Chapter 233: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 233 Who Will Defend Jinling?

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Jinling, Military Commission Underground Command Center.

Around the huge rectangular conference table, generals gathered in abundance; every word spoken here could decide the lives of countless people.

On the large Jing Hu combat map on the wall, the blue arrows representing the Japanese army had already crossed the Wufu Line and were approaching the Xicheng Line, their spearhead pointing directly at Jinling in the center of the map.

Lv Muzhi had received an urgent telegram the day before and hurried back from the front line to attend the military conference.

"Wei Yue, you're back!" The old man sat in the main seat in the center and waved his hand.

Lv Muzhi saluted: "Student has just finished deploying the anti-Japanese combat plan at Jiangyin Fortress and rushed back day and night."

"You've worked hard, sit down quickly. This is already the third military conference; the first two times you couldn't get away from the front line, but this time you must come back no matter what. You also know, I'm about to head to Chongqing in the southwest..." After the old man finished speaking, he looked somewhat reluctantly at Jinling's position on the map.

Lv Muzhi sat down, happening to sit beside Army Level One General, his old instructor and former superior Liu Zhi.

Liu Zhi had suffered a defeat in North China in October, his troops collapsed over a thousand li, earning him the nickname "Flying General." Now he had little face in the central government, and at meetings he lacked spirit. Seeing his good student Lv Muzhi, he only smiled.

The Army Level One General Tang Shengzhi opposite asked: "Wei Yue, the several defensive lines you spent huge funds to build seem not very effective, do you have confidence in blocking the devils behind Jiangyin Fortress and the Xicheng Line National Defense Works?"

After Tang Shengzhi finished speaking, all eyes in the conference room turned to Lv Muzhi.

Lv Muzhi smiled: "Money was indeed spent a lot, but even if these national defense works cannot stop the devils, should we really not invest in these national defense works?"

"As for whether we can block the devils, I can't say; don't you all have the answer in your hearts? You're all preparing to relocate the capital—what's the point of discussing this?"

"What I can do is kill more devils, which can be considered not shirking my responsibility as a soldier."

Fifteenth Group Army Commander Chen Cheng coughed and said: "Wei Yue makes sense. My Ninth Group Army and Wei Yue's fought side by side in Songhu for over two months. To speak fairly, Wei Yue's military achievements are unmatched by anyone present."

After speaking, Chen Cheng nodded at Lv Muzhi.

Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Third War Zone Gu Zhutong also said: "Yes, to be honest, what is money to those present? Of course, I personally don't have much money..."

"My meaning is, as long as something can be solved with money, it's not a big deal. If spending one hundred legal tender can buy a little devil's life, the country would not hesitate even if it meant losing everything. What are a few national defense works!"

Seeing everyone helping Lv Muzhi speak, Tang Shengzhi glanced at Liu Zhi, who had retreated from North China and was mocked by public opinion as the "Flying General."

Liu Zhi kept his head down at this moment, trying to minimize his presence. As Lv Muzhi's teacher from Whampoa, his current situation could be called embarrassing.

As a former famous general of the Northern Expedition, after fighting one battle with the devils, his troops collapsed over a thousand li, and all his former glory was wiped out.

"Well said. Wei Yue still has merits in the Central China war, but the retreat from North China was too fast, wasn't it?" Tang Shengzhi brought up Liu Zhi again. Since the country was forced to relocate its capital, in his view, the front-line commanders should all be held accountable!

Liu Zhi had been in retreat for some time now, and was now like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, completely ignoring Tang Shengzhi's words.

In Lv Muzhi's view, Tang Shengzhi holding front-line commanders accountable now was partly out of patriotic sentiment, and partly because he held no military power himself; seeing the front line defeated again and again, he also had the urge to match skills with the devils.

After all, Tang Shengzhi had once been considered a famous general of the Northern Expedition. Watching the central and local armies take turns on the field, Tang Shengzhi at this moment was also "itching to try."

Fifth War Zone Commander-in-Chief Li Zongren was also present, and seeing the topic had deviated from the meeting theme, he corrected: "Alright, past events cannot be pursued. Let's first plan for the immediate matters. Relocating the capital is settled. What needs to be determined now is: if the Xicheng Line is broken, what about Jinling? Abandon it? Defend it? Who will defend it?"

Gu Zhutong said: "Although the Xicheng Line is still holding, the Japanese fleet downstream of Jiangyin is a huge threat. I think the Japanese army arriving at the gates of Jinling City is only a matter of ten days or so."

"Jinling is an absolute ground. Whether to defend it or not—this matter is indeed tricky?"

Li Zongren was already very tired. For this matter, he had already convened the third meeting. No one had voluntarily stood up to say they would defend Jinling, and what they said was all ambiguous.

Actually, this matter had little to do with Li Zongren. Who would defend Jinling was not up to Li Zongren. Li Zongren had already been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone and would soon depart for Xuzhou to deploy operations.

It was just that this matter was too big, so Li Zongren was also left behind to accompany everyone in the meeting.

The first time, no one was willing to defend Jinling—meeting adjourned!

The second time, no one was willing to defend it—meeting adjourned again!

Then let's hold a third meeting!

The old man's attitude was already very clear: Jinling must be defended. If no one was willing to come out and defend Jinling, then this meeting could go on indefinitely.

Seeing everyone silent again, the old man spoke: "Jinling is the national capital! It is where the late Prime Minister's mausoleum is located! International opinion and domestic hearts all depend on this! Without firing a single shot, handing it over to the Wang Jingwei Regime—how can I answer to the army and people of the whole country? How can I answer to the late Prime Minister in heaven?!"

"The first two meetings were discussed but not decided. Today, before I go to Chongqing, there must be a result!"

"Who is willing to take on the heavy responsibility of defending Jinling?"

"Who is willing to serve as the Jinling Garrison Commander?"

Everyone knew that this title of Garrison Commander was absolutely not a cushy position at this moment.

Jinling was surrounded by water on three sides, an absolute ground destined to be soaked in blood.

Minister of Military Administration He Yingqin turned to look at the old man, attempting to analyze from a realistic perspective: "Defending the city requires sufficient troops, complete fortifications, ample ammunition and grain, and also a senior commander with enough prestige and seniority to command respect, firm will, and steady command."

"Currently, our army's main force, after continuous hard battles at Songhu, Wufu, and Xicheng, urgently needs rest and replenishment. If the Japanese warships sail up the river, naval gunfire can directly strike the positions of our garrison troops inside the city... How long can our garrison troops hold out? All these need comprehensive consideration..."

He Yingqin's implication was: this job is too risky, not a good one to take.

Liu Zhi remained silent. The defeat in North China in October had completely stripped him of the qualification and courage to undertake such a heavy responsibility.

Li Zongren shook his head slightly. Strictly speaking, Jinling's defense was not his responsibility, and he also had his own matters to attend to.

Just when this awkward silence was almost solidifying, Lv Muzhi frowned. If none of these Army Generals wanted to defend it, why not let me, a Lieutenant General, take on this heavy responsibility?

Thinking this, Lv Muzhi gritted his teeth and was about to stand up.

"Fellow colleagues! I am untalented, but I am willing to defend Jinling!"

Everyone's gaze turned to the speaker. It turned out to be Army Level One General Tang Shengzhi volunteering.