Chapter 5 Domestic Situation

  Li Ruofeng woke up to find that it was already dark outside. He asked Biaozi and Sihutou, only to learn that his fourth uncle had returned a long time ago, the wine and dishes were all ready, just waiting for him to sit down at the table.

  Li Ruofeng rubbed his face hard, changed into a black school uniform from his luggage, and followed Biaozi and Sihutou to the fourth inner courtyard where Fourth Uncle lived.

  Li Chengxiao, a stout man in his late forties, looked nothing like a middle-aged scholar nearing fifty. His good grooming made him look more like a middle-aged scholar, without the slightest hint of mercantile air about him that was common among ordinary businessmen.

  Li Ruofeng remembered the last time he saw his fourth uncle, it was four years ago when his fourth uncle came to Nagasaki Port on business and made a special trip to Tokyo to visit him, the only descendant of the old Li family. It was also during that time that Li Ruofeng first learned that his father had already chosen a wife for him, and he would get married after completing his studies and returning home, so as to soon have children and continue the legacy of the old Li family.

  The uncle and nephew met again, and they couldn't help but exchange some sighs of regret and ask each other about their well-being.

  After having enough wine and food, the uncle and nephew entered the study room and had a long conversation behind closed doors.

  "Fourth Uncle, the reason I didn't return to Fengtian directly this time, but instead came to you, is that I didn't want to get married as soon as I returned home. You should know, sir, that after the Huanggutun incident broke out, the entire Northeast will soon face a full-scale invasion by the Japanese pirates, and the country will be destroyed. How can I still think about romantic love?"

  "Son, this is not a matter of war, the Northeast Army and the National Government have their own concerns. All these years, you've let your family make arrangements for you, and as elders, we've listened to your opinions. But when it comes to marriage, you must listen to your father's arrangements. As the saying goes, 'there are three unfilial things, and having no descendants is the worst.' According to your fourth uncle and me, four years ago, you should have been brought back home, who knows, now you might already have a few children with your wife. You've spent many years studying abroad, which is not bad, but no matter how much you study, the important task of carrying on the Li family legacy cannot be delayed!" Li Chengxu said with a heavy heart, gently patting Li Ruofeng's hand.

  Li Ruofeng was extremely depressed in his heart, he also knew that in this feudal clan family, the marriage would definitely not be decided by himself, and this time he returned to China first to Beijing, also wanted to probe from his fourth uncle's mouth.

  "Fourth Uncle, is this matter really non-negotiable?"

  "No room for negotiation!" Li Chengxiao scolded with a smile: "You little brat, don't think you can get away with it and still show off. Xiuer is a girl who has both talent and looks, and we have several uncles and your parents to vouch for her, so the wife they chose for you won't be bad, will she?"

  "Alas, it seems I'm doomed this time!" Li Ruofeng's face was bitter, and he didn't plan to waste any more words on the topic. "By the way, Fourth Uncle, how have Big Brother and his wife been doing in America these past two years?"

  "It goes without saying that the children of our Li family can make a name for themselves wherever they go." Li Chengxu smiled with a hint of pride: "In those days, when we first set out together, your elder brother took away sixty of them. At first, they suffered some losses due to unfamiliarity with the place, but after getting in touch with the people from Zhigongtang Hongmen, things went smoothly. According to the plan you had me bring back last time in Tokyo, we've already transformed our family's accumulated wealth over generations into steel companies, machinery companies, ocean transportation companies, and munitions manufacturing companies in America. As for what remains domestically, it's mostly real estate. Feng'er, I have two words for your judgment back then: admiration! Your fourth uncle has been doing business for so many years, but he never thought that making money could be like this - it's almost like robbery, and yet it's done with a clear conscience."

  "Now that this step has been taken care of, I can rest assured. In the future, when our Li family immigrates over there, we will also have a foundation for settling down and making a living."

  "Wind, will the Japanese really occupy the entire Northeast?"

  "Affected by the global economic storm, Japan's domestic economy has been getting worse over the past two years and has reached a critical point where it must be alleviated through war. Our country is like a child guarding a mountain of gold, but there is a greedy and ferocious neighbor who relies on plundering to make a living. With such a big piece of fat in front of them, who wouldn't want to take a bite? Little Japan not only wants to plot against the three northeastern provinces, they also want to occupy the whole of China, the whole of Asia, and the whole world."

