Chapter 1 The 4:13 PM Bombardment

October 28, 1937, four thirteen in the afternoon:

Lin Fan, crouching on the roof of Sihang Warehouse, rapidly firing mortar shells, killed the Western-commanding Japanese officer, Chief of Staff Koju Kotai.

His command was taken over by Captain Shiyonemi Yoju, who continued to direct the soldiers to charge.

When Captain Shiyonemi Yoju led his soldiers to a position less than two hundred meters from the fortifications of the 1st Company, 1st Battalion, 542nd Regiment,

a dense rain of bullets suddenly shot out from the bunker-like fortifications.

The bullets fired from those narrow, slender firing holes caught the charging Japanese soldiers completely unprepared.

A large number of them fell instantly.

Only then did they慌忙start looking for places to hide.

Even though they were now less than two hundred meters from the defenders' position, the artillery shells falling from the sky did not stop.

The weapons of the Special Company soldiers on the roof of Sihang Warehouse also opened fire.

Lin Fan's requirement for them was: aim as carefully as possible; rather be slower, but be more accurate.

Regarding the marksmanship of the Special Company soldiers, Lin Fan only dared to let them shoot at targets more than one hundred meters away from the fortifications below.

Any closer, and Lin Fan was afraid of accidentally injuring friendly forces!

It wasn't that he didn't trust the marksmanship of the soldiers in his company; it was just that he didn't dare to trust them!

Just like now, when seventy soldiers fired rifles from the west, not many Japanese soldiers were hit more than one hundred meters away.

At this moment, Lin Fan, on the one hand, unhurriedly...

On the other hand, he was instructing these soldiers on how to shoot, just like on a training ground.

The three-point aiming method could be explained clearly in just one sentence.

Using the same three-point alignment, some people could hit the target with every shot, while others could miss the target with every shot.

The gap between theory and practice was that wide.

Xie Jinyuan saw that nearly half of the Japanese soldiers charging towards the front lines had been killed or wounded, and the heart that had been hanging in his throat finally returned to its original place.

Company Commander Lin Fan was indeed a special talent from Brandenburg, Germany; a single mortar in his hands was worth an entire battalion to Xie Jinyuan.

Now, seeing Lin Fan holding a rifle, searching for the Japanese commander in the west,

Captain Shiyonemi Yoju, who had just taken over the Western command less than three minutes ago, was not yet accustomed to the position.

Holding a command sword, he made various gestures from time to time, excitedly directing Captain Yamashita Yuta, who was at the same rank as him.

When Lin Fan discovered him, Captain Shiyonemi Yoju was hiding behind a surviving concrete pillar.

As he peeked out again to observe the situation ahead, a bullet flew over.

Captain Shiyonemi Yoju, who had only served as the Western commander for three minutes, died in this way.

Captain Yamashita Yuta immediately took over the command. He had just received a task from the deceased Captain Shiyonemi Yoju, and in the blink of an eye, it was his turn to issue orders.

Lin Fan shot and killed a Japanese commander, and his eyes immediately turned to the group of Japanese soldiers charging at the front.

He wanted to find their squad leader and platoon leader from among these Japanese soldiers.

Through the observation hole, Xie Jinyuan saw that the heads of the charging Japanese soldiers were constantly exploding.

He couldn't say that all those Japanese soldiers were shot by Lin Fan, but at least half of them were Lin Fan's masterpieces.

Lin Fan's attention was focused on the west, so the pressure on the eastern defenders increased.

Lin Fan had already put down the mortar when he heard two loud explosions coming from the east.

He immediately changed direction, came to the east side of the roof, and looked down through the observation hole.

Several Japanese grenade launcher soldiers were preparing for the second round of attacks.

Without hesitation, Lin Fan's rifle fired, and four consecutive bullets killed two Japanese grenade launcher soldiers and two assistants.

His left hand moved, and in less than a second, he loaded a new magazine of five bullets.

This time, his target was the Japanese machine guns.

The organization of the Japanese on the east side was clearly much stronger than that on the west.

