Quartermasters can also fight the devils

Chapter 144: Steel Flesh and Blood

The Japanese attack resumed as the weather cleared up. The sound of gunfire rang out in Shanghai every day as the sun rose. Zhang Wenwu also returned to the days of constantly looking for reinforcements. During this period, the 102nd Division also briefly withdrew from the front-line positions to the rear for rest, but each rest would last less than two or three days before they were pushed back to the front line to defend the positions. There was no way around it. The new troops were basically wiped out in two or three days, and sometimes even in one day.

Time passed quickly and it was already early October. Zhang Wenwu now had sunken eye sockets, untidy beard, and his military uniform was quite dirty. Cao Huaguo beside him had obviously lost weight. During this period of time, they had tried their best to find reinforcements for the army, and they even searched hospitals full of wounded soldiers. However, they had only managed to barely maintain the replenishment speed of the army.

The Japanese army also fell into China's strategic trap and successively dispatched the 101th Division, the th Division, the st Division, the Heavy Artillery Detachment, the th Heavy Artillery Brigade, and the rd Flying Regiment to the Shanghai area, preparing for a decisive battle with China.

That day, Zhang Wenwu came to the office of Wu Jincheng at the military station with fifty dollars. He found that there were several soldiers wearing British Tony helmets guarding outside the office. Zhang Wenwu knew at a glance that these were the new Gui army troops that had arrived in Shanghai.

After the Gui army officer inside and the soldiers at the door left, Zhang Wenwu slowly walked into Wu Jincheng's office.

"Deputy Stationmaster Wu, you have to pay attention to rest." Zhang Wenwu looked at the anxious Wu Jincheng in front of him and showed rare concern. Although Wu Jincheng was a little greedy for money, he still worked hard, so he should be affirmed where he deserves.

"Deputy Director Zhang, come and sit down, come and sit down." Wu Jincheng was obviously in a good mood, and he smiled and invited Zhang Wenwu to sit down.

Zhang Wenwu saw that Wu Jincheng was in a good mood, so he asked curiously: "Deputy Stationmaster Wu, you are in a good mood. Is there any good news? Tell me so that I can be happy." He was also a little interested. If there was any good thing or reinforcements, he would not miss it.

"Supplies are really scarce. The size of the troops in Shanghai is getting bigger and bigger, and more and more supplies are needed. The only thing is that the supplies in the military stations are becoming less and less sufficient." Wu Jincheng lit a cigarette and answered Zhang Wenwu's curiosity in a teasing manner, which directly put an end to Zhang Wenwu's thoughts.

"Then why is Deputy Stationmaster Wu so happy?" Zhang Wenwu was even more curious. Without a large amount of supplies and reinforcements, why would Wu Jincheng be so happy?

Wu Jincheng leaned closer and whispered, "Did you see those officers who just left? They are from the 21st Army Group that has just arrived in Shanghai. They took away all the mm shells in the military depot, a total of rounds, with a note personally approved by the deputy commander of the theater."

Zhang Wenwu understood a little bit. The 21st Army Group had arrived in Shanghai the day before yesterday. This army group was composed of the th Army and the th Army of the Guangxi Army. Each army had three divisions, and each division consisted of two brigades and four regiments. They were all elite troops of the Guangxi clique. But they came to collect the artillery shells, so why were you, Wu Jincheng, so happy?

Seeing that Zhang Wenwu didn't understand, Wu Jincheng continued to explain: "Deputy Director Zhang, you also know that after the two months of fighting, our troops now have almost no artillery. This time, the theater of operations gathered all the remaining ten or so 21mm artillery pieces in Shanghai and allocated them all to the st Army. They also allocated all the artillery shells to them. I guess this is to prepare for a counterattack against the Japanese."

Zhang Wenwu knew why Wu Jincheng was so happy. He had been suppressed by the Japanese for more than a month. He was happy to see his troops start a counterattack. But Zhang Wenwu knew that this attack did not achieve the predetermined strategic goal. Instead, it resulted in the loss of almost the entire 21st Army.

Zhang Wenwu did not tell Wu Jincheng the frustrating result. Instead, he chatted with him in the office for a while and then said goodbye and returned to the camp. He was in a heavy mood. In a few days, the attack by the Gui army would end in a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood.

Three days later, the Gui army's attack began. The war zone's plan was to push back the Japanese troops who had not yet established a firm foothold on the south bank of Juzaobang. The Gui army organized a 101-man suicide squad to rush to the front. Almost at the same time, the Japanese th Division and the st Division also launched a general attack on the Chinese army in Juzaobang. The Japanese heavy artillery, naval guns, and fighter planes fired frantically at the Gui army soldiers who were charging like a tide. On that day, the Japanese army consumed the largest amount of ammunition since the war in Shanghai began.

Three days later, the counterattack troops of the Gui army disappeared under the firepower of the Japanese army. In just three days, more than 3 Gui soldiers who participated in the counterattack suffered nearly 6 casualties. Almost none of the 4 death squad soldiers who charged in the first round survived. After this counterattack, three of the six brigade commanders of the Gui army participating in the battle were killed, two were seriously injured, and one was slightly injured. It can be seen how tragic this attack was.

