On the eve of the fall of Liaodong, he led his troops in a remonstrance against the young marshal.

"Now that I've finished speaking, who agrees and who disagrees?"

After Zhang Xueming finished speaking, the entire conference room fell silent once again.

After a long while, Zhang Zuoxiang slowly stood up.

The old man, who had been resting with his eyes closed since the beginning of the meeting, opened his eyes at this moment.

He was 65 years old, with completely white hair, but his back was straight. When he stood there, he looked like an old pine tree, unmoved by the wind or bent by the snow.

He was Zhang Zuolin's sworn brother, the assistant commander of the Northeast Army, and the most senior and prestigious person in the entire Northeast Army after the old marshal's death.

His words carried far more weight than those of Zhang Xueliang, the nominal warlord.

"Xue Ming"

Zhang Zuoxiang's voice was hoarse and slow, "You've grown up."

"The things you just said, I said to your father countless times behind closed doors when he was alive."

"If your father were alive today, he would be very pleased to see you like this."

He paused for a moment, took two steps forward, and walked up to Zhang Xueming.

He was half a head shorter than Zhang Xueming, but when his cloudy old eyes stared at Zhang Xueming, it was as if he could see right through him.

"But I have three questions for you to answer."

Zhang Xueming stood up, his hands hanging at his sides, his attitude respectful:

"Please ask, Assistant Commander."

"First."

Zhang Zuoxiang held up a finger, the tip of which was withered and thin. "The Japanese have a navy and an air force."

"Their combined fleet is the third largest in the world. They have aircraft carriers, battleships, and hundreds of aircraft."

"Although our Northeast Army also has more than a hundred aircraft, they are all second-hand goods bought from the French and British. In a real fight, we can't beat the Japanese aircraft."

"Not to mention the navy. Our river defense fleet is nothing but a toy in front of the Japanese. How do you plan to solve this problem?"

Zhang Xueming answered without hesitation, word by word:

"I will reorder a batch of new fighter jets from abroad, whose performance far surpasses that of the Japanese aircraft."

"I will also hire a group of foreign pilots, all of whom are ace pilots who have participated in major wars. They are experienced and highly skilled."

"As for the navy, no matter how strong the Japanese fleet is, it can't get onto land."

"The battlefield in the three northeastern provinces was on land, on plains, and on mountains."

"As long as our air force can achieve air superiority, the Japanese navy is just for show. Give me some time, and I can make sure that not a single Japanese plane can take off."

Zhang Xueming certainly didn't have the ability to buy airplanes from abroad, but he had a system that allowed him to exchange any kind of resources as long as he had enough points.

Zhang Zuoxiang stared into his eyes for three seconds.

Zhang Xueming did not flinch; his gaze was open and honest.

Zhang Zuoxiang slowly nodded and extended his second finger.

"Secondly, the Nanjing government does not agree with us engaging in conflict with the Japanese."

"The Chairman sent several secret telegrams to your elder brother, each one clearly stating that no matter how the Japanese pirates provoke them, they should not resist."

"If you start fighting the Japanese here, Nanjing will not only not send a single soldier to support you, but may even cut off the Shanhaiguan Pass and block our supply of materials."

"When we're surrounded by Japanese soldiers in front and blockaded from behind, where will we get our pay? Where will we get our ammunition? Where will we get our food? What will you do?"

Zhang Xueming remained silent for a moment.

This question is more difficult to answer than the previous one.

He can exchange for weapons and ammunition, but the logistical support for an army of 300,000 is not something that a single system store can completely solve.

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone present before settling on Zhang Zuoxiang's face.

"Then let's befriend distant enemies and attack nearby ones, win over forces willing to fight the Japanese, make more friends and fewer enemies."

"Our Northeast Army fought for the country and for the nation. I believe that justice resides in the hearts of the people."

"The eyes of the 400 million compatriots across the country are discerning. They can see clearly who is fighting the Japanese and who is hiding in the mud."

"If Chiang Kai-shek dares to blockade Shanhaiguan at this time and cut off the supply lines to the front lines of the War of Resistance, he will be a traitor to the nation, and all the people of China will condemn him."

"I'll see then whether he can still hold onto his position as chairman."

