Chapter 226: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 226 Borrowing the Concession Route

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Commander Matsui Iwane heard this and asked: "Commander Gu Qingchuan, can't your navy even handle something this small?! The Xia Guo troops inside Sihang Warehouse actually escaped so easily from right under your noses?"

Gu Qingchuan's face alternated between green and white; he ignored Matsui Iwane and instead asked the staff officer who came to report: "What exactly happened?"

The staff officer replied: "The enemy did not break out through the Marine Corps' defensive line; they should have entered the Concession last night."

Matsui Iwane pressed: "Entered the Concession? I say, didn't the Marine Corps stop them?! Xia Guo's newspapers have been plastering propaganda about Sihang Warehouse everywhere, and Xia Guo civilians call the warehouse's defenders the Eight Hundred Heroes. If we captured these Eight Hundred Heroes, it would be no small blow to the enemy's fighting spirit!"

But now, those Eight Hundred Heroes inside Sihang Warehouse have just disappeared right under the Marine Corps' noses?"

The navy's staff officer swallowed: "The defending troops inside Sihang Warehouse had too fierce firepower; the Marine Corps dared not approach easily and only defended the outer perimeter. This morning, the Marine Corps soldiers noticed something was wrong. After reconnaissance, they found Sihang Warehouse was completely empty!"

Gu Qingchuan ordered: "Immediately contact the relevant parties in the Concession to verify. If the Chinan troops are still within the Concession, demand the Concession troops detain that Chinan army for me~!"

The incident at Sihang Warehouse left Gu Qingchuan unable to save face.

He no longer bothered to keep sparring with Matsui Iwane, but immediately took people to meet US Lieutenant General Simaisi, who was responsible for Concession defense, and a British Garrison major general.

Army General Matsui Iwane and Lieutenant General Asahiko also followed along.

Both sides met directly inside Sihang Warehouse. Sihang Warehouse had been inspected by Japanese soldiers, and all dangers had been ruled out.

The atmosphere of the meeting was not friendly from the start. Gu Qingchuan suppressed his anger and asked: "General Simaisi, and this General Yuehan, according to our Marine Corps report, the Chinan army originally defending Sihang Warehouse disappeared last night."

According to intelligence, they withdrew through the Concession in an orderly combat formation. Do you know about this? Do you have an explanation?"

US Lieutenant General Simaisi shrugged, his expression flat, even carrying a hint of ease: "Yes, Commander Gu Qingchuan. Last night, that Xia Guo unit, the Eight Hundred Heroes as reported in the newspapers, indeed withdrew into the Concession in an orderly combat formation. After staying in the Concession for less than half an hour, this unit withdrew completely from the Concession."

British Major General Yuehan added: "According to our temporary arrangement with relevant Xia Guo parties, and also to avoid continuous firefights in the Sihang Warehouse area posing a greater threat to Concession security, they left through the passage on the northwest side of the Concession. As for where they went after leaving, the Concession side has no authority and it is not appropriate to inquire."

Gu Qingchuan flared up immediately upon hearing this: "No authority to inquire? General Simaisi! That is an armed force that has killed a great number of Imperial Locust soldiers! It is our enemy! You actually let them pass through your defense zone, even providing convenience? This seriously violates the principle of neutrality!"

US Lieutenant General Simaisi spoke slowly: "Commander Gu Qingchuan, please calm down. Xia Guo is your enemy, not mine;"

In addition, regarding the issue of violating the principle of neutrality, we need to remind your side that in the past few days, during the Japanese army's siege of Sihang Warehouse, many stray bullets flew into the Concession, causing property losses and panic among expatriates.

Just a few days ago, one of your planes flew at ultra-low altitude and almost hit a Concession building, passing right over my head. Compared to the convenience we provided to the Xia Guo army, the Japanese army completely disrespects the Concession's rights;

In my view, allowing a unit that has already stopped firing on your army to quickly pass through our area under strict control to withdraw, in order to reduce conflict hotspots, is precisely to maintain the Concession's basic security and order, and avoid being dragged into your firefights for no reason. This is exactly the manifestation of upholding the principle of neutrality."

These words left Gu Qingchuan choked, but he understood that saying more was useless. He then said to Army General Matsui Iwane beside him: "Excellency Matsui Iwane! You heard it too! The troops around the army must pursue this fleeing enemy! These Eight Hundred Heroes are carrying so many heavy weapons; they definitely can't run far!"

