Chapter 276

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

"We've already found out clearly. The ones who raided Hu Gongnan's garrison were Chu Yunfei's unit under Wei Yue. He took Sun Yuanlang away from Hu Gongnan, and there was no armed conflict between the two sides!

Also, Wei Yue sent a telegram saying he has already detained Han Fuqu, and is on a plane flying to Kaifeng right now!" Dai Li reported all the intelligence he had received in one breath.

The old man's heart finally settled. Put that way, Lv Muzhi had even directly seized his own confidant-turned-trouble, Han Fuqu.

No matter how the rumors flying outside went — saying Lv Muzhi wanted to form a Southwest mutual-defense pact with Liu Xiang and Han Fuqu — judging by the Youth Army marching north and Han Fuqu's arrest, those rumors were all unfounded.

"Have Li Zongren arrange it. Summon all senior officers of the Fifth War Zone. The moment Wei Yue's plane arrives, convene an operations meeting immediately!!!"

"Yes!"

Kaifeng, Provincial Government.

Li Zongren had already caught wind of some rumors.

"This was originally a Hongmen Banquet..." Li Zongren said with emotion.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff Bai Chongxi nodded: "Indeed. But now that Han Fuqu has been forcibly escorted here by Lv Weiyue, Generalissimo Han has lost even his last shred of dignity."

"So be it. If we don't punish a few runaway generals like this, it won't be enough to rally military morale!"

When Han Fuqu appeared at the provincial government, Li Zongren and the others felt very surprised.

Wasn't it said Han Fuqu was tied up and brought here? How come he's swaggering in like nothing happened to attend the meeting?

The neat sound of leather boots striking the ground came from outside the door, and the guards shouted: "Attention——!"

The door opened. Lv Muzhi, in a crisp general's uniform, pushed open the great doors of the conference hall.

"The Chairman arrives!" a voice announced.

Everyone sprang to their feet.

The old man wore his usual dark Zhongshan suit, expression stern, strides steady as he walked in, followed by Lv Muzhi and Han Fuqu.

The old man pointed at a chair up front and said: "Generalissimo Han, please sit."

Han Fuqu rotated his previously painfully-bound wrist, glanced at the expressionless Lv Muzhi, then looked at the old man seated in the center, his mind rapidly calculating.

When he got off the plane, Dai Li personally came to convey the Chairman's order, unbound Han Fuqu, and told him to change into uniform and attend the operations meeting, as if nothing had happened.

What game is this? Good cop, bad cop? First let Lv Muzhi play the villain to arrest me, now the old man plays the hero to unbind me, give me a way down, warn me, then let me redeem myself through merit?

"That's it, must be! The old man still needs the troops under my command, doesn't want to tear the face completely! This kid Lv Muzhi, really unscrupulous, he plays the villain so convincingly!" Han Fuqu thought secretly.

Thinking this, Han Fuqu's spine seemed to stiffen a bit more. Rubbing his red wrist, he sat down in the seat left for him, believing he had seen through Lv Muzhi's trick.

The old man cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Today I have summoned you all. The primary matter is to brief you on the current severe situation of the War of Resistance.

Since Lugou Bridge, our national military and civilians have shared a common hatred of the enemy, fought bloody battles, suffered enormous sacrifices, and also inflicted heavy blows on the enemy......

After experiencing one strategic defeat after another, the North China battlefield will now become the next key!"

Lv Muzhi said: "Victory and defeat are common in military affairs. Losing a battle is not scary. What is most scary is someone harboring ulterior motives, sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams!

Frontline soldiers shed blood and sacrifice, yet in the rear there are those who preserve their strength, fear the enemy like tigers, and even have commanders who flee at the mere rumor of the enemy!"

Han Fuqu's face reddened. Isn't this talking about me?

But Central Army officers have also run away. It seems I'm not the only one.

Li Zongren interjected aptly, saying with some pain: "The Chairman's words are absolutely correct. Especially the Shandong aspect. The Yellow River's natural barrier, the stronghold of Jinan — they could have delayed the Wang Jingwei regime, consumed their strength, and bought time for our Fifth War Zone's deployment.

But... the lesson is truly grievous!"

Han Fuqu stared wide-eyed at Li Zongren, feeling the other was truly unscrupulous, accusing him in a public setting.

The old man took over the thread, his tone suddenly turning severe: "Extraordinary times demand heavy measures! I decide to severely rectify military discipline! Those with merit will be rewarded! Those with faults will be investigated!

Especially those who shrink from battle, abandon key positions, causing the overall situation to become passive — Han Fuqu!"

Han Fuqu stood up with a conditioned reflex, his legs even going a bit soft.

"I ask you! As Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone and Commander-in-Chief of the Third Group Army, you were ordered to defend Shandong and guard the Yellow River! The Japanese Army had not yet forced a crossing, yet you abandoned the stronghold of Jinan without firing a shot!

The strategic point of Taian — you retreated without a fight! Causing the Yellow River defense line to be wide open, the Wang Jingwei regime to drive straight in, our Fifth War Zone's entire deployment disrupted, plunged into extreme passivity! Who should bear this responsibility?!"

Every word like a knife, every sentence piercing the heart. All eyes in the hall focused on Han Fuqu's pale, sweating face.

That bit of wishful thinking was utterly shattered. The old man wasn't playing good cop at all — this was openly making an example of him!

Immense fear and cornered desperation intertwined. Han Fuqu's head heated up, and he blurted out:

"Chairman! Shandong was lost due to my poor command!

But Jinling is our capital! Jinling lost — who should bear that responsibility?!

The several hundred thousand troops in Shanghai couldn't hold it either — who should bear that responsibility?!"

Han Fuqu went all out, attempting to muddy the waters and drag everyone down with him.

At these words, the entire assembly was shocked!

Li Zongren's brows knitted tight. Bai Chongxi's gaze turned cold. The other generals looked at each other in dismay, not expecting Han Fuqu to dare such a direct retort, even dragging in Jinling and Shanghai.

The old man's face instantly turned iron-green, fury burning in his eyes: "Right now I'm asking about Shandong! About the Yellow River! Not Jinling. Jinling lost — naturally someone will be held responsible!"

Just then, the side door of the conference hall suddenly opened.

Two military police strode in with large steps, walking straight up to Han Fuqu.

Without a word of unnecessary nonsense, the two military police, one left one right, directly seized Han Fuqu's arms.

Han Fuqu shouted loudly: "Arrest me if you must, but you can't arrest just me alone! Jinling lost — who will take responsibility? You tell me!!!"

Bai Chongxi couldn't bear to watch. He stood up: "Generalissimo Han, Jinling was lost, but Commander Tang gave his life for the country. What more do you want?"

"Wrong! What about Sun Yuanlang? He abandoned his troops, slipped into the retreating ranks alone, crossed the river by boat—how come none of you held him accountable?"

"Put plainly, it's nothing more than Sun Yuanlang being a Whampoa Direct Lineage student; I, Han Fuqu, am nothing but an outsider!"

"Han Fuqu, stop dragging this out!" Lv Muzhi stood up: "Bring him in!"

The doors of the council hall were opened, and two Youth Army soldiers had already dragged Sun Yuanlang in, bound hand and foot.

Sun Yuanlang knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly: "Principal..."