Lin Fan saw that there were at least two heavy machine guns and ten light machine guns firing in this direction.

Such firepower was much stronger than the defensive firepower of the 1st Company.

Five consecutive shots killed the Japanese heavy machine gunner and his four assistants.

In a short period of time, five corpses fell behind the heavy machine gun. Even with the bravery of the Japanese soldiers, no one dared to go up there for a while.

Lin Fan, after reloading his bullets again, began to fire at the machine gunners.

This battle was not just Lin Fan's alone; it was a battle for all of the Special Company, for the entire 542nd Regiment.

When Lin Fan aimed at the next machine gunner, he saw the machine gunner's body sway.

He suddenly collapsed on the machine gun, killed by a bullet of justice.

This situation was not just a coincidence. Whenever Lin Fan chose a target, these machine gunners were always killed.

When Lin Fan caused the Japanese to leave four more corpses behind the heavy machine gun, no Japanese dared to touch that cursed heavy machine gun again.

At this time, Lin Fan had time to search for their commanders among the Japanese soldiers.

If he found someone who looked like a commander, Lin Fan would give them a shot.

The sound of gunfire from the Special Company soldiers on the roof gradually became sparse. This was not because the soldiers had suffered casualties, nor was it because they were unwilling to fight the Japanese.

It was simply that the Japanese soldiers were too close to the friendly forces, and these soldiers did not dare to fire.

In particular, the machine guns had completely stopped firing.

Now, the soldiers of the Special Company were all using rifles, aiming at targets more than one hundred meters away.

This made Battalion Commander Yokouchi Ryunosuke, who was hiding in the rear to command, very depressed.

The guards around him seemed to have the ability to attract bullets, and bullets were constantly flying over.

Although these bullets always brushed past him, there were always some that hit their targets accurately.

The number of people falling beside Battalion Commander Yokouchi Ryunosuke was increasing.

He couldn't bear it any longer. The firepower of these attacks was coming from the roof.

He ordered: "Machine gunners! Suppress the firepower on the roof!"

Battalion Commander Yokouchi Ryunosuke had thus exposed himself.

In front of a sniper, exposure meant death!

Therefore, Battalion Commander Yokouchi Ryunosuke, with an expression of disbelief on his face, leaning on his command sword, slowly fell down.

When he fell, there were less than ten soldiers around him.

While these people were in a daze, they followed Battalion Commander Yokouchi Ryunosuke one after another.

The entire Japanese force attacking Sihang Warehouse from the east no longer had a unified command. The machine gun company, the transport company, and the two infantry regiments each acted on their own.

They were all launching fierce attacks on the outer fortifications of Sihang Warehouse.

In less than ten minutes, the first line of defense in the east was breached by these Japanese soldiers.

Shangguan Zhibiao led his 1st Company to retreat about ten meters.

They retreated to the second line of fortifications to continue resisting.

Zhang Boting, watching the defense of Sihang Warehouse from the south bank, was worried when the Japanese launched their attack.

He was constantly muttering to himself, and no one could hear what he was saying.

Everyone present could understand; after all, the soldiers on the other side were from his division.

If they could not complete the seven-day defense mission, then the sacrifice of this regiment would be meaningless.

Now, they saw that the first line of defense of the 542nd Regiment had been breached by the Japanese.

Zhang Boting's face became even paler.

Everyone in this room held their breath, as if the sound of their breathing would add pressure to the National Revolutionary Army soldiers on the other side.

In the multinational military observation group next door, the expression on Koizumi Junichiro's face finally relaxed.

He watched with satisfaction as the Japanese soldiers took the lead in breaching the defenders' first line of defense from the east.

Less than a minute later, the Japanese soldiers in the west also breached the first line of defense.

Now, the outer defenses of the National Revolutionary Army stationed in Sihang Warehouse were concentrated within a range of one hundred meters.

The Japanese soldiers who had captured the first line of defense became more and more excited.

They shouted "Gua! Gua!" loudly, some crawling forward, others standing up and charging directly.

All of them rushed towards the 1st Company's fortifications desperately.