"Even if he really disregards the condemnation of the world and blocks Shanhaiguan, I have ways to directly purchase supplies from abroad and transport them in by sea or land, infiltrating through his blockade."

"A living person won't die from holding in their pee."

Zhang Zuoxiang's eyes flickered, but he made no comment.

He slowly extended his third finger. "How confident are you in defeating the Japanese? Out of ten percent, what percentage are you confident?"

Zhang Xueming looked into Zhang Zuoxiang's eyes and answered, word by word:

"100%".

As soon as those two words were uttered, everyone in the conference room looked up abruptly.

Wan Fulin's eyes widened in shock, Wang Shuhan dropped his glasses on the table, and Zang Shiyi's lips trembled violently.

Even Zhang Zuoxiang's pupils contracted slightly, and his withered fingers hovered in mid-air for a moment.

"Ten percent?"

Zhang Zuoxiang repeated it, his tone devoid of sarcasm, only solemn.

"100%".

Zhang Xueming's voice was resolute: "Assistant Commander, this battle is not a question of whether we can win, it's a question of whether we must win."

"The Japanese devils have warships and cannons, but we have 300,000 brothers and 35 million fellow countrymen."

"The Japanese devils want to enslave us; we want to survive."

"The power a person can unleash to survive is unimaginable to the Japanese. That's my source of confidence."

Zhang Zuoxiang remained silent for a long time.

He lowered his eyes, slowly withered his hands, put them behind his back, and turned to walk towards his seat.

Everyone held their breath, watching his retreating figure. The air in the conference room felt as heavy as if it were filled with lead.

He walked to the seat but did not sit down.

He turned around, placed his hands on the conference table, raised his head, and slowly scanned everyone present.

"Did you hear everything Xueming said clearly?"

No one answered, but all eyes were on him.

"The old marshal once told me something."

Zhang Zuoxiang's voice was hoarse and slow, as if he were recalling a long time ago. "He said, Fuchen, what I fear most in my life is not the Japanese, not the Russians, but that we Northeasterners have lost our backbone."

"As long as we Northeasterners have a breath left and can stand up, no one can take our territory away."

He paused for a moment, then pointed at Zhang Xueming, his finger trembling slightly, but every word he uttered was firm and resolute.

"Today, Xueming showed me that the backbone of our Northeast Army is still intact."

"The old general's bloodline is still alive."

"I, Zhang Zuoxiang, started following the old general when I was sixteen. I fought my way up from bandits to the king of the Northeast. I've been through thick and thin for decades and have seen it all."

"I'm old and can't fight anymore, but I can still tell who's the backbone and who's the coward."

"I'm making this clear today: from this day forward, I, Zhang Zuoxiang, will support Zhang Xueming. The entire Northeast Border Defense Army will work tirelessly and without hesitation on the matter of resisting Japan."

Zhang Xueming's eyes were slightly red.

He stood still, raised his right hand to his forehead, and gave Zhang Zuoxiang a standard military salute.

Zhang Zuoxiang waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down, then slowly sat down in the chair himself, closed his eyes again, as if to rest.

The atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly relaxed at that moment.

It was like a river that had been frozen for an entire winter, suddenly cracking open with the first fissure, and then the crack quickly spread outwards.

Wan Fulin stood up.

His face was still a little pale, but his eyes had regained their composure. He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Zhang Xueming, his voice hoarse:

"Second brother, that shot you just fired really scared me."

"But what you said later was all very reasonable."

"The hatred of the Japanese devils killing the old marshal is the hatred of everyone in our Northeast Army."

"Even if you don't report it, I will."

"I, Wan Fulin, am illiterate, but I know right from wrong."

"The Heilongjiang Defense Army Command has taken responsibility for the war against Japan."

Wang Shuhan stood up and straightened the collar of his long gown.

He was the most learned civil official in the Northeast Army, and all the telegrams and announcements issued by the old marshal during his lifetime were written by him.

"Second Master, both the Assistant Commander and Commander Wan have expressed their opinions. As someone who only holds a pen, I have nothing to say."

"I have only one statement: regarding the matter of resisting Japan, I, Wang Shuhan, will take full responsibility for the civil service."

"Whether it's sending telegrams nationwide, contacting various parties, or needing documents, please feel free to give the order."

Zang Shiyi also stood up.

