Chapter Twelve: The Ghost's Memory

  It is said that Lin Xiaotang is going to Hunan University, the driver who drives the car is stunned, and then tells him that at the end of last year, Hunan University has been renamed National Southwestern Associated University. Due to the rapid advancement of the Japanese army's footsteps southward, the National Government decided to relocate the Southwestern Associated University to Kunming, Yunnan Province. It is said that most of the teachers and students have moved, and the university's various facilities are being relocated.

  Lin Xiaotang was a bit dizzy, he came to Changsha from thousands of miles away, hoping to reunite with his university teachers and classmates here, but didn't expect the university to have already started its westward migration. If the teachers and classmates had all set off, then he would be left without even a place to settle in Changsha. And what about Er Gou and Fang Rou? He had no idea if they had arrived in Changsha either, and with so many people around, how could he possibly find them?

  He Chong saw Lin Xiaotang's embarrassment and suddenly smiled: "You! General Lei and Commander Xiao had seen that you were a good soldier before, if they hadn't gotten into trouble, they would have definitely recruited you into the National Army. Don't worry about it now, just follow me back to the Garrison Command to settle down first, after all, the National Army is recruiting on a large scale, and university students like you are in high demand in the army. As for your two friends, I'll take care of them, and I'll definitely help you find them."

  So, Lin Xiaotang had to follow He Chong's suggestion and came to the Changsha Garrison Command. After He Chong reported to his superior, he was assigned to a military officer's dormitory in the command. Since it was already late, Lin Xiaotang stayed overnight in the dormitory. It could be seen that He Chong had a good reputation in the command, and the house assigned to him was a two-room suite with all kinds of amenities.

  It was already after 8 pm when they arrived at the hotel, and He Chong and Lin Xiaotang were exhausted from sitting on the train for several days and nights. They simply ate something and each occupied a room, falling asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. ??Rebel Agents of the Republic of China 12

  Wrapped in a thick blanket emitting the scent of sunlight, Lin Xiaotang couldn't sleep. He hadn't expected that coming to Changsha would put him in such a situation, with no one to turn to. If it weren't for He Chong's help, he might have had to stay in an inn. But at this time, Changsha was overcrowded, everywhere were refugees fleeing south, and finding a place to settle was extremely difficult.

  What should he do next? Hei Chong's words made some sense, but going back to Kunming was unrealistic. The journey was long and arduous, not to mention that the deputy officer of Xiaoshan had only given him a small amount of money when he left. Lin Xiaotang really didn't want to borrow from Hei Chong; he didn't want to owe this person a favor.

  Perhaps joining the army is currently the only choice, Lin Xiaotang has no other ideas, and the hatred he carries on his body is too much. Only by joining the army can he fulfill his desire for revenge. Lin Xiaotang secretly made up his mind to find He Chong tomorrow morning to inquire about the situation of the National Army, to see which troops are currently recruiting in Changsha, and of course, it would be best if it were the Central Army, at least the treatment would be guaranteed.

  Having made up his mind, Lin Xiaotang's mood also relaxed, and he unknowingly slowly fell into a dreamland.

  A picture suddenly emerged in his mind, very clear and also very strange.

  Is this where it is, the Wujiang Gate? It looks a bit like it, but not quite. The scenery is somewhat different from what Lin Xiaotang remembered, but it should be here. How did I end up back here again?

  The sky was filled with a misty fine rain, and a small passenger ship slowly left the dock and headed towards the middle of the river. On the deck at the back of the ship, a row of soldiers stood neatly, each holding a long gun. In front of them were two people: one was an officer in a crisp military uniform, holding a box covered with a red national flag, while the other, a middle-aged man in a black suit, unfolded a letter and read it out loud with sobs.

  "Martyr Lin Youzhong, born in 1967, unfortunately sacrificed on December 1st, 1997 while executing a secret foreign mission at the age of 30. In accordance with the martyr's will, we now scatter his ashes into the Yangtze River in his hometown Nanjing, wishing his heroic soul to rest in peace!"

  An officer beside him took two steps forward, gently opened the box, and the man in the suit slowly accepted it, with two lines of hot tears left in his tiger eyes. He trembled and said: "Yu Zhong, you are an orphan, today, let me, this comrade-in-arms, send you on your last journey!" After finishing speaking, he stretched out his hands wearing white gloves into the urn, scooped up a handful of pure white ashes, and scattered them towards the river water against the wind. Immediately afterwards, he loudly shouted: "Yu Zhong, have a good trip!"

  "All present, arms!" With the order, the warriors solemnly raised their steel guns, muzzles pointing at the sky: "Fire a salute to see off the martyrs!"

  "Bang, bang, bang", with three crisp gunshots, the birds flying over the river scattered in terror.

  The white ashes were lifted by the cold river wind, and did not fall into the river water, but followed the trajectory of the wind, facing the continuous winter rain, proudly flying, a heroic soul like an upside-down dragon rushing up to the sky!

  And that heroic spirit, which had traversed sixty years of turmoil, flew straight down from the clouds and directly into Lin Xiaotang's body, lying in the ruins of Taihe Bridge.

