"It's easy to save face," Ritsu Maeda said. "Immediately give the public settlement an ultimatum and give them 24 hours to drain the gas from the fire plant. Otherwise, the public settlement will bear all the consequences."
"Nani? Vent the gas?" Kiyoshi Hasegawa asked, "You know this is impossible. The heating, fire and even street lighting of the entire public concession rely on the gas supply from the boiler plant. Let the boiler plant vent the gas reserves. The entire public settlement will be paralyzed in an instant, and the British and Chinese people will never agree."
"That's why I said that the battle at the Four Elements Warehouse was wrong from the beginning." Ritsu Maeda said helplessly.
With Ritsu Maeda standing up front to withstand the pressure, other detachment captains and the captain also spoke out one after another.
"Your Excellency, Commander, I agree with Maeda-kun that the Battle of the Four Elements Warehouse should not have been fought from the beginning."
"Yes, the battle situation in Sihang Warehouse has become obvious. If heavy artillery or heavy aerial bombs cannot be used, it is no longer possible to achieve the goal with small-caliber flat-fire cannons or tank cannons."
"It's shameful, but we have to admit that we are helpless."
"At least until the constraints of the concession and the boiler factory are lifted, there is nothing we can do."
"So, no matter how many operational meetings we hold here, no matter how many reviews and summaries we make, if we can't solve the constraints, there will never be any results!"
Hasegawa Kiyoshi frowned and said, "So your opinion is to give up?"
"Yes, give up the offensive and apply pressure from the political level instead." Ritsu Maeda said solemnly, "When the public concessions feel the pressure, they will definitely try to pass the pressure on. The Chinese government has always been weak and incompetent, and they cannot bear it."
"Political pressure is useless. Consul Okamoto has already issued an ultimatum to the public concession, and he has already issued it twice. If he issues it again, it will be the third time." Kiyoshi Hasegawa said, "I have issued the ultimatum three times, and it still doesn't work. Can it be useful?"
"That's because the pressure is not high enough." Maeda Ritsu said, "This time we want the navy to make a full show of force. We must assume a posture of not hesitate to use naval guns to directly bombard the Sihang Warehouse, and we must also order the naval aviation to conduct an attack on the Sihang Warehouse. Only in this way will the concessions feel the pressure and put greater political pressure on the Chinese government."
"The problem is not here," Kiyoshi Hasegawa said, "but the small Chinese army unit in Sihang Warehouse."
"The problem is the small Chinese army unit in Sihang Warehouse? What do you mean?" Ritsu Maeda was a little confused.
Hasegawa Kiyoshi sighed: "After Consul Okamoto issued the first ultimatum, the public concession compromised and forced the China government to issue a retreat order to the Chinese army staying at Sihang Warehouse. The main force of the Chinese army in Sihang Warehouse also They did withdraw, but the small force that stayed behind refused the order to retreat."
"Nani?" Ritsu Maeda said in shock, "Is there such a thing?"
The other officers present at the meeting also looked at each other, as they did not know the inside story.
This seems a little different from the national army they are familiar with. It does not mean that the national army does not disobey orders. In fact, it is not uncommon for the national army to disobey orders, but most of their disobedience is to preserve their own strength, and This is obviously not the case for this small national army unit in Sihang Warehouse. They disobey orders in order to - sacrifice themselves?
Hasegawa Kiyoshi added: "After Consul Okamoto issued the second ultimatum, the public concession put pressure on the China government again, and the China government also sent a senior general to Sihang Warehouse to prepare for the execution of the small unit. Commander, he led a small force to evacuate Sihang Warehouse, but in the end he was expelled by the other party."
"Well, this is really..." Ritsu Maeda said in astonishment, "It's so surprising."
Hasegawa Kiyoshi said: "Therefore, it is useless to ask Consul Okamoto to issue another ultimatum."
Ritsu Maeda said: "Your Excellency, Commander, I don't think so. I still think Consul Okamoto should be asked to issue another ultimatum to the public concession, and let the public concession and the Chinese government deal with the Chinese army in Sihang Warehouse."
Hasegawa Kiyoshi pondered and said: "Let the Chinese people deal with the Chinese people. This is indeed a clever move. It can not only solve the troublesome small Chinese army in Sihang Warehouse, but also use it to attack the morale and morale of the Chinese army and dispel it." The military morale and the morale of the people accumulated in the previous five days of fighting, but..."
