Oda Toshito felt a prickle of anger. This Qin Dechun truly refused a toast only to drink a forfeit. Yet the matter of the railways was of grave importance; as a foreign affairs representative, he lacked both the authority and the nerve to break openly with the North China authorities on his own initiative.
"Does Committee Member Qin still remember the charter of the Hebei-Chahar Political Affairs Council? Neither the Chinese nor the Japanese side is to interfere with, clash with, or engage in hostilities against the other. The Chinese side's actions completely disregard our agreements, severely damaging the mutual trust in our cooperation."
"I don't recall any clause in the council's charter stating that whenever Japanese soldiers go missing or become casualties, it must be blamed on us Chinese. This is Beiping, not Tokyo."
Qin Dechun spoke very slowly, pausing between each deliberate word, each syllable striking like steel.
Oda smiled faintly and said, "Committee Member Qin, do not be hasty. Allow me to put three questions and three demands to you. Consider them carefully before you reply.
"First: Five Imperial Army soldiers lost their lives at Lijiatun. Your troops mounted an unauthorized attack that engulfed our forces. Is this not your command's responsibility? In regard to this, our side demands that all Chinese forces along the Jinnan Highway immediately withdraw from the Fengnan area, which will be taken over entirely by our forces, and that the units responsible for the attack be disarmed and handed over to us for disposal.
"Second: Regarding the construction of railways in southern Hebei, Chairman Song previously made promises to us. In his absence, should the approval not fall to you? In regard to this, our side demands decision-making authority over the railways, salt tax, and customs duties throughout all of North China, as well as the joint development of the North China region alongside your command.
"Third: Regarding the independence of the five North China provinces, we believe internal consultations on your side have already reached a conclusion. Independence for the five provinces is precisely what the people desire, and Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity is the inexorable trend of history. Your administration delays again and again—do you intend to go against the will of the people? In regard to this, our side demands a definitive answer from you today."
Once the three questions were posed, Qin Dechun had heard more than enough. Were these questions? Were these demands? This was banditry! This was outright robbery!
Forget three—not even zero point three of them was fucking acceptable!
"Mr. Oda, you truly live up to your reputation as an old China hand. You certainly have some accomplishment in Chinese culture. But at the end of the day, you are not Chinese." Qin Dechun tilted his head, shook it slightly with a mournful expression, and murmured, "You do not understand the Chinese people. Since ancient times, there has never been a precedent for Chinese people submitting to foreigners."
"Committee Member Qin exaggerates. The Imperial Army's original intention is to pursue co-prosperity," Oda said.
Co-prosperity... Qin Dechun burst into laughter. High-sounding words indeed.
"Since you have three questions and three demands, I have three questions of my own. Hear them out before you answer."
"Speak, Committee Member Qin. So long as it helps advance our mutual cooperation and communication, I will hold nothing back."
Qin Dechun twirled the fountain pen in his hand, paused for a moment, and rose to his feet:
"As far as I know, Lijiatun currently falls within the defense sector of the East Hebei Anti-Communist Autonomous Government. The Japanese side repeatedly insists that this is not a puppet regime, but an autonomous government. Why, then, were armed Japanese soldiers entering it? What happened to the mutual non-interference and mutual non-subordination that your side previously proclaimed?
"Next: The Japanese side repeatedly meddles in our affairs regarding North China's economic matters. Whether railways are built in southern Hebei or coal mines are dug in western Hebei is strictly our own business; there is no need for your side to trouble yourselves. Pressuring us day after day—does this not smack of interfering in our internal affairs? Under such circumstances, how can you speak of five-province autonomy?
"Finally: The five North China provinces are, and will forever be, Chinese territory. You want our answer today? Very well. Army Commander Song is not here today, and since I, Qin Dechun, am acting in his stead, here is my reply: You want us to withdraw? Impossible! You want to build railways? Impossible! You want autonomy? Fine—withdraw all Japanese forces from North China, withdraw from the Northeast, and then I will talk with you!"
With that, he slammed the fountain pen onto the tabletop with a sharp thud. Qin Dechun's face had darkened completely, killing intent radiating between his brows.
