"Ding!"
There was a clear sound of metal banging in the darkness.
Then a flame lit up from the darkness, lighting a thick cigar.
In the weak firelight, several Western faces with beards were revealed.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau of the Concession set up an observation point on the rooftop of the Bank of China building and equipped it with more than a dozen telescopes so that Western war reporters and military observers could monitor the Sihang Warehouse 24 hours a day.
The Bank of China building is a ten-story building, taller than the Sihang Warehouse.
Therefore, the Sihang Warehouse and the surrounding terrain can be clearly seen from the rooftop of the Bank of China Building.
Looking down from a high altitude, the Bank of China Building, Sihang Warehouse, Bank of Communications Warehouse and Commercial Bank Warehouse are lined up in Suzhou and Hebei from east to west. There are many warehouses nearby, which can be called the CBD of Zhabei.
But at this time, most of the nearby warehouses had been burned down, and only a few buildings were still intact.
A dozen Western reporters and military observers sat leisurely on the rooftop of the Bank of China building, smoking Cuban cigars and drinking French red wine, while discussing the current situation.
The fighting between the Chinese army and the Japanese army in Sihang Warehouse is nothing but a talking point for foreigners.
"These poor Chinese soldiers never imagined that they had been betrayed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau of the Concession."
"Yes, they were disarmed by the business group as soon as they crossed North XZ Road, and will be detained next."
"The essence of politics is always the exchange of interests. In order to maximize interests, it is completely understandable that the Concession Industry Bureau made such a decision."
"For these Chinese soldiers, being detained is actually not the worst thing."
"At worst, they could be handed over to the Japanese as prisoners of war."
"No, no, no, this is not a possibility, but a certainty. These Chinese soldiers will definitely be handed over to the Japanese as prisoners of war by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau of the Concession. That miser Bao Daizhen will never fall out with the Japanese over hundreds of Chinese soldiers. After all, the profits of doing business with the Japanese are far greater than the benefits of doing business with the Chinese."
"That's why I said, these Chinese soldiers should not withdraw."
"If you die in Sihang Warehouse, you can still be a hero."
"But now they can only be useless prisoners of war."
"Oh no, I feel sorry for these Chinese soldiers."
While he was talking, a woman's exclamation suddenly sounded in the darkness.
"God, what do the Japanese want to do? Are they crazy?"
A dozen foreigners who were talking loudly in the booth at the back quickly ran back to the observation position.
But I saw that the Japanese army actually set up two high-power searchlights on the west side of Guangfu Road.
Under the light, about half a squad of more than thirty Japanese soldiers had already formed an offensive formation. They were pushing forward along the Guangfu Road with their Type 38 rifles mounted with bayonets in their hands.
Within a few moments, the Japanese troops climbed over the barricade at the southwest corner.
However, no gunshots were fired from Sihang Warehouse.
"Ridiculous Japanese, this is just for us to take pictures."
"I'm afraid it's to show their courage and save face."
After all, those Western reporters have already pressed the shutter of their cameras.
"The Japanese army must have received accurate information, so they were so arrogant."
"It's a pity that the Chinese army has already evacuated the Sihang Warehouse, otherwise this would be a really good opportunity."
"Yes, you can't get out of the barricade in the southwest corner of Sihang Warehouse, but setting up a Mark heavy machine gun above the cigarette shop in the southeast corner can also kill these arrogant Japanese soldiers."
"I heard that the Chinese army left behind a small detachment."
"Shit, this small national army unit is a bunch of weaklings."
…
The rooftop of the Bank of Communications, a Japanese observation post.
Tushi Kitaro said proudly: "Morita-kun, now you don't have to worry anymore, right?"
"Hai." The Major continued after a pause, "It seems that the information provided by the intelligence department is accurate. The Chinese troops who stayed at the Sixing Warehouse have indeed withdrawn. Even if there are small units behind them, they have completely lost the courage to resist. , In this case, Team Yamada can indeed occupy the Sihang Warehouse without any hindrance."
"The casualties are not important." Tushi Kitaro waved his hand and said, "What is important is that the majestic appearance of the Imperial Japanese Marine Corps must appear in the newspapers. I mean all the newspapers tomorrow!"
The major paused again and said: "Of course, there is also your heroic appearance, captain."
