Chapter 506

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi didn't care, thinking he had no intention of paying back the money.

He walked up to Governor Smith, staring into the other's eyes and said: "Rather than guarding against the Youth Army, you'd better keep an eye on the Japanese."

"The Japanese have boldly marched the Fifth Division into Thailand, hoping the British Army can hold onto their colonies."

Seeing the irreconcilable appearance between Governor Smith and Lv Muzhi, Du Yuming stepped in between to mediate.

"Commander Lu, you have warned the high-level United States officials multiple times, claiming the Japanese Army will launch a large-scale operation; what is your basis for this?"

Lv Muzhi replied: "The Japanese Army is frantically expanding its forces, with so many newly formed divisions and fleets—are they really all meant to deal with the British Army in Southeast Asia? That would be thinking too highly of the British Army, wouldn't it?"

Smith, upon hearing these words which were pointedly barbed, felt very pleased: "Exactly, exactly, exactly!"

"The Japanese Army's massive Combined Fleet is not meant to fight the British Army, but to strike the Xia Guo fleet that comes and goes without a trace, invisible and intangible like air."

Upon hearing this, Lv Muzhi thought this Governor Smith had quite a sharp tongue: "Alright, alright, I won't trade barbs with you, but I hope that next month, Governor Smith can still be as tight-lipped as he is now."

Regarding the possibility of a large-scale surprise attack by the Japanese Army, Lv Muzhi had already sent warnings within the Allied Forces.

However, the United States seemed to have no reaction to this; they believed that the Japanese Army starting wars everywhere was undoubtedly suicidal, that attacking Southeast Asia was possible, but how could they possibly launch an attack against the United States Navy?

As for this, Lv Muzhi's attitude could only be to leave it to fate and go with the flow.

After meeting Du Yuming and the Central Expeditionary Army poised for action in Kunming, Lv Muzhi decided to make a trip to Henan, as his Youth Army main force was still garrisoned in the North China region.

However, before heading to North China, Lv Muzhi conveniently made a trip back to the Southwest.

The Sherman tank production line aided by the United States had its machinery installation completed, and with the help of over a dozen American engineers, everything was progressing smoothly.

Lv Muzhi's Xia Guo engineers had rich experience in manufacturing Sanhao tanks and were gradually digesting the production experience of the Sherman tank step by step.

The Xia Guo engineers also referenced the experience of modifying Sanhao tanks and proposed improving the Sherman tank into various models such as flamethrower tanks and rocket tanks.

Of course, the main reason Lv Muzhi returned to the Southwest was to see his wife Zhu Sanxiang's......

After staying with his wife in the Southwest for half a month, he then made his way to Zhengzhou.

——————

Inside the Zhengzhou Defense Command Headquarters, Liao Yaoxiang reported a worrying piece of news to Lv Muzhi.

"Commander Lu, during May and June this year, the winter wheat harvest failed; after entering summer, not a single drop of rain fell, and quite a lot of the planted corn withered."

"Now the winter wheat has already been planted; I truly don't know how much can be harvested in May and June next year?"

"If it fails again like last year, it will be terrible."

After hearing this, Lv Muzhi asked: "How are those water conservancy facilities built by the Youth Army operating?"

Liao Yaoxiang answered: "They have had an effect; this summer's great drought saw the water conservancy projects save many crops; otherwise, by the end of this year, the common people would be going hungry."

"But if there is another failed harvest next year, people will starve to death; my Youth Fourth Army has over fifty thousand men—how could we have the face to eat military rations!"

Liao Yaoxiang said these words with a hint of guilt.

As the Defense Commander of Henan, presiding over military and civil affairs in one region, such a major problem had now arisen.

Lv Muzhi knew this was not Liao Yaoxiang's problem, but a great famine significant enough to be recorded in history books.

After the great drought of 1941, 1942 saw a locust plague, directly leading to this disaster of 'a great year of famine, people eating each other.'

Now the great drought had already occurred.

