dhibooks Chapter 232 The rules for borrowing passage have been established!
Chapter 232 The rules for borrowing passage have been established!
The flagship, Shijian, is located off the coast of Xiamen.
The sea breeze is harsh.
The sailors on deck all had their hat brims pulled low.
Shinichi Terauchi stood on the bridge, his face growing increasingly grim.
Because the Chinese have sent another telegram in plain text.
"At 10:15 a.m., the Ishimi was located 7,800 yards outside the red line off the coast of Xiamen, with its main guns in low-position combat readiness. The Chen family army's coastal defense forces are continuously monitoring it."
Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi handed over the paper, his voice hoarse.
"Commander, the Chinese have already launched four sorties. Merchant ships are all avoiding us. British merchant ships are even asking the Chinese for safe routes."
Shinichi Terauchi's face twitched.
"Aren't they afraid?"
Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi whispered, "They're afraid, so they listen to the Chinese even more. Because the Chinese provide coordinates, timelines, and routes. All we have are the gun barrels of our warships."
Shinichi Terauchi remained silent; his words were like a thorn, piercing precisely.
The Iwami is still there, but what it exudes is no longer its imposing presence. Instead, it leaves behind an increasingly clear record of its flight path.
It seems the Chinese are hoping he can get a little more credit, so that Chen's army can issue another report, and with each report, they can collect another telegram fee.
Thanks to the Japanese devils, they gave us loss-making telegraph offices hope for making a profit!
Longhua Road, Shanghai, Military and Political Reception Office of the Songhu Garrison Command.
The teacups had been changed twice. The representative from the south, surnamed Zhou, was dressed in a gray cloth long gown. He looked refined, but his eyes were sharp.
He pushed the telegram at hand forward.
"Young Marshal Chen is now in charge of five southeastern provinces."
"The Northern Expedition is a matter of national importance."
"With the nation's affairs at stake, we should all stand together for the greater good."
Sitting opposite him was Hu Qiankuan, the adjutant sent by Chen Zijun to keep things under control. He was expressionless, but said politely and respectfully, "The young marshal will take Mr. Zhou's words into consideration."
Representative Zhou frowned.
"We don't want to see."
"That's the answer."
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. It wasn't the adjutant, it was Moranzhi.
She wore a dark long dress and had a cold expression. After entering the room, she only placed a thin packet on the table.
"Mr. Zhou, one of your delegation members went to the back alley of the bank last night. This morning, he went to the outer street of the Southeast Railway Dispatch Office. At noon, he spent half an hour watching the entry and exit list of the special account for coastal defense bonds at the Shanghai Stock Exchange."
Representative Zhou's expression changed slightly. "What does Director Su mean by this?"
Mo Lanzhi said indifferently, "It doesn't mean anything."
"It's just a reminder to Mr. Zhou that using the road is one thing, but if you're doing something else, that's a different matter..."
Representative Zhou's fingers froze. "You suspect us?"
Mo Lanzhi looked at him.
"It's not doubt, it's that I've already seen it."
She pushed the pocket forward an inch.
"Inside are names, times, bank names, and teahouse seating arrangements. Would you like to open it and take a look, Mr. Zhou?"
The air in the reception area suddenly became heavy, and Representative Zhou's attempt to maintain a dignified demeanor crumbled. It wasn't that the other party was arguing with him; they were practically nailing his entourage to the case file.
If this were proven true, it would be espionage, which is something no country or power would allow!
Fuzhou, temporary coastal defense command center.
Shen Li finished reading the briefing from Shanghai.
After listening, Chen Zijun only asked one question.
"What did Representative Zhou say?"
He said that with national affairs at hand, we shouldn't be so petty.
The people in the room chuckled, but the laughter was soft and cold.
Hans touched his nose.
"This phrase is also common in Europe; it's often said when someone wants to take advantage of another."
Chen Zijun raised his hand and pointed to the six lines.
"Call back."
