USS Augusta, an improved version of the Pensacola-class heavy cruiser,

Equipped with four Curtiss seaplanes.

American Admiral Henry Irving was currently in the command and operations room on the ship, convening an emergency combat meeting with all the officers under his command!

Regarding the Songhu Battle in front of them, the soldiers of the US Navy often stood on the deck of their own fleet to watch it as if they were watching a blockbuster movie, pointing and chatting.

As for the fleet officers, they simply sat leisurely on the deck, picked up military telescopes, and watched the battlefield situation between the Japanese army and the Chinese army with great interest.

But today they didn't have the leisure to continue watching the battle.

Because as the Japanese 10th Army approached the area on the south bank of the Suzhou River, it was getting closer to the concession.

These great powers became more and more nervous about the interests of their concessions. They were worried that Japanese troops would enter the concessions.

"Now the Songhu War between Japan and China is almost over! And the final winner is obviously the menacing Japanese army!"

"So in order to ensure the interests of our concession, I must be wary of every move by the Japanese troops who are getting closer and closer to our concession! To prevent them from entering our concession to cause trouble or start a war!"

"So I called you here today to tell you that we will lead a fleet of more than 40 ships into the Huangpu River from today! Monitor every move of the Japanese fleet, including their army troops!"

"As long as these Japanese troops dare to invade our concession and endanger the lives and interests of the people in our concession, we must give these Japanese troops a heavy blow!"

"Let our strength tell these Japanese troops that we are not Chinese troops with backward weapons and equipment. We will not be defeated by them so easily!"

"We are the only ones who can defeat all these Japanese troops easily and happily!"

Admiral Henry Irving said with a loud voice and a face full of arrogance and confidence.

At the same time, he quickly scanned the mood changes of the officers under his hands to see what their reactions were.

"That's very well said! Admiral!"

"We will definitely give the most violent counterattack to these Japanese troops who want to attack our interests, and let them see how powerful we are!"

"But the premise is that these Japanese troops must have the courage to attack us!"

When Admiral Henry Irving and a colonel named Charlie responded with a smile.

"Yes! Charlie is right!"

"Those Japanese troops can only bully the troops of backward countries like China. How dare they dare to provoke powerful countries like us?"

"And we are not a country fighting alone. The interests of many great powers are involved in our concession! So I believe that the Japanese troops will not easily invade our concession! But I also agree with the general's opinion. We

We must be more vigilant to monitor every move of these Japanese troops! Just in case!"

...

Then the second officer, and the third, and fourth officer... also expressed their opinions one after another.

"Okay! Everyone's opinions are almost unanimous, so let's get back to our positions immediately and lead our ships into the Huangpu River together!"

"Our fleet must all enter the Huangpu River this afternoon, be ready to go, and monitor every move of the Japanese fleet and army at any time. As long as they make the slightest abnormal move, we will immediately attack them and defend our concession.

Use and safety of the people inside!”

After all the officers expressed their opinions, Admiral Henry Irving also made the final decision.

.......

And at this moment,

In addition to the navy and army commanded by Vice Admiral Charles who entered the concession for protection, the British also urgently transferred a battalion of the Welsh Fusiliers from Hong Kong Island into the concession to strengthen the deployment of troops in the concession.

Other major powers also strengthened their security forces to enter the concessions to prevent the Japanese invasion and destroy all their interests in the concessions and the safety of the foreign residential areas that immigrated to the concessions.

...

At this moment in Songhu,

Those who live a decent and prosperous life still enjoy singing and dancing, eating and drinking, riding in cars and watching movies, and going home to live in bungalows.

Those who should be happy should continue to be happy.

Cheongsam, hot sugar-roasted chestnuts, rickshaws, a ten-mile foreign market, and busy scenes still exist...

The old records in the gramophone are floating with the white light of "Shanghai at Night" - "If I Didn't Have You", Gong Qiuxia - "Dream Man", Bai Guang - "Waiting for Your Return", Li Xianglan - "Scent of Night", Wu Yingyin - "Send the Moon A Thousand Miles Away"

"Lovesickness" and other melodious tunes still continue to float.

Of course, Songhu has both a glamorous and gorgeous side, as well as a dirty and dark side.

For example, child laborers who often work more than 10 hours a day and have low wages, as well as women, and even young workers, are still stuck in factories, working hard.

Scenes like this can be found everywhere in silk reeling factories, cotton spinning mills, and tobacco factories.

In particular, there was a twelve-year-old girl in a certain cigarette factory. Her mother relied on her to work for a living, but she was fired for doing something trivial and her pleas were unsuccessful. Then she went home and died because she was fired from the factory.

I was so scared that I died of worry three days later.

According to the doctor, her courage was shattered.

Therefore, there are still only a small number of wealthy people in Songhu who build foreign houses, buy foreign cars, wear silks and satins, and eat rich food.

At least there are a lot of workers in the workshop at this time,

However, regarding the Battle of Songhu outside the concession, although the people at the bottom are still enduring their dark days, there are still many people paying attention to the final result of the Battle of Songhu.

...

At this moment, Army Colonel Takashi Takamori's leading troops have also appeared in the Zhabei area, getting closer and closer to the Sihang Warehouse area.

Seeing that it was still raining heavily in the sky, Army Colonel Takamori Takashi temporarily stopped the advance of the vanguard troops who had allowed him to advance in the rain.

"You immediately bring a small team of scouts to scout out whether there are any Chinese troops nearby!"

Then he called a Japanese squad leader named Hikaru Shibata and gave him orders.

"Hai!"

The Japanese squad leader Hikaru Shibata immediately nodded heavily and agreed.

Then he quickly led his team of 54 people, hurriedly put on raincoats, and braved the pouring rain to conduct reconnaissance.

However, this small group of Japanese troops unfortunately encountered the reconnaissance force sent by Liu Feiyang.
Chapter completed!