Next spring, the sudden locusts will devour all the winter wheat planted this year; the last hope of the Henan people will be completely gnawed clean, and over a million people will starve to death.

If it doesn't rain, relying on water conservancy projects can still alleviate the situation.

But against the sky-covering locusts, in this era, there is indeed no solution.

Governing locusts requires biologists, agricultural scientists, and chemists to carry out long-term targeted prevention and control to achieve results.

Lv Muzhi did not have so much time and energy to govern locusts; what he should do most was to stockpile grain in advance and prepare to relieve the disaster victims next year.

"It doesn't rain, the grain harvest fails—let it be."

"This is not your fault; don't blame yourself."

"I heard that you led the soldiers of the Youth Fourth Army out to fight the drought this summer, which can be considered helping the common people preserve some food rations."

Liao Yaoxiang nodded heavily: "The common people can get through this year, but next year... hope rests on the planted winter wheat..."

Lv Muzhi shattered Liao Yaoxiang's beautiful illusion: "A prolonged drought inevitably brings locusts; next year there is likely a locust plague; we cannot take the immature winter wheat as a lifeline."

Liao Yaoxiang sighed: "The elders say the same; locust plagues are terrible, as tenacious as mosquitoes, impossible to completely exterminate."

Lv Muzhi said: "Hurry and gather grain from surrounding provinces; once the famine arrives, it will be too late to transfer grain."

"When the Japanese attacked, not many people died; now the Japanese haven't attacked, but if tens of thousands truly starve to death, we would truly be sinners."

Liao Yaoxiang came to his senses: "Good! I will immediately send telegrams to Zhang Fei in Shandong and Qiu Qingquan in Beiping, asking them to transport grain over for standby."

Lv Muzhi nodded: "Although Qiu Qingquan and Zhang Fei will ask for grain, you must build dedicated granaries in every county; I will issue them a formal order later."

"Also send a telegram to Yan Laoxi in Shanxi, asking him to support some grain as well."

Liao Yaoxiang now felt assured; even if the winter wheat is eaten by locusts next year, people won't starve to death.

"However..." Liao Yaoxiang hesitated.

"It's the end of the year; the Central Government is demanding this year's grain tax from Henan, but with the failed harvest this year, I can't hand it over..."

Since Lv Muzhi was not a warlord in North China (at least nominally), and North China was no one's independent kingdom, part of the grain tax collected locally still had to be turned over to the Central Government.

Lv Muzhi asked: "Did you explain the situation of this year's failed harvest in Henan to the Central Government? Does the old man know?"

Liao Yaoxiang answered: "The Central Government already knows; they didn't believe it at first and even sent Tang Enbo over to inspect."

"But after Tang Enbo finished his inspection, the grain tax still needs to be handed over to the Central Government in full."

Lv Muzhi waved his hand: "No!"

"Henan suffered a disaster, and the Central Government was supposed to send grain for relief—where is there any reason to demand grain? We might as well be helping the Central Government with relief!"

Liao Yaoxiang hesitated a little: "Really not paying, Lu Commander?"

"Not only you not paying, Shandong and Hebei—Qiu Qingquan, Zhang Fei, and the others who sent grain to support Henan won't have to pay grain tax to the Central Government next year; that's what I say."

Liao Yaoxiang now had his bottom: "Fine, since everyone isn't paying, I won't pay either!"

While Lv Muzhi was preparing relief in Henan, a world-shaking naval battle took place in the Pacific Ocean.

On December 7, 1941, the arrogant Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in the United States.

The Japanese Army destroyed four American battleships and two destroyers, and bombed 188 aircraft.

The next day, the furious Americans announced a formal declaration of war against Japan.

Immediately after, the Old Man finally announced a formal declaration of war against Japan.

The Japanese Army no longer cared about these things; their tanks had completely run out of control, going further and further down a mad road.

Not satisfied after attacking the United States, the Japanese Army mobilized four hundred thousand Southern Army troops to launch a full-scale armed invasion of Southeast Asia.

The Japanese Army's Last Dance had finally begun.