northernbook Chapter 820 Questioning
Chapter 820 Questioning
After several rounds of artillery fire, both sides suffered losses, but the casualties on the Merchant Corps side were very small, while the Japanese suffered heavy casualties. The casualties on the British position were not large either, because they dug very deep trenches, and the trenches and anti-artillery holes were reinforced with solid materials.
But the foreigners were afraid of the Japanese's fighting power. Although there were not many casualties in the artillery battle, they were still frightened.
If it weren't for Zhang Yunhe's merchant corps' armed forces helping in the defense, the foreigners would have been defeated without even being able to withstand a single round of attacks.
Next, the Japanese organized some boats at Jie Bridge and several shallow river banks to launch a tentative attack.
For a while, there were continuous sounds of gunfire and artillery fire, and bullets and shells kept flying over the boundary river.
A squadron of Japanese troops launched an attack from the north end of the boundary bridge to the British fortifications stationed at the south end. Thanks to the assistance of the merchant corps' armed forces in the defense, the British, Canadian and Indian troops, who originally had weak fighting spirit, barely withstood the first wave of the Japanese attack.
When the Japanese soldiers who used small boats to transport troops in other sections of the river attacked, they also encountered stubborn resistance from the defenders on the river.
After losing a lot of people, the Japanese chose to retreat, and the first attack was forced to end.
Zhang Yunhe personally inspected the position and highly praised and commended the soldiers for their heroic fighting performance.
"Sir, the British fortifications on the Boundary Bridge were severely damaged by the Japanese artillery fire. Just now, during the defense, the British army was almost defeated. The British battalion in charge of the defense even led the escape. If it weren't for our company's timely response, the Boundary Bridge would have been lost by now!"
"I feel that these British troops are scared to death of the Japanese. With the way the Japanese are fighting, I think the British troops will escape soon. If the British troops and their affiliated Canadian and British troops escape, it will be difficult for us alone to resist the attack of the Japanese who have an absolute advantage in numbers!" Yang Xiong, the commander of the first regiment, said to Zhang Yunhe.
Zhang Yunhe felt that the situation was somewhat serious after hearing this. You know, the British army is the main force in resisting the Japanese attack this time. If even the main force is cowardly and wants to escape at any time, how can this battle be fought?
He asked, "What is the name of the British officer commanding over there on the border bridge?"
"Call Ted"
Zhang Yunhe nodded and said, "I understand. I'll take care of this. But I have to tell you, without my order to retreat, no one from the Merchant Corps here can retreat without authorization. Otherwise, they will be shot on the spot. I'll post the law enforcement team behind the position. If anyone is found turning around and running away, they will be shot without asking why. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" Yang Xiong stood at attention and saluted and answered loudly. He knew that this was a serious matter and war was not a joke.
After Zhang Yunhe finished inspecting the position, he immediately drove to the British headquarters to meet Modpi.
"Zhang, what brings you here? I heard that your merchant corps fought well during the Japanese attack this time, and repelled the Japanese attacks at various defensive positions. That's great!" Modpi said to Zhang Yunhe with a smile.
Zhang Yunhe asked, "General Modpi, I'd like to ask, have you never considered defending Hong Kong Island? Are you just pretending to defend against the Japanese attack so as not to embarrass Great Britain? Are you going to surrender to the Japanese after holding out for a few days?"
Modpi's eyelids twitched, and his expression changed. "Zhang, why do you think so? I'm a soldier, and it's my duty to lead my troops to resist the enemy's attack. We will never surrender unless we are in dire straits!"
"Really? How could I not believe it? Just now, your officer Ted, who was stationed at the south end of Jieqiao, actually tried to flee with his troops ten minutes after the Japanese attacked. As soon as they ran, the Canadian and Indian troops followed suit. It was my commander Yang who sent a company of troops to defend the position in time and repelled the attack of a Japanese squadron. When they saw that the position was held, they turned back and took over the position. Their attitude was so arrogant that people who didn't know would think that they were the ones holding the position!"
"I wonder if General Modpi has anything to say to me about this matter?"
Modpi's face changed again after hearing this. He picked up the phone on the table and dialed. When the call was connected, he immediately asked, "When the Japanese attacked just now, Jieqiao Commander Ted led his troops to escape. Is that true?"
"Ah? This, this... No way, I'll send someone to check it out!" The person on the other end of the phone hesitated.
"Fuck, you still want to send people to investigate? Do you think I'm a fool? As the front-line commander, don't you know what happened at the Jieqiao position?" Modpi cursed.
The British commander on the other end of the phone was scolded, and then he answered honestly: "Ted did lead the escape, but the Japanese attack was very fierce at the time. The defenses at the bridgehead were almost completely destroyed by their artillery fire, and there were heavy casualties. Our soldiers had almost no cover against the Japanese attack, and they fled out of fear."
"Commander, I've already ordered Ted. If he escapes again without a retreat order, I'll court-martial him. I don't think he'll run away again!"
Modpi thought about it and said, "That's better!"
After hanging up the phone, Modpi said to Zhang Yunhe: "Zhang, Ted has been severely warned and will not lead his troops to escape again. You can rest assured!"
Zhang Yunhe said, "Commander Modpi, to be honest, I'm very worried. If someone flees on the battlefield once, there will definitely be a second time. I've inspected the positions, and your British troops are very passive in their resistance and their fighting spirit is very weak. I don't believe they can hold out unless you hand over command of the front lines to me!"
"That's impossible!" Modpi shouted angrily, "You must know that I am the highest military commander here. I am fully responsible for commanding the Japanese!"
Zhang Yunhe asked, "What if the British troops desert the battlefield again?"
"impossible!"
"Nothing is impossible!"
Modpi immediately asked, "What if someone escapes from your merchant group?"
Zhang Yunhe said, "I've already ordered a supervisory team to guard the rear of the position. If anyone is found escaping, they will be shot on the spot!"
"Hiss—" Modpi gasped when he heard this. "Why are you so cruel? It's just a job to make a living!"
Zhang Yunhe continued, "Originally, your men's escape is none of our business, but now we are in the same trench. If your men escape, it will affect my people. Fear is contagious. Moreover, we are only armed with the merchant group, not the regular army. Fighting is your business. We are only here to assist you. I hope you understand this!"