Two hours later, Kanin Miya Zaijin and Tojo Hideki left the Imperial Palace and returned to the War Department in the same car.
As soon as Han Yuan Gong Zai Ren got into the back seat of the car, he closed his eyes tiredly. After all, he was over seventy years old. He had been staying up late at night recently, and his body couldn't bear it anymore.
Tojo Hideki's face didn't look very good either.
This time when the emperor summoned them, he didn't scold them, or even say a harsh word, but the meaning behind his words was very obvious: Xu Rui was about to ride on the head of the Japanese emperor and shit and pee.
If the Japanese Army fails to respond, he and the imperial family will lose all face.
To be honest, when the emperor mentioned the commotion just now, Tojo Hideki also felt his heart twisting.
Hideki Tojo also felt the same humiliation Xu Rui put on the Emperor. What is the saying? The main concern is the humiliation of the minister, and the main purpose is the humiliation of the minister's death. Xu Rui is now humiliating His Majesty the Emperor. What do they, the ministers, think of it?
install?
At this time, Kanin Gong Zaijin spoke quietly: "Tojo-kun, this matter cannot be taken lightly."
"Hai." Tojo Hideki said solemnly, "Even if His Highness doesn't say anything, I understand that no matter what, the dignity of the Japanese royal family must be maintained!"
Xianyuan Gong Zairen nodded lightly and asked: "So, have you figured out how to maintain the dignity of the royal family?"
"This..." Tojo Hideki shook his head and said, "I'm humble and stupid, so please show me your Majesty the Prince."
Xianyuan Gong Zairen sighed and said softly: "When we met in the royal study just now, His Majesty repeatedly mentioned the half-month deadline mentioned by Xu Rui. Didn't Xu Rui threaten to annihilate the 12th Army within half a month?
What? Then we will do the opposite, eliminate his Songhu Independence Group within half a month, and then hold a press conference at the Chinachem Hotel. I think nothing can restore the influence and safeguard the Japanese royal family better than this.
dignity."
"Nani, half a month?!" Tojo Hideki lost his voice, "Your Highness, in half a month, I'm afraid I won't even be able to take down the Wu Fort..."
"Wusong Fort, Wusong Fort again." Xianyuan Gong Zairen said displeasedly, "Could it be that if we can't take Wusong Fort and the navy can't enter the Huangpu River, the army won't be able to fight? Since Wusong Fort has been run by Xu Rui
The permanent fortification has become a difficult nut to crack, why can't it be bypassed?"
After a pause, Xianyuan Gong Zairen said again: "Why can't we directly launch an attack on downtown Shanghai? I don't believe that Xu Rui can turn the entire city of Shanghai into a fortress!"
When Tojo Hideki heard this, he immediately became speechless. After a long while, he said again: "I understand, I understand."
As he spoke, the car had already driven under the Ministry of War building. The adjutant sitting in the passenger seat got out of the car, then ran around the front of the car and opened the door. Hanyin Gong Zairen had no intention of getting out of the car, but said quietly to him.
Tojo Hideki said: "Tojo-kun, I know you have great ambitions, but the dignity of the royal family must be maintained. Do you understand?"
"Hai!" Tojo Hideki paused and said, "I understand your humble position!"
(Dividing line)
Not long after, the telegram from the Japanese base camp arrived in Shanghai.
At this time, Itagaki Seishiro had already returned to his tent to rest, but Tanaka Jiuichi had not slept yet. He was still discussing tactics in the war room with several combat staff members, although at this time even the Wusong Fort had not been captured, and a full-scale general offensive was still far away.
It was very early, but as the chief of staff of the Twelfth Army, Tanaka Kuichi must take precautions and make preparations first.
Otherwise, by the time the Wusong fort is captured and the Wusongkou shipwreck blockade is cleared, it will be too late to formulate an attack plan against downtown Shanghai. Therefore, Tanaka Jiuichi must take advantage of the fact that there is still time to plan the attack in advance.
The entire attack plan was drawn up and then refined repeatedly.
When Tanaka Jiuichi was discussing tactics with several staff officers, a signal soldier strode in.
"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, there is an urgent call from the base camp!" the signal soldier walked up to Tanaka Jiuichi and reported.
Tanaka Jiuichi stretched out his right hand and casually took the telegram, then only glanced at it before his expression changed.
This telegram was personally signed by Army Deputy Chief Hideki Tojo, and actually required the Twelfth Army to retake Shanghai and annihilate the Songhu Independent Regiment within half a month!
At that moment, Tanaka Kuichi had no intention of discussing tactics with his staff anymore, and came directly to Seishiro Itagaki with the telegram.
Itagaki Seishiro seemed a little irritable after being woken up, and became even more irritable after reading the telegram.
"Baga!" Seishiro Itagaki said angrily after reading the first half of the telegram, "What the hell is Hideki Tojo doing? Even the Wusong Fort may not be captured in half a month, so how can it be possible to recapture Shanghai?" However,
, after reading half of the last telegram, Itagaki Seishiro immediately fell silent.
Because Tojo Hideki explained all the reasons in the second half of the telegram.
Knowing that this was the emperor's intention, the two Japanese soldiers fell silent.
