Chapter 477: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 487: Borrow Your Navy for a Use

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Inside the Governor's Residence in Hanoi, Governor De Gu and his adjutant's "flash of inspiration" found a way to break the deadlock.

That was to withdraw from the Vichy France camp, join Free France, and seek refuge with the Youth Army!

Free France is Xia Guo's friend; surely Lv Muzhi wouldn't act against himself, right?

"Your Excellency Governor, this must be kept secret; we have no contact information for the Youth Army, sending a coded telegram is easily intercepted by the Japanese Army—be careful the Japanese Army turns around and wipes us all out!"

Governor De Gu took a deep breath, as if making some kind of resolution: "Adjutant Morel, immediately assemble the Guard Company; in a while, take my personal letter and lead the team north."

"No matter which unit you encounter, as long as it's a Youth Army designation, immediately hand over my letter of defection."

"Remember, what we want is a dignified uprising, returning to the Free France camp, not surrender!"

Captain Morel saluted: "Upholding the dignity of our army, it is my inescapable duty!"

In less than ten minutes, three trucks painted with French Army markings, plus a jeep, rushed out of Hanoi.

Morel personally drove that jeep, flooring the accelerator, galloping toward Lang Son.

Along the road, everywhere were soldiers of the Japanese Army's Yoshikawa Regiment retreating from Lang Son.

These Japanese soldiers were all covered in dust and dirt, some leaning on bayonets, some supporting each other, looking utterly disheveled.

Morel's convoy swept past them like wind and lightning, the dust it kicked up hitting the Japanese soldiers in the face.

A Japanese sergeant major glared with eyes wide and cursed: "Eight Gua, when did these Frenchmen become so brave?"

Another Japanese soldier also said: "Lang Son has already been lost; the Youth Army's tanks have already chased to North River—are they going to their deaths?"

The Japanese Army was retreating, the French Army advancing; this sight of going against the current made many Japanese soldiers feel admiration!

The French Army was actually so brave; the Japanese Army truly misjudged them!

Half an hour later, the forward command post of the Expeditionary Force Youth 14th Division.

Sun Liren was standing beside a Type 3 Command Tank, directing troops in pursuit to the south.

"Report to the Division Commander! The vanguard search company intercepted a French Army convoy, with white bed sheets tied on the vehicles; the leader is a lieutenant colonel, saying he was sent by Governor De Gu to surrender!"

"Oh? Surrender?!"

Sun Liren raised an eyebrow, took the documents and letter of defection handed over by the translator, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Interesting; the French are indeed masters of shifting with the wind."

"Surrender to Hans, surrender to the Japanese Army, not long ago they made peace with Thailand, and now they've come running here to defect to me?"

Lieutenant Colonel Morel was brought before Sun Liren; he did his utmost to maintain the bearing of a French officer, straightening his back and lifting his chin.

"Your Excellency, Vichy France has committed great treason; Governor De Gu has already decided to turn to Free France, and we of the Indochina Colonial Army are willing to submit to Free France!"

Sun Liren looked into his eyes; the other party didn't mention a word about surrendering to the Youth Army!

The Youth Army had declared the Vichy French Army in French Indochina to be their enemy; Governor De Gu shifted with the wind and defected to Free France, so surely the Youth Army couldn't do anything to him, right?

In the sky, two BF109 Fighters screamed low overhead, going to pursue the fleeing Japanese Army.

Lieutenant Colonel Morel thought enemy planes had arrived, and in fright immediately put his hands on his head, half-squatting on the ground.

The Youth Army's officers, seeing this, all burst into laughter.

Sun Liren had his subordinate connect the radio to the rear command post, then looked at Lieutenant Colonel Morel's flustered face; the other party no longer had the proud demeanor from before.

Sun Liren said: "There is no Free France you speak of here; here there is only the Youth Army!"

"If you want to surrender to Free France, then go find their officers to surrender yourself; I am now sending troops to attack Hanoi, and the Youth Army has not received any unit's surrender!"

Hearing this, Lieutenant Colonel Morel was greatly alarmed.

"Your Excellency, please calm your anger; since that is the case, Governor De Gu is willing to surrender to the Youth Army!"

