Hearing Chang Ruiqing's answer, several naval and air force leaders looked at each other, no one knew what to say, and finally it was the British adviser Cunningham who came out to speak, and several of the people who came to the meeting today could speak English.

"Mr. Chairman, judging from the current defensive situation around Shanghai, it is absolutely impossible for the Japanese army to occupy Shanghai. But if they had targeted the shelling of Shanghai, the economic center of China, I think they would have been able to do it. It's just a little bit of trouble. ”

As he spoke, Cunningham put a military map of the Shanghai area on the chart platform, pointed to Hengsha Island, Changxing Island, and Chongming Island on the map with a baton, and said: "These three islands are all made of silt and silt, flat like a tabletop, and there is absolutely no danger to defend, and there are no strong fortifications built on the island." If the Japanese marines, supported by large-caliber naval guns, should be able to easily occupy the eastern part of Hengsha, Changxing Erdao and Chongming Island. Then deploy shore-based artillery on the island to block the nearby shipping lanes, and suppress the Wusongkou and Gaoqiao batteries. Cover the minesweepers to clear the mines in the nearby waterway, so that the Japanese battleships can drive into the northern channel of the Yangtze River, that is, between Changxing Island and Chongming Island, and their battleships' guns can reach Yangshupu, Wusong, Pudong Gaoqiao and other places in Shanghai! Moreover, under the cover of Changxing Island, it can carry out artillery battles with Wusongkou Fort and Gaoqiao Fort. Theoretically, the 7-inch cannons and 240mm cannons you deployed at Wusongkou and Gaoqiao could not defeat the Japanese battleships! ”

Chang Ruiqing was still silent. "Mr. Cunningham, do you have anything to do?" Cunningham shook his head. He said to Chang Ruiqing with a solemn face: "Mr. Chairman, the strength of your country's navy is clearly here. What can I do? If I have to propose it, then the best way now is to start peace talks with Japan...... Can I take the liberty of asking a question? ”

"Excuse me." Chang Ruiqing said with a smile.

"What exactly do you want from Japan? Reparations? Mowing the land? Or something else? ”

Chang Ruiqing smiled at him: "Of course, reparations are necessary, this war has cost us a lot of military spending, and Japan, as the losing party, should compensate." As for the cession of land, well, we have no territorial ambitions for Japan, but I hope that China will take back the Taiwan and Penghu and its affiliated islands that China has ceded to Japan in the past. In addition, I would like a rational Japanese government. I have accurate information, the 'Kongo incident' was directed by Hirohito behind the scenes! I don't think the British Empire wants a madman like Hirohito to become emperor in the future, right? After this war, Japan's desire to expand to the mainland should have been completely dispelled, but will they seek to expand into the South Seas? Japan has the third largest navy in the world! It's terrible that such power is in the hands of a madman! ”

Cunningham, of course, is not asking questions out of curiosity, he is behind the British government! Hearing the armistice conditions proposed by Chang Ruiqing, he immediately thought about it in his heart. According to the exact victory or defeat of the Sino-Japanese war revealed to Britain by the French side, the Chinese are definitely about to win a big victory! It is not clear that the entire Far East and North Korea will be occupied by China, except for the island of Huatai. That's almost 500,000 square kilometers of land! The land is rich in resources and fertile, and it is really a reasonable request to exchange such a large piece of land for a little compensation and the island of Taiwan. Moreover, for the British Empire, it is not reassuring to let Japan, a naval power, control Taiwan, it is better to let China, a mainland country, own it. As for replacing an heir to the Japanese throne...... This request is not a big deal, and the Taisho Emperor of Japan has several sons. Whoever becomes the crown prince should be the same, right?

