The scene just now made Edward make a fool of himself in front of Maeda Ritsu.
So after the two sat down again, Edward's momentum weakened obviously.
However, Maeda Ritsu became even more forceful, rendering Edward speechless with just a few words.
"Colonel Edward, please don't doubt the determination of the Imperial Navy, let alone the courage of the Imperial soldiers. If the Empire needs it, we can do anything, including sacrificing our own lives."
"On one side are hundreds of Chinese soldiers, and on the other side is the raging anger of the empire."
"I think as long as you are a normal person, you should make the right choice."
"Maeda Lieutenant Colonel, I have to call President Bao Daizhen." Edward found that he couldn't bear it anymore, because the pressure from the Japanese in front of him was so great that he couldn't breathe.
"No, there is no time." Ritsu Maeda flatly refused.
"Colonel Edward, don't think I don't know. The dozen or so Chinese soldiers who just crossed North XZ Road have already gone to Hebang Building. They must have gone there to pick them up, right?"
"After receiving the more than 300 Chinese soldiers detained in Hebang Building, are they going to flee to Nanshi? Or flee to Huxi to join the main force of the Chinese army there? This is absolutely not allowed!"
"I can only give you two options, either order the closure of all roads and bridges on the Suzhou River now."
"Or give it another fifteen minutes and wait for the Imperial Naval Air Force to launch a second bombing, and this time the bombs dropped will be real aerial bombs, and the target will be the escaping China Army."
"But no one can guarantee that the aerial bomb will hit accurately."
"Okay, I'll give the order now." Edward compromised, "All roads and bridges will be closed."
The order was quickly issued by phone, and more than a dozen road bridges such as the New Garbage Bridge, the Old Garbage Bridge, the Laozha Bridge, and the Tap Water Bridge connecting the north and south sides of the Suzhou River were closed one after another. The British Mijun and the merchant groups guarding the bridges began to implement the order. Martial law.
"All roads and bridges have been closed. Now your country has nothing to say." Edward said with a dark face.
Maeda Ritsu had a look of satisfaction on his face. After all, the Imperial Navy had the last laugh in this diplomatic confrontation. The Navy had accomplished what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not been able to accomplish.
"Colonel Edward, you made the wisest decision."
"Not only the Common Settlement, but England will benefit from your decision."
"The Imperial Navy will remember your sincere cooperation and will be forever grateful for your selfless help."
Ritsu Maeda said he would remember and thank him, but Edward could hear a lot of ridicule in it. He was mocking the British for their lack of courage and their daring to fight against the Japanese with bayonets.
Edward almost suffered internal injuries, but was unable to fight back.
At this moment, military songs suddenly sounded outside on Suzhou Road.
"The flag is fluttering, the horse is fluttering, good man, good man..."
"What sound? This is..." Ritsu Maeda listened intently for a moment, then his expression suddenly changed, "Is this the military song and flag of the China Army flying? Yes, it's the military song of the China Army!"
And it sounded like hundreds of people singing the same song.
Could it be? An ominous omen suddenly occurred in Maeda Ritsu's heart.
Immediately, a British captain came in and reported: "Sir, the 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment of the National Army, which was previously detained in Hebang Building, is heading towards our position, and is accompanied by Major Langdale of the Japanese Marine Corps. May I ask? Do you want to let it go?"
"What did you say?" Edward was stunned when he heard this. The national troops detained in Hebang Building are coming here?
After listening to the translator's translation, Maeda Ritsu's expression changed instantly: "Colonel Edward, I must warn you that these Chinese soldiers will never be allowed to pass, otherwise all consequences will be borne by your country!"
Edward originally had a headache, but after hearing Maeda Ritsu's words, his eyes lit up.
At that moment, Edward snorted coldly and said, "Commander Maeda, you seem to have forgotten what you just said."
"What did I just say? What?" Maeda Ritsu asked subconsciously, and then his expression changed drastically.
Edward suddenly turned his back: "Lieutenant Maeda, we have blocked all roads and bridges on the Suzhou River in accordance with your request, and implemented military martial law on all roads and bridges. We have made great concessions and demonstrated You have shown enough sincerity, so I advise your country and your army not to push further."
