Chapter Fifteen Family Meeting

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  Although the Four Tigers inadvertently ruined his good deed, Li Ruofeng's mood was still excellent. Although the wedding night was nominal, he had a taste of sweetness anyway.

  When people encounter happy events, they feel refreshed and energized, with a good mood, they naturally work more efficiently.

  After drinking tea with his new daughter-in-law, Li Ruofeng proposed to convene the "First Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of Lijia Fort".

  Li Jia's family members, except for Li Ruofeng's eldest brother Li Chenglong who was in the US and couldn't make it back, all other uncles, aunts and maternal grandfather Lin Shouren were present.

  What surprised the "directors" was that Lin Xiuer also attended this meeting, she was in the capacity of Li Ruofeng's important secretary, and made a record of the conference minutes.

  The meeting venue was set in the inner hall of Li's Fort, and no one else participated except for the attendees. For this meeting, the 36 most elite guards of Li's Fort were arranged in a tight formation around the hall, and without the summons of the patriarch, anyone who approached the hall would be authorized by Li Chengyi to be killed on the spot without hesitation.

  This team of guards is only responsible to the patriarch Li Chengyi, and even the Four Tigers and Biaozi are not selected. These people were selected from the strong ones trained in the previous "Ten Years Tree People Plan", except that everyone has a solid skill, they have all participated in the Li family's external battles many times, with rich combat experience.

  The meeting began with Li Ruofeng making a statement and report on his academic progress over the past few years to his elders.

  "Father, father-in-law, second uncle, fourth uncle, fifth uncle, elder sister, younger sister, unfilial son Feng, sincerely thanks to all the elders for their kindness. Without your support, I would not have had the opportunity to go to Japan and receive comprehensive and systematic training in modern military, economic and technological knowledge."

  Although I am in a foreign land and cannot listen to your teachings at all times, I am constantly urging myself on, not daring to relax in the slightest, because I am very clear that if I do not make progress in my studies and waste my time, failing to live up to your expectations of me, I will not only be a sinner of the Li family but also a sinner of our entire nation and people.

  "After seven years of hard work, I have finally achieved some success and now I am back. Here, I can responsibly tell all the elders, Japanese people, after a long period of conspiracy and preparation, the war machine has started to operate, at the latest by next October, they will launch their long-planned 'Manchurian Strategy', at that time, our family's foundation in Northeast China will inevitably be invaded by the Japanese pirates. The time left for us to prepare is not much, in order to defend our home and uphold our national dignity, here, I sincerely ask my dear elders and relatives, please agree to let the whole family enter a state of war ahead of schedule! Thank you everyone."

  Li Ruofeng finished speaking, and then bowed deeply to the people present, before returning to his seat next to his father, Li Chengyi, the current head of the Li family.

  "What does everyone think of Feng's proposal?" Li Chengyi's bright eyes slowly swept across the people present.

  "I represent the Church of Elders and agree with Feng Er's proposal." Second Uncle Li Chengxiao spoke up first.

  "The little devil isn't scary at all, I agree." Fifth Uncle Li Chengzhong said with a sly smile.

  "I personally, and also on behalf of Lao Da's family, support Feng Er." Fourth Uncle Li Cheng nodded in agreement.

  "Fighting is men's business, you'll know what to do." Big sister Li Fengying smiled at Li Ruofeng.

  "That's right, Sixth Sister is correct. We women are responsible for doing a good job on the home front." Little Aunt Li Feng said with a smile.

  It was Lin Shouren's turn, he first looked at Li Ruofeng with approval, then stood up and said resolutely: "The 1,568 cavalry of the Iron Rider Fort is the last dowry for Xiuer's marriage!"

  Lin Xiuer's face turned red upon hearing this, and she quickly lowered her head to continue with her records.

  Li Ruofeng first glanced at Lin Xiuer beside him, then stood up and bowed to Lin Shouren, saying sincerely: "Thank you, Father-in-law, for your kindness."

  Lin Shouren burst out laughing and said: "Feng Er, don't be polite to your father-in-law, hand over Xiuer to you, I trust your father-in-law very much."

  Li Chengyi coughed lightly, signaling everyone to quiet down, then said: "Alright, it's settled then. Fourth Brother, our family's external affairs are all your responsibility. Since four years ago, we've been implementing Feng'er's plan. Tell everyone about the business situation over these years."

  Li Chengxiao seemed to have been prepared early on and didn't need to look at any materials. He stood up, exchanged pleasantries with Lin Shouren, and then began to speak eloquently:

  "Our Li family has always adhered to the ancestral teachings, tightly guarding the foundation of Panlong Ridge. For many years, we have been more than sufficient in defending our achievements, but lacking in making progress. This situation only began to improve after Feng Er went to Japan for further studies. It was Feng Er who changed our old-fashioned way of thinking and proposed a new mindset that would make our entire family prosper. With this new guiding principle, we began to expand from our original stronghold in Heilongjiang Province to major cities across the country, as well as Germany, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union."

