Chapter 421

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Jiang Xiangyun asked: "Muzi, you claim to be a Central Army force. Can you tell us your stance?"

Lv Muzhi spoke straightforwardly: "Brothers fighting each other, repel the foreign invader."

"As long as the Japanese devils have a single soldier left in Shanxi, my Lv Muzhi's gun will not be aimed at friendlies."

"Whoever causes friction at a time like this is digging up the root of the War of Resistance, and my Lv Muzhi will not allow it."

Chen Geng, hearing this, excitedly slapped his thigh:

"Well said! Since that's the case, Muzi, shouldn't you learn from Wei Commander and support some equipment?"

Lv Muzhi laughed in anger, pointing at Chen Geng: "You old classmate, you've set your sights on my household belongings the moment we met?"

"Wei Commander gave you enough; you can't even drive away my tanks."

"Want equipment? Snatch it from the little devils! In principle, I don't want any of the devils' weaponry!"

"Those of you with the ability—whoever snatches it gets it."

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.

But Left Chief of Staff showed a hint of hidden worry after laughing.

"There's another trouble. I not only worry about the Central Army, but also about Yan Laoxi's Jinsui Army."

"If he takes advantage of us fighting the devils to organize the Jinsui Army to cause trouble for us, it won't look good."

Lv Muzhi smiled mysteriously, turned his head, and shouted toward the door:

"Commander Yan, don't stand outside blowing in the wind; come in."

The door opened, and Yan Laoxi appeared.

Left Chief of Staff watched Yan Laoxi walk in; his originally smiling face instantly turned stern.

Yan Laoxi also noticed the Eighth Route Army representative in the room, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes.

The people on both sides looked like they had seen enemies.

Not long ago, an incident occurred in Jinxi, and the two sides fought fiercely in that friction.

The final result was that Yan Laoxi not only gained nothing, but suffered disastrous losses, with many of his new troops directly taking their equipment and joining the Eighth Route Army.

This is an important reason why Yan Laoxi has become so weak now, and also a lingering pain in his heart.

Lv Muzhi watched these two forces, both major anti-Japanese forces on the Shanxi Battlefield, and already had a plan in mind.

With the Linfen Campaign imminent, all units in Shanxi except the Youth Army were like loose sand.

Lv Muzhi had to gather this loose sand together, even if by force.

The two forces in Shanxi finally sat at the same table.

"Commander Yan, please sit. I've already laid out the bottom line regarding our interests earlier; now is not the time to settle old scores."

Lv Muzhi's voice was calm, and he had Yan Laoxi sit down.

"Your only choice now is to continue cooperating with the Eighth Route Army; you are bound together, and only then will you be safer."

"Otherwise, if Hu Gongnan's troops enter Shanxi, neither of your two families will fare well, especially you, Commander Yan."

Yan Laoxi's mouth twitched; of course he understood this logic.

He knew the might of Hu Gongnan's hundred-thousand-strong army and the old man's political methods.

Those people in the Central Army are not as easy to talk to as Lv Muzhi; if they enter Shanxi, they want to seize power and wipe them out completely.

Lv Muzhi then looked toward Left Chief of Staff, his tone softening slightly: "Left Chief of Staff, you also know that now is a critical node for the counteroffensive."

"If Shanxi falls into chaos internally first, only the devils will benefit. You don't want to see Hu Gongnan come to mediate the contradictions between you and the Jinsui Army, do you?"

After hearing this, Left Chief of Staff stood up directly and said sincerely: "Commander Yan, since things have been laid out clearly, I also represent the Eighth Route Army in stating my position."

"For the overall situation of the War of Resistance, our Eighth Route Army is willing to set aside past grievances and continue to join hands with the Jinsui Army to resist the Japanese invaders."

"If Hu Gongnan's troops are really allowed to enter, neither of our two sides will benefit."

Yan Laoxi looked at the olive branch extended by Left Chief of Staff, and then at Lv Muzhi's eyes that seemed to see through everything.

He took a deep breath; although he still had ten thousand unwillingness in his heart, reason told him this was a chance to preserve his last bit of capital.

The Central Army entering Shanxi was a matter of time; it was just that he now had too few troops and generals.

If Hu Gongnan found out, he had absolutely no capital to negotiate with the Central Government.

What Yan Laoxi could do was to embrace Lv Muzhi and the Eighth Route Army, suck the blood of the little devils as soon as possible to replenish his forces, so as not to be swallowed by the Central Government in the future.

