Chapter 80 The First Shot (Five)

"Your Excellency Commander, I'm sending the police to the regiment headquarters of the Third Security Regiment to negotiate. I'm worried that it will inspire conflict." The Marine Chief of Staff Toyo Yoshikawa, who had just returned from a business trip, heard that Maeda Toyoo sent the police to Hongqiao Airport and rushed to the headquarters and said to Maeda Toyoo with concern. Because Hongqiao Airport does not belong to the co-managed area of ​​the "Shanghu Armistice Agreement", and it is also a military airport of the Chinese Air Force. Marines should not enter this area.

"Yoshikawakun is worried too much. The China Security Force will never dare to have conflicts with the Imperial Japanese Army. I asked Kuroki to take the security team to put pressure on the China Security Force to hand over the murderer. I want them to know that if I killed the officers of my Great Japanese Empire, we will never give up." Toshio Maeda said with a ferocious look on his face.

Yoshikawa Tomoro, who was born in the Kyoto Samurai family, looked down on Tomoo Maeda, the commander who was a farmer from the Kanto countryside, was not because he was his boss. Tomoo Yoshikawa Tomoro has always maintained superficial respect. Hearing Maeda Tomoo's confident and arrogant words, Tomoo Yoshikawa still said worriedly: "Commander, after all, we have no direct evidence on this matter. It is better to hand it over to the consulate to negotiate with the Chinese government. Now that we send troops directly, it may affect diplomatic disputes. And I think this matter should be reported to General Hasse as soon as possible."

Maeda Toshio was actually very disgusted with Toshio Yoshikawa's behavior, thinking that these young men were just relying on their family power, not like him who had achieved their current status by relying on their own abilities and fighting with one sword and one shot. If it were someone else, Toshio Maeda would have been scolded by "Bagayalu", but still considering Toshio Yoshikawa's background, Toshio Maeda said patiently: "Yoshikawa, the incident last night was a shame for our Marines, and it was also a shame for our Great Japanese Empire Navy. We must seek justice by ourselves. I think General Hase must have the same idea. Besides, General Hase is now leading a fleet in the Taiwan Strait to exercise, so we don't need to disturb General Hase for this. I am confident that this incident will be handled well. I want to let all the Chinese in Shanghai see that our Great Japanese Imperial Army is sacred and inviolable."

Yoshikawa Toyoro saw Maeda's hysterical look and knew that it would be difficult for him to convince this country bumpkin. When he was thinking about whether he would take the initiative to report to the commander of the Third Fleet, Hasea Kiyogawa, when a lieutenant staff officer hurriedly ran in from outside and reported: "Report to the commander, the guard team led by Major Kuroki broke out in fierce conflict with the Third China Shanghai Security Regiment at Hongqiao Airport. According to the information coming from the scene, the guard team was repelled by the Chinese army and its whereabouts are unknown."

When Maeda Toshio and Yoshikawa Toshiro heard this, they were stunned. Although Maeda Toshio was aggressive, he really didn't expect that the Third Security Regiment would really have a conflict with the security team. Moreover, his whereabouts of his security team were unknown. A trace of ominous premonition emerged from the hearts of the two of them at the same time.

"Is the news accurate?" Maeda Toshio grabbed the clothes on the chest of the lieutenant staff member and shouted sternly.

The lieutenant staff officer was startled by Toshio Maeda's actions and quickly replied: "I just received information from the intelligence personnel originally arranged by Master Kuroki to be near Hongqiao Airport. The battle was very fierce, and all three of our cars were destroyed. Some of the personnel retreated into the groves next to the airport. Now the Third Shanghai Security Regiment has alerted the outside of the airport, and intelligence personnel cannot enter the reconnaissance."

"Your Excellency Commander, you should report to General Hase immediately. At the same time, please allow me to lead a brigade to rescue Kuroki Jun and the Guards." Yoshikawa Toro was anxious when he heard this, and no longer cared about diplomatic negotiations, and quickly said.

When things had developed to this extent, Maeda Toshio had no time to think about it, so he nodded quickly and said, "Okay, Yoshikawa-kun. You will lead the first brigade to Hongqiao Airport immediately. Please be sure to rescue Major Kuroki and the guards. Please." As he said that, Maeda Toshio bowed to Yoshikawa Toshiro.

"Hay, Commander." Yoshikawa Toyoro bowed back, hurried out of the door, and gathered the troops.

