Under the color, Shanghai temporarily returned to calm, the sea breeze brought a faint smoke, the fire light from the tT turned the pitch black red, the soldiers were tired and resting in the rubble, the officers inspected the positions one by one in the firelight, and the members of the front team sent ammunition everywhere to search for the surviving wounded. /.0M\\

Different from the silence of the urban area, the side of the Waibaidu Bridge is still singing and dancing, but the increasing number of refugees on the street adds a touch of sadness to these songs and dances, and there are many students holding donation boxes in front of those song and dance halls to collect donations from passers-by on the messy streets. The lights flickered, and the cars on the street slowly pulled out deep voices to remind people of its presence.

The reception held by the US Consulate was set up in the Western Club of the Ministry of Industry Bureau, and Mei Youlan knew that she had come to the right place when she entered, and in addition to businessmen and diplomats from various countries, there were also a large group of soldiers wearing various uniforms who attended today's reception.

Thomas diligently introduced Mei Youlan to the bejeweled ladies, these women were dressed in beautiful evening dresses, and Mei Youlan's smart suit and skirt looked particularly eye-catching in it.

The ongoing war in Shanghai was the most popular topic of conversation at the reception, and even these sunset women, who usually didn't care much about China's political situation, showed their curiosity at this time.

"You've actually been to Hongkou, your guts are really big." A young lady who showed a large white chest heard that Mei Youlan actually ran to Hongkou for an interview, and was surprised to cover her mouth and nose with an embroidered fan.

"Oh, ma'am, it's nothing, the Chinese soldiers are more daring, they can hold their ground there." Mei Youlan said casually, but her eyes turned to the group of officers who were talking.

"Miss May, what do you think of this war?" The bespectacled British Counsellor's wife next to her asked.

"There is no doubt that the Japanese are gaining the upper hand, it's just that they can't achieve a final victory."

As soon as Mei Youlan finished speaking, another young lady sighed and said: "Alas, the war is so boring, I would rather go to an opera, but unfortunately no one can perform it, and there are far fewer people dancing in the ballroom, and the only good thing is that there are many more handsome officers in the concession." ”

"This war is not what we want to fight," Ms. Mei said unhurriedly, the lazy look on the young lady's face as if to complain that the war had disrupted her plans to go shopping.

"Dearly. It doesn't matter who hits the ground. It will be over in a few months. Dearly. Then we can go to Suzhou to have a look. The Oriental Garden is very beautiful. The Counsellor's wife comforted the young lady.

Mei Youlan said calmly: "Madam." It won't be over in a few months. As far as I know. The Chinese government will resist to the end. ”

"Really?" Mrs. Embroidered Fan opened her eyes wide and said, "Chairman Chiang Kai-shek has decided?" ”

"Nope. I don't know. But from what I've gotten. The Chinese government has already made a decision. After Mei Youlan finished speaking, she suddenly saw a familiar figure in the group of soldiers. She owed a slight debt to the ladies: "I'm sorry. Colonel Stilwell was there. I was in Beiping thanks to his help. I have to go and thank him. ”

Mei Youlan met Stilwell in Beiping. Stilwell is a military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Peiping. Mei Youlan received help from him several times in Beiping. For this, Mei Youlan is very grateful.

"Colonel. I didn't expect to meet you in Shanghai. Mei Youlan greeted Stilwell with a smile.

Stilwell obviously didn't expect to meet Mei Youlan here, and a smile appeared on his thin face: "Oh, Miss Mei, you have also come to Shanghai, it seems that you can be seen in hot spots, and you didn't ignite the war in Shanghai." ”

Mei Youlan smiled: "You are really joking, how can a little girl have that ability." I'm a journalist, so I'm here to thank you, not personally, but for our country. ”

Stilwell said solemnly: "No, no, you should thank the United States of America for its strength, I have been in this country for more than 20 years, I love this country, and I am very happy to do something for him." ”

Stilwell then introduced the officers to Merryland, including Colonel James of the British Marine Corps, Raymond Commander of the French Squadron, John Jr., British Military Attaché, Lieutenant Colonel Wigner of the United States Marine Corps, Attache Sinrer of the Belgian Consulate, Kuneza, Italian Military Attache Kuneza, New York Times reporter Mike, Times reporter Logan, and so on.

After the introduction, Mei Youlan smiled and asked, "What did the generals talk about just now?" So lively? Is it the Shanghai War? ”

"Yes, it's the battle on the other side." Stilwell blinked his eyes and said, "Miss May, you have traveled from north to south, what do you think of this war?" ”

"I" Mei Youlan pointed at herself with a little exaggeratedness, her eyes wandered on everyone's faces, and she said in her heart that I was not so stupid: "You are all generals, commanding wars is your profession, I don't dare to make an axe, I only report the facts." ”

"Haha, what Miss Mei said is interesting, but as far as I know, all war correspondents have judgments, how do you judge the prospects of the battle of Shanghai?" U.S. Marine Corps Commander Wigner said with a smile that he had been in China for some time and knew Mei Youlan a little bit and knew her background.

