Chapter 46 Concerning Action in Shanghai

  Hua Lieyang adjusted his thoughts and said: "Little nephew is a Northeasterner, and he is also a Chinese soldier! But can't protect the people of Northeast China, this is my dereliction of duty!" When Hua Lieyang heard these words, Cao Tianqiao nodded and said: "You are indeed Yang Yuting, General Yang's good grandson!"

  Upon hearing Cao Tianqiao's words, Hua Lieyang looked at him with suspicion and said: "Uncle knows my grandfather?!" Cao Tianqiao nodded his head in response to Hua Lieyang's question and said: "I've been old friends with your Uncle Ge for many years!" As he spoke, Cao Tianqiao took a sip of wine and reminisced about the past, saying: "Ji Ting, how old are you this year?!"

  Hua Lieyang heard Cao Tianqiao's question and replied calmly, "My nephew is thirteen years old this year!" Upon hearing Hua Lieyang's words, Cao Tianqiao was taken aback, looking at him with a puzzled expression, saying, "I don't think so! Jiting, your way of doing things is not something that even people in their twenties can do well!"

  "Thank you, Uncle, for the compliment!" Just as Hu Lieyang was about to continue speaking, Cao Tianqiao's daughter, Cao Ying, walked into the dining hall and said: "Dad! Why do you always look for opportunities to drink?! You should drink less! What if something happens to you? How will I cope afterwards?"

  Cao Tianqiao smiled and looked at Hua Lieyang with a profound gaze, saying: "Ji Ting, what do you think of my daughter?! As the saying goes: 'A girl is like a golden brick when she's three years older!' My daughter is exactly three years older than you, how about I give her to you as your wife?!" Hua Lieyang thought for a moment after hearing Cao Tianqiao's words and said: "Uncle, do you want to hear my true thoughts?"

  "Yes!" Cao Tianqiao said with a smile. Upon hearing Cao Tianqiao's words, Hua Lieyang said seriously: "I owe you a lot, Miss Cao! Because I still have an unavenged feud! At any time and place, it is possible to lose my life! So I don't want to delay Miss Cao's marriage!"

  Cao Tianqiao nodded after hearing Hua Lieyang's words and said, "Then let's not talk about this matter for now! Let's talk about it in a few years!" As he spoke, Cao Tianqiao took out a pocket watch and said, "Ji Ting, this pocket watch has been with me for many years! You can keep it as a memento!"

  Hua Lieyang heard Cao Tianqiao's words and knew he couldn't refuse anymore! So Hua Lieyang took the pocket watch with both hands and said, "Thank you, Uncle!"

  In the blink of an eye, more than three hours had passed. Hua Lieyang returned to the mansion with Fu Bo and Yang Chunxiao. Just as Hua Lieyang returned to the mansion, Cao Ying walked into Cao Tianqiao's study and said: "Dad! Why do you want me to marry Hua Lieyang? He's still so young!"

  When Cao Ying heard this, Cao Tianqiao put down the pen in his hand and said: "You mustn't underestimate him! One day he will soar to great heights!" As he spoke, Cao Tianqiao picked up the teacup on his desk, took a sip of water, and continued: "Ying'er, just trust your father's judgment!" Before Cao Tianqiao could finish speaking, Cao Ying's face turned red as she quickly turned around and rushed out of Cao Tianqiao's study!

  Watching his daughter leave, Cao Tianqiao smiled faintly and muttered to himself: "It seems that this little girl has taken a liking to that young man!"

  Hu Lieyang returned directly to his study as soon as he got home. Not long after he sat down, Fu Bo walked in front of him and said: "Young Master! When are you leaving?! I can make some preparations!" Hearing Fu Bo's words, Hu Lieyang smiled and said: "Fu Bo, go rest! No need to prepare anything!" As he spoke, Hu Lieyang seemed to remember something and called out to Fu Bo who was about to leave: "Fu Bo! Here are four checks! One you remit to my uncle Chunyuan, one you remit to your family, one you remit to the family of Uncle Li! And one you keep with you, in case something happens at home and we can't make ends meet, it'll come in handy!"

  When Fu Bo heard Hua Lieyang's words, he trembled as he took the check from Hua Lieyang's hand and said excitedly: "Young Master Sun!..." Before Fu Bo could continue, Hua Lieyang waved his hand and said: "Fu Bo, don't say anything else! You go down and rest!" Fu Bo heard this and reluctantly turned to leave.

  Watching Fu Bo leave, Hua Lieyang let out a deep sigh and muttered to himself: "The word 'home' is too heavy for me!" As he spoke, Hua Lieyang opened the book on his desk and began to read slowly.

  In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Early in the morning, Hua Lieyang ate breakfast and said to Yang Chunxiao: "Uncle Xiao, you go prepare, we'll buy tickets from Chongqing to Shanghai later!" When they heard Hua Lieyang's words, everyone at the dinner table was stunned! After a while, the old woman spoke up: "Ji Ting, are you really going to Shanghai?!"

  "Grandma! There's no way around it! The Japanese are eyeing China covetously now! Our old home has already been occupied by the Japanese..."

  The old woman opened her mouth and said, "Ji Ting, you don't need to say anything! Grandma understands these big principles! You can rest assured and go! As long as Grandma is here, this family will not collapse!" Hearing the old woman's words, Hua Lieyang suddenly felt choked up! Seeing Hua Lieyang's appearance, the old woman smiled and said, "Alright! Alright! There's no need to say anything else! Ji Ting has grown up and understands things! Your grandma can also rest assured now!"

  Upon hearing the old woman's words, Hua Lieyang wiped his moist eyes and said: "Grandma! You can rest assured! Yang Yuting's grandson is absolutely not a coward!"