Because the attack launched by the Gui army attracted a large amount of heavy firepower from the Japanese army, the defense of the Chinese troops on other fronts became relatively easier and casualties were greatly reduced. Zhang Wenwu had been looking in the direction of Zhuozaobang these days. He was powerless to stop this counterattack. People feel the most uncomfortable when they are powerless to face something.

"Deputy Director Zhang, Deputy Director Zhang, the chief of staff asked me to inform you that you should report to the military headquarters immediately." A communications soldier from the 102nd Division ran into the camp breathlessly and said to Zhang Wenwu who was staring blankly in the direction of Zhuozaobang.

As Zhang Wenwu walked towards the military headquarters, he wondered why Commander Luo wanted to see him at this time, but he still couldn't figure it out.

"Report, Zhang Wenwu from the Quartermaster Department of the 102nd Division has been ordered to report here. Please give instructions, sir." Zhang Wenwu walked into the hall of the th Army Headquarters and saluted General Luo as he stood at attention.

"Wenwu, thank you for your hard work. You performed very well in this battle. Based on your achievements, your division has applied for your promotion to the rank of major. Chief of Staff Liu and I have already signed and agreed. In fact, based on your merits, you could even be promoted to colonel. However, considering that you have just graduated for more than a year and still need a lot of training, we will only promote you to major temporarily. If you work hard in the future, you will be able to become a general sooner or later." Commander Luo said, patting Zhang Wenwu on the shoulder with a smile.

When Zhang Wenwu heard that he was going to be promoted, he was quite happy. The promotion of colonel-level officers required the approval of the military department, but it seemed a bit too important to call him to the military department for this matter.

Sure enough, Commander Luo took out a telegram from the table and showed it to Zhang Wenwu. The content of the telegram asked Commander Luo to temporarily transfer Zhang Wenwu to the "mediation team" in Shanghai for another appointment.

Zhang Wenwu asked in confusion: "General Luo, what is this mediation team? What is it for? What can I do if I go there?"

Commander Luo also took Zhang Wenwu out of the hall, and then whispered to Zhang Wenwu: "Wenwu, this mediation team is responsible for negotiating with various countries in Shanghai, seeking interference and condemnation of Japan's aggression. Because you have had successful contact with the British Embassy before, and the British have a very high opinion of you, so this time you are specially transferred there. Deputy Minister Chen also explained that you are representing our Chinese army this time, so you must be neither humble nor arrogant, and do your job well without losing courtesy. You can do it with confidence and boldness. The 18th Army is your backing."

Zhang Wenwu understood. It was probably Rick from the British Embassy and Smith from the Consulate in Shanghai who said a lot of good things about him. That's why the politicians in the mediation team thought of getting him over there. Maybe the British would be more inclined to the Chinese government. Thinking of this, Zhang Wenwu couldn't help but complain about these politicians. The British praised me because they made money together. If you give him benefits, he will also praise you. What a bunch of idiot politicians.

Zhang Wenwu accepted the arrangement from his superiors and immediately set off to Shanghai to report. After leaving the military headquarters, Zhang Wenwu returned to the temporary camp and asked Cao Huaguo to temporarily take charge of the entire temporary camp. If there was anything he needed to do, he should consult Chief of Staff Zhao, and asked Li Houcai to stay in the camp to assist him. Then he found Wu Jincheng and told him the news that he was transferred to Shanghai, and asked him to help look after the temporary camp.

That night, Zhang Wenwu changed into Wu Jincheng's casual clothes and took a truck transporting ammunition to the city center to the outskirts of the city. He could only walk the rest of the way on his own.

The war in Shanghai has been going on for so long that many people in the suburbs and the Chinese area have been fleeing to the concessions of other countries in Shanghai. However, in order to ensure the security of their own territories, each country's concessions have set up blocking checkpoints at various intersections between the Chinese area and the concessions, and stationed troops there. No one is allowed to enter the concession without a pass issued by the concession.

Zhang Wenwu walked for a long time before he arrived at the bridge between the Chinese area and the British concession. He finally squeezed through the refugees and came to the wire fence of the checkpoint on the British concession side. He said to a British second lieutenant, "Second Lieutenant, I am a friend of your Major Smith. Can you call him and tell him that there is a man named Zhang Wenwu looking for him? Thank you."

When the British second lieutenant heard Zhang Wenwu say that he knew their Major Smith, he looked at him curiously for a few times, then asked Zhang Wenwu to wait a moment and turned to the back booth to make a phone call to inquire.

Less than two minutes later, the British second lieutenant trotted to the barbed wire and asked the Indian soldiers on guard to quickly move the barricades in front to allow Zhang Wenwu to come in. After Zhang Wenwu came in, he immediately stood at attention and saluted: "Mr. Zhang, please follow me. When Major Smith learned of your arrival, he asked me to drive you to the consulate safely. Major Smith will be waiting for you there." After that, he took Zhang Wenwu to a military jeep nearby.

When Zhang Wenwu arrived at the British Consulate in Shanghai, it was already one o'clock in the morning. Smith was waiting for him in the lobby of the consulate wearing a thick pajamas.

(Thanks to the gifts from Weiguogong who loves beef jerky, Zhixiaxia, Braised cat???, Qingfeng, Zui Hongyan, KING child, Nakao Nihao, Liu Jing who loves plain winter melon pot, Tianle, Daogong who loves pineapple sweet and sour pork, and Wanzhu 1969! Thank you all for your support and encouragement!)