Quartermasters can also fight the devils

Chapter 151 1 Everything is OK

"Oh, Captain Taylor, of course no problem. Thanks to the help of the United States Marine Corps, the food expenses will appear in front of you tomorrow afternoon." Zhang Wenwu had no intention of bargaining at all. He felt that the money was worth spending. Even if Taylor asked for more money, he would find a way to get it.

Taylor did not expect Zhang Wenwu to be so decisive, and immediately assured Zhang Wenwu that the U.S. Marine Corps would provide him with all the conveniences in subsequent operations.

After Taylor left the British Consulate, Smith and Zhang Wenwu rushed to the police station in the concession without stopping. After arriving at the police station, Smith first found Dick, the inspector in charge of the police station. After the two discussed for half an hour, Smith called Zhang Wenwu into Dick's office.

As soon as Smith closed the door, he said directly to Zhang Wenwu: "Major Zhang, Inspector Dick is my good friend. I just told him about your plan. He said that the police station will fully cooperate with your actions after the plan starts, but he needs to get other colleagues in the police station involved. Therefore, he needs 3,000 pounds for the activity funds." Smith did not intend to argue any further. He knew that time was precious, so he directly told Zhang Wenwu the price he and Dick had agreed on.

"No problem. Thank you Inspector Dick for your help. Three thousand pounds of activity funds will appear in front of you on time tomorrow afternoon." Zhang Wenwu agreed to the price without any nonsense.

"Oh, Major Zhang, I'm also very happy to help Major Smith and you. When the day comes for your action, all the patrolmen in our police station will provide you with assistance." Dick was obviously very impressed by Zhang Wenwu's straightforwardness. He stood up, walked towards Zhang Wenwu, shook his hand and made a promise.

As they drove back to the consulate, Smith asked, "Major Zhang, we have done what we should do. The rest depends on God's will."

Zhang Wenwu also took a deep breath, nodded and said, "Yes, Major Smith, believe me, this operation will definitely succeed, because we are doing the right thing."

The next morning, Smith and Zhang Wenwu had breakfast at the consulate and went out without doing anything else. However, they did not go directly to the rooftop to watch the battle. Instead, Smith drove to all the checkpoints in the British Concession and told the guarding officers that if a Chinese man named Cao Huaguo came to look for him, he should drive the man safely to the building where the battle was being watched and make sure to protect that man.

After finishing this, the two of them slowly went to the rooftop. The sounds of gunfire and explosions were still coming from the warehouse, but this could no longer attract the attention of those people on the rooftop. Everyone was discussing when the Chinese government was going to withdraw the remaining troops on the opposite side. As for whether to surrender to the Japanese or to the concession, the three parties were still arguing fiercely. However, judging from the information currently received, it should be more likely that they would surrender to the concession.

Zhang Wenwu did not get involved in those meaningless discussions. He continued to observe the Japanese attack with a telescope. Smith ran to a group of people and kept asking for the latest news.

When it was almost noon, a British second lieutenant came to the roof and whispered a report in Smith's ear. Smith nodded. He asked the second lieutenant to go down first, then walked to Zhang Wenwu and whispered, "Major Zhang, the Cao Huaguo you mentioned has been taken downstairs."

Zhang Wenwu put down the telescope in his hand, nodded to Smith, and walked to the chair and sat down. Smith walked up to Captain Taylor and whispered something, then took Captain Taylor and Zhang Wenwu downstairs and drove away, while the British second lieutenant followed them in the car.

After arriving at the British Consulate in Shanghai, Cao Huaguo walked up to Zhang Wenwu with a large cloth bag on his back and reported: "Deputy Director Zhang, I will bring all the money in the temporary camp here according to your order."

Zhang Wenwu looked at Cao Huaguo, who looked exhausted, and patted him on the shoulder and said, "Well done. I'll commend you when we get back. Now follow me in. You can take a shower in my room first, then eat something and have a good rest. From now on, your mission is to protect the money. Do you understand?"

Cao Huaguo immediately expressed his understanding, then followed Zhang Wenwu into the consulate and was taken by Zhang Wenwu to the room where he had lived for the past few days.

Zhang Wenwu asked Cao Huaguo to take out 4,000 US dollars and put it in a briefcase he had asked Smith for. He then carried the briefcase to Smith's office and handed it to Taylor. After Taylor finished listing the money in the bag, Zhang Wenwu stood up, saluted Taylor and said, "Captain Taylor, thank you again for your help."

Taylor also returned the military salute with a smile on his face and said, "Major Zhang, you're welcome. With your food allowance, I think all the officers and soldiers of our Marine Corps are willing to help you complete your plan. As far as I know, you may need to take action tonight. May God bless you."

After Taylor left, Smith called the Concession Police Station and asked Dick to come over quickly. Then he took Zhang Wenwu to the restaurant to have lunch first. Zhang Wenwu also returned to the room and called Cao Huaguo, who had already taken a shower, to go to the restaurant to have a good meal together.

