Chapter 383: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 393 Madam, Do I Still Have Hope?

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

【I owed a chapter last month due to leave, making it up now!】

At this time, about 60 kilometers west of Zhengzhou, Qiu Qingquan commanded the engineers, using two sets of pontoon bridge equipment custom-made from the United States, to erect two floating bridges across the Yellow River.

Tank engines rumbled to life, while the airmen in the sky circled on alert.

Qiu Qingquan stood on the south bank of the Yellow River, delivering heavy equipment to Chu Yunfei on the north bank.

The equipment delivered to Chu Yunfei this time included 30 T26 tanks, 15 T tanks, 15 Type III Long-Barrel Tanks, as well as armored vehicles and light anti-aircraft vehicles, totaling nearly a hundred tanks, increasing Chu Yunfei's self-defense capabilities.

In addition, there were over a hundred trucks, New Year supplies, and 105mm howitzers and other supplies crossing the river to provide aid to Chu Yunfei.

With the situation at Lanfeng settled, Lv Muzhi personally came to the river-crossing site to inspect the floating bridge's load-bearing capacity together with Qiu Qingquan.

Coming with Lv Muzhi was Chen Minren of the Military Police Corps.

Qiu Qingquan asked: "The tanks delivered to Chu Yunfei's unit have already exceeded the standard of forty-five tanks for one division of our Youth Army. Don't tell me you want Chu Yunfei to launch a counteroffensive directly in Henan North?"

Lv Muzhi shook his head: "It is not yet time for a counteroffensive. To recover North China, Shanxi must first be pacified."

Qiu Qingquan nodded in agreement, saying: "Correct. Shanxi, as a highland of North China, is surrounded by mountains on many sides."

"To say Shanxi is the commanding height of North China is no exaggeration; it can overlook the North China Plain from a superior position."

"And choosing to recover Shanxi first can also reduce our pressure."

Qiu Qingquan's thoughts coincided exactly with Lv Muzhi's.

Lv Muzhi smiled: "Recovering all of North China is like drinking hot porridge; one must start slowly from the edges."

"The reason I chose to attack Shanxi first, rather than places like Xuzhou or Shandong, is because Shanxi is on the edge of the Japanese occupation zone; attacking Shanxi means our rear is protected by friendly forces, so we need not worry too much."

"The position is crucial, and it can also avoid being attacked from multiple sides."

"If we attack Xuzhou first, not only are the fortifications of Dangshan Fortress hard to crack, but after taking it we would face a north-south pincer attack from the North China Area Army and the Central China Expeditionary Army."

Qiu Qingquan approved greatly, clenching his fist and waving it as he said: "Take Shanxi first, while simultaneously having Chu Yunfei launch an offensive in Henan North, just right to pin down the Japanese on the North China Plain, making them unable to support Shanxi."

Chen Minren of the Military Police Corps nodded repeatedly: "So Commander Lv's intentions lie not in the wine."

"Openly it is attacking Lanfeng, but secretly it is delivering large-scale equipment to Chu Yunfei in Henan North, seemingly putting on a posture of having Chu Yunfei launch a major counteroffensive in Henan North."

"But in reality, Chu Yunfei is merely disrupting their vision; our focus is to recover Shanxi first."

Lv Muzhi looked at the tank convoy crossing the river on the Yellow River, his expression turning serious.

"But recovering Shanxi is not easy; we must first manage our own territory well. We cannot send troops to Shanxi only to have our own hometown stolen by the Japanese."

He turned to Chen Minren and asked: "How is your land survey and tax assessment going?"

Chen Minren stepped forward: "The land survey and tax assessment in Henan South is eighty percent complete, currently undergoing final verification. The final results are expected by the end of February."

Lv Muzhi looked at Chen Minren and said: "You are in the Military Police Corps; do not feel aggrieved. Although not on the frontline, neither local military nor civil administration can do without you."

"The military police are the police of the army, enforcing military discipline, possessing supreme dignity. I need you to lead five thousand military police to purge the entire army."

Chen Minren was slightly stunned; indeed he had been placed in this position, originally he had hoped this was a temporary arrangement.

Lv Muzhi patted his shoulder: "Appointing you as Commander of the Military Police Corps is because I value your quality of being upright and unbending."

"I know that as the old man's student, you dare to speak frankly to the old man; I need exactly someone like you."

"I clearly guarantee here: the Military Police Corps has the right to inspect the entire corps; during this special wartime period, it can even intervene in local government affairs in Henan South and enforce discipline!"

"Within the entire corps, from private soldiers up to Lieutenant General army commanders, all are subject to inspection; this is the power I grant to your Military Police Corps."

After hearing this, Qiu Qingquan joked with Chen Minren: "If that is the case, if I, this army commander, make a mistake, Commander Chen, you must show mercy!"