  Currently, our Li family's Four Tong Commercial Corporation has branches in 43 major domestic cities, including Changchun, Fengtian, Beiping, Tianjin, Zhangjiakou, Lanzhou, Xining, Dihua, Taiyuan, Xi'an, Jinan, Anqing, Wuhan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Nanning, Kunming, and Chengdu. The 28 types of goods we operate, including textiles, medicinal materials, machinery equipment, military supplies, daily necessities, etc., can bring in nearly 4 million taels of silver in profit for the family every year. So far, Feng'er's proposed reform plan has created a huge benefit of nearly 20 million taels of silver for our entire family. It should be noted that this only refers to our domestic industries and does not include foreign ones.

  It is precisely because of the economic support that our intelligence agency has been greatly developed. Up to now, our family already owns an intelligence network with 439 core members from the family and 3,758 peripheral personnel. I can responsibly say that any move of any domestic force is under the attention of our intelligence personnel.

  "Moreover, with the troops that Lin Dangjia has just promised us, we now have an armed force of nearly 5,000 men. Of course, this includes the personnel from both our internal and external training camps. I believe that with this armed force, we can severely strike at any local power that encroaches on our family's interests. Third Brother, that's all I have to say."

  Li Chengxiao sat down with a pleased expression after finishing speaking.

  Obviously, Lin Shouren was shocked by Li Chengxiang's introduction. He muttered to himself: "My dear, I didn't expect it...I didn't think..."

  "Fourth Uncle, I'd like to ask, the 5,000 guns you mentioned earlier, don't include those in your deal with the Northwestern Army, do they?" Li Ruofeng asked with a smile, looking at Li Chengye.

  "I knew you wouldn't be fooled." Li Chengxiao smiled cunningly and replied, "Ever since I told you about the Northwestern Army in Beiping, although you didn't ask at the time, Fourth Uncle inferred that you must have had some suspicions. Indeed, starting from 1938, I had private consultations with General Feng, and our Li family used 500,000 silver dollars to purchase a security regiment's quota in Chahar. Currently, that security regiment has absorbed around 6,000 former Northwestern Army soldiers. Your father is also aware of this matter."

  "Uh, this matter was discussed and agreed upon by Fourth Uncle and me." Li Chengyi took over the conversation and said: "This is what your fourth uncle and I decided on after the Northern Pass war temporarily stopped. Fourth Uncle, if I'm not mistaken, shouldn't this security team be led by Sun Zhen with twenty-four family members in charge?"

  "Yes, big brother, the entire security team from the travel department to the company and regiment level officers are all our people." Li Chengxiao nodded in response.

  "Father, you won't be placing Sun Zhen and the others in the Northwestern Army, will you?" Li Ruofeng asked with some surprise as soon as his father mentioned Sun Zhen.

  Sun Chen was one of the six attendants who followed Li Ruofeng to study in Japan. After graduating from the Japanese Army Officer School, Li Ruofeng arranged for Sun Chen and three other attendants to return home after the outbreak of the Northern Expedition Revolution at home. He also wrote a letter to his father, asking him to find a way to place these four people in the National Revolutionary Army of the Northern Expedition.

  Li Chengyi replied, "Since it's about leading troops, of course we should let those who know how to lead troops do so. Sun Zhen and the others were with you at the Japanese Army Officer School for three years, I think they are the best candidates. As for what you said earlier, at that time Feng Yuxiang's army was also responding to the Northern Expedition of the National Revolutionary Army. However, based on the idea of not putting all eggs in one basket, I only sent Sun Zhen and Zhuang Yu to the Security Regiment, while Zhao Zhenjie and Zhou Gang were still sent to Guangzhou according to your suggestion. Feng'er, you may not know that it's fortunate that your father didn't send them all to Guangzhou, otherwise, your calculations would have been in vain."

  "What's that, Father? You mean..." Li Ruofeng's heart tightened.

  "Zhao Zhenjie and Zhou Gang were both assigned to the Fourth Army of the National Revolutionary Army as upper captains, Zhao Zhenjie died in the Battle of Wuchang, and Zhou Gang died on the battlefield in Zhengzhou." Li Chengxiao replied on behalf of Li Chengyi.

  Li Ruofeng's heart ached upon hearing the words, and he couldn't help but clench his fist and heavily punch his own thigh. He said gloomily: "What a pity, what a pity... it was I who harmed them, I who harmed them..."