"In principle, we will not obstruct the Northern Expedition. However, passage through the territory must be handled in accordance with the Chen family army's regulations. Not one of the six points can be omitted."
"Whoever breaks the rules will not be allowed to pass through the southeast."
Shen Li asked, "What if they still use righteousness to pressure people?"
Chen Zijun looked at the nautical chart, then at the accounting telegram from Mo Huixin on the table.
"Then add a sentence for me."
"If we want to launch a Northern Expedition, then so be it."
"Our Southeast Army can lead the National Revolutionary Government's Northern Expeditionary Army northward from Xuzhou and attack Shandong!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Li wrote two minutes faster.
That's a firm and straightforward statement. It's not that we won't lend it, but we can't leave it unsaid.
It's not something anyone can just do by shouting about righteousness and then casually taking away the wealth that Southeast China has built up over the years as travel expenses.
However, if you really push them too far, the Southeast Army is not incapable of launching a Northern Expedition on its own.
As for the Northern Expedition, each side should fight its own!
Just then, another urgent report came from the coastal defense observation station.
"The Iwami made a low-speed turn, approaching the outer edge of the red line, and the two light cruisers followed in sync."
Shen Li looked at Chen Zijun.
"Young Marshal?"
Chen Zijun didn't even raise his head.
"Record it, then contact all parties."
"Add one more point, yes, write it like this: Our side continues to exercise restraint and currently has no plans to proactively escalate the conflict."
Hans couldn't help but chuckle.
"Young Marshal, your words will make Terauchi Shinichi feel even worse."
"I know."
Chen Zijun said, "What he's most afraid of right now isn't us attacking him. It's what he'll do if we don't attack!"
The bridge of the Ishimi-class frigate off the coast of Xiamen.
Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi's back was already sweaty.
"Commander, the Chinese have sent another telegram. They say they will continue to exercise restraint and will not escalate the conflict."
Shinichi Terauchi suddenly turned his head.
"Baka!"
He slammed his fist on the handrail.
That's a really harsh statement.
Because the Iwami is still outside the red line.
As long as the Chinese continue to record and publish, in the eyes of outsiders, it will appear as if the main Japanese fleet is lingering close to China's outer waters, while the Chinese are simply enduring it.
If we stay any longer, we won't gain prestige; we'll become a laughingstock.
Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi cautiously asked, "Commander, should we retreat?"
Shinichi Terauchi gritted his teeth and remained silent for a long time.
Retreat, that would be embarrassing.
Not withdrawing would be even more shameful.
At that moment, a communications soldier rushed in.
"Summary of Shanghai's reply! Chen Zijun presents the Southern representatives of the Northern Expedition with his six demands for passage!"
Shinichi Terauchi was taken aback.
"Chen Liutiao, who's using this route?"
After reading the translated text, his expression worsened. This Chen Zijun hadn't been overwhelmed by the pressure from two fronts; instead, he handled it with such composure. This didn't seem like the demeanor of a young man in his early twenties. Even Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi didn't possess such composure back then!
This Chinese man must be eliminated!
He suddenly realized something: what Chen Zijun wanted was not a simple naval battle, nor was it a tough stance against the Northern Expeditionary Army; what he wanted was a whole set of rules about who had the final say in the Southeast!
In Shanghai, at the Military and Political Reception Office of the Songhu Garrison Command, Representative Zhou remained silent for a long time after reading the reply telegram.
The men he brought with him all looked rather grim. The man in the gray coat, in particular, who had been targeted by Su Guiying, was already sweating profusely.
After a long pause, Representative Zhou finally spoke slowly.
"Young Marshal Chen's rules are a bit too detailed and domineering."
Mo Lanzhi stood by the window and smiled softly.
"overbearing?"
"Whether it's domineering or not, I'm just a woman and don't know, but tens of thousands of you are crossing the border, eating grain, walking on bridges, driving on railway tracks, and guarding my southeastern granary and defense zone."
"If there were no rules, wouldn't Mr. Zhou know the principle of 'borrowing a path to attack Guo'?"