"Since... since Wei Yue and Left Chief of Staff say so, I am not someone who doesn't understand the bigger picture."

Yan Laoxi stood up and bowed with clasped hands to Left Chief of Staff: "Our previous frictions will be recorded on the account for now, to be settled later."

"Now, let us issue a public announcement, set aside past grievances and continue cooperating, respond to the Youth Army, and join forces to kick the devils out of this piece of land in Shanxi!"

Seeing this, Lv Muzhi showed a satisfied expression; he stood up and walked between the two men.

He grabbed Left Chief of Staff with his left hand and Yan Laoxi with his right, forcibly placing their hands together.

"Thank you both for your cooperation."

"Originally, after I entered Shanxi, hearing about your contradictions, I was indeed somewhat concerned."

"Worried that the main force of the Central Army would take the opportunity to enter Shanxi, turning into a great melee, and finally wasting the good opportunity of the War of Resistance."

"Now it's fine; even if your two families reconcile on the surface, the Central Government will still have some misgivings."

Speaking of this, Lv Muzhi recalled the instructions sent by the old man not long ago.

The telegram hinted many things to Lv Muzhi, wanting to use the Youth Army's hands to completely purge all non-Central forces within Shanxi.

Lv Muzhi's expression grew somewhat complex; this was not the path he had wanted to walk himself.

He paused, then laid the bottom line bare to Yan Laoxi and the Left Chief of Staff.

"I will send a telegram to the old man, saying that the Jinsui Army still has about eighty thousand main-force troops under its command, not to be underestimated."

"I will also tell the old man that the relationship between the Jinsui Army and the Eighth Route Army is stable, with no so-called rupture."

"At the same time, I will clearly suggest that the Central Army entering Shanxi at this time will complicate the anti-Japanese situation, and let Hu Gongnan remain on standby where he is, not to advance."

From the anti-Japanese perspective, the Youth Army hopes the Central Army's main forces will delay their entry into Shanxi.

Yan Laoxi was truly moved at this moment: "Brother Wei Yue... great kindness deserves no thanks."

The Left Chief of Staff, Jiang Xiangyun, Chen Geng, and others nodded in succession, their eyes full of admiration.

Lv Muzhi took the opportunity to release their hands, saying: "Since everyone has spoken plainly, then the next battle must be fought to show the prestige of our Xia Guo soldiers!"

"I will deploy a plan to attack Linfen."

"Commander Yan, although the Jinsui Army does not have many men now, you are familiar with the terrain; I want you to sortie from Jin Southwest."

"The Jinsui Army's task is to attack the flank of Linfen from the east."

"As for the Eighth Route Army side, send a force to set out from Taiyue Mountain and fiercely attack Linfen's flank from the west."

"Your two forces will pincer Linfen from left and right."

"And I will lead the Youth Army's main force, advancing northward along the Tongpu Railway Line, to serve as the main attack!"

"The three forces will combine to break through Linfen and open the passage for advancing on Taiyuan!"

At this moment, inside Chongqing.

Lv Muzhi's investigation report on the Shanxi situation was presented before the old man.

The old man scratched his head:

"That shouldn't be... Yan Laoxi actually didn't fall out with the Eighth Route? The Jinsui Army actually still has about eighty thousand men..."

"If that is truly the case, it is indeed not advisable to send Hu Gongnan into Shanxi, to provoke Yan Laoxi and them."

Dai Li, standing to the side, looked at the investigation report: "This is too suspicious... Yan Laoxi and the Eighth Route just fell out, and so soon they are huddling for warmth again..."

"Furthermore, according to my intelligence investigation, the Jinsui Army under Yan Laoxi's command should number no more than sixty thousand; Commander Lu, are you not helping Yan Laoxi draw empty pay?"

Jiang Dingwen, who had returned after resigning from Henan, was also in the office, saying: "Could it be that Wei Yue has colluded with them? Bluffing, intending to prevent the Central Army's main forces from entering Shanxi?"

"We must be on guard; is Wei Yue trying to support Yan Laoxi, or... support that group of Eighth Route on Taihang Mountain?"

Dai Li thought for a moment, saying: "Actually, letting Commander Lu take the opportunity to deal with Yan Laoxi is not impossible... it's just that I fear Commander Lu is not of one heart with us."

Hearing these words, the old man threw down the investigation report: "Not of one heart?"

"Colonel Dai Li, you cannot evaluate a meritorious General of the Army like that!"

The old man directly called out Dai Li's evaluated military rank, instantly making Dai Li realize he had misspoken.