At this time, Maeda Toshio looked as if he was ashen and ordered the staff: "Immediately send a report to Commander Hasegawa that our security forces and the Third China Shanghai Security Regiment had a conflict. The whereabouts of the security forces are unknown. Our troops are about to launch an attack on the Third Shanghai Security Regiment and warn other security forces in Shanghai. Please provide tactical guidance by Commander Hasegawa."

"The regiment seat, all the Japanese soldiers in the woods were cleaned up, there were thirteen in total, and no one was left." Half an hour after the battle at the door ended, the company commander of the spy company Peng Hui ran into the regiment headquarters excitedly reporting to Chen Xiuwenhui.

Chen Xiuwen looked at the watch in his hand and took half an hour to clean up the Japanese soldiers who fled into the woods. Time should be said to be quite fast.

"How is my own casualties?"

"Three brothers were killed, two were injured, one of them was seriously injured." Peng Hui's face suddenly became dark and he replied.

Chen Xiuwen frowned when he heard this. He was training the spy company himself, and he could even name each soldier. However, facing the thirteen fleeing Japanese soldiers, the casualties reached as many as six, which made it difficult for Chen Xiuwen to accept. He knew the combat effectiveness of the spy company best, and the Japanese Marine Corps was not a special forces at all, and its combat effectiveness was not as good as that of the soldiers of the permanent division of the Japanese Army. Using the entire company of the spy company to deal with the thirteen defeated soldiers, the casualties ratio was almost one to two. Chen Xiuwen felt that he had underestimated the combat effectiveness of the Japanese Marine Corps.

Originally, he always thought that with his third security regiment of 3,000, and his well-equipped and outstanding firepower, he could fight against more than 3,000 Japanese Marines stationed in Shanghai. But now it seems that if the Marines were fully deployed, would Chen Xiuwen be able to withstand it?

"Room, a large group of Japanese Marine Corps troops have just set out from Hongkou and come to us. It is estimated that there will be an hour left to reach us, but according to our intelligence personnel's reconnaissance, they did not dispatch tanks or trucks to pull artillery." Chen Zui ran in and reported with a serious look on his face.

This information shows that the situation is escalating further. All personnel of the regiment headquarters, including Chief of Staff Qiao Zhen, have focused their attention on Chen Xiuwen. This is not as simple as a guard of dozens of people. There are thousands of people in a large group of Marine Corps.

"Are you sure they were heading straight to Hongqiao Airport instead of seizing troops to attack Longhua Airport at the same time?" Chen Xiuwen asked calmly.

Chen Zui walked to the map and pointed to the map and said, "According to information, the troops of the Neon Marine Corps are heading towards Zhabei along the north bank of the Suzhou River. According to this route, they are likely to cross the Suzhou River in the Caojiadu area, bypass the French Concession, and then head straight to our Hongqiao Airport. The possibility of their division of troops in Longhua Airport can be ruled out initially. Moreover, the Third Battalion has already deployed defenses outside the airport, and the news that we have wiped out their guards should have not reached them yet. So, I judged that they may have come to reinforce after learning that we had a conflict with their guards."

Chen Xiuwen nodded and gestured on the map according to intoxication.

"Captain, the call from Nanjing has not come yet, do you see?" He had a rash conflict with the Neon Army stationed in Shanghai. Now that the situation has expanded, Qiao Zhen also walked to Chen Xiuwen with a look of uncertainty and asked softly.

Chen Xiuwen understood Qiao Zhen's concerns. Since he fought the two Japanese officers last night, until today the Third Battalion clashed with the Marine Corps that came to the door and eliminated the troops. This fully demonstrated that the Third Security Regiment had officially started a war with the Neon Marine Corps. As the situation escalated further, first of all, whether the Third Security Regiment could block the Neon Army's attack. Secondly, Nanjing's current attitude has not yet been clarified. If the National Government does not want to go to war with Japan, Chen Xiuwen will undoubtedly be a scapegoat in the future.

However, Chen Xiuwen now knows the historical process of today's conflict that has changed. He doesn't even know how to develop next.

"Damn it, don't care. The Japanese have hit our doorstep. Nanjing must not let us fight back. What about him, let's fight first." Chen Xiuwen waved his hand easily and said. He is the leader of a regiment. At this time, he can stabilize himself first to stabilize the morale of the army.

"By the way, how are the fortifications of the Third Battalion outside the airport now?" Chen Xiuwen asked immediately.

