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. Tianlai Xiaoshuo
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 influence of the patrol camp has even extended to the French Concession. , 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 officer headed 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. Their little salary 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 there were many people and guns in the patrol camp, and he simply couldn't afford to offend them.
However, now, it suddenly emerged that the patrol battalion was originally the armed force of the Communist Party, and the Songhu Military Division has been officially established. The armed forces of the Songhu Military Division are the armed forces of the patrol battalion. Now, however, Johnson saw an opportunity to restore the policing jurisdiction of 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 along with the British Minister to China, Baron Steve, and a Belarusian socialite playing cards. China The influence of culture is not exaggerated. Within a few months of arriving in China, Steve had already fallen hopelessly in love with playing mahjong and was no longer even interested in dancing.
Johnson was also a Ma fan, so he immediately sat down and gave Steve advice.
While playing cards, Johnson tentatively said to Jonathan: "Mr. General Director, have you heard today's broadcast?"
"Hit!" Jonathan played a card and asked casually, "What broadcast?"
Johnson said: "**Songhu Military Division, the broadcast from the battlefield radio station, 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 Jonathan's red hit, 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 Communist Party? , and then 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 a little sarcastically at the moment: "Aren't I doing this 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. In fact, it is 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 or even a year ago, the Great Yin Empire would have already mobilized an entire fleet. In addition, the entire army of the 6th Army has beaten the patrol battalion to nothing. How can we still be in the current embarrassment?"
"But now the opportunity has come," Johnson said.
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. They have nothing to say, but now, the patrol battalion has openly used the banner of seizing the Songhu Military Division, but it has broken the rules. Now that we are asking them to withdraw from the public concession, they must have nothing to say."
"Ask them to vacate the public concession?" Jonathan shook his head, "Johnson, you are overthinking."
"I know, they will definitely not agree." Johnson continued, "But we can put pressure on the Communist Party 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 used the banner of **Songhu Military Division, but someone can 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. At that time, I didn’t believe that they wouldn’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 such a big clue for you?"
Johnson was stunned for a moment and said blankly: "What do you mean?"
Steve continued: "Just now, the patrol battalion sent a report to the board of directors of the Concession Industry Bureau, saying that their patrol battalion is not the same thing as the **Songhu Military Division, 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 small number of 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, 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 then he said firmly, "But this time it is different from the past. 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 and 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 added: "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 it weren't for this, Xu Rui wouldn't 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 slapped 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 weren't for the huge disparity in status between Xu Rui and Bai Chongxi, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek would even They all wondered whether Bai Chongxi was specially sent by Xu Rui to fool him.