Ninety-two years ago, Japan provoked the South Manchuria railway bomb attack and shifted the blame to China, using this as an excuse to launch the "September 18 Incident" that shocked the world. Only a few months after the incident, the three northeastern provinces fell completely.
In addition to Japan's own strength, there is another important reason, and that is the "non-resistance" policy of the Kuomintang. Many people thought that this policy was issued by Chiang Kai-shek, but this was not the case, and the publisher was someone else.
On September 18, 1931, a major event occurred, when Japan launched an attack on the three northeastern provinces under the pretext that China had blown up the South Manchuria Railway, which was later known as the "September 18 Incident".
However, all this was the result of Japan's premeditated design, which was directed and staged in order to occupy the northeast region, and thus to achieve the occupation of all of China.
The reason why Japan was able to quickly occupy the northeastern region was inseparable from the "support" of the Kuomintang, which adopted a new tactic, that is, a policy of "non-resistance".
The so-called policy of "non-resistance", that is, not resisting the Japanese army, adopting a weak attitude towards the Japanese army, and not organizing any confrontational actions, this behavior was undoubtedly one of the reasons for such a rapid fall of the Tohoku region.
Many people believe that the policy of non-resistance was ordered by Chiang Kai-shek, but this is not the case, and Chiang Kai-shek at that time was still commanding troops to encircle and suppress the Red Army, and it was impossible to know about it.
It was not until the evening of the second day of the "September 18 Incident" that Chiang Kai-shek learned the news, but at this time Shenyang had already fallen, and Chiang Kai-shek, as the supreme leader, naturally became a scapegoat. So who exactly gave the policy of "non-resistance"?
Zhang Xueliang, a senior Kuomintang general and head of the Northeast Army, gave the answer in a later interview. Zhang Xueliang is the son of the northeastern warlord Zhang Zuolin, who studied military theory Xi military academy in his early years, and showed outstanding military talent in his Xi.
In battle, he can always defeat the enemy with a precise plan, and is deeply loved by Zhang Zuolin. After Zhang Zuolin was brutalized by the Japanese army in Huanggutun, Zhang Xueliang carried the banner of the Northeast warlords. However, how can he be compared to those seasoned warlords at such a young age?
Zhang Xue's conscience was clear, so he announced that he had joined the Kuomintang and obeyed the command of the people, which can be regarded as having the backer of the people. Chiang Kai-shek imprisoned Zhang Xueliang for decades and was not freed until 1990.
In an interview after regaining his freedom, he confessed that he had given the order of "no resistance" and was ashamed of it, which led Chiang Kai-shek to bear a lifelong blame.
Zhang Xueliang explained that he did not realize that the Japanese army's ambitions were so huge at that time, so he chose not to resist in order to avoid provoking the Japanese. However, a batch of Chiang Kai-shek historical archives released by Taiwan in 2019 made things confusing.
The archives include Chiang Kai-shek's manuscripts before the "September 18 Incident", especially about the telegram of Zhang Xueliang to Chiang Kai-shek for instructions on how to deal with the Japanese army after the "Wanbaoshan Incident".
These records show that Zhang Xueliang repeatedly asked Chiang Kai-shek for instructions on how to deal with the movements of the Japanese army, but Chiang Kai-shek did not respond.
According to historical records, although Chiang Kai-shek responded to Zhang Xueliang on "Milling Iron" and made it clear that he would not clash with the Japanese army, there was no mention of "Milling Iron" in the copy released by Taiwan.
However, the Kuomintang ** Hong Fang, Zhao Zhenfan, and Yang Zhengzhi confirmed in their memoirs that "Milling Iron" did exist and that they carried out the policy of non-resistance issued by Chiang Kai-shek.
Despite the lack of documentation on the Milling Iron for many years, the testimonies seem to confirm its authenticity, calling into question.
Although some claim that the three leaders only made some of their statements verbally, they were not supported by concrete written documents and were therefore unconvincing. In particular, the Taiwan side has not released the "Milling Iron" document, so the authenticity of the document still needs to be verified.
In addition, Zhang Xueliang has always claimed in interviews that the policy of non-resistance was issued by him personally and had nothing to do with Chiang Kai-shek. Some staff members even mentioned "Milling Iron", but Zhang Xueliang also denied receiving this telegram. The existence of "Milling Iron" becomes more and more confusing.
As for the reasons for the promulgation of the policy of non-resistance, there are some records that before the "September 18 Incident", Chiang Kai-shek had secretly summoned Zhang Xueliang, and the two talked for a long time on the train.
According to records, Chiang Kai-shek summoned Zhang Xueliang because he was worried that Zhang was young and vigorous, that his father would be killed by the Japanese, and that Zhang would make Japan find an excuse to endanger the whole of China because of his impulse.
On the train, Chiang Kai-shek solemnly told Zhang Xueliang not to become a national sinner because of impulse, and stressed not to attack the Japanese army and to implement a "policy of non-resistance."
He also explained why the policy of "non-resistance" was adopted: "According to the difference in strength between the two sides, once a war is launched, our side will be defeated, the enemy is strong, our side is weak, and once they fight back, they will bite back, saying that it is our hand that strikes first, and then there will be several mouths."
I can't tell. Chiang Kai-shek advocated that "if you fight outside, you must first secure the inside", so non-resistance became the most effective policy of Chiang Kai-shek and the people.
In fact, although Zhang Xueliang intended to resist in his heart, after considering the balance of strength between the two sides, he chose Chiang Kai-shek's policy of non-resistance.
He was very tormented after giving the order not to resist, because his father was killed by the Japanese, and now that the Japanese had ridden on their heads, he could not fight back, which made Zhang Xueliang suffer greatly.
Especially after having to issue an order of non-resistance, he became a "thief" and a "national sinner", and his heart aches every day, and he desperately wants to get rid of these stigmatizations.
In order to promote Chiang Kai-shek, who had always advocated "peace and security", to join the anti-Japanese camp, he was ready to sacrifice and launched the "Xi'an Incident" with Yang Hucheng to force Chiang Kai-shek to unite the anti-Japanese front.
Therefore, the "Xi'an Incident" is enough to prove that he issued a policy of non-resistance completely out of force, not sincerity. Both Chiang Kai-shek and Zhang Xueliang bore great responsibility for the implementation of the policy of "non-resistance", and their decisions led to the fall of the three northeastern provinces in a short period of time.
In addition to the strong strength of the Japanese army, the "non-resistance" policy of the national ** was also the main reason for the fall of the three northeastern provinces.
Every year on September 18, the three northeastern provinces will sound a piercing air defense siren, this history is unforgettable, and it is also a lesson that we should never forget.