The atmosphere of tension in Shanghai's public settlement has become increasingly intense.
Although a lot of efforts have been made to prevent and delay, more Japanese military police still entered the concession.
The British were busy with their own wars and no longer had the energy to interfere in the distant east.
France?
France surrendered and was now an ally of Japan.
As for the United States?
The unprecedented rise of "isolationism" in the United States has made it impossible for the United States to give more thought to the public settlement.
Although the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau is still operating, it is very reluctant.
Even Director Kai Ziwei of the Ministry of Industry Bureau said mockingly:
"God knows when I woke up one morning, I found myself thrown out of the concession together with my luggage."
The bad situation in the concession is already evident.
Police Commissioner Wan Kewen warned Meng Shaoyuan many times:
If possible, evacuate as soon as possible.
But his proposal was rejected by Meng Shaoyuan.
He had not received any orders to retreat, and he had to hold on here.
This is his duty!
Besides, no one knew better than him what was about to happen on the isolated island.
The Shanghai District Headquarters of the Military Command Bureau has been almost emptied.
All top-secret documents will be transferred and burned.
All funds and materials have been evacuated.
Most of those still working at the headquarters are male staff.
In addition to Shanghai District Mayor and Secretary Wu Jingyi.
The worst-case scenario has been prepared.
"How many more prisoners are there?"
"Two hundred and seventy-eight, of which fifty-four are secretly detained." Zhang Liao quickly answered.
"Hurry up and deal with it. We don't have much time left." Meng Shaoyuan frowned: "Those who have been detained for a long time will be asked to write a letter of repentance and all will be released. Important prisoners who have been detained in secret and have already confessed will be allowed to disappear. .”
"yes."
Of course Zhang Liao understood what "disappeared" meant: "What about those who refuse to explain?"
Meng Shaoyuan replied coldly: "I don't need them anymore, die-hards. Within a month, all these prisoners must be dealt with."
"clear."
As soon as Zhang Liao left, Li Zhifeng walked in: "Sir, the selection of the Changsha guard platoon has been completed, and a total of twenty-five people have been left."
"so much?"
Meng Shaoyuan was a little surprised.
Originally, I thought that fifteen or six qualified people would be good enough to stay.
Unexpectedly, the ending was far better than I imagined.
"Yi Mingyan and Su Junwen all passed the assessment and were very good." Li Zhifeng continued to report: "I am now sending a special person to brief them on the situation and struggle situation in Shanghai."
"Is there anyone who doesn't want to stay here and has a strong desire?" Meng Shaoyuan thought for a moment and asked, "If you really don't want to stay in Shanghai, let's not force it."
"That's not true." Li Zhifeng said: "The people trained by the superior are first-rate in terms of fooling around."
"Hmm...huh? Li Zhifeng, why do I think you are scolding me in a roundabout way?"
"Shaoyuan."
At this moment, Wu Jingyi hurriedly walked in: "The new Japanese military police captain in the public concession, Takeshi Okamura, wants to see you."
"Who? Japanese military police captain?"
"Yes, Major Takeshi Okamura." Wu Jingyi looked serious: "He is also one of the Thirteen Long Island Guns. His brother died in your hands. You used Li Shiqun to set up an ambush, so in addition to hating you, he also hates you. Li Shiqun is very unfriendly."
"Yes, I have an impression."
Meng Shaoyuan not only had an impression, but also completely remembered it.
Takeshi Okamura!
What is this guy doing here?
Is this going to happen?
"How many people did he come to?"
"Three."
"Only three? You are quite brave." Meng Shaoyuan smiled.
"Sir, I'll go deal with them." Li Zhifeng said disapprovingly: "Do you really think you are a big shot? Dare you come to our headquarters with such arrogance?"
"Deal with them? It's very easy to deal with them." Meng Shaoyuan said with a sneer: "But the Japanese are eager for us to do this. This way, they will have sufficient interfaces to enter the concession in large numbers.
If I kill a small lieutenant, the Japanese will benefit most. I will not do this kind of loss-making business. "
"See you or not?"
"See you!" Meng Shaoyuan no longer thought about it: "People dare to go to the meeting alone. As the master, do I dare not see him?"
…
The sudden appearance of Takeshi Okamura was somewhat unexpected.
When he met Meng Shaoyuan, Okamura Takeshi was still very polite: "Mr. Meng, I have been in Shanghai for so long, but today it is the first time that I can be with Mr. Meng face to face."
"Tell me, what's the matter?" Meng Shaoyuan obviously didn't have time to talk to him about this: "I'm very busy. If you have nothing to do, I don't have time to accompany you."
"Mr. Meng, are you so impatient?"
But Takeshi Okamura seemed to have a good temper: "We have been fighting in Shanghai for so long, and we can be considered sympathetic to each other..."
"Cherish each other? Are you talking to me about cherishing each other?" Meng Shaoyuan interrupted him unceremoniously: "This word is used for heroes, heroes, and comrades. You are not worthy of it."
"Maybe." Takeshi Okamura said indifferently: "Mr. Meng, I think you have also noticed the changes in the public concession in the recent stage. Do you think there is still hope for you?"
Do you still have hope?
A Japanese actually asked this question in front of Meng Shaoyuan.
Meng Shaoyuan asked, "Then what?"
"Today, I come with friendship." Takeshi Okamura emphasized the word "friendship": "Although we have had a lot of unhappiness in the past, we believe that these unhappiness can be resolved.
We also hope that from now on, Mr. Meng and we will no longer be enemies, but friends. You see, I came today not with any ill intentions, but to chat with you openly and honestly. "
"Is it Koichi Hahara?"
Meng Shaoyuan suddenly said this.
Okamura Takeshi was startled, and Meng Shaoyuan continued: "You have no choice but to do anything to me, so you actually thought of tricking me into surrendering?
Okamura, go back and tell Hahara Koichi and Kage Sasaki, yes, Japan is indeed becoming more and more powerful in the public concession, but Meng Shaoyuan is still the same Meng Shaoyuan! "
The relief on Okamura Takeshi's face disappeared: "You really don't think about it anymore?"
"I have never considered it." Meng Shaoyuan said calmly: "Even if the entire concession is occupied by you, you still have an enemy, and that is me, Meng Shaoyuan!
Maybe one day, I, Meng Shaoyuan, will die in your hands, but you still have an enemy, the Military Command Bureau! Even if the entire military command bureau is wiped out by you, you still have an enemy, China! "
Okamura Takeshi's face gradually became ugly. After a while, he sighed: "Mr. Meng, you are really a very, very stubborn person!"
