RPAGF Chapter 21 International Public Opinion: Weak Nations Have No Diplomacy
Chapter 21 International Public Opinion: Weak Nations Have No Diplomacy
Happy New Year 2026 everyone!
This heavy machine gun is the famous "Hitler's Chainsaw," which demonstrated terrifying power during World War II.
(MG42 machine gun)
Compared to the MG34 machine gun, the MG42 has a higher rate of fire, reaching 1200 rounds per minute.
Because of its high rate of fire, the sound of its gunshots is not a crisp, clear "rat-a-tat" sound, but rather a "hissing" sound, like a high-speed chainsaw.
Compared to the MG34, the barrel replacement process of the MG42 has been optimized.
The shooter only needs to open the latch on the right side of the gun, pull out the hot barrel sideways, and replace it with a new barrel. The whole process takes only 3-5 seconds.
This is crucial for maintaining continuous firepower and preventing the barrel from overheating.
While the replacement speed of the MG34 is not slow, it is not as intuitive and quick as that of the MG42.
In short, this is a significant boost to the firepower of heavy machine gun squads.
Li Jianghe thought to himself, if this continues to be upgraded, it might end up being a Gatling gun.
A Gatling gun emitting blue flames.
On the other side of the concession, as the gunfire gradually subsided, the onlookers' eyes fell on the blue sky and white sun flag illuminated by lights.
The fact that the flags are still standing and haven't fallen indicates that the victors were the Nationalist troops who defended the Sihang Warehouse.
Cheers began to echo across the opposite bank.
Inside the Japanese command post, looking at Fujita Tadayoshi's disheveled appearance, Division Commander Yoshizumi Ryosuke said coldly:
"Fujita-kun, I gave you a chance. As a samurai, you should know the weight of a promise and how to protect the glory of your family."
As he said this, he drew his katana from his waist and handed it to Fujita Tadayoshi.
Fujita Tadayoshi's eyes were filled with the will to die, as if his mind had already made up its mind.
"Division Commander, I beg you to avenge me! Kill all those damned enemies in the warehouse! Leave no one alive!!"
As Fujita Tadayoshi said this, he took the samurai sword in his hand.
Yoshizumi Ryosuke slightly raised his chin and said in a calm tone:
"Rest assured, I will. Your blood and courage will inspire the soldiers of the 9th Division to continue fighting."
Fujita Tadayoshi said nothing more, placed the will he had written in advance on the table, and turned to walk out the door.
Not long after, Fujita Tadayoshi's body was carried to Yoshizumi Ryosuke's presence.
After glancing at it, he said:
"Just say he died on the battlefield."
After saying that, Yoshizumi Ryosuke looked at Nakagawa Hiroshi.
"I went to see Commander Matsui. If we can't use artillery, it will be extremely difficult for us to take that place."
With that, he got into his car and headed to headquarters.
On the other side, on the rooftop of the concession building, Xiaoze looked at the latest notification with a grim expression.
With less than an hour until the banquet was scheduled to begin, Xiaoze was suddenly notified that it was canceled. He knew it must be because of the existence of the Sihang Warehouse.
"It seems tonight's press conference has been canceled."
Williamson and Jem also received the news.
The tall, British man, Williamson, looked at Ozawa with great interest and said:
"Ozawa, it seems that your Imperial Japanese Army is having a hard time with this small Sihang Warehouse."
Xiao Ze glared at him and said coldly:
"This battle is insignificant anyway. Whether we take it or not, Shanghai is already part of our Great Japanese Empire."
Williamson chuckled:
"Really? In Chinese terms, what's that called? Being stubborn like a dead duck?"
After saying that, he saw Xiaoze's face turn cold, and he felt even more pleased. He couldn't help but laugh loudly and turned to walk downstairs.
Jem stood up, patted Ozawa on the shoulder and said:
"I need to go back and write my article. I think what happened here will definitely spark a lot of discussion in international media."
After the two left, Xiaoze reached out and suddenly overturned all the wine glasses and teacups on the table, making a crackling sound as they shattered on the floor.
That evening, The Times in London and The New York Times in New York received similar press releases.
One was written by Williamson, and the other by Jem.
The titles are "The Lone Army in Shanghai: The Chivalry and Will to Resist of the Chinese Army" and "True Bravery: Recording the Last Battle of the Chinese Army in Shanghai."
The fierce battle between China and Japan in Shanghai had already attracted the attention of the international community.
The tragic and heroic perseverance of the four isolated soldiers has sparked intense discussions in international public opinion.
Reports about this were being published not only in Britain and the United States, but also in the foreign concessions of Shanghai.
The chairman looked at the contents of the newspaper, and the corners of his mouth, which had been pursed into a thin line, finally revealed a slight smile of relaxation.
"It seems that leaving them in the Sihang Warehouse was the right thing to do; their presence can indeed garner sympathy from the international community."
Commander Zhang looked at the contents of the newspaper and felt even more heartache for these soldiers who had sacrificed themselves for the country.
He said to the Chairman:
"But they only have a little over four hundred people. How many more days can they hold out? I think it's more valuable to keep them alive than to let them all die there."
The Chairman glanced at Commander Zhang and said calmly:
"Don't worry, as long as the conference is held and the Nine Power Treaty is signed, this war will end soon."
They will become heroes revered by thousands, and I will personally award medals to these heroes.
Commander Zhang didn't say it aloud, but he was thinking about it in his heart.
"Can they hold out until the meeting? The Japanese offensive will only intensify in the future."
Thinking of this, he felt sorry for these soldiers.
Listening to the news reports about them on the radio from the other side of the strait, Long Wenzhang was quite excited.
"Battalion Commander, did you hear that? They sound like they're talking about us."
Li Jianghe wiped the Mauser rifle in his hand and said in a calm tone:
"It makes no sense."
In Li Jianghe's view, this so-called international public opinion is actually completely useless.
Even the subsequent conference of signatories to the Nine Powers Pact would be of no use.
In this era, and for many years to come, the ironclad rule is that weak nations have no diplomacy.
Axioms are almost impossible to overcome by power.
What they had to do was kill as many Japanese soldiers as they came.
"Commander, is there any point in us staying here?"
After pondering for a moment, Long Wenzhang asked.
Li Jianghe put away the cleaned Mauser rifle, patted Long Wenzhang on the head, and said:
"It makes sense to stay here, but the significance doesn't lie in what foreign newspapers say about us, nor in whether there's a League of Nations conference later."
Our greatest significance here is that we can kill even more Japanese devils.
As he said this, he patted the Mauser rifle in his hand and stuffed it into Long Wenzhang's arms.
Long Wenzhang took the Mauser rifle, slung it over his shoulder, and asked, "Battalion Commander, do you think that meeting was even useful?"
Li Jianghe chuckled and said:
"Why would we trust foreigners' empty promises, or the peace advocated by the Japanese, instead of the guns we hold in our own hands?"
At this point, Li Jianghe let out a long sigh.
"An Yi, they love An Yi so much that they would rather die than give up An Yi."
Long Wenzhang remembered these words, and they still echoed in his mind many years later.
Just then, the air raid siren sounded.
The soldiers observing from the rooftop shouted.
"Aircraft!!!! Enemy aircraft!!!"