Chapter 476: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 486 Governor De Gu: Surrender

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

That flamethrower tank was none other than a modified Type 3 Flamethrower Tank!

Its cannon barrel looked slightly sturdier than an ordinary Type 3 Tank, and even had a thick protective steel tube fitted at the front.

The tank had its original 50mm main gun removed, replaced by a Kebe-type Flamethrower.

The 50mm base armor on the vehicle's front plus 30mm additional armor was enough to make all Japanese anti-tank weapons despair.

The dual fuel tanks inside held a full 1020 liters, supporting 125 one-second short bursts or 80 three-second long bursts, with a maximum spray range of 60 meters and spray pressure reaching 17 atmospheres.

Japanese Type 97 light machine guns fired wildly at the tank, bullets striking the thick armor and sending up a string of sparks.

But this level of firepower, against a Type 3 Flamethrower Tank with 80mm frontal armor, was no different from tickling.

"Quick, use anti-tank guns to destroy that monster!"

Inside the bunker, the Japanese shouted anxiously.

Inside the bunker was a Type 94 37mm anti-tank gun, aimed at the advancing Type 3 Flamethrower Tank.

Boom— the shell screamed out!

Clang— the shell left only a dent on the frontal armor of the Type 3 Flamethrower Tank, and nothing more.

The Youth Army tank commander inside the Type 3 Flamethrower Tank smiled with a crooked mouth: "Incompetent little devils~ if this is all the power you have, it's still not enough. Your fighting spirit is passable, but you're nowhere near penetrating armor. Though fighting here must be tough~ let me send you home, heh heh heh!"

No one knew how desperate the little devils inside the bunker were.

They watched wide-eyed as the Type 3 Flamethrower Tank charged close to the bunker, as if preparing to stick the flamethrower tube right in the little devils' faces.

The flamethrower equipped on the Type 3 Tank had a pitch range from negative ten to positive twenty degrees, making it child's play to deal with such low fortifications.

Whoosh— a long string of bright red fire dragons surged from the cannon muzzle, directly feeding the fire dragon into the mouths of the little devils inside the bunker.

This special fuel, pushed by seventeen atmospheres, had extremely strong adhesiveness.

The fire dragon drilled into the bunker through the embrasures, and the bunker instantly became a crematorium.

The Japanese machine gunners and anti-tank gunners inside the bunker, one by one, became little barbecues.

Division Commander Xie Jinyuan observed the battle from the rear, greatly praising this efficient assault weapon.

A tank spraying fire at close range under armor cover was far safer than infantry carrying flamethrowers to spray fire personally, and its deterrent power was even stronger!

Seeing this, the guerrilla fighters of the Fifth Regiment of the Zhenbei Zongdui had their eyes nearly popping out.

In the past, when attacking such strongholds, they had to rely on explosive packs and fill them with human lives, and still might not succeed.

Now it's fine—the Type 3 Flamethrower Tank directly sprays fire right in their faces, and the Japanese inside have all become "familiar faces."

At the same time, at the Sasaki Regiment command post behind Phu Luong Town.

Colonel Sasaki's hand gripping his sword trembled slightly: "The Youth Army has come, another regiment is about to be wiped out..."

"Colonel Excellency, the Youth Army is about to break through our second-line positions!" a battalion commander came to report.

Sasaki gritted his teeth and sent a telegram to the division headquarters in Hanoi.

"Phu Luong Town is truly difficult to hold, the Youth Army is unstoppable, we earnestly request General Nakamura to issue a retreat order!"

When the telegram reached Hanoi, Lieutenant General Nakamura Akito was on the verge of collapse.

The Youth Army had still come.

The Fifth Division had once been annihilated by the Youth Army Corps; this time, would it be annihilated by a regiment again?

This face was truly impossible to lose!

"Since Zhou Yu was born, why was Zhuge Liang born! Since Zhou Yu was born, why was Zhuge Liang born!" Lieutenant General Nakamura Akito couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"Born as the Great Japanese Imperial Army Fifth Division, why must it also create a Lv Muzhi and his Youth Army!"

At this time, Lieutenant General Nakamura had not only received the disastrous news from the Sasaki Regiment on the western front, but the Yoshikawa Regiment at Lang Son on the northern front had also sent an urgent telegram.

Sun Liren's 14th Division was equally fierce on the northern side, and the air power of the Flying Tigers and the Youth Army was bombing the Japanese indiscriminately.

What gave him even more of a headache was that the Zhongnan Yixin Society, already constantly restless within the territory, now seemed to have been injected with chicken blood, launching uprisings everywhere.

The Fifth Division adopted a four-regiment establishment, with two regiments holding firm positions outside, now about to be blown up.

