Lin Fan's series of fortresses, set up south of the Sihang Warehouse, were linked one after another, circle within circle.

Initially, they truly bewildered the Japanese devils.

But the Japanese devils weren't pushovers. These battle-hardened soldiers quickly found targeted methods to overcome the difficulties they encountered.

They addressed the fortifications and fortresses in their path

all with one method: demolition!

Great force creates miracles! Brute strength can also clear a path.

These Japanese soldiers painstakingly cleared away layer after layer of obstacles.

They could almost see the Sihang Warehouse's large iron gate not far away.

Shangguan Zhibiao finally ordered: the entire First Company to retreat back to the Sihang Warehouse.

In the Sihang Warehouse's ground floor, Lei Xiong's machine gun company was ready.

The seven tanks seized by the Special Operations Company were also fitted with machine guns.

These seven tanks were truly being used as fixed fortresses.

When Shangguan Zhibiao was the last to rush into the Sihang Warehouse, the huge, heavy iron gate immediately slammed shut.

Lin Fan, who had been waiting for news on the roof, waited for two minutes, hearing the sound of machine gun bullets hitting the iron gate from below.

Only then did he order the ten prepared soldiers: "Everyone! Get ready!

Throw!"

These ten soldiers, spaced twelve meters apart, each held a modified explosive charge.

The modification wasn't an increase in explosives, but rather a layer of cloth bags filled with iron pellets added to the outside of the explosive charges.

These cloth bags were made from the remnants of uniforms taken from the bodies of Japanese soldiers by the Special Operations Company, those too damaged to be reused.

This was their final, repurposed use!

Lin Fan made sure the fuses on these explosive charges were very short, only four seconds from ignition to detonation.

When these explosive charges were thrown down simultaneously, everyone on the roof only heard a muffled, thunderous roar.

Then, they saw a cloud of dust surge upward, past the roof of the Sihang Warehouse, continuing to rise indefinitely.

At that moment, the soldiers inside the entire Sihang Warehouse felt as if the building beneath their feet had come alive, leaping up suddenly before falling back down.

Lin Fan didn't stop. He ordered the soldiers to collectively move five meters eastward, then pick up another batch of specially prepared explosive charges, these with even shorter fuses.

They would detonate only three seconds after ignition.

Lin Fan's requirement was that these explosive charges explode in mid-air, detonating overhead, the iron pellets, each a centimeter in diameter, each a bullet.

With thousands upon thousands of large-caliber bullets raining down, no more than ten Japanese soldiers could possibly escape being hit.

To this end, Regiment Commander Xie Jinyuan specifically ordered: all soldiers must stay at least ten meters away from the doors and windows of the Sihang Warehouse.

After the second batch of explosive charges was thrown, everyone once again felt the building shake violently.

As if startled.

Company Commander Shangguan Zhibiao had already issued the order: "Open the gate! First Company, charge out!"

Second Company Commander Deng Huang: "Second Company, charge out!"

Third Company Commander Shi Meihai: "Third Company, charge out!"

Lin Fan's Special Operations Company, high above on the roof, was surrounded by swirling dust, unable to see anything clearly.

They couldn't provide any support for the upcoming battle.

However, Lin Fan could still sense the effectiveness of the earlier explosions from the gunfire echoing below.

Over three hundred soldiers from the 542nd Regiment, from the three companies in the outer perimeter positions, had charged out.

But there was no gunfire coming back.

That meant there was no room for the soldiers sweeping the battlefield to do any sweeping.

The arrogant Japanese devils from just moments ago weren't even resisting anymore.

There was only one possibility: they had all gone to see Amaterasu.

Xie Jinyuan also realized this. The tense expression he had worn since the start of the battle finally cracked into a slight smile: "Company Commander Lin! Let's go down and take a look."

How could Lin Fan refuse Regiment Commander Xie's invitation?

Not only did he go downstairs, but the entire Special Operations Company followed.

At that moment, the setting sun, like blood, cast its final, blood-stained glory upon the soldiers still holding the rooftop.

Then, with a sudden plunge, it finally sank below the distant horizon.

Shangguan Zhibiao was the first of the defending soldiers to rush out of the Sihang Warehouse.

Stepping out of the iron gate, his vision was blurred, with visibility no more than ten meters.

Even up close, he could only make out vague shapes.

But even so, he could clearly see three Japanese soldiers lying on the ground, each with two large holes in their heads, splattered with red, white, and black matter.

The Japanese devils were definitely dead as doornails.

