By this time, the news had spread back to the New Fourth Army headquarters.
"Fine!" Chief No. 2 slapped the table hard and said angrily, "Lawless and daring!"
Chief No. 3 said in a low voice: "What Xu Rui did this time is indeed inappropriate. It is likely to trigger a diplomatic incident and have a bad international impact, but..."
"My gay brother," the No. 2 leader said angrily, "It's not possible, but it has already caused a diplomatic incident!"
After saying that, the No. 2 leader threw the telegram in his hand on the table and said angrily: "This is an official letter just forwarded to us by Chongqing. It is an official letter sent by the U.S. government to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nationalist Government. In the official letter, the U.S. government sternly
Condemned the kidnapping behavior of the Songhu Independent Regiment in Shanghai and ordered us to release them immediately!"
Chief No. 1 also said: "What Xu Rui did this time is really outrageous!"
Chief No. 4 then said: "Both leaders, please don't get excited. Calm down your anger first."
"I can't help but be excited!" No. 2 shook his big hand and said angrily, "Xu Rui poked a hole in the sky this time and asked us to repair it! This is simply outrageous!"
Chief No. 5 whispered: "Poke a hole in the sky? It's not that serious, right? In the twelfth year of the Republic of China, Sun Meiyao caused the Lincheng robbery that shocked the world. Didn't those foreign devils fail to do anything to him in the end? So?
Let me tell you, these foreign devils are actually not that big of a deal. They give up when we are tough."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Chief No. 1 said angrily, "Comparing yourself with bandits?"
"Ahem, what the hell, just pretend I didn't say anything." Chief No. 5 quickly shook his hands, "Just pretend I didn't say anything."
Chief No. 6 added: "What Xu Rui did was indeed ill-considered in this matter, but in terms of effect, it can indeed make the devils use rat weapons. At least it will be impossible to launch cholera and plague bacterial warfare again. Moreover, I heard Xu Rui
The implication behind the words is that he plans to use these hostages to force the Japanese to make way for the more than three million people in Shanghai to come to Meixian..."
After a pause, Chief No. 6 continued: "Two leaders, if Xu Rui really does it and brings more than 10,000 elite soldiers from the Songhu Independent Regiment and more than 3 million people from Shanghai to Meixian, then
Our Dameishan base area not only has an elite army, but also has a population of more than three million, which is a huge wealth!"
Chief No. 2's face immediately fell, and he stared at No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 with an unkind expression. After a long time, he said: "Why does it sound wrong to me? Why do I feel that you are so different?"
Are you all trying to excuse Xu Rui? Good guys, do you still have any sense of right and wrong?"
After a pause, the No. 2 leader continued: "Kidnapping hostages, is that what our New Fourth Army should do? Using hostages as human shields and making the Japanese use rat weapons as weapons, is this what our Communist Party should do? Even if the Songhu Independence Group kidnapped...
Foreigners, that’s not okay. Aren’t foreigners human beings? Yes, foreigners have bullied us before, and they even bully us from time to time now, but this cannot be the reason for us to kidnap them and use them as hostages!”
Chief No. 1 said: "Lao Xiang, since everything has already happened, it is meaningless to get angry now. It is better to quickly think about how to remedy the situation. In any case, let the person go first."
"Let him go? It's not easy!" The No. 2 leader suddenly sighed, sat back on the stool slumped, and said, "You know what kind of character Xu Rui is, and I know it, since he has already given him away.
If you tie him up, he will never let you go until the purpose is achieved. Believe it or not, even if you go now, he will still dare to detain you."
"I believe it." Chief No. 1 sighed, "This guy is not stingy and a fanatical nationalist. In his eyes, there are only national interests and national interests. Just like what he said in the telegram,
For the benefit of the country and the nation, he is really willing to sell his soul to the devil."
"Alas." The No. 2 leader sighed again.
…
At this time, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
"What?" The brush in Hirohito's hand suddenly stopped, and he turned back to look at Tojo Hideki in disbelief, "Tojo-kun, what did you just say?"
"Hai." Hideki Tojo paused heavily and repeated, "Your Majesty, Xu Rui just ordered that all the more than 10,000 foreign nationals from Western countries living in Shanghai be arrested, and these more than 10,000 Westerners were also used to surrender to the emperor.
The army issued a threat and ordered the imperial army to move out of the way, allowing more than three million Chinese people in Shanghai and all the officers and soldiers of the Songhu Independent Regiment to go to Damei Mountain."
"Baga, this madman Xu Rui can really do it. Is he really not afraid of offending the entire Western world? Isn't he afraid of bringing disaster to his country?!" Hirohito threw the brush in his hand heavily on the rice paper.
On the white rice paper, a big black stain was left in an instant.
A good calligraphy work was ruined immediately.
