Chapter Eighteen: Jiang Shouqi's Conversation

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  "Oh, since you know already, I'll be brief," Jiang Shouqi nodded his head. He wasn't a man of many words and got straight to the point. "Beijing has decided to select some student officers from military academies across the country for temporary promotion and appointment. Of course, most of these military academies are concentrated in the north, such as Baoding Military Academy and my alma mater, the Army University, which have a larger quota."

  "Dean of Studies, sir, does that mean Shaoying and Wenhan will be directly appointed to their positions?" Xu Shaowen had already guessed more than half of it. After all, when he was in Shanghai, his uncle Xu Shichang had already hinted to him through a telegram that once the decision to formally appoint student officers was passed, he would have a great chance.

  Jiang Shouqi smiled and said, "You guessed it right. However, both the General Staff Department and the Ministry of War are currently looking for people, so the Army University has more quotas than just you two. It's just that you two were selected first temporarily, but after Principal Hu discusses with Chief of General Staff Lei and Minister of War Duan, I estimate there will be two to three more quotas from the Army University."

  "So, do Wenhan and I count as dropouts?" Xu Shao felt a little reluctant to leave the military academy's life, after all, he had already lived here for more than half a year, and had also met so many famous people.

  "It's not counted, let's just say it's a kind of attachment duty, only the time will be very long," Jiang Shouqi saw that Xu Shaowen had a hard time leaving the Army University, and he was quite sentimental in his heart. It's hard to find young people like this who value relationships so much. "After you are appointed and take office, you may be very busy, but the graduation exam two years later is still necessary to come back and participate. At that time, the college will start an independent examination for you big generals and marshals."

  "You're joking, sir. You are our teacher and as the saying goes, 'one day of teaching is a lifetime of gratitude.' No matter what achievements we have in the future, we will never forget your kindness and teachings from back then." Xu Shao Wen said very solemnly to Jiang Shou Qi.

  Jiang Shouqi felt very pleased with these words, and couldn't help but feel a little excited in his heart. He smiled and nodded, saying: "Good, good, the Army University has such outstanding talents like you, it's also a blessing for us educators."

  "Sir, may I ask whether we are assigned to the Army Department or the General Staff?" Li Zhenning asked excitedly, a bit eager to try.

  "It's not clear yet," Jiang Shouqi shook his head slightly, suddenly remembered something, and immediately got up to go to his office desk, where he found two letters. He walked back, handed the two letters to Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning respectively, saying: "These are letters from Premier Xu Shichang and Hu Mingyu, the supervisor of the Ministry of War. Mr. Xu's letter is for Mr. Xu, and General Hu's letter is for Wenhan."

  Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning took over the letter, both of them just glanced at the title on the surface of the letter and didn't rush to open it.

  "Those two letters are your letters of recommendation, I suppose that's also why you were selected so quickly to join the company directly," he said with a chuckle. "In this turbulent era, relying on connections is no longer something to be ashamed of." He continued, "Later, I will send someone to inform Mr. Xu and Mr. Hu separately that you have returned to Beijing, and they will arrange for your further employment matters."

  "That's really troubling Lord Jiang." Xu Shao Wen said.

  Jiang Shouqi thought for a moment, and then added another sentence: "You'll be packing up your luggage in the dormitory over the next few days. Once you take office, whether it's at the General Staff Headquarters or the Ministry of War, they will provide officer quarters, so you won't need to stay on campus anymore."

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  Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning bid farewell to Jiang Shouqi and returned to the quadrangle courtyard of their dormitory. Both of them had a strange feeling in their hearts, having studied at the Army University for only eight months before being temporarily promoted to formal officers, which would inevitably give rise to a sense of abruptness.

  The Army University cultivates high-level talents, and after graduation, the lowest military rank is also at the school level. Some outstanding individuals may even be promoted to general. However, Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning are both people who have never led troops before, and they were able to achieve this solely by relying on their backstage connections. But can they really live up to their roles?

  Li Zhenning sat on his bed, opened the letter and read it through, then smiled: "Wenyuan, Governor Hu really praised me in the letter, it seems that my dad's relationship with him is not ordinary."

  "Looks like you still want to go to the Ministry of War, huh?" Xu Shao-wen asked Li Zhen-ning. He didn't bother to read the letter of recommendation written by Xu Shi-chang, as such letters were just formalities for high-ranking military officers and not worth paying much attention to.

  "It would be best if I could go, at least there's Master Hu to take care of me, and who knows, maybe I'll even get to see Miss Hu Min'er often." Li Zhenning said with longing.

  "That's also true, but are you really planning to stay in Beijing for work?" Xu Shaowen suddenly asked, his expression slightly serious. He had always thought that doing things in Beijing, a centrally controlled place, was not very good, as there were too many officials and powerful people, making it impossible to do anything freely.

  "What? Wen Yuan, you think you'll be sent to a local area as a military and political supervisor?" Li Zhenning looked at Xu Shaojun in surprise. "We're just temporary student officers, and neither of us has ever led troops before. How could we possibly be sent to a local area? Moreover, those who can be sent to local areas are all trusted by the President or the General Staff."

  "What you said makes sense, but the capital is not necessarily a good place. The struggle between various forces can easily be squeezed out. Political struggles are the most terrifying." Xu Shao Wen's expression was serious, but his mouth was curled up with a few strands of smile, as if he was laughing at himself and Li Zhenning, two small shrimp.

  "Right, sigh!" Li Zhenning nodded in sudden realization. In this unstable situation, only those who hold military power are truly powerful. Even if Hu Mingyu can cover for himself, it's hard to say how much he can help himself after all. "No real power, and it's really not easy to get by."

  Xu Shaowen smiled wryly, his face also a mixture of bitterness. Although Xu Shichang and Yuan Shikai were close friends and the Minister of State Affairs in the Presidential Palace, he was after all a civilian official without military power. If he stayed in Beijing, the best outcome would be to become an honorary advisor in the Presidential Palace. Honorary positions are always insignificant, not even having the right to speak.

  Xu Shaowen did not want this result at all. Now he has money in Shanghai and knows many influential people, so there is no reason for him not to develop his own influence well. Therefore, he wants to strive to leave Beijing and go to a local post as much as possible.

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  Today's collection rose very quickly, thank you for the support of all the big brothers and sisters. I will definitely write well in the next episode, hoping that everyone will continue to support me! Wishing all the big brothers and sisters happiness!

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