Chapter 376: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 386: Once You Leave, Don't Come Back

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi was quite helpless. He never expected that as a Second-Class General commanding three hundred thousand troops, within Chongqing his own personal safety would have to rely on his wife to protect.

Although not quite accustomed to it, one had to say: having such a wife was truly wonderful!

In the days that followed, Lv Muzhi went to inspect his Southwest Military Academy.

As Principal, Lv Muzhi also presided over the graduates' graduation ceremony.

The number of graduates this year was very large, the largest graduating class in history.

Infantry, Engineer, Military Police, Artillery, Transport, Medical, Armor, Aviation... there were over fifteen hundred graduates in total, most of whom would be sent to his Youth Corps to serve as grassroots officers.

On the chairman's platform at the graduation ceremony, Lv Muzhi looked at the dark mass of people below.

Those vibrant faces made Lv Muzhi seem to see himself back then.

"Hello, classmates!" Lv Muzhi shouted into the microphone.

Below, a thunderous, uniform response immediately erupted: "Hello, Principal!!!"

The sound waves rolled over the playground, stirring Lv Muzhi's heart; these youths were the backbone of the Youth Corps.

They were also his Lv Muzhi's most important capital and foundation in the army, the fundamental guarantee for his standing in the present and planning for the future.

"Standing before you is not a General of the Army, nor the Commander of the Youth Corps, much less the Commander-in-Chief of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region, but your Principal.

In my capacity as Principal, I call on classmates to join me, together with the Youth Army......

Expel foreign aggression, recover our rivers and mountains!"

"The vast majority of you will soon head to North China and join the Youth Corps' combat sequence.

This is your honor, also the Youth Corps' honor, and even more my honor.

That place is the frontline of the War of Resistance, and also the battlefield for achieving merit and establishing a career!

The Japanese Army's iron hooves trample our rivers and mountains, countrymen shed blood, our land is covered in dust!

But we were not afraid!

At the Huangchuan Campaign, with our flesh and blood bodies, we proved to the whole world that the Japanese Army's iron hooves can be blocked!"

Lv Muzhi paused, his gaze sweeping over one flushed, excited face after another:

"In North China, the Youth Corps' brothers are using action to continue proving this point!

I need you, need your knowledge, your courage, your hot blood!

Against the North China Japanese Army, strike with a heavy fist!

Among you gentlemen, who is willing to follow me north to kill the enemy? Please raise your hands!"

Swish swish swish~

The graduates on the field raised their right arms without hesitation, shouting: "I am willing!!!"

Seeing the graduates' enthusiasm running high, Lv Muzhi led them in singing the Youth Army's military song:

"Do you not see, Han Zhongjun, at a young age bound by captives requesting a long tassel!"

"Do you not see, Ban Dingyuan, light cavalry in the far domain stirring war clouds!"

"One call, comrades number over ten thousand, singing war songs together to join the army."

"Together join the army, clear the barbarian dust, swear to sweep away the Japanese slaves without regard for self!"

The voice echoed through heaven and earth, unceasing to the ear.

The ceremony ended, and the Southwest Military Academy restored teaching order.

In the tactics classroom, Liu Zhi spoke eloquently to the new students.

The classroom door was closed; Lv Muzhi and several guards stood outside, not entering, just quietly listening.

Liu Zhi, this Second-Class General, although saddled with the nickname Pig General, was quite in his element in the classroom.

Lv Muzhi had secured a position as Commander of the Chongqing Air Defense Command from the Central Government for Liu Zhi; the old man, mindful of Liu Zhi's past hard work and great achievements, agreed to the application, assigning Liu Zhi responsibility for Chongqing's air defense work.

However, Liu Zhi was not enthusiastic about this post at all; on the contrary, he remained devoted to the cause of education.

Anyway, the Japanese Army could not reach this great Southwest, and Japanese planes could not be stationed in Wuhan, so airstrikes were quite rare.

Liu Zhi, this Garrison Commander, was indeed idle in his post, thus having ample time and reason to continue his military academy education career.

Returning to the classroom, what Liu Zhi was lecturing on was precisely the battle case of Lv Muzhi launching the Huangchuan Campaign.

"...... So, classmates, the Wuhan Campaign may appear to have a long frontline, but what determines the final situation is often a brilliant move outside the chessboard."

Liu Zhi pointed with his pointer at Huangchuan's position on the map: "At that time, the Japanese Army's main force was blocked layer by layer by our army along the Yangtze River on the front, appearing to be in stalemate.

And part of my Youth Corps, outside the main battlefield, cleverly contained the Japanese Army in North China and the Central China Expeditionary Army.

