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

Gu Cheng addressed the troops loudly: "Brothers, today is the day for our 11th Mixed Brigade to select officers. This question was jointly reviewed by the General Staff, and I have also seen it. It is the first hurdle in our selection process."

Of course, the reason you're all standing here today is because you were recommended by your superiors at all levels; you are the young talents of our 11th Mixed Brigade.

After these words were spoken, the team fell silent, but some straightened their backs, while others clenched their fists with anticipation.

Then Gu Cheng said loudly, "Therefore, I plan to select thirty more people from among you through an examination to enter the first term of the Jinzhou Military Academy."

Today is the written exam. Only those who pass this stage are eligible to proceed to the next round—the practical skills test. Those who pass will enter the military academy; those who fail will go home and practice hard, and try again next time.

He stepped aside, making way for the doors to the row of old classrooms behind him.

"Alright, go in. Answer the questions seriously."

More than a hundred young soldiers filed in, their footsteps creating a dull thud on the bluestone pavement.

Some people walked briskly, some walked heavily, and some took a deep breath as they entered, as if to encourage themselves.

The exam was to be held at Jinzhou Middle School. Gu Cheng contacted the principal and arranged for three classrooms to be used as exam rooms.

The exam papers were printed with old-fashioned ink. Gao Tianqi and Shen Yi set the questions, carved the printing plates, and printed them overnight... The entire classroom was clean and tidy, and you could smell a strong ink smell as soon as you entered.

The soldiers sat down in order, backs straight, eyes fixed on the exam papers in front of them. Some frowned slightly, while others remained calm.

The proctors were all teachers from the school, with two proctors assigned to each exam room to monitor for cheating, whispering, and other irregularities.

In addition, Gu Cheng transferred a squad from his own guard company, fully armed, to guard the area around the examination site to prevent anyone from causing trouble.

Gu Cheng was still a little worried, so he didn't rush back to the brigade headquarters. Instead, he and Gao Tianqi inspected the three examination rooms.

"Jingchuan, do you think this will work?"

Gao Tianqi followed beside him and whispered, "These days, not many people can read. I think today's questions are too difficult."

Gu Cheng didn't speak, but looked through the classroom window at a young soldier in the front row of the classroom.

The person was holding a pencil, his brows furrowed, staring blankly at the exam paper, his lips moving slightly as if he were reciting the questions.

The person next to him was writing very quickly, the pen tip gliding across the paper with a soft scratching sound.

Occasionally, a breeze would slip in through the cracks in the window, ruffling the exam paper in front of him. He would reach out and press down the corner of the paper, his eyes never leaving it.

"Look who that person is?" Gu Cheng tilted his head, gesturing for Gao Tianqi to look out the window. "I feel like I've seen him somewhere before?"

Gao Tianqi leaned closer, followed his gaze, squinted to make a careful look, and then suddenly realized: "Oh, him—this is Zhou Demao, the nephew of our staff officer Shen Yi."

Gu Cheng suddenly remembered: "Now that you mention it, I remember... He was dismissed from his post after the construction site was attacked and caught fire."

Gao Tianqi lowered his voice and said, "Not only that, Jingchuan, do you remember? That kid used to be so arrogant, acting like a supervisor on the construction site, he was just short of whipping people."

As he said this, Gu Cheng stared at him with a stern face:

The man was writing on the back of the exam paper, his pen not slowing down at all, as if these questions were no obstacle for him at all.

These are not the biggest problems. What he wants to know now is how someone who has been dismissed managed to get into the list of more than a hundred people.

"They've all been dismissed, so why is he, someone who was dismissed, taking the exam again? How was the list arranged?"

Gu Cheng turned around, his tone not questioning, but Gao Tianqi sounded flustered: "This... the list was submitted from all levels, the candidates recommended by each battalion and company were compiled and sent to the regimental headquarters, Cai Changyuan went through it once, and then Deputy Brigade Commander Ji also looked at it... I only checked it last."

He suddenly realized something, and his voice lowered even further, "Zhou Demao's name is indeed on the list. I thought he had already completed the procedures, so I didn't ask any further questions."

Gu Cheng glared at him: "Tianqi, we're brothers, you have to tell me the truth. Did Shen Yi pull strings with you?"

Gao Tianqi's face paled, and he quickly waved his hands: "Jingchuan, you're really wronging me! I didn't check the list in detail, but I didn't discuss it with Shen Yi, much less help him in any way! When the list was submitted, I checked that the number of people matched, and then..."

As he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, and he realized that his words were untenable and he couldn't continue.

Gu Cheng didn't ask any further questions, but simply looked away and then at the figure in the classroom who was writing furiously.

Zhou Demao was clearly unaware that someone was watching him outside the window. He was so engrossed in writing that he would occasionally stop to turn a page of the paper, his movements so swift and efficient that they seemed almost unbelievable.

"We'll talk about the list when we get back. Let's take the exam first. Once the results are out, everything will be clear."

As Gu Cheng was speaking, Li Yiming, the squad leader of today's guard duty, rushed over, stood at attention, and saluted: "Master Gu, a few soldiers have come to the school gate, saying they want to see you. They're making quite a fuss; the brothers are trying to stop them from entering, but they're blocking the gate and refusing to leave."

Gu Cheng frowned slightly, but before he could speak, Gao Tianqi spoke up first: "What's going on? Who are they? Tell them to leave, or they'll be put in solitary confinement when they get back."

Gu Cheng waved his hand and said, "Let's go take a look."

He strode toward the school gate, Gao Tianqi quickly followed, and Li Yiming led the way. The three of them crossed the playground, went around the row of old trees, and saw a small group of people gathered at the school gate in the distance.

Several guards were stopping five or six soldiers. They were all wearing old military uniforms, covered in dust, as if they had just come from a construction site. Their faces were sweaty, and their expressions showed a stubbornness that was not willing to accept defeat, as well as a bit of hesitation.

Upon seeing Gu Cheng arrive, the guards stepped aside.

The soldiers were startled, and the leader was visibly taken aback, as if he hadn't expected anything. He instinctively took a half step back and lowered his head, intending to leave.

Gu Cheng recognized his face—Li Dazhu.

The former platoon leader guarding the city gate, someone I met when I first arrived in Jinzhou and was checking the guards at the west gate.

Later, when the camp started construction, he was transferred to the construction site to work shifts. He worked diligently and never made any mistakes.

"Stop!" Gu Cheng said, causing the soldiers to halt simultaneously.

Li Dazhu stood at the front, head down, his hands unconsciously clenching the seams of his pants, like a child caught red-handed doing something wrong.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, as if something was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

Gu Cheng walked up to him, looked at his tanned face, and said calmly, "Li Dazhu, why aren't you working on the construction site? What are you doing here causing trouble?"

Li Dazhu raised his head, and after a long pause, he managed to stammer, "Master Gu, you...you're selecting people for what? It's not like we're illiterate. We've been working diligently since our first day in the army. So why weren't we selected? Are we really not good enough?"