Republic of China, 1922: Rise from the Post-Zhili-Fengtian War

"Go, invite Master Chen to the main hall." He straightened his clothes, turned and walked towards the main hall. "Have Zhou Ran prepare tea, the best tea. Also, take five hundred silver dollars from the account, wrap them up, I want to thank you in person."

The butler responded and left.

Gu Cheng strode into the main hall and sat down in the main seat. A short while later, Chen Yongnian followed Yang Song into the main hall.

He bowed deeply upon entering: "Commander Gu."

Gu Cheng stood up, took two steps forward, reached out and grasped his wrist, leading him to the guest seat: "Master Chen, please sit down."

Chen Yongnian was somewhat flustered by his attitude and repeatedly said "I dare not accept such praise" before Gu Cheng pressed his shoulder and made him sit down.

Yang Song brought in a tea tray and poured a cup for each of them.

The tea was brought to Jinzhou by Feng Delin to entertain distinguished guests, and it came in handy today.

"Master Chen, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting at the gate for so long..." Gu Cheng picked up his teacup and raised it to Chen Yongnian. "Miss Wang is the apple of Min Gong's eye. By saving her, you have saved half of Jinzhou City. This cup is a toast to you on behalf of Min Gong."

Chen Yongnian hurriedly picked up the teacup, his hands trembling slightly, whether from nervousness or excitement, it was hard to tell.

He took a sip of tea and set down the cup. "Commander Gu, you flatter me. Miss Wang has always been very kind to everyone in our theater. We can't ignore her when she needs help. It's our duty. I don't deserve such a big gesture from you, Commander Gu!"

Gu Cheng's gaze lingered on Chen Yongnian's face for a moment: This man speaks honestly, neither servile nor arrogant, neither seeking credit nor playing the victim; he is a rare and upright person.

"Master Chen, I will report to Lord Min truthfully about your saving Miss Wang." Gu Cheng then winked at Zhou Ran beside him. "Lord Min will naturally show his appreciation. I'd like to thank you for your kindness in advance."

The butler took out a silver dollar wrapped in red cloth and presented it to him with both hands.

Chen Yongnian was stunned, and quickly waved his hand: "Commander Gu, this is unacceptable! It was just a small favor, how could we accept such a large gift—"

"Master Chen," Gu Cheng interrupted him, "you saved Wang Yongjiang's daughter. The five hundred silver dollars are not for you, but for the brothers in your theater to calm their nerves."

Besides, your theater might be unable to open for a while, and the staff's wages can't be stopped; all of this costs money. Please accept this; don't refuse.

Chen Yongnian opened his mouth, but looking into Gu Cheng's uncompromising eyes, he finally did not refuse. He stood up and bowed deeply: "Then... on behalf of all the brothers in the theater, I thank Commander Gu for his reward."

Gu Cheng nodded, gestured for him to sit down, then picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly put it down.

"Master Chen, there's something I'd like to ask you."

Chen Yongnian sat up straight: "Commander Gu, please speak."

"On your way back to Miss Wang, did you notice anything unusual? For example—was someone following them?"

Chen Yongnian thought about it carefully and shook his head: "No. I was afraid that group of people would catch up, so I deliberately took a long detour and went through alleys. I didn't hear any noise or see anyone along the way."

Gu Cheng remained silent for a moment, then nodded and did not ask any further questions.

"Master Chen, the theater will be closed for the next two days. I'll send someone to keep an eye on it to prevent those people from causing trouble. We'll reopen once everything is settled."

Chen Yongnian quickly bowed: "Thank you for your consideration, Commander Gu."

Gu Cheng stood up, walked up to Chen Yongnian, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Master Chen, you are an honest and courageous man. From now on, if you need anything in Jinzhou, feel free to come to me."

Chen Yongnian's eyes were a little red. He bowed repeatedly and followed the butler out of the main hall.

Gu Cheng watched Chen Yongnian's figure disappear outside the courtyard gate. The moonlight illuminated the courtyard, and the shadow of the pomegranate tree fell on the bluestone path, creating dappled patterns.

He took a cigarette out of his pocket, lit it, and slowly smoked it.

It still has that familiar sweetness.

Zhang Tingshu walked over from the corridor and stopped beside him, lowering his voice: "Jingchuan, everything is arranged. The hiding place in the north of the city is completely surrounded. We're just waiting for your word."

Gu Cheng exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze darkening.

"Let's close the net."

Zhang Tingshu nodded and disappeared outside the courtyard gate in an instant.

…………

A dilapidated temple in the north of the city.

As an intelligence agent for the South Manchuria Railway Company, Harukami Hiromi naturally wouldn't sit idly by and wait for her fate.

When Zhang Tingshu and his men crept up silently, she was in a side room behind the temple, deep in thought, looking at a map.

Almost at the same instant, a muffled gunshot rang out from outside the temple, followed by shouts—not in Chinese, but in Japanese.

Her men were issuing a warning.

"Miss Haruka, we're surrounded!" A man in black burst through the door. Before he could finish speaking, a bullet pierced the window and struck him squarely in the shoulder. He groaned, staggered, and crashed into the wall, blood streaming down his arm.

Haruka Yumi didn't look at him; she had already flipped over and jumped to the window, listening intently.

There were at least several dozen people outside, their footsteps closing in from all directions, like a tightening net.

A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips—Gu Cheng, you're quick on your feet!

"Can you still move?" she asked the injured man in black in a low voice.

"Yes." The man gritted his teeth and drew the gun from his waist with his left hand.

"Hold the front gate, hold out for as long as you can." Haruka Hiromi drew her Nambu pistol from her waist and picked up a Type 100 submachine gun from the corner of the wall—

This was her trump card, which she had kept hidden for many days. It was secretly transported from Dalian Port by the South Manchuria Railway Company, but she had never had the chance to use it.

Today, the time has come.

Outside the temple, Zhang Tingshu stood under an old locust tree, holding a torch and shouting towards the dilapidated temple: "Listen up, you inside! You're surrounded! Lay down your weapons and surrender! Master Gu said that as long as you're alive, everything else is negotiable!"

He was met with a burst of bullets.

The bullets struck the tree trunk, sending wood chips flying. The soldier next to Zhang Tingxu tackled him to the ground, and the two rolled behind a embankment.

Zhang Tingxu spat out the mud in his mouth and cursed, "Damn it, these little devils won't listen to reason!" He raised his hand and shouted, "Beat them!"

Gunshots rang out suddenly.

Dozens of rifles fired simultaneously, bullets raining down on the walls of the dilapidated temple, riddling the mud walls with holes and sending dust flying.

The men in black inside the temple held their positions at the doors and windows, putting up a fierce counterattack, but their firepower was clearly suppressed.

Haruka Yumi did not go to Qianmen.

She shouldered the submachine gun, kicked open the back window, and leaped out.

Behind the window was a narrow alley, where two soldiers were guarding the entrance. When they saw someone come out, they raised their hands to fire.

As Haruka Yumi landed, she rolled, and a submachine gun swept across the area. Bullets drew a line of fire in the night sky, and two soldiers fell to the ground. One clutched his leg and screamed in pain, while the other fell silent.

She didn't linger; she flipped over the low wall and ran wildly toward the woods behind the temple.