Chapter 31: After the September 18th Incident...

  After the Mid-Autumn Festival, it seemed that the festive atmosphere had a temporary cooling effect on the students' concern for the situation in Northeast China. That afternoon, after class, Zhang Lieyang returned home. As he entered his grandfather's study, his grandfather was reading a book. "Grandfather, I'm back!" Since Zhang Lieyang returned to the Zhang family, he had developed the habit of greeting his grandfather every morning and evening. Upon hearing his grandson's greeting, Grandfather Zhang put down the book in his hand, expressionless, and pointed to the chair beside him, saying: "Sit!"

  Ever since Zhang Lieyang returned to the Zhang family, Old Master Zhang had always doted on this clever and capable grandson, so it was rare for Zhang Lieyang to see an expression like today's. As he sat down, his heart couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

  "Lièyáng, have you been in contact with someone from a certain aspect recently?" Zhang Lǎotàiyé asked seriously.

  Zhang Lieyang looked at Old Man Zhang and suddenly plucked up the courage to say: "Grandfather, don't worry! We haven't been in contact with them, but I still want to hear your opinion about them!"

  "Cough!" Old Master Zhang sighed and said: "Foreign enemies are lurking, internal troubles are rampant, we are all from the same root, why are you so anxious to harm each other?" After thinking for a moment, Old Master Zhang said: "You and Kai Feng have different ideas, don't let him get any evidence against you!" With that, Old Master Zhang let Zhang Lieyang leave.

  When Zhang Lieyang returned to his room, Xiao Haixuan was already waiting at the door and said: "Lieyang, can I go to your warehouse district tonight to pick someone?"

  "Of course! You come and get me tonight!" As Zhang Lieyang was about to enter the house, Xiao Haixuan said again: "I forgot to tell you, the Xiao, Tang, and Zhang families will each send 100 people for you to train, as compensation for you!"

  Hearing that someone else was coming, Zhang Lieyang smiled and said: "No problem! Then I'll just give you the equipment of these nine people for free!" With that, Zhang Lieyang ignored Xiao Haixuan and returned to his room alone. Watching Zhang Lieyang leave, Xiao Haixuan could only smile wryly and let it go.

  At night, Xiao Haixing arrived at the Zhang family as scheduled and found Zhang Lieyang. He then took him to the warehouse on Pear Mountain to select personnel together. As they walked into the warehouse, Xiao Haixing and Zhang Lieyang walked shoulder to shoulder, while the two guards following behind them were unknowingly tied up by the special soldiers of the Zhang family trained by Zhang Lieyang.

  When Xiao Haixuan felt something was wrong, Zhang Lieyang smiled and said: "Big brother, where are your guards?"

  He pointed to a corner of the warehouse. Xiao Haixuan looked in the direction Zhang Lieyang was pointing, and he was immediately stunned. "To quietly tie up the guards with such skill, this troop is terrifying!" Thinking of this, Xiao Haixuan quickly regained his composure and said: "Lieyang, then hurry up and give me the person!"

  Upon hearing Xiao Haiyan's words, Zhang Lieyang smiled and clapped his hands three times. After a while, in the empty space at the center of the warehouse, forty-five people appeared neatly! Seeing that everyone had arrived, Zhang Lieyang pointed to the fifth group and said: "Zhang Xiangyu, lead your men to take their equipment and set off in three minutes!"

  Zhang Xiangyu heard Zhang Lieyang's order and, without saying another word, led the eight people under his command to sort out their equipment. In the blink of an eye, three minutes had passed, and when Zhang Xiangyu and the other nine people appeared in the center of the warehouse, Xiao Haixuan was stunned by their attire and equipment! The nine fully armed men: two were holding 98K sniper rifles, three were holding Soviet-made PPSH41s (Note: PPSH41 submachine gun: fully automatic caliber: 7.62MM, length: 842MM, weight: 3.5KG, barrel: 270MM, magazine capacity: 35/71 rounds, firing rate: 900 rounds per minute), three were holding Thompson submachine guns, and one was holding a German-made MP40 submachine gun. At the same time, each person was equipped with a genuine German twenty-shot revolver and a Mauser pistol!