While they were talking, the attacking Japanese troops had arrived outside the gate of the west building of Sihang Warehouse.
The Sihang Warehouse was still silent and seemed empty.
"Onboard!" Japanese troops marching forward swarmed in through the open door.
Within a moment, most of the Japanese soldiers had poured into the west building of the warehouse.
Only a few Japanese soldiers with guns were left standing guard on the road to recovery, responsible for peripheral security.
After about a few seconds, flames suddenly spurted out from the gap between the door of the west building of Sihang Warehouse and the windows on the first and second floors. More than a dozen strands of flames almost illuminated the entire Suzhou River.
Then there was a huge rumbling explosion.
Even the ground beneath his feet was shaking slightly.
"Nani?" Tushi Kitaro was instantly confused.
Major Morita and two other Japanese second lieutenants were also stunned.
With such a violent explosion, how can Team Yamada survive after entering the Sihang Warehouse?
The casualties were huge. In the previous four days and nights of fighting, the Turkish Division only suffered more than 40 casualties, and the number of casualties was less than ten. But tonight?
More than thirty people were killed in one battle?
The navy is in great disgrace this time.
Will be laughed to death by Army Red Deer.
…
"God!" The Westerners on the rooftop of the Bank of China building also had their computers shut down on the spot.
After a long while, a red-haired female reporter whispered: "Is this... the flames from hell?"
Another male reporter also said: "I have to take back my previous comment. The Chinese troops who stayed behind are not weaklings. They still have the courage to die with the Japanese troops."
…
The soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment who were heading east along North Suzhou Road also heard the huge noise and turned around.
Even Yang Furui, who was lying on a stretcher, struggled to sit up. He was injured while crossing North XZ Road.
Since Guangfu Road and North Suzhou Road are in a straight line, even though they are five to six hundred meters away, the officers and soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment can still clearly see the Sixing Warehouse when standing on North Suzhou Road.
Seeing the flames spurting out from the west building door of Sihang Warehouse and the windows on the first and second floors, all the officers and soldiers showed shock on their faces. Was there a big explosion in Sihang Warehouse?
Then, the shock turned into excitement.
Is this the first row after the break? Well done!
This time, I'm afraid I'll have to kill a lot of Japs.
However, the expression of the special correspondent from Nanjing became extremely embarrassing.
"Nonsense! It's just nonsense! Didn't I tell you not to provoke the Japanese army again?"
Xie Jinyuan couldn't help but retorted: "Director, when we retreated across North XZ Road just now, the Japanese army also shot at us from the Kaifeng intersection. The Japanese army can shoot at us, but we can't fight back?"
"Zhongmin, this is all politics, and politics is not as simple as you think."
"Your 1st Battalion needs permission from the concession authorities before you can return to the west of Shanghai to build a camp."
"But now Japan is putting pressure on the concession authorities to detain you."
"It's a pleasure for Yang Deyu to do this, but it will definitely anger the Japanese. When the Japanese are angry, they will definitely step up the pressure on the concession. If the concession authorities cannot withstand the pressure, they may really detain your 1st Battalion."
"This soldier is really a coward." Xie Jinyuan punched the street lamp pole hard.
Yang Furui, Shangguan Zhibiao, Lei Xiong and other officers and soldiers also showed sadness and anger on their faces.
Their national army is on Chinese soil, but they still act based on the faces of foreigners.
As he was talking, crisp gunshots suddenly sounded outside Sihang Warehouse. It was official.
In the light of the fire, a group of national troops could be vaguely seen sliding down from the east building of Sihang Warehouse and the upstairs of the cigarette shop in the southeast corner, shooting at the few Japanese soldiers who stayed on the road to recovery.
A heavy machine gun hidden on the second floor of the cigarette shop also opened fire.
The few Japs who stayed on guard on Guangfu Road were already at a loss. Before they could recover, they were attacked by the national army and were killed and injured in the blink of an eye.
Seeing this, the commissioner's face completely fell.
The Japanese have suffered such a big loss tonight, how can they let it go?
At that moment, the special commissioner shouted with a dark face: "Zhongmin, send someone to inform Yang Deyu that the 1st Platoon has completed the cover mission. After receiving the notification, immediately abandon the Sihang Warehouse and retreat to North Suzhou Road!"
We can no longer provoke the Japanese army, otherwise it will be very troublesome.
