Chapter 272

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Han Fuqu's curse made Hua Guzheng's smile freeze on his face, but he soon regained that polite, seemingly-in-control posture.

"General Han, you're being too impolite. Why such anger?" Hua Guzheng spoke decent Chinese, slowly saying, "As the saying goes, a good bird chooses its tree. The Imperial Army's momentum is tremendous—wherever they go, Shanghai, Jinling, you must have seen it."

"Li Zongren's Fifth War Zone? Merely a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

"The Central Army's so-called elites are nothing special in the eyes of my North China Area Army."

"Hmph!" Han Fuqu snorted coldly, tossed his scallion pancake onto the table, and began to think.

"General Han, just nod your head, join hands with the Imperial Army, drive Li Zongren away, and Shandong will still be your Shandong."

"The Imperial Army can even support you in establishing a government in North China that better represents the interests of the North China people. Then you won't just be the King of Shandong, but the King of North China—why would you still need to look at the Central Government's face?"

Han Fuqu didn't speak immediately, grabbed a pancake from the table and took a big bite, then spat it out the next moment: "Ugh, these old scallion skins just won't chew!"

"Hua Guzheng, you little devil, stop feeding me soul-soup! I'm now a Second-Class General in the qualification evaluation, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone! Team up with you little devils? Wouldn't that make me a traitor?!"

"If I die in the future, my ancestors' ancestral hall won't accept me, my grave will be dug up! A name cursed for ten thousand ages—I can't bear it, and I dare not bear it! Absolutely not!"

A warlord preserving his strength is one thing; openly surrendering to the enemy and becoming a traitor is another.

Once that reputation stinks, in Xia Guo, which values local clan law, it will truly be a stench for ten thousand ages, and even descendants won't be able to hold their heads up.

Seeing Han Fuqu unwilling to surrender, Hua Guzheng threatened: "General Han, if you insist on being enemies with the Imperial Army, we can only eliminate you and your Third Group Army on the spot."

"Your troops probably can't escape total annihilation. By then, forget territory—even your life will be hard to preserve. What's the point of talking about reputation?"

"Hahaha!" Han Fuqu seemed to have heard a huge joke. "Total annihilation? Hua Guzheng, who are you trying to scare?"

"I left Jinan without any intention of staying in Shandong. You think I'll fight you in Taian? You're overthinking it. I serve no one—go find Li Zongren."

"By the time you painstakingly chase after me, I'll have long since run without a trace! Want to wipe me out? You're dreaming your mother's spring and autumn dream!"

Hua Guzheng was now helpless. It turned out Han Fuqu would rather be a deserter than a traitor, and being a deserter with such righteous confidence!

"General Han, aren't you afraid the Military Commission will hold you responsible for losing Shandong? Deserting in the face of the enemy is a capital offense under military law."

"Hold responsible?" Han Fuqu curled his lip, looking completely indifferent. "The capital Jinling has also fallen—who has the old man held responsible?"

"Tang Shengzhi is too foolish. Better to live in disgrace than die with honor. Didn't Sun Yuanlang run away without any consequences?"

"Adding one more Han Fuqu makes no difference; losing one makes no difference either!"

"Besides, I have guns and troops in my hands. Even if he wants to move against me, he'll have to weigh it first!"

Han Fuqu laid bare the warlord's survival logic: with troops comes the right to speak. As long as he doesn't openly surrender to the enemy, no one can do anything to him for the time being.

Hua Guzheng fell silent for a moment. Seeing Han Fuqu was immovable, he changed his approach: "General Han's high opinion is correct. Preserving strength is indeed the top priority."

"But retreating all the way like this is ultimately not a long-term plan."

"Even if the Central Government is helpless for now, you've truly lost your territory. In the future, you'll inevitably be settled with after the fact!"

Han Fuqu was actually uneasy in his heart, not knowing how the old man would deal with him.

Hua Guzheng continued: "As a friend, I happen to have another path to point out to General Han."

