Chapter 503

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi put away his smile and waited for Song Zhiwen and the others to approach.

Sun Liren came forward first to explain: "Minister Song simply couldn't wait, so he brought General Liu directly here."

Lv Muzhi understood in his heart that this Song Zhiwen was afraid he and Sam had colluded to divide the Lend-Lease Materials between themselves.

However, there was actually nothing to collude over; the supplies allocated to the Central Government were indeed just over ten million.

Song Zhiwen did not speak, but had Liu Zhi step forward to speak: "Wei Yue, long time no see!"

"Hello, Mr. Sam!"

Sam gripped Liu Zhi's hand: "General Liu, hello!"

Lv Muzhi saluted Liu Zhi: "Chief Liu, you've worked hard on the journey."

Liu Zhi looked at the piles of supplies on the wharf: "Not hard at all, not hard at all; you're the one who worked hard, securing so many supplies for the Central Government."

Boom—!

The Sherman Tank parked to the side started its engine, with American engineers sitting on its top cover, driving out toward outside the port area.

This thirty-ton big fellow kicked up sand and dust, making Song Zhiwen unable to help but cover his mouth and nose.

Sun Liren was especially excited: "Magnificent! This big fellow is the largest tank I've ever seen! A heavy tank?"

"It's a medium tank!" Lv Muzhi corrected.

Whether front or side, this Sherman's combat power was obviously far stronger than the Sanhao Tank!

The rounded hull, sloped armor, 75mm tank cannon, weight of over thirty tons......

Sherman M4, Sherman Mantou, Tiger of the Pacific!

On this battlefield, the Sherman Tank undoubtedly possessed absolute dominance, worthy of being called the Tiger of the Pacific.

Sun Liren directly climbed onto the Sherman Tank and began conversing with the American engineers above.

As the Sherman Tank drove away, Song Zhiwen's eyes went wide: "Mr. Sam, thank you so much! With Sherman Tanks, the strength of my Xia Guo Central Army will be greatly enhanced!"

Liu Zhi, on the other hand, wore an expression of utter disbelief—Americans were actually this generous to Xia Guo?!

Lv Muzhi pointed to the other side of the wharf: "The Central Government did indeed receive tanks, but what you received are M2A4 Light Tanks."

Song Zhiwen looked in the direction Lv Muzhi pointed, and indeed there were over ten tanks parked in the wharf.

However, this M2 Light Tank compared to Lv Muzhi's Sherman Medium Tank differed too much in size!

It felt like if the Sherman drove over, it could directly smash the M2 Light Tank to pieces.

Sam explained: "This is the M2A4 Light Tank finalized and mass-produced last year, that is 1940, equipped with a 37mm Main Gun, armor thickness increased to 25mm, weight reaching 11 tons......"

M2 Light Tank

The 11-ton M2 Light Tank compared to the Sherman M4 Medium Tank differed by far more than a little, appearing quite small.

Song Zhiwen pointed at that M2 Light Tank and said: "I see this and that Sherman don't seem to be the same model of tank, right?"

Liu Zhi was very impatient: "Isn't that a redundant question? One so big, one so small, can't you tell?"

Sam said: "This is the M2 Light Tank equipped for the Xia Guo Central Army; it's sufficient, and your usage experience isn't enough either."

"Let the Youth Army use the Sherman M4 tanks; they have more experience."

"Moreover, the Japanese Army's tank forces are concentrated in the Manchuria region, so I think the Central Army doesn't need such good tanks."

"Additionally, I must remind you:

Among these Lend-Lease Materials, a large portion is indeed directly delivered to the Youth Army for use; this is out of Mr. Roosevelt's consideration, and the Xia Guo Central Government has no right to object."

Song Zhiwen strove to say: "Did the Central Government not receive any aircraft?"

Sam answered: "Rest assured, we've also prepared a batch of fighters for the Xia Guo Central Air Force; don't be picky anymore."

"To borrow General Lu's words, what more could you want for something free?"

Lv Muzhi nodded: "Mr. Sam is quite reasonable!"

After Sam finished speaking, he handed a list to Song Zhiwen: "These are supplies that should be delivered to the Central Government; just compare against this."

Afterward, Sam claimed to have business and left Haifang Port.

Song Zhiwen, without changing expression, elbowed Liu Zhi and said softly: "General Liu, say something quickly!"

