Chapter 255: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 255: Accompanying to the End

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Inside Jinling City, at the Garrison Command headquarters.

The urgent battle report from the frontline had already been transmitted back.

"Our forces, at the pre-set positions south of Zijin Mountain, used special ammunition to fire-cover the Japanese attacking formation, with significant effect; the Japanese Sixth Division's offensive was frustrated, and they have retreated to the rear."

The communications officer read the telegram sent back by Zhang Fei from the Zijin Mountain position; when he reached the words "special ammunition," he also unconsciously paused for a moment.

Senior officers such as Tang Shengzhi, Luo Zhuoying, and Liu Xing, as well as some staff officers present, were all stunned.

They recognized these words individually, but what exactly did they mean when combined? What kind of weapon was special ammunition, and how could it repel Gu Shoufu's Sixth Division, which was equipped with Lewisite?

Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to Lv Muzhi, who had just returned from Zijin Mountain not long ago; in their minds, they had already associated it with the crates at the wharf, the mysterious artillery battalion, and Lv Muzhi's vague warning at the press conference.

Could it really be just as they thought—that Lv Muzhi had mobilized that forbidden power?

Tang Shengzhi opened his mouth, wanting to say something; if Lv Muzhi had used chemical weapons, he himself was somewhat afraid of Japanese retaliation afterward, but in the end, he still did not speak.

Luo Zhuoying's complexion was even more complex, and he asked: "Commander Lv, could it be that you, like the devils, have used chemical weapons?"

Tang Shengzhi muttered: "There are too many reporters inside the city; if this gets out, it probably won't sound good. This kind of weapon is too inhumane..."

"We want to see Commander Tang and Commander Lv!"

A noisy clamor came from downstairs, with faint sounds of foreign languages arguing.

An officer rushed in to report: "Gentlemen! Many foreign reporters have gathered outside! They don't know where they got the news, saying... saying our army used Lewisite on Zijin Mountain! They demand an interview with the Jinling Garrison Command!"

Indeed! The news leaked so fast!

It seemed that the dramatic changes on the frontline, and that obvious yellow-green poison cloud, simply could not be hidden from those omnipresent reporters who always kept an eye on the war situation.

Tang Shengzhi forced himself to calm down. He had previously invited reporters to see how the Xia Guo Army bravely resisted, but not to let them see the use of poison gas!

Lv Muzhi's face still had no expression, and he looked at the communications officer: "Notify all positions to strengthen alertness. If the Japanese continue to use poison gas, the Mortar Battalion will respond with an equal dosage!"

Tang Shengzhi took a deep breath, knowing this matter could no longer be suppressed. Since Lv Muzhi had already paved the way, he could only go along with it. Moreover, this method indeed dealt the Japanese a heavy blow, which was also a good thing.

He waved his hand and said to the staff officer: "Do as Wei Yue said. Also, we can indeed accept interviews. We have held Zijin Mountain and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, which counts as a victory; it should be publicized."

The staff officer acknowledged and left.

Luo Zhuoying walked to the window, looking at the increasingly large and emotionally agitated crowd of reporters downstairs, and said: "This time, an international headline is unavoidable. Commander Lv, you've really lit a big fire. The old man cares a lot about face; I don't know what he'll think."

The clamor inside the city, the cruelty on the frontline, the huge waves about to be stirred up by international public opinion, and the two ships on the Yangtze River fully loaded with more Lewisite shells...

Everything indicated that this battle had slid into an even darker abyss. Poison gas, once rampant on the battlefields of the First World War, had returned!

From the secret warehouse at Xiaguan Wharf and the two ships that had just arrived at port, more professional artillerymen carried wooden boxes marked with yellow labels onto trucks, escorted by the Guard Company, rushing toward the various city gates where artillery fire raged.

Soon, yellow-green smoke clouds that made the Japanese lose their souls also rose one after another at various positions outside Jinling City.

The effect was immediate.

The Japanese offensive momentum was like hitting an invisible wall filled with deadly poison.

