Chapter 387

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

The north wind at the airport whipped up sand and dust; at some point a detachment of Youth Army military police had arrived, each carrying a rifle fitted with a gleaming bayonet, giving Lv Muzhi and the others a corridor welcome.

The cold wind made Wang Baiwan shrink his neck.

Earlier he had still been boasting there, complaining about the Youth Corps military police.

Now Chairman Chiang had brought the Commander of the Military Police Corps directly before him, and Lv Muzhi, who held supreme power, had also parachuted in before him.

He really didn't know what trick Jiang Dingwen was playing!

Wang Baiwan could only bluff: "We have already carried out rectification according to the orders of the Youth Army Military Police Command; we still need some time."

The gentry around who had originally wanted to curry favor now all kept their heads down, wishing they could bury their heads in their crotches, afraid of being singled out by Chen Minren.

Seeing this, Jiang Dingwen cursed this group of old good-for-nothings in his heart, but on the surface he still had to smooth things over.

"Wei Yue, it's windy here; whatever you have to say, let's talk after we enter the city."

"These local gentry have long admired your great name; come, let's go into the city to drink and warm ourselves."

Lv Muzhi looked deeply at Jiang Dingwen and said: "Originally I thought I should see you off at the airport and return, but since Chairman Chiang has spoken, I must give him this face, and I'll go have a drink too!"

Under the escort of two rows of fully armed military police, those gentry watched the cold gleam on the bayonets and were all calculating what to do in the days ahead.

Half an hour later, inside Xinyang City, the highest-standard banquet at Fuchunlou was laid out.

Wang Baiwan brought a group of gentry, sitting trembling at the end of the table, not daring to breathe loudly.

Originally they had prepared a bellyful of grievances, planning to lodge complaints before Chairman Chiang and accept the protection of Jiang Dingwen and Tang Enbo.

But now Lv Muzhi and Chen Minren were seated above them; how could they dare say a bad word?

Especially Chen Minren, who seemed never to have smiled since birth; his cold face made the gentry afraid just to look at it, and his eyes kept staring fixedly at one gentry member or another from time to time.

Jiang Dingwen felt the atmosphere was very wrong; toasts had been made, but the atmosphere still wouldn't liven up.

"Gentlemen, please pick up your chopsticks? The dishes are getting cold."

Lv Muzhi picked up his chopsticks and said with a smile: "I suppose it won't be that my uninvited presence has made everyone uncomfortable?"

The gentry below exchanged glances, and Wang Baiwan hurriedly squeezed out a smile uglier than crying.

"Commander Lu is too good at joking; to sit at the same table with you and Chairman Chiang is the fortune of several lifetimes for us. What virtue or ability do we have to dine at the same table with two generals at once?"

"Exactly, exactly, everyone is happy; once happy, they forgot to pick up their chopsticks."

Several gentry echoed, then began eating and drinking lively.

Jiang Dingwen also said: "Wei Yue, saying that makes you sound like an outsider; you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region, your troops are garrisoned in southern Henan—how could coming to Xinyang count as uninvited?"

Lv Muzhi smiled and nodded: "That's good; I know my Youth Army is garrisoned in southern Henan, causing many gentry and local elites a headache."

"These past few months, Chen Minren has led people running around, surveying the land in every county of southern Henan and fixing the grain quotas."

"I am not deliberately making things difficult for everyone; this Anti-Japanese National Salvation Public Grain is the rations for three hundred thousand soldiers on the frontline, for the sake of a future counteroffensive into North China."

"This is also for the righteous cause of family and country; I hope everyone present can understand."

All the gentry at the table nodded in agreement.

Speaking to this point, Lv Muzhi turned to look at Tang Enbo, who sat silently to one side.

This old fellow had buried himself in eating the moment he came in, not saying a word, nodding along whenever others spoke, which greatly surprised Lv Muzhi.

Lv Muzhi recalled Tang Enbo's st Army Group, which contained four armies within it! He asked:

"Commander Tang, will your st Army Group be stationed here in Xinyang? The old man truly has high hopes for you."

Tang Enbo was holding his wine cup in a daze; hearing Lv Muzhi call on him, his hand shook slightly, then he immediately recovered his expression and said:

"Commander Lu, the st Army Group is indeed under orders to redeploy; I am merely executing orders. The detailed situation is not convenient to discuss at this wine table."

Lv Muzhi nodded; regarding the matter of the counteroffensive into Central China, he also knew: "Your coming is a good thing; I just don't know what the attitude of the local gentry in Xinyang is. With so many of our troops gathered here, their pressure is truly not small."

"Commander Tang, let me say this first: I've been busy here for half a day; Xinyang's Anti-Japanese National Salvation Public Grain—not a single grain can be missing."

"Your brothers need to eat, but you can't set your mind on my military rations!"

Once these words were spoken, Tang Enbo felt bitter in his heart and kept smiling bitterly to beg for mercy.

To be honest, he had no such overreaching thoughts.

"Commander Lu, you worry too much; no matter how useless I, Tang, am, I dare not touch your military rations."

"The troops' supplies, I will coordinate with Chairman Chiang and the old man myself."

"Just treat my troops as passing through this place, alright?"

After speaking, Tang Enbo directly poured himself a cup of wine, raised his cup toward Lv Muzhi, and drained it in one gulp.

Tang Enbo's statement was considered a complete surrender.

Seeing Tang Enbo surrender so quickly infuriated Jiang Dingwen greatly.

Although the old man had not said to target Lv Muzhi, Lady Song had already laid out the bottom line with him.

The Youth Corps' new policies targeting southern Henan had seriously affected the big families' businesses.

In Lady Song's eyes, the combination of Jiang Dingwen and Tang Enbo—one a Provincial Government Chairman, one a Group Army Commander-in-Chief—was a union of military and political power, hoping to extract some money and grain from Lv Muzhi's mouth to reduce losses.

But now Tang Enbo had directly kicked the ball to Jiang Dingwen, completely intending to stand aside.

But before Jiang Dingwen could react, Lv Muzhi toasted him again.

Jiang Dingwen hurriedly said: "Wei Yue, I'm afraid this wine won't taste good..."

Lv Muzhi laughed heartily: "Don't worry, Chairman Chiang, oh no, Teacher Chiang; this cup I offer to Teacher as a student."

"Back then at Whampoa... fourteen years ago, we set out from Guangzhou; wherever we went..."

Jiang Dingwen listened quietly; in the Whampoa stories Lv Muzhi told, there was still great respect for this old instructor of his between the lines.

Lv Muzhi laughed, tilted his head back, and drained his cup of alcohol.

"Teacher Jiang, the Old Man sending you to be this province's chairman shows high vision and far-sightedness."

"As the saying goes, supplies before troops move; the Youth Army needs grain, and considering the burden on the people of Henan South, of the three hundred thousand troops' rations, Henan South only needs to shoulder the grain for two hundred thousand men;"

but this is still a headache. Fortunately, you've arrived at this critical juncture—you've truly done me a great favor.

Originally I worried someone wouldn't pay their grain actively, but now that you've taken office as Chairman of Henan Province, I look favorably on this.

Since Tang Enbo won't collect grain from Henan South, you happen to help me raise military grain!"

Jiang Dingwen gritted his teeth as he listened; so he'd taken office as Chairman of Henan Province only to end up collecting rent for Lv Muzhi?

But in wartime, judging by the job function of Chairman of Henan Province, it really was the same thing.

The future is long; Jiang Dingwen glanced at the incompetent Tang Enbo, could only swallow his bitterness, and followed with a drink.