Chapter 509: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 519 Driving Away the Tiger to Swallow the Wolf, the

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

General Terauchi Hisaichi swept the British flags on the Thailand-Myanmar border hard to the west side before the combat map in Bangkok:

"Overestimating themselves, the British still obediently retreated to places like Moulmein and Rangoon."

"Any movement from the Youth Army?" General Terauchi Hisaichi asked his Chief of Staff.

The Chief of Staff looked at the several telegrams received and answered: "The Youth Army has made no major moves; only their fighter planes frequently take off, mainly conducting reconnaissance of our army's movements along the border and coastline."

General Terauchi Hisaichi looked at Myanmar with some hesitation: "Can Lv Muzhi really be so patient? Could he be playing the scheme of the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole waits behind?"

The Chief of Staff said helplessly: "I also think so, but we simply do not have enough strength to swallow the Zhongnan State sheltered by the Youth Army. If we rashly attack the Zhongnan State, we will have to open another front, which might cause our battle lines to collapse."

General Terauchi Hisaichi nodded slightly: "After Yamashita Tomoyuki gains a decisive advantage on the Malay Peninsula, let him transfer troops back to defend Thailand, so we can free our hands to attack Myanmar!"

The Japanese army advanced wildly in Southeast Asia, and the entire Zhongnan State had already fallen into intense discussion.

The Japanese army launched an all-out offensive in Southeast Asia and even the South Pacific, beating up the British, Americans, Dutch, and Australians alike.

Only the Zhongnan State was left untouched.

Prime Minister Fan Jing convened a high-level military conference to ask for countermeasures.

"The Japanese army attacking the Zhongnan State is a matter of time. They want to drive out all the British first, then concentrate their forces to deal with our Zhongnan State and the Youth Army," Commander Ruan Wen of the Northern Vietnam Military Region analyzed.

"Exactly, we just missed an excellent opportunity!"

"Right right right, the British Army actively attacked Thailand; we should cooperate with the British, send troops to attack the Japanese garrisoned in Thailand, defeat the Japanese offensive in one blow, and greatly enhance the prestige of the Zhongnan State."

The commanders of each military region spoke one after another, all looking toward Sun Liren.

Because of Sun Liren's previous refusal, the Zhongnan State did not send troops to Thailand.

There was no way; without the Youth Army's help, relying solely on the Zhongnan State to fight the Japanese within Thailand would be sending them to their deaths.

Sun Liren looked at Prime Minister Fan Jing seated in the chief seat: "Commander Lv's meaning is the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole waits behind."

"We and the British are not friends; it's not good to cooperate with them."

"Since the Japanese army does not actively attack the Zhongnan State, we should just rest and recuperate, waiting for the opportunity."

Commander Ruan Wen of the Northern Vietnam Military Region asked: "That is to say, wait until the Japanese and British are locked in an indecisive struggle, then we use troops against the Japanese?"

Sun Liren nodded slightly: "However, before the strategy of the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole waits behind, there is another one: driving away the tiger to swallow the wolf!"

"The highest goal of your Zhongnan State and the Unity Party is to unify all countries on the Indochina Peninsula, but it has always been hindered by the British strictly defending themselves, with extreme difficulty."

"If the British are driven away by the Japanese, isn't that beneficial to your Zhongnan State?"

Prime Minister Fan Jing said worriedly: "The British are evil wolves, but the Japanese are fierce tigers. If even the British cannot hold on, can we defeat this fierce tiger of the Japanese?"

Sun Liren nodded: "You are not fighting alone. Don't forget, the Unity Party has guerrillas in many places in Southeast Asia."

"Burma, Malaya, Indonesia, and Thailand all have your civilian armed forces and followers. Since you founded the state, followers in all places have become more and more numerous."

"Among them, Burma has the most, already reaching seventy thousand. Malaya and Indonesia follow closely, both exceeding twenty thousand. Thailand has fewer, but still several thousand."

Ruan Wen asked: "Should we mobilize the power of the guerrillas at this time? Let them take action to strike the Japanese?"

