Chapter 527

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

In the small courtyard of Wanbai Village, the air fell into stagnation.

Ruan Wen's hand remained frozen in midair, and Sada Monk's palms pressed together were lowered.

Prime Minister Fan Jing and Ruan Linqing exchanged a glance, staring fixedly at Lv Muzhi, as if wanting to get to know this Xia Guo person before them all over again.

"The creator of everything..."

"President, what exactly is going on?" Ruan Wen looked at Lin Shirong before him, urgently wanting to know the secret among them.

"Yixin Society... Could it be that behind my back, you've set up an organization called the Yixin Society above the Unity Party?" Prime Minister Fan Jing knew even less than Ruan Wen, and he was somewhat angry.

Ruan Wen looked at Fan Jing's angry appearance, patiently explaining: "The Unity Party's external strategy is to form at least a unified state on the Indochina Peninsula, and to unite as much as possible other maritime countries in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia and Borneo."

"This is an arduous task. As more and more people join the Unity Party, and the international situation becomes increasingly complex, fish and dragons have become mixed within our party."

"To avoid the Unity Party losing the belief in realizing unification, we use the Yixin Society to concentrate the group of people who are most firm in their belief in unification and hold the most power, avoiding Zhongnan State giving up the unification of the Indochina Peninsula."

"This is the reason we established the Yixin Society."

After finishing explaining to Fan Jing, Ruan Wen looked toward Lin Shirong, hoping Lin Shirong would explain to him what was going on with Lv Muzhi.

Lin Shirong looked at everyone's reactions and smiled faintly.

"In 1930, I brought two young people to establish the Zhongnan Yixin Society."

"Two young people: one is Malaya Column Commander Li Guang, and the other is Indonesia Column Commander Su Hong."

Lv Muzhi nodded, signaling Lin Shirong to continue.

"Now that Zhongnan State has been established, the Zhongnan Yixin Society has become the Unity Party, and behind the Unity Party there is again the Yixin Society."

"Below the Unity Party and the Yixin Society are the National Defense Army, guerrillas, and various armed forces totaling over 300,000."

"From three people, developing into over 300,000 armed forces, establishing a Zhongnan State."

"The funds consumed in our startup and development phases were inseparable from Muzi's support."

Sada Monk lowered his head, palms pressed together: "President, we have always thought... the funds were earned by you through business."

Ruan Wen looked at Lv Muzhi in surprise, asking: "That is to say, from the establishment of the Zhongnan Yixin Society in 1930, you began to intervene?"

Lv Muzhi nodded, stepping forward several steps to walk in front of Ruan Wen: "Before 1930, in the United States I met quite a few overseas Chinese students from Nan Yang."

"Among them, two people had the most advanced thinking and hated the British, French, and Dutch colonizers."

"They are the current Malaya Column Commander Li Guang and Indonesia Column Commander Su Hong."

"Later, I funded them, plus my senior brother Lin Shirong, three people in total, founding the Zhongnan Yixin Society."

"Among these three people, Lin Shirong served as president, active in French Indochina."

"Li Guang was active in British Malaya."

"Su Hong was active in the Dutch East Indies."

"As for you, Ruan Wen, and Sada Monk in Burma, you are members developed later by Lin Shirong."

"It can be said that I am also counted as the predecessor of the Unity Party, that is, the founder of the Zhongnan Yixin Society; back then, none of you existed yet."

Ruan Wen fell into thought and contradiction; Lv Muzhi, whom he had always been on guard against, was actually the founder of the Yixin Society.

"No, that's not right? Why did you do this? Why establish the Yixin Society?"

Everyone present stared at Lv Muzhi, hoping he could give a reasonable explanation.

Lv Muzhi slowly sighed: "Even before the Yixin Society appeared, Xia Guo once experienced a revolution."

"I think that was an incomplete, even failed revolution."

"In that revolution, as a lower- and middle-ranking officer of the Revolutionary Army, my feeling was one of utter helplessness."

