Chapter 138

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Kuranaga Lianzuozhang took a deep breath: "No need. I used a battalion to probe Lv Muzhi's depth; this man's troops have combat power far exceeding our Third Division."

"What about that?" a battalion commander asked.

"I've seen it clearly. Although the enemy's land combat power is formidable, we can still rely on naval gunfire support and air support. Once daytime comes, we can continue advancing the frontline with our combined sea, land, and air superiority!"

"But that way, the frontline probably can't be pushed too far!"

"It doesn't matter. We know too little about the Youth Army's intelligence, but regarding the enemy's German-equipped divisions, we do understand them. The corrupt and incompetent fruit preserves don't have many organized German-equipped divisions. As long as we increase our forces, keep sending reinforcements, and shed more blood, we can also fight for this Shanghai!"

"Order all troops to retreat, set up camp near the beachhead, and accept the fleet's firepower protection!"

On the ambush position, bodies now lay everywhere. The devils had fled about a hundred men. A full-strength infantry battalion lost ninety percent of its strength in one battle, while the Youth Army's casualties were only about a hundred.

"Report to all commanders! My battalion has completed the mission, annihilating over seven hundred enemies and capturing over a hundred!" The ambush battalion commander, having won the battle, came to the nameless small highland and reported the battle situation to the assembled generals.

"And prisoners? Over a hundred? What's going on?" Liao Yaoxiang asked, frowning.

"No choice. Bullets are like spilled water, especially machine cannon fire—hitting the devils leaves them missing arms and legs. They can't run anymore, don't even have the strength to bayonet fight or commit seppuku... though they probably won't live long anyway." The ambush battalion commander explained helplessly.

"Wei Yue, what do you think we should do with these prisoners?" Feng Yuxiang asked.

"This..." Lv Muzhi looked at Liao Yaoxiang and said solemnly: "We are a civilized division, a mighty division. Understand?"

"Understand! So... Commander Lu, what should I do?"

"Hmm~ how does the Geneva Convention go? Anyway, we definitely can't not feed them... definitely can't not give them medicine... definitely can't beat or scold them... definitely can't invite them to spar and exchange with our soldiers..."

"Yes! I understand." Liao Yaoxiang stood at attention and saluted.

Some things Commander Lu didn't say, but he could still fully understand the commander's meaning.

Liao Yaoxiang looked at his battalion commander and asked: "Do you all clearly understand Commander Lu's meaning?"

"Yes! I will definitely do the opposite... oh no, treat the little devils' POWs well with all sorts of methods!"

Everyone heard this and all shook their heads laughing.

"Alright! The show is over, and I should head back too. Today's battle counts as no small victory, and most importantly, a battalion's strength routed a devil battalion. I want to write it in the report!" Feng Yuxiang said happily.

Seeing off Feng Yuxiang and Gu Zhutong, Lv Muzhi pulled Liao Yaoxiang aside and warned: "I had you assist Commander Chen Cheng, but you must also make your own judgments, assess the situation. Battles that lose too much cannot be fought. You must play the role of a stabilizing pillar here, not let the little devils easily break through Luodian. If we are crippled, the little devils will be even more unscrupulous."

Liao Yaoxiang nodded. "Understood!"

After speaking, Lv Muzhi also returned to his Nanxiang Youth Army Headquarters.

Now that he had taken office as Ninth Army Group Commander, among his subordinate officers, besides his own Youth Army, there were other troops. A meeting should be held to show his face and assign tasks.

Under current circumstances, this Group Army Commander of his, after the War Zone Headquarters evaluated combat power, had troops redistributed again. Besides the Youth Army directly under his command, there were three armies under his dispatch.

Counting it up, that was four armies total. It sounded impressive, but in reality it was just his Youth Army plus three divisions' worth of troops.

After adjustment, the Ninth Army Group, besides the Youth Army, also had the 71st, 72nd, and 78th Armies.

The 71st Army commanded only the 87th Division; the 72nd Army commanded only the 88th Division; the 78th Army commanded only the 36th Division. Each had just one division.

The 71st Army Commander Wang Jingjiu concurrently served as 87th Division Commander.

The 72nd Army Commander Sun Yuanlang concurrently served as 88th Division Commander.

The 78th Army Commander Song Xilian concurrently served as 36th Division Commander.

In short, grand titles, frightening when spoken, but in reality these armies each had only one division, and the army commanders were effectively division commanders, used to intimidate and mislead the devils.

Fortunately, these three divisions were all proper German-equipped divisions, considered the strongest combat strength the Principal could command, below the Training Corps.

Lv Muzhi, as Youth Army Commander, concurrently served as Youth First Division Commander, and Qiu Qingquan was Youth Second Division Commander.

This meeting could be considered, on a small scale, five division commanders meeting.

In Lv Muzhi's view, although the Third War Zone Headquarters had withdrawn some other troops, these five divisions were absolutely the strongest combat strength on the Songhu Battlefield.

Moreover, the five had close relations—all were Whampoa Class 1.

Lv, Song, Sun, and Wang were all former Whampoa Class 1 classmates, of course Qiu Qingquan was Class 2.

Among these people, the others were fine, but Lv Muzhi had a very poor impression of Sun Yuanlang.

Sun Yuanlang, in the Nanchang Battle, had fled in cowardice with then-commander Wang Bolin, abandoning the city. Wang Bolin later distanced himself from the power core, but Sun Yuanlang later hid abroad. The President, out of old sentiment, actually made Sun Yuanlang the 88th Division Commander again. In Lv Muzhi's view, it was simply unjust.

However, now that he was Group Army Commander, if Sun Yuanlang committed offenses under his command, he would definitely not let him off.

"Commander Lu arrives!" an announcement came from outside the door.

The four division commanders Qiu, Song, Sun, and Wang all stood at attention.

"Please be seated."

Lv Muzhi sat in the main seat and gestured for everyone to sit.

By rights, Group Army Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhang Zhizhong should also attend this meeting, but Zhang Zhizhong decided to leave the frontline matters for Lv Muzhi to decide, while he himself received the Ninth Army Group's quartermaster supplies in Suzhou City.

Lv Muzhi agreed. To bring out his combat power, quartermaster supplies were indispensable. With Zhang Zhizhong personally handling it, Lv Muzhi was also very reassured.

"Commander Zhang Zhizhong is preparing our army's logistics in Suzhou City. This closed-door meeting with just us five is fine, I think. We're all old classmates who studied and fought together back then. Everyone need not be formal; let's just do it like back in school."

"As for this battle, actually it doesn't matter much who commands. Let's discuss it together!"

As soon as Lv Muzhi finished speaking, Song Xilian immediately expressed support: "With Brother Wei Yue's Youth Army leading, I'm sure our Ninth Army Group can definitely defend our sector!"

Wang Jingjiu also said: "Brother Wei Yue flatters me. What's there to discuss? My 87th Division will just cooperate with the Youth Army in fighting!"

Sun Yuanlang also immediately expressed his position: "Commander Wei Yue is truly humble. You are a commander with real power and also the Group Army Commander. I, Sun, will look to Commander Lu's lead!"