Lv Muzhi said sternly: "Yu'an, do not be frivolous here; if improper conduct is discovered, Chen Minren will arrest you, and I will not stop him."

"The Youth Corps may have many guns, money, and grain, but none of it came from the wind."

"Whoever lets my money not be spent where it should be, do not blame me for having the Military Police Corps deal with them by military law!"

Chen Minren listened quietly; the power of the Military Police Corps was personally endorsed by Commander Lu, and the position of Commander of the Military Police Corps indeed carried great weight.

Moreover, the equipment of the Military Police Corps was extremely excellent, with a submachine gun issuance rate higher than ordinary units, and a large number of armored vehicles specifically for law enforcement.

In the army, it could be called feared by all, which also suited his upright character.

However, a thought flashed through Chen Minren's mind: he supervised Qiu Qingquan and the others, but who would supervise Lv Muzhi?

Of course, this thought was just a flash; his power came from Lv Muzhi, so Chen Minren naturally dared not speak it out.

Lv Muzhi then announced the latest personnel changes of the corps:

The current Youth Corps: Corps Commander is Lv Muzhi, Deputy Commanders are two, namely Qiu Qingquan and Zhang Fei.

First Army Commander is concurrently held by Lv Muzhi, Sun Liren serves as Chief of Staff, assisting Lv Muzhi in governing the army.

Second Army Commander Qiu Qingquan.

Third Army Commander Zhang Fei.

Fourth Army Acting Army Commander Liao Yaoxiang, Acting Chief of Staff Zhou Weiguo.

Air Corps Commander is served by Gao Zhihang.

Military Police Corps Commander Chen Minren serves.

As for the Jiang Defense Marine Corps, Lv Muzhi has already arranged Marine Corps Commander An Bang to lead the team to the United States for study, as a talent reserve for the future; after all, in future battles, there will be almost no water combat.

Qiu Qingquan realized one person was missing, and asked: "What about Chu Yunfei? Commander Lu, Chu Yunfei is on the opposite bank of the Yellow River; you wouldn't have forgotten him, would you?"

Lv Muzhi smiled: "Isn't there still the establishment of a Guerrilla Corps? I originally wanted the Guerrilla Corps to use Henan South as a base to harass the Japanese in Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, and other places."

"Now I am modifying the Guerrilla Corps; Chu Yunfei has worked hard in Henan North."

"The enemy situation in Henan North on the opposite bank of the Yellow River is complex; with Chu Yunfei's single division establishment, it is probably difficult to cope, so let him serve as Acting Commander of the Guerrilla Corps, and the Guerrilla Corps will operate in Henan North."

Chu Yunfei's Youth Army currently has about eighteen thousand men; I will add another two thousand trained soldiers to him, making twenty thousand as the core to form a Guerrilla Corps. As for personnel, that is all I can provide.

As for weapons, this is the first batch of supplies being given to him. So many weapons are not meant for a single division to expend. He is allowed to recruit soldiers on his own under the Guerrilla Corps establishment, with a troop ceiling of fifty thousand men.

Beyond fifty thousand men, the corps will no longer be issued extra rations and pay.

Additionally, the Military Police Corps will send a detachment across the Yellow River to supervise personnel and financial matters of the Guerrilla Corps, strictly cracking down on military corruption.

Qiu Qingquan nodded: "Chu Yunfei indeed needs greater autonomy. Operating behind enemy lines, he cannot stand without authority, and he must also recruit soldiers himself. He serves as Deputy Commander of the Guerrilla Corps; I have no objection."

If Chu Yunfei has the ability to expand the Guerrilla Corps from twenty thousand to fifty thousand men, then when we counterattack Shanxi, this large force of his can pin down the Japanese Army's support forces on the North China Plain in northern Henan!

The three were discussing when they did not know that at this time, within Chongqing, someone already felt deeply uneasy about Lv Muzhi's power and influence.

Jiang Dingwen, Hu Gongnan, and Tang Enbo gathered in a conference room.

Afterwards, Lady Song walked in with measured steps, her hands clasped before her.

Lady Song spoke as she walked: "The old man has business and cannot come; I have come to talk with you."

Jiang Dingwen asked with a fawning smile: "Furen, who will get the position of Commander of the First War Zone? Surely it won't be Wei Yue again?"

Lady Song glanced at him: "Wei Yue already commands three hundred thousand troops. If he also takes command of the remaining forces of the First War Zone, the burden on his shoulders would be too heavy."

The position of Commander of the First War Zone, the old man has another candidate in mind.

Jiang Dingwen's eyes lit up, feeling he had hope: "Then... if Wei Yue cannot do it, Furen, do I still have hope?"