Chapter 200: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 200 Sun Yuanlang, You Stay

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi knew Sun Yuanlang had come about the matter of the 88th Division covering the rear; he had not yet spoken when Gu Zhutong quickly walked over.

Gu Zhutong called out to Sun Yuanlang, his tone very dissatisfied: "Sun Yuanlang, I had just announced the Old Man's order, and you're already rushing over to Wei Yue?"

Lv Muzhi pretended not to know what had happened and asked: "What's going on, Commander Gu? You're not even listening to Commander Lu's orders?"

Gu Zhutong stood between Lv Muzhi and Sun Yuanlang, looking at Sun Yuanlang, and said: "The Old Man wants the 88th Division to defend Shanghai to the death. What's your opinion?"

Sun Yuanlang stood at attention and answered without hesitation: "I disagree!"

"You?!" Gu Zhutong was taken aback, glaring at Sun Yuanlang, then looking at Lv Muzhi: "Weiyue, this Sun Yuanlang is under your Ninth Group Army. What do you say?"

Lv Muzhi coughed once and said: "This... Shanghai is indeed a matter of international opinion, but since all the other troops have withdrawn, leaving Sun Yuanlang's 88th Division alone to stay in Shanghai, shouldn't we ask Sun Yuanlang's own opinion?"

Sun Yuanlang hurriedly said: "If I stay in Shanghai, if the 88th Division loses one man, the devils lose one man; even if my 88th Division loses ten men and the devils only lose one, my 88th Division is willing to be an isolated army, willing to defend Shanghai to the death;

I know this is a glorious and arduous task, but what I worry about most is that we will be isolated in Shanghai, with communications cut off, insufficient food and ammunition, command failure, and being slaughtered at will by the enemy—that would not be glorious at all;

Although the morale of all officers and men of my 88th Division was high during the War of Resistance, morale isn't used like this. Everyone else has withdrawn to the Wufu Line and Xicheng Line National Defense Works, and only we are left to defend Shanghai to the death—wouldn't that make people's hearts turn cold?

If nothing else, couldn't we just leave a detachment behind?"

Hearing Sun Yuanlang's words, Gu Zhutong was already very angry: "Nonsense, the Old Man cares about face, you know that. If we leave other troops behind, who do we leave—the Guangxi Army, the Yue Army, the Sichuan Army, or some other army? If we did that, others would say the Old Man is playing favorites;

It can only be your Central Army left behind. This is giving you an opportunity to gain honor!"

"I don't want this kind of honor of lying flat and letting the devils kill us!" Sun Yuanlang suddenly became very firm. Leaving aside anything else, if the entire 88th Division stayed behind, wouldn't he, a Lieutenant General division commander, also have to stay behind?

Gu Zhutong now had a headache. The Old Man had personally issued the order; surely he couldn't take it back?

"Weiyue? You need to say a few words."

Lv Muzhi looked at Sun Yuanlang's firm appearance and didn't want the 88th Division to stay behind either. What a fine unit it was; losing the 88th Division would be a loss for his Ninth Group Army. So he cursed loudly:

"Good-for-nothing, do you know why your 88th Division was specifically chosen to stay behind? It's an opportunity for you to make up for your past mistakes!

Back in Nanchang City, you fled at the sight of the wind, and the wound on my heart was inflicted then. Don't tell me you want to be a deserter again today?"

Sun Yuanlang had thought Lv Muzhi would support him, but unexpectedly Lv Muzhi directly exposed his old wounds. His face immediately turned red with shame.

Gu Zhutong was also caught off guard. Perhaps the higher-ups really had this intention, but this was something that could be understood but not spoken of. How could this be brought out into the open?

"This... I don't know." Gu Zhutong saw Sun Yuanlang's embarrassed appearance and saw that Lv Muzhi was angry, so he himself felt quite awkward.

Lv Muzhi continued: "Commander Gu, I know the Old Man's mind. Just leave Sun Yuanlang behind. To make up for his fault of being a deserter in Nanchang back then, at most leave him one battalion to fight the devils to the death. I'll take the main force of the 88th Division away..."

