Chapter 273

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi's expression was solemn as he comforted him: "The overall situation of the War of Resistance cannot do without all parties working together with one heart. Rest assured and recuperate from your illness; I'll make things clear to the old man. Once your health improves, you'll still be of use in Central China, North China, and even in the counteroffensive."

Liu Xiang shook his head: "Not being a stumbling block for others is already not bad. When you entered the Southwest back then, you paved the way with money, and your methods were relatively mild. But this time, the Central Government is directly relocating the capital to the Southwest; they're probably going to take away all our power and territory!"

"Wei Yue, you're young, have guts, and also have strength."

"Go to Xuzhou, fight well, kill more devils. As for this old sickly bone of mine, forget it."

Before his voice faded, the adjutant's slightly hurried low voice report came from outside the door: "Commander, General Han is suddenly visiting and is already in the guest hall downstairs, saying he must see you immediately."

"General Han? Which General Han?" Liu Xiang asked.

"General Han Fuqu of Shandong!"

Hearing this, Liu Xiang and Lv Muzhi were both stunned, exchanging a glance, seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

"Wasn't he leading his troops to Henan? Chairman Yin is about to go to Kaifeng to convene a military meeting to clean up the Shandong remnants. At this critical juncture, how did Han Fuqu run to Wuhan? And he even came directly here?" Liu Xiang frowned tightly, his face full of illness showing vigilance.

Lv Muzhi's thoughts turned even faster.

Han Fuqu abandoned Jinan and Taian, retreating like the wind, already causing public uproar. The old man's side hasn't made a clear statement yet, but settling accounts after autumn is almost certain.

At this moment, instead of staying in Henan to find a way to explain and plead guilty, he rushed to Wuhan to see Liu Xiang. The flavor of this isn't quite right.

Lv Muzhi said: "We can meet him. Bring him in. I'll avoid him first."

Liu Xiang pondered for a moment, nodded, and pointed to a small rest room separated by a screen: "Also good. You go into the inner room to hide for a while and listen to what he says."

Lv Muzhi stood up, was about to walk toward the screen, but stopped again.

Thinking of Han Fuqu's bandit-soldier habits and his possible mindset of a cornered dog jumping over the wall, he quickly walked to a corner of the room, where there was a dedicated telephone.

"This is Lv Muzhi. Bring some people over... yes, bring them all..."

After hanging up, Lv Muzhi walked behind the screen.

Not long after, heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs, accompanied by Han Fuqu's loud and brash voice: "Commander Liu! Commander Liu! Brother, I've come to see you!"

The door was pushed open. Han Fuqu wore civilian clothes, his back straight, but his eyes were somewhat shifty. As soon as he entered, he scanned the room.

"Brother Xiangfang (Han Fuqu's courtesy name), how did you come? Sit down quickly." Liu Xiang forced himself to sit up straighter, pointing to the chair opposite.

"Oh, Commander Liu, your complexion... you must take care of your health!" Han Fuqu plopped down, exchanged a few pleasantries, then asked seemingly casually: "Just you alone? No one else? I see your guards outside look quite fancy, even wearing steel helmets and carrying submachine guns?"

Liu Xiang responded in a flat tone: "Just me alone, recuperating quietly. However you say it, I'm still a lieutenant general; my personal guards naturally can't be sloppy. Brother Xiangfang, do you have business here?"

Han Fuqu rubbed his hands, adopting an expression of extreme grief: "Commander Liu, brother, I'm at my wit's end this time, coming to you for an idea, to pour out my bitterness!"

Without waiting for Liu Xiang's response, Han Fuqu began pouring out his bitterness on his own.

"The Central Government is biased! They promised artillery support, but I haven't even seen a shadow!

Li De Lin only knows to tell me to defend to the death. Damn it, the devils have planes, cannons, and tanks all complete. My little bit of household belongings—once spent, who will replenish them for me?"

"Now it's fine. Shanghai, Jinling, Jinan are all lost. I've pulled my troops to Henan. Chairman Yin is about to go to Kaifeng for a meeting. In my heart, I'm up and down with anxiety!"

"Don't look at him not speaking now. How does that saying go? Oh right, it's the tranquility before the storm! Settling accounts after autumn—probably can't escape!"