  "This is their fate, don't blame yourself too much, Wind. Once on the battlefield, bullets and shells don't discriminate. You also wanted to secure a good future for them, it's just that those two were born under an unlucky star!" Li Chengyi comforted.

  "Feng, why didn't Xu Zhengliang and Tang Xiangjun return with you this time?" Li Chengxiao seemed to suddenly remember something and asked: "Are you planning to leave them in Japan?"

  "No, I sent them back two years ago, but I didn't let them return to their family, instead I let them go to Jiangxi to join **'s troops." Li Ruofeng shook his head and replied.

  "Confused, confused, wind, how can you let them become red bandits?" Li Chengxu said with a pained expression, repeatedly slapping the armrest of his chair and stamping his foot.

  "Feng Er, is this arrangement of yours proper?" Li Chengyi also asked with a frown.

  "Dad, Fourth Uncle, if you two believe in me, then don't ask me why, okay?" Li Ruofeng said with his fists clenched.

  Yes, he can't believe his decision is right or not now. It's known that the Red Army will face five big encirclements from the Nationalist Army in a few years, and the battles will be more brutal than those during the Northern Expedition. Especially, the logistics of the Red Army are far worse than those of the National Revolutionary Army during the Northern Expedition. Zhao Zhenjie and Zhou Gang have already sacrificed themselves on the battlefield of the Northern Expedition, whether Xu Zhengliang and Tang Xiangjun can keep their lives in the future battles of the Red Army, only God knows.

  But anyway, this chess piece must be placed first, because only he knows who will be the final winner.

  Now he can only pray for Xu Zhengliang and Tang Xiangjun, and die too early in the domestic war.

  "It's just bandits, no big deal." Lin Shouren saw the atmosphere wasn't right and quickly spoke up to mediate, smiling nonchalantly: "Among us present, who isn't a bandit in the eyes of the National Government?"

  "Alright, alright. Since the wind has arranged it this way, there must be a reason for it. At least up until now, I haven't seen any of the plans proposed by the wind go awry." Fifth Uncle Li Chengzhong also spoke up to defend Li Ruofeng.

  "Brother Wu is right, I heard that the party and troops are supported by the Soviet Union, now the Soviet Red Army is much stronger than the old Russians back then. With the support of the Soviet Red Army, it's estimated that they won't be far off. I believe Feng Er has his reasons." Little sister Li Feng is a staunch supporter of Li Ruofeng.

  "Ah, people are like the wind, they go with the flow. Whatever happens, it's all part of the plan." Li Chengyi also seemed to understand and nodded, saying: "Feng Er, do you have other thoughts about that security team?"

  Li Ruofeng pondered for a moment, saying: "Since the Security Regiment is led by Sun Zhen and Zhuang Yu, I can basically rest assured of their daily training. What I don't know is how this local army's equipment is. I believe that Feng Yuxiang will definitely not provide military pay and equipment to this Security Regiment."

  Li Chengxiang switched his legs, and replied: "What Feng said is true, the military pay and equipment of the Security Regiment have to be taken care of by ourselves. According to Sun Zhen's suggestion, the lowest-ranking soldiers in this regiment now receive a monthly salary of five taels, and their daily food is basically guaranteed to include meat every day, with enough mantou (steamed buns). Therefore, all officers and men in the regiment are trained very hard, and the morale and military spirit of the troops are not comparable to those of ordinary units. In terms of equipment, I obtained a complete set of equipment for a German army division from a German firm in Shanghai, configured according to German army standards, with only slightly fewer heavy artillery pieces."

  "Fourth Uncle, if Chiang and Feng declare war, and Feng Yuxiang orders his troops to join the battle, what do you plan to do?" Li Ruofeng asked with a serious expression.

  Li Chengxiao was silent for a moment before responding, "As for the daily training of the security team, I had instructed Sun Zhen and the others to keep it confidential. Moreover, our garrison is located in an insignificant small county town, which is not part of the formal Northwest Army's organization, but rather just a local security team. In the eyes of the Northwest Army generals, we are merely a militia group with more personnel. Therefore, this has not drawn attention from the Northwest Army leaders. If General Feng truly orders the security team to head to the battlefield, I have only one solution - stall! Using excuses such as inadequate training and equipment, lack of combat effectiveness, and so on, I will try to find ways to placate them."

  "Uh, with the current situation, Feng Yuxiang is probably too busy to pay attention to a place like the Security Regiment. However, Fourth Uncle, we should also make early preparations." Li Ruofeng nodded lightly and said: "Fourth Uncle, please send a telegram to Sun Zhen as soon as possible, telling them to put away all the German equipment they have, and for daily training, try to use some of our country's old guns. By the way, Fourth Uncle, you mentioned earlier that we have another training camp in Guannei, is it referring to this Security Regiment's garrison?"