  At this time, Zhang Lieyang took out 900 silver dollars and nine gold bars from his own package and handed them to them, saying: "Nine brothers, take this money for emergency needs! From now on, the safety of my future father-in-law Xiao Shihao and my eldest uncle Xiao Haixuan will be entrusted to you!" Upon hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, the nine people couldn't help but burst into tears.

  Seeing them with tears in their eyes, Zhang Lieyang's eyes also became moist, and he unknowingly recalled the scene when he bid farewell to his old squad leader when he retired from the army. Coming back to his senses, Zhang Lieyang shouted loudly: "Everyone is here, let's send off our brothers!"

  And so, amidst the farewell of the crowd, Zhang Xiangyu followed Xiao Haixuan and left!

  The next day after class, Zhang Lieyang pulled Liu Kaifeng to a secluded place and said: "You'd better be careful when you're in contact with them recently! Otherwise, you'll get many people involved!" As he spoke, Zhang Lieyang told Liu Kaifeng what Old Man Zhang had said. When Liu Kaifeng heard about Old Man Zhang's attitude towards the Communist Party, he suddenly felt relieved.

  At this time, Zhang Lieyang looked around and asked in a low voice: "How's the thing I entrusted to you?"

  "Don't worry! If there's any news, I'll let you know as soon as possible!" Liu Kaifeng replied cautiously.

  When school was over, Xiao Yajie told Zhang Lieyang that his father had found him. At this time, Zhang Lieyang thought to himself: "What could Xiao Shixiong want from me? Is he going to take revenge on those people again?" With a nervous heart, Zhang Lieyang arrived at the Xiao residence.

  As I walked into Xiao Shi-xiong's study, he said calmly: "The students in Liuyang are making a big fuss everywhere! Recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the National Government, Wang Zhengting, was beaten by the students. The chairman is very angry now!"

  "Uncle Xiao, how was Wang Zhengting beaten?" Zhang Lieyang asked curiously, knowing nothing about this history.

  Xiao Shixiong took a sip of water and said lightly: "On September 26, a delegation of 52 representatives from 26 universities in Shanghai formed the Jinjing Petition Corps and went to Nanjing to present five demands to the National Government: '(1) Please concentrate your military forces and drive out the Japanese army; (2) Please punish incompetent diplomats; (3) Order Zhang Xueliang to quickly dispatch troops; (4) Please provide firearms to university students across the country, so that they can become a shield for the government; (5) Please implement revolutionary diplomacy and do not sign humiliating treaties.' However, the petition was unsuccessful. On September 28, hundreds of students from Shanghai's Jinjing Petition Corps and Nanjing Central University went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to question them, but Foreign Minister Wang Zhengting did not dare to show his face. The students then stormed into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and questioned Wang Zhengting in person. Wang was evasive, so the students severely beat him and smashed the office equipment. This incident affected the normal functioning of the government! Moreover, this incident led to Wang Zhengting's resignation that afternoon!"

  Upon hearing Xiao Shixiong's words, Zhang Lieyang suddenly understood and said: "Does Director Chiang think that this is the Communist Party playing tricks behind his back?"

  "Yes!" Xiang Shixiong continued, "Now the students in Shanghai will again join with over 5,000 students from Nanjing Jinling and Central Universities to brave the rain and petition the National Government, continuing to demand that the government send troops to resist Japanese aggression."

  "Lieyang understood Uncle's meaning! Don't worry, I will definitely protect Yajie completely at that time!" Zhang Lieyang said seriously.

  Zhang Lieyang left Xiao's house and was about to head home when he ran into Liu Kaifeng on the road. Zhang Lieyang pulled over, smiled, and said: "Kaifeng, where are you headed? I'll give you a ride!"