Chapter 180: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa, Chapter 180: The Final Transaction

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Inside Qiujiang Wharf, the deafening salvo of naval guns finally drowned out the clamor of the Japanese fighting among themselves.

The army and marine corps soldiers locked in a scuffle were stunned, instinctively stopping and looking in terror toward the sea of fire outside the wharf perimeter.

On the Kiku Destroyer, Yamamuro Sōbu and Ito Masanishi seized the megaphone and shouted at the top of their lungs:

"All army soldiers, take note! I am Yamamuro Division Commander! Stop the infighting immediately! Deploy outward and establish a defensive line!"

"I am Ito Division Commander! Identify the identities of everyone attempting to approach the wharf! Strictly guard against Xia soldiers mixing in!"

"Gentlemen captains of the navy! Please stop shelling immediately! Stop quickly! Most of those outside are our own men!" Yamamuro Sōbu roared at the Kiku Destroyer captain.

Seeing the two lieutenant general division commanders right before him, the Kiku Destroyer captain stopped shelling, but the captains of the other warships remained immersed in their own offensive, watching distant figures being blown apart by naval guns, and the navy captains were boiling over—since the war began, they had never seen their battle results so directly!

Seeing such "brilliant results," the other navy captains' shelling showed no sign of stopping.

Perhaps in their eyes, any moving target approaching the wharf at this moment was a threat—better to kill by mistake than let go; perhaps the navy believed that the lives of routed army soldiers were insignificant compared to ensuring the safety of the fleet and the wharf.

Inside the joint command headquarters of the three German-equipped divisions, they were also left bewildered by the Japanese antics.

"Division Commander! Look! Over at Qiujiang Wharf, the Japanese are fighting themselves! Their warships are shelling their own routed soldiers!" The 88th Division Chief of Staff held up his binoculars, his voice filled with unbelievable excitement.

Division Commander Sun Yuanlang took the binoculars, took one look, and burst into loud laughter: "Hahaha! Truly a wonder under heaven! Commander Song, Commander Wang, come look! What play are the little devils performing?"

"Friendly forces in trouble, remaining motionless like a mountain is one thing,

but friendly forces in trouble—what's this with artillery covering them?!"

36th Division Commander Song Xilian and 87th Division Commander Wang Jingjiu also came over: "Looks like the Japanese are cornered and can't even tell their own men anymore!"

"Good, saves us plenty of shells and effort!"

Soon, the news reached Lv Muzhi, who listened over the phone to Song Xilian's vivid description and was also surprised by this result. He had originally only wanted to swallow the Tianya Brigade on the flank and incidentally break a leg of the Japanese on the front, but this time the little devils had directly broken both their own legs.

"Alright, since the Japanese navy is cleaning house for us, you take the win and stop—order the troops to disengage and withdraw to the established defensive line."

The Japanese had bitten the dust in Lv Muzhi's defense zone, and in Chen Cheng's Left Wing Army zone, they also withdrew their offensive a few days later and retreated.

Both sides fell into a strange stalemate: the Xia State Army did not actively approach the Yangtze River Estuary, and the Japanese army's offensive was no longer aggressive.

Inside the Nanxiang Youth Army Headquarters, it was now very lively. On Lv Muzhi's desk were piled the trophies his subordinates had brought: pistols, military swords, radios, and so on.

Chu Yunfei presented Yamamuro Sōbu's general's sword: "Commander Lu, this is Yamamuro Sōbu's military sword. It's a pity that both regiments of the Tianya Brigade were very careful and destroyed their regimental flags before our army rushed into the wharf..."

Chu Yunfei's words were full of disappointment, feeling that this battle's results should have been greater.

Lv Muzhi took the general's sword from Chu Yunfei's hand. Together with the marine corps commander Major General Okawa Shichiden's military sword captured last time, this was the second general's sword.

"It's just a regimental flag—we've already captured one. This time you forced the Japanese to jump into the water at the Huangpu River; the river is full of Japanese corpses. I'm very satisfied!"

Qiu Qingquan clasped his hands: "The little devils are advancing in North China, yet in Shanghai City they can't move an inch. I don't know what decision the Japanese army will make."

Liao Yaoxiang said: "What decision can they make? The war in North China is already raging fiercely. Here at Songhu, there is absolutely no possibility of peace!"

Zhang Fei was also in the command headquarters, looking impatient: "Commander Weiyue, you assigned me to guard Jinshanwei, but there isn't a single Japanese hair to be seen there. My brothers are fighting hotly inside Shanghai City, while I can only watch the excitement from across the Huangpu River."

Zhou Weiguo laughed: "Brother Zhang Fei (courtesy name), don't be anxious. Just don't end up complaining that the Japanese aren't enough of a fight!"

Everyone laughed heartily.

Lv Muzhi said: "Everyone is very optimistic, but we must still raise our vigilance, especially Zhang Fei. I've already spoken with Commander Zhang Fakui. His Right Wing Army's main force will be deployed in the Hangzhou Bay region. You must coordinate well with them. The little devils can't break through on the front at Shanghai and will very likely strike from the flank, and Jinshanwei is the key point of that flank."

Qiu Qingquan nodded: "Yes, it's the Japanese's usual trick—fight you to a standstill on the front while sending a force to outflank from the side."

Lv Muzhi stood up and said: "The Japanese army's strength has not been fully unleashed. If the Japanese navy and army truly unite, the situation may become difficult. Everyone must prepare."

After everyone received their new tasks and returned to execute them, Lv Muzhi and Qiu Qingquan were about to go to the train station to inspect a new batch of supplies when they received news that Advisor Hans William was visiting.

In the reception room, William said enthusiastically: "Oh, Lv, my friend, good to see you again! You fought well on the Songhu Battlefield. My superiors and I are very surprised!"

Lv Muzhi smiled: "I don't know whether Mr. William has brought good news or bad news this time?"

William spread his hands: "There is good news, and there is bad news."

"I want to hear the good news first."

William nodded: "The good news is that regarding our transaction, we can continue."

"As for the bad news... this should be our last transaction..."