Chapter 374: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 384: Three Hundred Thousand Troops Under Command, Wh

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Li Yingfang nodded and said affirmatively: "Indeed, what we just saw are all sons and grandsons of the Type 3 Tank."

"Type 3 Assault Gun, Type 3 Self-propelled Gun, Type 3 Self-propelled Anti-aircraft Gun; all converted based on the Type 3 Tank chassis."

Liu Zhi couldn't help but say: "Wei Yue, in my opinion, one of the great contributors here is your lady!"

"She alone in the rear territory has been supporting this enterprise for you."

Lv Muzhi glanced at his own lady and said with satisfaction: "Having such a wife, what more could a husband ask for!"

"By the way, my lady, how is our tank production now?"

Regarding tank production, Zhu Sanxiang held some figures.

"Current production can reach forty-five tanks of various types per month."

Lv Muzhi accepted this figure.

Now it is the end of 1938, he decided to rest from the devils for a while, and launch a major counteroffensive against the devils in the second half of next year.

"The next production focus should be on the Type 3 Tank and its derivative models, so... the arsenal must hurry."

After finishing their tour of the arsenal, everyone went together to Lv Muzhi's home for a meal.

Lv Muzhi also got to see his parents whom he hadn't seen for nearly two years, the whole family was happy and harmonious, eating a reunion dinner.

However, the relaxing time did not last long; the next morning, Lv Muzhi got up early.

While putting on his general officer uniform, Lv Muzhi looked back at his lady still asleep, and tiptoed out of the house.

No choice, last night was really too tiring.

Getting into the sedan waiting outside the mansion gate long ago, Lv Muzhi said to the adjutant: "Go to the General Headquarters."

Inside the General Headquarters, the old man had long prepared a pot of clear tea, waiting for Lv Muzhi to visit.

"Wei Yue, you finally came!" The old man raised his hand at Lv Muzhi walking through the door, pointed to the seat beside him, gesturing for him to sit.

Lv Muzhi sat down according to the old man's instruction, saying: "I am late; yesterday I just got off the plane and should have come to the General Headquarters to pay my respects."

The old man leaned on the sofa and said: "No harm done; man is not grass or tree, who can be merciless? Although you have long devoted yourself to serving the country, after all you were born and raised by your parents, and are also Sanxiang's husband and An'an's father..."

"Setting aside the military identity, our roles are the same; I can understand."

"Besides, just a few months ago we met in Wuhan; there's no rush for this moment... I won't say more, let's drink tea first."

Lv Muzhi picked up the teacup and sipped: "Good tea..."

The old man said: "Not only is the tea good, but the person is good too; without you, how could the campaign have been won? You took over Liu Zhi's post; truly my blessed general!"

"The victory of the Huangchuan Battle cannot be credited to me alone; many Whampoa classmates have merits;"

"Expanding to the Wuhan Campaign, every participant shed blood and gave their lives..."

The old man raised his hand: "I know all this; now, one wave just calmed, another rises."

"Your negotiations with the British and French won us many benefits."

"But now, the Japanese Army uses Guangzhou as a stronghold, rampant in Hua Nan, with great intention to invade Guangxi."

"The French side sent a note; they worry that if Guangxi falls, it will increase the risk of friction between French Indochina and the Japanese Army."

(French Indochina refers to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia three countries, a French colony in Southeast Asia, bordering Guangxi)

The old man drank a sip of tea and continued: "So, the French hope we destroy or block the southbound Japanese Army in Hua Nan, avoiding direct contact with French forces."

Lv Muzhi asked: "You want to send me?"

The old man nodded: "No choice; soft-mouthed when eating others' food, short-handed when taking others' things... Didn't you promise those foreigners before?"

Lv Muzhi said somewhat awkwardly: "I was bluffing them; the Youth Army is garrisoned in Henan to guard against the North China Japanese Army; if transferred south, it might give the little devils an opportunity."

"Actually, to block the Japanese Army from moving south into Southeast Asia within our borders, it is not necessary for me to go; why not send someone else to Guangxi?"

The old man widened his eyes: "Li Zongren? That would be releasing a tiger back to the mountain; you know, I have always been wary of the Guangxi clique."

"No, no need to send Li Zongren; the Japanese Army cannot fully exert its combat power in the complex terrain of Hua Nan; our army only needs to send a Lieutenant General Ji Jun Zhang there."

