Volume 1: Military Academy Chapter 27: Seeing Off

  Because of Xu Shichang and Hu Mingyu's persuasion, after the wine party ended, Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning returned later than other students.

  On the way back to the dormitory, Li Zhenning remained silent and looked somewhat depressed. Xu Shaowen walked beside him and couldn't help but smile, asking: "What's wrong, still pining for Miss Hu?"

  Li Zhenning was taken aback, and hastily became agitated, retorting: "Wen Yuan, you...you really love to joke, what are you talking about? How could I...how could I?"

  Seeing Li Zhenning's embarrassed look, Xu Shaowen was even more certain that Li Zhenning liked Hu Min'er. Just now at the wine party, he had already seen Li Zhenning staring at Hu Min'er all the time, and that kind of gaze could only be explained as affectionate love. He laughed loudly twice, patted Li Zhenning's shoulder, and said: "Wenhann, don't pretend anymore, Miss Hu is so beautiful, and she matches you well, I think if you really like her, you two are quite a match."

  Li Zhenning was not a petty person, and he and Xu Shaowen were old classmates and good friends, so they wouldn't hide anything when talking. Since Xu Shaowen had seen through his thoughts, he could only sigh with a hint of resentment and say: "Actually, Miss Hu is really lovely, and...and she's also very straightforward. However...however, I can tell that Miss Hu seems to have feelings for you."

  "Haha, Wenhan, you're overthinking," Xu Shaowen said with a bright smile. He also thought that Hu Min'er was a typical oriental beauty, looking very lovely, but for him, a person from the 21st century, he only appreciated beauties from an aesthetic perspective, and it wasn't likely that he would develop feelings so quickly. "I really don't know what Miss Hu means, but since you like her, and you're also from a good family, shouldn't you take the initiative to pursue her?"

  Li Zhenning originally thought that Xu Shaowen was joking with himself, but he didn't expect the other party to be so serious in encouraging him. He looked a bit surprised and asked in confusion: "Wenyuan, you also said that Miss Hu is lovely, since Miss Hu has a crush on you, why don't you go after her?"

  "If I like a girl, I will definitely take the initiative to pursue her. Now it's the Republic of China, everyone is talking about equality and freedom, so love should also be free," Xu Shaowen said with a smile to Li Zhenning, although the idea of free love had not yet been proposed in history, but now he can use this to persuade Li Zhenning, "You're not young anymore, when you have the chance to go back, you should discuss it with your father, after all, both families are so familiar with each other."

  "Wen Yuan, can your words be trusted?" Li Zhenning's expression turned joyful. Originally, he was worried that he would get caught in a difficult choice between friendship and love, but now hearing Xu Shao Wen say this, his heart felt much more at ease.

  "When have I ever lied to you, from Nanjing to Beijing, we've become like brothers who can't be separated even if beaten to death." Xu Shaowen said with a very calm expression, although he had only been transported to this era for half a year, but the memories in his mind still knew that he and Li Zhenning were good friends at Nanjing Army Middle School.

  "Wen Yuan, thank you, I can rest assured now," Li Zhenning's expression changed, and hope reignited in his eyes. Although Hu Min'er might only like Xu Shao Wen for now, Xu Shao Wen didn't like her. As long as he made an effort to get close to Hu Min'er, maybe he could move her.

  "Alas, you're a young master from a wealthy family, with a solid foundation that allows you to think about marriage now. I'm not in the same situation," Xu Shaowen said with a self-deprecating smile, continuing, "So, you can take your time thinking about how to get close to Miss Hu, while I'll have to focus on preparing for the team's attachment duties next month."

  "Wen Yuan, you're wrong to say that. You're Secretary Xu's nephew, and I'm only finding out about this now? Are you still trying to hide it?" Li Zhenning was in a very good mood, his tone much lighter, "As for the team's affairs, I need to write a letter to my father right away, hoping to be arranged to study in Shanghai. After all, being abroad for many years, I miss home too, and more importantly, there are people who can take care of me in Shanghai."

  "Hmm, I think you want to discuss Miss Hu's matter with your father earlier." Xu Shaowen said with a sly smile.

  Li Zhenning just smiled and didn't explain anything, saying: "However, if I go to Shanghai, then you'll have to come with me too, right? Principal Hu said that this time it's specially arranged for us to work together on an external study trip."

  Xu Shaowen thought for a moment, and now that Li Zhenning has said so, he really does have an urge to go to Shanghai. After all, in the 21st century, he had watched many TV dramas about old Shanghai during the Republic of China era, and deep down, he had always had a secret longing.

  "That's okay, anyway if I really can go to Shanghai, at least there will be someone to take care of me!" Xu Shaowen smiled calmly.

  "Do you know anyone in Shanghai?" Li Zhenning asked with some curiosity.

  "Of course there is, and that's you." Xu Shao Wen said very seriously.

  "You sly thing." Li Zhenning couldn't help but burst out laughing.

