222: To secure internal stability, one must first repel external threats.

Shanghai, Xiafei Road Villa.

Only a single desk lamp was lit in the study, casting a dim, yellowish light.

Lu Fan's figure quietly appeared in the familiar room, his body still carrying a faint sense of stiffness from traversing time and space.

He steadied himself, got up, and looked around. Zheng Yaoxian and Tang Jifeng had already left the villa.

Returning to the study, he had just stood still when the door was gently pushed open.

Ah Fu entered soundlessly, his pair of bionic eyes emitting a faint blue glow in the dim light.

"Sir, you've returned," Ah Fu's voice was as steady as ever.

But upon closer listening, it carried a trace of barely perceptible relief.

During the days Lu Fan was away, he had maintained the highest level of alert at all times.

"Mm, what's the situation?" Lu Fan took off his coat and walked directly to the desk.

A large map of the Shanghai war zone lay spread out on it. He gestured to Ah Fu, indicating he should report on the recent battle situation.

Ah Fu stepped closer, his tone grave: "Sir, in the four days you were gone, the war situation took a sharp turn for the worse.

The Japanese offensive is fierce. Although our soldiers are fearless and charge forward wave after wave, they still can't stop the Japanese from seizing territory."

He took a deep breath to steady himself, then pointed his finger at the location of Luodian on the map: "Luodian has become a meat grinder.

The National Revolutionary Army has been throwing in several divisions a day, but after changing hands several times, it was still lost.

The Japanese have committed more troops, unleashing firepower from land, sea, and air. Even sacrificing lives to fill the gaps couldn't hold them back."

His finger slid along the southern bank of the Yangtze River, "From the Chuansha Estuary to the Wusong Estuary, the coastal landing zones have been completely secured by the Japanese.

Their reinforcements and supplies are coming ashore in a continuous stream."

Lu Fan frowned deeply. This was almost identical to the historical trajectory.

Even though he had achieved local victories earlier, he still couldn't reverse the overall situation.

"A decision-making error? What did you mean earlier about a decision-making error?"

"I overheard this when Fourth Brother Tang and Sixth Brother were chatting," Ah Fu paused, then lowered his voice: "Commander Zhang Zhizhong... has been dismissed."

Lu Fan asked with a furrowed brow: "What happened?"

Ah Fu took out a newspaper and pointed at the news: "The specifics aren't clear to me. The official charge in the newspaper is 'leaving the frontline command post without authorization'.

The rumor is that because the phone lines kept being cut by Traitors, he had no choice but to personally run to various units to command.

As a result, the authorities in Nanjing seized on this as a pretext, and the real reason is still factional strife."

After reading the news in the newspaper, Lu Fan snorted coldly: "Nonsense! This is clearly using a minor issue as an excuse for a bigger move."

He keenly sensed complex political factors behind this, and it also involved the 122nd Division."

Just as he was about to press for more details, the phone on the desk suddenly rang with a piercing shrill.

Lu Fan motioned for Ah Fu to answer it.

Ah Fu picked up the receiver, listened for a few moments, his expression changed slightly, and he handed the phone to Lu Fan: "Sir, it's Miss Sheng. She sounds very urgent."

Lu Fan took the phone: "Aiyi, it's me."

Sheng Aiyi's hurried and angry voice came through the phone: "Lu Fan! Something's happened!"

"Speak slowly. The sky won't fall!"

Truly, blessings never come in pairs, but misfortunes never come singly. Lu Fan's brow furrowed even tighter.

"Our goods in Nanjing, except for that batch of weapons promised as aid to Commander Zhang, have all been seized!"

With Lu Fan as her pillar of support, Sheng Aiyi on the other end of the line steadied her voice: "It started when Commander Zhang's guard battalion went to receive the supplies.

Somehow, someone high up in Nanjing took notice and directly detained the remaining supplies.

They're even using this incident as leverage to bring down Commander Zhang."

