Chapter One: Return to the Country

  I have never written this before, please forgive me, friends who want to read it; This article is just a framework, using the writing style I am good at, describing what kind of scenes could have appeared between 1935-1945 with our country's national strength and international environment.

  Looking back on the past and looking forward to the future.

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  In the gentle breeze and fine rain, the coastline slowly unfolded before my eyes. That is the coastline of our motherland. The gentle wind from my hometown blew across my face again. After seven years of hard work in the US, I finally saw the coastline of our motherland again, returning to my hometown where I grew up for over 20 years!

  Before I could see the blue and yellow double-colored water surface, what first entered my line of sight was an aircraft carrier. I couldn't help but be shocked. Just as I was about to take a closer look, Xiao Ma, who loves warships, held up his binoculars and directly reported out the name and data of the ship: "British Royal Navy Invincible-class aircraft carrier, 10,950 tons, speed 25 knots, 4-inch caliber guns, 3 x 4-inch high-angle guns, 20 onboard aircraft." Behind it were two W-type destroyers of 1,500 tons.

  The American liner was soon approaching the British squadron, which was steaming in the opposite direction. The Olympic saluted by blowing her whistles and the liners passed close to each other.

  The passenger ship gradually slowed down its speed along the Huangpu River and sailed upstream, I slowly immersed myself in memories of the past. Here should be a shipyard, but now there is nothing; there should be Yangpu Bridge, but now there is also nothing.

  The little horse suddenly pointed ahead and said: "Japanese Navy!"

  I gazed out from the ship, several silver-white warships were anchored on the Huangpu River. First was a relatively modern light cruiser, Xiao Ma said: "The Japanese Navy's 'Yoshino' cruiser, 5,170 tons, 36 knots, 7 x 140mm main guns, 2 x 76mm secondary guns, 8 torpedo tubes, and 1 seaplane; the big ship behind is the 'Izumo' that Young Master mentioned!"

  My gaze swept over the twin 200mm main guns on the "Chuyun" number, and the rising sun flag fluttered in the wind on the mast of the bridge. I told Little Li: "Remember their ship position and the 'Chuyun' number's ship position at 10 o'clock direction 150-200 meters."

  "Yes, I remember."

  After passing the Bund, I approached the foreign concessions. A large passenger ship was moored at the intersection of the public concession and the Bund, flying the British Union Jack flag. Next to it were various ships of different sizes from countries such as the United States, France, and Italy, as well as some small warships. After passing the mooring area, I saw a bustling scene: the familiar high-rise buildings of the Bund stood tall, with flags of various countries fluttering on their rooftops, but without the blue sky, white sun, and red earth; people bustled about below, mostly foreigners in suits and leather shoes, with some Westerners strolling leisurely. Seeing China occupied by so many foreigners left a bad taste in my mouth, especially since among them were those detestable Japanese pirates.

  As the boat quickly docked at the outer wharf, Xiao Ma said to me: "Young master, you've been away from China for seven years now, haven't you?"

  "Yes! Really miss the past days!"

  Although I said so with my mouth, but in my heart, I know that although I have returned to Shanghai again. However, I can never go back to the Shanghai where I used to live because what I left was the Shanghai of 2012...

  A swim by the San Francisco waterfront somehow brought me back to over 80 years ago, becoming another Song Zi An with the same name and surname.

  Now that I've come to this world, I've completed seven years of arduous preparation to change this world.

  Now I'm back, I will complete my mission...

  I was lost in thought when Xiao Ma told me: "Young master, the boat has reached the shore."

  As soon as I stepped onto the gangway, several people pushed through the crowd and made way for me. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the one leading them was none other than my elder brother in this life - Soong Tzu-wen.

  "Soong Tzu-wen was so excited when he saw me that he hugged me tightly: 'Little brother, you're finally back! I've been worried to death about you.'"

  I couldn't help but feel moved: "Big brother, I've been thinking of you every moment too! Now we're finally together again!"

  As we walked past the Bund, where the tall embankment and promenade used to be, my brother and I got into his car. Just then, one of his subordinates ran over: "Chairman, this is an urgent telegram from the Chairman." My brother flipped through it casually, but his smile suddenly froze on his face, his eyebrows furrowed, looking serious and worried. Seeing him like that, I asked: "Big Brother, what's wrong with your sister's husband?"

  "Alas, this brother-in-law of yours only knows how to ask for money! He doesn't understand the ways of economics at all."

  "I've also heard that in America. People are going to change slowly, now is the crucial moment of suppressing communism, money should be spent when it's supposed to be!"

  "Third brother, since Tax jing's overall team was handed over, the family business has been somewhat lacking in momentum."

  "You've got to be kidding! Is there still someone in our country who dares to cheat us?"

  "Obviously I wouldn't dare to in public, but secretly... Sigh, never mind, let's just hurry home."

  As the sedan entered the city center, I asked: "Are brother and sister all right?"

  "It's all good, it's all good, I'm thinking of you!"

  "Are they in Shanghai?"

  "Except for Third Sister who lives in Nanjing, everyone else is in Shanghai, but Second Brother just went to Guangdong."