Hearing Lv Muzhi's words, the old man straightened his back: "Wait, let me guess? Hu Gongnan?"

"No."

"Tang Enbo?"

"No either."

"Could it be your good friend Song Xilian?"

"Wrong."

"Who is it?"

Lv Muzhi said: "Du Yuming, commander of the 200th Division."

"Du Yuming? Isn't he a division commander? How did he become an army commander?"

"You only need to promote him to army commander; take the 200th Division as the core, expand it into an army, and order him to lead troops south, garrison Guangxi, and guard against Japanese invasion."

Remembering the promise to Du Yuming during the Huangchuan Battle, Lv Muzhi struck while the iron was hot and said:

"During the Huangchuan Battle, without Du Yuming, Prince Higashikuni of the Japanese Army Second Army would probably have fled back to Hefei; where would the current prisoner in the dungeon, Prince Higashikuni, be?"

"This person's military capability is not inferior to Hu Gongnan or Tang Enbo."

Reminded by Lv Muzhi, the old man also felt so; he originally intended to promote Du Yuming.

Promoting Du Yuming to army commander to go to Guangxi: first, it can guard against Japanese deep invasion into Hua Nan; second, it can extend his influence into Guangxi and control the Guangxi clique; third, it can save the Youth Army to guard against the Japanese Army gathering in North China.

Truly killing three birds with one stone!

"Wei Yue, you're right. I've decided to immediately promote Du Yuming to commander of the Fifth Army, reorganize the troops, and head south to Guangxi!"

The two chatted over tea, bringing up Chu Yunfei crossing the Yellow River northward and recovering the three counties on the north bank.

The old man asked: "After Chu Yunfei crossed the river, did he ever make contact with the Eighth Route Army?"

Lv Muzhi did not hide it, speaking frankly: "He wrote reports saying the Eighth Route Army helped him block the Japanese army; both sides cooperated. This is also the Central Government's policy."

"Oh~ did he ever make contact with the 386th Brigade?"

Lv Muzhi nodded: "He did, though I haven't met Chen Geng. When I counteroffensive North China and march into Shanxi in the future, I'll personally bring you whatever words you have for him."

The old man chuckled, pointing his index finger at Lv Muzhi; his own thoughts had been seen through by Lv Muzhi in an instant.

"Ai, I drank too much tea. I'm going to the restroom; wait here. Breakfast is already prepared, and we'll eat together in a bit."

After speaking, the old man's wife brought several servants, carrying several plates up.

"Darling, come back quickly. Today there's Ningbo Shrimp Paste that you love."

The servants withdrew, and Lady Song invited Lv Muzhi to sit at the dining table, warmly calling out.

"Wei Yue, you've worked hard on the frontline. This morning you must eat more. This Ningbo Shrimp Paste is the old man's favorite. You're old fellows from the same home, so it should suit your taste, right?" Lady Song lifted the small jar holding the shrimp paste, laughing: "Haha, anyway I can't get used to it."

Lv Muzhi respectfully smiled: "I... it's fine, it's fine. Eating once half a month is okay, but every day I can't do it either..."

Lady Song chattered: "Ai, you're too far from home. Your parents, wife, and children miss you very much..."

"Sometimes I visit your home. Your wife says she doesn't miss you, but I'm also a woman—how could I not know what's in her heart..."

"Wei Yue, now the War of Resistance is gradually going well. This time you're back, have you thought about staying a while longer? The frontline matters can be left to others, after all..."

"Simply, since you're back this time, don't go back. Come to our house every day, eat and drink tea, guard your wife and children—wouldn't that be delightful?"

After chattering for half a day, Lv Muzhi had originally not cared, but the more he listened, the more something felt off, and the more uncomfortable he felt inside.

"If I don't return to the Youth Corps and stay home with my wife and children, then where is the Youth Corps going?!"

This Lady Song, between the lines, truly had ulterior motives!

Lv Muzhi looked at the restroom. The old man had slipped away to urinate and still hadn't returned for a long time. He could only steel himself and say:

"How could I not miss home? But with the Japanese Invaders not yet destroyed, how can I think of home?"

"If I don't return to the frontline, the bones of the Youth Corps will probably be dismantled by the Japanese. Then how can we talk of recovering lost land? And what face would I have to guard my wife and children?"

Hearing these words, Lady Song put away her smiling face: "Wei Yue, with three hundred thousand troops under your command, where are your feelings?"