No matter how veteran a division was, encountering such a scale of such equal chemical weapon retaliation could only retreat to the rear and switch to a standoff state.

However arrogant the Japanese had been before, they were now that disheveled.

A large number of Japanese wounded soldiers with their entire bodies rotting were sent to the rear field hospital; the entire hospital was overcrowded, and medicines soon ran out.

General Matsui Iwane weighed the pros and cons and finally ordered all troops to temporarily suspend the frontal strong attack on Jinling, switching to consolidating their existing departure positions, strengthening reconnaissance and artillery blockade;

At the same time, he concentrated forces to gradually form an encirclement from the east, south, and west, cutting off Jinling's land connection with the outside world, while urging the navy to speed up and approach Xiaguan Wharf from the water as soon as possible, completely sealing off Jinling!

Inside Jinling City, the Garrison Command held another press conference.

Reporters from various countries had, through various channels, more or less learned about the special battles occurring at Zijin Mountain, Yuhuatai, and other places.

Tang Shengzhi, as usual, gave the opening remarks first, reiterating the determination to defend Jinling, and condemning the Japanese atrocities.

But his speech seemed somewhat formulaic; the reporters' attention was obviously more focused on Lv Muzhi, who stood calmly to the side.

Indeed, as soon as the Q&A session began, the fire was directed at Lv Muzhi.

A reporter from the American New York Times stood up first and asked straightforwardly:

"General Lv, we have received news that your army used chemical weapons on Zijin Mountain and other positions, believed to be Lewisite. Was it you who personally issued the order? How do you comment on this? Is this an escalation of warfare methods?"

Everyone's gaze and camera lenses focused on Lv Muzhi's face.

Lv Muzhi stood up, having already prepared his draft in his mind:

"First, I need to make one point clear again: it was not our army that used it first, but the Japanese army, during months of warfare, from Songhu to the Xicheng Line, continuously and on a large scale used various chemical weapons including mustard gas and Lewisite against our army and civilians, causing a shocking humanitarian disaster. The international community has seen it all, and the evidence is conclusive."

"Facing such shameless atrocities by the Japanese army that completely violate international laws of war; when our soldiers die in agony in the poison gas; when our civilians are brutally slaughtered in the poison mist;

If we merely passively endure and protest verbally, that is not only irresponsible toward the lives of our soldiers and people, but also condones the aggressors' atrocities."

"Therefore, our army has adopted limited, equal retaliatory measures. All responsibility for this war should be borne by the Japanese army and the ambitious imperial family!"

A low murmur of discussion and nodding arose from below the stage.

Many Western reporters showed expressions of understanding or even agreement.

Next, a reporter from The Times stood up: "General Lv, thank you for your explanation.

Then, does this mean that chemical weapons will become conventional weapons of the Xia Guo Army, like mortar shells? Does your country already have the capacity to continuously produce such weapons?"

This question silenced the room again; even Tang Shengzhi held his breath, looking at Lv Muzhi.

Lv Muzhi was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, his voice not loud: "I can only say that if the Japanese army wants to fight a poison gas war, I will accompany them to the end. As for the source of the poison gas, I have nothing to say; if the Japanese army doesn't believe it, they can continue to verify it on the Jinling battlefield.

Just as Commander Tang has resolved to live and die with Jinling, if the Japanese army insists on using poison gas to turn this place into hell, I don't mind dragging the Japanese army into this human purgatory as well.

Moreover, I guarantee that Jinling is just the beginning; the Japanese army in North China will also face poison gas countermeasures!"

An uproar immediately broke out below the stage!

Does this mean that the Xia Guo Army is no longer a helpless lamb awaiting slaughter, unable to counterattack, in the field of chemical warfare?

The Japanese reporter seated on the platform did not ask a question this time, merely wiping sweat while quickly recording Lv Muzhi's words in his notebook.

Lv Muzhi looked at this Japanese reporter, smiling as he said: "Don't rush, I'll give you the speech draft in a moment, and definitely make sure your Matsui Iwane receives firsthand news as soon as possible."