Chapter 458

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

The old man said no, no, on his lips, but still sent his delegation to meet Lv Muzhi.

So many people came that they directly filled Lv Muzhi's reception hall.

The old man's delegation was entirely made up of Whampoa clique generals, personally led by former Whampoa instructors He Yingqin and Chen Cheng.

They brought more than twenty of Lv Muzhi's Whampoa classmates and junior schoolmates.

Once everyone sat down in the room, it was almost half of Republic of China history.

"Wei Yue, you really went too far this time, the old man's health isn't good," He Yingqin said.

"He can't eat his meals in Chongqing, and has broken several teacups."

Chen Cheng also urged: "If it really won't work, just admit your mistake. Just let the old man have his way, okay? Write a self-reflection letter and send it to Chongqing, and this matter will be over."

Lv Muzhi looked at these former instructors and classmates in the room, thinking to himself that the old man had sent these people as persuaders, but they actually wanted him to admit his mistake and write a self-reflection—there was not a shred of sincerity!

"Want me to admit my mistake? Whose idea is this?"

"I don't know what mistake I've made. Let me first count the central government's greatest faults."

"Why aren't the Youth Army's pensions being issued? After every major war in the past, the central government has issued pensions to all units and bonuses to meritorious soldiers. The central government should bear part of the Youth Army's pensions and bonuses."

"Although it's not much, why aren't they issuing it this time? As far as I know, the central army units have all been paid in full, haven't they? What about my Youth Army? Are they unwilling to issue even two million legal tender?"

"Not issuing it doesn't matter; I can afford to issue it myself. But with the central government's attitude like this, and still asking me to admit my mistake—isn't that a bit absurd?"

Everyone in the room looked toward Minister of Military Administration He Yingqin.

Guan Linzhen said: "Our army's pensions and bonuses were all issued in place half a month ago."

Huang Wei and Song Xilian and others nodded in agreement.

After hearing this, Lv Muzhi smiled inwardly. The central army's pensions were issued so quickly—it was just the old man's method of winning back the central army's morale, yet he alone had been skipped?

He Yingqin looked nervous: "This... it's not that they aren't being issued, it's that they're being issued slowly. Funds are currently short, and they'll be issued once subsequent funds are in place."

Lv Muzhi asked: "What's going on? When it comes to my Youth Army, there just happens to be no money? That's too much of a coincidence, isn't it?"

"I've heard that before the central government's winter offensive began last winter, they had already begun large-scale issuance of war bonds. Bonds are circulating in the Southwest, Central China, and Hua Nan, on an extraordinary scale. Where did all the money go?"

He Yingqin, asked this, thought to himself that he didn't know where the money was. He was responsible for issuing money, not earning it. He wouldn't dare embezzle the Youth Army's pensions and bonuses even if he had the gall of the heavens.

Chen Cheng immediately said: "This question is rather complex. Give Minister He half a month, and this money will definitely be issued in place!"

Lv Muzhi shook his head: "If the central government has difficulties, then forget it. I am already issuing pensions in succession to the families of fallen soldiers. I'm not lacking these legal tender."

"It's just truly chilling!"

"People's parents raised their sons for ten or twenty-plus years. They grit their teeth and stamp their feet to go to the battlefield, handing over their lives so readily. In the end, the pensions are issued so sluggishly?"

The surrounding Whampoa clique officers were all filled with righteous indignation.

Du Yuming said: "Not issuing only the Youth Army's pensions, and still giving no explanation—this attitude is very problematic."

Wang Yaowu shouted loudly: "That's right, Minister He, why aren't you issuing Commander Lu's pensions?"

He Yingqin found it hard to answer. He certainly couldn't say they never intended to issue pensions to the Youth Army this time, could he?

The Whampoa clique generals, hearing of the Youth Army's ordeal, had originally prepared a bellyful of good words, intending to persuade Lv Muzhi to admit his mistake to the old man. Now they couldn't say a single word.

