Chapter 492: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 502 Japanese Army & Thai Army vs Youth Army & Zhongn

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

By the banks of the Mekong River, the gunpowder smoke had not yet completely dissipated.

On the streets of Vientiane City, tank treads rolled over the blue stone slabs, leaving behind a series of white pressure marks.

More than fifty Japanese tanks and armored vehicles formed a long dragon, their steel hulls painted with Thailand's white elephant insignia.

Leading the charge were several Type 97 Kai medium tanks, followed closely by Type 95 light tanks and Type 94 cavalry tanks.

If one observed carefully, one would discover that the movements of these tank crewmen wearing Thai military uniforms were unusually experienced; some even had hygiene mustaches—they were truly genuine Japanese!

Beneath those wide Thai military uniforms lay the armored troops of the Japanese Fifth Division.

Not only the armored troops, but the artillery deployed in the rear were also operated by these Japanese veterans who had changed their skins.

The Thai army's ability to cross the Mekong River and capture Vientiane City depended entirely on the tanks, cannons, and professional armored troops and artillery supported by the Japanese army.

Atop the city head of Vientiane City, Marshal Lawan of Thailand wore a cloak, looking down at the marching columns with high spirits.

He turned his head and smiled at a Japanese colonel beside him who wore a command sword at his waist.

"Colonel Hira-o, your army's strength is indeed well-deserved; capturing Vientiane in one battle was truly exhilarating!"

Colonel Hira-o bowed slightly, but his eyes carried arrogance.

"Marshal Lawan is too kind. Those makeshift peasant armies of Zhongnan State are, before the might of the Imperial Army—oh no, before the might of the Thai army—like earthen chickens and broken tiles."

"As long as this offensive continues, pushing all the way to Hanoi City and overthrowing the Unity Party is absolutely no problem."

Marshal Lawan nodded, but a hint of worry still lingered between his brows as he asked in a low voice:

"However, I worry about that Youth Expeditionary Army north of the Red River. Lv Muzhi is not an easy character to deal with."

"If his troops move south to intervene, I fear it will be quite troublesome."

Colonel Hira-o sneered coldly, thinking to himself: Nonsense, isn't this pushing you to the front to probe the path, to feel out where Lv Muzhi's bottom line lies?

"Marshal Lawan is overthinking. According to the intelligence we have already grasped, the Youth Army signed a strict joint defense agreement with Zhongnan State."

"Their range of activity is strictly limited to north of the Red River; their duty is to protect the railways and mineral resources."

"As long as our spearhead does not cross the Red River line and does not directly provoke Lv Muzhi's territory, he will have no reason to send troops against Thailand."

"If Lv Muzhi does not act, we will first gradually swallow the territory of Zhongnan State. Once a fait accompli is created, even Lv Muzhi can only stare blankly."

"After the matter is accomplished, we will internally distribute the ownership of the land."

After hearing this, Marshal Lawan's last remaining doubt vanished like smoke and clouds.

The Youth Army belonged to Xia Guo; once Lv Muzhi brazenly used troops against Thailand, it would trigger a diplomatic dispute.

As long as Lawan did not send troops north of the Red River, according to the joint defense agreement, Lv Muzhi's attitude would very likely be: mind his own business and stay aloof.

He looked again at the column advancing into the heartland of Zhongnan State, his heart filled with heroic spirit.

Zhongnan State had Lv Muzhi as its backer, and now he, Lawan, had the Great Japanese Empire backing him!

"The glory of Pan-Thaiism will ultimately be realized in my hands!" Lawan clenched his fist, muttering to himself in a low voice.

At the same time, in the conference room of the Prime Minister's Office in Hanoi, a high-level military conference was being held.

Along both sides of the long conference table sat the high-ranking generals of Zhongnan State.

Prime Minister Fan Jing sat at the head seat, looking at the defeat reports from the frontline, his face haggard.

The commanders of the various military regions below were either dejected or deep in thought.

Even the most arrogant Commander of the Yuebei Military Region, Ruan Wen, now wore a tense expression.

If this situation continued to develop, Zhongnan State, founded for less than half a year, would be beaten down!

Lv Muzhi was also invited to attend this conference, observing everyone's expressions.

The more than fifty thousand elites of the Youth Expeditionary Army stationed along the railway were originally the ballast stone of Zhongnan State.