  "Oh."

  "What are you going to do next?"

  "I'll go see Second Sister first, and then head to Nanjing to see Third Sister."

  After a simple dinner party, my elder brother went back to his busy schedule.

  As night fell, I told the butler and then took Little Ma to leave the Song residence on Xiayi Road to "hang out". Little Ma took me into a small residence where several people were waiting for me. Xiao Zhang, who had just returned from the US, reported to me first: "Young Master, our people have arrived, some are still on the way, the first batch of money has been remitted to the Shanghai Bank of China, and the equipment needed for the Xiangshan factory has been shipped from the US and will be transported to Ningbo first.

  "Very well, and also, the secret procurement plan must be completed within 36 years."

  "No problem"

  "Xiao Zhang is about to start underwater blasting preparation work."

  "Yes, young master."

  "Lan sister and their preparation situation..."

  After they left, I turned onto Xiafei Road and had no choice but to go see the person in this life who is hardest for me to meet - my second sister.

  Actually, I was very nervous when I saw her this time. Not only because the current me is no longer the Song Zi'an of the past; but also because my second sister dislikes the chairman very much, and now I work for the chairman.

  I finally plucked up the courage with a nervous heart and knocked on the door of my second sister's home.

  The person who opened the door for me was my second sister's maid.

  She warmly greeted me, saying: "Third Master, it's been a long time since we last met. The mistress is waiting for you, come quickly and go see her." She led me all the way to the bedroom, closed the door and exited.

  So I finally met Guomou, my second sister in this life.

  At this moment, my second sister is sitting opposite me, her expression icy and distant, it's clear that she already knows I'm working for the chairman in Europe.

  "Second sister finally spoke up: 'Little brother, long time no see, how have you been?'"

  "Alright, while little brother is away, how are you, second sister?"

  "Alright."

  Just now second sister was still affectionately asking me, suddenly, she changed her tone and asked directly: "I heard that little brother is busy running around for the chairman, is this true?"

  "Not bad."

  "My little brother has made it! He can now serve the Chairman effectively!"

  I hastily explained, "Second sister must have misunderstood me. I was in the US and Europe purely to reserve technology and raise funds. Now that I'm back in the country, I'm preparing to open a factory for future use against Japan. It's absolutely not for Third Sister's husband to wage civil war. If Second Sister doesn't believe me, she can go ask Big Brother or Third Sister."

  "Is Lian's factory also?"

  I didn't expect Third Sister to be so well-informed too? I almost blurted it out.

  "Not bad, compared to the powerful countries, our weapons are seriously lagging behind. We've been focusing on fighting internal wars and equipping ourselves with various guns, but not many people think about equipping ourselves with big cannons, resulting in a severe shortage of artillery in our army. So I'm planning to buy equipment in the US and return home to set up a factory to manufacture cannons."

  "Can't the big guns made by Little Brother be used against our own countrymen?"

  "Capable, but time cannot wait. The Japanese invasion of China's ambition is getting bigger and bigger, and it will inevitably be fully invaded within three years. Second sister, do you think we'll still have time to prepare when the time comes?"

  My sister's expression relaxed a lot, and the stone in my heart finally fell to the ground.

  The second sister said slowly: "It seems that sister was wrong to blame little brother, now he has betrayed the revolution and sold out for personal gain, what do you think should be done?"

  "My younger brother has always stood on your side, second sister. The key to a country's prosperity lies in democracy, human rights and people's livelihoods, not something that can be achieved by autocracy."

  Xiao Neng can think this way, it's good.

  "But if we are going to oppose Chiang, then we must bravely stand up and take his place when the Third Sister's husband cannot lead China, rather than hiding behind him. Second sister, don't you think so?"

  "Do you think so?"

  "Not bad. After the Qing revolution, many comrades shed blood and sacrificed, but after the success of the revolution, they abandoned power for personal purity, leading to the country's fragmentation and disintegration, how shameful."

  My second sister stared at me, word by word: "Who did you get involved with?"

  "Alright, I've got everyone talking. The government is an organ that serves the people. Officials are first and foremost responsible to the public interest, not their personal interests. Giving up power means giving up the responsibility to serve the people, not being noble."

  "Little brother, it seems you've really grown up... Being able to rebel against Chiang with me makes me very happy."

  "Thank you, Second Sister, I'm going."

  "Go! Second sister will take care of you!"

  The next day, I got up and went to see my elder brother: "Today I will go to Nanjing. The accounts of the past few years must be settled with Third Sister first."

  "Then go ahead, I'm mainly doing things in Shanghai now."

  Then I asked him: "Have you thought about the money?"

  "This thing... " Obviously, big brother had no way out, so he spoke vaguely.

  "There are actually ways." I said, interrupting big brother before he could finish speaking.

  "What's going on?" asked the older brother.

  I smiled and said nothing, took out a letter and said: "We can sell the mining rights to Germany, Italy and other countries, all the terms are written on it, big brother you take a look slowly!"

  I boarded the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed train at Shanghai South Railway Station and headed to Nanjing to see my third sister.