Chapter 20 Leave Something Behind (Below) (Still Asking for Votes)

  The open sea outside the Yangtze River Estuary, the Japanese battleship Fuso.

  Because the Battle of Shanghai has not yet completely cleared the Japanese army from the city and suburbs, General Iwane Matsui's headquarters is still on board the battleship Fusō.

  At this time, several newspapers were also placed on Matsui Ishikawa's desk.

  Matsui Ishizuka's face didn't look too good, his gloomy gaze suddenly turned to the side where the army staff officer Takaeda Kōsuke was standing and asked: "Takaeda, what do you think?"

  "Your Excellency, I believe that the four warehouses have now become a symbol of the Chinese military. If the Imperial Army cannot quickly remove this thorn, not only will the Chinese military be greatly encouraged, but the Chinese government and people will also become more determined to resist. Moreover, internationally, it may also create unfavorable public opinion for the Empire."

  "Hmm, Okada-kun's judgment is quite reasonable." Matsui Ishine nodded and said, "Is there any news from the Tokkou department?"

  "It's already been investigated." Okada Kō nodded in response, "The Shina army garrisoned at the Fourth Line warehouse only has one battalion, the Pao Shan battalion."

  "What? Only one Zhina camp?" Matsui Ishizuka frowned immediately, "This Treasure Mountain Camp must have a great origin!"

  "General Taeda's judgment is absolutely correct." "This Baoshan camp was named by Chiang Kai-shek himself, the leader of China, and belongs to the 98th Division of the 15th Army Group of the Chinese army. The regimental commander is Yue Weihan, a graduate of the 10th class of the Central Military Academy of China. Previously, in Baoshan, the advance base of the 3rd Division was destroyed by this camp, and Teng Tian was also killed in this explosion!"

  "Oh, did Teng Tianjin also die at this person's hands?" Matsui Ishizuka frowned and said, "Could it be that this person is a special operative?"

  "This...," Okada said with a wry smile, "the Central Military Academy in China did not have a special warfare curriculum, and there is no record of Yue Weihan studying abroad in the West. I think this should just be a coincidence. At that time, the small Chinese unit led by this person mistakenly broke into the 3rd Division's rear area, which led to that tragic battle."

  "I think it should be like this, how can the Chinese army possibly engage in special warfare?" Matsui Ishizuka shook his head and said, "Tamura-kun, directly send a telegram to the 9th Division's 36th Infantry Regiment, ordering them to capture the Sihang Warehouse within three days. If they fail, they should prepare to commit seppuku to apologize to His Majesty the Emperor."

  Okada considered for a moment, then advised in a low voice: "General, the Sakuma detachment has been fiercely attacking the Fourth Warehouse for over ten days, but still can't make any progress. Giving them only three more days might be... How about we allocate an artillery battalion from the Fifth Heavy Artillery Brigade under direct command of the army to cooperate with the Sakuma detachment?"

  "It won't do," said Matsui Ishizuka, shaking his head. "If we move the heavy artillery up there, it's likely to mistakenly bomb the public concession area on the south bank of Suzhou River. If by chance British or American people are killed in the bombing, it will lead to international disputes. If this leads to war between our empire and Britain or America, the consequences will be unbearable, and you and I cannot bear such responsibility."

  "Hey." Takada attacked suddenly, and then said, "Matsui, can we consider sending the Manchukuo Army's Yuzhang Brigade to cooperate with the Sakai Detachment?"

  "Hey, let the Chinese fight the Chinese?" Ishii Shirō readily agreed, "Let's do it."

  …………

  Zhabei, Sihang Warehouse.

  Du Yuesheng, the big boss of the Green Gang, was indeed a legendary figure in Shanghai. That night, he managed to gather two large trucks full of relief supplies and military materials. Together with the medical supplies purchased by the Eighth Route Army's Shanghai office and the progressive youth who were hastily mobilized, they filled up four large trucks, which set off towards Zhabei in an impressive convoy.

  All the way, the British checkpoints let them pass through.

  Arrived at Xin Garbage Bridge, the British troops guarding the bridgehead also accepted bribes and let them pass quietly. However, the Japanese patrol boat on the Suzhou River and the Japanese troops stationed on the north bank of the Suzhou River intercepted desperately. Fortunately, all four trucks were equipped with steel plates, and with the support of the Baoshan camp, they successfully delivered the supplies and personnel without incident.

  The fourth floor hall of the warehouse was now packed with officers and soldiers from the Baoshan Garrison.

  The cigarettes, foreign liquor and canned goods that filled the second floor hall of the warehouse did not arouse any interest among the soldiers, but they were full of expectation for these two rare items placed in the fourth floor hall.