He shouted loudly to the soldiers rushing out behind him: "Everyone, look carefully, don't let a single Japanese devil get away."

The sun had only just set below the horizon, and their position was several stories lower than the roof.

The already dim light became even fainter.

The three companies of defenders conducted a hand-in-hand, sweeping search.

If they found any Japanese soldiers who had been hit in the chest by iron pellets and were not yet dead, they would give them another shot.

It wasn't that these defenders were inhumane; it was just that the wounds left by the one-centimeter iron pellets in the chests of the Japanese soldiers were too large.

It was clear that these Japanese soldiers could not survive.

Giving them a shot to send them on their way was the greatest act of mercy.

These gunshots and the flames from the barrels were the sparks that those on the south bank saw in the smoke.

After the earlier explosions, the entire world seemed to fall silent.

Those who were paying attention to the battle on the north bank for various reasons felt as if an eternity had passed before they heard sounds coming from across the river again.

Sounds meant there were still living people.

But now, the sounds were too infrequent.

Among the multinational military observers, there were many experienced officers who understood as soon as they heard the gunshots.

These officers wore smiles, watching Koiso Kuniaki and He Xiangning with a malicious pleasure, savoring the expressions on their faces.

American military attaché Joseph Stilwell said with a smile: "Shouldn't we move to a new vantage point?"

He Xiangning didn't want to stay here for another second.

The setting sun had just fallen, and the warehouse across the river was shrouded in smoke, making everything seem so unreal.

If she could leave here now, at least she could postpone the moment of facing reality.

Two more gunshots rang out from across the river.

Even though He Xiangning wasn't a military person, she already understood: the defense of the Sihang Warehouse was over.

Her straight posture faltered slightly.

Sir Gilbert Osmond quickly stepped forward, gallantly supporting her: "Madam He, are you alright?"

Zhang Boting suddenly said: "No! The gunshots are wrong! No! No! The gunshots are right, the gunshots are right."

His voice was somewhat incoherent.

Doing something like this in this setting was very impolite.

Although this wasn't a formal diplomatic occasion, his meaningless words were truly too rude.

When Koiso Kuniaki saw Madam He swaying earlier, he didn't dare to step forward to support her.

But in his heart, he was overjoyed.

Now, seeing Zhang Boting like this, he smiled and said with a show of composure: "We will forgive you, after all, your army has just suffered a major loss."

Just now, Zhang Boting had recognized from the gunshots coming from across the river: those were from Zhongzheng rifles.

The sparse gunfire on the other side now suggested that one side had been completely defeated, and the victorious side was sweeping the battlefield.

The sound of Zhongzheng rifles on the battlefield, what did that mean?

It meant the National Revolutionary Army had won! That's why he kept contradicting himself.

After a while, his agitated emotions calmed down a little.

Looking steadily at He Xiangning's reproachful gaze, he said: "Please forgive me, Madam He, I was too happy.

I heard the gunshots fired by the soldiers of the 542nd Regiment from across the river,

and I couldn't control myself, I lost my composure."

He Xiangning straightened up a little, her whole person seemingly taller, and she asked anxiously: "Our soldiers are sweeping the battlefield on the other side?"

Zhang Boting, listening to the gunshots coming from across the river again, said firmly: "Yes! Madam He, I can be sure!"

Koiso Kuniaki sneered: "Just now, we clearly saw your army being driven into the Sihang Warehouse by our army. Your army even lost all the positions outside the Sihang Warehouse.

The explosion just now must have been caused by our army blasting the Sihang Warehouse.

As for the soldiers of your army in the Sihang Warehouse, unfortunately, all of them have been killed in action.

Perhaps a few lucky ones remain,

but that's all."

He Xiangning looked at Zhang Boting doubtfully.

Zhang Boting now had one hundred percent certainty. Although he didn't know how Xie Jinyuan had done it,

Regiment Commander Xie must have set a trap, and the Japanese devils must have fallen into it, completely annihilated.

Zhang Boting smiled, calmly saying: "It's simple to find out the truth. This place is less than a hundred meters from the other side.

Just have a soldier shout to the riverside."

He Xiangning immediately nodded.

Zhang Boting said: "Madam He, let me go personally!"

He Xiangning's expression relaxed, with a hint of a smile: "I'll accompany Chief of Staff!"

Sir Gilbert Osmond said with a smile: "Let's all go together!"

The members of the entire multinational military observer group and their guards all went downstairs,

to the Suzhou Creek's southern bank.

