170: Open and frank conversation

General Zhang Zhizhong looked at the scene of public indignation before him, and then at the stunned Chen Ming.

The beating was well-deserved, and the words spoken were even better.

If it weren't for his status, he would have wanted to give them a round of applause!

From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the expressionless but resolute Lu Fan, a complex look flashing deep within his eyes.

Ultimately, he closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

After a few breaths, he suddenly turned around, his gaze shooting like a blade toward the cowering staff officer, Chen Ming.

"In this time of national crisis, when our soldiers are giving their lives, you speak insolently, shake military morale, and slander righteous men! Do you admit your guilt?"

Zhang Zhizhong's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority and fury.

Chen Ming was so startled by this sharp rebuke that he shuddered, instinctively trying to defend himself: "Commander, I..."

"No more words!" Zhang Zhizhong interrupted sharply. "Effective immediately, you are suspended pending self-reflection! Take him away~"

Chen Ming's face instantly turned pale. How could he be willing to accept that the official position he had worked so hard to obtain was being stripped away just like that?

Yet, he didn't dare defy the theater Commander known for his iron-fisted methods, especially not when the Commander was in a towering rage.

Thus, he could only cast a sinister and resentful look at Lu Fan, Li Zhenshan, and the others.

He especially glared at the one who had spoken so passionately and denounced him as the culprit.

Under the "escort" of several soldiers, he left the warehouse in disgrace.

Once outside, he suddenly broke free from their grip and whispered viciously, "Just you wait, you bunch of low-born peasants, I'll kill you all sooner or later!"

As Zhang Zhizhong dismissed his surrounding attendants, only a few people remained in the warehouse.

"Meixin, are you still going to hide it from me? Your voice, your build... and the one beside you, that's Deng Guang, isn't it?"

Zhang Zhizhong looked at the tall, masked figure with a complex gaze and sighed, his voice softening considerably.

However, it was clearly tinged with exhaustion and realization.

Huang Meixin's body jolted. Even if he was masked, how could he completely hide from an old superior he had worked with for many years?

He exchanged a look with Deng Baoguo, knowing they could no longer hide it. He slowly took off his mask, revealing his true face.

Both men had expressions of guilt and determination: "Commander... your subordinate... sigh, it wasn't my intention to deceive you.

It's just that while military orders are as firm as mountains, they can also be utterly absurd. I truly didn't want to sit by and lose this golden opportunity to crush the Japanese invaders.

Yet I couldn't openly defy orders and lead my subordinates into dishonor, so I had to resort to this plan of faking my death to escape.

All so that I could continue to follow Boss Lu and use my life to actually kill the enemy and serve the country.

Please punish me, Commander!"

Zhang Zhizhong looked at him quietly. There was no blame in his eyes; instead, a trace of understanding and approval emerged.

He took a step forward and patted Huang Meixin on the shoulder: "Your choice, though against the rules, stands to reason and even more so, it aligns with my heart!

This Ceasefire Order from Jinling..."

He shook his head, his tone full of indignation and helplessness. "It's more than just a missed opportunity; it's practically tying our own hands and feet—blind leadership!

Every bit of advantage the frontline soldiers gained was traded for with their lives. How can it be given up so easily?

It's entirely a decision made with the rear end while the head is hot. Absurd~~~"

These words were sincere and his stance clear. His pro-resistance position immediately won the approval of Lu Fan and the others.

The originally tense and confrontational atmosphere eased significantly.

"Commander Zhang, my brothers and I are used to being rough around the edges. We caused some offense just now, please don't take it to heart!"

The steady-minded Bai Jinbiao pulled Li Zhenshan along as he cupped his fists in response.

"General Zhang, if I may speak plainly, the battle is at a critical moment. Why was a ceasefire suddenly ordered?

Looking at the state of the battle, we aren't at a disadvantage~~ The Air Force had a great victory, and the ground troops held against the enemy's offensive.

What is the reason behind this? Why does Jinling want to urgently halt the war and throw away this hard-won situation? What's the cause?"

Lu Fan spoke up at this time, asking the question that had always lingered in the hearts of people in future generations.

Upon hearing this, a look of great sorrow and heaviness flashed across Zhang Zhizhong's face.

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "Boss Lu, there's something you don't know.

It's not that Jinling is afraid of fighting, it's... it's just that the price of today's battle was far too heavy!"

He paused and stated a string of heart-wrenching numbers, "In the daytime alone, the 88th and 87th Divisions suffered over three thousand casualties."

"Over three thousand?" Huang Meixin and Deng Guang both gasped. Although they knew the fighting was intense, they hadn't expected the casualties to be so massive.

Zhang Zhizhong nodded heavily and continued: "Not only that, the various divisions on the perimeter also suffered losses.

According to incomplete statistics, after just one day of fighting, the number of casualties on this land of Shanghai exceeds ten thousand!

You just mentioned that the Air Force achieved a great victory.

True, the Air Force also struck out bravely today, engaging in fierce battles with enemy planes in the sky and achieving results.

But those results were traded for the loss of over a dozen aircraft and several excellent pilots.

At the same time, the destruction of the city by the war and the impact on innocent civilians... is even more incalculable.

Jinling... on one hand, is shocked by such massive losses and the enormous military expenditures, fearing they cannot be sustained;

On the other hand, you really made the Japs feel the pain. The Japanese Headquarters did indeed send a telegram today expressing a desire for 'ceasefire negotiations'.

Therefore... the Generalissimo ultimately ordered a two-day suspension of the offensive to see how things develop.

Rest assured, this time Jinling has stated they will absolutely not retreat!"

As Zhang Zhizhong explained everything in detail, the mystery was unraveled.

Only then did everyone understand that there were such complex considerations behind the Ceasefire Order.

Although the decision to stop fighting was still unreasonable and hard to justify,

At least it wasn't as absurdly nonsensical, and at least it wasn't a surrender without a fight like the September 18th Incident.

Now that everything was out in the open, Zhang Zhizhong's attitude became even more candid.

He brought up the previous topic: "Boss Lu, my coming here to persuade you to suspend your actions isn't entirely because of that piece of paper.

The more important reason is that your actions today caused far too much of a stir!

Heavily damaging the Huishan Wharf, annihilating an artillery squadron, burning the supply warehouse, wiping out a tank squadron, shelling their Headquarters... each and every one of these acts has made you the focus of all parties.

Now, it's not just the Japs who are frantically investigating this mysterious unit of yours.

Even in Jinling... there are many people using every means possible to inquire about you, and their motives are complex and hard to discern."

He spoke with heartfelt earnestness: "I hope you can temporarily avoid the spotlight and have a good rest, not because I'm afraid of fighting.

But rather to protect this rare force of resistance.

Exposing yourselves too early and becoming a target for all makes it easy to encounter unnecessary trouble or even danger.

The wind will blow down the tallest tree in the forest, and the bird that sticks its head out gets shot; Boss Lu surely knows this."

Finally, he looked at Lu Fan with burning eyes: "Wait until the heat dies down a bit and the timing is right before striking again.

If possible, I hope your unit can cooperate closely with our army and fight together.

We have the positions and the manpower; you have the sharp-edged assault power and firepower.

If we can join forces, we will surely be able to deal an even heavier blow to the Japanese invaders!"

Zhang Zhizhong's open and honest words...

Both explained the harsh reality and expressed the hope for cooperation, winning the respect of Lu Fan and the others.

Lu Fan didn't hesitate either, reaching out his hand: "I'll listen to Commander Zhang~~ However... the cooperation can start right now."