In the face of Japanese aggression, Zhang Xueliang, the supreme governor of Northeast China, issued an "order of non-resistance" that caused millions of square kilometers of land to fall into the hands of the enemy overnight, becoming an eternal pain in the hearts of the Chinese. However, the truth of history is far more complex than it seems. Today we're going to dig deeper and unravel the layers of that dusty past.
On the night of the outbreak of the 918 Incident, Zhang Xueliang was accompanying the British ambassador and his wife to enjoy Mei Lanfang's Peking Opera performance. Little did he know that the gears of fate had quietly turned, pushing him to a point of choice he had never made before. At that moment, the future of the Northeast and the fate of the country seemed to be hanging under the tip of his pen.
The reason why Zhang Xueliang chose "not to resist" is closely related to his judgment of the international situation. At this time, the global economy was mired in the Great Depression, and the Western powers were too busy to take care of the turmoil in the East. Zhang Xueliang may have pinned his hopes on the intervention of the League of Nations, hoping to resolve the crisis through diplomatic means and avoid a direct military conflict with Japan. History has proved that this expectation is too naïve, and the indifference of the international community has left the Northeast isolated and helpless.
The Northeast Army, on the surface, is strong and strong, but in fact the internal structure is complex, like a huge puzzle piece, each piece has its own will and calculation. Although Zhang Xueliang is the "King of the Northeast", it is difficult to fully control this huge force. The warlords' division and entanglement of interests made it difficult for the Northeast Army to form an effective resistance force. The descendants of the troops are scattered in various places, and some of them have entered the customs to compete for territory, and the defense strength of the northeast has been greatly reduced. In such a context, even the superiority in military strength can hardly be translated into victory on the battlefield.
In the face of the Northeast crisis, Chiang Kai-shek's attitude was particularly crucial. However, he was busy with internal affairs, especially the encirclement and suppression of the Communist Party, and adopted the strategy of "securing the outside world before securing the interior" in response to the Japanese invasion, and had no intention or inability to provide substantial assistance. At the same time, local warlords regard the Northeast as fat, and once the main force of the Northeast Army returns to help, they may take advantage of the weakness and covet the wealth and territory of the Northeast. In this situation of internal and external difficulties, Zhang Xueliang's decision-making space has been greatly compressed, and every choice is full of risks.
Zhang Xueliang may have feared that a full-scale war with Japan would involve the Northeast and the whole country in long-term turmoil, and tried to trade peace through compromise to avoid a greater catastrophe. As the de facto leader of the Northeast, Zhang Xueliang needs to consider international public opinion and avoid being seen as a radical or irresponsible leader, which influences his decision-making to some extent.
In the face of the powerful threat from Japan, Zhang Xueliang may have considered the safety of his own and his family to avoid becoming the target of Japanese retaliation, which may also be a consideration for his choice of "non-resistance".
Zhang Xueliang's "non-resistance order" sparked widespread controversy and criticism in later generations. However, when we look at the long river of history, we will find that this decision was not a simple capitulation, but a difficult choice based on the complex political, military and international environment of the time.
As a historical figure at the center of the whirlpool of the times, Zhang Xueliang's every breath and every action he takes is writing a chapter of history. Later generations should evaluate him beyond simple moral judgments and deeply understand the limitations and challenges of that era.
The September 18 incident not only changed the fate of Northeast China, but also deeply touched the hearts of every Chinese. It reminds us that the choice of history is often full of helplessness and pain, and behind every historical figure, there are unknown hardships and struggles. Let us listen to the voice of history with a more tolerant and understanding attitude, and feel those souls who have struggled in the long river of history.