Chapter 104

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

After leaving Jinling, Lv Muzhi again brought Zhang Fei and hurriedly headed for Sichuan Province.

This trip was made in the capacity of Special Commissioner, going to Sichuan Province to meet Liu Xiang.

Lv Muzhi had not yet accepted a military post, nor did he lead troops according to the Principal's and Liu Zhi's wishes.

Some said that not joining the army but going into business was simply muddleheaded!

But this could actually be considered advancing by retreating; outsiders only saw the size of the post and the number of troops, but Lv Muzhi had much more to consider.

One cannot have both fish and bear's paw.

Within the Central Army establishment, having troops but no territory and accepting the Principal's jurisdiction meant one would merely be summoned and dismissed at will in the future, with no right to refuse bandit suppression or internal strife; truly going there would be nothing but self-inflicted suffering.

Better to retreat into Sichuan Province, help Liu Xiang unify the small warlords within Sichuan Province, develop industry, occasionally send him some military funds, and he would still have to thank Lv Muzhi.

Moreover, once the Police Force entered his own industrial base, the best equipment would be directly allocated first, transforming overnight into an elite force; later reorganized into the army, making a timely comeback to suppress the Japanese Invaders—that was the true path.

There was also the Industrial Innovation Plan promised to Young Marshal Zhang; he had to find a way to transfer the old equipment from the Northeast as quickly as possible. As for the new equipment promised to the Young Marshal, it could probably only keep drifting on United States ships. Of course, Young Marshal Zhang was no fool; exactly how to operate this, Lv Muzhi would have to rack his brains. This matter had further developments......

Leaving Jinling, Lv Muzhi brought Zhang Fei and a few Attendants, taking the water route and boarding a river steamer to sail upstream west.

The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River were perilous, the river current swift; traveling through them cost some days.

Lv Muzhi leaned on the railing gazing into the distance, feeling moved in his heart: the difficulty of the Shu Road truly lived up to its reputation, and precisely because of its isolation, its value as a Strategic Rear Area was all the more evident.

The advantages were said; the disadvantages were also many: warlord separatist forces were too numerous. In one Sichuan Province, there were eight major warlords of various factions, essentially a miniature Republic of China.

Sichuan Province now had no warlord who could stand up and say he represented Sichuan Province; everyone was still in the midst of melee, and whoever won would be the one with the final say in Sichuan Province.

After many days of travel fatigue, they finally docked at Chongqing, a major town in East Sichuan. At this time, the Twenty-First Army headquarters of Liu Xiang was located here.

No sooner had he disembarked than Liu Xiang's Adjutant came to welcome him, with a rather courteous attitude, obviously having received notification from the Jinling side.

After resting one night, the next day Lv Muzhi met Liu Xiang within the Twenty-First Army headquarters.

Liu Xiang was slightly stout, with a round and smooth face, not wearing a military uniform but only a dark blue silk robe; at first glance he looked like a wealthy family scion.

Upon seeing Lv Muzhi, before he could speak, Liu Xiang said with a heavy Sichuan accent, "Ai yo, Special Commissioner Lv, you've had a hard journey! I heard you made a fortune in the United States and came back? Truly extraordinary, eh?"

Lv Muzhi also smiled and returned the salute with clasped hands: "General Liu is joking. I have long heard of General Liu's great prestige; today upon meeting, I, Muzi, only feel General Liu is approachable. My ancestors were Sichuan people, and now it feels even more like returning home."

Zhang Fei stood behind him and frowned: Commander Lu said just recently in the Northeast that his ancestors were Northeasterners, didn't he?

"Oh, then we are old fellows meeting old fellows!" Liu Xiang laughed happily.

The two exchanged greetings and sat down; neither wore military uniforms. Attendants served Gaiwan Tea, as if they were really just there to drink tea and chat.

But Liu Xiang took a sip of tea and then got straight to the point: "Special Commissioner Lv, you've come from afar this time; surely it's not just to see me, Liu Fu Cheng? From the Principal's side, what instructions are there?"

Lv Muzhi put down his teacup and smiled: "General Liu is straightforward, so I, Muzi, won't beat around the bush. The Central Plains War is deadlocked; don't you think this is a good opportunity for the Twenty-First Army?"

Hearing this, Liu Xiang's smile remained unchanged: "You mean you want me to send troops? Special Commissioner Lv, do you know what situation our Sichuan is in now?"

"Yang Sen, Liu Wenhui, Deng Xihou—which of them is easy to deal with? If I move my troops out with my front foot, my home will catch fire with my back foot! Our Sichuan is a small sparrow with all five internal organs—a miniature Republic of China, very chaotic!"

