the battlefield and actively attack the Japanese army was definitely no more than 100 million.

In other words, the Chinese army, with a population of over 400 million, did not have much advantage over the Japanese army even in terms of numbers.

Such a ratio of military to civilians and such mobilization efficiency made everyone in the government a little confused. After all, militarism was something that everyone had no idea about before.

In fact, Zheng Yi knew very well that this was not the limit, or even the upper limit, of Japan's mobilization capabilities.

You have to know that in his impression, the total number of Japanese troops in the late World War II reached 715 million.

Including those who had been killed or wounded, the total was almost two million. That means Japan, a country with a population of 6000 million, actually threw almost nine million soldiers onto the battlefield.

To put it bluntly, except for women, the elderly, and children, all men, except for the necessary military industry engineers, are involved.

God knows how this society is maintained.

In contrast, China was the passive defender in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and its maximum mobilization capacity was only 500 million.

We can’t afford to support any more than that, and this is assuming international aid.

This is the huge gap between industrial countries and agricultural countries, which is like a chasm. Their weapons and equipment are inferior to others, and their training is not as good as others. That's all, but even in terms of mass troops and numbers, they don't have much advantage.

Of course, China's human resource pool is more abundant, and the bombing is carried out domestically, so even if there are casualties, there can be replacements. When one soldier falls, the next soldier can take his place.

This may be considered a miserable advantage.

To be honest, Zheng Yi may be the one who has the clearest understanding of how big the gap between the two countries is right now.

The gap is really too big.

And just like in history, because the Battle of Shanghai was so fierce, the elite troops of the National Army were all killed. And some people were indeed desperate because they could not win the battle even though they fought so hard, so they chose the so-called roundabout way to save the country, and the National Government was actually divided.

Under such circumstances, any discerning person could see that Nanjing could not be defended. The only difference was whether the top leaders of the Nationalist government would fight to the death or simply be cowardly and choose to surrender.

The situation in the north was no less severe, with North China and Taiyuan falling one after another.

Pessimists, seeing no hope at all, choose to become traitors, and the number of traitors is increasing.

Everyone has realized that the Chinese nation is truly facing a crisis of national extinction. People at home and abroad are excited. Those who have money contribute money, those who have strength contribute strength, and everyone is fighting the war.

Needless to say, Zheng Yi himself was donating money, and without any surprise he became the chairman of the Nanyang Anti-Japanese Fundraising Association. He signed a monthly donation agreement of two million US dollars on the spot.

The enthusiasm for donations throughout Nanyang was shocking. Zheng Yi and the wealthy businessmen of the Penang Management Committee mostly signed monthly donation agreements, which meant donating money every month to cover military expenses.

Smaller vendors, factory owners, and the middle class were frantically buying up government bonds, national defense bonds, and military construction bonds.

Historically, there seems to be not much difference between buying government bonds and directly donating money.

Ordinary people mostly donated money for charity sales, charity performances, and charity dances. Dance hall dancers all over Southeast Asia were at the forefront of donations. Charity football matches, dragon and lion dances, etc. were also organized in various places.

There are also special donations, winter clothing donations, car donations, airplane donations, donations for needy children, festival donations, and other miscellaneous donations. There are more than ten types of donations.

Whether it is tycoons like Zheng Yi or peddlers at the bottom of society, even students from various schools have launched the "Spend one cent less on lunch" campaign.

For a time, everyone in Nanyang donated money for no reason. The whole of Penang also donated about 30 million US dollars in the past six months.

Considering that a large portion of this money would be embezzled if donated directly to the Nationalist government, Zheng Yi purchased arms directly from Britain and the United States. To be honest, his relationship with the British and American governments and arms companies was much better than that of the Nationalist government.

Historically, the British Colonial Office imposed relatively large restrictions on overseas Chinese donations to the anti-Japanese war. For example, it strictly prohibited overseas Chinese organizations from raising the banner of anti-Japanese resistance in order to affect Britain-Japan relations. Overseas Chinese organizations could also organize donations in the name of disaster relief, comfort, etc.

Of course, the Colonial Bureau of this time and space also contacted Zheng Yi, but Zheng Yi ignored them at all. He even directly criticized the British government's weakness and appeasement in British newspapers, and directly called them a group of women who had their balls beaten in the First World War.

This caused the conflict between Zheng Yi and the Colonial Bureau, which had just been eased with great difficulty, to become even more tense again.

Of course, this is all done on the surface for outsiders to see. In fact, at least the Colonial Bureau in Nanyang has long been one of Zheng Yi's own people. This can be regarded as a double act. The Colonial Bureau did it for the Japanese to see:
"Look, it's not that I don't want to take care of it, but we can't do anything about this gentleman."

Zheng Yi also became the God of Wealth shared by the national government and various armies in the country.

Of course, there are also some downsides, that is, the money that these Chinese who are away from home send back home cannot always reach their families smoothly.

The government played currency exchange tricks just as it did in the past, and domestic inflation was severe, so families were often considered lucky if they could keep half or even one-third of the remittances they received.

Moreover, many knowledgeable people can see that Fujian and Guangdong provinces will fall sooner or later.