There was a long silence in the tent, and the two old Japanese were silent to each other.
After a long while, Itagaki Seishiro said: "Tanaka-kun, what do you think we should do?"
Tanaka Jiuichi shook his head and said: "It stands to reason that the general should be outside, and the emperor's orders are not accepted. Since His Majesty and the headquarters have appointed you as the commander of the Twelfth Army, you will be the commander of all the officers and soldiers of the Twelfth Army.
The entire Songhu battle situation has been entrusted to you with full authority. You have the undisputed right to make emergency decisions, but..."
Itagaki Seishiro didn't speak, but looked straight at Tanaka Kuichi.
Tanaka Jiuichi sighed and added: "But after all, this matter concerns the royal family, especially the dignity of His Majesty the Emperor. As ministers, how can we say nothing?" After a pause, Tanaka Jiuichi said again, "Commander
Your Excellency, our previous consideration of the issue was too one-sided, and we only considered it from a purely military perspective, but did not consider it from a political perspective."
Itagaki Seishiro nodded and said: "Tanaka-kun, then you mean to obey the base camp?"
"Hai!" Tanaka said after a long pause, "Your Excellency, Commander, you despise your position and believe that you should obey."
"Yo Xi." Itagaki Seishiro asked again, "So, if we attack the city of Shanghai now, what are the chances of winning?"
Tanaka Jiuichi said in a low voice: "In fact, ever since the Guards Division and the Seventh Division entered the attack position, I have been formulating a detailed attack plan. Now I am almost ready. From the strength, weapons and combat readiness of the enemy and our armies,
Under the circumstances, as long as there is no major accident, our army's chance of winning will be at least more than 70%!"
"A big accident?" Itagaki Seishiro frowned, "What about?"
Tanaka Kuichi said: "For example, at a critical moment of a battle, a large number of enemy troops suddenly come to help! For example, during a battle, the enemy suddenly has a large number of artillery or armored troops, or at a critical moment of the battle, the base camp suddenly stops supplying military supplies, especially ammunition.
Supply, all these things, as long as one situation occurs, the outcome will be unpredictable."
Itagaki Seishiro didn't ask any more questions, but stood up and started pacing back and forth.
Tanaka Kuichi said no more. As the chief of staff, he had fulfilled his responsibilities as a staff officer. The next decision was about Commander Seishiro Itagaki.
After a long while, Itagaki Seishiro said: "Tanaka-kun, then forget about Wusong Fort. Even without the navy, our army can still fight and win. Order the Guards Division and the Seventh Division to immediately report to
Let’s launch attacks on Zhabei, Hongkou, Yangshupu and Longhua districts at the same time!”
"Hai." Tanaka Jiuichi nodded heavily.
(Dividing line)
Going back to Xu Rui, he arrived at the rocket launcher processing factory early the next morning.
Yang Rui was solely responsible for the transformation of the rocket launcher vehicle. In order to keep it secret, he requisitioned a large warehouse area at Shiliupu Pier and surrounded the entire area with three posts and fifty-one posts.
More than a hundred trucks are hidden in the warehouse and being modified one by one.
This time the modification will be more relaxed than last time, so the requirements are relatively higher.
For example, the launcher of a rocket launcher was originally lifted manually and a wooden board was placed underneath to control the pitch angle. However, this is no longer possible because the adjustment efficiency is too low. Now it has been changed to a hand-operated winch adjustment, which is similar to
Ordinary artillery can adjust the pitch angle almost the same.
In addition, the launcher no longer relies on the pulling of nylon ropes, because the failure rate of pulling with nylon ropes is too high. Basically, one out of ten rockets will malfunction and cannot be fired. Xu Rui is communicating repeatedly with Yang Rui
After that, the launcher was changed to a series connection. The so-called series connection means that sixteen rockets are fired one after another. In this way, only one rocket is fired at a time, with a low failure rate and continuous firepower.
Also improved!
Xu Rui came here this time just to see how the improved rocket launcher vehicle was being built.
Seeing Xu Rui walking in, Yang Rui, who was supervising the welders welding the steel frame, quickly came up to him, stood at attention and saluted: "Captain, why are you here?"
Xu Rui returned the military salute and said, "I just came over to take a look."
Yang Rui immediately said: "Captain, don't worry, the transformation work is going very smoothly, and the prototype will be built soon."
After a pause at this point, Yang Rui continued: "It's just that we have to conduct a test firing to know the effect."
"Then arrange a test firing." Xu Rui said, "When it is quiet at night, go to Pudong to find an open place for a test firing! Even if the little devil sees the light of the fire, it is impossible to guess what is going on."
"Okay." Yang Rui nodded and said, "I will arrange a test launch tonight."
As he was talking, a faint explosion suddenly came from outside the warehouse.
Xu Rui immediately changed his expression, and came to the dispatch room of Shiliupu Pier as quickly as possible, and then made a call to Broadway Building. Wang Husheng on the other end of the phone said in a very urgent tone: "Old Xu, come back quickly.
, the article you made last night worked, the Japs from Zhabei, Hongkou, Yangshupu and Longhua attacked us at the same time!"
"Okay, I'll be right back!" Xu Rui put down the phone and walked out.