  A vast amount of characters and endless energy entered Lin Xiaotang's body, slowly merging into his memories and physical form. Lin Xiaotang scanned through these strange things, which seemed to be some kind of martial arts skills, gun assembly and usage, password communication, and demolition guides, etc., etc. And there was even a "Picking up Girls" manual and **Secret Techniques. Good heavens, what on earth were these things?!

  In the daze, Lin Xiaotang's mind flashed with that ghostly voice again, playful and expectant, echoing in his soul: "Young one, I've given you everything - knowledge, physique, and skills. They're all fully installed in your brain, seeped into your blood and muscles. This lifetime, you can't forget even if you want to! Don't be so cliché, no need to ask who I am. Heaven had me give all this to you for a reason. Maybe it's because he couldn't bear the evil deeds of that little devil anymore. Unfortunately, I couldn't pass on all my historical knowledge to you, because... that would send me straight to hell!"

  "I also know that you may not be able to change history, but I hope you can help our countrymen suffer less. By the way, I've figured out your background, your name is Lin Xiaotang, and you haven't taken a courtesy name yet, so I'll give you one: Yuzhong, which means 'protecting China'. How's that? Sounds good, right? Warning you! If you change it, you'll be struck by lightning! Alright, I should go now, remember every word I've said. Finally, wish you success!" Then, a burst of proud and arrogant laughter followed.

  Lin Xiaotang was startled by the piercing laughter and his heart was in a mess. He let out a loud shout and suddenly opened his eyes wide.

  Outside the window, it was still quiet, and He Chong inside the house was still snoring loudly without any restraint. Lin Xiaotang's back was already soaked with sweat, he looked out of the window, and all around was still pitch black, except for the distant sentry post which was still shining with a faint light.

  "Lin Youzhong, is that his name? Is he from a world in the future? The strange and bizarre things in my mind and the sudden mastery of steel-like strength are all gifts from him. He wants me to change this world, change this course of history? What does true history look like?" - Counterattack Republic's Special Agent 12

  Lin Xiaotang's mind was filled with the entwining questions that had been bothering him for half a month, his emotions gradually calming down, and he slowly fell asleep again.

  Night, still profound, in the starry sky suddenly came a faint whisper: "Young man, actually, you have already changed history!"

  Early in the morning, Lin Xiaotang felt refreshed and invigorated, with a surge of energy coursing through every pore. After breakfast, after He Chong went to work, Lin Xiaotang was bored and listless, so she casually put on her coat and strolled out of the military officer's dormitory compound.

  The streets of Changsha were still bustling, the only difference being that there were many more people wearing military uniforms on the streets. Not far from walking out, Lin Xiaotang's arms were filled with colorful flyers by students who occasionally popped up, Lin Xiaotang took a rough look, nothing but some anti-Japanese propaganda content.

  Lin Xiaotang bought a few newspapers, chose a roadside teahouse, sat down in the position on the street, a cup of clear tea, leisurely, it's been a long time since I've had such a comfortable and relaxing time.

  Suddenly, Lin Xiaotang's gaze was attracted by an article in a newspaper, the title of which was "The Nature and Tasks of the Contemporary Youth Movement", signed with the pen name "Zhou Enlai".

  "We demand a way out for our survival, and there is only one way: to resist, to persist in resistance to the end. This era is an era of struggle!"

  "In the midst of the nation's entire transformation, the position that young people occupy in this era is the most difficult and yet the most important."

  "We young people of this generation should be grateful to live in such a great era of turmoil, we must learn and become strong in this era!"

  The stirring words and incisive analysis made Lin Xiaotang read with rapt attention, unable to tear herself away.

  After a long time, Lin Xiaotang finally closed the newspaper and let out a sigh. On the simple stage across the street, several people from the drama circle were improvising the famous play "Sacrifice for the Country". There were hundreds of onlookers in the crowd, and after the performance ended, the audience was still immersed in the plot of the play, with many people shedding hot tears. Someone took the lead in shouting "Down with Japanese imperialism!" The surrounding crowd responded thunderously. Such scenes could be seen everywhere on the streets of Changsha.

  Lin Xiaotang's heart surged, he threw down a banknote, picked up the newspaper, asked the tea house attendant about the location of the National Army recruitment, and squeezed into the crowd.

  Currently, the Battle of Xuzhou is underway, and the National Army has attracted the Japanese army's elite Itagaki Corps to the Tai'erzhuang line, with a siege circle already formed, awaiting the final general attack. Changsha, as the barrier for the southwest rear, has assembled over one million National Army troops, so various branches are currently engaged in large-scale recruitment and purchasing of horses, but almost all are from the Central Army sequence. The Sichuan and Yunnan armies, due to tight funds, only rested their feet in Changsha before immediately embarking on a northern expedition.

  In the south gate of Changsha, there is a National Army unit recruiting soldiers. The tea house attendants said that this National Army unit is different from others, with neat uniforms and strict discipline. It's said that many passionate young people from all over the country have come to join the army specifically because of its reputation.

  When Lin Xiaotang arrived, a long queue had already formed in front of the recruitment point. Several constables were maintaining order, and the recruiting officer was helping to register the recruits in sequence. Behind him hung a large flag with the unit number:

  "National Revolutionary Army 74th Corps 57th Division".