Chapter 38 of Part One

  The enthusiasm for the founding of the People's Republic still continues in the hearts of all the people in the liberated areas, which has led to continuous innovation and progress in various enterprises and industries in the liberated areas. Suzhou silk, Hunan embroidery, Yunnan tobacco, Jiangxi porcelain, etc., are constantly transported from various places in the liberated areas to Hong Kong, and then re-shipped to Southeast Asia and the West.

  Looking at Li Min who insisted on following him to the front line, Zhu Xiao let out a sigh and shook his head involuntarily. The squadron leader of the flying boat team that came to pick him up, Wu Jin, said to Zhu Xiao, "Captain, we'll be arriving in Fujian's Kinmen soon."

  "Alright, prepare for landing."

  Li Min no longer had the fear she had when she first got on the airboat, and she started to lean out of the window like Zhu Xiao, looking down at the scenery below while chattering nonstop with Zhu Xiao.

  Kinmen, on the training grounds of the airship squadron. The airship had just landed, and several guards were already running over. The hatch was pushed open. Zhu Xiao looked at Li Min with deep affection and said "Minmin, let's go down."

  Getting off the flying boat, Navy's Shi Qiang, Zeng Qing, Deng Zhijiang. Air Force's Lan Tian. And Zhang Lian Sheng, who was in charge of attacking Kinmen, all walked over and stood at attention in front of Zhu Xiao's serious feet, saluted and said in unison "Please instruct."

  Zhu Xiao furrowed his brow upon hearing these words. He said in a deep voice, "What kind of talk is this? You've all learned nothing. You've even picked up the bad habits of the Ming dynasty. You're just going through the motions with me." Looking at their embarrassed expressions, Zhu Xiao softened his tone and said, "First go back and take a look at your battle plans."

  Inside the spacious military department conference room, the central conference table had been dismantled and replaced with a super-large simulation sand table. The entire Taiwan Strait had shrunk to this size, several staff members were standing in front of the sand table carefully studying something, occasionally bursting into an argument. They didn't even notice our arrival. The sand table was made very intricately, the ocean was created by pumping water, not simply painted with colors, and the terrain of the seafloor was also done very meticulously. On top of the sand table, models of warships were arranged all around the Taiwan Strait.

  I gazed at the Taiwan Strait in the sand table and couldn't help but think of the original era's **. Perhaps it was from Zheng Chenggong's era that there was a precedent for occupying Taiwan to claim dominance. Perhaps Zheng Chenggong was a national hero who recovered Taiwan, but Taiwan was also taken by Chiang Kai-shek from the Japanese, and history shockingly replayed itself in just three hundred years, with such similarity. In the original era, perhaps no one would say that Chiang Kai-shek was a hero who recovered Taiwan. Yet everyone calls Zheng Chenggong a national hero now. Perhaps this is the difference between Manchu and Han people - Zheng Chenggong occupied Taiwan to contend with the Manchu, while Chiang Kai-shek's occupation of Taiwan was a matter between two Han people. The precedent for division has been set numerous times in Chinese history, but the painful fact of occupying Taiwan is the most intolerable. And Zheng Chenggong, this national hero, happened to be the one who started this precedent. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but sigh.

  At this time, several staff members who were studying beside him finally saw that several commanders were standing with me. Several people stood at attention. A standard military salute, with a respectful expression, said "Commander, please instruct"

  I took a look at several staff officers and said to Yan Yuese, "What instructions are not given? I've looked at your military deployment and combat plan, and it's not bad." As I spoke, I turned my head to look at Shi Lang and others, saying, "Here, Commander Shi Lang is the expert in attacking Taiwan." I continued to turn around and looked at those staff officers, saying, "Commander Shi Lang is familiar with the Taiwan Strait, and Commander Lan's air force is your powerful assistant in reconnaissance. You must grasp it well."

  Several staff members saluted me again and said "Yes, thank you for your instructions, Commander"

  Looking at the admiration and worship in the eyes of several staff members, I habitually furrowed my brow and said, "Comrades, I am also a person, an ordinary person. Don't treat me like a god. You may still think that we are invincible in battle. This can only be said to be thanks to you, thanks to everyone, thanks to all the soldiers who have fought for this result. Now you don't know, our People's Army has encountered resistance in the northwest." As I spoke, I sighed and looked into their eyes, "I am not a god, and in your subconscious, don't treat me like a god either."

