Chapter Eighteen: The Interview (First Update)

  Mao Feng remained calm and explained: "General, Zhao Pingzhou is a talented individual. The independent regiment is still in its early stages, and it's truly the right time to use people. Moreover, doing so would also demonstrate your magnanimity and tolerance! Liu Xuanguang, although his abilities are average, he is after all the regiment commander. When it comes to the life and death of a battalion commander, he should have the final say, and it would also serve as a warning to others!"

  Lin Hu sneered and then looked at Mao Feng with a serious expression, saying: "Do you need to say these things? In fact, Zhao Pingzhou is not important, Liu Xuanguang is also not important. What's important is you, your thoughts! Don't think I really don't know what's going on in your mind! You have to understand one thing, I can make you the deputy commander, but I can also make you disappear! Those who follow me, Lin Hu, are human beings, those who do not follow me are dead men! Talents? Only those who serve me are talents, otherwise there is no need for them to exist in this world! Just because a rebel is talented, should I look at him differently? The fate of rebels is death!"

  Mao Feng immediately explained: "General, I am not Sun Dapao's man! If I were, how could I be like this?"

  Lin Hu retorted: "Did I ever say you were Sun Dapao?"

  Mao Feng knew things had gone bad, and he was getting more and more entangled. He bitterly smiled and said: "General, I won't explain anymore. Just one sentence - if you really think I'm on their side, then shoot me with a gun right now!"

  After finishing speaking, he took out his own pistol and respectfully placed it on the tea table beside Lin Hu.

  Lin Hu saw Mao Feng take out the gun, he didn't think that Mao Feng would be hostile to him, so he remained calm and watched as Mao Feng placed the gun on the tea table beside him. As soon as it was put down, Lin Hu picked up the gun before Mao Feng could retreat back to his original position, and examined it carefully.

  It took Lin Hu a while to turn his gaze towards Mao Feng, and his expression remained calm. He said, "Can killing you solve the problem? Although you are still loyal and reliable for now, who can guarantee what will happen in the future? With domestic conflicts ongoing, we should unite as one. China only has one government, and there can only be one government. The so-called Southern Government is just a group of treacherous officials, do we want to continue internal strife? Isn't unifying early on the same as restoring national power early on? Using the so-called 'national salvation plan' to lecture others, isn't that laughable? Is Sun Wen always right and everyone else an idiot? Can he lead the country onto the path of becoming a strong nation just because he's in that position? This is simply ridiculous! Without this Southern Government, the customs revenue over the years would have been recovered long ago. But now? Not even a single cent has been returned, all wasted on benefiting foreign powers!"

  Lin Hu paused for a moment, then continued: "Feng Zhi, I'm telling you this today because young people have passion and drive, which is great, but they can't be blind to it. They need to learn how to think! Loyalty and filial piety are the essence passed down from our ancestors, but look at now, how many people still uphold these values? Profit is all that matters!"

  Mao Feng didn't think Lin Hu would drag him into this aspect at first, but he soon understood that Lin Hu still didn't trust himself and wanted to make Mao Feng loyal to him.

  "General, I'm still saying the same thing. Without your recognition, there wouldn't be a Mao Fengzi today. I am willing to follow you! Now whatever I say is useless, please just look at my actions!"

  "Alright, alright, it's an action indeed! As for what happens next, we'll just have to wait and see! Humans are the most difficult things to understand. It all depends on one's heart. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been considered the most important virtues. But now? Everyone claims to be righteous, and among them, Sun Dapao is the most detestable! With just a mouth, he's a national traitor!"

  Lin Hu said that when it comes to Sun Dapao, he is filled with anger and resentment. He spoke in a hateful tone: "He still dares to think I'll be his inside man? Does he take me, Lin, for some kind of fool? Does everyone have to be like him? Look at him now, he can't even stabilize his own tiny territory, internal affairs are all chaotic! If someone like him were in charge of national affairs, what would happen? He doesn't have the ability, so don't think about taking that position! All talk and no action, just a bunch of empty words. In this world, it's still power that gets things done, does he really think everyone is a saint? It's laughable! If not for him, would there be such internal strife?"

  Although Mao Feng is not familiar with history, he basically knows that this civil war is not the responsibility of Sun Dazhang alone! Moreover, the Northern Warlord government left behind too many troubles! There was no one in charge, which led to the current situation. Otherwise, how could Sun Dazhang have such great ability on his own?

  "General, I don't understand these things, but I do know one thing: whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it!"

  Lin Hu glanced at Mao Feng, then slowly revealed a smile, and continued to say: "Good you sly one, anyway the sky falls down by me this officer to hold up, is that what you mean?"

  Mao Feng lowered his head in shame and said: "Your subordinate does not dare!"

