On Chinese New Year's Eve, Heiichiro Ono did not keep the New Year, coaxed his granddaughter to play for a while, and after the child went to bed, he went to bed.

In his sleep, Heiichiro Ono was woken up by the secretary on duty at the official residence: "General, wake up, the headquarters staff office has something urgent to look for you." ”

Heiichiro Ono got up and dressed: "Do you know what's going on?" When is it now? ”

"It's two o'clock in the morning on the 25th, and an hour ago, the third column under the command of the Chongqing Han Deqin Department and the Shanghai Branch of the Military Command launched a surprise attack on Pujiang County*."

Pujiang County? Heiichiro Ono was taken aback: Could it be that the goal of the military command was not to recover the base areas that had been lost before, but to capture Pujiang County? The military commander is so bold! Do they have the strength? Located more than 200 kilometers southwest of Shanghai, Pujiang County, which is close to the occupied area of Han Deqin's department, is densely populated and economically developed, and there is also a grain warehouse and an oil depot for the Japanese army in the county.

Heiichiro Ono ordered: "Prepare the car, go to the headquarters!" ”

In the headquarters of the Japanese occupation forces in Songhu, all departments were alarmed by this sudden attack, and people came and went, and all kinds of messages were sent and received non-stop. Heiichiro Ono quickly figured out the situation: three battalions of the Chongqing Third Theater were engaged in battle, not including the battalion that he had previously thought would assist the military commander in regaining lost territory. The third column of the military command also took full part in the battle.

There was only one brigade of the Imperial Army and an infantry regiment of the Imperial Allied Army under the Nanjing Government stationed in Pujiang County, and they were outnumbered, and the fall was inevitable. Mobilize troops and reinforcements, Han Deqin's department sent two regiments to intercept the land and water routes leading to Pujiang County, and a full-scale conflict between the two sides was about to break out.

Heiichiro Ono ordered Yu Siwen to lead the team to the front line immediately. At three o'clock in the morning, the secretary came in and reported that it was Okamura Ninji who called, Ono Heiichiro quickly answered, Okamura Ninji split his head and covered his face is a stern reprimand, and then said: "Ono-kun, you are dereliction of duty!" What does your intelligence department do for food? Because of your miscalculation, the limited mobile units of the Imperial Army have been transferred, and you will have to bear the consequences caused by this! ”

Putting down the phone, Heiichiro Ono was indignant: How can a mere Japanese brigade and two infantry regiments of the Imperial Allied Army talk about the transfer of mobile troops? He understood Okamura's fear: After the two route armies aiding Burma left the Songhu area, a full-scale war broke out in the Songhu area, which was empty of troops, and the situation would be out of control.

The Chongqing Third Theater did not have the strength to defeat the imperial army in the Songhu area, and of course, completely eliminating Han Deqin's troops would cost the Japanese army a heavy price, which would then affect the tax revenue of the Songhu area. After all, the Songhu area was still in the hands of the imperial army. Does Deloitte have any plans to break the net?

Just when Heiichiro Ono was undecided, Asano and He Qixin, who stayed at No. 76, came together: "General, we received a telegram signed by Zhou Chengbin, the recipient is you, please take a look." ”

Heiichiro Ono took it and took a look, it turned out to be an armistice proposal sent by Zhou Chengbin in the name of the commander-in-chief of the Joint Military Operations Command Office of the Third Theater, and there were three messages: First, the two sides ceased fire at 6 a.m. on January 25, the 33rd year of the Republic of China; second, the two sides each acknowledging the status quo of actual occupation before the ceasefire; The third is the exchange of prisoners of war. He was ordered to reply at 5 a.m. on the 25th.

Heiichiro Ono was taken aback and said to the secretary: "You go to the staff headquarters and ask: Has Pujiang County already fallen?" ”

The secretary quickly went and returned: "Yes, thirty minutes ago, the troops of the Third Theater of Operations in Chongqing attacked the seat of the county government, and the two sides are currently engaged in street fighting. ”

Listening to a snap, Heiichiro Ono slapped the message on the desk! Said angrily: "What is the command office of the joint military operation of the third theater of operations?" Zhou Chengbin, what's the matter! Dare to talk about an armistice with the imperial army! ”

He understood that Zhou Chengbin's telegram was intended to tell him that the goal of the Shanghai Branch of the Military Command and the Third Theater was only to capture Pujiang County for the time being, and there was no intention of making a big attack in the Songhu area.

Acknowledging this armistice agreement was tantamount to acquiescing in the Chongqing army's recovery of Pujiang County. At the cost of all-out war...... A few days ago, the base camp sent a secret telegram, ordering the Songhu area to transfer a division again to reinforce the Pacific theater...... Shiyi time shifts, and it is no longer the time for the Chinese army to look down on the wind!

Heiichiro Ono ordered: "Forward this telegram to General Okamura Ninji immediately, and ask the general to decide." ”

At half past four o'clock in the morning of the 25th, the secretary came to report: "General, General Okamura and Zhou Chengbin have reached a temporary ceasefire agreement: from 6 a.m. to 10 o'clock in the morning of the 25th day of the first month of the 33rd year of the Republic of China, the two sides will temporarily cease fire for four hours, and during this period, continue to negotiate the terms of the ceasefire. General Okamura ordered you to set off for the front line in Pujiang County, where you were prepared to repatriate the prisoners of war. ”

Heiichiro Ono understood that Okamura Ninji had decided to cease fire, and delayed for three hours, just to look good, bargain, and suffer as little loss as possible. He ordered: "Order the captain to prepare the car, lead his special team to set off with me, and order Asano and He Qixin of No. 76 to accompany me." ”

After a journey of more than 200 kilometers, Ono Heiichiro and his entourage only spent four hours and arrived at the front line at 9 o'clock in the morning. Yu Siwen, who arrived first, greeted him: "General, General Okamura sent a telegram, agreeing to a formal ceasefire after ten o'clock, and the two sides will maintain the current occupied area, each giving up 200 meters as the middle ground. When his subordinates arrived half an hour ago, our commander had already notified the Chongqing Government's Third Theater Joint Military Operations Command Office. The enemy sent people to negotiate and reached an agreement: the list of prisoners of war would be exchanged at 10:10 a.m., and Zhou Chengbin would be his own representative to discuss the aftermath. ”

"How's the battle going?"