His face was the palest, the cold sweat on his forehead was still wet, and his lips were still trembling slightly.

He walked up to Zhang Xueming, bowed deeply, and his voice trembled slightly:

"Second Master, I...I had concerns before, but I misunderstood."

"You're right, the Japanese won't let us go just because we cower."

"Rather than letting someone hold a knife to your throat and wait to die, it's better to risk everything and fight."

"I, Zang Shiyi, will fully cooperate with Liaoning Province and will never be a spineless coward."

Rong Zhen was the last to stand up.

He was the chief of staff of the Northeast Border Defense Army. He didn't talk much, but every word he said carried great weight.

He simply nodded to Zhang Xueming and said four words:

"Fengtian's defense is our responsibility."

Zhang Xueming stood in the main seat, his gaze slowly sweeping across the faces of everyone present.

Wan Fulin's fierceness, Wang Shuhan's composure, Zang Shiyi's enlightenment, and Rong Zhen's steadfastness.

Among these people were the older generation, the younger generation, civil officials, and military officers. Each of them had their own calculations and plans, but at this moment, they all chose to stand together.

He knew it wasn't because they all obeyed him, but because the Japanese had already put a knife to everyone's neck.

If you don't want to be a subjugated slave, you have no choice but to stand up and fight.

But his gaze did not linger on these people for long.

He turned around and walked towards Wang Yizhe.

Wang Yizhe stood up and snapped to attention, saluting.

His eyes were still a little red, but his voice was loud:

"Second Master, don't ask me if I agree or not. From the moment the first shot was fired at Beidaying, my life, Wang Yizhe's life, was already in the balance."

"I'll go wherever you point, even if it means facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, without batting an eye."

Zhang Xueming remained silent.

He reached out and patted Wang Yizhe's shoulder heavily. That pat carried more weight than any words.

Then he turned around and walked up to Zhang Xueliang.

Zhang Xueliang was still slumped in the armchair, the redness and swelling on his face had not subsided, and his lips were trembling.

The bloodstain left on the ground when Zhang Jinghui was dragged away was less than three feet away from his riding boots, and he dared not look down at it.

During the entire meeting, everyone was talking, but he didn't say a single word.

He dared not speak, nor did he know what to say.

Zhang Xueming stood in front of him, looking down at him.

The two brothers' eyes met in mid-air. Zhang Xueliang's eyes held fear, confusion, humiliation, and a hint of barely perceptible resentment.

Zhang Xueming's eyes remained calm as still water. "Big Brother."

"Did you see that? No one is against resisting Japan. You were too narrow-minded before."

Zhang Xueliang's shoulders trembled violently, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but Zhang Xueming had already turned around and walked back to the main seat.

He placed his hands back on the conference table, his gaze sharp as lightning and his voice firm as iron.

"Gentlemen, since everyone agrees, I hereby declare that, starting today, the Northeast Army officially declares war on the Japanese."

"I don't care what the Nanjing government thinks, nor do I care what the League of Nations thinks."

"The Northeast belongs to the people of Northeast China. When the Japanese devils come, we will fight them."

"Fight until the last Japanese soldier is driven out of the three northeastern provinces, until complete victory is achieved."

He paused for a moment, then raised his voice by half an octave.

"I hereby announce the appointment of Wang Yizhe as the Fengtian Garrison Commander, to be in unified command of the Fengtian city defense."

"Order Zhang Tingshu to lead the 12th Independent Brigade northward at an accelerated pace, and to arrive in Fengtian before noon tomorrow."

"Order Chang Jingwu to lead the 20th Independent Brigade to Tieling and cut off the northern section of the South Manchurian Railway."

"Order Ma Zhanshan of Heihe to immediately assemble troops, control all Japanese troops in Heilongjiang Province, and take over all railways."

"Order Zhang Zuozhou of Jilin Province to continue to purge those who colluded with the enemy and ensure the stability of Jilin."

"Order Yu Xuezhong to immediately return to Fengtian, except for a portion that will remain in Beiping."

"Everyone. From today onwards, there is no turning back."

Zhang Xueming spoke slowly and firmly:

"In this battle, we will either win or we will die."

"But I, Zhang Xueming, can guarantee that even if we fight to the last person, with the last bullet, I, Zhang Xueming, will live and die with you all."