Chapter 183: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 183: The Edict of Emperor Tenghuang

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Asahiko is the representative sent by Emperor Tenghuang to mediate the conflict between the two armies.

When the army division commanders saw that Asahiko had arrived, they were all very excited; although Asahiko was royalty, he was also a Lieutenant General in the army, so he was one of their own!

Gu Qingchuan saw yet another army idiot and was originally very dissatisfied, but upon seeing that he was Emperor Tenghuang's uncle, he instantly lost his temper—this was someone he could not afford to offend.

Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko scanned every general present: "As soldiers of the Imperial Locust Army, you should stand united against the enemy and fight together for the glory of the Imperial Locusts."

"But what about now? Look at you—the navy and the army are actually quarreling incessantly in this battleship's conference room. What kind of discipline is this!"

Eleventh Division Commander Yamamuro Sōbu wanted to step forward to explain, but had just opened his mouth when Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko directly interrupted: "Division Commander Yamamuro, do you still have the face to speak? Look at what state your Eleventh Division's fighting has come to? Before the incident, I even reviewed your Eleventh Division and left a very good impression on me."

"But what about now? The soldiers have no discipline whatsoever and are in utter chaos on the battlefield. What sort of talk is this!"

Yamamuro Sōbu was scolded until his face was bright red; he lowered his head and dared not speak.

Seeing this, 101st Division Commander Ito Masanishi also wanted to speak, but Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko turned his spear toward him: "Ito Masanishi, your 101st Division has low combat quality and has repeatedly suffered defeat on the battlefield, bringing shame to the Imperial Locust Army. What punishment do you deserve?"

Ito Masanishi trembled in fear and hurriedly lowered his head to admit his mistake: "Your Highness, it was my poor command; I am willing to accept punishment."

Seeing this, Division Commander Fujita Susumu of the Third Division also grew nervous, fearing that Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko would suddenly point at him, after all, he had lost a regimental flag.

Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko snorted coldly: "Division Commander Fujita Susumu, if I remember correctly, you are the only division that lost a regimental flag, right? Losing the Sixth Regimental Flag is a disgrace to the Imperial Locust Army! You must find a way to wash away this disgrace!"

Commander Matsui Iwane saw that Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko was directing his criticism at the army and felt somewhat wronged in his heart, but more than that, he was afraid; it seemed Emperor Tenghuang was truly angry.

Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko looked at Matsui Iwane: "Your Excellency Matsui Iwane, don't feel wronged either. As Commander of the Imperial Japanese Army Shanghai Dispatch Army, you failed to command the army well and let the fighting come to this; you also bear inescapable responsibility."

"Don't keep pushing the responsibility onto the navy. The navy doesn't have it easy; their weapons are very expensive. Every shell, every aircraft, is a precious resource of the Imperial Locusts."

Commander Matsui Iwane was left speechless by the scolding and could only lower his head and listen.

Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko then looked at Commander Gu Qingchuan: "Your Excellency Gu Qingchuan, I have already severely criticized them. Although I am a Lieutenant General in the army, I will absolutely not favor the army. Whoever is right or wrong, I see it all."

"The navy and the army are originally one body. When the navy has trouble, it is the army's trouble; when the army has trouble, it is also the navy's trouble."

"You should love one another and serve the Imperial Locusts together, instead of blaming and shirking responsibility from each other here."

Seeing that Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko handled the matter so fairly, Commander Gu Qingchuan thought he was truly a just and incorruptible official, and he lowered his head to admit his mistake: "Your Highness, your arrival is the arrival of a just official for our navy. Our navy has always spared no effort in combat. As long as Emperor Tenghuang has need of us, my navy will definitely obey!"

Seeing that both sides had recognized their mistakes, Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko's tone softened slightly: "Alright, let the past be the past. The several hundred army soldiers killed by naval gunfire must have their remains properly collected. What is most important now is that we must find a way to turn the tide on the Songhu Battlefield."

Commander Matsui Iwane hurriedly said: "Your Highness, the enemy on the Songhu Battlefield is currently very stubborn, especially Lv Muzhi's Youth Army, whose combat strength is extremely strong. Our front line is truly difficult to advance."

Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko frowned: "Lv Muzhi's Youth Army—I have heard of this person. He is indeed a difficult opponent."

"But even so, we cannot retreat. New forces have already been organized domestically, preparing to carry out a landing operation in Hangzhou Bay. Jinshanwei will be the main battlefield of the landing operation, coordinating with the front battlefield at Songhu."

Commander Gu Qingchuan hurriedly agreed: "Your Highness, this plan is very feasible. If we can successfully land at Jinshanwei and form a pincer attack with the front battlefield, we can definitely capture Shanghai City in one fell swoop."

Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko nodded: "Correct. The forces committed to Jinshanwei will reach one hundred thousand strong. This is an elite army of the Imperial Locusts and can definitely complete this task."

"At the same time, you must accelerate the advance on the Songhu front. The navy must spare no effort in carrying out support operations."

Commander Gu Qingchuan hurriedly expressed his stance: "Your Highness, rest assured. My navy will definitely go all out to provide the strongest support for the army."

Commander Matsui Iwane also hurriedly said: "Your Highness, our army will also fight bravely and kill the enemy, absolutely not betraying the expectations of the Imperial Locusts."

Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko nodded with satisfaction: "Very good. To ensure the army and navy can coordinate operations, Emperor Tenghuang specially issued an imperial edict."

Saying this, Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko took out an imperial edict from his bosom, slowly unfolded it, and began reading aloud: "I observe the situation in Greater East Asia, with clouds and winds shifting..."

"The Battle of Songhu concerns the fate of the Imperial Locusts' nation, concerns the dignity of the Imperial Locusts..."

"Officers and soldiers of the army and navy, you should serve the Imperial Locusts with loyal and brave hearts..."

"Between the army and navy, you should coordinate closely and connect seamlessly, with not the slightest slack or shirking of responsibility."

"I hope the officers and soldiers of the army and navy will cast aside past grievances and love one another..."

"If there is again any blaming or shirking of responsibility, severe punishment will not be spared! I hope you all are loyal and good and understand my intentions!"

After the edict was finished being read, Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko put the edict away. The army and navy officers below had long since been moved to tears.

Matsui Iwane wiped his tears: "Commander Gu Qingchuan, did you see... His Majesty, because of your navy, specially issued an edict amidst his busy schedule... What reason do we have to keep fighting internally? You fellow..."

Gu Qingchuan was originally also crying with snot and tears. Hearing Matsui Iwane's words, he had originally wanted to curse back, but Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko was present, so he couldn't flare up. Instead, he led the navy officers in saying: "The navy respectfully follows Emperor Tenghuang's will. We will definitely spare no effort and fight for the Imperial Locusts!"

All the army idiots: "The army is the same!"

Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko nodded with satisfaction: "Very good. I hope you remember today's words. I will supervise your combat operations on this battleship. Wherever the army goes, the navy's guns must fire there!"

Matsui Iwane: "?"

Asaka-no-miya Prince Yasuhiko hurriedly corrected: "Wherever the army goes, the navy's guns must support there."

Everyone in the conference room applauded...

To shift the situation at Songhu, Emperor Tenghuang specially sent a representative to mediate the conflict and asked the navy to fully cooperate, while simultaneously preparing to launch a major offensive at Jinshanwei.

Meanwhile, in the underground cover at Jinshanwei, Zhang Fei had long been waiting impatiently.