Chapter 456: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 466: They Come in Droves, Let the Old Man Contact Me

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi was very displeased after hearing Zhang Fei's words.

Zhang Fei came to his senses and hurriedly said: "Oh, I didn't read much when I was young, and I always felt that the emperor was as majestic as a dragon. Now that I've come here personally and seen all of this, I feel the emperor is nothing special. Can the emperor stop several divisions of the Youth Army?"

"This Forbidden City is more like a landlord's manor with more rules and more luxury."

These words made sense, and everyone laughed; they had previously thought Zhang Fei was being muddleheaded.

Lv Muzhi breathed a sigh of relief; he himself had broken into a cold sweat for Zhang Fei. If Zhang Fei truly harbored thoughts of restoring the imperial system, then he had truly misjudged the man all these years.

After touring the Forbidden City for a while, everyone left this royal garden.

Compared to the Kwantung Army outside Shanhaiguan, the Youth Army's relationship with the Central Government was equally a headache for Lv Muzhi and the others.

Lv Muzhi's headquarters was set up in a compound on Dongjiaomin Alley, where security was tight, and every officer coming and going was spirited.

They had been stationed in Beiping City for over half a month, and the time had come to mid-April.

While preparing pensions for the fallen soldiers, Lv Muzhi also considered how to send a telegram to the Central Government to clarify his position.

On the office desk, casualty reports from various divisions were stacked more than a meter high.

Although the casualty reports had already been approved by the Corps Pension Office, Lv Muzhi still wanted to see those fallen soldiers with his own eyes.

The four months of fighting had finally basically pacified North China.

The Youth Corps lost five thousand one hundred twenty-three killed and twelve thousand three hundred thirteen wounded.

Opening a casualty report, densely packed, Lv Muzhi's eyes grew sore:

【Youth Army First Division - Record of Fallen Officers and Soldiers】

Zhao Yong, Infantry Second Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Battalion Commander, killed at the Fenglingdu beachhead;

Chen Tiezhu, Armored Battalion, Second Lieutenant Platoon Leader, killed at Pingyao Zuojiabao;

Zhao Shikai, Infantry Second Regiment Anti-tank Gun Company, Corporal Gun Commander, killed at Taiyuan

【Youth Army Fourth Division - Record of Fallen Officers and Soldiers】

Zhang Mancang, Engineer Battalion, Corporal Assistant Squad Leader, killed at Zoumalin;

Ma Liancheng, Armored Second Battalion, Warrant Officer Tank Commander, killed at Juyong Pass;

【Guerrilla Army Group First Column - Record of Fallen Officers and Soldiers】

Liu Dazhuang, Reconnaissance Battalion, Sergeant Squad Leader, killed at Baoding;

Lin Zhangfeng, Air Corps Fighter Second Squadron, Lieutenant Pilot, killed over Beiping;

【Youth Army Eighth Division - Record of Fallen Officers and Soldiers】

Li Shuhua, Infantry Twenty-second Regiment, Sergeant Machine Gunner, killed at Su County......

Lv Muzhi was silently looking through the list, recalling every battle.

Sun Liren walked into the office holding a list:

"Lu Commander, too many people want to see you; we can't persuade them to leave."

Lv Muzhi took the list and glanced at it: "So many people have come? Truly, the tree wishes for quiet but the wind will not stop."

Sun Liren said: "Then shall I have them leave?"

Lv Muzhi waved his hand: "Let's still meet them. Let's meet Zhao Daiwen, Yan Laoxi's representative, first. Yan Laoxi, this existentialist, has no great ambitions; I'm just afraid the people behind him will frighten me."

Zhao Daiwen was already over seventy years old; as soon as he entered the room, he took off his hat and bowed to Lv Muzhi.

This old man's courtesy made Lv Muzhi feel embarrassed.

Lv Muzhi had to stand up and invite Zhao Daiwen to sit.

"Lu Commander, since our parting at Taiyuan, you are still as heroic and vigorous as ever! Bai Chuan (Yan Laoxi) has missed you day and night in Taiyuan. Liberating Pingjin is truly a feat unparalleled in history!"

Lv Muzhi and he exchanged modest words, and the two politely praised each other back and forth.

Finally, Zhao Daiwen revealed Yan Laoxi's true purpose: "Although the main force of the Japanese Invaders has retreated from North China, the forces within Shanxi Province are still complex, especially Hu Gongnan, who has repeatedly tried to cross the Yellow River!"

"Right now, we have not yet completely defeated the Japanese Invaders, but the Central Government is impatient to take action. Lu Commander has always understood the greater good."

"Commander Yan hopes that Lu Commander, for the sake of old times, will send an army to be stationed in Shanxi to help suppress the situation."

"Of course, Commander Yan promises that a portion of Shanxi's annual grain and tax harvest can be given as a generous gift to the Youth Army!"

Lv Muzhi understood: Yan Laoxi wanted him to be a bodyguard and had promised a protection fee.