Maeda Ritsu was speechless because the British army did meet the conditions they proposed.
Just because they didn't expect that the national troops from Hebang Building would return to Sihang Warehouse, they were caught off guard. It seemed that they were destined to suffer this dumb loss.
Somewhat annoyed, he walked to the window, but the national army also happened to come into view.
I saw hundreds of national troops lined up in four neat columns, carrying rifles or light machine guns, carrying heavy machine guns or ammunition boxes, and marching forward singing loud military songs.
On the left and right sides of the National Army column, there are two columns of Miguo Marine Corps.
An officer wearing the uniform of a major from the Miguo Marine Corps walked side by side with an officer from the national army at the front. The two held hands and looked very close.
But soon, Maeda Ritsu discovered something fishy.
The Kuomintang and Mijun are not really close, but Mijun was coerced by the Kuomintang.
Because the leading National Army officer and some National Army soldiers were actually strapped with explosives. Once detonated, the officers and soldiers of the Miguo Marine Corps would suffer heavy casualties.
At this time, the Japanese snipers were unable to fire a cold shot.
Edward also lost no time in warning: "Lieutenant Maeda, I know that there are a large number of your snipers ambushing in the ruins north of Sihang Warehouse, Qufu intersection and Kaifeng intersection, but I hope you will not act rashly. If Major Langdale and his Lu If something goes wrong among the team members, it will inevitably incur the wrath of the United States of America."
"Colonel Edward, please watch your words. The Imperial Navy does not accept threats from anyone."
Ritsu Maeda was so angry that his face was livid, but he could only retaliate verbally, but could not retaliate substantively.
"Maeda Lieutenant Colonel, I'm just stating the facts." Edward was in a good mood. He finally got back the game and finally saw the deflated appearance of these Japanese dwarfs.
…
At 4:55 pm on November 2, more than 300 officers and soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment successfully returned to the Sihang Warehouse. At this time, there were still five minutes left before the strict deadline.
Zhou Dafa's tight string finally relaxed.
Several artillerymen guarding the artillery positions also collapsed to the ground.
Nothing else. After three hours of suffering, they were exhausted.
Seriously but as if nothing happened, he greeted the soldiers of the lone army camp in the east building of Sihang Warehouse.
In fact, you just have to look away from things like life and death. Everyone will eventually leave this world, and the ending is destined, so the only thing you can control is the process, and try to make the process more exciting.
"Hello, Commander Xie. I am Yan Jun. Welcome back."
"And brothers from the 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment, you are also welcome to come back."
Yan Yan led Yang Deyu, Wu Jie and dozens of other veterans to line up to welcome the soldiers of the lonely camp.
"Are you Mr. Yan? Lao Zhu has already told me that you are a genius commander!" Xie Jinyuan walked to Yan Yan and stood at attention, saluting a military salute to Yan Yan very solemnly.
"Mr. Yan, on behalf of the brothers of the 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment, thank you."
"Our successful escape this time is all thanks to your efforts."
Shangguan Zhibiao, Lei Xiong, Deng Ying, Tang Di and other company platoon leaders also followed suit and saluted.
"Thank you for being so polite, brothers. You are so polite. Everyone must be starving, right?"
"I have asked the brothers to prepare a lot of food, including Shaanxi noodles and fried noodles, Wuhan hot and dry noodles, and meat buns, for everyone to eat."
"Don't worry about finishing this meal without having another meal."
"After all, there are hundreds of tons of flour stored in the Sihang Warehouse, hahaha."
The Sihang Warehouse not only contains flour, but also supplies sent by people in the concession.
In the past two days, every morning, enthusiastic people brought vegetables in small boats.
Xie Jinyuan rubbed his stomach and said with a smile: "Don't tell me, I'm really hungry. I haven't had a decent meal in Hebang Building in the past few days."
Lei Xiong added: "They are all as fucking mush as shit."
Everyone roared with laughter, and the laughter was full of joy of surviving the disaster.
Wu Jie and Yang Deyu were asked to lead Xie Jinyuan and the officers and soldiers of the Gujun Battalion to the west building for dinner. Yan Yan came to Langdale with a smile. When he saw Yan Yan approaching, Langdale subconsciously took a step back.