Ritsu Maeda asked: "Commander, are you worried about losing face?"
Hasegawa Kiyoshi sighed softly, nodded and said: "Maeda-kun, have you ever thought that during the period when the Imperial Navy is on hold, the newspapers in the concession and even the news media in Western countries will not be idle. They will definitely I am worried that the Marines will not be able to stand it if they ridicule and even insult the Imperial Navy."
Ritsu Maeda said: "As long as you, Commander, can withstand the pressure from the Navy Ministry, we will have no problem."
Other detachment captains echoed: "Commander, you also said that with the Battle of Sihang Warehouse now, there is nothing to lose. In this case, what else do you have to worry about? Anyway, it's already been done. Losing face, it can’t be more embarrassing no matter what, right?”
"Okay, let's put pressure on it from the political level."
"Then, wait for the Chinese to fight on their own."
Hasegawa Kiyoshi finally decided to try to wait for changes.
Ritsu Maeda said firmly: "Don't worry, Commander, the Chinese are the best at internal fighting. As long as the Imperial Navy is not in a hurry to attack the Sihang Warehouse, they will definitely fight on their own, I guarantee it."
…
Ji Zheng Okamoto rushed to the public concession as soon as possible to meet with Bao Daizhen.
Of course, it was impossible for Bao Daizhen to help the National Government share the pressure. He immediately transferred the pressure to the top officials of the national government, and then the pressure was transmitted layer by layer, first to the Third Theater District Chief's Department, then to the Central Group, and then to the 9th Group Army. Then came Sun Yuanliang, commander of the 72nd Army, and Sun Yuanliang urged Chen Shunong.
Chen Shunong heard on the phone that the old officer Sun Yuanliang was already a little angry.
Aren't you a special correspondent? With Shang Fang's sword in hand, he can't even kill a platoon leader?
After hanging up the phone, Chen Shunong made another call to the Asia Hotel and called Zhang Baiting to the Hebin Building.
Although Chen Shunong stayed in the 88th Division for a long time and served successively as the director of the division staff office, regimental commander, brigade commander and division major general chief of staff, after all, he has left office for nearly four years and many people do not recognize him, especially I hardly knew any officers below the company level, so I thought of Zhang Baiting.
Because Zhang Baiting is the current chief of staff of the 88th Division.
In the evening of the same day, that is, the evening of November 1, Chen Shunong and Zhang Baiting took two jeeps along North Suzhou Road and arrived in front of the cigarette shop again, but they were unexpectedly blocked by sentries.
The merchant group of all nations on North XZ Road did not stop them, but they were stopped by the sentries of the 88th Division.
"I'm sorry, no one is allowed in without Mr. Yan's permission!" The sentry on guard was wearing a black security regiment uniform, and he didn't know whether he was from the Zhejiang or Hubei security regiment.
"Go away, what kind of cows and horses dare to block the road?"
One of the accompanying guards scolded and stepped forward to chase them away.
"Quickly stand down!" The sentry raised the rifle in his hand without hesitation, pointed the black muzzle at the guard, and shouted sternly, "If you don't stand down, I will shoot!"
"You?" the guard said angrily, "Do you know who we are?"
"I don't care who you are." The sentry snorted, "Without Mr. Yan's permission, even if the King of Heaven comes, I won't be able to enter this door. If you dare to take a step forward, don't blame me for being rude!"
After saying that, the sentry clicked the bolt again and pushed the bullet into the chamber.
The guard originally wanted to say a few more words, but when he saw this, he quickly shut up.
This was not his first time at Sihang Warehouse, so he had no doubt that if he took another step forward, the security guard would really dare to shoot him to death, and his death would be in vain.
The guard didn't even dare to raise the submachine gun on his chest.
"Do you know me?" Zhang Baiting stepped forward and asked.
"I don't know you." The sentry said disdainfully, "Who cares about you."
Zhang Baiting frowned and said, "I am Zhang Baiting, chief of staff of the 88th Division."
"Chief of Staff of the 88th Division?" the sentry said, "The Chief of Staff is not allowed to enter either. He must have permission from Mr. Yan! Anyone who dares to force his way in will be killed by me!"
ps: In the new book issue, please beg for monthly votes and recommendation votes to read it!
