Volume 1: Fierce Resistance Against Japan Chapter 48: The Dark Shadow in the Black Night

  "Hi! I'm leaving!" The Japanese officer turned around and left the conference room. Not long after the Japanese officer left, Tofei Genji, who had just arrived in Shanghai from Northeast China, walked into the conference room and said to Kawashima Yoshiko: "Miss Kawashima! How's your arrangement going?!"

  "Kawashima Yoshiko replied seriously to Tsuchihashi Genji's question, 'Tsuchihashi-kun! Don't worry! I've already arranged everything! This matter is guaranteed to be absolutely safe!'"

  "Great job! Kawashima-san, your work has been highly evaluated within the Empire! Especially that successful operation to bring back Aixinjueluo Puyi from under the noses of the Chinese army, making it possible for us to establish Manchukuo! I hope this time's task will be as successful as the last one!" Tōyama Kōji said seriously.

  When Kawashima Yoshiko heard Tsuchihashi's words, she smiled and said, "Thank you, Mr. Tsuchihashi!" As soon as Kawashima Yoshiko finished speaking, a young military officer walked up to her ear and whispered a few sentences, after which Kawashima Yoshiko calmly said, "It doesn't matter! Let them get familiar with the terrain! I don't want any accidents to happen later!"

  "Hey!" The young officer turned and left. After the young officer left, Kawashima Yoshiko smiled and said to Tōyama Sanei: "Sir, when are you planning to leave? I can have someone prepare for you!" Tōyama Sanei chuckled at Kawashima Yoshiko's words and said: "This doesn't need your arrangement! The military department will take care of everything!" As he spoke, Tōyama Sanei smiled at Kawashima Yoshiko and said: "Miss Kawashima, I'm counting on you next!" After that, Tōyama Sanei turned and left.

  It was January 18, 1932. The hands of history did not change because of Hu Lieyang's crossing! Under the instigation of Kawashima Yoshiko, five people including Tenshō Kiyoshi attacked the workers of the Chinese San Yu Industrial Company on Ma Yushan Road with stones and clashed with the workers. Tanaka Ryūkichi, a Japanese assistant military attaché at the Shanghai Consulate, manipulated thugs and traitors to severely injure two Japanese monks, one of whom was reported dead in the hospital. Immediately after that, Kawashima Yoshiko ordered a group of about 50 hooligans from the Japanese Youth Association to burn down the San Yu Industrial Company on the night of January 19, killing and injuring three Chinese police officers. On the 20th, they incited more than a thousand Japanese residents to hold a rally and march, strongly demanding that the Japanese Consul General and the Marine Corps intervene. On the 21st, the Japanese Consul General, Murai Tsutomu, made four unreasonable demands to the Mayor of Shanghai: apology, punishment, compensation, and dissolution of anti-Japanese organizations. On the 22nd, Commander Salane Kōichi of the Japanese First Expeditionary Fleet issued a threatening statement, citing the protection of overseas Chinese as an excuse to intensify war preparations and deploy troops from Japan to Shanghai.

  On the 23rd, after reading the newspaper in the early morning, Yang Chunxiao panted to Hua Lieyang: "Jiting! Are we going to watch the little devils dominate with our eyes open?!"

  Hua Lieyang smiled wryly at Yang Chunxiao's words, "It's not time for us to take action yet! You can endure for ten more days at most. I estimate that on the 28th, those little devils will definitely make a move!" Yang Chunfeng, who was standing aside, looked puzzled and stared foolishly at Hua Lieyang, saying: "Ji Ting, how are you so sure that the little devils will take action on the 28th?"

  Hua Lieyang heard Yang Chunfeng's words and smiled, saying: "This matter is clear! The little devils need to mobilize their troops! There aren't many soldiers they can use for battle in the concession! They need an excuse to bring all their troops into Shanghai! And this incident is just the best excuse for the little devils!"