  I paused for a moment and continued, "Comrades, only the united strength of everyone can be invincible in battle. Only when everyone is united can we defeat the enemy." As I spoke, I picked up a pencil from the table (this was a product of one of the enterprises established by the base area's second batch, called the Chinese brand). With both hands, I exerted force and snapped the pencil in two with a "crack". I didn't say anything, but instead picked up several more pencils from the holder and tried to snap them in half.

  I put down the pencils in my hand and looked at them, saying, "Do you know what my actions just now meant?" One of the staff members spoke up, "Commander, your meaning is that one chopstick is easy to break, but when everyone is together, it's not easy to be defeated." He finished speaking and looked at me with a seeking-approval gaze. I was very satisfied with this effect and said, "Not bad. It's exactly the meaning you understood. As the saying goes, three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang. What's your name? Are you newly promoted?"

  I looked at the staff member who had spoken up. Zhang Liansheng took over my words and said, "Commander, his name is Lv Hui, courtesy name Qingjun, alias Longmao居士. His ancestral home is in Hebei, and he currently resides in Wuchang Prefecture. He's a talented student from the third batch of the Army Command College. I got him from Commander Li." As he finished speaking, he had a smug look on his face.

  The atmosphere was stirred up by Zhang Lian's words, and it wasn't as depressing as before. I looked at the sand table and said, "Taiwan is not easy to conquer, this is a tough battle. Zheng Chenggong still has high prestige among the Taiwanese people. As the saying goes, 'those who gain the hearts of the people will gain the world.' If we can't get the support of the Taiwanese people, it's not a good strategy to attack by force. Can we use both kindness and intimidation to make Zheng surrender? This way, we can avoid the deaths of soldiers and the displacement of civilians." Several advisors, including Zhang Lian and Lan Tian, nodded in agreement, saying "This is a good plan. If Zheng Chenggong doesn't agree to a peaceful resolution, his prestige among the Taiwanese people will definitely decline. We also have a just cause." I glanced at Shi Lang's uneasy face, but didn't respond to him. Many things and knots need to be resolved by oneself. Lü Hui's meticulous thoughts were revealed again as he asked me, "General, did we suffer a defeat in the northwest?"

  I took a glance at Lü Hui and said, "Yes, the third group army of Yue Yulong led by Peng Ying, the chief of staff, in the northwest, due to the misunderstanding of the surgical nation, directly led to the battle with the troops of Su Ke Sa Ha. Due to unfamiliarity with the terrain and environment, many soldiers were not adapted to the water and soil, sacrificing more than 2,000 soldiers." Seeing that the atmosphere in the room became gloomy again, I said, "Comrades, I hope you can solve the Taiwan problem quickly, so that the navy can directly go north to deter Beijing. In addition, the air force will not stay too long in the Taiwan battle, and must go north in a very short time. We must defeat the enemy in terms of momentum and morale." After finishing speaking, I said to Shi Lang, "Commander Shi Lang, accompany me for a walk outside."

  Looking out at the endless sea, the waves crashed against the shoreline, stirring up layers of foam, and then retreated. Then they began a new round of impact. I turned my head to glance at silent Shi Lian, his dark bronze skin exuding a strong masculine aura, his face expressionless. His teeth were clenched on his lip, as if suppressing something. I sighed and said, "Shi Lian, you're feeling bitter because you can't avenge yourself, aren't you?"

  Shi Leng wanted to say something but stopped and said "Long, I..."

  I looked at Shi Lang and said, "Shi Lang, I believe that after such a long time of contact, you should have also learned many things. What kind of army is the People's Army? What kind of country is the Chinese Empire? You are also clear about whether the people under our jurisdiction are living in peace and contentment. I believe you can see it very clearly. When Zheng Chenggong recovered Taiwan, it was also for the sake of the Taiwanese people not being oppressed and bullied by the Dutch. I think that if we were to explain the great principle to Zheng Chenggong now, he would still understand. For the sake of the Taiwanese people, I believe he would surrender." I didn't give Shi Lang a chance to speak, and continued to say, "As the saying goes, 'Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, Teachers', I think your parents also taught you this when they were teaching you how to be a person. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot be both fulfilled at the same time. Only with a country can there be a family, this is the principle since ancient times. I think you are also clear about it, no need for me to say it again. If you insist on being stubborn, Zheng Chenggong would just die once, but the ones who would suffer are still the Taiwanese people. Then how can our Chinese Empire bear the title of 'Benevolent Teacher'? In the future, when you die, how will you face your deceased parents and brothers?"