Gu Zhutong didn't expect Lv Muzhi to say such a thing. Could it be that the Vice Commander really meant this? Could Sun Yuanlang and the 88th Division be separated and used independently?

Sun Yuanlang suddenly seemed to have grasped an opportunity and said: "Thank you, Brother Weiyue, for leaving me that one battalion. I will immediately report to the Old Man, with me, the division commander, personally taking the lead, leading an elite infantry battalion to fight the devils to the death, to show my determination to resist Japan and save the nation!"

"Good! It's settled. I'll also send a telegram immediately, saying that you, as a Lieutenant General, are leading an infantry battalion in battle, and I can't stop you!"

After Lv Muzhi finished speaking, he and Sun Yuanlang went to send telegrams one after the other, leaving Gu Zhutong alone on the spot, at a loss, spreading his hands: "What on earth is going on?"

That day, the telegrams from Lv Muzhi and Sun Yuanlang were both sent out, and Gu Zhutong also sent a telegram to Jinling to explain.

The Old Man in Jinling City, upon seeing the three telegrams, flew into a rage. How had his tune been sung off-key?!

However, seeing Sun Yuanlang so devoutly repenting his mistake in the Nanchang Battle eleven years ago, actually wanting to stay behind alone to resist the enemy, and also thinking that actually the people below were unwilling to shed blood for some international opinion, he could only helplessly yield to everyone's wishes.

After a long time, the reply telegram came: "A Lieutenant General leading an infantry battalion to stay behind and resist—this is simply making me lose face. Go to the Wufu Line and obey Weiyue's orders well. If anything like the Nanchang Battle happens again, you'll be punished by military law!"

Sun Yuanlang saw the reply telegram from his superior and was so happy he could hardly close his mouth. He hurriedly found Lv Muzhi and said: "Brother Weiyue, thank you for saving the lives of all the officers and men of my 88th Division, and for saving my life too."

Qiu Qingquan stood to one side, looking at Sun Yuanlang, and said: "Good. Now you're not even willing to call him Commander Lu?"

"Absolutely not. Commander Lu, my 88th Division and I are extremely grateful!"

Lv Muzhi looked at Sun Yuanlang's appearance and asked: "Sun Yuanlang, have you really changed? The 88th Division is an elite division and should be used in the right place. This is the most important reason I'm helping you, not out of regard for any Whampoa classmate sentiment."

Sun Yuanlang wiped his sweat: "Back then, serving under Wang Bolin as a regimental commander, I was really too young and muddle-headed, which made me lose my senses and flee the city. I didn't expect you to defend Nanchang City and get wounded... Today you saved my life, Commander Lu. From now on, I, Sun, will obey your every command!"

Lv Muzhi interrupted: "Stop saying these useless things. Join the plan to withdraw to the Wufu Line. Your 88th Division will stay behind to cover the retreat, but you don't have to die defending Shanghai. I'll be keeping an eye on you."

Sun Yuanlang nodded in agreement and asked: "The Old Man must be very unhappy now. Us students, I think we still need to leave some troops to guard Shanghai."

Lv Muzhi widened his eyes, waving his finger and said: "Sun Yuanlang, Sun Yuanlang, you want everything, don't you? Have you ever thought that after leaving an isolated army behind, they'll have no way out? You're only thinking about yourself?"

"Commander Lu, it's not like that. I've found a good place. Leaving a small unit there can become a thorn in the eye and a thorn in the flesh for the little devils!"

"The Sihang Warehouse?"

"Amazing! Commander Lu, how did you know?"

Lv Muzhi thought for a moment. The Sihang Warehouse was near the American and British Concessions. Irritating the little devils a bit would be good, and if the little devils accidentally caused a diplomatic incident, that would be even better!

"Don't send too many troops. Give them the best equipment and medicine. I'll prepare a retreat route for them."

"Yes! Commander Lu!"