The attendant standing next to him quickly put his hands on the washbasin.
Hirohito washed his hands in the sink, dried them with a towel, and then asked Tojo Hideki: "Tojo-kun, what is the reaction of Western governments now, especially the U.S. government?"
Hideki Tojo immediately replied: "The governments of the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands have sent a joint ultimatum to the Chiang government in Chongqing, demanding that the National Government immediately order the New Fourth Army to release the hostages. However, in addition to this, Western governments have also
There were no other extreme reactions, and there were no cruel words such as starting a war if the hostages were not released."
"Baga." Hirohito said with a dark face, "When did Western governments become so easy to talk to?"
Hideki Tojo pondered and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that the Western governments, led by the United States and Britain, still hope to resolve the dispute peacefully and ensure the safety of these hostages."
"Resolve the dispute peacefully?" A gloomy look flashed across Hirohito's eyes. He immediately took his seat first, and then said to Tojo Hideki with his hands solemnly raised, "Tōjo-kun, please sit down too. Sit down and talk."
"Hai." Tojo Hideki agreed and knelt down opposite Hirohito.
Hirohito pondered for a moment with a gloomy look, and then said to Tojo Hideki: "Tojo-kun, can you help me analyze this shocking kidnapping case, how will it develop next?"
"Hai!" Tojo Hideki said after a pause, "Although the seven Western governments have sent a joint ultimatum to the Chiang government, the Chiang government's influence on the New Fourth Army is very limited, especially on Xu Rui's Songhu Independent Regiment.
There is no influence at all, so using pressure from the Chiang government to force Xu Rui to release him is simply wishful thinking."
"Yo Xi." Hirohito nodded happily and asked, "Then, how will the governments of the seven countries react next?"
Hideki Tojo replied: "The next reaction of the seven governments is nothing more than two. One is to break off diplomatic relations with China and threaten to resort to force. However, in my estimation, the possibility of a real war with China is
The second, which is trivial, is to put pressure on the empire and force the imperial army to give way."
"Baga, what's the point of this?" Hirohito said angrily, "It's not the imperial army that kidnapped the hostages. Why do the governments of the seven countries put pressure on the empire, and why do they force the imperial army to give way?"
Tojo Hideki smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, when has the Western world ever been reasonable?"
Hirohito was choked up when he heard this. Yes, the modern Western world is all descended from pirates. When have they ever tried to reason with others? Their way of doing things has always been to fight when they can and rob when they can. They really can't beat them.
Only then can I reason with you and do business with you in a polite manner. It also took the empire a long time to adapt.
…
Tojo Hideki's analysis is not false, but will soon become a fact.
At this time, it was still eight o'clock in the morning in Tokyo, but it was exactly seven o'clock in the evening in Washington. President Roosevelt invited Secretary of State Hull to stay at the White House to have dinner with him and discuss the Shanghai hostage incident.
The dinner prepared by the White House chef tonight is steak, which has just been served.
"I need some black pepper juice, thank you." Hull smiled and nodded at the waiter, then turned back to Roosevelt and said, "Mr. President, I regret to tell you that the National Government in Chongqing may not be able to influence Xu Rui's independence in Songhu.
It is simply a delusion to expect the Nationalist Government to put pressure on the Songhu Independent Regiment and force them to release the hostages."
"I still have tomato juice." Roosevelt smiled at the waiter, then turned to Hull and said, "Then, is it possible to put pressure on the Songhu Independent Regiment through Yan'an and force them to release the hostages? The New Fourth Army is not an army of the Communist Party, Xu Rui
Isn't he also an officer of the Chinese Communist Party? He should listen to Yan'an, right?"
"Theoretically, that's the case." Hull shrugged and said, "But unfortunately, this is just a theory."
Roosevelt took the steak that had been poured with tomato juice from the waiter, and while cutting it, he said: "Isn't it supposed to be like this? How dare this Xu Rui disobey Yan'an's order?"
Hull said: "Mr. President, do you remember Brigadier General Stilwell?"
"Stilwell?" Roosevelt recalled for a moment and said, "Are you talking about the military attaché to China who came to the White House last time? I remember that he had the rank of colonel. What, was he promoted to brigadier general? You have to congratulate him for me.
.”
"Okay, Mr. President, I will definitely bring it to you." Hull smiled slightly and added, "Brigadier General Stilwell is very familiar with Xu Rui. He told me that Xu Rui is a fanatical nationalist.
In his eyes, national interests and national interests are above all else, which means that he will do anything for his three million compatriots at any cost."
"Including angering the entire Western world, right?" Roosevelt's face immediately darkened.
"Yes, including angering the entire Western world." Hull said, "He can really do it."
"But we can't add insult to injury to China at this time." Roosevelt was a wise politician. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Then try to put pressure on the Japanese government."