You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you ended up with a German-equipped division

Chapter 15 The Reporters' Bet

On the top of a shopping mall in the concession area, an Englishman named Williamson is observing the Sihang Warehouse across the street through binoculars.

"These Chinese soldiers are more tenacious than I imagined."

Before he could finish speaking, a voice came from behind him.

"They won't struggle for long, Williamson. Our Imperial Japanese Army will quickly deal with these remnants."

The speaker was none other than Ozawa, the reporter who had previously interviewed Yoshizumi Ryosuke.

Williamson, dressed in a black trench coat and wearing a painter's hat, stood tall in front of Ozawa, looking like a giant.

"Ozawa, it seems you have more faith in your country's military."

American Jim raised his glass of red wine and toasted the Sihang Warehouse, which was shrouded in the flames of war.

"Gentlemen, how about you make a bet, and I'll be your witness?"

After saying this, he silently offered a cup of wine to the warriors in the warehouse.

"What are we betting on?"

Williamson asked, glancing at Ozawa, not wanting to lose to this short East Asian boy.

"I'm betting that the Japanese can take over these four warehouses before sunset today."

Jem said this.

Williamson pondered for a moment, then said to Ozawa:

"So? Whoever loses, pays for dinner tomorrow."

All three were journalists, but they worked for different newspapers.

Jem is a reporter for The New York Times, and Williamson is a reporter for The Times.

Ozawa is a reporter for the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun.

They were all instructed by the newspaper to write a public report on the ongoing resistance at the warehouse.

How the battle at Sihang Warehouse unfolds will directly affect the content of their reports.

"no problem."

As Ozawa spoke, he picked up a wine glass and said, "I have always had full confidence in the Imperial Japanese Army."

Williamson then said:

"I also have full confidence in these Chinese warriors who are fighting alone."

After saying that, he picked up his wine glass, but instead of drinking it, he poured it onto the ground.

"In Chinese terms, this wine is offered to the soldiers who died in battle, in the hope that their souls may find peace and be embraced by God."

Of course, if they believe in God.

As Williamson said this, he gave Ozawa a provocative look.

Jem watched the two bickering from the sidelines and found it amusing.

However, what interested him even more and what excited him even more was the warehouse on the other side of the river and the lone army.

Li Jianghe counted the personnel and found that in the last battle, the Third Battalion lost five soldiers, but the overall loss was not large, and the losses inflicted on the Japanese army were even greater.

He has now upgraded the weapons of several infantry squads.

Multiple MG34 machine guns could form an incredibly dense firepower network, making it difficult for even a fly to break through, let alone a charging Japanese soldier.

As for his merit points, after this fierce battle, he has accumulated around 10,000 points, which is enough for him to summon a force of over a thousand men.

Of course, if we take into account issues such as resource replenishment, then we can only summon about half the size at most.

However, it is not necessary now, because the Sihang Warehouse is only so big. Stuffing thousands more people into it would not help and might even increase the risk of casualties.

Long Wenzhang is performing a ritual to summon the souls of the fallen soldiers and the prisoners of war who have been dragged back.

"Return, soul!!!!"

His mournful and strange tone echoed again in the warehouse, and many soldiers watched it all silently.

They knew very well that one day they too would die.

I wonder if someone will perform a ritual to summon their spirits when the time comes.

The ceremony for Long Wenzhang had just ended when the sound of shattering glass suddenly rang out.

Poison gas bombs fired from Japanese grenade launchers flew into the warehouse.

"Poison gas bomb!!!!"

A soldier shouted.

In previous battles against the Japanese army, the Japanese had repeatedly used poison gas bombs as a successful tactic.

Everyone's nerves tensed instantly, and they all frantically searched for their gas masks.

Others took the gas masks that had been taken from the Japanese soldiers and put them on their own heads.

At this moment, Yang Ruifu ran over and shouted:

"The commander orders everyone to go to the second floor and lure the Japanese in!!!"

"Alright, Third Battalion, up to the second floor!!"

Li Jianghe waved his hand, and the soldiers rushed to the second floor.

A brownish-red poisonous mist permeated the entire Sihang Warehouse, enveloping it like a demon opening its bloody maw.

On the opposite bank, from the rooftop, seeing the poisonous gas, Ozawa coldly said:

"Williamson, it seems I've won."

Williamson knew it was poison gas; after all, Europe had already begun using this insidious biological weapon on a large scale during World War I.

He slammed his fist on the table and said, quite indignantly:

"Despicable tactics, devoid of any chivalry."

Ozawa, beaming with pride, raised his glass and smiled:

"Williamson, as long as we can win, this so-called chivalry is meaningless, isn't it?"

Hundreds of Japanese soldiers, already wearing gas masks, charged forward with rifles and machine guns after a roar.

They quickly passed through the ruins and streets where many Japanese soldiers' bodies still lay.

In the past, they would have been subjected to a tight barrage of fire, but this time was different; the enemy on the other side did not fire a single shot.

This gave the Japanese soldiers the illusion that the gas attack was effective and that the enemy troops inside the warehouse had lost their ability to resist.

The same misconception also arose in the minds of Fujita Tadayoshi and division chief of staff Nakagawa Hiroshi.

"It seems the enemy doesn't even have the strength to fire a shot."

Fujita Tadayoshi said with a cold laugh.

Chief of Staff Hiroshi Nakagawa breathed a sigh of relief and said:

"It seems that Commander Matsui will not have to enjoy his dinner amidst the gunfire of the Chinese army."

As the two men were talking, the Japanese army had already approached the Sihang Warehouse.

One of the Japanese squads quickly rushed into the warehouse.

Another Japanese squad was on guard around the perimeter.

Just as these Japanese soldiers rushed into the warehouse shrouded in poisonous fog, the warehouse door behind them suddenly slammed shut.

"BOOM!!!"

The moment the iron gate slammed shut, the Japanese soldiers who rushed into the warehouse realized that something was wrong.

"It's a trap!! Watch out!!!"

"Watch out on the second floor!!!"

"Grenades! Watch out for enemy grenades!!!"

"Maintain suppressive fire, do not retreat!!!"

"Onboard!!!!"

,,,,

As for the Japanese troops on the perimeter, they were instantly wiped out by bullets fired from the firing ports on the second and first floors.

After leaving behind more than ten corpses, the Japanese squad hastily retreated.

As for the more than sixty Japanese soldiers who rushed into the warehouse, they were all killed by bullets and grenades fired from the second floor after less than ten minutes of resistance.

At the same time, the exhaust fans started running, gradually expelling the toxic fumes that had enveloped the warehouse.

Hiroshi Nakagawa's face turned ashen as he watched the soldiers return in disarray.

Looking at the time on my watch again, it was already noon.

Fujita Tadayoshi was also stunned and stood there, not knowing what to do for a moment.