Sun Liren snorted coldly: "If you'd said that sooner, wouldn't it be settled? You people surrender every day; I'm hardly reluctant to accept it!"

The signalman carrying the radio walked up and said: "Commander Lu's radio has been connected!"

Lv Muzhi was at this time in Lang Son, which Sun Liren had just captured not long ago, located in the deep rear of Sun Liren's pursuing troops.

Over the radio, Sun Liren truthfully reported the news that Governor De Gu wanted to surrender.

Lv Muzhi thought for a moment; although the French had surrendered to him, in the end he couldn't keep them.

Especially the French fleet in Indochina; they could simply sail their warships straight to Singapore to surrender to the British, then return directly to the embrace of Free France.

However, before that, Lv Muzhi could just make use of the French navy!

"Tell them, surrender is acceptable, but they must hand over a token of allegiance."

"Nakamura Akito's Fifth Division is retreating toward Haiphong Port; ask them if the French fleet is inside Haiphong Port?"

Sun Liren turned and had the translator continue interrogating Morel.

Soon, the intelligence summary came in.

"Report, the French Navy just defeated the Thai Navy at sea a week ago; five French warships, including the cruiser Lamotte-Picquet, are resting in Haiphong Port."

"There are also seven warships belonging to the Japanese Army in the port."

After hearing this, Lv Muzhi laughed.

Just worrying about how to swallow the Fifth Division fleeing to Haiphong—here comes the opportunity?

"Tell him, the relationship between the French Colonial Army and the Japanese isn't something that can be casually severed; lend me the navy for a use."

"Unless the French Navy in Haiphong Port immediately opens fire and sinks all Japanese warships, otherwise I absolutely will not accept the surrender."

"If they can't do it, Governor De Gu will either die in the midst of the chaotic troops, or wait to be sent to the trial stand by the Zhongnan Yixin Society and the angry civilians."

Sun Liren translated Lv Muzhi's original words to Morel without missing a single word.

Morel broke out in a cold sweat from fright; he knew this was the ultimatum Lv Muzhi had given him.

The news was quickly transmitted back to the Governor's Residence in Hanoi via the radio Morel had brought with him in his vehicle.

Governor De Gu looked at the telegram, his hands trembling slightly.

If he did not act against the Japanese, he feared he would not even be able to keep the head on his neck.

The Zhongnan Yixin Society and the local civilians bore a bone-deep hatred for the French colonists!

It would be better to turn and strike the Japanese Army, declare his stance, and strive to win Lv Muzhi's protection, then afterward surrender to the British and leave this colony that had fallen into chaos.

"Send a telegram to Lieutenant General Jin De Ku, commander of the naval fleet at Haifang Port!"

"Tell him that the colony has officially defected to Free France, and this is for the honor of France!"

"Order his fleet to enter combat status immediately; while the Japanese Navy is unprepared, sink all Japanese ships in Haifang Port, and coordinate with the Youth Army to wipe out the Fifth Division!"

At this time, on the railway leading to Haiphong.

Lieutenant General Nakamura Akito, commander of the Fifth Division, sat in a temporarily requisitioned train carriage, watching the jungle outside the window recede, and finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

"Order the troops to speed up; provided that we reach Haiphong, relying on the navy's naval gunfire, Lv Muzhi will not dare to approach us easily."

In his view, although the Youth Army was invincible in ground battles, they ultimately did not have a respectable naval force.

Moored outside Haifang Port were the empire's cruisers and destroyers; they were the safety guarantee of his Japanese Army.

However, a jolt of the train carriage made Nakamura Akito remember an extremely critical matter.

He had fled too quickly and actually overlooked the French Army as a variable!

"Eight Gua! That bastard De Gu!"

"I actually neglected it; he could surrender to me, and it is extremely likely he would also surrender to the Youth Army!"

Nakamura Akito slapped his head and pointed at the staff officer sitting to one side:

"Quick! Immediately contact the Army Garrison at Haifang! Order them to take over the French warships at once!"

"Also do not forget to notify the Navy Fools at Haifang; tell them to be vigilant against the French turning traitor!"