Chapter 542: Republic of China: Starting from Whampoa Class One Chapter 552 — Successor

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

The British and French fought the Youth Army for over a year and never gained an advantage, yet they were unwilling to let go.

Therefore, warships of both countries often cruised in Southeast Asia, and part of the British and French forces remained garrisoned along the coastlines of Zhongnan State, Malaya, and Burma.

The Americans could no longer stand by and watch.

The friendship between the Americans, Zhongnan State, and Lv Muzhi was known to all internationally.

Were the British and French not slapping the Americans in the face?

Moreover, for the current US President Truman, Lv Muzhi, bringing Zhongnan State along, had also given strong support.

Considering Zhongnan State's disadvantage at sea, the US condemned the atrocities of the British and French internationally while seeking ways to increase Zhongnan State's naval power.

The Americans set their sights on the Japanese Navy.

Although the Japanese Navy had been crippled by the US Navy, the remaining fleet was still considerable — hundreds of naval vessels remained usable.

Per the agreement, Japan as a defeated nation had to pay reparations to the victorious powers.

Japanese Navy warships were also to be paid as reparations to the victorious powers.

The four great powers — Xia, Su, Britain, and the US — would divide Japan's warships equally.

The Americans looked down on those old Japanese warships, so they simply calculated and sold their own share of Japanese warships to Zhongnan State at scrap iron prices.

MacArthur, acting as "local emperor" in Japan, hunted down Japanese Navy sailors everywhere, to send both men and ships to Zhongnan State together.

Zhongnan State thereby established its own navy.

Under such circumstances, the British were the first to buckle.

International anti-colonial sentiment surged; the British backyard India soon became independent, shaking off British colonial rule.

Nearly two years of operations yielded no results, and facing enormous international pressure, the British and French announced they were abandoning the colonial interests they had long claimed.

As a result, Lv Muzhi and the Youth Army's prestige in Zhongnan State reached its summit.

Summer 1948, Yixin Society founder Lin Shirong passed away.

As a founding elder of the Yixin Society, with the support of elders Li Guang, Su Hong, and others, Lv Muzhi took over the post of Yixin Society President, becoming the de facto leader of the Unity Party.

Soon after, Lv Muzhi announced he was formally joining the Unity Party, and many Youth Army officers followed suit and joined.

At the end of the following year, Burma, Malaya, and Indonesia, under the operation of local Unity Parties, announced their merger into the Zhongnan Republic.

The sole independent state Thailand was encircled by Zhongnan State, and an almost "Unity Party-ized" Thai government was established.

The powerful Youth Army had repeatedly saved Zhongnan State and fully supported Lv Muzhi.

Lv Muzhi ultimately assumed the post of Zhongnan State Minister of National Defense and Grand Marshal of the three services — land, sea, and air.

As for the post of Zhongnan State Prime Minister, it was given to Yixin Society elder Li Guang, a native-born Southern Ocean Chinese.

Zhongnan State's territory suddenly expanded several times over; even the US was furious.

But days seemed deliberately chosen — Burma, Malaya, and Indonesia had just announced joining the Zhongnan Republic on the front foot, and the old man retreated to the small island on the back foot.

The Americans originally intended to take some punitive measures against Zhongnan State and Lv Muzhi, but the old man fled to the small island, and a brand new force rose within Xia.

Xia's new force was a flood and ferocious beast to the US; due to ideological differences, its threat was even several times greater than Zhongnan State's.

The old man retreating to the small island was hardly of great use; out of considerations to check the north, the Americans not only could not punish Zhongnan State, but should instead support it and regard it as a friend.

——————

The second year after the old man went to the island.

Lv Muzhi came to Japan to receive the final batch of reparations materials Japan paid to Zhongnan State.

In this final batch, the Americans handed over the Japanese Army's sole Nagato battleship to the Zhongnan State Navy.

This battleship was originally used by the Americans as a target ship to test atomic bomb power; after several rounds of twists and negotiations, they finally agreed to sell it to Zhongnan State for use at scrap iron price.

Lv Muzhi, bringing along An Bang who had returned from studies in the US, received the Nagato battleship and appointed him Navy Commander.

At the foot of Mount Fuji, Lv Muzhi met Qiu Qingquan and Liao Yaoxiang.

The three rode tall horses, riding slowly at the foot of Mount Fuji.

"Truly unexpected — in just a few years, the old man lost his realm!" Qiu Qingquan looked haggard, at a loss.

Liao Yaoxiang sighed: "The old man sent a letter, ordering me to land the Japan-garrisoned troops in Northern Xia to aid his counteroffensive."

Both wore pained expressions, unwilling in their hearts to carry out the landing operation, yet also unwilling to follow the old man to the small island in humiliation.

Lv Muzhi, however, took a deep breath: "The air here is good; I said we would meet at the foot of Mount Fuji!"

Qiu Qingquan shook his head, looking at Lv Muzhi's face: "Only pity — things remain but people are gone......"

Lv Muzhi cut off Qiu Qingquan's further words: "Listen to a word of advice — come with me!"

Liao Yaoxiang froze, unsure whether to agree.

Lv Muzhi reined in his horse: "Many have already come to Zhongnan State seeking refuge, including our old Gui clique acquaintances."

"I left a way out for you long ago; go — there is a place for you there......"

The three gazed at each other on horseback, silent for a long time.

——————

Zhongnan State, Northern Vietnam Province, Hanoi City, by the Red River.

A brand new school rose from the ground here; this is a military academy — Whampoa Military Academy — personally designed and built by Lv Muzhi.

Lv Muzhi rebuilt Whampoa Military Academy in Zhongnan State, right by the Red River; it is Zhongnan State's largest and most comprehensive military academy.

Whampoa Military Academy is a name steeped in Xia flavor; perhaps decades later the people will demand it be renamed, but that is unimportant.

Lv Muzhi believes that the core of Whampoa Military Academy will continue to exist in Zhongnan State.

At the main gate of this Whampoa Military Academy hangs the eight-character school motto: "Zhongnan as one, unity and sincerity."

Over a thousand cadets of the Military Academy's first session, after three years of systematic training, will become the backbone force of Zhongnan State's national defense troops.

Liu Zhi stands outside a classroom, wearing a full set of khaki military uniform, smoking a cigarette while gazing north and sighing.

Inside the classroom, sit thirty-odd Infantry subject cadets.

Among this batch of cadets, some have significant backgrounds; among them are Lv Muzhi's son Lv An, as well as the descendants of Qiu Qingquan, Liao Yaoxiang, and others......

"Heard? The one teaching us tactics class is Liu Zhi, that fellow has quite a background!"

"Yeah yeah...... he was the Marshal's teacher back in the day!"

Lv An looks through the window at the corridor; that Liu Zhi even held him when he was little.

Inside the classroom it's chattering, discussing Liu Zhi's origins.

Liu Zhi finishes smoking outside, tucks his lecture notes under his arm, straightens his back and walks into the classroom.

The students immediately shut their mouths; Lv An shouts loudly: "Stand up!"

All cadets snap to attention with a rustle, gazing at Liu Zhi walking onto the lectern.

Lv An runs forward, stands at attention and salutes: "Instructor Comrade, Infantry Section One Class should have 36, actually present 36, requesting instructions!"

Liu Zhi nods at Lv An, raises his hand to return the military salute: "Class begins."

Watching Lv An run back to his seat, Liu Zhi's gaze falls upon several old friends' sons.

He clears his throat, stands beneath the eight-character school motto, and says slowly:

"Ancient and modern warfare, the pig's tactics have been successfully employed by people time and again......"

【Full text complete】