nucmednet Chapter 610: Soldiers Surrounding Julie's Business
Chapter 610: Soldiers Surrounding Julie's Business
Inside the British Consulate, the air seemed to freeze.
A staff member looked panicked, pushed open the door and rushed into the office of Consul Edward. His face was full of fear and anxiety, and he said in a trembling voice: "Mr. Consul, it's bad, the Chinese army broke into the concession and exchanged fire with our gendarmerie on Hualin Street! Major Anthony died on the spot!"
Edward was immersed in the documents, and before he could even put the cigarette to his lips, the moment he heard the news, the cigarette fell to the ground. He widened his eyes and looked at the panicked staff in front of him, and asked in shock: "What did you say! How could the Chinese army suddenly enter the concession!"
"They...they claim that we should hand over Eric Wallace! Otherwise, they will raze the concession to the ground!" The staff member's voice trembled even more, and he was obviously frightened by this sudden news.
Sweat beads began to appear on Edward's forehead, and he quickly loosened his collar to try to ease the tension in his heart. This sudden news caught him off guard, and he knew that this matter was very serious and would lead to serious consequences if not handled properly.
Edward fell into deep thought. He knew that he was in a delicate position. As the new consul, he had always been very friendly to China, hoping to maintain the friendly relations between the two countries through diplomatic means. After all, the miserable end of the former consul, Will, was still vivid in his mind.
However, the actions of the Chinese army this time made him feel extremely shocked and uneasy.
He knew that Eric Wallace had a special status in Britain. He was not only a member of the Wallace family, but also a guest of the Queen. If he was handed over to the Chinese army, it would undoubtedly cause dissatisfaction and protests from the British government; but if he was not handed over, how could he calm the anger of the Chinese army?
Edward frowned, and his mind was quickly thinking of various possible solutions. He knew that this matter must be handled with caution. If it was not handled properly, it would lead to more serious consequences. At this critical moment, he felt that the burden on his shoulders was extremely heavy.
Just when Edward was extremely anxious, the office door was knocked again. A sweaty clerk rushed in and shouted in a trembling voice: "Mr. Consul! The military police have been annihilated, and the Chinese army is rushing towards the headquarters of Jules Trading Company!"
Edward was shocked when he heard this. He stood up suddenly, the documents in his hand fell to the ground, and asked anxiously: "What! How could this happen?" His face turned pale in an instant, as if he realized the seriousness of the situation.
"They... they came with such a threatening attitude, claiming that if Eric Wallace is not handed over, they will take action against Jules & Co." The clerk's voice trembled even more, and he was obviously frightened by the situation.
Edward knew the importance of Jules & Co., which was not only one of the important chambers of commerce in China, but also the pride of the British business community. Once Jules & Co. was attacked, it would cause huge losses to Britain's commercial interests in China. He could not sit idly by and had to take immediate action.
"Quick, come with me to Jules Firm and stop the conflict!" Edward ordered decisively. He quickly put on his coat and hat and walked out of the office quickly.
On the other side, the Chinese army came to the headquarters of Jules Trading Company in a mighty procession. This six-story European-style building stood majestically like a solemn castle, standing in the center of Lingyun Road in the concession.
The exterior design of the headquarters building is exquisite, and every detail reveals a magnificent atmosphere. The facade is made of fine white stone, shining with a faint light under the sunlight. Marble carvings decorate the doors, windows and balconies, and each part has been carefully carved, as if telling an ancient and elegant European story.
A gilded doorplate hangs on the gate, engraved with the words "Julis Firm" in fluent and powerful fonts, showing the dignity and authority of the firm. The stone pillars on both sides are carved with exquisite patterns, which have both traditional European elements and oriental charm, showing the unique cultural integration of the firm.
Going up along the marble steps, each floor is equipped with exquisite balconies and railings. The flower pots on the balconies are planted with various precious flowers and plants, which sway gently in the breeze and emit a faint fragrance. The railings are carved with complex patterns, including flowers, birds, fish, insects, mountains, rivers, and pavilions, each of which is lifelike and dazzling.
The whole building is filled with a strong artistic atmosphere and a sense of wealth, showing the status and strength of Jules Trading Company as one of the top ten foreign companies in China. At this moment, this solemn and elegant building has become the center of the conflict.
In front of the headquarters of Julius Trading Company, a large number of trucks and armored units were quietly parked on the roadside, like sleeping steel behemoths, ready to wake up at any time. Thousands of fully armed soldiers lined up neatly, and under the unified command of Xu Qiang, their steps were firm and powerful, surrounding the headquarters of Julius Trading Company.
This scene frightened the pedestrians on the road. They looked around in panic, not understanding why so many Chinese troops suddenly poured into this usually quiet and peaceful concession. The British expatriates screamed and fled in all directions, their faces full of fear and anxiety. They remembered the bloodbath in the Fuso Concession, which had been widely reported, and they couldn't help but worry about their own lives.
However, in this tense atmosphere, Xu Qiang seemed unusually calm. He stood on a high place, scanning the surrounding situation with a sharp gaze, making sure that every soldier stayed at his post. He did not order these innocent expatriates to be attacked, but only asked them to leave this place that was about to become a battlefield as soon as possible.
At the entrance of the business, the originally calm guards were also frightened by this sudden change. Six guards in security uniforms held long guns and stood in front of the door, their eyes full of tension and fear. But even so, they still held their posts and tried to stop the attack of the Chinese army.
The captain of the escort team was even more decisive. He realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately turned around and ran back to the company to report the emergency to the company's top management.
The security captain rushed into the company and walked through the spacious and solemn corridor. His footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, sounding particularly hurried. He quickly came to Charlie Wallace's office, took a deep breath, calmed his nervousness, and then gently knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Charlie Wallace's slightly hoarse voice came from inside. The security captain pushed open the door and walked in quickly. Charlie Wallace was sitting behind his desk, holding a thick account book in his hand, with his usual dull expression on his face. He looked up at the security captain, frowned slightly, and was obviously dissatisfied with the other party's panic.
"What's going on? Why are you so panicked?" Charlie Wallace put down the account book and asked in a deep voice.
The security captain panted, trying to calm himself down, and then reported the situation outside in detail: "The Chinese army has surrounded our company. Thousands of soldiers are fully armed, and armored vehicles and trucks are parked on the roadside. It seems that they are here with ill intentions. I am worried..."
"What are you worried about?" Charlie Wallace interrupted him, still with that nonchalant expression on his face, "Chinese army? They dare to attack our Julies Business? What a joke!"
The security captain knew that Charlie Wallace had always looked down on China, believing that China was a backward and weak country.
He shook his head helplessly and continued, "I heard that they demanded that Master Eric be handed over, otherwise they would raze the concession. The situation outside is very tense now, and I'm worried that the Chinese army will really take action. We have to find a way to deal with it as soon as possible. They have officially opened fire, and the military police are almost wiped out!"
Charlie Wallace's expression finally changed a little. He frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said slowly: "Don't panic, I'll go down and negotiate with them!"