Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

The scene at the junction of the Japanese-occupied area and the International Settlement was heartbreaking.

The north bank of the Waibaidu Bridge was guarded by Japanese troops, while the south bank was the territory of the International Settlement. People entering the International Settlement needed to provide a pass, undergo a body search, and bow to the Japanese soldiers.

Being slapped and punched by Japanese soldiers was even more common.

Although life was relatively peaceful within the concession, the impact of the war was everywhere.

Prices soared, with the prices of rice, coal briquettes and other daily necessities doubling. The concession authorities had to step in to stabilize prices, but with little success.

On the top floor of the International Hotel at the intersection of Nanjing Road, foreign journalists and military observers used high-powered binoculars to observe the battle situation on the north bank.

They recorded every gunshot and every exchange of fire and sent it around the world by telegram.

In his report to the United States, New York Times reporter Edgar Snow wrote: "The Chinese defenders on the north bank of the Suzhou River are fighting a losing battle, but their tenacious resistance has exceeded everyone's expectations.

Across the water, in the concession, people still enjoyed afternoon tea at the Waldorf Astoria, as if the war was just a distant performance.

Inside the British Consulate in Shanghai, diplomats are urgently discussing countermeasures.

Consul General Robert Clark looked worriedly at the arrows on the map indicating the Japanese advance.

"Once the Japanese completely occupy Shanghai, their next target will most likely be the concessions," he told his assistant. "We must request additional warships and marines from home."

The assistant nodded and wrote down: "The Royal Navy Yangtze River Fleet is on high alert. The Empress and a destroyer are en route to Shanghai."

"Not enough, far from enough." Clark shook his head. "If the Japanese really want to attack, this amount of troops will be of no use at all."

At the same time, in the French Concession, the French Consul General was discussing with the French Concession Municipal Council whether to strengthen the fortifications.

It was finally decided to increase the number of Annan patrols at the border of the concession and secretly stockpile food and medicine just in case.

The Chinese people in the concession spontaneously organized themselves and supported the Chinese defenders in various ways.

Doctors and nurses formed rescue teams and set up temporary rescue stations in areas near the front line. Merchants donated money to buy medicines and food and found ways to send them to the North Shore.

Several doctors from the concession hospital set up a temporary first aid station just a hundred meters away from the Waibaidu Bridge, treating the wounded every day under the bombardment.

"We admitted seventeen wounded soldiers yesterday, and five of them didn't make it," the leading doctor said wearily to his assistant. "We're running low on medicine, especially anesthetics and tourniquets."

The assistant's young face was filled with worry: "Doctor Lin, the Japanese may attack at any time. Should we retreat to a safer place?"

The doctor shook his head. "If we hold on for one more day, we can save a few more lives. Contact the Red Cross and see if they can get some more bandages and medicine."

Foreign residents in the concessions had different attitudes towards the war.

Some missionaries and charity workers have devoted themselves to refugee relief work, setting up refugee shelters in churches and schools.

Some foreign businessmen and diplomats were more concerned about protecting their own country's interests and worried that the war would spread to the concessions.

On the Huangpu River, warships from various countries have increased the frequency of their patrols.

The USS Augusta, the flagship of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet, was anchored opposite Pudong, and the sailors were closely monitoring the movements on the shore.

Japanese naval vessels were even more arrogant, with gunboats occasionally sailing close to the coast of the concession, triggering diplomatic protests.

. . . . . . . . . .

News came that Xie Jinyuan's "Eight Hundred Warriors" at the Sihang Warehouse had been ordered to retreat safely.

Li Weizhou and the soldiers listened silently to the messenger's report, feeling mixed emotions.

"They fought beautifully." Hu Dashan broke the silence. "More than 400 people held off the Japanese army for four days and four nights, killing more than 200 devils."

Li Weizhou looked to the west and knew that the symbolic resistance was over. Now every Chinese unit still fighting was in danger of being completely surrounded.

The Japanese army launched a fierce attack with its absolute firepower advantage.

"The commander died in battle!"

"The entire third battalion was wiped out!"

"The Japs are coming from the left wing!"

Bad news kept coming. Li Weizhuo watched his soldiers fall one by one. Hu Dashan was shot in the abdomen, but he still insisted on shooting until he fell into coma.

Under the shadow of war, the lives of Shanghai citizens underwent earth-shaking changes.

In war zones such as Hongkou and Zhabei, residents had already fled, leaving only broken walls and belongings that had not been taken away in time.

In the International Settlement and the French Concession, the population expanded rapidly.

The concession, which originally accommodated more than one million people, now houses nearly four million people.

Rents have skyrocketed, with the monthly cost of an average apartment tripling, and it's still hard to find one.

Simple shacks built by refugees were everywhere on the streets, with poor sanitary conditions. Infectious diseases began to spread, and the concession authorities had to set up temporary hospitals and quarantine stations.

Food supply has become the biggest problem.

Although the concession authorities adopted a rationing system, it was still difficult to meet the demand.

Black market transactions are rampant and rice prices remain high.

Ordinary citizens had to queue for hours to buy limited supplies of food.

The lives of foreigners in the concessions were also affected.

Although their situation was much better than that of Chinese citizens, the war still disrupted their normal lives.

Many foreign factories stopped production and shops closed. The overseas Chinese organized self-defense forces and cooperated with the police to patrol the concessions.

James Howard, a British businessman, wrote in a letter to his family in London: "Shanghai is no longer the Paris of the East.

Night parties and dances were replaced by martial law, and the prosperity of the Bund was overwhelmed by the tide of refugees.

We are like sitting on a sinking luxury cruise ship, praying for help to arrive soon."

The situation of Japanese expatriates was different. As the Japanese army advanced, many Japanese civilians moved into the Japanese Concession in Hongkou, where they were protected by the army.

Some Japanese stores have reopened, offering goods shipped from Japan.

Japanese children continued to attend classes in schools protected by the military, as if the war had nothing to do with them.

This stark contrast makes the two sides of Suzhou Creek the best interpretation of two worlds.

The north bank is full of ruins and death, the south bank is full of crowds and anxiety, one side is the battlefield, the other side is the refugee camp, one side is the Japanese army's rising sun flag, the other side is the flags of various countries in the concession.

Only nineteen people in Li Weizhuo's company were still able to fight.

Hu Dashan was sent to a hospital in the concession due to serious injuries, and his life or death is uncertain.

The ammunition was almost exhausted, with only a few bullets and a grenade left per person.

"Company commander, the division headquarters orders us to hold on for another 24 hours." The messenger's face was covered in dirt and sweat.

Li Weizhou nodded silently, he knew this might be the last order.

That afternoon, the Japanese army launched its most violent attack.

Two battalions of Japanese troops, under the cover of tanks, launched a charge towards their positions.

"Bring out the last box of grenades!" Li Weizhou ordered, "Aim at the tank tracks!"

The battle lasted until noon. When the fog cleared, only Li Weizhuo and five soldiers were left on the position.

They were squeezed into their last line of defense, a half-destroyed bank building.

"How much ammunition is left?" Li Weizhou asked.

After checking, the soldiers reported that each person had less than ten rifle bullets on average, only three grenades left, and half a bullet belt left for their light machine guns.

Li Weizhou smiled bitterly: "It seems this is the end."