  As soon as Hua Lieyang finished speaking, Yang Chunlei spoke up and said: "Forget it! We don't need to ask so many questions anymore! Jiting, since you've already made up your mind! Let's just listen to him!" As he spoke, Yang Chunlei looked at Hua Lieyang and continued: "Jiting! The ten of us have entrusted over a hundred kilograms to you!"

  Before Yang Chunlei could finish speaking, Hua Lieyang interrupted him and said: "Uncle Lei! Listen to me! You are all my elders! By right, I have no authority to command you! But now the country is in danger, and I won't be polite to you either! My only goal is to drive the devils out of Northeast China! Drive them out of China!"

  Hearing Hua Lieyang's words, Yang Chunxiao spoke up and said: "Jiting! Don't worry! We fifty brothers have already discussed it! We've long considered you our mainstay! I won't say anything else! Everything will be done according to your instructions!"

  Hua Lieyang heard Yang Chunxiao's words, his eyes were moist with excitement, and he said with a choked tone: "Thank you, uncles! I won't let you down!"

  As the Japanese army continued to deploy troops into Shanghai, their provocations became increasingly severe. The commander-in-chief of the 19th Route Army responsible for defending Shanghai, Jiang Guangnai, and the military commander Cai Tingkai reported the Japanese provocations to the Beijing-Shanghai Garrison Commander Chen Mingshu.

  Chen Mingshu and Chiang Kuang-nai, Cai Tingkai decided to respond to the Japanese army's provocation after discussion. However, the National Government meeting advocated tolerance afterwards, and on January 23, He Yingqin, the Minister of Military and Political Affairs, ordered the 19th Route Army to be replaced in Shanghai within five days.

  As the war drew near, Yang Chunxiao and Yang Chunfeng became busier, shuttling between their residence and various streets in Shanghai every day. Before they knew it, it was already the 27th. Japanese Consul-General Inukai Tsuyoshi represented the Japanese government to deliver an ultimatum to the Shanghai Municipal Government

  Issue an ultimatum: a satisfactory reply must be given before 18:00 on the 28th, otherwise necessary actions will be taken. The Nationalist government concentrated its forces in the west to "suppress the Communists" and continued to implement a policy of non-resistance against Japan. War Minister He Yingqin urgently telegrammed the 19th Route Army to swallow its pride and seek compromise, ordering Shanghai Mayor Wu Tiecheng to fully accept the Japanese side's unreasonable demands by 13:45 on the 28th. The temporarily retired Commander-in-Chief entrusted Nationalist Party elder Zhang Jingjiang to persuade Cai Tingkai to avoid conflict with the Japanese army and replaced the Shanghai 19th Route Army's defense with the 16th Garrison Brigade. The Japanese side expressed "satisfaction" upon receiving Wu Tiecheng's reply, but then used the pretext of protecting overseas Chinese to demand that Chinese troops withdraw from Zhabei, and launched a surprise attack on Zhabei that night without waiting for a response.

  After reading the January 28th morning edition of Ta Kung Pao, Yang Chunxiao said lightly: "It seems that the little devils really want to take action!" When Yang Chunxiao spoke, Hua Lieyang understood in his heart but couldn't say it out loud, and could only silently wipe down the sniper rifle in his hands. After a while, the silence in the room was broken by Yang Chunlei.

  Yang Chunlei, who had just rushed back after buying breakfast, said to Hua Lieyang as soon as he entered the house: "Ji Ting! Just now when I was buying breakfast, I found that the little devils are mobilizing troops towards Zhabei!" As soon as Yang Chunlei's words were heard, everyone in the whole house stood up at once.

  Seeing this scene, Hua Lieyang said calmly: "What's the hurry! Time is still early! The little devils won't make a move until midnight tonight! Don't forget that the little devils like to be both prostitutes and virtuous!" Hearing Hua Lieyang's words, Yang Chunxiao also seriously said: "Alright! Everyone quiet down!" Saying this, Yang Chunxiao instructed Yang Chunlei: "Bring out the breakfast!" As he spoke, Yang Chunxiao carried a portion of breakfast over to Hua Lieyang.