Lv Muzhi was unwilling to get involved in Shanxi's muddy waters, but he did indeed need a sum of money.

It was not that Lv Muzhi's financial resources had reached the point of exhaustion, but rather that Yan Laoxi should have paid this money in the first place!

"Old Mr. Zhao, my Youth Army is not your bodyguard. Besides, you should indeed give me a sum of money."

Zhao Daiwen paused: "What is the reason for this? Does Bai Chuan owe you money?"

Lv Muzhi pointed to the map on the wall and said: "I have recovered so many places in Shanxi. I hardly touched the big cities; most of them have been returned to your hands."

"At that time, for the sake of the great cause of resisting Japan, as long as you raised one hundred thousand dan of military rations for the Youth Army."

"But now it's different. You have gained far more than you have paid. This is unfair. The Youth Army fought bitterly for four months, and the pensions for the fallen soldiers alone are a huge sum. We fought to expel the Japanese Invaders. In this regard, you must show sincerity."

"If you want me to station troops, I can consider it."

"But first, show me your sincerity. Cover all the pensions for the fallen soldiers of these four months, and then we can discuss stationing troops."

Zhao Daiwen was stunned; he did not expect Lv Muzhi to make this request for this reason.

Many Youth Army soldiers did not fall in Shanxi, so this demand sounded unreasonable.

But upon careful thought, Yan Laoxi was indeed the primary beneficiary among them.

Yan Laoxi, this existentialist, still exists only because of Lv Muzhi and the Youth Army.

With this connection, provided the Youth Army is willing to station troops in Shanxi, spending some money is a small matter, and Yan Laoxi can accept it.

"This... Commander Lu, this is probably going to cost quite a bit of money, give me a specific figure?" After Zhao Daiwen figured it out, he asked about the amount of the pension.

Lv Muzhi said in a flat tone: "I'm not just talking nonsense; I have a roster of pensions for fallen soldiers here, you can take a look."

After finishing speaking, Lv Muzhi handed the pension report to Zhao Daiwen.

Zhao Daiwen put on his reading glasses and looked carefully.

Upon seeing it, he was shocked; in the process of expelling the Japanese Army, the Youth Army had indeed shed blood all over the Shanxi Land.

Just at Hanyang Town, Lv Muzhi's precious paratroopers lost over four hundred men in a single battle.

The minimum standard for the Youth Corps pension is: a one-time pension of 200 yuan for a private; if a fallen soldier has family, a further 100 yuan must be paid annually thereafter.

Speaking only of the one-time pension, for the soldiers who died in these four months, a one-time pension expenditure of 2 million yuan is required.

Zhao Daiwen finally put away his reading glasses and returned the pension report.

Lv Muzhi said: "Considering the pensions that need to be paid annually thereafter, I hope you can pay me five million yuan in one lump sum."

Pay the money first, then consider the matter of stationing troops. No money, nothing to discuss.

Zhao Daiwen furrowed his brow tightly; coming up with five million yuan at once, for Yan Xishan's current scale, while not easy, was not as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

"Commander Lu, if we recognize this pension, will the Youth Army be able to station troops in Shanxi?"

Lv Muzhi shook his head repeatedly: "I dare not guarantee it; I can only guarantee that if I get this money, I will definitely not move against Yan Laoxi; I am just taking back what the Youth Army deserves!"

Zhao Daiwen's expression changed greatly; he did not expect Lv Muzhi to be playing the shameless one.

"Old Mr. Zhao, don't think I'm joking; this is a fair transaction, go back and raise the money."

"If I don't see five million yuan in pensions, I will personally lead people to Taiyuan to take the money; don't forget that Niangzi Pass is controlled by me, I can enter and leave Shanxi at any time."

"Also, I don't want Legal Tender; prepare silver dollars for me."

Zhao Daiwen wiped his sweat, stood up to take his leave, and said he would discuss it properly with Yan Xishan after returning.

After Zhao Daiwen left, Sun Liren stepped forward and asked: "Commander Lu, is that too hurtful to the relationship?"

Lv Muzhi said: "What relationship is there? We cannot be too gentle with Yan Xishan; he accepted our protection before, so he should pay for it; as for whether to protect him in the future, I still need to study it further."

Sun Liren nodded: "Regarding the old man over there, should we take the initiative to contact him and ease the relationship?"

Lv Muzhi asked: "Take the initiative to contact? What would be said in the telegram? Admit wrong? He is the one who wants to borrow a knife to kill and draw firewood from under the cauldron; we have done nothing wrong."

"The old man should see things more clearly; if he doesn't contact me, more people will take the initiative to contact me; who is behind wanting to see me?"

Sun Liren opened the list: "The Eighth Route Army's Jiang Xiangyun, the Gui clique's Commander-in-Chief Bai, Suiyuan's Fu Zuoyi, a representative of the Yunnan Provincial Government, the Sichuan Army..."

Lv Muzhi listened as if it were reading a menu, and said: "Pick a few to meet first."