Inspector Dick of the police station left the consulate with a happy face. Zhang Wenwu then quickly asked Cao Huaguo to count out three thousand dollars for him. He drove to Mr. Xu's house with the money, stuffed the money into Mr. Xu's pocket, and told him that the action should start in the evening. He asked him to be prepared and he might call him at any time to inform him.

After returning to the consulate, Smith was waiting for Zhang Wenwu in the restaurant: "Major Zhang, I just got the news that your Chinese government has agreed to withdraw the army in the warehouse, but your government and army have disagreed on this matter. The politicians in the mediation group agreed to surrender to the Japanese army, but the upper echelons of your army and the guard officers of the warehouse do not agree with this plan. We still need to wait for the final news."

After listening to Smith's explanation, Zhang Wenwu nodded. He knew that the warehouse defenders finally withdrew into the concession collectively under the insistence of the Chinese army. Now there were still gunshots coming from the warehouse, which meant that the Japanese army was still attacking overtime at night. It was estimated that the pressure on the Japanese top leaders was quite great now, but they were destined to be disappointed.

After dinner, Zhang Wenwu asked Cao Huaguo to have a good rest in the consulate, while he and Smith came to the checkpoint by the border river. They needed to wait for news at the nearest place, and he also needed to inform Captain Xie of his plan as soon as possible. He could not contact Captain Xie by phone. After all, the telephone line was for civilian use. If someone was eavesdropping, it would be a huge hidden danger to his actions. He could not take the risk.

At 10:30 in the evening, Smith received a notice asking him to gather two companies of British troops to be responsible for security at the checkpoint on the side of the boundary bridge. The U.S. Marine Corps would be responsible for escorting the Chinese soldiers entering the concession to the Italian defense zone for isolation and detention.

At 11 o'clock in the evening, all the representatives from various countries in the mediation team were waiting at a street corner opposite. They needed to supervise the disarmament operation of the Chinese army. The Japanese diplomatic department also sent personnel to participate in the supervision.

Zhang Wenwu looked at his watch, then walked back to the restaurant he had been to before, talked to the owner, and borrowed the hotel's phone to call Mr. Xu. He simply told Mr. Xu that they could start now, and then hung up.

At 11:30 p.m., the border river in the concession was already surrounded by civilians who came to welcome the Chinese army. Although this defense battle ended in retreat, the common people in the concession believed that the army had fought well, which gave them hope, so everyone was willing to treat this retreat as a victory.

As more and more people gathered, the mediation team quickly mobilized all the police forces from the British police station to maintain law and order on the roadside.

At twelve o'clock in the evening, all the Chinese defenders in the warehouse had assembled on the side of the warehouse close to the boundary river, but they needed to break through the Japanese fire blockade line on the roof of the Bank of Communications. The Chinese troops began to rush the bridge in an orderly manner, and Zhang Wenwu was now nervous.

As the troops rushed out, the Japanese searchlights on the roof of the Bank of Communications immediately discovered the movements of the Chinese army. They also received a notification from the diplomatic department, informing them that the Chinese army would withdraw to the concession tonight, but they did not know the specific time when the Chinese army would start to withdraw, which made the Japanese troops on duty at night very vigilant.

Gunshots rang out immediately, and a team of Chinese troops immediately fired at the Japanese troops on the Bank of Communications to cover the retreat of others.

The first soldier who rushed over was immediately asked to hand over his weapon. It was obvious that the soldier had not received any notice that he would be disarmed, and he confronted the British army with his gun in hand. At this time, Captain Xie happened to rush over from the bridge. Zhang Wenwu, regardless of the risk of being accidentally injured, rushed into the formation of the Chinese army and shouted, "Captain Xie, Captain Xie, I am Zhang Wenwu, I have something urgent to discuss with you." While shouting, he squeezed towards Captain Xie.

Captain Xie also heard what Zhang Wenwu said, and then he stretched out a hand and pulled him to his side with great effort and said, "Major Zhang, you don't want to die in such a dangerous situation."

"Captain Xie, listen to me. The British will ask you to surrender your weapons in a while. Don't resist. The U.S. Marines will escort you to another place. Just keep in formation. After you pass two more intersections, a large group of people will come out to create chaos. Then people with white towels on their left arms will lead you away. Tell the brothers to follow the people with white towels on their left arms. They will send you out of Shanghai in batches, and then you can return to the troops to assemble on your own. I have arranged everything. Do you understand?" Zhang Wenwu loudly explained the steps of his plan to Captain Xie.

Captain Xie obviously didn't expect Zhang Wenwu to do this to him, but at the same time he said to Zhang Wenwu gratefully: "Major Zhang, thank you so much. When we get to the rear, I will treat you to a drink next time. I and my brothers thank you."