The recovery of Shanghai and the outbreak of the Second Songhu Battle did not have much impact on Shanghai's public settlement. The wealthy Chinese living in the public settlement were still intoxicated and went to various entertainment clubs every night. The only difference may be that
The security in the public settlement has become much better than before, and there are fewer petty thefts.
But this is the change brought about by the patrol camp. Now, the patrol camp has actually taken over the security management of the entire public concession. The public concession police station has actually become a decoration. The patrol camp's influence has even extended to the French Concession.
, and even the security in the French Concession is much better than before.
Therefore, most people, including foreigners in the Shanghai Concession, do not have much dislike for the patrol camp.
However, there is an exception for a small group of people. This is the foreign patrol led by Johnson. Because the patrol camp was deprived of the power to control public security, they lost the opportunity to exploit civilians, and their income shrank sharply.
The salary given to them can no longer support their original luxurious life.
Among them, the person whose living standard has dropped the most is Johnson, the police commissioner of the public settlement.
In the past, Johnson could get a huge sum of money every month just by extorting prisoners. However, since the patrol battalion took over the security of the concession, the police department has directly lost the power to arrest people, and the money and money are naturally gone. Now, Johnson
He couldn't even spare the money for his Belarusian lover to spend money on shopping.
Originally, Johnson had no idea, because the patrol camp had many people and guns, and he simply couldn't afford to offend him.
However, now, it suddenly emerged that the patrol battalion was originally an armed force of the Communist Party, and the Songhu Military Division had been officially established. The armed forces of the Songhu Military Division were the armed forces of the patrol battalion. Now, it was revealed that
Johnson saw an opportunity to restore policing jurisdiction to the Police Department.
So Johnson hurried to the Ministry of Industry Bureau and prepared to report to the general director Jonathan first.
Although it was already early in the morning, the nightlife in Shanghai had just begun. When Johnson arrived, Jonathan was dragging his secretary Jenna with him, accompanying the British Minister to China, Baron Steve, and a Belarusian socialite playing cards. China
The influence of culture is really not exaggerated. Within a few months of arriving in China, Steve had already fallen hopelessly in love with playing mahjong and had no interest in even dancing.
Johnson was also a mahjong lover and immediately sat down to give Steve advice.
While playing cards, Johnson tentatively said to Jonathan: "Mr. General Director, I wonder if you have listened to today's broadcast?"
"Hit!" Jonathan played a card and asked casually, "What broadcast?"
Johnson said: "The Communist Party's Songhu Military Division, the battlefield radio station broadcast, the broadcast said that the Songhu Military Division has been formally established, and it seems that they are from the patrol battalion."
"Touch, I'll touch." Steve touched the red hit played by Jonathan, and then said to Johnson, "Johnson, I know what you want to say. Are you taking this opportunity to let the empire put pressure on the National Government and even the Chinese Communist Party?
Drive the patrol camp out of the public concession? This will restore the security jurisdiction of your police department, right?"
Johnson's little thoughts were exposed, and he said somewhat sarcastically: "Isn't this also for the benefit of the Great Yin Empire and various friendly countries? After all, the patrol camp only belongs to the Concession Industry Bureau in name, but is actually an independent armed force. It will be used for a long time.
It’s not a problem to hand over the security jurisdiction of the concession to the Chinese, right?”
"Do you even need to say this?" Jonathan said angrily, "Isn't this an extraordinary period and the empire can't take care of it? If it were two years or even a year ago, the Great Yin Empire would have already mobilized an entire fleet.
In addition, an entire army group of the Army has beaten the patrol battalion to nothing. How can we still be in the current embarrassment?"
Johnson said: "But now the opportunity has come."
After a pause, Johnson continued: "Originally, the patrol battalion has accepted our recruitment. At least in name, it is an armed force under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of our concession. In this way, the patrol battalion maintains the security of the public concession, and so do we.
There is nothing to say, but now, the patrol battalion is openly displaying the banner of the Communist Party's Songhu Military Division, but it is breaking the rules. Now that we are asking them to withdraw from the public concession, they must have nothing to say."
"Require them to vacate the public settlement?" Jonathan shook his head, "Johnson, you are overthinking."
"I know, they will definitely not agree." Johnson continued, "But we can put pressure on the CCP through the Soviet government. Before, the patrol camps were the armed forces of our concession, and no one could really control them, but now they
They used the banner of the Songhu Military Division of the Communist Party, but someone was able to control them."
After a pause, Johnson continued: "As long as they are willing to leave, we can even provide them with some additional weapons and ammunition. Aren't the Japanese troops going to launch a large-scale attack on Shanghai soon? They must be in urgent need of weapons and ammunition at the moment.
Sometimes, I don’t believe that they won’t be tempted.”
