Chapter 3: The Weak and Timid Young Master

  Li Mengsheng and his two companions had been jolting on the train for three days, transferring twice to reach Shiyan. Shiyan is only about 50 miles away from Dahong County, so the three of them rushed to Dahong. The next morning, they arrived outside the city of Dahong County, where they saw a golden flag fluttering above the city gate with the words "Commander-in-Chief Tang's Rebel Army". The city wall was riddled with holes and stained with blood. Not far from the city gate, a section of the city wall had been blasted down by cannons. In the dry moat outside the city, there was actually a layer of bloody water. The fallen soldiers had probably been buried properly, and one team of soldiers was picking up abandoned and damaged guns on the ground; another team was sweeping away shell casings. A 100-meter area in front of the city gate had been cordoned off with barbed wire, and soldiers were guarding it with guns, not allowing anyone to enter the city. Dozens of civilians outside the city who wanted to visit their relatives inside were blocked at the cordon line.

  Wang Tong and Lian Zhu wanted to rush into the city, but were pulled back by Li Mengsheng. Mengsheng said: "If the old man was dead, Tang Huanzi would have hung his head under the commander's flag long ago. The old man is not dead, let's go, I know where he will be."

  This Li Douchun was originally a martial arts champion of the Qing dynasty, and later served as a banner general (equivalent to regimental commander) in the Beiyang New Army. He had always been stationed near Dahong County, which is located at the junction of Shaanxi and Hubei provinces, with mountains and water nearby, making it a scenic and convenient place for transportation, with rich and prosperous people. The area was also abundant in grains, coal, iron, and copper deposits. During the Xinhai Revolution, Li Douchun declared independence in Dahong and occupied Dahong and its surrounding eight counties, calling himself "Huguo Grand General". He then recruited soldiers and expanded his forces, working hard to consolidate his power, and formed alliances with various warlords who came to compete for territory, eventually stabilizing his rule for over a decade.

  One time, General Li took his wife and eight-year-old son Mengsheng to the Qing Mountains north of Dahong County for a picnic. Seeing that although the Qing Mountains were not treacherous terrain, they were densely vegetated, with many gullies and caves. He said: "One day when I am defeated in battle, I will hide here to plan my comeback." After that, he began to prepare an escape route on the Qing Mountains, selecting caves as hiding places for troops, storing grain, guns, ammunition, and other supplies.

  At this time, Meng Sheng had already thought that since his father was not dead, he would definitely go to Qing Shan. So the three of them rushed to Qing Shan without caring about the fatigue of the journey. Qing Shan is thirty miles away from Da Hong County, and by afternoon, the three of them had arrived at the foot of Qing Shan. After a brief rest, they bought some dry rations in the village at the foot of the mountain and casually filled their stomachs, then followed Meng Sheng's memory to find that hidden cave.

  It was a great trouble to find the hidden cave, and in his tenth year, due to changes in the domestic situation, warlords fought for the position of president, Li Dujun felt that the situation was not good, and he took Meng Sheng to check the reserve several times. Later, Meng Sheng's mother passed away, and Meng Sheng was sent by his father to study abroad, and never came back again.

  At this time, six years had passed, fortunately Li Mengsheng's memory was not too bad, and in the late afternoon he finally found the small road covered with thatch to the hidden soldier cave.

  They were captured by soldiers hiding on the side of the road after walking a short distance along the small path. The commander of the Imperial Guard, Feng Manlin, almost didn't recognize these dirty and dusty young masters. Li Mengsheng scolded him with an old joke, then hugged Mengsheng and choked: "Young master, you're back, go see the governor quickly, he was hit by a shell and is dying!" He hurriedly led them to run towards the cave.

  The cave was spacious, and near the inner mountain belly, a room-sized place had been dug out. Two horse lamps were burning brightly inside. Military maps and various command equipment for directing battles were hung on the walls, making it a command center. On the long table in the command center, Commander Li's entire body was almost wrapped in bandages, lying there with his eyes closed. The guards stood around him, at a loss for what to do.

  Meng Sheng hastily stepped forward, speaking in a low voice: "Father, unworthy son Meng Sheng has returned!" After finishing speaking, tears fell and he was unable to speak. Wang Tong and Zhao Lianzhu also stepped forward, weeping and calling out softly.

  Li Du opened his eyes with difficulty, looking at Meng Sheng, his lips moved, and he said laboriously: "Be... a... real... man." Then he fell to one side, and his hand went limp.

  Meng Sheng and three others knelt down with Feng Manlin and the guards in the house, crying out in grief.

  After hastily burying his father on a hillside near the Zang Bing Cave, Meng Sheng asked Feng Manlin: "Commander Feng, how many brothers are left now?"

  "Over a hundred people."

  "What's your plan?"

  "There's enough food in this cave for the brothers to eat for a year, and there are also many guns and ammunition inside. It should be no problem to arm a regiment. Let's set up camp on Qing Mountain, recruit soldiers and buy horses, and when we have enough strength, Young Master will lead the brothers to find Tang Huazi and avenge us!" Feng Manlin said gritting his teeth.