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  A month later, the Army University issued the first batch of outgoing study lists. Guo Songling and Lin Wei were arranged to go together, following the Ministry of War to Henan Province, participating in the military operation to surround and annihilate the remaining forces of Bai Lang; Duan Yunfeng was not included in the list of the first batch of outgoing studies, probably appearing on the second batch list two months later. Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning were actually assigned to go to Shanghai.

  Xu Shao-wen's unit was attached to the Shanghai Garrison Command's Third Military Police Regiment as a deputy officer, and his supervisor was Captain Hao Jiguang, the regimental commander of the Third Military Police Regiment. However, the person directly in charge still belonged to Shanghai Garrison Commander Zheng Rucheng. Li Zhen-ning's unit had many more attachments than Xu Shao-wen, it seems that Li Zhen-ning's father had done a lot of work in this regard.

  Li Zhenning was transferred to Shanghai Garrison Command as a deputy staff officer for training, and worked in the General Office of Shanghai Garrison Command.

  The commander-in-chief of a garrison command usually has great power, although this power is restricted to the local area, but in any case, it can be considered as a local emperor. Shanghai was not established as a municipal area in 1914, because most of its territory had fallen into foreign concessions. The Beiyang government only set up a garrison commander in Shanghai, who was also the highest military and political official in the region.

  Zheng Rucheng, the garrison commander of Shanghai, not only served as the garrison commander but also concurrently held the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Shanghai Garrison Command, with both military and administrative powers in his hands. Xu Shaoxian had some understanding of Zheng Rucheng, who could be considered a loyal supporter of Yuan Shikai. During the "Second Revolution" two years ago, Zheng Rucheng ruthlessly suppressed the uprising of the revolutionary party in Shanghai and successfully recaptured the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, which was occupied by the revolutionary party, and was therefore appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Shanghai Garrison Command.

  Unfortunately, however, in just over a year's time, namely November 1915, Zheng Ruicheng would be assassinated by Chen Qimei, a renowned revolutionary.

  The first batch of students from the Army University who went abroad for further study will leave in mid-August and go to their designated units one after another. Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning decided to leave Beijing for Shanghai on August 10th, as Li Zhenning wished to return home before the Mid-Autumn Festival to have a reunion dinner with his family.

  On the morning of August 10, Guo Songling and Lin Wei came to the train station specifically to see off Xu Shaowen and Li Zanning. Xu Shichang still valued his nephew very much, although he was too busy with official duties to come in person, but still entrusted someone to send a letter of recommendation to Xu Shaowen, as well as 300 yuan in cash.

  The train had not yet arrived at the station, Guo Songling, although he was usually cheerful and playful, but still understood many things about human relationships. He specially bought some fruit at the entrance of the station and gave it to Xu Shaowen and Li Zanning.

  "Ah, you guys are lucky, leaving before us and making me spend money to send things to you. Next semester's field trip, I'll definitely leave before you guys do, and when the time comes, I'll make sure you pay me back." Guo Songling said with a smile, while rummaging through a bag of fruit and eating one himself.

  "But anyway, Brother Maochen and Brother Weiwu, this time you're really going to fight the bandits with real guns and live ammunition. You two must be extra careful." Xu Shaowen said solemnly to Guo Songling and Lin Weiwu.

  "You really think we're like you, a doll. I, Lao Guo, have seen all sorts of scenes in the Northeast since my early years. To say nothing of this time being an observer with the troops, even if I were to lead the troops myself to suppress bandits, it would be no problem." Guo Songling laughed loudly and carelessly, with a calm and composed demeanor, without any worries about going into battle.

  Lin Wei also said a sentence: "Yes, Wen Yuan, you can't underestimate us, no matter what, we are all old soldiers now."

  "Of course I know, but it's always better to be careful," Xu Shaowen smiled slightly.

  "Our first batch of students going abroad for studies is not bad, but it's said that only seventy-three students were approved to go abroad in the first batch. Poor Ren and his friends will have to wait another one or two months." Guo Songling sighed and said.

  At this time, the train arrived at the station. Xu Shao-wen and Li Zhen-ning said goodbye to Guo Songling and Lin Wei. Just as they were about to board the train, Li Zhen-ning kept looking towards the station gate, as if expecting someone to appear. Xu Shao-wen couldn't help but smile at this.

  "Wenhan, are you still thinking about Miss Hu? Then before we left, did you say goodbye to her and tell her when we're leaving Beijing?" Xu Shaowen asked with a smile after finding his seat in the train carriage.

  Li Zhenning was taken aback, and then smiled wryly. However, he didn't plan to hide anything either, after all Xu Shaowen was a close friend of his. He said with some embarrassment: "Actually, I did mention it, just three days ago, I went to Hu Xiedu's mansion to pay my respects, and also mentioned our departure from the capital, but it seems Miss Hu didn't take it seriously."

  "Take it easy, feelings need to be cultivated." Xu Shao-wen comforted Li Zhen-ning, who looked gloomy.

  The train blew its whistle and slowly started to leave the station.