Chapter 256: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 256 Persuade to Surrender?

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Inside the Central China Area Army Headquarters of General Matsui Iwane, a brief record was carefully placed before him by a staff officer.

Matsui Iwane skimmed it quickly, and after learning of Lv Muzhi's remarks at the press conference, he let out a snort.

"Quite a tone! This Lv Muzhi thinks that with a few poison gas shells of unknown origin, he can frighten the Empire's great army? North China? Let him first worry about what's right in front of him!"

"Your Excellency Commander," the Chief of Staff spoke cautiously from the side, "the results of our internal inventory are out. There are no records of large-scale losses of Louis gas shells sent to the frontline, but that Lv Muzhi can use such weapons to counterattack is indeed suspicious.

Whether captured, secretly imported, or independently produced, this is a variable we must be highly vigilant about for our subsequent operational plans."

The sneer on Matsui Iwane's face slowly faded.

Though all is fair in war, judging from several months of combat performance, Lv Muzhi does not seem like someone who talks big.

He dared to declare so forcefully before reporters that he would fight to the end; I fear it is not mere bluster.

"Is he threatening us? Trying to deter us from using chemical weapons with equal retaliation?" Matsui Iwane's fingers tapped the tabletop as he fell into thought.

Using poison gas against Xia Guo, Matsui Iwane could do so without any scruples.

But now, Lv Muzhi had suddenly produced a poisoned dagger; though perhaps not as sharp as his own blade, a stab would be just as fatal to Matsui Iwane.

"Let's probe first..." Matsui Iwane finally made a decision: "Order the frontline troops to select the Zijin Mountain and Yuhuatai positions, and carry out another poison gas attack, coordinated with conventional artillery fire.

Observe the reactions of the China Men, especially the scale, speed, and characteristics of the poison gas they use in retaliation.

I want to see if this Lv Muzhi truly has the confidence, or if he is just playing the Empty City Stratagem!"

The order was issued. The Japanese Army once again poured poison gas shells and shells onto Zijin Mountain and Yuhuatai. The yellow-green death mist once again spread over the battlefield.

However, this time, the defenders' response was faster and more equal than before.

Almost before the Japanese Army's poison gas smoke had fully dispersed, mortar shells from preset positions in the rear and on the flanks came howling in, exploding into dense, pungent yellow-green smoke that precisely covered the areas where the Japanese Army had just released poison gas and the infantry formations following up.

Although both sides began to retreat after being struck by poison gas, it was another cruel exchange, with soldiers on both sides struggling in agony in the poison mist, their cries faintly carrying across the battle line.

The attacking Japanese Army was once again thrown into confusion by this merciless equal retaliation, and casualty reports quickly reached Matsui Iwane.

Matsui Iwane could no longer sit still; he personally came to a field hospital in the rear treating the wounded.

The scene before him made even this veteran general, long experienced in battle, feel a pang of alarm.

The tent was packed with soldiers groaning in pain; many had exposed skin covered in horrifying blisters and ulcers, their eyes red and swollen shut, breathing with difficulty.

Military doctors and nurses bustled about, but facing such injuries, their methods were limited, mostly just alleviating pain.

The air was filled with the scent of medicine, pus and blood, and despair.

If Matsui Iwere could choose for himself, Matsui Iwane would rather be blown to pieces by a shell than be grazed by this poison gas!

A young soldier grabbed the trouser leg of Matsui Iwane as he walked past, begging in a hoarse, muffled voice: "Commander... kill me... it hurts so much..."

Large areas of that soldier's face had already begun to ulcerate; his appearance was pitiful beyond measure.

Wounded like this, over a thousand had already been admitted to this field hospital; the hospital's medicines had been consumed on a large scale, many soldiers were beyond cure, and could only receive simple debridement treatment.

Matsui Iwane withdrew his leg and quickly left the tent.

The cold air outside could not dispel the chill in his heart and the powerful visual shock.

