Sworn friends in life and death

  "As long as China has a peaceful environment, domestic politics are stable, and there is no war interference, with twenty years of full development, we will have the strength to compete with Japan and even Western powers." Yang Shouming said.

  "Easy to say, but how can we get this peaceful environment?" Shi Xuanhou took a deep breath, nodded, and stared at Yang Shaoming, asking, "This time's Gan Ning campaign is the beginning of the chaos of military power and the starting point of using force to contend for power. Does Mr. Yang really think that Yuan Yeming can end this warlord separatist situation and give China 20 years of development time?"

  "With the guidance of a superior, and proper arrangements, how can it not be achieved?!" Yang Shuo Ming's face turned bright red as he bellowed, possibly due to being stung by Shi Xuan Hou's words.

  At this time, Yang Shuo thought of the earth-shaking changes that would take place a year later and the final outcome of Yuan Shikai, and his eyebrows involuntarily flashed with a hint of melancholy.

  In fact, after the Xinhai Revolution, China had actually entered a period of "military rule". As the President, Yuan Shikai was not a civil official from the beginning. Since he started his career as a military officer, people saw him more as a military man. However, Yuan Shikai himself did not entirely fit the mold of a military man, and after he came to power, he had intended to complete the transition from military rule to civilian governance. If it were not for the sinister intentions of the Japanese who did not want to see a unified and stable government in China, and instead forced Yuan Shikai to accept the "Twenty-One Demands", which made him lose face and damaged the image and legitimacy of the Chinese government in the eyes of the people, China might have ended its chaotic state earlier and moved towards order and development.

  Yuan Shikai later made the mistake of "monarchy" under the influence of Yang Duan and other strategists who misjudged the situation, his real intention was to restore his own authority, but he offended the most popular mainstream ideology in modern China, and ended up dying before achieving his goal. The situation that Yuan Shikai was most worried about, "left is Japanese sword, right is also Japanese sword", also became unavoidable.

  From the conversation just now, Yang Shuo Ming could also hear that Shi Xuan Hou had a very clear understanding of Japan's future threat to China, but he was limited by his era and only saw the strong military threat Japan posed to China, without looking deeper and further into the problem.

  But Shi Xuan's question undoubtedly hit the nail on the head.

  For Yang Shuo Ming, this is the most difficult problem to solve.

  Yang Shuo Ming, since arriving in this era, has encountered so many obstacles in developing this remote small place within Jiangxi Province. To change the entire country's appearance, let alone the nation and ethnic group's fate and historical progress, it is unknown what kind of effort and price must be paid.

  "Mr. Yang said so, and I understand now." Shi Xuanhou sneered and said, "The situation is already very clear now. From now on, whoever wants to engage in political activities will have to go through the doors of the military men. Mr. Yang seems to want to take this path too, doesn't he?"

  After hearing Shi Xuanhou's words, Yang Shuo Ming fell silent.

  "What's the point of you two arguing here? With this effort, it's better to do something practical. Xu Yuanjin looked at Yang Shouming and Shi Xuanhou, who were both red-faced, and jokingly said to Yang Shouming, "You've already managed to get the howitzer out, next time, help me get that poisonous gas cannon out too." He then turned to Shi Xuanhou and said, "What was that cannon you mentioned earlier called again? The recoilless gun?"

  "What did you say? Mortar?" Shi Xuanhou was shocked after hearing Xu Yuanjin's words, "You can still make big guns here?"

  "By the way, I got carried away just now and forgot to ask, what brings Mr. Shi here?" Yang Shouming asked with a slight smile.

  "I heard that there is a kind of Western miracle medicine here, which has an amazing effect on external injuries and bacterial infections." Shi Xuanhou said, "A close friend of mine in the provincial capital was seriously injured, with infected wounds. Both Chinese and Western doctors have tried all sorts of treatments, but to no avail. His life is now hanging by a thread. I heard that there is a divine medicine here that specializes in treating such illnesses, so I came to buy it for my friend."

  "You've found the right person, that medicine was made by him." Xu Yuanjin smiled and glanced at Yang Shouming, saying to Shi Xuanhou, "However, this kind of medicine is quite expensive, almost as pricey as gold. Your friend had better be rich."

  "Ah?" Shi Xuan Hou looked at Yang Shuo Ming in surprise, suddenly stood up and bowed, "I hope Mr. Yang can save my friend's life, no matter what price, it's not important, I'll pay for him. As long as he can be saved."

  "Mr. Shi, no need to be so polite, we're old friends after all, this is just a small favor. Yang Shouming smiled and waved his hand, "This medicine is actually still in the clinical trial stage, it needs to be tested before use to prevent accidents, if possible, it's best to let your friend come over for treatment, to be on the safe side."

  "He's not in good shape and might not be able to withstand the bumpy ride on this mountain road." Shi Xuanhou said with a hint of worry in his eyes.

