Shadow Spy

Chapter 292 The Arrival of Admiral Hart

At noon, Li Junhao and Acting General Secretary Justin Sheehan of the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, Colonel Gatlin Rupp, commander of the 15th Infantry Regiment, Colonel Deejay Cole, commander of the [-]th Marine and Land Regiment, and relevant consulate personnel Gathered at Wusongkou Pier in Shanghai, preparing to welcome the arrival of the U.S. Asia Fleet...

At this time, Wusong Pier was still shared by various countries. Britain, the United States, and Italy each had one warship stationed here. A dozen warships of various sizes from the Japanese Navy's First China Expedition Fleet were stationed slightly further offshore. superior.

The land road leading from the concession here passes through the Japanese concession. When coming to the dock, the Japanese Navy's Shanghai Special Marine Corps blocked both sides of this road, prohibiting residents of the Japanese concession from contacting Americans. However, there was no obstruction to the American convoy.

Even after learning that the U.S. Asiatic Fleet was visiting Shanghai, Lieutenant General Mataro Tanimoto, commander of the Japanese First Fleet to China, and Rear Admiral Moriharu Takeda, commander of the Marine Special Marine Corps, both came to the dock to prepare for the visit of Admiral Hart of the U.S. Navy. Hu, this can be regarded as a traditional courtesy in the naval world!
In the same way, the British and Italian military attachés and two navy captains were also waiting nearby, waiting for the arrival of the U.S. Asia Fleet.

Li Junhao was impatient to stand around and wait. He asked the guards to bring a lot of camp chairs (large canvas chairs with backrests) for everyone to sit on. He even set up a few folding tables and made tea.

He sat with Rupp, Cole and other officers, drinking tea and listening to the two men reporting on the training status of the troops, making full use of his time.
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At around one o'clock in the afternoon, a dozen warships from the Asian Fleet approached the dock...

Admiral Thomas Hart is 63 years old, but he is tall and thin, with blond hair and a straight military uniform. He is still very energetic. After getting off the ship, he met everyone cordially and his attitude was very kind.

After dealing with naval officers from other countries and military attachés from various countries, Admiral Hart and his entourage were invited into the car, and the convoy drove to the concession.

As the top commander of the military in Shanghai, Li Junhao was naturally the person in charge of receiving Admiral Hart, but on the way back, he got into a car alone and even stayed at the end, waiting for the large troops to set off. , before leaving the dock with his own guards.

This incident aroused dissatisfaction among the naval officers who came ashore. They thought that Commander Panson went too far and treated their admiral lightly!
Upon seeing this, Rupp and Cole, who were responsible for accompanying the fleet officers on their return trip, hurriedly explained: Commander Panson also served as the deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Police and the chief of police. He had previously ordered the cleanup of black industries in the concession and arrested thousands of criminals. He rescued tens of thousands of victims, thus offending many powerful forces, and faced the danger of being assassinated every day!The reason why he left separately from everyone today was actually so as not to inconvenience everyone...

The attitude of the naval officers and soldiers immediately changed. What happened was that Commander Panson was sacrificing himself for others!

General Hart frowned and asked, "Is the situation in the concession so bad now?"

"That's not the case," Rupp said. "Since Commander Pan Sen took charge of security in the concession in the second half of last year, he has carried out several major operations to rectify the gangs and forces in the concession. The current market environment is The best period in history... However, he himself has attracted the hatred of all parties!"

Hart then nodded, indicating that he understood.The convoy was driving south along the Bund Road and entered the concession area. The situation outside the window was immediately different - the streets were cleaner, the shops on the roadside were more lively, there were more pedestrians and vehicles, and the patrol policemen seen from time to time were all It’s the neat uniforms, high spirits… and especially more smiles on everyone’s faces!
All the naval officers and soldiers nodded repeatedly, and Admiral Hart even praised: "Not bad, very good!" He became even more interested in the young colonel he had just met before, and then thought about the telegram he had received before. , I felt it was necessary to talk to him as soon as possible.
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After the navy personnel visited the Ministry of Industry Bureau of the Concession, they were sent to the Joint Headquarters in Jiaozhou Park by Rupp and Cole. They met Li Junhao again, who had already rushed back, and naturally there was a lot of excitement again.

Colonel Xie Jinyuan of the 327th Regiment accompanied other naval officers and soldiers to visit the military camp and police training center. Admiral Hart sat in Li Junhao's office, accompanied by Chief of Staff Yang Shixiong, Rupu and Cole.

After briefly chatting about the political situation in the Far East, Yang Shixiong and the others left, leaving the two commanders alone to talk.

Li Junhao personally brewed a pot of black tea and laid out some special snacks from Shanghai for the admiral to taste. It could be regarded as morning tea!
Hart smiled and accepted the young man's kindness. He tasted everything and praised the taste. Then he turned to the topic and asked first: "Colonel Panson, I want to know the true situation of the Shanghai Concession..."

Li Junhao had been prepared for this and immediately introduced that the work during this period was not fake. When it came to the current situation of the concession, he had detailed data and spoke in a clear and logical manner.

Hearing that in addition to the three main reinforcement groups, there are now more than 4 civilian troops and militia organized in the concession, Hart's eyes widened in surprise, and he took a higher look at the young Pan Sen. This torment It’s so powerful!However, it is indeed a military force that is very suitable for presiding over Shanghai.

After thinking about it, Hart asked again: "Pan Sen, do you just want to use these armed forces to defend the concession and resist the Japanese attack?"

Li Junhao shook his head and said with some helplessness: "Mr. General, you should know that with the current military strength of the concession, it is still possible to resist the attack of [-] to [-] Japanese troops, but with the dispatch of aircraft and navy, it is simply impossible You can’t win!”

Hart nodded, agreeing that he was not arrogant and still had a clear understanding, and said: "In that case, what's the point of what you are trying to do now?"

"I think we are pursuing a possibility!" Li Junhao did not finish his words. "According to my judgment, the concession should be safe before December next year. I thought that during this period, the people in the concession should be safe." I can live a better life...Of course, I also want to try the possibility of keeping the concession..."

Then, he stated the reason he originally thought of: "The Japanese army's purpose of fully occupying Shanghai is simply because of Shanghai's international status as the financial center and economic center of the Far East, especially the industrial and commercial resources in the concession, which are resources The impoverished island nation of Japan covets fat meat...

"If the armed forces in the concession are stronger and the Japanese army wants to seize it by force, the war will destroy the entire concession... I bet the Japanese will not be able to accept this!"

(End of this chapter)