  "Hmph! They must have a stomach for it too, I really don't believe this snake-swallowing story."

  "Fourth Uncle, you really shouldn't underestimate it. Back then, the Qing dynasty's 100,000 iron cavalry was enough to swallow up the entire Ming dynasty." Li Ruofeng said with a bitter smile: "Our current National Government is only worse than the Ming dynasty under Zhu Youjian's rule, and now Japan's national power and strength are far stronger than the Qing dynasty's 100,000 iron cavalry back then."

  "Alas! What you said is right. Ever since Sun Da Gun started a revolution and destroyed the Qing Dynasty, there has been no end to the flames of war on this land. The Northern Expedition has just ended, and now President Chiang will probably have to fight against the Feng clique, Yan clique, and Gui clique warlords again."

  "Fourth Uncle, you're really something! I didn't expect that you would have such a good grasp of the domestic situation!" Li Ruofeng said with a teasing smile.

  "Smelly kid, don't compare with your Fourth Uncle!" Li Chengxiao gently patted Li Ruofeng's head. "Your Fourth Uncle has been traveling the world for nearly half a lifetime, and the number of bridges he's crossed is more than the roads you've taken, little kid. However, I must say that my grasp of the situation over the years has also benefited from the plans and programs you've brought back home one after another. A person who stands tall can naturally see farther."

  "Fourth Uncle, your judgment is not wrong at all. Based on my analysis of the domestic situation in Japan, the Chiang-led Central Army and the Feng-led Northwestern Army, Yan's Shanxi Army, and Li Dequan and Bai Chongxi's Guangxi Army will definitely have a fierce battle to decide who will rule China today."

  "Wind, you say, if they really start fighting, with our old Li family's current strength, is it possible for us to join in and take a piece of the action?" Li Chengxi asked solemnly.

  Li Ruofeng gazed deeply at Li Chengxiu and instead of answering, asked: "Fourth Uncle, how many guns do we have in our household now?"

  "When it comes to soldiers, they all eat food and take pay. If something really happens, with the current financial resources of our Li family, we can at least support one million soldiers and horses. And our greatest advantage is that your uncle can continuously provide us with guns, cannons, and ammunition from the United States."

  "Where is the banner being pulled? Under what name are you recruiting troops? The three eastern provinces don't need to be considered!"

  "These years I have had contact with Feng Da Shuai, and not infrequently helped him with food and supplies. If we find an opportunity to show him the trump card of your uncle, I am confident that Feng Da Shuai will be willing to form an alliance with us. The northwest has always been known for its fierce folk customs, and the combat strength of the northwest army is very strong, only their equipment is too poor, but we can just make up for this shortcoming. Once we form an alliance with Feng Da Shuai, we will have a solid political foundation. And among the provinces currently controlled by the northwest army, any one of them would be enough to bring glory and prosperity to our Li family for generations to come."

  With Li Chengxiao's mention of this, Li Ruofeng's mind turned rapidly, and he began to weigh the pros and cons in his head.

  Based on his understanding of the Central Plains War from his past life, Feng Yuxiang, Yan Bichuan and Li Dian's military groups will start gathering in late March this year and deploy in early April.

  With the current strength of nearly 260,000 troops in the Northwest Army, if Yan Baichuan had not betrayed later, the Northwest Army should not have ended up being defeated and reorganized by Chiang Kai-shek.

  This war, which has invested the most troops since the founding of the Republic of China, although Chiang Kai-shek's Central Army laughed last, but if we look at it purely from a military perspective, there is still a chance to intervene now.

  However, the military serves politics. If helping the Northwest Army defeat the Central Army and letting Feng Yuxiang take power, relying on Feng Yuxiang's pro-communist political arena, plus his idiotic political talent, oh my god! The following history would be completely messed up.

  Impulsiveness is the devil! Calm down, calm down, must be damn calm!

  Li Ruofeng was secretly hypnotizing himself in his heart. Li Chengxiu's proposal was simply too tempting.

  It's definitely not possible to change the course of history, otherwise, the advantage he grasped would become worthless. However, by establishing connections with Old Feng and then with Sun Lianzhong, Ji Hongchang, Fu Zuoyi, Pang Bingxun, and Song Zheyuan's troops, thereby influencing their units and enhancing their combat effectiveness, it seems not bad for the future overall war of resistance either!