  Hua Lieyang took a few bites of the breakfast and said, "Xiao Shu! Go out and buy some dry rations later! We'll be relying on those to get by for the next few days!" Upon hearing Hua Lieyang's words, Yang Chunxiao replied seriously, "Ji Ting, don't worry! I'll go take care of it later!"

  When Yang Chunxiao finished speaking, Hua Lieyang nodded and continued eating his breakfast. Before long, the sky began to darken slowly. Looking at the darkening sky, Hua Lieyang glanced at his watch and said, "We should also take action!" He then turned to Yang Chunxiao and said, "Uncle Xiao! As soon as you hear the sound of gunfire, lead the men in sinking the Japanese 'Nagato' aircraft carrier anchored on the Huangpu River!"

  "Don't worry! Just watch us when the time comes!" Yang Chunxiao said, looking at Hua Lieyang and continuing to ask: "Ji Ting, what will we do after completing our mission?"

  Hua Lieyang thought for a moment and said, "After completing the task, you all meet us at Qiujiang Road! If you can't find us, we'll gather here again on the 30th in the morning!" Upon hearing Hua Lieyang's words, Yang Chunxiao nodded seriously and said, "Ji Ting, be careful! I'll take the lead and leave first!" After finishing speaking, Yang Chunxiao turned around and left with four people.

  As Yang Chunxiao left, Hua Lieyang said calmly: "We should also take action!" As he spoke, Hua Lieyang picked up the sniper rifle that had been placed aside and turned to lead Yang Chunfeng and five others to disappear into the darkness of night.

  In the blink of an eye, Hua Lieyang brought Yang Chunfeng and others to the Tian Tong Anlu bus station. When they arrived near the station, Hua Lieyang looked at his watch and said: "It's still early now, let's split into two groups and find a hiding spot with a good view!" After hearing Hua Lieyang's words, Yang Chunfeng thought for a moment and said: "Let's have Chunlei and you form a group!"

  Hearing Yang Chunfeng's arrangement, Hua Lieyang smiled and said: "Alright! So we'll go first! After the battle starts, we'll see how things go. If we have the upper hand, then we'll adopt the second plan and gather at our base on the 30th!"

  "Alright! Since we've decided, let's just say it's settled then! If anything happens, we'll contact each other as soon as possible! If things don't go smoothly on the battlefield, we'll meet at the intersection of Daoqiu River!" Yang Chunfeng said seriously.

  Upon hearing Yang Chunfeng's words, Hua Lieyang nodded and turned around to leave with Yang Chunlei. After a while, Hua Lieyang brought Yang Chunlei to an open area with a clear view. Through the sniper scope, Hua Lieyang observed the surroundings before saying calmly to Yang Chunlei: "Uncle Lei! Wait for a moment, we'll start firing freely! Our main targets are the little devils' officers, machine gunners, artillerymen and their flag bearers!"

  Yang Chunlei smiled and said, "Ji Ting, don't worry! I remember everything!" After hearing Yang Chunlei's words, Hua Lieyang nodded, took out a piece of incense, lit it, and placed it between his two fingers. He then tightened his clothes, hugged his gun, and leaned against the wall to sleep.

  Time passed minute by minute, and before long the clock hand pointed to 11 o'clock on January 28th. At this time, Hualeyang, who had been exhausted, opened his eyes, looked at his watch, and said, "The time should be about right!" Upon hearing Hualeyang's words, Yang Chunlei immediately regained his spirit.

  Just as Hua Lieyang woke up, the Japanese Navy Commander-in-Chief, Kanji Ishiwara, invited Consul Murai of the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai and other important figures in Shanghai to his office and said: "Everyone! I asked you to come here to let you hear the great news that the Imperial Army of Japan has taken over the Chinese army's position in Zhabei, Shanghai!"