Jonathan shook his head and said teasingly: "Johnson, you have been in Shanghai for several years, and you have not been in contact with the Chinese for more than a day or two. You still don't understand their thinking so much. I really hate you."
I'm speechless, do you really think that the patrol camp will leave you with such a big clue?"
Johnson was stunned for a moment and said blankly: "What do you mean?"
Steve continued: "Just now, the patrol camp sent a report to the board of directors of the Concession Industry Bureau, saying that their patrol camp and the Songhu Military Division of the Communist Party are not the same thing, they only provide cover for the Songhu Military Division
That's all, but starting from today, the Songhu Military Division has become independent and has nothing to do with their patrol camp."
"Oh?" Johnson said in stunned silence, "Your Majesty, Baron, aren't you telling lies?"
"Yes, they are just telling lies and refuse to admit it, but what can we do?" Steve shrugged and continued, "Chief Johnson, please recognize the reality. The patrol battalion is a burden.
We can’t get rid of it, but if we really have to, we will directly allow the Japanese troops to enter the concession!”
"Allowing Japanese troops to enter the concession is like drinking poison to quench thirst," Johnson said.
Jonathan said angrily: "Johnson, do you have a better way?"
Johnson immediately fell silent. God is my witness, he had no better way.
However, unlike when he came, Johnson suddenly hoped that the patrol battalion could win the second Songhu Battle, because if the patrol battalion won, the Concession Industry Bureau could exist, and he, the police chief, could exist.
But if the Japanese army wins, if the Japanese army enters the concession, his position as police chief will be over.
(Dividing line)
Although Johnson was British, he hoped that the patrol battalion, or the Songhu Military Division, could win the Second Battle of Songhu. Bai Chongxi was obviously Chinese, but he did not hope that the patrol battalion would win the second Battle of Songhu. In other words, Bai Chongxi did not want the patrol battalion to win the second Battle of Songhu at all.
I am not optimistic that the Songhu Military Division can win this battle.
In the war room of the National Army Headquarters, Commander-in-Chief Bai was talking.
"The Second Battle of Songhu? What a big tone. A regiment-level organization with only a few thousand people in total dared to declare it to be a battle! It's not afraid of Feng Da's tongue! What's even more ridiculous is that it's not honest to hold on.
In the urban area, they actually split their troops to attack in all directions to expand their territory, which is simply asking for death!"
"A big city is not a ravine!"
"The bigger the territory and the more people in the ravine, the stronger it will be!"
"This is not the case in big cities. The larger the territory of a big city, the greater the defensive pressure will be. With Xu Rui's few troops, it is barely possible to hold on to the concession. Now they actually have to divide their troops to guard Shanghai and the surrounding Songjiang, Qingpu, and Baoshan.
The four counties of Jiashan simply overestimate their capabilities and are simply seeking death."
"I dare to say that Xu Rui will be defeated this time!"
A senior staff officer whispered: "Last time against the Ninth Division, Jiangong seemed to have said that Xu Rui would be defeated."
"The last time was the last time." Bai Chongxi's old face blushed slightly, and he said firmly, "But this time it is different. This time, Little Japan has really taken action. The 20th Division transferred from North Korea,
It is by no means comparable to the Ninth Division. In terms of strength, the Ninth Division is not even as good as a mixed brigade, but the Twentieth Division is a complete permanent division and has participated in the Battle of Xinkou, Taiyuan
In the battle, the combat strength was almost ten times that of the Ninth Division that had been completely wiped out before."
After a slight pause, Bai Chongxi continued: "What's more, even in the previous battle to annihilate the Ninth Division, Xu Rui only won through conspiracy and trickery. If he hadn't instigated the agents of Broadway Building in advance and used the help of
The hands of the Broadway Building severely damaged the Ninth Division from behind, how could the Ninth Division be completely wiped out so quickly?"
"If not for this, Xu Rui would never have been able to win the battle to encircle and annihilate the Ninth Division."
"But now, Xu Rui's plot has been exposed, and little Japan must be on guard. That's why I dare to say that Xu Rui will lose this battle in Shanghai! He doesn't even have a chance!"
Due to the lack of intelligence support, the National Army Headquarters could only make vague guesses about the previous battle to encircle and annihilate the Ninth Division. However, Bai Chongxi still had some ability and his guess was probably correct.
Bai Chongxi was talking eloquently and conclusively, but Chairman Chiang just looked at him with a faint look.
Bai Chongxi predicted the outcome of the Shanghai War several times, but was beaten in the face, so Chairman Chiang no longer believed in him.
This liar always spoke so confidently that Xu Rui was about to be defeated and killed. However, in less than two days, the battle situation would have completely opposite results. If it were not for the huge difference in status between Xu Rui and Bai Chongxi, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek would even
They all doubted whether Bai Chongxi was specially sent by Xu Rui to fool him.