Start with Four Lines Warehouse

Chapter 11
At 27 a.m. on October [-], [-], the Japanese dispatched army headquarters in Shanghai
General Matsui Iwane, the commander of the dispatched army, is preparing the speech to be used in tonight's reception. The chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tsukada, is deducing the offensive plan for marching to Nanjing with a group of staff. Everything seems so normal.

Koda Tsukada, who lowered his head and stared at the sand table, noticed that some dust was slowly falling from above.Then, a large amount of dust fell, and the windows began to rattle, followed by a series of violent explosions.

Hearing these explosions, Tsukada Gong's face was stunned for a moment, and then furious.

"Bastard, who allowed them to use heavy artillery to attack!!! Come on, hurry up and investigate! Who dares to disobey orders and attack with heavy artillery without permission!" He mistook the sound of the explosion for the sound of artillery bombardment, and ordered people to investigate the situation .

"Hi!" A staff officer hurried away after taking the order.

Just as the staff officer opened the door and went out, Matsui Iwane who was next door also walked in.

"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, what's going on here, did you agree to use heavy artillery to attack? What are you doing!!" Matsui Iwane asked angrily as soon as he entered.

"Your Excellency, Commander, the staff department has not received any specific information on this situation. I have already ordered someone to investigate, and specific information will come later." Tsukada Kou hurriedly replied to Matsui Iwane.

Hearing such a reply, Matsui Iwane's face, which was as dark as the bottom of a pot, became even darker. He knew that if Tsukada Kou agreed, it meant that this was an offensive method approved by the headquarters.

However, if heavy artillery is used privately without passing through, then things will be a big deal.You know, in the Japanese army there is a tradition of going down against the top.

To put it simply, the hardliners in the Japanese army did not hesitate to create incidents on the spot and force high-level officials to follow suit in order to achieve their goals. This behavior was called "Xia Ke Shang" by the Japanese side.

In China, the "September [-]th" incident is a typical example of "down to overcome up".In Japan, the "Showa [-]" incident is also true.

Therefore, at this critical point in the occupation of Shanghai, if the Xia Ke Shang incident occurs, it will only target the concessions of European and American powers in Shanghai.This also means that Japan will start an undeclared war against Europe and America starting today!This kind of thing will have a great impact internationally!
In particular, there is a secret that is not a secret among the top Japanese military.According to statistics, 1937% of the strategic materials imported by Japan in 54.4 came from the United States.92.9% of copper, 91.2% of auto parts, 60.5% of oil, 59.7% of scrap iron and steel, 48.5% of various machinery and engines, and 41.6% of cast iron are imported from the United States.In other words, it can be said that the resources for Japan to launch a war are basically all supported by the United States.

Therefore, if there is a war against Europe and the United States at this time, it means that Japan's access to resources from the outside will completely disappear.Once things develop to that point, it is no longer a matter of occupying China and dominating Asia, but will soon lose the war due to a shortage of resources, making it completely wipe out all the achievements since the Meiji Restoration .

At this time, due to the sale of materials by the United States to Japan, it had already aroused domestic protests, especially after Soong Meiling publicly published the article "Disappointing American Attitude" on September 1937, 9, which had already aroused worldwide protests. Widely discussed.Therefore, if the occupation of the concession really happened and casualties occurred, the support of this kind of material would definitely be terminated immediately.

And this is why the Japanese army did not dare to use heavy weapons and aerial bombs in this place near the concession.

"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, if someone really disobeys the military order! Then, no matter who he is, he will be dealt with thoroughly! I hope you can remember it!" Matsui Iwane dared not imagine whether the Xiakeshang incident really happened, Still fantasizing that it appeared under Tsukada Gong's behest or tacit approval.until·····················

"Report, Your Excellency, Commander! Your Excellency, Chief of Staff. After contact, the [-]th Brigade of Field Heavy Artillery, which belongs to the [-]th Brigade of the [-]th Army, did not participate in this operation!" Japanese Staff A hurriedly said.

Hearing this news, Matsui Ishi and Tsukada Gong's faces improved slightly, but they were still worried.

"Your Excellency, Commander, tell me, is it possible that it will be the navy or the air force?" Tsukada said to Matsui Iwane.

"Call the Navy, First Air Force, and Second Air Force to inquire about the situation!" Matsui Iwane ordered directly to Staff A.

"Hi!" Staff A hurriedly turned around and left.

"Fortunately, the field heavy artillery was not involved in this incident." After the first staff officer left, Matsui Iwane said with a bit of old feelings and comfort.

重炮旅团对于日本人来说已经是属于战略性质的部队了，一支标准的重炮旅团下设有两个重炮联队，其中包括大正七年式150mm口径的重加农炮30-40门，九零式240口径的重加农炮20门，九六式305口径的重型榴弹炮10门，有的重炮旅团还配备有九八式320口径的臼炮3-6门。

Although they belong to the army establishment in name, they actually only accept orders from the Japanese base camp. Therefore, on all battlefields, they only cooperate in combat and never belong to combat.

"How is the situation on the front line? Is there any latest battle report?" Tsukada Gong asked suddenly without knowing what came to his mind.

"Report, there is no latest battle report!" Staff B responded.

"Call right away and ask what's going on at the front line." At this moment, Tsukada Gong was a little uneasy.

"Hi!" Staff B left.

"Report, the Navy replied that it did not receive any combat missions other than routine reconnaissance missions today, so it did not participate in the battle. The aviation team also responded in the same way." Staff A came back from the telecommunications room at this time and said.

"Report, the frontline headquarters cannot be contacted! A reconnaissance team has been sent to find out the situation!" Staff B said.

"Okay, I got it. Let's go down." At this time, after asking all the units capable of making such a bombing, they all replied that they did not participate in this incident, so this made Matsui Iwane and Tsukada Gong feel no longer. So flustered.

"Now, let's wait for what the reconnaissance team brings back. Your Excellency Commander, do you think it's possible that the defenders of the Sixing Warehouse caused the bombing?" Tsukada Gong made an unbelievable statement. imagine.

"People from China, I don't think it is very likely. Since the August [-]th incident, the heavy weapons of the Chinese military have been wiped out by our army, and I don't think it was hidden or urgently transferred. Otherwise, why would I use it now.” Matsui Iwane said slowly after pondering for a while.

"That's right, then wait for the battle report, Your Excellency Commander." Tsukada Gong responded slowly.

Time passed by every minute and every second, and everyone was waiting anxiously.The Songhu battlefield at this moment is so quiet.

The sound of guns and guns that have not stopped for three months can no longer be heard at this time.There is no longer the wailing of the wounded and the cry of soldiers who sacrifice their lives for righteousness on the battlefield!Unexplainable curses no longer sounded.It seems that this land should be so quiet until...

Outside the headquarters of the dispatched army, the sudden sound of footsteps broke the silence at this moment.The violent panting and hurried footsteps silently showed how eager his master was.

"Report... report! The latest battle report!" The scout's flushed face made him look very excited.But the panic in his eyes made this excitement seem so weird.

"Say!"

"Hi! The No.13 Kumamoto Regiment of the Sixth Division of the Tenth Army has been wiped out!!!"

(End of this chapter)