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

Zhao Dehou suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide, and after a long pause, he managed to squeeze out, "Commander Gu, you...you're telling the truth?"

Gu Cheng nodded: "I, Gu Jingchuan, am the garrison commander of Jinzhou. How could I go back on my word? Alright, I've emphasized this again today. Now go back and get to work... If anyone mentions layoffs again, just relay what I said today to them!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dehou beamed with joy, stood up, and saluted Gu Cheng: "With Commander Gu saying that, we can finally rest assured. With a commander like you, we're determined to do our best!"

After saying that, he added, "I'm going to work," and then headed towards the construction site.

Gu Cheng, a cigarette dangling from his lips, looked exceptionally thin in the sunlight, yet his steps were much lighter than when he arrived, and he limped away into the crowd.

Gu Cheng's smile gradually faded. He turned around, looked at Mu Haisheng, and his gaze darkened: "Old Mu."

Mu Haisheng quickly stepped forward and stood at attention: "Your subordinate is here."

"The rules were clearly set before; no one would be expelled. Who gave the brothers the wrong message?"

Mu Haisheng's face stiffened. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, and after a long while, he finally said, "This... these were actually said by Commander Cai. I was just relaying the message."

Gu Cheng looked at him, his gaze darkening: "Tell me the truth."

Seeing his boss's expression, Mu Haisheng lowered his head and dared not utter a sound.

Gu Cheng and Zhang Tingshu exchanged a glance.

Zhang Tingshu shook his head slightly, indicating that he didn't know either.

"Yang Song." Gu Cheng didn't look at Mu Haisheng again, and called out to the person behind him.

Yang Song quickly ran up and stood at attention: "Present!"

"Go and call Cai Changyuan here. Tell him I have something to ask him."

"Yes!" Yang Song turned and left, his steps as fast as the wind, disappearing into the crowd at the construction site in the blink of an eye.

Mu Haisheng stood there, looking a little guilty and a little aggrieved.

Gu Cheng didn't urge him. He just leaned against the locust tree, smoking one cigarette after another, his gaze fixed on the busy figures on the foundation, as if he were watching something that had nothing to do with him.

As the smoke cleared, Mu Haisheng finally couldn't hold back any longer. His voice was so low it was almost inaudible, as if squeezed out from his throat: "Master Gu, I... I was thinking that there are some scoundrels in this unit who don't obey orders, are unruly, and have corrupted the new recruits. I... I said that anyone who smokes, drinks, and plays around with women should get out."

After he finished speaking, he raised his head and glanced quickly at Gu Cheng, then lowered it again, like a child who had done something wrong waiting to be scolded.

Gu Cheng stubbed out his cigarette at his feet, flicked it into a nearby mound of dirt, and looked calmly at Mu Haisheng: "That's all?"

Mu Haisheng quickly nodded: "I dare not say anything else!"

..............................

Cai Changyuan arrived very quickly.

He and Mu Haisheng work in separate shifts. These past few days, Mu Haisheng has been overseeing the construction site during the day, while he works the second shift from afternoon to night. Right now, he is resting in the workers' shed.

He ran over, dressed neatly, first saluting Gu Cheng and Zhang Tingshu, then glancing at Mu Haisheng who stood silently to the side, before asking, "Mr. Gu, you wanted to see me?"

Gu Cheng didn't stand on ceremony. He leaned against the locust tree, looked at him intently, and recounted what had just happened with Zhao Dehou.

After listening, Cai Changyuan frowned and remained silent for a moment. Instead of admitting his mistake, he straightened his back and spoke in a steady voice with a hint of self-righteousness.

"Master Gu, since you've asked, I'll be frank." His gaze was open. "I've discussed it with Old Mu, and there's really no need to keep those old, disobedient, smoking, drinking, and womanizing guys in the team."

They occupy positions with official ranks and receive a salary, but they're useless in battle and put on airs while working. Keeping them in the army will only cause trouble for the brothers and corrupt the new recruits. The purpose of reorganizing the army is to get rid of these people; we cannot be lenient with them.

Mu Haisheng nodded repeatedly, as if he had found a powerful backer.

Gu Cheng stared at Cai Changyuan for a long time, his gaze shifting between light and shadow.

"Womanly compassion?" He repeated those four words. "Huisheng, you're the deputy brigade commander, and you're in charge of the army reorganization, so I won't ask you. But I'm asking you—Ji Jinchun is in charge of everything on this reorganization side, and he hasn't reported anything yet. What are you saying? What do you think? What do you believe?"

Cai Changyuan opened his mouth as if to say something, but Gu Cheng stopped him by raising his hand.

Gu Cheng took a step forward, staring intently into his eyes: "Those who need to be laid off, I, Gu Cheng, will not hesitate. When I executed those seventeen thugs, Tang Zongxi, I didn't even blink. But you've also seen how many honest people like Zhao Dehou are there on the construction site?"

They've fought half their lives, their bodies covered in wounds, never complaining or showing signs of fatigue, just burying themselves in their work. To lay off people like that would be to break the spirit of the team!

Faced with the reprimand, Cai Changyuan lowered his head and remained silent.

Mu Haisheng stood to the side, not daring to breathe.

Gu Cheng stubbed out his cigarette at his feet and flicked it into a nearby mound of earth. He straightened his clothes, leaned against the locust tree, crossed his arms, and glanced at the two men.

"Even if you two have your own ideas, how can you act on your own? These thugs will cause me trouble. You two discussed it behind my back without consulting me or Ting Shu, and then you did it all by your own. Do you think that won't cause trouble?" His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a knife. "Huisheng, you're the deputy brigade commander, and Lao Mu is the regimental commander. Can the two of you together make decisions for me?"

Cai Changyuan's face paled, and he immediately stood at attention: "This subordinate wouldn't dare!"

"You wouldn't dare?" Gu Cheng sneered. "You wouldn't dare, but you dare spread rumors behind people's backs? An honest man like Zhao Dehou was so scared by your words that he couldn't sleep for days and nights. Is this the result you wanted?"

Cai Changyuan and Mu Haisheng both lowered their heads, neither daring to speak.

Gu Cheng stared at them for a while, then his tone softened: "Reorganizing the army means reorganizing the structure and discipline, not the people. Those who can fight will stay, and those who can't will be transferred to logistics. As long as they are willing to work and follow the rules, I, Gu Cheng, will support them."

These are the rules, and they're set in stone. Anyone who thinks these people don't deserve to stay can come find me. You two, just do your jobs.

Cai Changyuan raised his head, his lips trembling slightly: "Master Gu, I... I was also worried that leaving too many idle people in the ranks would affect the progress of the army's reorganization."

"An idle person?" Gu Cheng looked at him. "Zhao Dehou is carrying bricks and mixing mortar on the construction site; he's doing the work of two young men. Is he an idle person? Those veterans, when they can no longer hold their guns, go to guard the warehouse, watch the material yard, and handle logistics. They're not idle; they're useful people. If you drive them away, who will do the work? You?"

Cai Changyuan was speechless, lowered his head, and dared not utter another word.

"Alright, that's enough about this. You two go back and relay the reorganization plan again. Explain it clearly point by point, don't think it's too much trouble. If anyone spreads rumors or causes trouble again, I'll hold you accountable."

Cai Changyuan and Mu Haisheng simultaneously stood at attention and saluted: "Yes, sir!"