Thinking of this, he nodded slightly, and then asked, "So does your country have any specific requirements for the amount of reparations?" ”

Chang Ruiqing stretched out two fingers and said with a smile: "Two hundred million dollars!" There are more than enough crops that are about to ripen on the land of the Far East alone, so my requirements are not too high, right? Of course. If Shanghai was bombarded by Japanese battleships, they would also have to pay compensation for it. ”

Cunningham shrugged. smiled: "I think if such conditions are opened, the Japanese Combined Fleet should go home, right?" ”

Chang Ruiqing looked at Cheng Biguang and Yang Shuzhuang. The two Chinese navy officials frowned and shook their heads, and the latter said: "Bench, I'm afraid the Japanese are not so easy to talk to, they have a little temper that is not dead in the heart of the Yellow River." ”

Chang Ruiqing whispered to Cunningham: "Mr. Colonel, it seems that we still have to think of something else. ”

Cunningham thought for a while and said: "The only way to block the channel is to use a sunken ship to block the channel, and it may take two 10,000-ton cargo ships to sink themselves on the north-south channel of the Yangtze River." ”

Chang Ruiqing said to Navy Minister Cheng Biguang: "That's it, and the Navy will immediately implement the plan to block the Yangtze River waterway." In addition, I am preparing to set up a general headquarters for the Beijing-Shanghai-Hangzhou garrison, with Admiral Lu Zixiu, deputy chief of the general staff, as the commander, and the deputy commander to be dispatched by the navy. ”

"The department recommends Rear Admiral Chen Ce, commander of the First Fleet." Cheng Biguang said.

"Okay, that's it." Chang Ruiqing turned around and prepared to go out as he spoke, he had only been in this war room for about ten minutes, and he had discussed a way to leave, it seemed that his mind was still in Manchuria and the Far East.

"Wait a minute." Cunningham suddenly shouted. Chang Ruiqing stopped and looked at the British naval colonel, as if waiting for him to ask a question. Cunningham said, "Mr. Chairman, will that surprise attack plan still be carried out?" ”

"No, it won't be executed." Chang Ruiqing replied with a smile, "If the Japanese agree to my conditions, of course I will not take that kind of risky revenge." I really want peace. ”

After leaving the navy war room, Chang Ruiqing, accompanied by adjutant Chen Cheng, walked through a long corridor to the army war room at the other end of the building. Wang Junhao and Zhao Zhenzheng were discussing something on the map table. A one-fifty-thousandth map already fills the huge map table. Around several points where fierce battles are taking place, symbols have been densely marked. Seeing Chang Ruiqing walk in, both of them straightened up at the same time. Wang Junhao said excitedly: "Brother Yaoru, the Japanese army and the Korean army have been trapped. They are storming the county seat of Fengcheng. ”

Chang Ruiqing walked to the map table and looked at the situation of the enemy around Phoenix Mountain and Xinkailing on the military map, and said with a smile: "It seems that little Japan is really anxious, knowing that Phoenix Mountain and Xinkailing dare to fight Fengcheng with their heads covered under our control." ”

Zhao Zhen said: "If you don't worry, you can't do it." The assault on the Twin Cities Fortress has come to an end. Wu Yuxun reported that the enemy of Shuangchengzi could be completely annihilated within 12 hours. Moreover, two of the three armies besieging Shuangchengzi have been withdrawn and deployed to the Xingkai Lake in the north to block the battlefield. ”

Chang Ruiqing snorted and asked, "How many Japanese troops are on the front line of Xingkai Lake?" Did you find out the number? ”

Zhao Zhen picked up a copy of the telegram and glanced at it. "There are two divisions, the 19th Division and the 20th Division, which have been attacking for three or four days with our superior firepower, and the casualties are estimated to be more than 15,000, and their shells should be running out."

"What about the Ussuri line? Is there any news on this? ”

"The battle is still raging, but the most difficult time has passed, and the Japanese army is running out of ammunition. The main forces of the Eleventh Army have been transferred. Prepare for a counterattack with the Eighth Army. The time will be launched at the same time as the offensive of the Fifth Army on the line of Xingkai Lake. ”

"Where's Jiamusi?"

"Still in our hands, the Japanese gave up the attack yesterday afternoon, leaving half a division of troops to guard. The rest of the troops were advancing towards the Qitai River, where the Eleventh Army had placed a division, and had built strong fortifications that the Japanese could not defeat. ”

Chang Ruiqing crossed his waist and just looked at the map, and slowly muttered: "There are more than 120 kilometers from Jiamusi to Qitai River. The Japanese army had to walk for at least a day and a half, and then spend another half a day preparing for the siege. A division of Qitaihe can hold out for at least three days, and it seems that the Japanese army's surprise soldiers can no longer do anything...... The Japanese Second Army will soon be besieged by our six corps, they are already a tired division, and the logistics are cut off and ammunition is insufficient

