Chapter 420: Republic of China: Starting from Whampoa Phase 1 Chapter 430 Paying New Year's Calls, Congratulations on Getting Rich

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi looked at Yan Laoxi's pleading appearance, and actually felt troubled in his heart.

He himself had not intentionally wanted to reprimand Yan Laoxi; it was simply that his timing for entering Jin was off.

Not long ago, the Jinsui Army and the Eighth Route Army had a major friction called the Jinxi Incident, also known as the December Incident.

Yan Laoxi's strength was greatly diminished, and his relationship with the Eighth Route Army had fallen to a freezing point, with both sides frequently engaging in skirmishes.

In this situation, the old man smelled an opportunity.

He hinted to Lv Muzhi to mobilize his Youth Army and squeeze out the Japanese Army, Yan Laoxi, and other forces entirely.

But Lv Muzhi did not want to engage in fratricide.

The manpower for the War of Resistance was already limited; it should be properly concentrated and utilized.

Therefore, Lv Muzhi hoped to repair the relationship between Yan Laoxi and the Eighth Route Army, integrate all forces to unite against Japan, and simultaneously cut off the old man's thoughts of pulling tricks.

"Commander Yan, you understand the current situation better than I do."

"If you want to hide in the mountain gullies of Jin Southwest to preserve your strength, that is seeking your own death."

"Don't forget, the small goal the old man set for the Second War Zone requires you to carry out at least fifty offensives at the regiment level or above."

"If you don't take action, the old man will discover the fact that your manpower is insufficient."

"By then, what they clean up won't just be the issue of empty payroll; even the Jinsui Army will have to change its surname."

Yan Laoxi wiped his sweat and said with a bitter face: "I have fewer than fifty thousand men; where do I get fifty regiments?"

"Pull all the troops in your hands up to fight one round? What if they're all wiped out?"

Lv Muzhi looked at Yan Laoxi: "Learn from the Eighth Route Army; the most urgent matter now is to get your fifty thousand men active."

"Go out and attack the little devils' strongholds, and recruit those wavering puppet troops."

"With my Youth Army here, do the little devils dare to retaliate against you?"

"As long as you make a move, the old man won't dare to make a move against you over there."

"If you shrink back, no one can protect you."

Yan Laoxi remained silent for a long time, finally gritted his teeth, as if making some kind of determination.

"Fine! I'll listen to you! Brother Wei Yue, there aren't many people like you who understand the big picture."

"Since you're willing to lend me, Yan Baichuan, a hand, this commander of mine will, from now on, listen to your dispatch and leadership in all actions in Shanxi."

"Any grain tax I collect will all be handed over to the Youth Army for use!"

Lv Muzhi smiled slightly, his tone softened a bit:

"How embarrassing, all given to me, what do you use?"

Yan Laoxi waved his hand: "I have too few men, besides... isn't there still the Central Government's empty payroll to eat... as long as Wei Yue doesn't leak my business..."

After soothing Yan Laoxi, Lv Muzhi went to Wei Lihuang's place.

Wei Lihuang was talking with three representatives of the Eighth Route Army.

Just as he entered the door, he heard Wei Lihuang's hearty laughter.

Wei Lihuang was sitting with three officers wearing grey uniforms, and the atmosphere in the room was very harmonious.

Left Chief of Staff said: "In thirty-eight, Commander Wei supported us with one million bullets and two hundred and fifty thousand hand grenades. Last year he was even more generous, another five million bullets."

"This deep affection and loyalty, all officers and soldiers of our Eighth Route Army will never forget."

Wei Lihuang waved his hand, looking like it was nothing special.

"Ai, Left Chief of Staff, you flatter me."

"Commonly resisting foreign humiliation is naturally the duty of a soldier."

"Bullets are only bullets when they hit the little devils; in the warehouse, they are just a pile of scrap copper and rotten iron."

"If they rust in the warehouse, that is the fault of me, this commander."