  The fourth floor hall had already set up a camera and a tape recorder. The camera was nothing special, as most of the National Army brothers present had also seen it before. But this tape recorder was absolutely a rare toy, even in Shanghai at that time, only high-ranking officials from the military and political circles, as well as business leaders, could afford to use it.

  "Grandma, can this thing really record our voices?" Chi Chengfeng walked around the recorder, seemingly disbelieving.

  Yang Shaoceng, who was standing beside him, didn't say much nonsense. He quietly pressed the record button and waited until he recorded Chi Chengfeng's previous sentence before pressing the play button again. Suddenly, Chi Chengfeng's voice came out of the recorder. Chi Chengfeng was shocked, his chin almost dropping off, and he exclaimed: "Damn it, it really can record our voices?"

  "What nonsense is this?" Yue Weihan pushed Chi Chengfeng forward, and immediately said, "Brothers, let's start recording now. Regardless of whether you're an official or a soldier, everyone has a share. Who will go first?"

  "Grandma, I'll go first, I'll go first." Chi Chengfeng hastily raised his hand, and before Yue Weihan nodded, Chi Chengfeng quickly rushed to the recorder, hesitated for a moment, then turned back to ask Yue Weihan, "Boss, what should old Chi say?"

  The Baoshan camp officers and soldiers who were watching from the side suddenly burst into loud laughter.

  Yang Shaosheng, who was in charge of the recording, didn't smile. On the contrary, his mood was quite heavy. He reminded him: "Brother, do you have any other family members at home? Is there anything you want to say to them? Just pretend they are standing in front of you now, and say whatever you want to say without worrying about anything..."

  Chi Chengfeng pouted and suddenly said: "Mother, I am Gou Sheng, your dog son."

  The voice had just fallen, and the officers and soldiers in the great hall burst out laughing again. Liu Tiezhu laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face: "Hahaha, it turns out that Chi Lianchang's nickname is also Dog Leftover, with the same name as a fool in our village."

  "It's your dad who is an idiot, and your grandma." Chi Chengfeng retorted with a bad tone, then turned his head to the recorder and said, "Mom, when you see this photo and hear this recording, it's likely that your dog son is already gone. But don't be sad, your dog son died on the battlefield fighting against the devils, didn't bring shame to our old Chi family, really..."

  The fourth floor hall suddenly became silent, and the officers and soldiers who were laughing just now all fell silent at once.

  "Next." Yue Weihan lifted Chi Chengfeng without hesitation, the recorder's capacity was limited, he had to let more warriors leave their voices behind.

  "Father, you're not in good health, so don't bother with that half-acre of land at our place. Let Second Root's son take care of it. I've also sent you a photo and thirty big dollars this time. All of this was earned through my military service. Once you receive the money, tell Second Root to find a wife for him, he's not young anymore."

  "Next!" Yue Weihan once again coldly pushed Niu Dageng away.

  Cao Xinglong subconsciously stood in front of the recorder, but soon his face turned extremely embarrassing, even with a hint of pale, stunned for a moment and then walked away silently. Yang Shaoceng, who was responsible for recording, saw this and hastily said: "Brother, why didn't you say a few words?"

  Cao Xinglong didn't even turn his head and said, "I have nothing to say."

  "How can you be so heartless?" The young female lieutenant, Liu Xin, who was helping beside him, immediately became somewhat displeased.

  "Shut up, what do you know?" Yue Weihan glared at Liu Xin with a fierce gaze, then signaled the guard squad leader Liu Tiezhu to come forward and record the conversation. He walked in front of Liu Xin and said in a low voice: "Captain Cao has no relatives, since he was born he has been alone, doesn't even know what his parents look like. What do you want him to say, and who is he supposed to talk to?"

  "Really?" Liu Xin pouted and whispered, "Then how did he grow up?"

  Yu Weihan sighed and said in a low tone, "It was our Baoshan Camp's old camp commander who took him in. Unfortunately, the old commander also died for his country in the Battle of Baoshan. Now he is all alone."

  "Ah?" Liu Xin's heart trembled slightly at the words, and her beautiful eyes instantly turned red, as if she was about to cry.

  Yue Weihan's voice was soft, but Yang Shaosheng next to the recorder also heard it. He walked up to Cao Xinglong with big strides and said in his unique low and infectious tone: "This National Army brother of yours is not alone, nor is he by himself. The more than 200 brothers of the Bao Shan camp are all your sworn brothers who share life and death with you. The 40 million compatriots across the country are also your brothers and sisters. We... are all one family!"

  "Right, Big Dragon, you forgot, we are brothers!"

  "Cao Lianchang, this master is right, you are our big brother!"

  "Cao big brother, it was my fault just now. If you don't mind, from today on I'll be your little sister, okay?"

  The officers and soldiers of the Bao Shan camp also spoke out in agreement, and Yue Weihan couldn't help but feel a slight movement in his heart, looking at this unassuming photographer with a hint of surprise.