"The enemy launched a surprise attack, and our side, while hastily responding to the battle, asked for reinforcements, but was outnumbered, and after an hour the defense line was broken through and had to organize a retreat. The enemy's casualties are unknown, but according to preliminary statistics, more than 400 casualties and more than 160 officers and men are missing. The deputy captain of the Imperial Army, Asakura Aoki, was seriously wounded, and three officers above the company level of the Imperial Allied Army were killed and five wounded. The results have not yet been counted. ”

Ono Heiichiro said in his heart: A brigade and an infantry regiment of the Imperial Army, more than 2,000 people, more than 400 casualties, Pujiang County will fall, it seems that their own commander did not desperately resist after learning that the attack was not a rabble, and the strength was far from expected. Alas, morale is worrisome.

Fukatsu Jiro, the captain of the Japanese army stationed in Pujiang County, came to see Heiichiro Ono: "General, the subordinates are ...... to do something"

Anxious and irritable Heiichiro Ono waved his hand to stop: "That's it, you can explain other things to the Military Justice Department of the Songhu Leading Headquarters." How many prisoners of war do we have? ”

Hearing Heiichiro Ono say this, Fukatsu Jiro was even more uneasy: "Sixty-eight, subordinates have a love for ......"

"That's it! You get ready, and I will come to the meeting at 10:10 a.m. in person. ”

Fukatsu Jiro didn't dare to defend anymore and persuaded: "General, your safety ......"

"Captain Yu, you assist Captain Fukatsu in arranging."

Yu Siwen was a little worried: "The number of prisoners captured by our side is more than twice that of the other party's prisoners of war, what if Zhou Chengbin does not abide by the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention?" ”

"I don't think he'll do that."

At ten o'clock, under the guidance of Siwen and others, Ono Heiichiro came to a military tent temporarily erected in the middle of the road, Zhou Chengbin, who was wearing a major general's uniform, was already waiting, and Sun Dongsheng and Cui Feng, who were neatly dressed, were behind him.

Zhou Chengbin took the initiative to stretch out his hand and said, "Ono-kun, don't come to harm?" Torture Room No. 76 is goodbye, always thinking about it. ”

Heiichiro Ono held Zhou Chengbin's hand and smiled: "Each other, I want to say goodbye to Zhou Sang back then, and it will be a few years to say goodbye, but I didn't expect to meet here again." Facing this man who stood still in the abyss of Yue again, Heiichiro Ono felt an invisible pressure, which did not disappear even when Zhou Chengbin became his prisoner.

The two sat opposite each other at a long table that they found out of nowhere, with their respective assistants seated on either side.

Zhou Chengbin handed over a document: "This is the list of captured personnel on your side, a total of one hundred and fifty-nine, please take a look." The list of our captured personnel is for Ono-kun. ”

Assistants on both sides exchanged lists. Zhou Chengbin said: "In accordance with the Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War signed in Geneva on July 27, 1929, we have agreed to return all 159 prisoners of war to you. ”

Zhou Chengbin did not dwell on the number of prisoners of war, and Heiichiro Ono was relieved and a little disappointed, and the prepared words of lesson were useless. He replied: "We have also agreed to return sixty-eight prisoners of war to you." For specific details, please consult with Mr. Yu Siwen and you. ”

"Agreed. We hope that the exchange of prisoners of war will be completed by 4 p.m. this afternoon. ”

Heiichiro Ono had no reason to object, and replied, "Agreed." This is a list of all kinds of materials in the warehouse of Pujiang County Government, please return them. ”

Zhou Chengbin refused: "Forgive me, these materials belong to the Chinese, of course, they should be returned to their original owners." ”

Where is the reason for the return of the loot? Heiichiro Ono didn't have much hope, and only replied: "I'm sorry that you covet other people's materials." ”

Zhou Chengbin added: "We hope to guarantee the right of communication and passage of ordinary civilians in the areas occupied by each other in the spirit of humanitarianism. ”

Heiichiro Ono also coldly refused: "It's difficult to do it." ”

"I regret it and hope that these differences do not affect the exchange of prisoners of war."

Faced with this opponent who had an incomparably headache and had the opportunity to negotiate with him on an equal footing, Heiichiro Ono was indescribably bored, and he didn't want to say a word more, so he replied briefly: "Agreed." ”

Although it was the victorious side, Zhou Chengbin took the initiative: "I hope that there is still a chance to communicate with you, can you send a representative to participate in the second consultation?" The exact time is up to you. ”

This is a reasonable matter, after the two sides clean up the battlefield, there are always some missing people to find out, the whereabouts of the immediate family members separated by the sudden war, etc., need to be negotiated, Ono Heiichiro did not want to stay in trouble, replied: "Yes, the time is set in 24 hours, at 11 o'clock in the morning of the 26th, and our side will be represented by Mr. Siwen. ”

"Agreed. Our side is represented by Mr. Cui Feng. Does Ono-kun still have any questions? ”

"No, Mr. Zhou, do you have any questions?"

"Nope."

After a while, the two sides looked at each other and were disgusted, and shook hands politely and thoughtfully.

This book originated from reading a book