Coincidentally, at this moment Sun Liren walked in and whispered a few words beside Lv Muzhi.

Lv Muzhi was first slightly surprised, then said: "Invite him in!"

Sun Liren withdrew to invite the person. The Whampoa clique officers below whispered to each other, began drinking tea, and pondered how to report back to the old man.

After a while, Sun Liren brought Yan Laoxi in. Behind Yan Laoxi, another person carried a box.

He Yingqin looked and stood up: "Why is Yan Xishan here?!"

Yan Laoxi looked up and was startled. The whole room was full of central government Whampoa clique generals!

He turned to leave, but Sun Liren grabbed Yan Laoxi: "Commander Yan, where are you going?"

Yan Laoxi wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Muzi has gathered central government generals of all levels here. Surely he isn't going to hand me over to the central government for punishment? I was truly careless—I've walked into your Hongmen Banquet!"

Lv Muzhi stood up and waved to Yan Laoxi: "This banquet is a good banquet, not a Hongmen Banquet. Commander Yan, sit at ease. I guarantee your safe return to Shanxi!"

Hearing these words, Yan Laoxi then turned back and entered the reception hall.

He Yingqin and Chen Cheng, the two of them, had in their eyes only the intention of taking down Yan Laoxi, to hand him over to the old man for credit.

However, on Lv Muzhi's home turf, they still dared not act rashly.

Lv Muzhi added a seat for Yan Laoxi, placing him ahead of He Yingqin and Chen Cheng.

"Why has Commander Yan come in person?"

Yan Laoxi sighed: "Wei Yue, if I had known there were so many central government generals here, I wouldn't have come. Just now really gave me a fright!"

"Earlier you had someone bring me a message, asking me to provide five million in pensions for the Youth Army. I thought it over when I got back and agreed directly!"

"To show sincerity and trust, I even personally brought the money over!"

After speaking, Yan Laoxi waved his hand. The attendant brought the box forward and opened it, taking out a receipt from inside.

"Five million yuan, in silver dollars. This is the receipt."

Yan Laoxi handed the receipt to Lv Muzhi, then turned to glance at He Yingqin beside him and Chen Cheng opposite, nodding in greeting, and even opened his mouth to smile.

This made He Yingqin and Chen Cheng extremely displeased. With this move, superiority and inferiority were immediately clear.

Lv Muzhi stood up, very satisfied, and displayed the receipt to everyone: "What is called sincerity? This—this is called sincerity!"

He Yingqin said to Yan Laoxi with a playful tone: "Commander Yan, you really are willing to spend money, aren't you?"

Yan Laoxi shook his head and waggled his head, showing considerable disdain for the person before him: "Existence is everything. Everything for existence. Everything can change, but existence cannot change. To exist, one must be willing to spend money!"

Chen Cheng said rudely: "To exist, one must also see whether the money is spent in the right place; Hu Gongnan's troops are now waiting west of Tongguan!"

Yan Laoxi glared, his hand resting on Lv Muzhi's arm: "Wei Yue, is he threatening me?"

Lv Muzhi looked at Yan Laoxi before him, this fellow who danced on three eggs, still dancing on three eggs now, except that now Lv Muzhi's Youth Army had become one of the three eggs.

"Well said! Commander Yan's discourse on existence philosophy is truly excellent, truly worthy of a Philosopher!" Lv Muzhi applauded:

"Commander Yan is not only accomplished in philosophy, but also very generous."

"Not only did he grant my Youth Army five million taels in consolation money, but also promised to bear the rations for my Youth Army of over fifty thousand men and horses monthly; Wei Yue, I thank Commander Yan on this occasion!"

Having finished speaking, Lv Muzhi directly gave Yan Laoxi a slight bow.

Yan Laoxi was very surprised: when had he ever agreed to bear the logistics and supplies of an army for Lv Muzhi?!