Escaping from war is also a human instinct. Anyone who has relatives or family members in Southeast Asia, or those who simply want to avoid military service, all fled to Southeast Asia in boats. When Penang was full, they fled to Yangon in boats.

The influx of a large number of people in a short period of time caught Zheng Yi off guard. There was no distinction between houses in Yangon, and all kinds of temporary tents were built, making it look a bit like an Indian slum.

However, in addition to donating money, there are also many people in Nanyang who are willing to contribute to the motherland, or even more.

Inspired by the heroic Battle of Shanghai, many people in Southeast Asia were willing to return to China and participate in the anti-Japanese war. It could even be said that they were too enthusiastic, so enthusiastic that Zheng Yi was a little annoyed.

The National Government directly set up conscription offices in Penang, Yangon, Manila, Singapore and other Chinese cities. This was politically correct and in the interests of society, so Zheng Yi could not stop it.

However, the anti-Japanese patriotic sentiments of the people in Southeast Asia were too high, with hundreds of people signing up every day. Among them were even engineers and skilled workers with excellent skills. Production was even delayed.

Secret society organizations such as the Hongmen and Huaji simply took the guns given to them by Zheng Yi and organized several death squads to go back and fight the Japanese to the death.

Among these people, more than half are second-generation, third-generation, and even fourth-generation Chinese who have never returned to China in their lives, have never eaten a grain of rice from their motherland, and have never drunk a drop of water from their motherland. Now they all come to Zheng Yi with guns in hand to resign.

For example, the "Singapore Suicide Squad", "Manila Scouts", "Philippine Meteor Regiment", "Siam Special Forces", "Burma National Salvation Army", and so on, various special operations teams organized by overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia emerged one after another, each more enthusiastic than the other.

Especially the Chinese in Siam. After returning to China, this group of people were directly assigned to the Military Control Commissioner named Dai. After returning to China, they all participated in special warfare training. After completing their studies, they were all sent back to Siam.

Because Siam was a pro-Japanese government, these Chinese people specialized in sabotage and covert infiltration operations against Japan.

A sincere patriotic heart, however, pushed the ethnic relationship between the Thai people in Siam and the Chinese further apart.
To be honest, these passionate Siamese youths engaged in special operations have indeed made the situation of the entire Chinese community in Siam much more difficult.

How can Penang be content to lag behind others?

"Ah~"

In Zheng Yi's office, after a long battle, Zheng Yi shivered comfortably.

Then he hurriedly looked around for his pants.

You Zi grumbled in dissatisfaction, "What are you doing? Even if you need to do something, why do you have to be in the office? Are you in such a hurry?"

Wang Qiaoyun: "Where's my fucking bra?"

Today, Zheng Yi came to the office to handle some official business for a while, and Wang Qiaoyun came to find him and deliberately drove Li Lili out, saying that she had something important to report to him alone.

Zheng Yi didn't understand the situation either. As soon as Li Lili left, she pounced on him and kissed him. She actually took the initiative and forced Zheng Yi to have sex with her. This was even Wang Qiaoyun's first time.

"Hey~"

There was already a feeling between Zheng Yi and her, but because of Li Jiazhi, they both kept this feeling in their hearts.

Wang Qiaoyun was a rich lady after all, and she was extremely proud. It was absolutely impossible for her to accept two women sharing one man, let alone being his concubine.

Zheng Yi had actually guessed what she was thinking now that she was acting so proactively, but he still asked without giving up:
"Now that we're officially married, I'll go home and talk to Jiazhi. No matter what, I'll marry you and treat you just like her, no matter how big or small. How do you do that?"

Wang Qiaoyun: "Get lost! It's a fucking new age now, and you're still thinking about having three wives and four concubines. You're a fucking bastard! Don't tell Jiazhi about what happened today. Do you hear me?"

"Hey~, can you not leave?" "No, I've already signed up for the Meteor League and will leave tomorrow."

Zheng Yi frowned: "But I heard that the National Army doesn't want female soldiers. Even the Meteor Wing doesn't want female pilots."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qiaoyun couldn't help but curse: "That damn Chiang Kai-shek, he looks down on us women. Dahua, Dazhi and the others have been fighting the Japanese in the Battle of Shanghai for a long time, but he just doesn't want me. This is clearly discrimination!"

As she spoke, Wang Qiaoyun was so angry that she couldn't help herself.

There are many young masters in Nanyang who can fly planes. There are flying clubs in several Chinese cities. Wang Qiaoyun also learned to fly planes in this way.
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, many of these young masters from Southeast Asia joined the Meteor Battalion and returned to China to participate in the war.

Most of the first batch of pilots in the country had already died, and these rich young men from Southeast Asia were even the main force of the domestic air force for a period of time.

Almost no one can come back alive.

"Didn't they say the Meteor League doesn't want women? What else are you going to do?"

"Well, they didn't allow women to go to the battlefield, but they said I was a good pilot and asked me to be an instructor on Hong Kong Island."

"That's it..."

After hearing this, Zheng Yi felt a little more at ease and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, the combat loss rate of the Kuomintang pilots was too high.

If you work as an instructor and don't go to the battlefield, your chances of survival will be higher.