"It can be said that I was somewhat disheartened."

"Later, while recuperating in the United States, I came to know some advanced youths from Nan Yang; they were very much like us back then."

"Us?" Sada Monk asked doubtfully.

"Oh, it was over ten years ago; me and my comrades-in-arms in the Xia Guo Revolutionary Army." Lv Muzhi explained.

"The advanced youths of Nan Yang longed for the arrival of an anti-colonial, anti-feudal revolution; they hoped to unite the colonized countries of Southeast Asia to resist together."

"I sympathized with them."

"So, I funded them, and sincerely hoped they could succeed."

After hearing this, Commander of the First Division of Zhongnan State Ruan Linqing said unbelievably: "I never expected there to be such a past among this; no wonder I always feel General Lu and the Youth Army have a mysterious attraction toward me!"

Fan Jing blinked even more; this Prime Minister of Zhongnan State, at this moment, only discovered that the chess game he was in was far grander than he had imagined.

"I originally thought I was a chess player, never expecting I was actually just a chess piece..."

Ruan Wen looked toward Lin Shirong: "You are my guide; is it really as General Lu said?"

Lin Shirong nodded: "Exactly so. If not for the financial support given by Lv Muzhi, there would not be today's Unity Party."

"When the Zhongnan Yixin Society was established in 1930, there were only three members: me, the Malaya Column Commander, and the Indonesia Column Commander. The three of us were the ones in the know; you can confirm this with the other two in the future."

Ruan Wen, however, became vigilant: "General Lu, now that you reveal your identity, what is it for?"

Lv Muzhi did not speak; Lin Shirong opened his mouth to answer: "The current situation is actually very complex and dangerous."

"The enemies we face are not only the Japanese."

"Although the Japanese Army is already setting in the west, after defeating the Japanese, then what?"

"I think that after defeating the Japanese, the British will return to Burma again."

"The French will also crawl out from the shadow of defeat and step their leather boots back onto the land of Zhongnan State."

"By then Zhongnan State will be extremely dangerous. Who can help us? I think only Lv Muzhi and the Youth Army."

"But under current circumstances, the Unity Party and the Yixin Society internally are quite hostile toward Lv Muzhi and the Youth Army's power."

"Therefore, I have decided to reveal Lv Muzhi's founder identity at this time, to reduce our internal resistance to the Youth Army."

After hearing this, Ruan Wen plopped down onto a chair, hands braced on his knees: "But... but General Lu is a Xia Guo person! The Youth Army is also Xia Guo's army."

Lin Shirong shook his head: "I am also a Xia Guo person, did you forget?"

"Among the four founders of the Zhongnan Yixin Society, Muzi and I are Xia Guo people."

"Malaya Column Commander Li Guang, Indonesia Column Commander Su Hong—they are Southern Ocean Chinese."

Ruan Wen felt he could not get past this hurdle in his heart.

Ruan Linqing stood up and said: "My father is also an overseas Chinese. If we really calculate it, many people in our army and the Party have blood ties to Xia Guo."

Fan Jing thought for a moment. He had always supported Lv Muzhi and the Youth Army, so he said: "Why is the Unity Party called the Unity Party? It is to unite every force that can be united."

"Our Unity Party was originally not composed of a single country or a single nation, but integrated members from various countries and nations."

"Our Zhongnan State was established on the basis of French Indochina. French Indochina originally had three countries and multiple nations."

"He," Fan Jing pointed at Sada Monk, "he is a Burmese person."

"Including the Malaya Column, Indonesia Column, Thailand Column, and so on—everyone's countries and nations are not all the same."

"We gathered together, all attracted by the unified revolutionary program."

Lin Shirong nodded: "Fan Jing is right, Ruan Wen. If you hold such exclusionary thoughts, I'm afraid our goal will be difficult to realize."

Ruan Wen lowered his head: "It's not like that. I just have doubts about General Lu's true purpose."