  Li Mengsheng hesitated for a moment before saying, "I think it's like this, Tang Huanzi's pursuing troops will arrive soon. You should let the brothers quickly move the grain and firearms hidden in the cave to a safe place, then sell them off, divide the money among everyone, and disperse."

  Wang Tong and Lian Zhu were stunned, Feng Manlin suddenly knelt down in front of Li Mengsheng and sobbed: "Young master! The commander's great revenge has not been avenged, how can you say such things? I will risk the lives of these hundred brothers to help you avenge this great revenge!"

  More than a hundred guardsmen of General Li's personal bodyguard knelt down on the hillside in unison, shouting loudly: "Avenge our general! Avenge our general!"

  Li Mengsheng looked at these soldiers covered in smoke and dust, their clothes tattered, and said: "I can't bear to see my brothers shed blood and sacrifice again! You are also the children of your parents, sacrificing for the hatred of my Li family. What face do I have to meet your parents?"

  Feng Manlin said: "The governor has always been very kind to us, like a father and son. When brothers encounter major or minor events in their families, he generously helps with all his might. Now that the governor has died in battle, we will not rest until we avenge him!"

  The brothers of the Imperial Guard shouted in unison: "We will not rest until this vengeance is avenged! We will not rest until this vengeance is avenged!"

  Li Mengsheng said displeased: "The revenge of my Li family is not for you to manage! Commander Feng, do as I say!" After finishing, he ignored the crying voices behind him and turned his back on the kneeling brothers, rushing down the mountain.

  Wang Tong and Lian Zhu hurriedly chased after them. When they reached the foot of the mountain, Wang Tong grabbed Li Mengsheng and asked: "Won't you avenge Lord Li's feud? Why do you treat these loyal brothers like this?"

  Li Mengsheng fell to the ground, covering his face and sobbing softly, "I really didn't want them to die for me!"

  It wasn't until they encountered such a twist that Li Mengsheng's true nature of being weak and pitiful was revealed beneath his reckless and arrogant facade. Wang Tong also understood that it would be too difficult for this timid young master to take on the great responsibility of revenge. He sighed, asking: "What do you plan to do now?"

  Li Mengsheng stammered: "Let's go to General Han together, he and the old man are sworn brothers who exchanged oaths, and his daughter is also my fiancée whom I promised to marry when she was in her mother's womb..."

  Before he could finish speaking, Wang Tong grabbed Li Mengsheng: "At this time, you still want to be someone else's son-in-law!? Do you have a conscience or not!?"

  Lian Zhu hastily pulled Wang Tong away and persuaded him, "Big brother is also for our own good, don't force him anymore."

  Wang Tong suppressed his anger and said, "You go to the Han Mansion as a son-in-law, I don't enjoy this blessing, nor do I want to be a reader for another young master who has no meaning in life!"

  Li Mengsheng grasped Wang Tong's sleeve and trembled with voice, saying: "We've been together for seven or eight years, as close as brothers, never apart. During the day, we read books and played games together, at night, we ate and slept together. My birthday is a few days older than yours, I always treated you and Lianzhu as my younger brothers. Brother, you did wrong today, let's go to Hanfu to plan something first, and then think about revenge later, okay?"

  Wang Tong looked at this pitiful 'brother' and said, "I'm not angry with you, I'm resentful of myself for being unable to help you. Even if we avenge Li Bo's death, we can't escape the strife in this world. As long as China is not unified, the warlords will continue to slaughter each other. Only by eliminating all the warlords, completing China's unification, and making our country rich and strong, standing proudly in the world, can we truly avenge Li Bo's death."

  "What do you plan to do?" Li Mengsheng asked.

  "A few days ago, I read in the newspaper that Mr. Sun Yat-sen has taken office as 'Extraordinary President' in Guangzhou and established a military academy at Huangpu, so now I'm preparing to take the entrance exam."

  Li Mengsheng knew that Wang Tong was a man of decisive action, so he said: "A gentleman plans for the Way, while a petty person plans for food. I understand your aspirations clearly. Although my brother won't follow you, he will often wish you smooth sailing and peace. This farewell between us brothers, who knows when we'll meet again? Take care!"

  Wang Tong thought of the friendship they had in previous years, his eyes were filled with hot tears, and he tightly grasped Li Mengsheng's hands. Lian Zhu hugged Wang Tong and sobbed: "Second brother, take care of yourself! Eldest brother needs me to take care of him, I also can't go with you."

  The three parted ways at the foot of the mountain, Li Mengsheng took Lianzhu to the north to Han Dashuai's residence - Liuhe County; Wang Tong went south through Wuhan and took the road to Guangzhou.

  Years later, when Wang Tong in the Northern Expeditionary Army saw Li Mengsheng again, he would be shocked by his thorough change and even more shocked by what Li Mengsheng had gone through over the years.