Liu Zhi understood and hurriedly strove to say: "Cough cough... Wei Yue..."

Lv Muzhi hurriedly used words to block his mouth: "Chief Liu has returned, hasn't he? I heard from my wife that you're no longer teaching at my Southwest Military Academy?"

Liu Zhi nodded: "Yes, summoned again by the old man; he lacked manpower, so I went to Hankou to serve as Commander of the Guard."

Lv Muzhi thought for a while; it seemed Liu Zhi had returned from the Second Line.

The reasons were: first, the old man indeed lacked usable generals; second, Liu Zhi was also specifically used to negotiate with Lv Muzhi.

"Returning is always good; Chief Liu, as a Second-Class General, you can't always be teaching at my military academy, can you?"

Liu Zhi was somewhat embarrassed, because the old man's relationship with Lv Muzhi was strained, and his own departure from the Southwest Military Academy was without notice, failing to inform Lv Muzhi's side.

Lv Muzhi had personally promoted Liu Zhi, from Infantry Second Lieutenant to Second-Class General; it could be said that Liu Zhi indeed owed Lv Muzhi a debt heavier than mountains.

However, Lv Muzhi had also given Liu Zhi much in return—houses, cars, money, not a few—and treated him with great respect.

In 1937, Liu Zhi's troops were easily routed by the Japanese, receiving much ridicule and blame from within Xia Guo.

At this juncture, Lv Muzhi accepted Liu Zhi to teach at his Southwest Military Academy, and gave him many Advisor titles, with generous salary and treatment.

But now, Liu Zhi received the old man's telegram and promotion promise, and left Lv Muzhi without notice.

Seeing Liu Zhi still not mention the supplies, Song Zhiwen couldn't hold back: "Although the Americans stipulated that the Central Government's share of supplies is this fixed amount,

But you're not unaware of the situation at the Central Government; see if you can spare some from the Youth Army's portion? Just treat it as aid to the Central Government.

Lv Muzhi countered: "Can the Central Government draw some money from the National Treasury, just treat it as aid to the Youth Army."

Seeing Lv Muzhi was immovable, Liu Zhi took out a list from his pocket: "Regarding the equipment of those three divisions of the Central Expeditionary Army, Wei Yue, do you think it's best to deliver it as soon as possible? Division Commander Du Yuming can't wait any longer."

Lv Muzhi had long been prepared to deliver the Expeditionary Army's equipment; this had been discussed beforehand.

"Minister Song, rest assured about this, I won't hold back the Expeditionary Army's equipment."

"Send a telegram telling Du Yuming to bring people to Kunming and wait; I'll personally send someone to escort the supplies there, delivered directly into Du Yuming's hands!"

Song Zhiwen was very dissatisfied: "Wei Yue, I don't think there's any need for that, right?"

"Just hand it over to me, and the Central Government will distribute it uniformly to each unit."

Lv Muzhi refused: "Let them go wait in Kunming or Nanning; I'll use the railway to deliver the Lend-Lease Materials directly into these troops' hands, no need to pass through the hands of Central Government officials again!"

Liu Zhi said nothing; Lv Muzhi seemed determined.

Song Zhiwen was very unhappy in his heart: "Wei Yue, what are your misgivings? With me supervising, surely you're not worried someone will embezzle?"

Lv Muzhi didn't want to put things too plainly; these Lend-Lease Materials were a huge piece of fat meat, any official who handled them could get a share of the oil, by the time they reached the army they'd be squeezed by certain officers, and by the time they reached the soldiers' hands there wouldn't be much left.

"Minister Song, I won't say the unpleasant words."

"If the Central Government wants supplies, there's only this channel; if you want to get the supplies sooner, then let the Expeditionary Army units needing re-equipment wait in Kunming and Nanning, and I'll ship them out immediately on my end."

Song Zhiwen tried one last effort: "For supplies like guns and ammunition, I can handle it your way."

"But other supplies, such as canned food, medical items, gasoline, and so on, should still be uniformly handed over to me for allocation?"

As he spoke, Song Zhiwen lifted open a box beside him, took out a bottle of Vitamin Tablets from inside, and shook it: "Things like this should still be handed over to the Central Government for uniform allocation."

Lv Muzhi shook his head again: "Refused!"