  "Come with me, Mr. Shi! I'll teach you how to use it." Yang Shuoming said generously.

  After drinking and settling the bill, Yang Shuo Ming was about to take Shi Xuan Hou to Huang Yunzhi's "Renhe Pharmacy", but Shi Xuan Hou suddenly asked again: "By the way, what is that howitzer?"

  "Come back with your friends and take a look!" Xu Yuanjin said with a smile.

  After leaving the restaurant, Yang Shuo Ming and Xu Yuan Jin bid farewell, bringing Shi Xuan Hou to "Ren He Pharmacy".

  The facade of "Renhe Pharmacy" is not particularly large compared to the surrounding shops, but above the entrance hangs a nanmu wood golden sign with four powerful and majestic regular script characters "Renhe Pharmacy", and at the entrance stand two guards wearing gray-blue military uniforms holding guns.

  Shi Xuanhou looked at the two military-clad guards, who were standing tall and proud, and couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and concern. However, when he saw that the people coming in and out of the pharmacy had smiles on their faces, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally put down its guard.

  Shi Xuanhou noticed that the people coming and going here didn't all seem to be rich, and there were also many poor figures among them. He couldn't help but glance at Yang Shuoming.

  When he was in the provincial capital, he heard from some people that a kind of anti-inflammatory medicine produced here was quite expensive, and Xu Yuanjin's words confirmed this point, but now he saw that even poor people could get this medicine to treat injuries.

  Shi Xuanhou was wondering how these poor people paid for their medicine when an old woman with white hair appeared at the door, supporting a young man who walked out of the pharmacy. The young man's face was pale and looked very weak, but his complexion was good, as if he had just recovered from an illness. Shi Xuanhou noticed that the young man held a piece of paper in his hand, and both mother and son had tears in their eyes. He was surprised by the pair's attire and expression, but then saw them kneel down in front of the pharmacy door, facing the signboard, and kowtowed three times before helping each other up and leaving slowly.

  "What's going on?" Shi Xuanhou asked in surprise.

  "The poor are also human, and they need to be treated for illnesses. But they can't afford this medicine, and I couldn't just stand by and do nothing." Yang Shuoming smiled slightly and said to Shi Xuanhou, "The rule I set is that as long as you sign the contract and work for 'Renhe Company' for three years, your medical expenses will be covered."

  After hearing Yang Shuo Ming's answer, Shi Xuan Hou was stunned at first, and immediately understood Yang Shuo Ming's kindness, his eyes were filled with admiration.

  "If your friend doesn't have money to buy medicine, he can also handle it this way." Yang Shuoming said with a smile to Shi Xuanhou.

  "That's great!" A sly glint suddenly flashed in Shi Xuanhou's eyes, "It's just the right opportunity to teach that rascal Lin Yuchen a lesson!"

  "I see that you're also very familiar with Western things, I wonder what you do?" Yang Shao Ming asked casually.

  Shi Xuanhou understood the implication of Yang Shuo's question, and smiled, saying: "Not to deceive Mr. Yang, I and my humble friend are both shipbuilding technicians."

  After hearing Shi Xuanhou's answer, Yang Shuo Ming's eyes suddenly emitted an unusual glow.

  After mastering the trial and correct usage, Shi Xuanhou returned to the provincial capital with the medicine and "body contract" without stopping his horse. When he arrived in Nanchang City a few days later, it was already very late at night.

  Shi Xuanhou hastily arrived at a small inn with his entourage, and when he reached the second floor, he faintly heard the sound of a woman crying in a nearby room, which made his heart sink.

  "Ah Xiang! Ah Xiang!" Shi Xuanhou rushed into the room with his medical box, at which point Madame Lin was sitting on the edge of the bed sobbing, and seeing Shi Xuanhou burst in, she finally stopped crying, wiping away her tears.

  Shi Xuanhou stared blankly at the tall and robust man on the bed who had no vitality, and tears couldn't help but flow down.

  "I'm late! Yu Jing!" Shi Xuan Hou rushed to the bedside, looking at the man's tightly closed eyes on the bed, hugging his body and shouting in a hoarse voice, "Yu Jing! Why didn't you wait for me?! Ah?! I brought medicine for you!"

  "Men... get out of the way..." The man on the bed suddenly moved, pointing to a nearby table, "Give me my model..."

  After hearing his words, Shi Xuanhou was stunned at first, and after a while, he finally came to his senses, wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and couldn't help but smile.

  "This bear is already in this state, and you're still thinking about that crappy design." Shi Xuanhou touched Lin Yujing's forehead, which was burning with a high fever, and looked at the surprised and delighted Mrs. Lin, indicating for her to bring over what he wanted.

  "Damn...". Lin Yujing, who had just caught her breath, opened her eyes and looked at Shi Xuanhou, weakly cursing, "Your design... is... fucking... trash..."

  Next Wednesday is the finale! Everyone's collection and recommendation votes, come on over!