Only then did Zhang Boting shout loudly: "I am Zhang Boting, Chief of Staff of the 88th Division, please have Regiment Commander Xie speak."

There was no response from the other side.

Zhang Boting mustered his breath and shouted again: "I am Zhang Boting, Chief of Staff of the 88th Division, please have Regiment Commander Xie speak."

There was still no response from the other side.

Koiso Kuniaki sneered: "The soldiers of the Great Japanese Empire are sweeping the battlefield on the other side."

After speaking, he also shouted loudly: "I am the Minister of the Great Japanese Empire to China, please have Major Yokouchi Tatsunosuke speak."

A voice immediately came from across the Suzhou Creek: "Chief of Staff! Regiment Commander Xie is inside the Sihang Warehouse, someone has gone to get him.

Please wait a moment!"

As soon as this voice came out, He Xiangning's somewhat weak body immediately straightened.

She asked: "Did we win?"

The soldier on the other side said excitedly: "We won! Completely wiped out the Japanese devils! Didn't let a single one escape."

At that moment, a voice scolded from the side: "It's getting dark, hurry up and sweep the battlefield.

Don't talk to outsiders, or I'll treat you as leaking secrets."

Zhang Boting immediately said: "The person who asked the questions just now was Madam He Xiangning of the National Government. We were very worried about the battle results, that's why we asked.

Please don't punish the soldier!"

A booming voice suddenly appeared: "542nd Regiment Commander Xie Jinyuan reporting! What are your instructions, Chief of Staff!"

Looking from the south bank of the Suzhou Creek, one could vaguely see a soldier standing by the river on the other side.

From his posture, one could tell that he was saluting at that moment.

Zhang Boting returned a salute with a serious expression, and then said: "Regiment Commander Xie! Report on the battle situation."

Regiment Commander Xie said with some difficulty: "Reporting to the Chief of Staff, it is not appropriate for this subordinate to report on the specific strategy.

Let's wait until a private report!"

Looking from the north bank of the Suzhou Creek, Xie Jinyuan could see vaguely no less than a hundred people on the opposite side.

Under these circumstances, he was unwilling to reveal the specific details of the battle at the Sihang Warehouse just now.

Zhang Boting smiled, his tone relaxed: "We don't want to know your specific tactics, we just want to know how many enemies were killed in this battle, and what were the casualties?"

Xie Jinyuan exhaled a long breath.

Zhang Boting was the Chief of Staff of the 88th Division, and the 542nd Regiment was his direct unit.

If he insisted on having him report under these circumstances, he really wouldn't know what to say.

At this moment, Koiso Kuniaki quietly drew his pistol.

He was also listening to Regiment Commander Xie's report on the other side.

Everyone on the south bank of the Suzhou Creek seemed to hear Xie Jinyuan's sigh of relief.

In the darkness, many citizens who had originally stayed at home also came out, but they didn't dare to get close to the multinational military observer group.

They stayed a little further away, straining their ears to listen to the conversation on both sides.

Fortunately, both sides didn't care at all, and deliberately spoke in loud voices.

Even if these citizens didn't get a good spot, they could still hear clearly.

Xie Jinyuan reported loudly: "Reporting to the Chief of Staff! In the battle that just occurred, our side had seven soldiers killed in action, three slightly injured, and one seriously injured.

We completely wiped out the attacking Japanese devils, not letting a single one escape.

The number of Japanese devil deaths has not yet been fully counted. When this subordinate came over just now, we had already counted 567 Japanese devil corpses."

Before he could finish speaking,

a rough voice came: "Now it's 677 Japanese devil corpses."

Suddenly, someone shouted on the south bank of the Suzhou Creek: "Eight Hundred Heroes! Mighty!"

"Eight Hundred Heroes! Mighty!"

For the members of the multinational military observer group: the outcome of this war was already determined, no matter how the process changed, the outcome would not change.

If there could be such a surprise in the middle of it, they wouldn't mind at all.

Sir Gilbert Osmond said to He Xiangning: "Congratulations! Congratulations!"

He Xiangning smiled: "Congratulations to you too!"

Hearing these two people speak, the wound in Koiso Kuniaki's heart was slashed again:

What did "congratulations to you too" mean?

What do I have to be happy about!

The members of the multinational military observer group, for the sake of Sir Gilbert Osmond, came forward one by one to congratulate He Xiangning.

They only gave a faint glance at Koiso Kuniaki, who had been gloating all along.

Koiso Kuniaki gritted his teeth and suddenly fired seven shots with the pistol he had prepared at the towering figure on the north bank of the Suzhou Creek.