Hearing this, Lu Fan's heart sank. At a time like this, they're still playing these political games.

After a few seconds of silence on the phone, she continued: "Also, our three secret warehouses in Shanghai have been attacked one after another these past few days.

According to reliable information, these incidents were carried out by Traitors working with Japanese special forces.

All the supplies that could be moved from the warehouses were looted, and what couldn't be moved... was all burned.

I just received word that our largest warehouse in Pudong is also currently under attack."

Lu Fan's hand gripping the receiver instantly tightened, his knuckles turning white.

A wave of nameless fury rushed to his head!

The Nanjing authorities causing trouble and seizing supplies could be attributed to factional infighting;

but for the Japanese and Traitors to dare to so brazenly loot and burn his supplies—this was simply spitting in his face.

This was intolerable.

"Understood. Pass the order: the warehouses... hold them if possible, retreat if not. Personnel safety comes first."

Suppressing his anger, he instructed Sheng Aiyi: "You be extremely careful about your safety in Hong Kong Island."

He had just hung up the phone, not yet having time to digest this string of bad news, when the phone rang sharply again.

Lu Fan took a deep breath and picked up the receiver.

This time, it was Tang Jifeng's voice, sounding somewhat weary and apologetic.

"Brother Fan, you're back? Ah, I'll be brief. I'm about to leave Nanjing and return to the Changsha defense area."

Lu Fan was taken aback and immediately pressed: "Old Fourth, you're in Nanjing? Commander Zhang was just dismissed, and now you're leaving too? What's going on?"

Tang Jifeng on the phone was silent for a long time, then sighed and explained slowly, "The people here in Nanjing are envious of the 122nd Division's motorized transport and firepower.

They found an excuse to transfer the 122nd Division away from the Shanghai front line, sending them to Suzhou.

The Generalissimo's direct-line troops tried to forcibly take over that equipment, leading to a conflict with Feng Tiankui's men... Commander Zhang and I spoke up a few words for the 122nd Division, and as a result... Commander Zhang was dismissed, and I was 'advised' to return to my original defense area.

Brother Fan, I'm sorry. I failed to keep my promise to look after the 122nd Division for you..."

Lu Fan understood clearly now. This was indeed targeting the equipment and the disobedient miscellaneous troops.

He said solemnly, "Old Fourth, this isn't your fault. The Nanjing side is determined to have its way. You did your best. Take care on your journey."

After hanging up, the study fell into dead silence.

Ah Fu stood silently to the side, able to feel the icy aura emanating from Lu Fan.

Lu Fan walked to the map, his gaze fixed intently on the interwoven enemy and friendly lines.

Luodian lost, landing zones connected, Zhang Zhizhong dismissed, Tang Jifeng transferred away, supplies looted and burned,

the 122nd Division transferred... and stripped of its equipment. The situation had deteriorated to an extreme!

Suppressed rage churned in his chest, but the angrier he became, the calmer Lu Fan's eyes grew.

He stared at the area on the map where the Japanese forces were most concentrated and their arrogance was highest.

Especially that newly secured riverside landing zone that was frantically transporting troops.

"If the tiger doesn't show its might, do they really think I'm made of clay?" Lu Fan muttered to himself, a cold curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He turned abruptly and ordered Ah Fu: "You and Li Zhenshan go immediately to the Liuhe Dyeing Factory. You will strictly screen the team members for combat effectiveness.

Also, notify Bai Jinbiao, Feng Hanqing, and the others. Those selected must end their rest by 12 o'clock and be ready for action."

"Sir, you intend to..." Ah Fu's bionic eyes flickered.

Lu Fan's finger pressed down heavily on that stretch of riverbank covered by red arrows on the map, his voice resolute and decisive.

"They loot my things, burn my things, and keep pressing step by step. Do they really think I'm afraid of them?

Tonight, I'm going to make them understand what pain is! Make them lose sleep!

Pacification requires expelling the external threat first. We'll start settling accounts with the Japanese."