Qiao Zhen frowned and replied, "The current fortifications of the Third Battalion have not been completed yet, and it is estimated that it will take about an hour. The Neon Army is coming very fast this time, and I am worried that it is a little overwhelmed."

"No, I ordered Cheng De'an to speed up, the fortifications must be dug deep, and pay attention to air defense. There are also Japanese aircraft carriers at the estuary of the Yangtze River. In addition, we cannot sit here and wait for the Japanese to attack. We must take the initiative to attack. While delaying their speed, we will catch them off guard." Chen Xiuwen said with a serious face.

"Captain, what do you mean?" Qiao Zhen's eyes lit up and he asked.

"Come on," Chen Xiuwen pointed to the map and said, "According to the information of Deputy Chief of Staff Chen, this brigade of the Neon Army is going to head from Caojiadu to Hongqiao Airport, so he will definitely go to Chengjiaqiao. This is the only way from Caojiadu to Hongqiao Airport. We arranged two companies in Chengjiaqiao, and when they passed by, they would attack him suddenly."

"Two companies, too few, right?" Qiao Zhen asked in confusion.

"This attack mainly delays their speed and wins time for the Third Battalion's defense. It takes a moment of attack and withdraws, and requires strong firepower. I plan to let the Secret Service Company and the Third Battalion Company go to Chengjiaqiao to ambush."

"Okay, team leader, then I will lead the team in person." Qiao Zhen agreed with Chen Xiuwen's plan and said quickly.

Originally, Chen Xiuwen wanted to lead the team himself. Seeing Qiao Zhen volunteering, he hesitated for a moment and said, "Okay. Be sure to pay attention to safety and run away after the fight."

"Yes." Qiao Zhen rarely saluted Chen Xiuwen.

After Qiao Zhen left, Chen Xiuwen kept walking in the command center. As the situation expanded, what he considered the most was Nanjing's attitude.

"Shu Yi, send another report to the Nanjing Beijing-Shanghai Security Command: The Japanese Marine Corps is invading our garrison with a brigade of troops. The situation will further expand, and we will resolutely fight back. At the same time, given that our side has the strength of a regiment to resist the Marine Corps stationed in Shanghai, and is weak, we request the Security Command to provide reinforcements."

In Shen Xiuwen's memory, before the August 13th Incident in Shanghai, Zhang Zhizhong had already entered Shanghai for the first time. And it was based on the July 7 Incident. The current situation was completely different, and he was not sure to repel the three thousand Japanese Marines. As for the two security regiments in the Shanghai Guard Command, they were poorly equipped and had low combat power, and Chen Xiuwen did not throw them into the tent at all.

In fact, when Chen Xiuwen's first telegram was sent to the Beijing-Shanghai Security Command, Zhang Zhizhong had already had a premonition that the situation was serious. This was a replica of the January 28th Incident that year. He was not able to decide such a big thing, so Zhang Zhizhong rushed to Qilu to report to Chairman Jiang in person with the telegram.

At the same time, the Fuxing Society Secret Service also received information about a conflict between the Third Shanghai Security Regiment and the Japanese Marine Corps as soon as possible. Dai Li couldn't help but breathe a breath of air. Since Chen Xiuwen dug up Chen Xiuwen from him, Dai Li has already remembered the name Chen Xiuwen.

"What dares Chen Xiuwen do?" Dai Li sighed and quickly ordered his subordinates: "Prepare the car and go to rest."

When Zhang Zhizhong arrived at the leisure house in a hurry, Chen Xiude, who had just recovered from injury, quickly came up and said, "Teacher, the chairman is waiting for you in the study."

Zhang Zhizhong nodded and walked quickly inside, but hesitated halfway, stopped, and whispered to Chen Xiude: "Zhongliang, your brother Chen Xiuwen just got angry with the Japanese Marine Corps in Shanghai."

When Chen Xiude heard this, he was stunned and hurriedly said, "The news is accurate?"

"Exactly." Zhang Zhizhong nodded affirmatively, then patted Chen Xiude, who looked worried, and comforted: "This time it was the first one to provoke it, and the Third Security Regiment was also forced to fight back. Your brother is a good person."

Chen Xiude knew what Zhang Zhizhong meant, and at the same time he knew that Zhang Zhizhong had always been a pro-war faction, so he quickly whispered gratitude: "Thanks to the teacher for his cultivation of liberation."
Chapter completed!