"No matter how you put it, you are a high-ranking officer of Xia Guo."

"You now reveal your identity as a Yixin Society founder—what interest are you pursuing? Surely you don't want to turn Zhongnan State into a vassal state of Xia Guo?"

"Don't worry." Lv Muzhi interrupted Ruan Wen's words.

"My goal is not to turn Zhongnan State into a vassal of Xia Guo."

"Simply put, I am looking for a way out."

"Helping me and the Youth Army find a way out is also helping Zhongnan State find a way out?"

Ruan Wen asked: "What does this mean?"

Lv Muzhi instead asked: "What do you think of the Japanese future prospects?"

Ruan Wen without hesitation: "The Japanese prospects are bleak."

"According to current developments, the Japanese are certain to be defeated."

Lv Muzhi nodded: "I agree with this point."

"Then after the Japanese are defeated?"

"Once the Japanese Army withdraws, the distribution of interests within the Allied Forces will become extremely ruthless."

"The Unity Party spreads throughout the Indochina Peninsula. Britain and France will never give up this fertile land."

Lin Shirong took over the conversation, his tone very solemn.

"So, the Yixin Society's goal is to promote the unification of the Indochina Peninsula and establish a truly independent great power."

"And this undertaking must rely on the power of Muzi and the Youth Army."

"Without the Youth Army's help, I'm afraid our Zhongnan State will suffer severe damage to its vitality or even be destroyed under the joint strangulation of Britain and France."

"This is not only a military alliance, but also an entrustment of fate."

Fan Jing said: "In my opinion, without the Youth Army's help, I'm afraid we will be equally helpless against the Japanese..."

Ruan Wen thought for a moment, then asked: "You said you are looking for a way out for yourself and the Youth Army? What is that all about?"

Lv Muzhi sighed: "I said before, provided the Japanese are defeated, the Allied Forces will face a ruthless distribution of interests."

"Not only will Southeast Asian interests be redistributed, Xia Guo's mainland will also see a redistribution of interests."

"In our Xia Guo, I have already become a thorn in the Central Government's eye and a thorn in its flesh. After the Japanese leave, a struggle is unavoidable."

Ruan Wen crossed his arms: "You mean you might have a big battle with the Central Government? So what? With your strength, you might not be unable to win."

Lv Muzhi shook his head: "I don't want to fight such a war. Xia Guo's various powers stand like a forest—the Gui clique, the Jin clique..."

"Once the Youth Army and the Central Government erupt in conflict, all powers will take the field, and the war will grow like a snowball. In terms of war scale, I'm afraid there will be millions of casualties."

Ruan Wen frowned: "You don't want to fight such a war. Why not simply defect to the Central Government?"

Lv Muzhi patiently explained: "I defect to the Central Government? But I have too many subordinates. They are used to being arrogant toward the Central Government on a daily basis. I'm afraid that in the future, if they face retaliation, they may not be willing in their hearts either."

"Furthermore, the old leader of Xia Guo cannot hold his position for long. There are too many people below who are unconvinced by him. I'd say he will likely end up in exile in the future."

After Lv Muzhi said this, Ruan Wen and the others were all very curious.

Lv Muzhi detailed for them the deduction of which great powers would intervene in Xia Guo's situation after the Japanese Army withdrew, and what kind of large-scale war Xia Guo's various powers would ultimately erupt...

One hour later.

Ruan Wen exhaled: "Xia Guo is truly too large. A war erupting within Xia Guo would be on a scale no less than unifying the entire Indochina Peninsula."

Sada Monk put his palms together and recited a Buddhist phrase: "Amitabha. General Lu does not want to stain his hands with too much compatriot blood."

"When the situation cannot be reconciled, General Lu and the Youth Army want to retreat into Zhongnan State?"

Lv Muzhi said: "I hope Zhongnan State will unify into a new great power in the Indochina Peninsula. If the situation improves, Indonesia and Borneo can also be included."

