Chapter 39: The Eldest Uncle Comes to Visit

  It is often said that plans change quickly, and Li Ruofeng's summons to the new confidential secretary was temporarily interrupted by the sudden arrival of Fourth Uncle Li Chengxiao and Eldest Uncle Li Chenglong.

  When they heard the news, Li Ruofeng and Lin Xiuer both let out a loud cry of relief. If the couple had not been attending to their duties, but instead hiding in a secret room continuing their romantic tryst and were caught red-handed by their uncles, that would have been a truly embarrassing situation.

  Li Cheng Xiao and his elder brother Li Cheng Long did not stay long at Li Ruo Feng's garrison headquarters, nor did they bother to let Li Ruo Feng arrange a welcoming banquet. Instead, they loudly demanded that he take them on a tour of his troops in their cars.

  The garrison of the 38th Division of the Central Army is located near the Shandan Military Horse Ranch. The entire camp covers an area of nearly a thousand acres, and its planned facilities were improved and rebuilt by Li Ruifeng according to the configuration plan of the first-class division of the Chinese army in the 21st century. It is more strictly managed than the Northeast Army's Beidaying Camp, with more scientific planning.

  Especially in terms of the design of its training subjects and facilities, it can be said that there is no army in this world that is more perfect and advanced than this one.

  The Li family was founded on martial prowess, so Li Chengxiang and Li Chenglong were more interested in the military forces of the Hexi Circuit than in local economic development.

  The four guiding principles of the army, "politically qualified, militarily strong, disciplined and strict, and stylistically upright", written on the front wall of the barracks, made Li Chengxiao and Li Chenglong admire their nephew, just like the endless waters of the Yellow River...

  Seeing the slogan "Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime" posted everywhere in the military camp, Li Chengxiao sometimes really wanted to cut open Li Ruofeng's head and see what was inside, how he could come up with so many different ways.

  The training of the soldiers and the military demeanor each one of them showed made Li Chengxiu feel extremely satisfied.

  Li Chengrui and Li Chenglong brothers have been traveling the world for decades, whether it is now the Northeast Army, Northwest Army, Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, Guangxi Army, Central Army, or the Beiyang Army led by Wu Peifu and Sun Chuanfang in those days. They all had dealings with them, but they had never seen any army that could compare with the new 38th Division in terms of military appearance, discipline, and soldier quality.

  Especially when Li Chengxiao and Li Chenglong heard the soldiers of the new 38th division sing military songs in units, such as "Jing Zhong Bao Guo", "We are the soldiers", "Blood-stained style" and "Return to the target", they were so excited that all they could say was "good".

  This is the first time that the new 38th Division has accepted external visits since its establishment. In order to achieve the effect of a surprise inspection, Li Ruofeng strictly ordered his subordinates not to inform Sun Zhen and Zhuang Yu in advance. He wanted to see the normal training situation and military appearance of the officers and soldiers of the new 38th Division.

  What comforted Li Ruofeng was that Sun Zhen and Zhuang Yu did not lose face for him. The entire 38th Division, including the grassroots company commanders and cooks, showed the visiting crowd a military quality and spiritual appearance that could be compared to those of world-class military powers, a tiger-like and wolf-like army, a civilized army.

  Walking on the road to the 38th Division headquarters, Li Chenglong, with his white hair and beard but robust physique, walked with a strong stride, holding Li Ruofeng's hand. His big mouth was smiling and had never closed as he said: "Feng'er, seeing this army of yours, all the hardships and grievances I suffered in America were worth it, worth it!"

  "Uncle, I'm unfilial, letting you and your family drift to a foreign land, running around and working hard for the family. I feel deeply ashamed." Li Ruofeng supported his uncle's body, walking and movingly said: "Without your hard work and support in America, our Li family wouldn't have been able to gain the right to speak in Hexi Province. Uncle, you've worked hard!"

  "Wind, for the sake of the family, Eldest Brother being the head of the household is willing to risk his life, what's that worth?! Lee Cheng Long laughed generously: "Although when we first arrived in America, we couldn't bear the cold faces and white eyes, and some brothers even lost their lives because of it. But now looking back, those hardships are nothing compared to the achievements our Li family has made! You don't know, your Eldest Brother is now on equal footing with the Morgans, Rockefellers, and Du Ponts in America!"

  "Big brother, all of this is the result of following the plan set by Wind years ago." Li Chengxiao joked and laughed as he walked alongside: "If not for Wind's calculations back then, we brothers would still be hiding in Panlong Ridge as fugitives."

  "Ah, Fourth Brother is right." Li Chenglong nodded repeatedly and smiled: "Now I understand what the ancient books say about deep strategy and planning in secret. Our Feng Er is simply more clever than Zhuge Liang!"

  "Sorry, sorry, Big Uncle, Fourth Uncle." Li Ruofeng humbly said: "You two are the ones who are getting more energetic with age, one old general is worth three young ones!"

  "Hahaha! Back then, Zhang the Big Beard became the King of Northeast, and now our old Li family has produced a Northwest King! Glorious ancestors, glorious ancestors indeed!" Li Chenglong laughed heartily: "Our ancestors must be smiling in their graves. For over 200 years, who would have thought that the Li family would have a day to divide land and establish borders? Feng Er, Big Brother wants you to choose a auspicious location on your territory to rebuild the old Li family ancestral hall, to worship our ancestors and heaven!"

  "No problem, Uncle and Grandfather, you two can handle this matter. I'll just follow your instructions." Li Ruofeng smiled and nodded in response, "By the way, Uncle, why did Grandfather suddenly return to the country this time? He never mentioned it before!"

  "Your great uncle is now a big shot in the United States, and every move he makes is closely watched by multiple countries. He's been wanting to come back home for a look for a long time. For safety reasons, your great uncle returned to China this time with minimal entourage, without even notifying me beforehand. It wasn't until after he arrived in Shanghai that he contacted me." Li Chengxiao explained: "Over the past few years, your great uncle has also become more mature and cunning, turning into an old fox."

  "Uh, the safety of Master Li and his family must be taken seriously, especially beware of the Japanese who are secretly plotting behind our backs." Li Ruofeng said cautiously: "I reckon that Master Li's relationship with me has already been noticed by the Japanese, and also Fourth Uncle, now Four Tong Industrial Development Company is a well-known company in the country, I believe it has also caught the attention of the Japanese. Better safe than sorry, you two elders must be extra careful when going out from now on!"

  Li Chenglong waved his hand and said, "Feng, you don't have to worry about this. Our Li family has always been good at playing it cool, we're the descendants of a training camp that produced elite soldiers. After all these years, I'd say we've accumulated quite a bit of talent, not to mention our family's guard force. I think it won't be much weaker than Chiang Kai-shek's personal bodyguards."

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