  Lin Hu's smile faded, and he said with a hint of desolation: "The current situation is precarious! Chen Jiongming has become a force to be reckoned with, and it's impossible for me alone to do anything about it. Just being able to save myself is extremely difficult. The government is also powerless to look south, and Shanghai has become a country within a country. Every time I think of this, I feel intense hatred towards the Western powers, wishing I could destroy them all! But in reality, that's impossible. Everything requires strength, just like Sun Yat-sen's Guangzhou coup. China's current state is also due to the same reason. I wonder if I, Lin Hu, will ever have the chance to see our country become rich and powerful?"

  Mao Feng really wanted to take a good look at Lin Hu, his impression of Lin Hu was still stuck in some historical data. He is now looking at this person who is already a military commander and inspector general, one of the representatives of the Gui system, at just over 30 years old. He never thought that Lin Hu would be such a person.

  Mao Feng was both moved and shocked, thinking: Who says they are useless, winners and losers? After all, Lin Hu had also participated in the revolution and worked hard to overthrow the imperial system! Just this point, he is worthy of people's respect! Not everyone can do that.

  The living room was quiet, Lin Hu was still lost in thought, thinking about something, and Mao Feng was no exception. He was indeed shocked by the current Lin Hu.

  At this time, someone suddenly spoke up: "General!"

  Lin Hu and Mao Feng both woke up with a start, their eyes fixed on the door. Luo Jian had one foot inside, but when he saw Lin Hu and Mao Feng staring at him, he instinctively froze.

  Then he walked into the living room, his first action was to stop and straighten up, and said apologetically: "Ah, I didn't know General is still discussing important matters?"

  Lin Hu said faintly: "Forget it, what's up?"

  Luo Jian said without hesitation: "Huang Kui has arrived!"

  Lin Hu's eyebrows slightly furrowed, but he quickly said: "Please come in!"

  "General, I request to withdraw!" said Mao Feng at the right moment.

  Lin Hu waved his hand and said: "There's no need for that, you can just stay on one side and listen! There are no outsiders."

  Can't help but say that the two words of an outsider made Mao Feng somewhat moved, these people in power are unintentionally able to win people's hearts. Mao Feng responded: "Yes, General!"

  Lu Jian saw this and immediately turned around to pass on the message, inviting Huang Kui to come in. Before long, footsteps sounded, and Mao Feng's line of sight saw the figure of Huang Kui.

  Mao Feng was very attentive to Huang Kui's expression, he found that when he smiled at Huang Kui, Huang Kui's eyes looked a bit surprised, but soon disappeared, and then just smiled.

  Huang Kui faced Lin Hu and waved his hands in greeting, saying: "General, hello!"

  Lin Hu sat steadily in his chair, he stretched out his hand and pointed to the chair on his right side, saying: "Please sit down!"

  Huang Kui nodded and bowed his head, saying: "Thank you!" After that, he said to Mao Feng again: "Hello."

  Mao Feng's natural response was also a guest: "Hello, Huang Gong!"

  Huang Kui was still wearing his usual silk changshan, and after he sat down, Lin Hu said in a deep voice: "This is the captain of the Independent Regiment's Mao Feng, you all knew each other before, so I won't introduce him!"

  Huang Kui was taken aback, and then his face showed no disguise of his surprise. He said: "Really young and promising, really congratulations to General Lin for adding another tiger general!"

  He said with a smile to Mao Feng: "Congratulations, Captain Mao! It's really 'three days no see, when the eyes are opened'!"

  Lin Hu's intention is naturally self-evident, that is, to wake up Huang Kui and tell him that Mao Fengzhi is now a deputy regimental commander! Moreover, in this situation, isn't Mao Fengzhi considered his own confidant? If Huang Kui is an intelligent person, he will naturally understand.

  Huang Kui's heart naturally surged with waves. Although his first impression of Mao Feng was not bad, it was only okay, and he still didn't take him seriously. He valued Lin Hu more, but now he had to face this young man head-on. What was the situation with Independent Team? He wasn't clear, but at this age, becoming a team leader, let alone such a young one, meant boundless prospects!

  Mao Feng smiled and said: "I dare not praise myself so much, this is the commander's appreciation, there are still many areas where I need to improve, although I am the deputy regimental commander, but this has already made me feel deeply responsible! In the future, if you need Huang Gong to help, please don't hesitate to ask for assistance!"

  Mao Feng's words made Huang Kui stunned again, he didn't expect Mao Feng to say such things, and Lin Hu was here! Was this a test of intention?

  Huang Kui never thought that Mao Feng would suddenly come up with such a phrase, and neither did he think it was possible. Huang Kui's calculations were also affected by Lin Hu's presence, resulting in many differences.

  Lin Hu had a deep appreciation for Mao Feng, not a hint of anger. For him, being able to say such things in his presence meant that Mao Feng didn't have any reservations about him, let alone any intention of betrayal! In Chaozhou, could high-ranking officials not have some dealings with local gangsters?