He spoke while observing Liu Xiang's reaction. Seeing Liu Xiang just listening silently with no expression on his face,

he shifted the topic and began to empathize: "Commander Liu, brother, I know your difficulties. You sent out a hundred thousand troops from Sichuan, but they were torn apart piece by piece. How could there be no resentment in your heart?"

"We people, said to be regional governors and great generals leading troops, but in the end, in the eyes of the Central Government, we're ultimately outsiders, miscellaneous troops! When useful, they give a sweet date; when not useful, or when they think we're in the way, they just clean us up!"

Liu Xiang closed his eyes slightly, sighed, and didn't respond.

Han Fuqu felt the time was ripe and sat directly beside Liu Xiang: "Commander Liu, there's an opportunity right now before us brothers!"

"Isn't Chairman Yin going to Henan for a meeting? That's just right—isn't the Southwest empty now?"

"Why don't we join hands? You have great prestige and experience, and in the Sichuan Army your word carries great weight. You can definitely find a way to let the Sichuan Army troops transferred out find an opportunity to return to Sichuan!"

"Although I, Han, am down on my luck now, the foundation of the Northwest Army is still there, and the brothers of the Northwest Army still recognize me."

"I can lead my troops to station in Hanzhong, serving as a barrier for you!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he became, his eyes shining: "By then, you'll sit in Chengdu, remotely controlling Sichuan and Kangding; I'll hold Hanzhong, responding to the old Northwest troops."

"We'll also secretly contact Chairman Long Yun of Yunnan Province. He must also be dissatisfied with the Central Government's infiltration! The three of us united will create a Southwest Mutual Defense!"

"By then, we'll have troops and territory in our hands, band together. Even if the Central Government wants to move against us, they'll have to weigh it carefully!"

"It's definitely better than now, being manipulated one by one, torn apart, and finally swallowed until not even bones remain!"

After finishing this grand plan, Han Fuqu caught his breath, looking at Liu Xiang with full expectation, waiting for his response.

However, Liu Xiang's reaction was like a basin of cold water, poured onto the ambition he had just ignited.

Only to see Liu Xiang slowly open his eyes, his gaze somewhat scattered. He looked behind the screen, then blankly at Han Fuqu, then raised his hand to dig his ear: "Ah? Brother Xiangfang... what did you just say?"

Han Fuqu only felt his mouth dry and tongue parched, thinking Commander Liu was seriously ill and hadn't heard clearly.

"Fine, didn't hear clearly, right? I'll explain it clearly to you again. The benefits for us here are huge!"

Liu Xiang hurriedly stopped him: "Hey hey, stop stop. My ears have been very bad these past two days, buzzing, and I took calming medicine, so my head is muddled... You came in and said a whole bunch of clatter..."

The expectation on Han Fuqu's face froze instantly, turning into astonishment, followed by anger at being toyed with.

"Liu Puxing! You..."

But Liu Xiang seemed not to see his expression: "Brother Xiangfang, who gave you the love potion? At this critical juncture, playing this kind of scheme—what's the difference from a traitor?"

"Listen to me, leave quickly. Don't go back to Henan, and certainly don't stay in Wuhan. Hurry and save your life!"

"Save my life? What joke is this? You old brother won't report me, will you? It's just losing Shandong. Can the higher-ups really execute me?!"

Liu Xiang closed his eyes, shook his head slightly, and waved his hand: "Go quickly, go quickly. I won't report you. Hurry and go. If you don't go now, it'll be too late."

Han Fuqu picked up the tea on the table, about to drink, but noticed something amiss: "This tea wasn't brewed for me?! Damn, it's still been drunk by someone else. You're too stingy..."

"If General Han wants tea, he can come to my headquarters for tea."

The screen was pushed open, and Lv Muzhi slowly walked out, his hand resting on his already unfastened gun holster.

Han Fuqu wanted to draw his gun, only to remember his pistol had long been kept by the guards outside the door.

"Heh heh, I thought it was someone, turns out it's Commander Little Lv, I won't drink the tea, I still have business, I'm going back first." Han Fuqu forced himself to stay calm, gave a heh heh laugh, and turned to leave.

"Hold on! This isn't up to you, let's go to Kaifeng together, drink tea and chat, and have a good talk about what's going on with Southwest Mutual Defense!"