However, Zheng Yi still did not give up and asked: "Can you not leave? Going to the battlefield to teach people how to fly airplanes is saving the country, and staying in Nanyang can also save the country.

We can continue to produce powered tripods. Also, I'm buying a plane to donate. I'll leave the procurement of the plane to you, okay?"

As far as Zheng Yi knew, the Japanese Air Force had bombed the Air Force Training School in Hong Kong Island in history. Although being an instructor there was much safer than directly joining the Air Force, it still involved certain risks.

Besides, the Japanese did attack Hong Kong Island in history!
After the Japanese occupied Hong Kong Island, all organizations that had engaged in anti-Japanese activities, such as the Air Force School and the Smuggling Brigade, were killed without mercy.

Wang Qiaoyun said, "In my family, my third and fourth brothers have returned to join the army. As the eldest sister, I have always been willful and mischievous since I was a child, and I have never done anything serious.
Although I'm now the general manager after meeting you, I know it's all because of you. If I weren't the general manager, anyone else would be able to do the job, and even do it better."

"In my life, I've always wanted to do something big, but I've never succeeded. This time, I don't want to rely on you or my father anymore. I want to go back and do something practical, fighting alongside my third and fourth brothers."

"But……"

Zheng Yi wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Wang Qiaoyun: "Don't bother to keep me. My parents can't keep me, let alone you. I'm just sleeping with you, not really becoming your wife."

Zheng Yi: “…………”

After saying that, Wang Qiaoyun gently kissed Zheng Yi on the lips.

"You... performed well. If I can come back alive, I'll let you do it again."

"Hey, you...you...the Japanese will attack Hong Kong Island. When that happens, you must run back in advance. There is no point in resisting stubbornly. Hong Kong Island cannot be defended, but Penang can be defended."

"Will the Japanese attack Hong Kong Island? Will they go to war with Britain?"

Zheng Yi nodded.

"We'll attack Penang too. You, you must come back before the war. If you stay, you'll be dead. Hong Kong Island won't be viable."

"That...that's really...great."

After saying that, Wang Qiaoyun turned and left.

But he didn't say whether she would come back at that time.

Zheng Yi felt empty and irritable inside. The momentary joy he had just felt was gone, and his chest felt like it was blocked by a huge stone.

dong dong dong.

As soon as Wang Qiaoyun left, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

When he opened the door and saw He Shili, he couldn't help but feel a headache.

"Are you leaving again? How long have you been outside the door?"

"It's been more than ten minutes."

"Is it interesting to eavesdrop on the wall?"

"It's alright, you're still pretty strong, Mr. Zheng. This is a blood letter from the Perlis State Militia requesting to join the fight."

"Grass"

"A total of 30,000 men have volunteered to go back with me. Is that approved?"

"Do we really have to leave? If we stay in Nanyang, we can still contribute to the country and defend our homeland. We have two million troops at home. Two million, what's the point of missing thirty thousand of you? Nanyang needs you even more."

He Shili said with a smile: "We are not as capable as you, who can make money and donate to military expenses. I can do nothing except fighting.

At this critical moment for the survival of the nation, the soldiers on the front lines are fighting bloody battles, and my former colleagues in the Northeast Army are fighting to the death. You want me to stay in Southeast Asia and do nothing but watch. I can't do it."

After saying this, He Shili stood at attention and saluted, then said solemnly, "I, the militia commander, He Shili, resign from my post. I hope you will approve it."

"Hey~"

Zheng Yi let out a long sigh.

He really didn't want He Shili to leave. They were short of military talents in Nanyang and were counting on He Shili to take the lead.

He really put a lot of effort into the militia in Perlis.

If the overall situation of World War II had not caused such a big storm because of Zheng Yi's little butterfly, he would have had a fight with the Japanese sooner or later.

He spent so much money to train the Perlis militia, wasn't it just to fight the Japanese, not to let them return to their country and fight.

The entire militia now has only more than 60,000 standing troops. Just take half of them away from me!

Besides, if you, the commander of the militia, leave, who can I find to replace you?

Unfortunately, I can’t keep it.

Even though he said many times that the Japanese were likely to attack Penang, both He Shili and the soldiers still insisted on returning to their country to fight the war. The Battle of Shanghai was so tragic that they knew they would die if they went back.

Now that he has used the collective blood letter trick, what else can Zheng Yi do?
"Hey~, let's go, let's all go, but Lao He, promise me that you must come back alive, okay?"

He Shili smiled when he heard this.

"I try my best."

After saying that, He Shili left with a smile. At that moment, the sunlight coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows sprinkled on his body, making him look particularly handsome.

It was as if he was not going to the battlefield, but to get a promotion, a raise, and to marry a new wife.

Even after the office door was closed, Zheng Yi felt even more upset. He lowered his head to glance at the long list of names written in blood on his desk, and his eyes became wet unconsciously.

"Try your best to...come back alive. I haven't given you a good life yet."

　It was the original historical trajectory for Wang Qiaoyun to go to Hong Kong Island to be an air force instructor.

　　Historically, the old lady lived to be over seventy years old, which is considered a long life.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)