, and the collapse is imminent. As for the two divisions of the Korean army. Defeat is certain, and the only suspense is whether the whole army will be wiped out. As a result, nine of Japan's 17 divisions in the Far East, Korea, and Manchuria were annihilated or incapacitated. Two of the remaining eight divisions could not get out of Vladivostok, four in the northern hinterland, and two in Korea...... It seems that this Manchuria and the Far East are already promising a great victory. The next battle is likely to revolve around the negotiating table. Self-examination. Youlin, what is your opinion? ”

Zhao Zhen looked at Chang Ruiqing warmly. "It's all like this, what else is there to talk about! The Far Eastern Primorsky is definitely going to be taken. It is almost 300,000 square kilometers, rich in resources, fertile land, and historically China's territory, so we can't say anything back to Japan! And we all shouted the slogan of 'drive out the Japanese invaders and return my rivers and mountains', if you go back on your words, it will not be good for your prestige Brother Yaoru! ”

"The Korean Peninsula must also be defeated!" Wang Junhao nodded and added: "The Korean Peninsula will also be defeated!" After the battle of Fengcheng, the North Korean army should have suffered heavy losses, and it can't stop us at all! ”

Chang Ruiqing glanced at the two henchmen and sneered: "In the naval war room just now, I have already proposed peace conditions to Cunningham: take back Taiwan and Penghu, pay 200 million US dollars in compensation, and abolish the crown prince of Hirohito." ”

"That's all?" Wang Junhao and Zhao Zhen glanced at each other and said in unison. "Just let little Japan go?"

"Spare it?" Chang Ruiqing smiled coldly, looking at the map with cold eyes. "What you can't get on the battlefield, you can't get at the negotiating table!"

Zhao Zhen was stunned and stunned. "Then why did you offer such conditions?"

"Is it a delaying tactic?" Wang Junhao thought about it and said. "Is it for the combined fleet of the Japanese?"

Chang Ruiqing almost snorted coldly: "The negotiation table is also a battlefield, and there is no need to be faithful in the face of the enemy on the battlefield, and there is nothing to promise at the negotiation table!" He paused for a moment and sighed softly: "But this war cannot be concluded through peace talks, because we do not have a strong navy, we cannot threaten the Japanese mainland, and no matter how much we win on the mainland, it is impossible to force Japan to submit." So the negotiations are destined to be fruitless, and they are only part of the battlefield. ”

"So how do we end the war?" Wang Junhao's brows frowned slightly, at present, China's foreign trade routes can be blocked by Japan! If the war continues, I am afraid that it will be greatly detrimental to the construction of the country!

A strange smile appeared on the corner of Chang Ruiqing's mouth. "You don't have to worry about this, this war will definitely end in September. Before September. The Wehrmacht must seize as much territory as possible! Destroy as many Japanese forces as possible! ”

……

The 10th Division of the Japanese Army was already an apocalyptic scene around the division headquarters in the Shuangchengzi Fortress. It took three years to build. The fortress, which cost more than 20 million yen to build, has been reduced to a pile of ruins after being bombarded by the powerful Chinese artillery for three days and three nights! And the 10th Division of the Japanese Army, which is stuck here, is destined to become the first division in the history of the Japanese Army to be completely annihilated!

Now the encirclement of the Chinese army in Shuangchengzi has been reduced to less than five square kilometers. The urban area of Shuangchengzi has been completely occupied by the Chinese army, and tens of thousands of Japanese pioneers living in the city, the remnants of the 10th Division, and some miscellaneous troops are crowded together in the fortress that has been turned into ruins, and they are in a mess! The Japanese army's logistical supplies had long been gone, the ammunition was almost exhausted, and almost all the heavy firearms were destroyed by Chinese artillery fire. Fifty or sixty thousand Japanese were mixed together. There are remnants of defeated soldiers in military uniforms, and there are also old and weak women and children in civilian clothes. They are desperately trying to find a place to be safer. But shells fell everywhere, piles and piles of people died everywhere. The besieging Chinese army had sent a letter of surrender to the fortress through the captured Japanese pioneers. But he was categorically rejected by Kawai Cao and Ugaki Kazunari! They did not even agree to hand over the Japanese women and children in the Shuangchengzi Fortress to the Chinese army for proper resettlement...... The subjects of the Japanese emperor would rather die than surrender to the Shina army!

