Chapter 21: Drumming in Unison (Part 2)

  Yue Weihan saw Yang Shaosheng checking military supplies and smiled: "Master Yang, you're working hard."

  "What's the hardship? Compared to fighting and bleeding with the devils, this is nothing!" Yang Shaoheng shook his head and said, "I can only do what I can, alas, it's really shameful."

  "What's Master Yang saying? You've already helped us a lot in Baoshan Camp." Yue Weihan said, walking to Yang Shaocheng's side, and saw the list of military supplies in Yang Shaocheng's hand. Suddenly, his heart was slightly shocked. Good guy, all kinds of military supplies were actually registered and categorized, and the entries were very clear. Is this guy really a photographer?

  Yang Shaosheng thought for a moment and suddenly said, "Commander Yue, I'm just a photographer, I don't understand military affairs, but there are a few things that I really need to say."

  Yue Weihan said: "Master Yang, go ahead and say what you have to say."

  Yang Shaoceng said, "Commander Yue, I heard that Director Chiang and the Shanghai War Zone Command have already issued orders to let the Baoshan Regiment retreat into the International Settlement. The people of Shanghai also hope that the Baoshan Regiment can withdraw in order to preserve their useful lives and return to the battlefield to fight against the enemy and serve the country. But why, Commander Yue...?"

  Yue Weihan's expression suddenly turned cold and solemn, staring unblinkingly into Yang Shaoceng's eyes.

  Under Yue Weihan's piercing gaze, Yang Shaochen appeared very calm and composed, his eyes didn't flinch in the slightest.

  Yue Weihan's mind suddenly became more suspicious of the photographer's true identity, but he said: "Chairman Chiang and the War Zone Commander's Office have indeed issued a withdrawal order, but does Mr. Yang know the conditions set by the British on the other side?"

  "Is Commander Yue going to surrender to the British?" Yang Shaocheng said, "Our ancestors didn't have a famous saying for nothing - being able to yield and adapt is what makes a great man. Surrendering to the British is only temporary, as long as we preserve our useful bodies, as long as we can safely return to the anti-Japanese front line, there are plenty of weapons to be had. If the National Government won't give us any, we can always get some from those little devils."

  Yue Weihan shook his head and said: "Does Master Yang really think that after we retreat into the concession and surrender our arms to the British, they will let us return to the front lines of resistance against Japan?"

  Yang Shaoceng frowned and said: "Can't the concession authorities dare to restrain our military officers?"

  Yue Weihan didn't answer and instead asked: "Master Yang, how does China compare with Japan?"

  Yang Shaochen said: "Whether it is comprehensive national strength or military strength, they are far from comparable. This point has been clearly demonstrated on the North China battlefield and the Shanghai-Hangzhou battlefield."

  Yue Weihan continued: "So Mr. Yang thinks that the British will be more afraid of Japanese or Chinese?"

  "This..." Yang Shaoceng furrowed his brow and said, "I'm afraid it's more out of fear of the Japanese than fear of the Chinese."

  "That's right," said Yue Weihan, "Once we retreat into the concession and surrender to the British army, the Japanese army will inevitably put pressure on the Shanghai Municipal Council. At that time, even if Chairman Chiang of the National Government comes forward to mediate in person, the concession authorities will likely yield to the Japanese pressure and detain us. I, Yue Weihan, may not dare to call myself a gentleman, but I also know the saying 'a gentleman does not stand under a wall on the verge of collapse.' Therefore, our Baoshan Regiment will absolutely not retreat into the concession, let alone surrender to the British army."

  Yang Shaosheng thought for a moment and said: "But has General Yue considered that the four-line warehouse cannot be defended for long?"

  "I'm aware of this, of course," said Yue Weihan calmly. "So, there's something else I'd like to trouble Mr. Yang with."

  Yang Shaosheng suddenly realized that Yue Weihan's way of addressing him had changed from "Master Yang" to "Mr. Yang", and he became alert, saying: "Commander Yue, I'm just a photographer, I'm afraid I won't be able to help much."