However, restricted by the already signed joint defense treaty, the Youth Army's range of activity was limited to north of the Red River, making it difficult to provide aid to Zhongnan State.

"Defeat! What a great shame!" Prime Minister Fan slammed the table and lamented.

"The total strength of the Laos Military Region reached a division, yet they suffered over two thousand casualties, lost Vientiane, and retreated into the mountains to wage guerrilla warfare!"

"The recently recovered lost land hadn't even been warmed before it was snatched away by the Thais?"

Prime Minister Fan's gaze fell on the face of the Laos Military Region Commander.

The Laos Military Region Commander stood up, his face full of bitterness.

"This time the Thais were all equipped with Japanese gear; there were countless tanks, and the artillery fire was especially fierce. Our Unity Party has never fought such a battle."

"Although the soldiers were brave, most of them only had submachine guns and rifles in their hands; they simply couldn't hold out!"

Prime Minister Fan Jing said: "We are now a regular army, not guerrillas. Vientiane is the capital of Laos; how can we say we lose it just like that!"

Ruan Wen, Commander of the Yuebei Military Region, who had remained silent all along, also spoke:

"Prime Minister Fan, according to intelligence, the Thais have the Japanese Fifth Division backing them behind the scenes."

"That is a genuine tank cluster and artillery regiment, while our Zhongnan State's troops severely lack heavy weapons."

Speaking to this point, Ruan Wen glanced at Lv Muzhi and shifted the topic.

"Although General Lu has supported us with quite a few weapons, most of them are submachine guns, rifles, machine guns, and other light weapons."

"There are only a few cannons, and not a single tank or armored vehicle."

"Relying on these things to charge the Japanese tank positions—that is not fighting a war, that is sending people to their deaths."

Ruan Wen's meaning was very clear: to win, Lv Muzhi had to increase support.

Lv Muzhi listened to these words, leaning against the back of his chair, saying not a single word.

He knew exactly what these military region commanders were scheming.

They were afraid the Youth Army's limelight would overshadow the Unity Party's army, so through the Common Defense Treaty they restricted the Youth Army to north of the Red River.

Now they want tanks and cannons? Where in this world is there such a cheap deal?

Not to mention that most of Zhongnan State's soldiers lack armored troops training, and without a year or two of training they couldn't even operate tanks.

Moreover, every piece of this heavy equipment is piled up with real gold and silver; Lv Muzhi couldn't possibly give them to Zhongnan State for free, and Zhongnan State couldn't afford them either.

In short, Zhongnan State lacks the capacity to use this equipment.

Judging by the current situation, Zhongnan State is too wary of the Youth Army, and Lv Muzhi has already begun planning to make Zhongnan State's region north of the Red River a stable resource rear and an outlet to the sea.

Zhongnan State's core is in Northern Vietnam, and Northern Vietnam's core is in the region north of the Red River where the Youth Army is garrisoned.

Here there are mineral resources, railways, rubber plantations, and Haiphong Port.

If Lv Muzhi can hold here, even if Zhongnan State is defeated, it wouldn't be a loss.

Anyway, with a great enemy at hand, the Unity Party is the anxious one, while Lv Muzhi is not anxious.

Fan Jing saw Lv Muzhi not speaking and grew increasingly anxious, asking:

"General Lu, Vientiane has fallen, and the Thais are pressing step by step; are you going to watch helplessly as most of Zhongnan State's territory falls?"

Lv Muzhi replied faintly.

"The Youth Army is a foreign guest army; according to the agreement, our responsibility is to protect the Railway Line and specific industrial zones."

"Fighting south across the Red River—sorry, we don't have that authorization."

These words were like a slap, leaving the commanders present with burning faces.

Back then they had insisted on restricting the Youth Army to north of the Red River, fearing Lv Muzhi would become the retired emperor of Zhongnan State.

Ruan Wen took a deep breath, knowing that now was not the time to stubbornly save face.

If the Youth Army still doesn't act, then Zhongnan State will have nothing left but that one region north of the Red River where the Youth Army is garrisoned!

"General Lu, times have changed." Ruan Wen's tone softened.

"If Zhongnan State loses all its territory, it won't benefit the Youth Army in the slightest."

"I represent the Commander of Yuebei Military Region in proposing that, during this wartime emergency, restrictions on the Youth Army's range of activity be lifted!"