"Could it be... that the China Men really have a stable source? Even... the ability to produce it?"

Once this thought took root, it quickly grew.

Lv Muzhi's forceful retaliation and the miserable state of the wounded before his eyes both pointed to this unsettling possibility.

If they continued to fight poison with poison this way, even if they eventually took Jinling, he would gain a large number of wounded and burdens, far less swift and clean than a single bullet.

This cost, he Matsui Iwane could not bear, and the Imperial General Headquarters would never accept.

A thought emerged.

Matsui Iwane summoned the Chief of Staff: "Arrange it. Through the frontline liaison channel, inform the Jinling Garrison Command that I, Central China Area Army Commander Matsui Iwane, wish to have a telephone conversation with Commander Tang Shengzhi and Deputy Commander Lv Muzhi!"

Soon, at the frontline where the two armies faced off, signal soldiers from both sides carrying telephone wires gathered together and carefully connected the special telephone lines under the muzzles of both sides' guns.

A special communication channel crossing the line of fire was established.

Lv Muzhi and Tang Shengzhi sat in the headquarters office, holding the telephone receivers to their ears; other senior officers on site also held receivers to listen.

However, only the telephones before Lv Muzhi and Tang Shengzhi could communicate with the devils on the other side.

Matsui Iwane's voice came from the receiver, relayed through a translator, reaching Tang Shengzhi's ears: "General Tang Shengzhi, I have long admired you. I am Matsui Iwane, Commander of the Central China Area Army of the Great Wang Jingwei Regime."

All the officers present were hearing the voice of Matsui Iwane, supreme commander of the Central China Area Army, for the first time, and they frowned, their expressions varied.

Tang Shengzhi held the microphone, cleared his throat, and said righteously and sternly: "Matsui Iwane! When two armies are at war, whatever words there are, it comes down to one death! If you're here to persuade surrender, don't even open your mouth! I, Tang, have the will to live and die with Jinling, and heaven and earth can bear witness!"

Matsui Iwane seemed not surprised by Tang Shengzhi's reaction; his voice continued through the translator: "General Tang, your loyalty and bravery are admirable. However, the way of war is not always driven by hot blood alone.

Your country's Leader has fled far to the Southwest, leaving you all here to fight to the death in an isolated city, with no certain relief from outside, and internally... well, to speak plainly, with the martial force of Emperor Chuo, how long can your troops hold out?

Better to surrender from the city; the Imperial General Headquarters can guarantee your safety and wealth."

Tang Shengzhi was furious upon hearing this and was about to retort, but Lv Muzhi gently pressed his arm, took the microphone, and spoke directly in fluent Japanese:

"Your Excellency Matsui Iwane, I am Lv Muzhi. There's no need to repeat such clichés about persuading surrender.

Defending the land and protecting the country is a soldier's duty; as for how long we can hold, haven't you already tried at Zijin Mountain?"

Hearing Lv Muzhi speak Japanese directly, the other end of the phone clearly paused, seeming somewhat surprised, and the translation step was saved.

Matsui Iwane's voice came directly, his tone becoming somewhat serious: "General Lu, indeed young and accomplished, and your Japanese is so fluent.

Your remarks at the press conference, I am already aware of them; I very much admire your courage and ability.

However, war is a contest of strength; relying only on momentary blood courage and some weapons of special origin cannot change the overall situation..."

Lv Muzhi directly interrupted Matsui Iwane, saying: "So what? I won't surrender. What can you do about it?"

Matsui Iwane let out a cold snort: "Although you have escaped from my hands several times and won some victories, times have changed. My troops are now encircling Jinling, and I will blockade both land and water routes. If you fall into my hands, hehe, the outcome will not be too good..."

Lv Muzhi laughed heartily: "Setting aside everything else, do you think your encirclement can stop me?"

"Provided that I want to leave, the road is right beneath my feet! ~"