Chapter 368

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

November, the sky high and clouds light, golden autumn bringing coolness.

The three towns of Wuhan had regained their former peace, and shipping on the Yangtze River connecting to the Southwest remained busy as ever.

On streets and in alleys, everyone was discussing that massive campaign lasting four months.

"But speaking of that day on Yezhuling, when Lv Wei Yue met Prince Higashikuni, he did have some backbone, preferring death to being a prisoner of the Youth Army. Guess what?" The storyteller at the roadside tea stall deliberately drew out his tone.

The watching citizens grew anxious: "Guess what! Stop keeping us in suspense, hurry up and say it!"

The storyteller hehehed a laugh, sipped some tea: "That old devil leaped up and jumped down from the mist-shrouded Yezhuling!

What a pity, what a pity, this old devil is a prince of the devils, in the former Qing he would be a prince, if he could be captured alive, what a great victory that would be!"

"Then what?" Someone urged.

"Then? Our Commander Lv Wei Yue immediately ordered: search down the mountain, must see the person alive, must see the corpse dead..."

Before the storyteller's voice fell, a young student in the crowd interrupted loudly: "Listen to what storytelling! The newspapers already reported it, that prince has been captured by General Lu!"

Seeing his bottom exposed, the storyteller hurriedly made up for it: "How could the newspapers tell it as detailed as me! When the Youth Army searched the mountain, guess what?"

"Guess guess guess... guess your code! Believe it or not I'll smash a bowl of hot dry noodles on your head!"

"Right, this storyteller from Beiping, why does he love keeping us in suspense so much, better to go buy a newspaper to read."

"Garlic bird garlic bird, none of us have it easy, he's just making a living..."

Seeing the crowd had strong opinions, the storyteller immediately spilled everything he had left: later the various officers of the Youth Army went down to the foot of the cliff, and on a crooked-neck tree found Prince Higashikuni hanging there—he hadn't succeeded in dying, he was captured!

The crowd burst into laughter, discussing animatedly.

The legend of this great victory at Huangchuan thus spread through newspapers, radio, and street gossip.

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At the same time, within the Zhengzhou headquarters, Lv Muzhi shook hands tightly with a tall Soviet representative.

"Mr. Petrov, thank your country for supporting our war of resistance." Lv Muzhi said solemnly.

Petrov smiled and nodded: "The valorous actions of the Youth Corps in North China prove your army is fully capable of defending the homeland.

We believe you are a worthy anti-Japanese force to support, and can effectively curb Japan's expansionist ambitions."

According to the newly signed treaty, the old Russians will provide the Youth Corps with equipment for three infantry divisions, to alleviate equipment shortages caused by army expansion.

In addition, one hundred T-26 tanks will be delivered in succession; according to the old Russians' idea, this batch of tanks should be deployed in North China to pin down Japanese Army movements in Manchuria.

Lv Muzhi understood clearly in his heart that this aid was certainly not given for nothing, but right now it indeed solved an urgent need, and one shouldn't refuse what's offered.

At the same time, the Soviet Union also provided a loan of several million rubles for subsequent military procurement.

After seeing off the Soviet military attaché, the French Military Advisor Group representative arrived right after.

The advisor leading them was named Dupont, looking like a shrewd merchant, and as soon as he came up he congratulated Lv Muzhi on the great victory at Huangchuan.

These past days, Lv Muzhi's threshold had almost been trampled broken; the international community had originally been universally pessimistic about Xia Guo's war of resistance.

But the battle of Huangchuan, the Youth Corps had hardheadedly curbed the sharp edge of the Japanese Army's land advance, causing many cold-eyed onlookers to reassess this war.

Especially after the Japanese Navy occupied Guangzhou, the momentum of continuing southward invasion had already threatened France's interests in Indochina; the Paris side urgently needed Xia Guo this sharp blade to pin down Japan.

"General Lu now enjoys quite high prestige internationally." Dupont flattered, "The battle of Huangchuan annihilated over one hundred thousand enemies, and even captured a member of the Japanese imperial family, truly admirable.

Based on humanitarian spirit and common interests, France is willing to fully support your country's this righteous war."

Lv Muzhi didn't beat around the bush: "Your country's artillery performance is exceptional.

I still favor that 155mm howitzer-gun, planning for each army to be assigned a heavy artillery regiment with an establishment of 24 guns.

Now planning to expand four armies, still lacking two regiments, totaling 48 155mm cannons."

Dupont seemed to have anticipated it long ago, waving his hand: "The gun barrels are enough, it's just the price..."

Lv Muzhi also waved his hand: "The money is enough, it's just the delivery time..."

Dupont furrowed his brow; this was no small sum.

"Our country currently has a stock of 155mm caliber artillery, plus urgently producing another batch, can deliver these 48 155mm howitzers within a few months;

But these artillery pieces and shells are valuable, converted into your country's silver dollars, already approaching ten million yuan. General Lu, how do you plan to pay?"

Lv Muzhi rubbed his hands, showing difficulty: "You also know, the old man at my home has no money in his pocket; even if he did, my wife would divert it to buy airplanes.

My Youth Corps expansion is exactly when money is needed; where can I come up with the full payment?

How about as before, paying via installment loan, how about it?"

Dupont was speechless; another installment loan! The last arms purchase was also paid in installments!

Lv Muzhi thought for a moment, guessing the other side wanted more benefits, so he actively raised the stakes: "Like this, raise the loan interest rate by another two percentage points, pay over eight years, starting next year, that is 1939, paying the first installment. How about it?"

Hearing these words, Dupont secretly rejoiced in his heart.

The extra interest was no small sum; once this deal was done, his kickback was also assured.

Seeing he still pretended difficulty on his face, Lv Muzhi patted Dupont's arm and said smilingly: "What are you hesitating about? Are you afraid our government will collapse and the account will go bad?"

"How could that be!" Dupont laughed heartily, "The Japanese Army is now riding a tiger and can't get off; your country's regime is very stable. This deal, no fear of bad accounts!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, each harboring their own thoughts.

Dupont was still happy about the extra two percentage points of interest, while Lv Muzhi was very clear.

This France, holding high the banner of freedom, was still jumping around at the end of 1938; what the situation would be the year after was hard to say.

He only needed to pay the first installment of 1939 to get all the artillery.

Lv Muzhi finally instructed, "When the goods arrive, I can pay the first batch of payment.

Guarantee full delivery before next August, otherwise, once the Japanese reach Indochina, I won't be able to help either.

"General Lu, rest assured, Own Side will definitely do our best to arrange it." Dupont readily agreed.

Just as the French were sent off, the British delegation urgently requested a meeting.

The old man had long since given instructions that Lv Muzhi must attach great importance to the British.

But Lv Muzhi still placed them last—in his eyes, these British capitalists were always profit-driven, and provided there was enough profit, they could resell Xia Guo to the Japanese.

Say Bottom, weak states have no diplomacy; only blame one's own side for not being strong enough.

However, Britain often indeed acted inhumanly; in order to curry favor with the Japanese, they had already deposited all the customs tariffs they had obtained in Xia Guo into Japanese banks.

Lv Muzhi understood clearly in his heart that Britain's appeasement policy could not satisfy the Japanese; the Japanese Navy had already occupied Guangzhou, and Guangzhou Customs had long been controlled by the British, and Guangzhou bordered their own colony of Hong Kong.

This fire could be said to have burned right up to the British's eyebrows.

Seeing Lv Muzhi win a battle, they only then came rushing to the door in a panic.

【End of month, taking a break OVO, stopping here for today】