  At noon, Yang Chunxiao bought the ticket and returned home to say to Hua Lieyang: "Ji Ting! The ticket is ready! It's for the day after tomorrow afternoon!" Upon hearing Yang Chunxiao's words, Hua Lieyang nodded and said: "Got it!" After thinking for a moment, Hua Lieyang continued: "Xiao Shu, bring your gun and enough ammo! We might still have to fight those little devils in Shanghai!"

  Hearing Hua Lieyang's words, Yang Chunxiao looked at him with doubt and said: "Jiting, the Japanese don't have the guts to make a move in Shanghai, do they?! After all, there are many concessions there!"

  Hu Lieyang shook his head and said, "Xiao Shu! You underestimate the Japanese too much! The Japanese attack on Northeast China is actually a probe! A probe of the international community's reaction to Japan's invasion of China! Now that the Japanese have probed out part of it, this time they may make another probe in Shanghai!"

  Yang Chunxiao heard Hua Lieyang's words, thought for a moment and said: "Jiting! I remembered, the content of that 'Tian Zhongpi' you showed us at the beginning..."

  Before Yang Chunxiao could finish speaking, Hua Lieyang interrupted him: "Uncle Xiao! Knowing is good enough! There's no need to say anything else!" Just as Hua Lieyang was about to continue speaking, Yang Chunlei walked into Hua Lieyang's study with a telegram and said: "Jiting! Telegram from the Northeast!"

  Hua Lieyang asked seriously: "Tell me! What's going on in Northeast now?!"

  "Indeed! As you said, Ma Zhan Shan finally retreated from Heilongjiang due to running out of ammunition!" Yang Chun Lei said seriously. Just as Yang Chun Lei finished speaking, Hua Lieyang anxiously asked: "How are our people now?!"

  "Ji Ting, don't worry, our people are now in the mountains and fighting a mobile war with the little devils!" Yang Chunlei said seriously. As he spoke, Yang Chunlei looked at Hua Lieyang's expression and continued to say: "Ji Ting..."

  Seeing Yang Chunlei's hesitant look, Hua Lieyang asked: "Is something wrong?!" Hearing Hua Lieyang's words, Yang Chunlei said seriously: "Ji Ting, Ma Zhan Shan that traitor has surrendered to the Japanese!"

  Hua Lieyang burst out laughing and said, "Don't just look at the surface! Sometimes enduring humiliation is also a test! Moreover, enduring humiliation is not understood by others!" Upon hearing Hua Lieyang's words, Yang Chunxiao and Yang Chunlei were both stunned.

  After a while, Yang Chunxiao, who was the first to come back to his senses, looked at Hua Lieyang and said: "Jiting, what should we do now?!" Hearing Yang Chunxiao's words, Hua Lieyang smiled and said: "In the past few days, I have already pulled some people to help you guys get your academic certificates and letters of recommendation! Later, you will go with me to attend the Central Military Academy!"

  Upon hearing Hua Lieyang's words, Yang Chunxiao and Yang Chunlei exchanged a glance with each other before shaking their heads and leaving Hua Lieyang's study.

  Before long, the day of Hua Lieyang's departure arrived! Early in the morning, the old woman personally went to the kitchen and cooked a bowl of noodles for Hua Lieyang. She brought it to his face and said: "Ji Ting! You also know our Northeastern customs! When entering the door, we eat dumplings; when leaving the door, we eat noodles! Today, Grandma personally cooked this bowl of noodles for you, hoping that everything will go smoothly and safely for you outside!"

  Hua Lieyang heard the old woman's words and quickly picked up the noodles, eating them in just a few mouthfuls. "Granny! I will definitely remember this bowl of noodles!" Just then, Fu Bo walked to Hua Lieyang's side and said: "Young Master! The car is ready! Yang Chunxiao and the others are waiting for you outside!"

  When Hualeiyang heard Fu Bo's words, he knelt down on the ground and gave the old woman a head butt. He turned around and left. Looking at Hualeiyang's back as he walked away, the old woman couldn't help but shed tears and muttered to herself: "Fenglan, your son has grown up! You can rest assured now! You must protect him in heaven!"

  At 3:30 in the afternoon, the plane slowly landed at Shanghai Jiangwan Airport. After getting off the plane, Hua Lieyang and Yang Chunxiao called four cars to head to the International Hotel. After everything was settled, Hua Lieyang took out a Shanghai map he had prepared earlier and studied it seriously.

  After a while, the knocking sound started. After hearing the knocking sound, Hua Lieyang put away the map and went to open the door, only to see Yang Chunxiao and others appearing in front of him. Seeing Yang Chunxiao and others, Hua Lieyang immediately said: "Come in!" As he spoke, Hua Lieyang stepped aside.

  When the ten people all walked into Hua Lieyang's room, Hua Lieyang closed the door and walked to the table, opening a map and saying: "You see, this is a map of Shanghai!" Pointing towards Hongkou, he said: "This is the Japanese concession! I estimate that if the Japanese army wants to start a war in Shanghai, they will likely choose to attack from the concession towards Zhabei! Moreover, the Japanese aircraft carrier 'Nagato' is also anchored on the Huangpu River! As long as this aircraft carrier is anchored on the Huangpu River, the Japanese bombers can threaten all of Shanghai!"

  Hua Lieyang's words were met with a serious question from Yang Chunxiao: "Ji Ting, you tell us! We're all listening!" Hua Lieyang smiled and pulled out ten sets of German military uniforms and officer IDs registered in Germany from his trunk. "Uncle Xiao, tomorrow take four people to the Huangpu River to observe the location and surroundings of that Japanese aircraft carrier!" As he spoke, Hua Lieyang looked at Yang Chunfeng and continued: "Uncle Feng, tomorrow you and I will go with four other uncles to scout out Zhabei!