Oda Toshito's face had flushed crimson with rage, his teeth grinding audibly. Flustered and furious, he snapped:
"Committee Member Qin is truly glib and eloquent! Are you trying to emulate ancient Chinese sages by indulging in verbal acrobatics? Let me tell you the truth: the military is exceedingly displeased with this attack at Lijiatun. If the Chinese side does not give us a satisfactory answer, we will take a series of countermeasures—without ruling out war!"
Brandishing military threats? Qin Dechun had known all along that this creature would say something like that. But with Song Zheyuan away, Qin Dechun's only response was:
"If your military insists on war, I am prepared to defend every inch of North China with my life! If war breaks out, the Japanese side will bear all the consequences!"
Oda Toshito had truly never expected this officer—who had once signed treaties ceding territory as a representative—to be so unyielding. Given the current disposition of Japanese forces in North China, swallowing the 29th Army whole would still pose considerable difficulty.
"Committee Member Qin, you insist on this stance, but I wonder if Chairman Song is aware?"
Oda Toshito wanted to take a roundabout angle to find an opening, but Qin Dechun's mind was made up. He had already cut off any path of retreat:
"Even if Army Commander Song were here today, his answer would be the same as mine. If you have no other business, please leave. As for Lijiatun, conduct yourselves with restraint. If Japanese armed forces continue to provoke our side and appear where they do not belong, do not blame our army for fighting back in self-defense!"
Knowing further dialogue was futile and enraged by Qin Dechun's defiance, Oda Toshito barked:
"Qin Dechun, you are ruining your own future!"
Future? As a member of the pro-war faction, Qin Dechun could never understand the mindset of the capitulationists. Did securing some petty post in a puppet government mean soaring to greatness?
History had already provided the answer. Whether it was the last emperor, Puyi, or the traitorous East Hebei government established today, Yin Rugeng was already being hunted by anti-Japanese patriots from all quarters. He did not dare show his face, hiding out from day to day. Was that what they called a "future"?
"I thank you for your concern over my career, but I have official duties to attend to and cannot keep you company. Please see yourself out."
With these words, Oda Toshito left in a huff. That night, Qin Dechun remained in the Mayor's Office of the Beiping Municipal Government, lingering long into the dark. Weighed before him was the fate of all North China.
Pondering until the third watch of the night, Qin Dechun dialed the telephone to Tong Linge's home.
"Brother Jiesan."
Tong Linge had only just drifted off to sleep when the shrill ringing pulled him back to reality. He rolled over and took the receiver. "Brother Shaowen, calling so late—is there urgent military business?"
Tong Linge's nerves were taut as well. It had taken hours of tossing and turning for him to fall asleep tonight. The news of Song Zheyuan returning to his ancestral home had caught him completely off guard too. He had seen firsthand how aggressively the Japanese pressed Song Zheyuan during the day. At this critical juncture, every rustle of wind felt like an enemy approaching, leaving everyone on edge.
"The devils just sent a foreign affairs representative to negotiate with me. He demanded that I surrender the units that attacked Lijiatun, and also claimed control over southern Hebei's railways, customs, and other rights. I threw him out."
"Intolerable bullying." Tong Linge sat up, his mind snapping wide awake in an instant. His eyes glinted in the dark. "Brother Shaowen, our sovereignty can never be conceded. You did the right thing—you have my full backing."
Qin Dechun felt a surge of warmth in his chest, his hand gripping the receiver trembling slightly. "Yet I still cannot put my mind at ease. With Commander Song away, the hundred thousand sons of the Northwest Army have no head. If the Japanese exploit this void to strike, another catastrophe will be hard to avoid."
Tong Linge pondered for a moment, then replied, "Brother Shaowen, why not seize this chance? I will step forward and host a banquet at Zhongnanhai, inviting Japanese officials of all ranks under the pretext of easing relations between our two sides. We can probe their real intentions, and at the same time buy us some time to reorganize our troops and prepare for war."
Playing good cop and bad cop—one singing the red face and one the white face—was one of the quintessential skills of the Chinese.
"That works too. I will trouble you with it, Brother Jiesan."
Chapter 41