He paused, leaning his body slightly forward: "Besides, sending troops is fine, but what's in it for me and the brothers of the Twenty-First Army? We can't just let them bleed and risk their lives for nothing."

"Haha, General Liu, that metaphor is truly wonderful, but might we not cast our vision further?"

"Special Commissioner Lv, please speak."

Lv Muzhi had long been prepared and responded calmly: "General Liu, your previous concerns are indeed correct. The internal unrest in Sichuan Province is indeed a major hidden trouble."

"My trip this time is first for the Central Plains War, and second to help Master Fu resolve this rear worry."

"The Principal and I hope that Sichuan Province can quickly end this situation of warlord separatism, form a unified and stable force, and you are the only choice to bear this heavy responsibility."

Liu Xiang's heart had already begun to stir. Previously, the Principal merely watched the internal strife in Sichuan Province, waiting for the final victor of the strife to report to him.

But now, the Principal was clearly placing his bet on himself?

"Muzi represents the Principal and can provide General Liu with one million US dollars in military funds annually, specifically for reorganizing the army and training martial forces, to unify Sichuan Province."

When Lv Muzhi said this, he was calm and unruffled, because in a few years the Central Army would enter Sichuan, this military fund would not be spent for many years, and besides, he could earn more himself.

"One million US dollars? Every year?" Liu Xiang sat up straight; the unit of US dollars was quite novel to him.

This figure, for the Straw Shoe Sichuan Army located inland with not ample finances, was undoubtedly a huge sum, enough to equip several elite divisions for Liu Xiang.

"Exactly," Lv Muzhi affirmed. "Furthermore, after the Central Plains War subsides, I will invest wholeheartedly in Sichuan Province to run enterprises, open mines, build factories, and construct roads. All enterprises operated will pay taxes to Master Fu's Provincial Government according to regulations, without exception."

"By then, Sichuan Province's fiscal revenue will surely increase greatly; why would you need to worry about military funds?"

Liu Xiang pondered, thought for a moment: "Sounds comfortable, but, Special Commissioner Lv, you're giving money and opening factories; the conditions are so generous. Surely it's not as simple as asking me to send troops? When you open your factory, will the Central Army's troops follow behind?"

Lv Muzhi said with a serious expression: "Muzi can guarantee that the enterprises I lead will absolutely not bring a single soldier of the army into Sichuan Province."

"You only need to deal with me. In Sichuan Province, I only run industry and commerce and do not ask about military affairs."

"The army is the Sichuan Army's army; Sichuan Province is naturally Master Fu's Sichuan Province. What the Principal and I wish for is nothing more than national unification, stability in Sichuan Province, and jointly resisting foreign humiliation."

Liu Xiang was a smart man. He knew the Jinling side wanted to use economic infiltration into Sichuan, but for Liu Xiang, he was still quite satisfied with using economic benefits to tie himself to Jinling's chariot. After all, under current circumstances, unifying Sichuan Province was what Liu Xiang needed to consider.

"Jointly resisting foreign humiliation... well said. This is indeed a profitable deal, but I can at most send half my troops to support the Central Plains War; the rest must stay to guard the home."

"That's natural. The Principal just wants an attitude, and also to set an example for Young Marshal Zhang of the Northeast Army."

"By the way, where do you want to set up industry?" Liu Xiang asked.

"Under current circumstances, I need to explore iron ore around Qijiang outside Chongqing. I heard there has been mining here since ancient times. Relying on the Yangtze River, transportation is convenient. We can start from here first. After you unify Sichuan Province, we will also need to enter Panzhihua to explore resources and prepare industry......"

After hearing this, Liu Xiang was most concerned about military funds: "When will the military funds arrive?"

Lv Muzhi stood up and guaranteed: "After your army advances into Hubei, five hundred thousand US dollars will arrive. After advancing into Henan, two hundred thousand US dollars will arrive. After the Central Plains War ends, the remaining funds will all arrive."

Liu Xiang laughed heartily: "Good! Special Commissioner Lv, you are a straightforward man. I, Liu Fu Cheng, am not one to hem and haw! In the Central Plains War, my Sichuan Army will send troops!"

"We'll make a flanking move from the South Side against Yan Laoxi and Feng Yuxiang. As for those matters at home in Sichuan Province, we'll do as you say. You provide the money, I provide the troops. We'll take our time to settle everything!"

Lv Muzhi felt a stone fall from his heart, rose, and shook hands tightly with Liu Xiang: "Lord Fu is wise and far-sighted! Muzi is here, first wishing Lord Fu a victorious opening and early pacification of Sichuan, to establish new merits for the Country again!"