Lv Muzhi stepped forward, his gaze falling on the other two Eighth Route Army officers, and ripples inevitably arose in his heart.

They were Chen Geng and Jiang Xiangyun.

Since parting at Whampoa, more than ten odd years had passed.

Chen Geng's originally dark face now appeared even more resolute.

And Jiang Xiangyun was sitting in his seat, smiling at him.

Left Chief of Staff stood up: "It's Commander Lv who has come, long admired, long admired!"

Lv Muzhi extended his arm, and the two shook hands.

Among these three representatives of the Eighth Route Army, every single one was a classmate from the Whampoa First Phase back then.

Wei Lihuang stepped forward and said with a smile: "Aiya, you're having an old classmate reunion!"

"Let me guess, since the Northern Expedition in 1927, you haven't seen each other since, right?"

Lv Muzhi raised his hand and pointed at Chen Geng: "Not necessarily; this one was arrested in Shanghai in thirty-three, and I went to bail him out; counting it up, it's been less than seven years until now!"

Chen Geng was originally quite happy, but upon hearing this, he turned his head and refused to look at Lv Muzhi: "Bringing up old sores..."

Everyone heard it and laughed heartily.

Wei Lihuang said: "Must bail him out, must bail him out! Otherwise, where would the current 386th Brigade come from?!"

Lv Muzhi then looked at Jiang Xiangyun: "I suppose you've already met my subordinate Chu Yunfei, right? I have to say, your vitality is truly tenacious; your figures can be seen everywhere."

Jiang Xiangyun smiled and said: "How could it work without being a bit tenacious..."

Seeing Chen Geng sitting on the chair without speaking, Lv Muzhi walked up to Chen Geng and sized him up.

"All right? If you're all right, get up and walk a couple of steps?"

Chen Geng sat up straight and patted his own leg: "Of course there's something wrong. This leg of mine isn't what it used to be. Now I walk with a limp—I can't outrun you!"

Left Chief of Staff said: "Chen Geng's leg here is an old problem left over from being wounded in the war."

Lv Muzhi patted Chen Geng's shoulder and said: "It's nothing. Although Brigade Commander Chen can't run or jump conveniently now, his subordinates have all moved to Henan North, and they can run very well."

After hearing this, Chen Geng stood up and said: "I heard that kid Li Yunlong say that you're now rolling in wealth."

"My New 1st Regiment followed behind Chu Yunfei's Corps and made a killing."

"Muzi, for the sake of our old classmate relationship, won't you show some generosity?"

Lv Muzhi frowned and asked: "What do you mean?"

Chen Geng cupped his hands in a bow: "It's almost New Year, isn't it? I don't know when we'll meet again—maybe decades from now. I'm wishing you an early New Year here. Congratulations on getting rich!"

Hearing these words, Lv Muzhi helplessly said: "Is it really that exaggerated? And is this how you pay New Year calls? I almost don't want to expose you..."

Wei Lihuang, standing to the side, watched these old classmates reminisce, but his expression gradually turned serious.

He lowered his voice and looked toward Left Chief of Staff: "Reminiscing is reminiscing, but we also need to get word on official business."

"Recently the old man has been very dissatisfied with the situation in Shanxi, especially hearing that the Jinsui Army and the Eighth Route Army have fallen out, and the Jinsui Army has therefore been greatly weakened."

"The Central Government already has the idea of sending Hu Gongnan's Army into Shanxi. It seems that besides the Japanese, they also want to deal with other non-Central forces."

Left Chief of Staff's expression turned stern, and he said in a deep voice: "Commander Wei, our attitude has always been very clear: everyone joins hands to resist Japan."

"If anyone wants to play the game of fratricidal strife, I'm afraid the only one who would be happiest would be Xiao Zhong Yi Nan in Taiyuan City."

Everyone's gazes, without prior agreement, all turned toward Lv Muzhi, who was sitting to the side.

In Shanxi, the one with the most say and the hardest fist now is this Youth Army commander.