After these Japanese soldiers crossed the first line of fortifications left by the defenders, they discovered that the second line of fortifications was similar to the first line.

The only difference was that the second line of fortifications was slightly shorter.

The result was that all of the Japanese firepower only had an effect on these defenders after entering the first line of defense.

Now, all of the Japanese machine guns were useless.

Xie Jinyuan looked at Lin Fan: "Company Commander Lin, this structure of yours is a bit insidious! But we all like it."

Company Commander Shangguan Zhibiao had also now discovered the benefits of retreating to the second line of defense.

The only disadvantage of their current fortifications was that they could not defend against Japanese grenades.

Other than that, the Japanese firepower basically posed no threat to the 1st Company.

The Japanese soldiers who had finally climbed over the fortifications had become targets.

The Japanese were not pushovers either; they quickly discovered the problem.

They easily used explosive packs to blow open several passages in the defenders' first line of fortifications.

The machine gun fire from not far away suppressed the firepower of the National Revolutionary Army through these passages, and the Japanese soldiers continued their attack from other places.

The battle on the north bank of the Suzhou Creek had been going on for nearly an hour, and the setting sun in the west cast a layer of blood-red light over the entire earth.

Everyone on the south bank of the Suzhou Creek, watching the offensive and defensive battle on the other side, could see that:

the defenders were probably not going to make it.

They had retreated again and again, and now they had nowhere to retreat.

All of the 542nd Regiment's fortifications outside of Sihang Warehouse had been lost.

The Japanese had occupied all of the outer fortifications, and only the building itself was still in the hands of the defenders.

Those citizens who had originally been hiding on balconies, behind doors, and behind windows, with faces full of disappointment, came out of their hiding places.

They stood up, exposing their bodies, with tears in their eyes, just staring blankly at those National Revolutionary Army soldiers on the other side, making their last stand.

At this moment, these citizens had some regrets: We should not have been just spectators in the war on the other side.

We should have participated as well.

Especially those teenagers, both boys and girls, in these families, had only one thought in their minds: I want to go to the front lines! I want to resist the Japanese!

The atmosphere inside the multinational military observation group had always been so relaxed. In the eyes of most of these old-fashioned great powers, this was just two ants fighting, and they were just here to watch the show.

Now, one side was about to be defeated, and the other side was about to win.

And the winning side was also in this room.

They were all satisfied with this result. If the losing side was the one in this room,

where would these great empires put their faces?

In fact, this Sihang Warehouse offensive and defensive battle, from the time Koizumi Junichiro joined the multinational military observation group, the outcome had already been decided.

The National Revolutionary Army was completely defeated!

A weak country has no diplomacy!

And does not deserve to have victory!

Someone had already congratulated Koizumi Junichiro.

Koizumi Junichiro, although he had always believed that the imperial soldiers would definitely be able to capture Sihang Warehouse,

of course, wanted the capture to happen as soon as possible, to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.

This achievement had cost the empire a full ten million US dollars.

Ten million US dollars bought an entry ticket into the multinational military observation group, and it also bought a victory insurance policy.

Koizumi Junichiro said to everyone with a smile: "The Sihang Warehouse incident is over. I will be hosting a banquet at the Peace Hotel tonight, and I hope everyone will do me the honor of attending."

Diplomacy is all about eating, drinking, chatting, laughing, and arguing.

All the members of the multinational military observation group happily accepted the invitation.

Koizumi Junichiro politely said to these members: "Gentlemen! Excuse me for a moment; there are still some important guests for tonight's banquet that I need to personally invite."

The British ambassador immediately guessed who Koizumi Junichiro wanted to invite.

British Ambassador Duke Gilbert Osmond smiled and said, "Mr. Koizumi, are you going to personally invite some friends from next door?"

Koizumi Junichiro smiled and replied: "The friends next door have been staying in their room for two days, just like us.

We are all friends; it is better to share joy than to enjoy it alone.

I will go invite them over now.

Although they are not part of the military observation group,

I don't think you gentlemen will mind them coming over for a chat."