  "It can also be said that way." Li Chengxiao replied: "The security team is stationed in Kangbao County, although the environment there is relatively poor, but it's a good place to build a training camp. The training camp was built in the large desert near Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia, and the daily defense of the training camp was arranged by Sun Zhen, but the logistics supply was handled by Sichuan Commercial Corporation."

  "Sorry to trouble you, Fourth Uncle." Li Ruofeng said sincerely: "Fourth Uncle, in the days that follow, I'm afraid we'll still have to bother you with more matters."

  "Heh heh, Feng Er, our Li family has changed a lot over the years. Fourth Uncle is delighted, although it's been a bit tiring, but Fourth Uncle is happy and joyful. Since Fourth Uncle can still move around at his age, what good suggestions do you have? Just say it, Fourth Uncle will definitely make an effort to help."

  "Fourth Uncle, in recent years, the Fourth Tong Business Firm has mainly been engaged in the circulation and sale of goods. We haven't set up our own factory for production yet, have we?" Li Ruofeng asked with a smile.

  Li Chengxiu looked at Li Ruofeng deeply and said, "That's right, mainly focusing on buying and selling goods from various places. Some business colleagues have also suggested that I participate in some industrial manufacturing, but considering that I don't understand the technical aspects of these things, and secondly, I don't have experience in this area, so I haven't made up my mind yet. Feng, since you asked, are you planning to invest in industry?"

  Li Ruofeng's face showed a faint, profound smile as he replied evasively: "Given our country's situation, if we say we want to engage in practical industries to save the nation, it's simply an absurd fantasy. Of course, I don't have such noble sentiments either. Without a perfect industrial system, our country's economy will always be controlled by foreigners. It is precisely because of this factor that foreign powers strengthen their blockade on technology exports to our country, hoping that China will forever be a dumping ground for their goods. This is also the core reason why many domestic factories' products cannot compete with imported goods."

  I have no interest in those industries that do not have core technological advantages and competitiveness. However, I haven't wasted my time in Japan over the years. After exploring various options, I've managed to come up with a few things that don't exist abroad. From a technical perspective, these things are at least five years ahead of the most advanced technologies overseas.

  "What are they, what kind of thing?" Li Chengxiao asked with shining eyes and great interest.

  "There are pharmaceuticals and electronics." Li Ruofeng replied mysteriously, "Fourth Uncle, I've told you about these things now, but you won't understand them. So, if you have any connections, try to acquire a pharmaceutical factory and hospital as soon as possible. Also, acquire one or two garment factories and machinery manufacturing plants. Once your experts and scholars return, I'll explain the details to you."

  "You little stinker, isn't this what you've been wanting to hear from your fourth uncle?! Lee Cheng Xiao laughed and scolded: "Alright, I know you little guy never does anything without being sure of it. The few factories you just mentioned, as soon as I get back to Guannei, I'll take care of them. Third Brother, you shouldn't have any objections, right?"

  "It's up to you and Feng Er to decide on business matters." Li Chengyi replied with a wave of his hand.

  "Dad, Father-in-law, is there any way you two can get along with Ma Zhanshan?" Li Ruofeng asked, changing the subject and looking at his father and Taishan's old father-in-law.

  "Ma Zhan Shan? Ask your father-in-law about this, he'll definitely have a way." Li Chengyi replied with a smile.

  Lin Shouren nodded and replied, "Although I haven't had any dealings with Ma Zhan Shan, he has sent people to find me several times in the past two years. He wanted to recruit the few men under my command and promised to give us a cavalry regiment's quota, stationed in Nenjiang. However, since you didn't return, I just kept dragging it out without giving him an answer."

  "Great! Father-in-law, agree to it and we'll get the cavalry regiment's quota." Li Ruofeng excitedly waved his right hand and said: "With this cavalry regiment, I can openly and flagrantly train troops!"

  "Wind, you can go find Ma Zhan Shan yourself, this matter is entirely up to you." Lin Shouren smiled and looked at Lin Xiuer sitting next to Li Ruofeng: "Didn't I just say that the few people under your father-in-law are already Xiuer's dowry?"

  "The wind thanks Master Lin for his kindness." Li Ruofeng bowed again to Lin Shouren.

  "The wind is not as good as your family's Xiuer," Li Fengzhi joked with a smile.

  "Yes, Wind, you've married a good wife. Look, just yesterday she entered the bridal chamber, and today Lin Xiu'er is already helping you with things." Big Auntie Li Fengying also teased Lin Xiu'er, who was lowering her head, her neck even turning red.

  Everyone present burst out laughing at Lin Xiuer's little girl's shy demeanor.

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