The elegant flower hall has a traditional Central Plains layout, with the main seat facing south and back to the north, with a row of wooden chairs on each side and a small tea table between each pair of wooden chairs.
Sitting in front of the painting of mountains and rivers, Kuroda Shigeru drank tea leisurely.
Although the real owner of the flower hall was Liu Bangchang, whenever Kuroda Shigeru came, he would definitely sit in the main seat.
Liu Bangchang could only sit in the first seat on the left. The first seat on the right was the commander of the Okuetsu Division, Kawamoto Shigeyoshi.
In addition, there were many Haixi generals sitting on both sides.
The most eye-catching person is naturally Jin Haichuan, the commander of the Jinzhou Army of the Haixi First Army, a middle-aged man with a gloomy aura.
He was Liu Bangchang's most loyal general and the eldest son of Jin Zhengxing, the leader of the Jinzhou people.
Twenty years ago, Liu Bangchang also married his beloved daughter to him.
But now, he seems to obey Kuroda Shigeru's orders more, especially when the war breaks out on the southern front, Kuroda Shigeru sometimes bypasses Liu Bangchang and gives orders directly to him.
It was late at night, and the light from the earthenware lamps was blinding. So many generals gathered there, some of whom had even rushed back from the front lines, because it was expected that in another hour, the huge fleet from Japan would arrive at the Haixi port city of Feishan Port.
Kuroda Shigeru was beaming with joy.
"The Northern Frontier is now in chaos, but there is good news. Ren Zhonglin's staff is also in contact with our envoys, General Liu!" Kuroda Shigeru turned to look at Liu Bangchang, "I, Dongying, am willing to rule the Northern Frontier together with General Liu and bring prosperity to the Northern Frontier!"
Liu Bangchang smiled and said, "Yes, that's good!"
"Mr. Kuroda, I would like to ask you how the Northern Territory should be divided at that time!" Suddenly there was a loud voice.
He was the aide-de-camp sitting next to Liu Bangchang and the commander of the Jinzhou Garrison Mechanized Brigade, Deng Huanggong.
The Jinzhou Garrison Brigade guards the city of Jinzhou and is equipped with many advanced weapons purchased from the south, including hundreds of tanks. It was formerly called the Iron Hook Tank Team, but a few months ago, following the fashion of the Montenegrin Principality, it was renamed the Mechanical Brigade.
This is Liu Bangchang’s real family fortune.
However, according to Montenegrin intelligence, its tanks and armored vehicles are of varying types, with many old-fashioned tanks with thin skin and large fillings, or small and compact tanks with weak firepower, which are naturally incomparable to the tanks equipped by Montenegrin mechanics.
But no matter what, the commander of the Mechanical Brigade, Deng Huanggong, is Liu Bangchang's most trusted general.
He suddenly asked this question, and Kuroda Shigeru couldn't help but frowned and looked at Liu Bangchang, "General Liu, this is a national affair, we..."
A Japanese staff officer suddenly rushed in with a very grim look on his face. He approached Kuroda Shigeru and handed him a telegram.
What interrupted Kuroda Shigeru's speech was naturally an urgent official document.
Kuroda Shigeru picked up the two-page telegram and suddenly widened his eyes, full of disbelief and fear.
He looked at it again and again as if he couldn't believe it, then stood up and said, "Everyone, I have something to do, so I'll leave first!" He nodded to Kawamoto Shigeyoshi, "General Kawamoto, follow me!"
Kawamoto Shigeyoshi frowned. He was often ordered around like this by his father, as if he had become his subordinate, which really made him feel unhappy.
Following Kuroda Shigeru out, he saw Kuroda Shigeru get into his car and wave to him. Kawamoto Shigeyoshi gritted his teeth and walked over.
After the two got in the car, Kuroda Shigeru handed him the first page of the telegram.
Kawamoto Shigeyoshi was a little impatient, but when he took the telegram and read it, his eyes suddenly widened and his eyes contracted.
It was a secret message from the military, saying that thirteen hours ago, the reinforcement fleet suffered a devastating blow in public waters, half of the ships had sunk in the ocean, and the surviving ships had returned to the port.
"How is this possible?" Kawamoto Shigeyoshi was shocked.
Kuroda Shigeru sighed, "It was made by a plane that can drop bombs. There are hundreds of them."
The second page of the telegram, which was not addressed to Kawamoto Shigeyoshi, was sent personally by Prime Minister Yamamoto.
The situation is much more serious than the first page of the telegram.
In fact, the so-called half of the ships sunk meant that all the troop ships and material transport fleets were destroyed. The survivors were all smaller gunboats, but their number did account for nearly half. However, many of them were also seriously damaged and barely escaped.
Almost all of the 60,000 officers and soldiers of the two Type A divisions died in the sea, with only a small number surviving on gunboats.
Lieutenant General Kazuo Fujii committed suicide out of fear of punishment.
Vice Admiral Shibata Morio is missing, but must have died at sea.
