Chapter 127

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

After Lv Muzhi returned from Suzhou City to Songhu, he received a shocking piece of news: his superior, Zhang Zhizhong, Commander of the Ninth Group Army, had been severely reprimanded by a telegram from the President.

Understanding the cause and effect, Lv Muzhi immediately rushed to the headquarters of the Fifteenth Group Army to see Chen Cheng.

Inside the headquarters of the Fifteenth Group Army, Chen Cheng's troops clearly had no intention of moving away from the riverbank.

"Commander Chen, you must think this through carefully. The entire line from Liuhe to Wusongkou is within the range of the enemy's naval guns. Land can be recaptured, but if the troops are lost, everything is lost."

Chen Cheng helplessly pointed to the telegram on the table. "Muzi, it's not that I don't want to retreat. The President clearly ordered us to hold our current positions. Zhang Wenbai commanded the Ninth Group Army to retreat and was severely criticized by the President. He is still in the adjacent communications room answering the President's phone call!"

Lv Muzhi shook his head. "Commander Chen, the enemy's naval guns can cover the frontline positions. The enemy's joint sea, land, and air offensive will be launched soon. Every day our troops stay on the beachhead, countless casualties will be added."

"I know this reasoning well enough, but the President believes the Songhu campaign concerns international opinion and we absolutely cannot show weakness. Standing in this position, we cannot do as we please."

At this moment, a communications soldier delivered the latest battle report: the enemy's Third Fleet had begun indiscriminate artillery bombardment of the shore positions around Chuan Sha. Shells rained down, and a regiment stationed there suffered heavy losses.

Lv Muzhi pointed to the battle report. "Look, this is the price of holding the beachhead. We cannot only think of ourselves. Think of the soldiers on the frontline, think of the future course of the war."

Just as the two were arguing, the sound of Zhang Zhizhong talking to the President came from the adjacent communications room. Through the half-open door, Zhang Zhizhong could be heard answering the phone.

"President, the military situation was urgent at the time and there was no time to request instructions. I believe drawing the enemy into inland combat was the correct tactical choice."

The President's reprimand came from the other end of the phone, and Zhang Zhizhong remained calm throughout.

"No, it has nothing to do with Lv Wei Yue. The decision to abandon the positions along the Huangpu River was made by me alone."

"Yes, I understand, but please think about it, Mr. President. The Ninth Group Army is the lifeblood of my Central Army. Is it worth consuming our elite troops under the enemy's naval guns for the sake of so-called international opinion?"

Zhang Zhizhong finally said, "I will bear all responsibility myself. Wei Yue and the others were only carrying out my orders. If punishment is needed, punish me, Zhang Zhizhong."

After a long while, silence fell in the communications room, and Zhang Zhizhong hung up the phone.

Chen Cheng immediately stepped forward and asked, "What did he say?"

Zhang Zhizhong shook his head. "The President is very stubborn, talking about the Nine-Power Treaty, asking us to resist tenaciously and strive for international support."

Chen Cheng did not know what to do.

Lv Muzhi looked at Zhang Zhizhong. "It was my suggestion to move the troops away from the Huangpu River. Why must Wenbai Gong bear this responsibility alone?"

Zhang Zhizhong sighed in relief and smiled bitterly. "Since I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Ninth Group Army, isn't leadership meant to take the heat at critical moments?"

"As long as you are safe, even if I am removed from office, you can still lead the Ninth Group Army forward, and I can rest assured."

Lv Muzhi understood that Zhang Zhizhong had taken all responsibility upon himself. Protecting Lv Muzhi was, to a certain extent, also to correct the President's mistake of insisting on a war of attrition.

"Wenbai Gong..." Lv Muzhi was about to speak when Zhang Zhizhong waved him to stop.

"Say nothing more. I am still the Commander of the Ninth Group Army. The troops of the Ninth Group Army will carry out operations according to the original plan, with Chen in command. As for what the Fifteenth Group Army decides, I still hope you can make the right choice."

Watching Zhang Zhizhong's departing back, Chen Cheng was stunned and looked at Lv Muzhi. "Wei Yue, what did Zhang Wenbai say! What does 'right choice' mean? Does disobeying the President's order count as the right choice? Or does withdrawing troops from the beachhead count as the right choice?"

Although Lv Muzhi was anxious inside, these people's ranks were higher than his own, so he could only offer kind advice: "Commander Chen, to be honest, you graduated from the artillery school, so you surely know how powerful the enemy's naval guns are. I also have a heavy artillery regiment, but it can only support Luodian and will absolutely not easily change positions. You... decide for yourself."

"By the way, regarding those four fortress guns inside Shizilin Battery, if Huang Wei's troops choose to retreat, try to dismantle the fortress guns and transport them back. I still need to transport them to the Yangtze River Defense for use."

Chen Cheng watched Lv Muzhi leave and felt bitter inside. Retreating would likely get him removed from office by the President, but not retreating meant they would likely suffer the full force of the enemy's naval guns. To retreat or not to retreat was truly not a good choice.

That night, the higher-ups adjusted the Songhu situation, deciding that the Songhu campaign would be officially controlled by the Third War Zone.

The Third War Zone's defense area included Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Feng Yuxiang served as Commander-in-Chief of the Third War Zone, and Gu Zhutong as Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

For this Songhu campaign, the President arranged for Feng Yuxiang, a mortal enemy from the Central Plains War, to take command and lead his Central Army. On one hand, it was to set an example for other warlord forces domestically, calling on everyone to actively respond to the war of resistance.

On the other hand, it was hoped that having an 'old man' like Feng Yuxiang take command of the Third War Zone would suppress the young people under the Central Army.

After all, Feng Yuxiang had once commanded hundreds of thousands of Northwest Army troops and could be considered a senior general with experience in large-scale wars.

However, Feng Yuxiang naturally understood that although he held the rank of Army Level One General, he was an Army Level One General without direct lineage troops. The Central Army was the President's own son; how could he possibly use them at will?

On the first night of arriving at the frontline, Feng Yuxiang still had to fulfill his duties as War Zone Commander, at least show his face, which could be considered giving the President some face.

Currently, a total of three Group Armies had arrived at the Songhu battlefield: Chen Cheng's Fifteenth Group Army, Zhang Zhizhong's Ninth Group Army, and Zhang Fakui's Eighth Group Army.

Inside the Third War Zone Headquarters, all the army commanders had arrived, but Commander-in-Chief Feng Yuxiang had not yet arrived.

"Commander Feng has arrived!" an announcement came from outside the door. Tall and imposing, with a tiger's back and bear's waist, Feng Yuxiang, wearing an Army Level One General's uniform, arrived at the venue.

Feng Yuxiang sat in the main seat, looked at the people below who were almost all Central Army direct lineage, and straightforwardly said: "My taking command of the Third War Zone this time is basically just to put on a show for everyone. As for how to fight specifically, you still have to listen to Deputy Chief of Staff Gu."

"Commander Feng's words are too heavy," Gu Zhutong said with a smile.

"Hey! Time is urgent. Is the Frontline Commander-in-Chief Chen Cheng? Report the current situation. Deputy Chief of Staff Gu and I just arrived as well."