The multinational military observers in the entire room laughed.

They all understood now: Koizumi Junichiro was going to invite the senior National Revolutionary Army officers next door.

Of course, they would not mind such a small matter!

British Ambassador Sir Gilbert Osmond smiled and said, "Very well; I like Mr. He's paintings very much.

If I have the opportunity, I would like to order one!"

Koizumi Junichiro said with a smile: "If you could order an oil painting of the Defense of Sihang Warehouse, that would be excellent!"

Madam He Xiangning watched as the 542nd Regiment on the other side had been compressed into the Sihang Warehouse building.

All of the outer fortifications had been lost, and although she did not understand military affairs, she could tell that something was wrong.

"Is Sihang Warehouse going to be lost?" she asked.

Zhang Boting looked bitter: "In reality, there are only about four hundred people stationed in Sihang Warehouse. The Japanese are deploying a full battalion at a time, which is three times the number of defenders.

We did not anticipate this situation before the war.

However, our troops have killed thousands of Japanese soldiers in these two days, and this achievement is enough to appease the people.

The 1st Battalion of the 542nd Regiment stationed in Sihang Warehouse has eliminated an average of more than two Japanese soldiers per soldier.

Such a record is unprecedented since the start of the war."

"So! Is Sihang Warehouse going to be lost?" He Xiangning continued to ask.

Zhang Boting, Chief of Staff of the 88th Division, nodded with difficulty, his face pale and bitter.

At this moment, the guard standing outside the door came to report: "Koizumi Junichiro, the Japanese Minister to China, has come to visit!"

Zhang Boting said fiercely: "Throw him out! Throw him out!"

He Xiangning calmed herself and said softly: "Please come in! Chinese children, we do not compete for victory or defeat in a single moment.

We are not arrogant in victory, nor are we discouraged in defeat!"

After Koizumi Junichiro came in, he saw that the entire room was glaring at him fiercely.

He did not take it to heart at all; he was even a little proud: He had come with the great victory of the imperial soldiers, and these people could only express their anger with their eyes.

If you have the ability, go to the battlefield!

If you have the ability, come and hit me!

However, the lady sitting in the main seat had a peaceful look in her eyes and was even able to smile: "Serve tea!"

Koizumi Junichiro, in the posture of a victor, forgave the rudeness of the losers in the room.

He ignored these hostile gazes and leisurely tasted the hot tea that had just been served, praising sincerely: "Good tea! Truly good tea!"

He Xiangning said with a smile: "This is this year's Mingqian Longjing."

Koizumi Junichiro smiled and said: "Indeed, it is good tea. Koizumi remembers that the Longjing from West Lake is the best."

He Xiangning nodded with a smile: "Only those few tea trees on that small hillside are the best.

The one that Mr. Koizumi just tasted is this kind of best."

Koizumi Junichiro said with a smile: "Koizumi will remember: Mr. He likes the best Longjing from West Lake.

Please rest assured, Mr. He, Koizumi will definitely have someone deliver this best Longjing to you next year."

When he said this, the faces of all the senior National Revolutionary Army officers in the room changed, and some with hot tempers even had red eyes.

The connotation of Koizumi Junichiro's words was a bit too much: he meant that Hangzhou's West Lake was in your hands this year, so you have this kind of best Longjing tea in your hands.

Next year, Hangzhou will be under Japanese occupation, and only the Japanese will be able to own the best Longjing from West Lake.

He could bestow some upon Mr. He in his personal capacity.

He Xiangning's face flashed with anger, but she smiled and said: "Oranges grown south of the Huai River bear oranges, while those grown north of the Huai River bear sour trifoliate oranges.

The leaves of the orange tree and the trifoliate orange tree are similar, but the tastes are different. This is because the soil and water are different.

I know that tea is the purest in nature, understands human nature, and recognizes human feelings.

Once it is contaminated by impure people, it can no longer be used.

Let us pick this Longjing ourselves!"

He Xiangning did not say a single dirty word, but she scolded Koizumi Junichiro as dirty and despicable.