"In short, Zhongnan State must be a unified multi-ethnic country. On this point, the Youth Army will exert tremendous power, saving you much effort."

"As an exchange, Zhongnan State should in the future accept Youth Army and Xia Guo refugees entering its borders."

Ruan Wen thought. If the Youth Army and Lv Muzhi were willing to enter Zhongnan State in the future, then facing attacks from Britain, France, and other countries, they would surely be much more composed.

But Ruan Wen still deliberately asked: "What if the Unity Party and Zhongnan State do not accept the Youth Army?"

Lv Muzhi sneered: "No matter. Right now, the British are not in Burma."

"I can continuously send troops and immigrants to Burma, even support the Burmese royal family in becoming independent from the British."

"As for the Unity Party within Burma... they are my enemies."

Sada Monk swallowed hard; if Lv Muzhi really did this, his own guerrillas in Burma would face the Youth Army's suppression.

Faced with Lv Muzhi's statement that he would regard the Unity Party as enemies, everyone present couldn't help but feel tense.

Now, in Zhongnan State's military and economic domains, the Youth Army and Chinese forces have infiltrated everywhere.

If Lv Muzhi regards the Unity Party as enemies, it will cause great harm to Zhongnan State, and Zhongnan State's national policy of unifying the Indochina Peninsula will also run up against the insurmountable great mountain of the Youth Army.

Fan Jing smiled wryly: "Commander Ruan Wen was just making a joke, General Lu is a friend of Zhongnan State..."

Ruan Linqing also declared: "Yes, no matter what others think or do, I and the Party Army First Division absolutely welcome General Lu and the Youth Army!"

Seeing Fan Jing and Ruan Linqing declare their positions, Lin Shirong cleared his throat:

"Today's secret meeting, besides revealing Muzi's true identity, must also accomplish one major thing."

"Ruan Wen, Sada, as Senior Elders of the Yixin Society, are you willing to admit Lv Muzhi's seat in the Yixin Society?"

"Note, I am talking about the chief position of the Yixin Society."

"Muzi's status in the Yixin Society is second only to mine."

"Muzi is also an old-timer; he should be the number one figure above me..."

Lv Muzhi patted Lin Shirong's hand: "Words Heavy, for so many years, the stall here has been propped up by you."

Sada Monk straightened his back, pressed his palms together, with a devout expression: "Sada is willing to witness that if General Lu joins the Yixin Society, it will surely be the fortune of Zhongnan State."

Ruan Wen stared at Lv Muzhi for a good while: "I have always taken unifying the Indochina Peninsula as my undertaking; provided that General Lu is willing to contribute his strength to the unification of the Indochina Peninsula, I am willing to accept your chief position in the Yixin Society."

Lv Muzhi nodded: "I hope Zhongnan State becomes a powerful country; a powerful country naturally cannot do without vast land, therefore, I also hope Zhongnan State at least unifies the Indochina Peninsula."

Lin Shirong nodded, looked toward Lv Muzhi, and felt the burden on his shoulders finally lighten considerably.

He then looked toward Fan Jing and Ruan Linqing standing blankly to the side.

"Prime Minister Fan, Division Commander Ruan, you hold high positions in Zhongnan State, yet have always been kept outside the doors of the Yixin Society."

"Today revealing identities is to let you know that Zhongnan State's future prospects cannot do without the Yixin Society, this Core."

"Are you willing to join the Yixin Society and contribute your strength to the unification of the Indochina Peninsula?"

How could Fan Jing still hesitate? He had long realized that this was the true center of this country.

"I am willing!" Fan Jing hurriedly bowed.

Ruan Linqing was even more surging with emotion; he had long yearned to enter the Core circle, and today finally got his wish: "I am willing too!"

Lin Shirong straightened his expression: "Good! Everyone shares Breathing and Fate, until the peninsula is unified and the colonizers are eradicated."