Matsui Iwane did not immediately respond to Gu Qingchuan. He had been observing this now-quiet Sihang Warehouse all around just now.

At this moment, Matsui Iwane raised his hand, pointed to his own head, and said: "The heavy weapons the enemy could not take away have all been destroyed;"

Excellency Gu Qingchuan, the enemy is not a fool. Retreating while carrying heavy weapons not only slows speed but also makes a large target.

Since they chose to secretly withdraw at night and were able to pass through the Concession so quickly in half an hour, it shows they went into action lightly equipped and executed very decisively."

Gu Qingchuan turned to Lieutenant General Simaisi and asked: "General, may I ask what equipment they mainly carried when they withdrew? Which direction did they go? What means of transportation did they use?"

Simaisi shrugged: "Regarding weaponry, I have nothing to say. I also don't know which direction the enemy retreated. But as for the means of transportation used by those Eight Hundred Heroes, I can only say that the Concession side provided no convenience in terms of transportation."

Matsui Iwane's gaze turned toward the southwest: "According to my guess, the most likely direction for this unit called the Eight Hundred Heroes to retreat is toward Songjiang and Qingpu;"

Currently, that area is precisely the operational zone of Lieutenant General Yanagawa Heisuke of the Tenth Army. Perhaps we can ask Yanagawa-kun to pay attention."

Speak of the devil. As soon as Matsui Iwane finished speaking, an army communications staff officer ran over in a hurry, clutching a telegram that had just been translated.

"Report to Excellency Commander! Telegram from Commander Yanagawa Heisuke of the Tenth Army!"

Matsui Iwane took the telegram and skimmed through it quickly.

Asahiko stepped forward and asked: "How is it? Has Excellency Yanagawa Heisuke blocked these Eight Hundred Heroes?!"

Matsui Iwane looked at the telegram, glared at Gu Qingchuan, then threw the telegram to Asahiko to read.

On the telegram, Yanagawa Heisuke's tone could be described as quite impolite, scolding Gu Qingchuan from beginning to end.

Yanagawa Heisuke's telegram was very colloquial, seemingly sent specifically to scold someone:

"Gu Qingchuan, you old bastard, did you deliberately release this unit from Sihang Warehouse?"

My Tenth Army's Sixth Division main force fought fiercely with Wu Keren's Sixty-Seventh Army along the Songjiang line at dawn. The battle was stalemated, and suddenly an enemy elite force of about a thousand men attacked the Sixth Division's flank and rear!

It caused serious damage to my artillery positions and logistics units, resulting in the frontline offensive being once set back!

Investigation shows this enemy is the same unit that previously defended Shanghai's Sihang Warehouse! This unit has now successfully broken out and is withdrawing toward the deep rear. What exactly are the Marine Corps responsible for besieging Sihang Warehouse doing?"

Did the navy deliberately release these Eight Hundred Heroes to bite people?! Simply shameless and despicable!"

"How does Yanagawa Heisuke put it? Did the army catch those Eight Hundred Heroes?!" Gu Qingchuan asked impatiently.

Asahiko gave an embarrassed smile and put away the telegram sent by Yanagawa Heisuke. This telegram could not be shown to Gu Qingchuan; it was not conducive to unity.

"The Eight Hundred Heroes have already broken out. Because of this small mistake by the navy, the Sixth Division was ambushed from behind by the Eight Hundred Heroes......"

Gu Qingchuan was stunned. This was truly embarrassing. Upon deeper investigation, the matter of the Sixth Division being ambushed ultimately had to be blamed on his own Marine Corps.

Matsui Iwane really wanted to scold Gu Qingchuan and his navy harshly, but he needed them to cooperate well afterward, so he could only suppress his anger again and again.

"Report to Excellency Commander! The Third Fleet has completed mine-sweeping operations in the Baimaokou area and is awaiting orders!" A navy staff officer ran over to report to Gu Qingchuan.

Unexpectedly, Matsui Iwane spoke first: "Immediately cover the 101st Division and 11th Division along the Yangtze River shore, attack the positions of the Chuan Army 23rd Group Army, and break through the Wufu Defense Line!"