  "Mr. Yang is not just a photographer, is he? If I'm not mistaken, sir should be from the other side." Yue Weihan said, making an "eight" hand gesture. As early as that day when they recorded the audio, Yue Weihan suspected that Yang Shaocheng was from the Eighth Route Army, because the words of comfort Yang Shaocheng gave to Cao Xinglong at the time had a strong flavor of the Eighth Route Army's political work cadres doing ideological work on soldiers.

  Yue Weihan kept Yang Shaosheng behind, and the tense war situation and the devils' blockade were of course the main reasons. However, it was not without Yue Weihan's intention to do so, because if Yang Shaosheng was really from the Eighth Route Army, then Yue Weihan could establish contact with the Eighth Route Army through him in advance, thus saving himself a lot of detours.

  Yang Shaosheng's expression was first condensed, and then he said with a smile: "Haha, General Yue is really wise, no mistake, I am the director of the Eighth Route Army Shanghai Office. The reason why I didn't dare to introduce myself before was that I was worried that General Yue and the National Army brothers would not understand, so please forgive me."

  "Mr. Yang is worrying too much." Yue Weihan smiled and said, "For your party and army, I have always been extremely respectful."

  Although Yue Weihan had made up his mind to take the troops to join the Eighth Route Army, and after the founding of the country, he would be a general or something, but at this moment it was not the time to reveal his true intentions. You just followed people and said that I wanted to join the Eighth Route Army, maybe others suspected that your motives were impure and thought you wanted to infiltrate the Eighth Route Army.

  However, it is perfectly fine to show some closeness, as long as the other party thinks you have a clear "progressive tendency". Then, think of ways to do your own work, and then deliberately decline twice before finally going along with the flow and bringing the troops to join the Eighth Route Army.

  Yang Shaosheng naturally didn't know the little secret in Yue Weihan's belly, and he immediately let out a hearty laugh, saying: "Now that our identities have been clarified, please, Commander Yue, speak your mind. Is there anything we can do to assist you? As long as it's within our power, we'll definitely go all out to help."

  "Alright, Mr. Yang is indeed straightforward." Yue Weihan said, "Tonight, I will dispatch troops to escort you across the bridge, after you return to the concession, try your best to collect as many oxygen tanks as possible for us, fill them with oxygen and think of a way to transport them over, we have an urgent need, and the sooner the better."

  "Oxygen tank?" Yang Shaoceng thought for a moment, and said with some concern, "If it's just an oxygen tank, no matter how difficult, we can still get one from the concession hospital. But to transport the oxygen tank here, I'm afraid it won't be easy."

  Yue Weihan's expression turned stern, and he asked in a deep voice: "The British won't let us pass?"

  "No." Yang Shaoceng shook his head, "We have Mr. Du's connection on the British side, and it should be no problem to get through, what I'm worried about is the devils, and the devil's gunboat on the Suzhou River, now the little devils have obviously strengthened their blockade of the Four Banks Warehouse, and the Xin Garbage Bridge has also been completely blocked by the devil's machine gun fire."

  "Oh, leave this to us." Yue Weihan said, "As long as the gentleman can deliver the oxygen tank to Xinma Bridge, the rest will be taken care of by our Baoshan Camp."

  Yang Shaocheng said: "Then there's no problem."

  "Alright, I'll leave it to you then." Yue Weihan said as he turned around and shouted, "Zhuzi!"

  "Yes!" Squad leader Liu Tiezhu rushed in with quick strides, stood at attention and saluted.

  Yue Weihan ordered: "Bring the guard squad, escort Mr. Yang across the bridge, and ensure Mr. Yang's safety at all costs!"

  "Yes!" Liu Tiezhu suddenly turned around and shouted loudly, "Guard squad, assemble!" After the guard squad gathered, Liu Tiezhu immediately turned to Yang Shaosheng with a salute, "Sir, please!"