  But since then, the site that Fourth Uncle had hoped would belong to the Li family was out of the question, which didn't conform to the interests of the old Li family.

  This muddy water is hard to distinguish!

  Of course, there is a bigger reason why he dare not make up his mind. Li Ruofeng has never thought of joining the domestic strife, otherwise, he can completely run back from Japan before the start of the Northern Expedition and mix into the Huangpu faction.

  With his Japanese military background, getting into Huangpu's third or fourth class wouldn't be a problem at all. The issue is that bullets don't have eyes, and he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't die gloriously in the intense battles of the Northern Expedition. You see, back then, the soldiers of the Northern Expedition were all vanguards, charging into battle on the front lines. If he died pointlessly in the warlord's chaotic battles, it would be a huge loss for him.

  After some deliberation, Li Ruofeng made up his mind and asked Li Chengxiao, "Fourth Uncle, if we form an alliance with General Feng and he suffers a defeat like last year at the hands of Chiang Kai-shek, what will become of us?"

  Li Chengxun replied with a question: "How can the combined forces of the Northwest Army, Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and Guangxi Army possibly fail to defeat the Central Army?"

  Li Ruofeng smiled calmly and said, "What makes you think that this three-party alliance is solid and reliable? Even Shi You San, Han Fu Qu, Ma Hong Kui and other northwest military leaders may betray General Feng. Who can guarantee that Yan Bai Chuan and Li De Lin won't sell out General Feng? So-called alliances are all based on interests. In the face of sufficient benefits, all agreements are nothing but scraps of paper that can be torn up at any time."

  "Your meaning is that Director Chiang might be able to defeat them one by one?"

  "Chiang Kai-shek and Yan Baichuan are typical politicians who can turn their hands into clouds and cover them with rain, and they can change their faces faster than flipping through a book. They only care about gaining benefits and do not know what justice and dignity mean. General Feng was once betrayed by Yan Baichuan, and he himself had also betrayed Li Dequan before. However, in order to pull Chiang Kai-shek down from his horse, he dared to form an alliance with Yan Baichuan and Li Dequan again, which is like plotting with a tiger for its skin. Given his eagerness to turn the tables and take revenge on Chiang Kai-shek, it's clear that 'haste makes waste'. This time, the Northwestern Army will be in trouble!" Li Ruofeng sighed.

  Li Chengxu lifted his right hand to stroke the neatly trimmed eight-character beard on his lips, closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them to nod: "Makes sense, Feng. It seems that this matter still needs careful consideration."

  "Fourth Uncle, since you have had dealings with the Northwestern Army, my suggestion is that we can continue and even appropriately increase our investment, but we must grasp a principle: we can make friends, but we cannot form an alliance."

  Li Chengxu nodded deeply as if he had suddenly realized something, and then changed the subject, asking: "Feng Er, I heard from Si Hu that you seem to be targeted by both the Japanese and the National Government?"

  "Hmm! In the past two years, the Japanese have repeatedly tried to win me over to do things for them, so they've been keeping an eye on me. This time returning home was also quite troublesome. Based on my understanding of them, I estimate that they will definitely create some trouble for me. As for the people from Zhongtong, in the short term, they won't take any action. Once I return to Panshan Ridge, whether it's the Japanese or the National Government, if they want to grasp my whereabouts, I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

  "But for safety's sake, it's best to cut off the tail as soon as possible and take precautions beforehand."

  "No, Fourth Uncle, I don't want to stir up trouble for now."

  "Does your family know about your return to China?"

  "This time I came back without telling anyone, and you shouldn't inform my family either. Since my father has already arranged a marriage for me, as his son, I can only follow his wishes. Thinking about how many years I haven't been able to take care of my parents, what reason do I have to refuse?"

  "Heh heh, as long as you understand, it's fine. If not, anyway, in two days there will be a batch of goods to be cleared, and Fourth Uncle will return to Panlong Ridge with you this time. Your marriage is a big deal for our old Li family, so we must make grand arrangements."

  Li Ruofeng nodded silently, he also understood now. If they could take this opportunity to gather everyone in the family together, it would be more convenient for them to make systematic preparations for what's next. After all, there were many things that he had been controlling from behind the scenes over the years, and he wasn't very clear about many details. It was necessary to have an integration once.