"Hope the Youth Army can lend Zhongnan State a hand, voluntarily sortie, and assist us in recovering lost land."

Fan Jing quickly chimed in: "Right right right! General Lu, please definitely act! Repel the Thai Army!"

Lv Muzhi pondered, weighing the pros and cons.

Everyone's eyes were fixed intently on the Xia Guo general before them.

After a long while, Lv Muzhi sighed, as if making a great concession.

"Since it is the commanders' own request, if I still don't act, it would seem unfeeling."

"However, my army will not directly fight under the name of the Youth Army; the participating Youth Army will join this battle under the name and designation of the Unity Party army, to avoid unnecessary disputes."

Fan Jing and Ruan Wen exchanged a glance, then nodded vigorously.

"There is one more thing I must make clear: this battle will be uniformly commanded by the Youth Army!"

The military region commanders were all very displeased.

Fan Jing persuaded: "Everyone, the war before us is already a difficult war of national defense!"

"As long as Zhongnan State can be saved, don't quibble over so much!"

"What do you say, Commander Ruan?"

The situation was pressing, and Commander of Yuebei Military Region Ruan Wen could only nod.

"Good! We'll do as General Lu says!"

To win Zhongnan State's war of national defense, the Youth Army established the Combined Command Headquarters.

Officers of the Unity Party and officers of the Youth Army gathered to discuss how to fight.

Commander Ruan Wen held a pointer stick, indicating on the map.

"After Vientiane fell into the hands of the Thai Army, they immediately split into two routes."

Ruan Wen pointed to the Northwest:

"The Northwest direction is mainly light infantry, attempting to cross the rugged mountains of Lopburi Province, directly strike the flank of Northern Vietnam, and attack our capital Hanoi from the West Side."

Then Ruan Wen's pencil fell on the coastal transportation line to the South Side.

"The other route is their heavy armored troops, equipped with a large number of Japanese tanks and cannons."

"They want to advance north along the roads and railways, smash Yi'an Province south of Hanoi, and attack Hanoi City from the north."

"Overall, the Thai Army, with Japanese support, wants to attack our capital from the West and South, pincer attacking us from two sides."

Lv Muzhi watched for a while, took the pointer stick from Commander Ruan Wen's hand, pointed at the map, and said:

"Commander Ruan, on the rugged mountain roads of the Northwest, the enemy is mainly light infantry; there is no need for the Youth Army to act."

"Your Yuebei Military Region is familiar with the terrain, so you lead some troops to Dien Bien Phu and give these invaders a heavy blow, no problem?"

Ruan Wen nodded: "No problem!"

Lv Muzhi's gaze shifted to the Southern Front:

"As for the enemy's armored offensive attacking Yi'an Province in the south, it will be jointly handled by the Youth Army and the Unity Party."

Lv Muzhi issued a strange order: the Youth Army would not send large-scale tank clusters to Yi'an Province.

Sun Liren was somewhat puzzled, but Lv Muzhi explained directly:

"The Japanese Army has aviation reconnaissance; if our tanks swagger over, they will definitely be detected, and the enemy won't dare to advance deep."

"We want them to feel that Yi'an Province only has Zhongnan State's infantry, luring the enemy to advance deep!"

The Youth Army did not send tank support to the frontline; instead, a large number of 107-meter Nine-Tube Rocket Artillery pieces, disassembled into parts and covertly transported to Yi'an Province's defensive positions, were sent.

Youth Army soldiers carried heavy firepower, put on Unity Party army clothing, and together with the main force of the Unity Party, rushed to Yi'an Province to block the enemy!

In this battle, about a thousand Youth Army troops carrying heavy firepower, mixed in with the Unity Party's forces, advanced to Yi'an Province and jointly dug defensive works there.

A few days later, on a road at the southern border of Yi'an Province, the vanguard of the Thai First Division was marching in with great pomp.

Division Commander Major General Phraya sat in a Japanese jeep, holding binoculars in his hand, looking quite self-satisfied.

Beside him was Liaison Officer Colonel Hira-o sent by the Japanese Army.

"Colonel Hira-o, did your reconnaissance aircraft confirm it? Is there really no movement from the Youth Army's armored forces?"

Major General Phraya asked somewhat cautiously, after all, Lv Muzhi's reputation was indeed very well-known.