A mass wave of suicides has already begun within the encirclement. The first to commit suicide were thousands of wounded and dying wounded who had no medicine, no clean gauze, no drinking water that met sanitary standards, and even no food. All the food is reserved for those who can still fight! The medical staff of the Japanese army had to hold back tears and distribute grenades to the wounded, and ten wounded people formed a circle and ended their lives with a melon grenade!

Then, the Far Eastern Railway staff and their families living in the twin cities also committed mass suicide. As the head of the family, the male owner killed his wife and children with his own hands first! Then he cut his neck or stomach with a knife, and the sound of wailing and screaming came and went, making people sound as if they were in hell.

The suicide method of the Japanese officers and soldiers who were still able to fight was to attack! Suicide Attack! Such tactics were very common at the end of World War II in another time and space. I don't know what these Japanese think. If they hold on to the ruins, they may be able to hold on for a few more days, and they can inflict more casualties on their opponents. However, the Japanese officers and men whose morale had completely collapsed no longer had the courage to live a few or more hours on this hellish battlefield, and they were all anxious to go to the Yasukuni Shrine to become immortals. So groups of Japanese, armed with rifles and wearing tattered military uniforms, screamed "Onboard!" Onboard! The charges towards the positions of the Chinese troops were basically under the fire of machine guns and mortars. It saved the Chinese army a lot of trouble.

“…… After a rough inspection by the division and regimental headquarters, the 10th and 63rd Wings have been completely wiped out. The flag of the 10th Wing was burned. The flag of the 63rd Wing is lost. The 39th and 40th Wings, the 10th Cavalry Wing, the 10th Field Artillery Wing, the 10th Baggage Wing, the Shuangchengzi Fortress Garrison, the Railway Garrison, and the 5th Heavy Artillery Wing have all suffered heavy casualties. All heavy firearms are lost, and so will small arms and ammunition! The 10th Himeji Division, disappointed by the expectations of His Majesty the Emperor and the people, the jade is about to be broken...... The final general offensive of the Chinese army is about to begin, and we have burned the military flag and are ready to fight the enemy for the last time, hoping that the soul of the dead can be attached to the flag of our imperial army, and accompany the soldiers of our invincible imperial army to sweep through the four hundred states of China! ”

Lieutenant General Kazunari Ugaki personally handed over the final report of the 10th Division, which he had drafted, to the communications staff officer of the divisional headquarters. Then he glanced at General Kawai Cao and smiled reluctantly. "Your Excellency, the Tenth Division has exhausted its strength."

Kawai nodded numbly, he knew that Ugaki was reminding him that he could seppuku! It is shameful enough that an entire division and regiment have been annihilated, but there can be no more army generals and lieutenant generals to be captured. So the two of them can't participate in the final suicide assault, so they can only find a place where no one is there and secretly kill themselves. He stood up and grinned at Ugaki. "Ugaki-kun, help me make a mistake."

Then he looked at the room full of soldiers who were silently crying with their heads down, these were the staff officers of the original 10th Division or the staff officers of the Far Eastern Army who came to Shuangchengzi with Hehecao. But now they have all changed into the uniforms of ordinary Japanese soldiers! The one he held in his hand was not a flashy katana, but a Type 38 rifle.

Kawai Cao nodded at them. Say, "Good! You all know what your responsibilities are! You are the seeds of the 10th Division, and you are the officers who have fought against the most elite army of China, although you have not been able to win, but you know the characteristics of the China army and understand their tactics, which is very important for the imperial army to make a comeback and defeat China in the future! So, I order you to break through! You will make it to Shiopo alive and return to Japan alive! Do you understand? ”

Watch as these officers rush out of the house and disappear into the smoke of the battlefield. Admiral Kawai's face contorted, and he drew his katana with a trembling hand......

On the afternoon of July 12, 1923. Shuangchengzi, an important town in the Japanese Far East Prefecture, was captured by the squadron, the 10th Division of the Japanese Army was annihilated, and the former commander of the Far East Army, General Kawai Cao, and the commander of the 10th Division, Lieutenant General Ugaki Kazunari, were defeated and committed suicide!

The moment of collapse of the entire Far Eastern Army of the Japanese Army has finally come!