In fact, before this, Commodus had already secretly communicated with Zhong Yi.

Zhong Yi did not make a fool of himself, and directly made the bottom line clear to Commodus, that is, the main force of Sassoon's guards could evacuate the Shanghai concession at the request of the Japanese government.

However, the Japanese government cannot decide where it will be withdrawn.

In a word, Zhong Yi wants to transfer the main force of Sassoon's guards to Yinjiang.

But Zhong Yi also knew very well that if he directly put forward this proposal to the Ministry of Industry of the Concession or the ministers of Western countries in Shanghai, it would definitely be rejected.

The Western powers are not alive.

They won't do anything that doesn't benefit them.

Therefore, Zhong Yi can't mention it himself, he can only mention it by Commod.

And Commodus can't just bring it up for no reason, you have to wait for the right time.

Now, at the best time, Commodus wasted no time in making this suggestion.

After listening to what Commodus said, Freud nodded and said: "I completely agree with this, the Japanese are like a young man who has just come of age, impulsive and irritable, so we must not be tough with him, but we can't do exactly what he wants, otherwise his tail will be even more uplifted to the sky, and it will be more difficult to deal with next time." ”

The French minister, Joseph Macham, said: "Commodus, just say it, what are we going to do?" ”

"It's simple." Commodus smiled slightly, and continued, "Except for a few armed men, send the main force of the Sassoon Guards out of the country." ”

"Gift-giving appearances? Doesn't that send them into the tiger's mouth? Freud said, "You just said that we can't offend the Chinese government to death, and I think it makes sense, but sending Chinese veterans from the Sassoon Guard out of the country is contrary to the original intention of not offending the Chinese government." ”

"Not really." Commodus said with a smile.

"Not contrary?" Freud was stunned for a moment and said blankly, "This is impossible, even if we agree with the Japanese government in advance that we are not allowed to use force against the Chinese veterans who have left Shanghai, the Japanese government is only afraid that it will not fulfill the agreement, but I am afraid that the Chinese veterans have just left Shanghai on the front foot, and the Japanese army will resort to force on the back foot." ”

After a slight pause, Freud said: "Commodus, do you think that just more than 5,000 Chinese veterans can break through the Japanese-occupied areas and return to the southwest ruled by the Kuomintang? ”

"Of course, this is impossible, if you take the land route, these more than 5,000 Chinese veterans will not be able to penetrate the Japanese-occupied areas, but I am afraid that they will not even be able to get out of the suburbs of Shanghai." Commodus shook his head, and then said, "It's just that no one has a rule that these more than 5,000 Chinese veterans can only go by land, right?" ”

"Not by land?" Freud's eyes lit up, and he suddenly said, "By sea? ”

"Yes, by sea." Commodus said, "Shanghai and Yinjiang are only separated by a narrow sea, and the use of naval ships can go back and forth in one day, and if the naval ships and merchant ships of various countries stationed in Shanghai move together, only one batch is enough to transport 5,000 Chinese veterans to Yinjiang, so that all aspects can be explained." ”

"But the question is, is the Japanese government willing to agree to such conditions?" ”

"It's up to them." Commodus's eyes were cold, and he said in a deep voice, "If the Japanese don't agree, then let the Sassoon guards continue to stay in the public concession, anyway, we are not in a hurry, they are in a hurry, aren't they?" ”

After a pause, Commodus added: "If the Japanese government insists on going to war, then let them go to war." ”

Richmore, MacJoseph, Freud and others all bowed their heads when they heard this, with the current situation of the Japanese government, just starting a war with the Chinese government was already very difficult, and if they had to start a full-scale war with the United States, Britain, France and other countries, unless their emperor was crazy, he probably would not make such a stupid decision.

At that moment, Sassoon motioned to the butler to invite the Japanese into the conference room.

After a while, Kishimasa Okamoto and Shozo Shimada walked into the conference room again.

Kimasa Okamoto came in and asked, "How is it?" Presumably you have already negotiated a feasible outcome? ”

"Of course." Freud nodded happily and said, "We have unanimously decided that in addition to the 500 troops of the Sassoon Guard, the remaining 5,000 Chinese veterans will all be sent out of the country. ”

The Sassoon Guard wanted to keep 500 troops, which was a bit unexpected.

However, for the Japanese government, this condition is not unacceptable.

At that moment, Okamoto Kimasa nodded and said, "Yo Sai, the Great Japanese Empire greatly appreciates the wise decision you have made. ”

"Commander Okamoto should not rush to praise beforehand." Floyd waved his hand and added, "I'm not done yet." ”

"Of course, of course." Okamoto Ji said with a solemn hand, "Your Excellency the Chief Director, please continue, I will listen to you." ”

"We decided to send Chinese veterans from 500 people away, but where to send them and how to send them away had to be decided by us," Freud said. ”

"What do you mean?" Okamoto Jizheng's face sank, and he asked gloomily, "Listen to the meaning of His Excellency the Chief Director, do you still plan to escort these more than 5,000 veterans out of Shanghai?" ”

"That's exactly what happened." "In order to ensure their safety, we decided to use warships and armed merchant ships to send them out of Shanghai and then transport them to the nearest Yinjiang River. ”

"What did you say?" Okamoto Jizheng's face immediately fell, and he said angrily, "You want to send these more than 5,000 veterans to Yinjiang?" No, it's absolutely not going to work! ”

Unless Okamoto is crazy, it is absolutely impossible for him to agree to this condition.

Because Zhong Yi is intensively engaged in economic and military construction in Yinjiang, if the Ministry of Industry of the Concession is asked to send these more than 5,000 veterans to Yinjiang, Zhong Yi will not be able to strengthen his wings?

Although there are more than 5,000 veterans, Yinjiang is not necessarily impregnable.

However, there is no doubt that with these more than 5,000 Chinese veterans, the difficulty of the Japanese army's attack on Yinjiang will be greatly increased, and the casualties of the Japanese army will also be greatly increased.

If he dares to agree to such conditions, then his consul general in China is afraid that he will also come to an end.

At that moment, Okamoto Ji Zhengtie said with a blushing face: "Your Excellency the Chief Director, I hope that you can show sincerity and have constructive negotiations with us, instead of putting forward some marginal conditions. ”

"It's a pity." Freud said toughly, "This is the final condition of our side." ”

After a pause, Freud continued: "If your country refuses, then please let your army drive into the public concession and give it a try." ”