Koizumi Junichiro's face turned red, but he immediately pretended that nothing had happened: "The multinational observers are preparing to gather at the Peace Hotel tonight and sincerely invite Mr. He to participate."

He Xiangning thought: Koizumi Junichiro came over at this time, obviously because he saw that their attack on Sihang Warehouse had succeeded, and this was a victory celebration.

But this dinner party will be attended by ambassadors and ministers from various countries.

It was a rare opportunity to meet these people and to have a chance to talk to them about the current situation and try to gain their sympathy and support.

Thinking of this, He Xiangning said with a smile: "If I am invited, I should go."

Koizumi Junichiro continued to invite: "Please also attend at that time, everyone."

He paused: "The multinational military observation group is right next door, and there are many good friends of yours inside.

How about you all go over now and reminisce about your friendship?

Mr. He! British Ambassador Sir Gilbert Osmond said that he is an old friend of yours.

He asks you to go over; he has something to ask of you!"

He Xiangning knew British Ambassador Sir Gilbert Osmond; the only thing he could ask of her was a painting.

If her paintings could be exchanged for the British government's intervention, she would be willing to paint until she died.

He Xiangning smiled: "Since Sir Gilbert Osmond has invited me, I will go and meet with my friend."

Koizumi Junichiro said to everyone in the room: "Let's all go over together! We are all old friends."

A group of a dozen people walked into the multinational military observation group, and they were immediately welcomed with enthusiastic hospitality.

Diplomats, sworn brothers in front of you, stab you in the back, are the most basic operations.

If you only looked at everyone's expressions now, you would only see a group of old friends who had not seen each other for decades meeting.

This room was originally for the multinational military observation group; they were watching the battle on the other side from this room.

Now, with more than a dozen senior National Revolutionary Army officers, the entire room was a bit crowded.

Those attendants were nervously finding chairs and arranging seats for the people in this room.

There are no small matters in diplomacy!

The seating arrangement must be carefully considered!

While everyone was in a state of confusion, waiting for the seating arrangement,

loud explosions rang out continuously, and everyone in this room looked up towards the other side.

They only saw the dust and smoke rising from the other side, completely engulfing the entire Sihang Warehouse.

That grand building now looked very blurred.

Everything on the north bank of the Suzhou Creek now looked so unreal.

In the midst of the pervasive smoke and dust, there were occasional flashes of fire, and at the same time, huge explosions could be heard.

Everyone staying here knew that the Sihang Warehouse offensive and defensive battle had reached its end.

The last nail of the National Revolutionary Army in Shanghai City would be pulled out by the Japanese.

Koizumi Junichiro's face was pleasant, and he said with a beaming smile: "Mr. He! Please sit here; this position allows you to see everything happening on the other side very clearly."

He Xiangning's face was cold; what could she do now?

She could only protect herself with coldness: the soldiers of her own country were being attacked by invaders before her eyes.

She was even in the same room with the invaders; she really could not bear it any longer.

When Lin Fan led the Special Company soldiers to prepare the explosive packs when Shangguan Zhibiao led the soldiers of the 1st Company to retreat to the last line of fortifications.

He was just waiting for all the soldiers of the 542nd Regiment to retreat into Sihang Warehouse. The gate of Sihang Warehouse was now closed, leaving only a two-meter-wide gap.

This was to leave a retreat route for the retreating soldiers of the 1st Company.

Only after they retreated would this door be closed!

Shangguan Zhibiao led the 1st Company to fight and retreat, and as the number of retreats increased,

the defense position of the 1st Company became less and less, and the firepower density also increased.

The Japanese now had experience in dealing with the National Revolutionary Army's layer-by-layer retreat.

They always used explosive packs to clear a few passages first, and many of the fortifications and bunkers that had just been abandoned by the defenders would immediately collapse.

Using this method, the roads cleared by the Japanese soldiers, although rugged, could ensure that the Japanese machine guns a little further away could maintain firepower suppression of the defenders.

It was precisely because of this that the 1st Company was able to persist less and less in each defensive circle.