Colonel Hira-o said confidently: "The Intelligence Department has investigated very clearly; the Youth Army's tank forces are still north of the Red River and have not crossed the border."

"According to news from various channels, quite a few Zhongnan State troops have gone to the Youth Army's camp to receive training and obtain weapons and ammunition; this is something we expected."

"So we judge that Lv Muzhi only wants to hold onto that cornucopia at Haiphong Port and does not want to send the Youth Army to fight to the death for the muddy lands to the south."

Mentioning Haiphong Port, Colonel Hira-o's mouth corner could not help but twitch.

"The Americans actually contracted to operate that port; now Xia Guo's supplies come and go under American protection, while we can only watch!"

Major General Phraya of the Thai Army said: "It doesn't matter; once we smash the Unity Party, we can slowly plan for it!"

At this moment, a Thai Army major rode a Japanese three-wheeled motorcycle up to the jeep and stood at attention to report.

"Report to Division Commander, the Zhongnan State's defensive line is deployed ten kilometers ahead, with about two infantry regiments guarding two defensive lines, totaling over four thousand men."

Major General Phraya heard this and could not help but burst into loud laughter.

"My First Division has ten thousand men, equipped with tanks and cannons."

"Ten thousand against four thousand; the advantage is ours!"

"Colonel Hira-o, please have your army's artillery and armored troops actively cooperate; I want to annihilate those remnants opposite before nightfall!"

Colonel Hira-o lowered his head heavily: "Please rest assured, sir!"

The battle broke out at two in the afternoon.

The Japanese dressed up as the Thai Army, operating infantry guns and mountain guns to launch supporting fire.

Dense shells whistled toward the defensive line set up by Zhongnan State.

The booming sound shook the earth; dirt and gravel flew, and the entire frontline position was instantly shrouded in gunpowder smoke.

Inside the trench, Lieutenant Colonel Meng and several subordinates crouched together, squatting in an anti-artillery cave.

Opposite Lieutenant Colonel Meng, a young Zhongnan State soldier squatted, his lips somewhat pale.

This young soldier had just enlisted not long ago; when the Japanese opened fire, everyone withdrew to the pre-prepared anti-artillery caves, but he ran into the Youth Army's anti-artillery cave in panic without choosing a path.

Looking at the youth opposite, Lieutenant Colonel Meng shook the floating dirt off his head, gave a hehe laugh, and said to the translator beside him: "Ask him why he joined the army?"

The youth forced himself to calm down, raised his head and answered: "The cadres in our hometown said that after the Thais came, the land the Youth Army had just distributed to the farmers would be taken away by the Thais."

"To keep the fields just obtained, one can only join the army to drive away the Thais."

Lieutenant Colonel Meng patted his shoulder: "I say, you're quite sensible; you know it's our Youth Army that distributed the land."

"See the cannon fire opposite? Definitely Japanese cannons!"

"I can guess this trick with my eyes closed. Artillery bombards, infantry charges; after the artillery bombards, the infantry charges..."

While saying this, he helped the Zhongnan State soldier opposite straighten his hat.

The translator beside him was somewhat helpless and reminded him: "Battalion Commander Meng, why are you saying these things to him? This kid can't understand!"

Lieutenant Colonel Meng was stunned: "You kid talk too much nonsense; I'm happy to do it!"

Indeed, after half an hour of artillery bombardment, the sentry post sounded the alarm.

Lieutenant Colonel Meng quickly raised his binoculars, observing the movements ahead.

Seven or eight Japanese tanks and armored vehicles were advancing, covering a large number of Thai infantry beginning their assault.

These tanks turned their turrets from time to time, spraying firepower at the position.

The Thai infantry followed closely behind, bending their waists, shouting indistinct slogans.

In their experience, this defensive line guarded by Zhongnan State troops before their eyes was already within easy reach.

"Everyone pay attention, keep calm, wait until they're close to fire!"

Lieutenant Colonel Meng observed the enemy ahead and reminded his subordinates and the Zhongnan State liaison officer.

"Anti-tank gun positions prepare; each anti-tank squad bring bazookas and machine guns, try to move toward the two wings."

After arranging all this, Lieutenant Colonel Meng held binoculars in one hand and put the field telephone receiver to his ear with the other, ready at any time to call the rocket artillery position in the rear and apply for a rocket artillery strike.