Quartermasters can also fight the devils

Chapter 148 Watching the Battle on the Rooftop

Zhang Wenwu patted Smith's arm with a little emotion, then took out a cigarette and lit it. He said to himself while smoking, "Yes, Smith, I have done everything I can do now, but there must be things I need to do later. Only after the Japanese are driven out of China can I really relax. Thank you and Lieutenant Colonel Rick for your help."

Smith also looked at the Sihang Warehouse, made the sign of the cross on his chest, and said seriously: "Major Zhang, they are all a group of brave soldiers. God will definitely bless them. We can't help them here now. We can go back to the consulate to rest. You also need to rest well and get enough energy."

Zhang Wenwu nodded. He knew that Smith was right. He could not help much now. He should really have a good rest and get enough energy to be ready for when he was needed in the future. Then he would be able to provide full assistance to this glorious defender.

After returning to the consulate, Zhang Wenwu and Smith had a good meal. They had been busy until now and were both hungry.

After Smith finished his meal, he wiped his mouth with a napkin, lit up his cigar and took a puff with a satisfied look on his face. He then said to Zhang Wenwu, "Major Zhang, how long do you think you can hold out in Shanghai? Of course, I'm not referring to the defense of the warehouse, but the entire war in Shanghai."

Zhang Wenwu also took a puff of his cigarette and said in a low voice: "Major Smith, I think the war in Shanghai may end in the near future, probably no more than half a month, and our Chinese army will begin to withdraw." He knew that after the meeting of the Nine-Power Treaty, the defenders in Shanghai began to retreat in an all-round way.

"Oh? Major Zhang, you have never been a pessimistic person. Can you tell me why you say that? You know, your troops in Shanghai are still very large. If we evaluate based on the previous war situation, you should be able to hold on for one to two months." Smith felt a little strange when he heard Zhang Wenwu's pessimistic answer, so he hurriedly asked. You know, Zhang Wenwu has been on the front line for two months, and his views may be closer to the current actual war situation.

"Major Smith, the Shanghai area is actually not very suitable for our Chinese troops to engage in a large-scale decisive battle with the Japanese army. We lack heavy artillery, aircraft, warships, and all the weapons we should have. Although we are still guarding the defense line with great difficulty, the Japanese army will give full play to their mobility advantage. You know, their navy can unscrupulously transport their troops to wherever they want to go for sudden landings. Once the Japanese army suddenly lands again, all our troops in Shanghai will have to begin to retreat. We do not have the ability to guard such a long coastline." Zhang Wenwu knew that the Japanese army would launch a new landing from Jinshanwei in a few days, which would be a fatal blow to the Chinese defenders in Shanghai.

Smith smoked a cigar silently. He was digesting the analysis results provided by Zhang Wenwu. It must be said that Zhang Wenwu's analysis was very reasonable. If the Japanese army really chose a new area to land again, it would be very disadvantageous for the Chinese defenders. After thinking for a while, Smith asked in a low voice: "Major Zhang, where do you think the Japanese army will choose to land again?"

Zhang Wenwu looked at Smith, then said with a smile: "Smith, ask someone to bring the map of Shanghai, and I will show you the place." He felt that it would not matter even if he told Smith the news, and it would be useless even if he and Rick believed it. Everyone is a small person in this era, and no one cares whether what the small person said is right or wrong.

Soon, Smith personally took out a large-scale military map of Shanghai from his office, on which was marked the situations of the two warring parties that he knew about. Zhang Wenwu quickly found Jinshanwei on the map and pointed out this area to Smith to remember.

Smith took a pencil and spread the map on the dining table and began to calculate seriously. As he kept marking on the map, his brows furrowed. After more than ten minutes, Smith threw the pencil on the map and said with admiration: "Major Zhang, I don't think you should be a liaison officer. You should go to China's General Staff. I just carefully looked at the area where you estimated the Japanese army might land. If the Japanese army really landed from this direction, I think what you said would happen. This place can quickly complete the complete encirclement of the Chinese troops in Shanghai to the south, and can quickly break through the defense line where there are few troops to defend to the west and directly threaten Nanjing. No matter which result it is, it is very disadvantageous to you, China."

"Smith. It's impossible for me to go to the General Staff because that's not where I want to go. Do you think anyone there will care about a young officer like me? Will anyone listen to my opinions and analysis? Instead of wasting time there, I might as well do something substantial in the army. This will make me feel happy and fulfilled." Zhang Wenwu smiled and briefly told Smith his thoughts.