Mei Youlan was a little puzzled in her heart, it stands to reason that if she said that, these people shouldn't embarrass her, no

Etiquette, she didn't know why they were doing this.

"According to me, I'm afraid there will be a stalemate, and it will be difficult for the Japanese to cross the Suzhou Creek." Mei Youlan decided to test it first: "But I'm not a military expert, just from a reporter's point of view." ”

"It seems that Miss is not without research on the battle situation." The Italian military attache Sinler said lightly, with a smile in his eyes: "However, I am afraid that your feelings have affected your judgment." ”

"Oh, what does that mean?" Mei Youlan asked calmly.

"The Japanese actually did not need to force their way across the Suzhou Creek, they should strengthen the landing at Luodian or at Jinshanwei and threaten the flank of the squadron, so that the Chinese would have to retreat from Shanghai." It seems that they have agreed before, and this time it is the Frenchman Raymond who answers.

"Why don't they do it?" Mei Youlan asked pretending to be puzzled.

"I think the Japanese are short of troops, but if there is a stalemate in Shanghai, the Japanese will find out sooner or later." James added.

Mei Youlan nodded to accept this judgment, and then Little John interjected: "The Chinese should abandon Shanghai as soon as possible, it is stupid to fight in Shanghai, the Japanese have moved their entire fleet here, China lacks heavy weapons that can confront the fleet, air superiority is not obvious, fighting here will suffer heavy casualties, and it will also scorch Shanghai all over again, which is not worth the loss." ”

"Yes, such a beautiful city has turned into a scorched earth, which makes people's hearts ache, Japan's actions have turned the Nine-Power Convention into a piece of waste paper, is your government willing to watch Japan monopolize China?" Mei Youlan asked calmly.

"No, no, Miss May, things have not yet reached that point, and I can tell you that the British Empire will not sit idly by and watch its interests in the East suffer." Little John shook his head and said, then said in a mysterious tone: "I tell you a secret, the signatories of the Nine-Power Pact other than China and Japan are brewing a collective action that is enough to affect the ongoing war. ”

"Really?" Mei Youlan looked at everyone suspiciously.

"Yes, there is such an intention, but the time has not yet been determined." Stilwell said, "I wish China was still resisting at that time." ”

"Of course it's resisting." Mei Youlan looked at him puzzled: "Do you think China's resistance will end soon?" ”

"I am inclined to believe that the Chinese government can resist for three months to six months, the gap in strength between China and Japan is too large, and once the signatories to the nine-nation pact decide to impose an embargo on weapons, oil, rubber and other strategic materials on both sides, China's resistance will probably end in two or three months." Colonel James replied before Stilwell that he had only been transferred to Shanghai in June of this year, and that he was full of curiosity about the mysterious Orient, and that the Oriental beauty in front of him, who was obviously educated in the West, was more interested.

"Yes, we agreed that China would make peace within three months to six months." Raymond added: "China lacks the industrial and military readiness to fight it, and as far as I know, its ammunition reserves are only enough for one year, and this is still calculated by the standard of civil war attrition." ”

Mei Youlan shook her beautiful head: "Gentlemen, have you ever been to Chongqing?" ”

"I've heard of it." John Jr. said: "Consul Martin of the Chongqing Consulate once mentioned that it is said to be the fastest growing region in China, but so what, one region cannot decide the outcome of a war. ”

"I'm afraid I don't think the same as you, Lieutenant Colonel John, Jr." Thomas came over at some point: "I think China can fight if it wants to, and how long it can fight depends on the determination of Chairman Chiang Kai-shek." ”

"No, no, war has the law of war, and it cannot be determined alone." John Jr. insisted: "If you want to talk about determination, the Japanese have it too, do you say?" Mr. Logan. ”

Logan, a reporter for The Times, is also a well-known war correspondent, in his thirties, who has just returned from reporting from the Japanese-occupied zone in Hongkou.

"For this war alone, I think both Chinese and Japanese soldiers showed amazing courage." Rogan pondered and said: "However, the outcome of the war is determined by the overall strength of only one country, and I think that without the intervention of external forces, China will be defeated very quickly, and it will not take more than half a year." ”

"Yes, just look at the Japanese fleet gathered in the open sea." Mike, who is also a journalist, agreed.

"If the Chinese government surrenders to Japan, how will the political and military landscape of the Far East change?" Mei Youlan seems to be a moderator, constantly changing the topic of conversation.

"That's something politicians should be thinking about." John Jr. shrugged and said, "The soldiers take it upon themselves to win." ”

"It was a terrible result." Stilwell carefully considered the words: "The Nine-Power Pact will become a piece of waste paper, the balance in the Far East will be completely broken, and we must see another question, will Japan's pace stop, with China's raw materials and manpower, Japan's strength is bound to be stronger, will it go south or north next?" ”

The southward movement was aimed at Britain and the United States, and the northward movement was directed against Soviet Russia; For those present, it was more enjoyable to see the Japanese head north to the cold Siberia.

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