Sun Liren shook his head: "According to Commander Lv's instructions, the guerrillas in all places should keep as low a profile as possible, hide their bide their time, accumulate strength, and in the name of resisting the Japanese, carry out propaganda to absorb more common people from the colonies into the Unity Party."

"When the Zhongnan State officially sends troops, there will be more people cooperating, achieving the effect of a hundred responses to a single call."

"You military region commanders should now tighten the training of soldiers and reform the army according to the Youth Army's requirements."

Speaking of reforming the army, the Zhongnan State's army, under the requirements of Prime Minister Fan Jing and the Youth Army, finally proceeded half-heartedly.

All of the Zhongnan State's armies, like the Party Army, from top to bottom all accepted the guidance of the Youth Army's military advisors attached to the troops.

The Youth Army's advisors all temporarily joined the Unity Party, obtaining the identity of Temporary Party Members of the Unity Party, and mostly held the position of Second-in-command in the various units of the Zhongnan State.

A Unity Party branch was established in every company of the Zhongnan State, with the Youth Army's advisors holding key positions, teaching the soldiers to recognize the consensus of "Youth-Unity Cooperation," and all armies accepting the leadership of the Unity Party.

In some units, the Youth Army's advisors even shared equal standing with the unit's top leader.

Only by reforming in this way would the Youth Army provide them with weapon and equipment support; otherwise, no deal.

The commanders of each military region of the Zhongnan State had no choice but to agree.

Because the Japanese navy had already blockaded the coastline, outside aid was cut off.

The Zhongnan State's weak industry was also all in the hands of Lv Muzhi and the Youth Army; they could not produce weapons and ammunition themselves.

If they left the Youth Army, the Japanese could destroy the Zhongnan State in a moment.

However, after hearing Sun Liren's words, the commanders of each military region understood from his words that the Youth Army was willing to help the Unity Party unify the Indochina Peninsula.

Moreover, the secret society Yixin Society behind the Unity Party also supported the Youth Army.

The president and senior members of the Yixin Society instructed the commanders of each military region from behind the scenes, demanding they fully cooperate with Lv Muzhi's Youth Army actions and strive to unify the Indochina Peninsula.

Under such a grand goal, the Zhongnan State was willing to unite with the Youth Army.

"The great war is imminent. When will Commander Lv return? We can feel more assured in our hearts." Commander Ruan Wen of the Northern Vietnam Military Region asked.

Sun Liren did not know either, only saying: "Domestic affairs are busy; Commander Lv cannot return for a while. The military operations here will be commanded by me as Deputy."

"You only need to reform the troops according to my requirements, receive equipment and training. Now I declare the meeting adjourned!"

As soon as Sun Liren's voice fell, everyone stood at attention at once and shouted: "Unity!"

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Although fighting in Southeast Asia is now fierce, with the Japanese locked in an indecisive struggle with the Americans in the Philippines, and fiercely battling the British on the Malay Peninsula and the Thailand-Myanmar border......

But Lv Muzhi currently has no intention of going down to join the war.

He has been in Henan preparing to deal with the impending great famine, setting up a relief granary in every county, coordinating grain from Hebei, Shandong, and Shanxi, storing it in the granaries for use.

The great famine in Henan has already shown some signs; the crops in the fields are not growing well, and some common people's homes are about to run out of grain.

The common people had no choice but to eat their grain sparingly, hoping to hold out until the spring wheat ripened.

But Lv Muzhi knew the common people would not last until the spring wheat ripened; the locust disaster would devour every crop in the fields, ultimately causing a great famine.

"Lu Commander, Yan Laoxi has sent ten thousand dan of grain; should that be enough?" Liao Yaoxiang reported to Lv Muzhi.

Lv Muzhi disagreed: "Not enough, far from enough. In a few months, about six months, I fear the number of disaster victims will reach a scale of thirty million. These thirty million people have no food production; we must think of a way to feed them and see them through at least half a year."

Liao Yaoxiang's heart gave a thump; if that were true, it would be a horrible disaster.

Thirty million mouths—who could feed them!

Lv Muzhi said: "Have Yan Laoxi bring out more grain, otherwise don't blame me for being rude!"

"Send a telegram to Sun Liren as well, ordering him to mobilize rice support from Zhongnan State and have it transported over!"