Chapter 246

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

After waiting more than ten seconds and the old man still hadn't arrived, Liu Zhi simply started chatting with Lv Muzhi first.

"Hey, Wei Yue, are you there?"

"I'm online, what's up, Chief Liu?"

Liu Zhi said: "I've been in Chongqing for several days now, and I've already moved into the house you arranged—very thoughtful of you. As for that advisor position you gave me, I've thought it over, and I'd rather not take it."

Lv Muzhi asked: "Say, Chief Liu, no need to worry. Your advisor position can be treated as a part-time job, the advisor fee won't be reduced by a single cent, and you don't need to report for duty."

But Liu Zhi said: "Wei Yue, I have a favor to ask."

"Please speak, sir."

"Ever since my defeat fighting the Japanese army on the Jinpu Road in North China, I haven't been able to eat or sleep well. I spent dozens of days and nights reflecting on that battle, summarizing why my Third Group Army failed in combat. Now, I have some preliminary ideas..."

Lv Muzhi thought: Liu Zhi couldn't possibly want to return to the frontline, could he? But he's a Second-Class General; discussing this with me wouldn't be of any use. Could he be thinking of becoming a staff officer in my Youth Army?

Forget it! Not to mention ability, just speaking of his rank—he's already a teacher-student relationship 【with me】, so it wouldn't be easy to carry out work.

"Wei Yue, I want a position at your Southwest Military Academy. Would it be alright for me to be an instructor? Although I'm a defeated general, I am indeed a genuine Second-Class General, and I've fought against the Japanese army. Being an instructor isn't excessive, is it?"

These words from Liu Zhi came as an unexpected surprise to Lv Muzhi.

The Southwest Military Academy was a military school I founded to train grassroots cadres for the Youth Army, and most graduates would enter my Youth Army to serve.

Liu Zhi, this general, coming to my Southwest Military Academy to be an instructor...

It wasn't impossible!

A Second-Class General lending his name to my Southwest Military Academy—where could I find such a good thing?!

"Wei Yue, after thinking it over, I still miss those days teaching at Whampoa. Earning a few dozen yuan a month, where would there be so many disputes...

Wei Yue, why aren't you speaking?"

"Sigh, fine then, I've put you in a spot..."

"Hey! Chief Liu, the signal was just bad. I agree, I completely agree! You coming to my Southwest Military Academy as an instructor—I couldn't ask for more!" After confirming Liu Zhi was sincere, Lv Muzhi hurriedly responded.

"Really?! What about letting me be a tactical instructor? I might not be able to teach other things, but I'm confident in teaching infantry tactics, especially against Japanese tactics!"

Shaking his head on the other end of the phone, Lv Muzhi said: "Tactical instructor? No, that doesn't match your general status. How about this: Honorary President of the Southwest Military Academy, plus Director of the Teaching Department, and all instructors in the Teaching Department will be under your command... Oh, I'm too excited. If it really won't work, I'll even give you the position of President."

On the other end of the phone, Liu Zhi hurriedly refused: "Oh no no, the President of the Southwest Military Academy is you. Wouldn't that be me crowning myself king? Then it's settled as you said. I'll report to your Southwest Military Academy tomorrow!

I can't make it in the troops anymore, so I'll retreat to the second line to focus on education. Don't worry, I'll do my best to make every one of your students just like you!"

"I don't have that many soldiers for them to lead if they're all like Wei Yue!" An older voice came from the other end of the phone—it was indeed the old man himself.

Liu Zhi quickly handed the phone over, and the old man's voice became even clearer as it reached Lv Muzhi's ears: "Wei Yue, this former teacher of yours nearly drove me to death back then. The North China campaign failed, and he threw away all my face. He turned the 'Blessed General' nickname I gave him into 'Flying General' and 'Pig General'!"

"You're the one who lets me rest easy!"

Lv Muzhi said with a smile: "How could that be? Chief Liu just hasn't adjusted..."

"Enough, enough, don't mention him speaking. I see, names might be wrong, but nicknames are never wrong.

Let's not talk about him. I've already received news of the great victory at Jiangyin.

I received this news in the Commander-in-Chief's Mansion you prepared for me in advance. I'm thrilled. You've worked hard!"

Lv Muzhi said on the other end of the phone: "Serving the war of resistance, the student does not shirk hardship!"

"I called you for no other reason. You've achieved so much; you indeed qualify for promotion. Liu Zhifu (Liu Zhi) nags in my ear every day, nearly driving me crazy!

He even said that if possible, he'd remove one of his Second-Class General stars and pin it on your collar tab.

Hmph, Liu Zhifu is with me now. The only presentable thing he has is you, his student!"

Lv Muzhi hurriedly refused: "Absolutely not. Chief Liu's general star was earned with his own life. How dare I borrow the stars on his shoulders."

"To be honest, I did have the idea of promoting you to Second-Class General, but I have a concern!

Listen to me: as long as you resign from your position as Deputy Garrison Commander of Jinling right now, I'll immediately break the rules and add an extra Second-Class General position for you! Even if the Xicheng Line falls, I'll set up a Deputy Theater Commander position for you in the Fifth War Zone to help me watch over... oh no, assist Li Zongren!"

Hearing these words from the old man, Lv Muzhi remained silent for a long time.

Seeing that Lv Muzhi had no reaction, the voice on the other end of the phone continued: "Wei Yue, I received news that the Japanese Fourth Fleet has merged with the Third Fleet. The Central China Area Army has replenished its troops and equipment. If, I mean if...

The Xicheng Line falls, and something happens to you in Jinling, what good would giving you a Second-Class General rank do?

Your Second-Class General rank hasn't even warmed up yet. If you live and die with Jinling City, wouldn't that be no different from a posthumous promotion?

If you're staying in Jinling just for this general rank, listen to me: there's no need. Your current military achievements are already more than enough... I don't want to promote someone who's going to die!"

After the old man finished speaking, Lv Muzhi said: "While in office, plan for the position, bear the responsibility, and do the work. If I'm still alive in the end, you can promote me whenever you want!

Once I'm Deputy Garrison Commander of Jinling, I won't easily become a deserter!"

After hanging up the phone, Japanese Central China Area Army General Matsui Iwane called the artillery position: "The latest Louis Poison Gas has arrived. As long as the Chinese don't retreat for a day, the poison gas shells will keep bombing for a day!"

On the positions where the two armies faced each other at the frontline, because they had been fighting for many days, the various divisions of the army had built staggered field fortifications, facing off against Chen Cheng's troops.

The daily routine of the two armies was throwing shells at each other, with mortars, mountain guns, and field guns bombarding one another, and sniper fire never ceasing.

The Japanese army's overall casualties were far more than Chen Cheng's, after all, the Xicheng Line National Defense Works were quite sturdy.

Today, a large batch of Japanese poison gas shells arrived at the positions. Three mortar battalions and several professional poison gas combat detachments also joined the battlefield.

The regular Japanese infantry in the positions saw this scene and all stepped aside to make way, looking at these chemical weapons like they were plague gods, fearing they couldn't avoid them fast enough.

The poison gas troops entered the artillery position. The poison gas shells and poison gas cylinders were transported into the already-dug anti-artillery caves, ready for later use.

"Division Commander Gu Shoufu, your division's gas-proof suits are in place. Please immediately send troops to collect them and accept relevant training!" Gu Shoufu of the Sixth Division received a call from General Matsui Iwane and understood this was about using tactics against the Xia State Army opposite them!