"You won't have to bear the traitor's infamy, and you can still keep your strength, even gaining more confidence to deal with the Central Government."

"Oh? Tell me." Han Fuqu became interested, thinking there was actually such a good thing, and unconsciously leaned forward.

Hua Guzheng whispered: "According to my knowledge, Liu Xiang of Sichuan Province is currently recuperating in Wuhan. He went out of Sichuan to resist Japan, but his Sichuan Army was dismantled by the Central Government into pieces. The resentment in his heart is probably no less than yours."

"You and Liu Xiang can now be considered fellow sufferers. Rather than each being manipulated by the Central Government, why not huddle together for warmth?"

"General Han, why not go to Wuhan and meet Liu Xiang in person? You two generals holding heavy troops join hands, and at the same time contact Provincial Chairman Long Yun of Yunnan Province. Based on the complex terrain of Sichuan and Yunnan and your influence, create a Southwest Mutual Protection, or even a Southwest Alliance, to jointly resist the Central Government's excessive extension."

"Close the gates of Sichuan Province a bit tighter, strengthen the fences of Yunnan Province... By then, in the Southwest, even if the Central Government is a dragon, it must coil; if a tiger, it must crouch. Where would it dare to move against you in the slightest?"

After hearing this, Han Fuqu's eyes widened, his mind spinning rapidly: Liu Xiang? Long Yun? Southwest Mutual Protection? Join forces to blockade Sichuan Province? Not let the Central Government's influence continue to extend?

"This actually sounds like it has some potential. Ally with those few in the Southwest to oppose the Central Government—who would dare to hold me responsible for abandoning Shandong?!"

Hua Guzheng's smile became meaningful. The seed had been planted in Han Fuqu's heart.

"Anyway, as long as cracks and suspicion are produced within Xia Guo, it benefits the Empire."

"Moreover, Liu Xiang has always been on good terms with Lv Muzhi, and the two are even in Wuhan at the same time."

"If Han Fuqu goes to find Liu Xiang, the Japanese Army side will appropriately spread news of Southwest Mutual Protection and Southwest Alliance, fabricating that Lv Muzhi is about to collude with Liu Xiang, Han Fuqu, and others, threatening the Central Government's position."

"In that case, Lv Muzhi will inevitably be suspected."

"Where the Youth Army goes from there will be an unknown."

"This also happens to complete the task arranged by the Imperial General Headquarters for the Japanese Army's secret police agency, successfully toppling Lv Muzhi."

Thinking of this, Hua Guzheng was in a good mood, humming a little tune, leisurely leaving Han Fuqu's large camp.

Wuhan, Liu Mansion, the recuperation place of Liu Xiang, Commander-in-Chief of the Seventh War Zone.

Liu Xiang half-reclined on a reclining chair covered with a thick blanket, listening to the person in front of him speak.

Lv Muzhi sat on a hardwood chair beside him, his military cap placed on his knees.

"So, Wei Yue, this trip of yours to Xuzhou means you're directly under Li De Lin's command?" Liu Xiang coughed twice, his voice somewhat hoarse.

Lv Muzhi nodded: "Yes, the Fifth War Zone is under enormous pressure, the situation in Shandong is bad, and Commander Li urgently needs fresh troops."

Liu Xiang smiled bitterly, his gaze turning to the window: "I still envy you. When I left Sichuan, what spirit my hundred thousand men had!"

"But what was the result? The troops were transferred east and dismantled west. I, Liu Fu Cheng, am nominally Commander-in-Chief, but where are the troops available under me? How could I not know the Central Government's defensive heart? After all, no one else is allowed to sleep soundly beside the couch."

"But the problem is, this Sichuan Province was originally my couch!"

Liu Xiang was somewhat disheartened. This was truly complex—going out of Sichuan to resist Japan was genuine, but hoping to preserve his last territory and troops in Sichuan Province was also genuine.