Finally, in the Huangchuan region, we decisively launched a large-scale campaign against the Japanese Army's Second Army!"

He explained in detail the campaign's deployment, the struggle for key nodes, and how to disrupt the Japanese Army's rhythm.

After class, Lv Muzhi and Liu Zhi strolled through the campus.

Flanking them were armed guards with live ammunition, all from the Arsenal Guard Battalion; one battalion had come, placing the entire military academy under tight control.

"Wei Yue, I hear you're returning to Henan? You really won't stay a few more days?"

Lv Muzhi nodded: "Frontline military affairs are busy; there is still much to do. I must return as soon as possible."

Liu Zhi sighed: "I understand. Your Second-Class General and my Second-Class General are very different. You are in this special position, so naturally you have your difficulties.

You are my most outstanding student. Rest assured, no matter what, the students of this Southwest Military Academy will firmly support you."

Lv Muzhi smiled slightly, looking gratefully at Liu Zhi, and said: "A soldier's spirit cannot be fooled.

At today's graduation ceremony, judging by the expressions of those young people, I was quite certain that entrusting the military academy to you was the right choice.

I have nothing to thank you for. Here's what I'll do: your official car is getting old, and I have a new Steyr sedan here; keep it as your car for trips to and from the military academy.

Liu Zhi declined, saying: "How could I do that! My car still works fine; you keep it yourself."

Lv Muzhi said this and that, finally claiming this Steyr sedan was an official vehicle for the Military Lecture Hall, to pick up and drop off Liu Zhi for classes, before he reluctantly accepted it.

After Lv Muzhi left, Liu Zhi sat in the back seat of that Steyr sedan and only then discovered a briefcase on the seat.

Opening it, he found several checks and land deeds inside.

Liu Zhi murmured: "Which official could withstand this kind of test... Wei Yue... you mean well!"

Inside the Lv Residence, Lv Muzhi's family was celebrating his son Lv An's eighth birthday.

This was the last bit of time Lv Muzhi would spend at home in Chongqing; tomorrow he would return to the Youth Corps in Zhengzhou.

The birthday banquet was for family only, with home-cooked dishes, and the whole family was happy.

At night, the son fell into a deep sleep amid joy.

Lv Muzhi and Zhu Sanxiang returned to the bedroom, closed the door, and shut out the sounds from outside.

The lighting was soft. Zhu Sanxiang unbuttoned her husband's collar and whispered: "Muzhi, once you leave this time, try your best not to come back again."

Lv Muzhi took her hand, understanding that his safe departure this time was required by the situation, but next time might not be so certain.

"After a while, I want to send An An away."

"Not now; doing it too hastily would seem deliberate."

"Next year, find a suitable opportunity to send An An and your parents abroad."

Zhu Sanxiang nodded: "Alright, I'll listen to you."

This is the helplessness of those who hold heavy troops in a chaotic era: they must guard against foreign enemies and also against their own people.

If we wait until the war ends to make plans, it will be too late.

Lv Muzhi drew Zhu Sanxiang into his arms, his chin lightly touching the top of her head: "You stay in Chongqing and be extra careful."

Zhu Sanxiang raised her head in his arms and said somewhat firmly: "Don't worry; they dare not touch me."

"Although I only have one Guard Battalion, there are tens of thousands of workers who take orders from me; they know who pays their wages."

"You are outside, and there are still three hundred thousand Youth Army soldiers sleeping with their weapons at hand, ready at dawn."

"Provided that the great banner of the Youth Corps does not fall, before they touch me, they will have to weigh whether they can bear the consequences of overturning the table."

"The central government cannot afford this price."

Lv Muzhi looked deeply at his wife, his heart filled with myriad emotions.

That girl from back then has now grown into a strong pillar capable of standing on her own. To have a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?

"You've worked hard, Sanxiang," he said softly, kissing her forehead.

"Between husband and wife, we don't say such things." Zhu Sanxiang closed her eyes and leaned against his chest.

Early the next morning, dawn was breaking.

Lv Muzhi's luggage was already packed, still traveling light, but all his accompanying guards were his most elite and reliable subordinates.

Zhang Fei had long been waiting outside, his expression solemn.

Early that morning, the phonograph in the guest hall was squeaking, playing a Peking Opera record.

His old father leaned in a chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, humming along:

"... Look at Han Xin, great in merit, done in at Weiyang Palace.

I have achieved success and retire early, to go with Chisongzi to learn immortal tea..."

Lv Muzhi paused in his steps, stood by the phonograph, and smiled helplessly: "Dad, why bother?"

Before the song ended, the old father opened his eyes, stood up in front of Lv Muzhi, reached out his hand, and patted his son's shoulder heavily.

"Go, and be careful."