The remaining regiments were stationed in Hanoi, one side pacifying peasant uprisings, the other side protecting the division headquarters while serving as a reserve force.

Should troops be sent for reinforcement? Would reinforcement be of any use? Would the Fifth Division have to die once more?

As Lieutenant General Nakamura Akito was at his wit's end, Governor De Gu, smelling of gunpowder smoke, pushed the door and entered.

"General Nakamura, we have completely failed; the Thais do not accept ceding territory for peace, and actually dare to advance deep into French Indochina!" Governor De Gu's voice was full of helplessness and despair.

Now it was truly a tiger fallen to flat ground being bullied by dogs!

The Youth Army had already fought in, and Vichy France's rule in the colonies was tottering.

Whether Thailand asked France for peace or not, it directly pursued the defeated French troops, cut the grass and removed the roots, and took advantage of the chaos to expand its territory—done!

Nakamura snorted coldly: "Not allowed?! The Thais dare to ride roughshod over us?"

"And your French army is even more useless, unable to even defeat those who ride elephants?"

Governor De Gu wiped his forehead and said urgently: "Thailand's Prime Minister Lawan is a madman, ordering the Thai army to pursue eastward with full force, wanting to take advantage of the fire to rob and expand their gains!"

"This isn't slapping my face; this is despising the Great Japanese Imperial Army!"

Murderous intent shone in Nakamura Akito's eyes: "Rebellion against heaven! I can't defeat the Youth Army, can I not deal with this bunch of Thai army?"

"Wait, I'll have the domestic side send reinforcements; the Youth Army is only twenty thousand, I'll call more reinforcements, watch me fist the Youth Army and kick the Thai Royal Army!"

Governor De Gu was overjoyed upon hearing this; as long as the Japanese were willing to send more troops, the Thai threat could be removed.

But just as Nakamura Akito finished his harsh words, a cipher staff officer hurried in with an urgent telegram.

"General Your Excellency! Urgent telegram from Imperial General Headquarters!"

"The Youth Army is frequently moving in the direction of Shanhaiguan, applying pressure to Manchuria."

"Imperial General Headquarters states that it currently lacks the capacity to dispatch any reinforcements to French Indochina."

"To avoid being annihilated on the spot by the Youth Army and the rebels, the Fifth Division should immediately abandon Hanoi, retreat to Haiphong Port, link up with the Navy, and secure this Southeast Asian bridgehead."

Nakamura Akito finished reading the telegram and only then realized that Imperial General Headquarters had committed all its troops to Manchuria, so he himself could not act impulsively.

The Fifth Division held Hanoi; although this place relied on the Red River, it connected via over one hundred kilometers of waterway to Haiphong Port by the sea.

But the Red River was not like Xia Guo's Yangtze River; its navigation capacity was poor, and even a five-hundred-ton warship might not be able to pass, so the Navy could not provide strong support!

The few warships of the Navy Fools could only stop at the seaside but could not enter.

What was the point of fighting? Better to run away quickly and seek the protection of the Navy Fools at the seaside!

For him, Haiphong Port had naval gunfire cover, and was at least far safer than this drafty Hanoi.

Governor De Gu stood frozen in place; his translator had already translated every word without omission.

His lips trembling, he asked: "General Nakamura... then what about our French Army?"

Nakamura Akito sheathed his General's Sword, did not even glance at De Gu, and strode straight out the door.

"Your French Army can't even beat the Thais; what use am I bringing you? Don't get involved with me!"

Saying this, Nakamura Akito took his staff officer team and left the command headquarters without looking back.

Governor De Gu watched those receding figures, anxious and angry.

As a French Imperial Navy admiral, he had actually suffered such humiliation?!

The Japanese patted their backsides and left; what situation was left for him?

The wolf-like tiger-like Youth Army was on the North Side, the sky-covering Guerrillas were On Mountain, and the ambitious Thais were on the West Side.

Pull out any one at random, and they could swallow whole the few ten thousand weak troops in his hands.

Governor De Gu's Navy still had seven or eight warships; he wanted to take a naval ship back to Vichy France, but the Malacca Strait, the necessary route, was controlled by the British fortress guns, and the British were hostile to Vichy France and would not allow their fleet to pass easily!

"Your Excellency Governor, we have become pawns now," the Adjutant said in a low voice with a pale complexion.

Governor De Gu slumped into the chair, his gaze unfocused: "Yes, we are pawns..."

After a silence, the Adjutant leaned close to Governor De Gu's ear and said a few words in a lowered voice.

Governor De Gu's gaze gradually focused; after thinking for a long time, he finally nodded forcefully.

"There's no other way; immediately send a telegram to the Youth Army!"

"Announce that the French Indochina Colonial Army surrenders to the Youth Army, oh no, it's an uprising!"