Smith nodded in deep understanding. Based on his understanding of the Chinese top leaders, it could be said that Zhang Wenwu would not be able to play any role in such a place. China is a place that values ​​seniority and seniority. Although Zhang Wenwu has some background, he is too young. Background can determine what you can do, but if you want to change something, background alone is not enough.

After the two chatted for another half an hour, Zhang Wenwu returned to his room to rest. He needed to replenish his mental and physical strength as soon as possible to deal with various problems that would arise later.

Smith returned to his office and called Lieutenant Colonel Rick in Jinling. He reported Zhang Wenwu's analysis of the future situation to Rick, and also mentioned Zhang Wenwu's strategic idea that the Japanese army might land in Jinshanwei and attack from the flank to encircle the Chinese defenders in Shanghai.

At seven o'clock the next morning, Zhang Wenwu got up and washed. He had made an appointment with Smith last night to meet in the restaurant at 7:10 this morning. After breakfast, Smith would take him to the edge of Jie Bridge to observe the battle between the warehouse defenders and the Japanese army.

After the two of them quickly finished their breakfast in the restaurant, Smith drove Zhang Wenwu towards Jie Bridge. When the car just drove out of the consulate, a burst of fierce gunfire was heard in the distance. This made both of them realize that the Japanese army had begun to attack in the direction of the warehouse. Smith could not help but speed up the car.

"Boom" "Boom" "Boom"

"Oh, Major Zhang, this is the mine we sent over yesterday. I am very familiar with this sound. Haha, let's blow those Japanese monkeys to death." Smith waved one arm excitedly and shouted to Zhang Wenwu.

"Haha, that's right, let's blow up those Japanese monkeys and let them start a war." Zhang Wenwu also echoed in a good mood.

Smith drove the jeep to a building one block away from the Concession Bridge and stopped. When Zhang Wenwu was a little confused, Smith explained, "Major Zhang, you know, if a fight breaks out at the warehouse, it will be a bit dangerous over there. After all, bullets don't have eyes. So, in order to better observe this battle, each country has set up a battlefield observation point on the roof of this building to facilitate close observation. Of course, your mediation team will also be here."

After listening to Smith's explanation, Zhang Wenwu understood it and said nothing more. Instead, under the guidance of Smith, he passed the inspection of the guards at the door of the building, took the elevator to the top floor, and went up the stairs on the top floor to the rooftop platform of the building.

As soon as Zhang Wenwu stepped onto the rooftop platform, he was immediately shocked by the layout of the scene. If someone didn’t know, they would have thought that an open-air picnic party was being held here.

Some parasols had already been set up on the platform, as well as dining tables and comfortable chairs with backrests. A chef was preparing delicious food on the spot, and there were a variety of drinks on the bar. The waiters brought the drinks and food to the table for people to taste.

Smith also took a glass of liquor from a plate held by a waiter and took a sip, then he pulled Zhang Wenwu to the observation point in the direction of the warehouse, where several artillery telescopes had been set up for people to carefully observe the situation of the two warring parties. At the same time, there were more than a dozen high-power military telescopes on the table next to the artillery telescope for people to use.

"Captain Taylor, you're here early. Have you had breakfast? Let me introduce you. This is Major Zhang Wenwu of the 18th Chinese Army. He has been in the United States for a long time." After Smith put the wine glass on the table, he greeted a captain of the US Army who was observing the battle situation with a telescope, then turned to introduce Zhang Wenwu, "Major Zhang, this is Captain Taylor, the military attaché of the US Consulate in Shanghai. He is a cowboy from Texas."

After hearing Smith's voice, Taylor put down the telescope in his hand, took the initiative to shake hands with Zhang Wenwu, and said with a smile: "Nice to meet you, Major Zhang. I admire the willpower of your army in this war. In addition, to be precise, I am from Nevada, but I just started serving in Texas."

"Hello, I'm glad to meet you too, Captain Taylor. I spent my high school life in New York. After graduating from high school, I returned to China to attend a military school. In some ways, our life trajectories are a bit similar." Zhang Wenwu also greeted Taylor politely.

"Captain Taylor, what's the situation now? Have the Japanese monkeys been beaten?" Smith picked up a telescope and observed the battle on the opposite side. Zhang Wenwu also picked up a telescope and started observing together.