Kuroda Shigeru didn't know how to explain all this to Kawamoto Shigeyoshi. As for those Haixi people, they had to stand aside and wait until he had an idea before dealing with them.
"A plane dropping bombs?" Kawamoto Shigeyoshi found it hard to imagine. Loading grenades on a plane and dropping them? Would it be powerful? Could it be thrown accurately
Or, is it a bomb suitable for dropping from an airplane? A shell similar to an artillery piece? Shot out with some kind of thrust
Kawamoto Shigeyoshi looked at the message and frowned: "It happened thirteen hours ago?"
Kuroda Shigeru sighed softly: "The military will also need to confirm this news and analyze what exactly is going on."
Kawamoto Shigeyoshi nodded, which was understandable. He suddenly raised his head and said, "We need to inform Liu Bangchang and his generals, as well as our generals, whether the planes that drop bombs will come to bomb our front-line positions?!"
Kuroda Shigeru shook his head and said in embarrassment: "Let's not create panic. That kind of plane may be specially used to bomb ships. Otherwise, why haven't we seen the Montenegrins use it? Moreover, if it can really bomb our positions, what should we do? Order the front-line troops to retreat without a fight? Where can they retreat to?"
Kawamoto Shigeyoshi was stunned, and said to the front: "Stop the car, I want to get off." He glanced at Kuroda Shigeru and said: "I will order my people to withdraw from the defensive position."
Kuroda Shigeru looked at his vicious eyes, felt weak in his heart, and coughed: "Stop the car!"
The black sedan slowly stopped. Kawamoto Shigeyoshi pushed open the door and suddenly turned around: "You should check where the Montenegrins bought the artillery that shot down our airship in North Montenegrin Fort. I have a hunch that that kind of artillery should be able to deal with Montenegrin planes." After saying that, he pushed open the door, got out of the car, and walked towards his own green jeep at the back.
Kuroda Shigeru was dazed and suddenly cursed.
No wonder, even though the Montenegrins were the first to use airships in combat, they did not continue to place large orders. To date, there are probably no more than twenty airships.
The military analyzed that it was their own huge orders and deposits that squeezed out the Montenegrins' share, making their schedules even further away.
For this reason, the military chiefs of staff were even complacent, thinking that although they paid a high deposit, it was definitely worth the money.
It turns out that the Montenegrins already had a secret weapon, a secret weapon that was more suitable for air combat than airships.
Moreover, the corresponding air defense weapons have been purchased long ago.
"Go back to the official residence!" Kuroda Shigeru hurriedly ordered the driver.
I was extremely anxious and wanted to go back and call Miss Asaba Yoshiko. It seemed that she had close contacts with the powerful people of Montenegro.
I wonder if she knows what that kind of artillery anti-aircraft weapon is.
…
"Is this impossible?" Qi Zongxun looked at the secret message in his hand, his face full of disbelief.
A secret telegram from the Ministry of Defense of the Principality of Montenegro said that the Japanese fleet that came to support the war in the Northern Territory was completely destroyed, and the personnel and weapons and equipment of two Japanese divisions, as well as a large amount of strategic materials, all sank into the sea and fed the fish.
Qi Huaide smiled bitterly and said, "If it wasn't so exaggerated, I really wouldn't believe it. But Zongxun, this is not the way you brag, right?" Thinking about the panic of the Long family who fled to the bitter cold land, this news might be true, but it could be somewhat exaggerated.
Qi Zongxun was silent.
Qi Huaide said: "Anyway, let's wait and see. This is good news after all. If it is confirmed to be true, Zongxun, I have an idea..." He paused, "Let's talk about it later."
Qi Zongxun nodded silently.
…
Looking at the secret message sent personally by the Prince of Black Mountain Fort, his sworn brother, Ren Zhonglin had a complicated expression.
He paced a few steps and sighed softly: "I don't quite believe it, what do you think?" Ren Zhonglin handed the telegram to an old man with white hair and beard who was standing solemnly beside him.
The old man took the secret message and read the contents, and his eyelids twitched involuntarily.
A few days ago, it was he who proposed an alliance with the Japanese.
But what's going on now? Can't the Japanese cross the sea? Are they completely wiped out
This is not the way to brag. Most likely, you have really achieved great results.
"Or, I will confirm this news with Kuroda..." The old man stopped talking abruptly because he saw the anger on Ren Zhonglin's face.
The old man looked around. Due to Marshal Ren's strict order, there was naturally no one near the flower hall.
But obviously, Marshal Ren was still very averse to mentioning the names of Japanese people.
Intending to break an alliance or betraying the covenant between sworn brothers is a huge taboo once it is known to outsiders.
If you are in power, everything will be kept secret for the sake of the respected one.
But now, it is very likely that his plan is an extremely stupid mistake.
The four major families of "Sun, Ma, Zhao, and Chen", who have been eyeing the scandal covetously, will probably stand on the moral high ground and cause trouble once they learn of the scandal.
"You go first!" Ren Zhonglin waved his hand.
The old man bowed, turned and walked out.
Ren Zhonglin glanced at his back, with a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.