  At this time, Shi Leng was already entangled in ideological struggles, his face changing color, and said "Chang, let me go back and think carefully."

  "I gazed into Shilang's eyes and said, 'Alright, I hope you won't disappoint me.'"

  As I watched Shi Leng hurry past me, I turned my head to gaze at the waves of the sea. Although Taiwan Island was out of sight, my heart seemed to have returned to Taiwan Island, and I fell into a daze. It was as if I had returned to the carefree days of childhood, holding an elementary school textbook and reading "Taiwan is our country's territory, it is the sacred and indivisible land of our nation."

  Li Min softly called out from behind me, "Xiao Ge."

  I came back to myself and looked at Li Min saying "Min Min, how did you get here? It's windy. Let's go back."

  Li Min shook her head and said, "Xiao Ge, I know you have something on your mind again. I won't disturb you, just think about it on your own."

  I took a look at this silly girl and smiled, saying "Min Min, you're becoming more considerate of others now, not as reckless as before. My crown princess."

  Li Min smiled and hit me once, saying "You're dead, teasing people again. See if I don't tell Grandpa Wan when I get back." After that, she stuck to my chest again.

  I lowered my head, looking at Li Min's appearance, her curved and delicate eyebrows, not wearing any makeup, her sensual lips slightly upturned, a natural body fragrance wafting from her. I suppressed the thoughts in my heart, lifted my head to gaze out at the surging sea, and fell into deep thought once again. Why did Xiao Ying and the others always get the short end of the stick among the Hui people? As I pondered, I couldn't help but let out a sigh. It seemed that the work policies for ethnic minorities still had room for improvement. If these Huizus couldn't be won over, then the Mongolians, who had a thousand ties with the Manchu people, would be even more difficult to deal with. It seemed we also needed to use tactics like the Qing dynasty's "divide and conquer" strategy. The propaganda team's measures in the northwest region needed to be adjusted; they couldn't keep singing the same tune. They needed to have propaganda measures tailored to ethnic minority areas.

  At this time, the guard ran over and said "Director, a telegram from Commander Lü Jun."

  I sat still and said "read"

  "General Commander, my army group is currently under attack by Manchu cavalry, fortunately with minimal losses. The main problem is that the Manchus seem to have made contact with the Japanese pirates. Recently, the Japanese have been frequently raiding our Jiangsu and Zhejiang coastal areas, hoping that the navy can quickly detach from the Taiwan Strait to assist our ground forces. Lu Jun, March 3rd, 58th year."

  I cursed in my heart, "What's wrong with this Song Mingfeng? He still doesn't know that the Qing and Japanese are joining forces. And now he needs Lü Jun to report back, it seems like it's time for Mingfeng's troops to be rectified."

  I stood up with Li Min at this time and said to the guard "Tell the commander of a certain branch of service immediately, have a meeting in the army's conference room."

  Looking at Zhang Lian Sheng and others sitting in front of the conference table, I habitually cleared my throat and said, "Now the military situation in the north is quite critical. I think the navy and air force must cooperate with the army to quickly get out of this quagmire and join the battle on that side. Although Lv Jun didn't say it explicitly, I think the Japanese, also known as the Wokou, should have looted our coastal cities. I will investigate Li Lei's responsibility for this matter. As for here, I think the air force must first be deployed to the northern battlefield. I hope everyone prioritizes the overall situation and can quickly end the battle in Taiwan." Saying that, I gave Shi Lang a deep and meaningful look.

  The dull situation continued for a while, at this time Shi Lang stood up and said "Chang, let me go to surrender Zheng Chenggong."

  Recently I've been reviewing for an English exam, so I've been studying hard. The exam is coming up soon, and everyone hopes we'll pass with flying colors.