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

The round mahogany table in the center was laden with various dishes and fine wines. The three men sat down, and Zhang Xueliang poured wine for the two men first, then placed a piece of meat on Feng Yong's plate: "Knowing you two were coming, I ordered this from Jufenglou... Try this first, see if it still tastes the same as it did back then?"

Then he put a piece of braised pork knuckle on Gu Cheng's plate. Feng Yong smiled and took a bite: "It's amazing! It tastes just like it did back then... I still remember when we were at the Military Academy, we would always go there during long holidays."

When the military academy was mentioned, Zhang Xueliang's expression visibly darkened.

Feng Yong put down his chopsticks: "What's wrong, Hanqing? You were so happy just now, why are you unhappy now that we're talking about the Military Academy?"

Zhang Xueliang clenched his fist, the light in his eyes gradually dimmed, leaving only an unconcealable bitterness and sorrow.

"Old Chu... Chu Yuheng, do you still remember him?" As he spoke, it sounded like something was blocking his throat.

Feng Yong was momentarily lost in thought, his chopsticks clattering against the porcelain plate, and his smile vanished almost entirely: "How could I not remember? And there's also Teapot Hedgehog... We were in the same class, we'd do morning exercises and training together before dawn, and study tactics lessons together."

As the two chatted back and forth, reminiscing about their time at the military academy, Gu Cheng's memories kept surging back—

The shouts of battle on the playground, the farcical fight for food in the canteen, the way a few young people huddled together chatting about the future... Among them was the cheerful and always smiling Chu Yuheng.

He didn't say anything, just listened quietly, letting his emotions sink in.

Zhang Xueliang picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp: "Do you know that almost all the brothers from the Military Academy were wiped out inside the Great Wall... Our 38th Brigade fought a bloody battle at Changxindian, thinking we could defeat the Zhili Army, but the troops behind us all ran away! Old Chu was shot through the stomach by a Zhili Army bullet while protecting me..."

As he spoke, he picked up his wine cup to drink again, only to find it empty. Gu Cheng refilled it for him and picked up his own cup, listening as he continued, "Yu Lin and I carried him onto the stretcher, and it was clear he was going to die..."

But he still held onto my hand tightly, repeatedly saying, "Hanqing, my mother is blind, and my younger brother is only six years old. Please take care of them for me... don't let them be left unattended!"

His voice trailed off, and for the first time, the usually arrogant man was so dejected. "I let my brothers bury them all at Shanhaiguan, without even a tombstone... I'm sorry to Lao Chu, I'm sorry to all the brothers who fought alongside me!"

The delicious food on the table instantly lost its flavor, and the air was filled only with the smell of alcohol and a sense of oppression.

Feng Yong sighed and softly comforted him, "Hanqing, don't be too upset. Actually, the brothers aren't afraid to sacrifice themselves... What did we say when the brothers entered the military academy?"

Gu Cheng replied softly, "Success is not guaranteed, but the determination to die for one's country is essential... Hanqing, my brother and I are also saddened by the departure of our brothers; but now is not the time for grief, we cannot let our brothers' blood be shed in vain!"

However, his words struck a nerve with Zhang Xueliang, who had been holding back his anger for a long time. He stood up abruptly, and the movement was so violent that he knocked over the wine cup and smashed it to pieces.

"You two have been living comfortably in Xinmin, never getting shot, never seeing your brothers die before your eyes... and now you're lecturing me?"

His eyes were red and brimming with tears. "Do you know... Mao Chen and the brothers were risking their lives on the front lines, while I was guarding Changxindian, only able to watch helplessly as they fell one by one! And you? You were all enjoying yourselves in the rear! But now, one by one, you're all saying not to be sad—"

Even if Feng Yong had a mild temper, being scolded like that would still make him angry. He stood up, pointed at the other person, and shouted angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting? Jingchuan and I know you were upset about the defeat, so is it wrong for us to say a few words of comfort to you?"

And what nonsense are you spouting? Jingchuan and I are enjoying ourselves in the rear... Do you think we're enjoying ourselves? Who wouldn't want to fight those bastards with real swords and spears? It's all because of your father—"

Zhang Xueliang grew increasingly angry as he listened: "Fine, then let's go to Shanhaiguan now! Let's fight those Zhili troops, stop wasting time talking here!"

Feng Yong's chest heaved: "Fine, I'll go! You think I wouldn't dare? I want to see if it's better to avenge the brothers or to go around biting like a mad dog!"

Zhang Xueliang grabbed Feng Yong: "You dare to insult me?"

In the blink of an eye, the two men from Northeast China were at each other's throats, and the tension instantly overshadowed the previous oppressive atmosphere.

Gu Cheng placed one hand on each of their shoulders and gently separated them: "Enough, stop arguing!"

He first looked at Zhang Xueliang: "Hanqing, as your brother, we know you're upset—but your elder brother isn't wrong, what's the point of getting angry at us?"

Seeing that the fire was about to flare up again, Gu Cheng slowly withdrew his hand from his shoulder, took a deep breath, and said, "Actually, I can tell that when you said 'enjoying a peaceful life in the rear'... it wasn't really directed at us, right?"

These words were like a bucket of water poured onto a red-hot iron, instantly calming Zhang Xueliang's anger by more than half.

He took two steps back, then silently returned to his seat.

Gu Cheng sat down beside him, patted his shoulder again, and said softly, "This battle has indeed exposed a lot of problems... You just said that you and Instructor Guo were risking your lives at the front; but you also know that if reinforcements from the rear had arrived in time, your 38th Brigade would probably have already broken through the Zhili Army's defenses!"

Zhang Xueliang suddenly shuddered.

He turned around abruptly, the anger in his eyes gradually fading, quickly replaced by resentment: "Jingchuan, how can I accept this! In the Northeast, at most I was only suppressing bandits; this was my first real battle, how much I longed for victory, and I did fight quite well! But, but how could this happen..."

At this point, he buried his head in his hands, "In the end, I couldn't even protect my own brothers. My heart... feels so heavy!"

Gu Cheng glanced at Feng Yong, whose face was also filled with pity. Feng Yong nodded solemnly to Gu Cheng, and Gu Cheng said loudly, "We'll help you."

Seeing the other person look up blankly, he continued, "When I came in, I saw that the plaque for the Marshal had been changed to 'Never Forget the Shame of Wu.' So many brothers died; this matter cannot end here—"

I returned from studying abroad for the Northeast, for the ideal that Instructor Guo spoke of! Just say the word, Zhang Hanqing, and we brothers will fight to the death for our Fengtian Army, just like Lao Chu."

Feng Yong stepped forward, picked up the wine pot, and poured three more cups of wine.

"We grew up together in Fengtian City, eating and living together in the military academy. Those brothers are my life-and-death friends. I want to avenge them more than anyone else, and I understand your pent-up frustration better than anyone else."

He raised his glass and offered it forward, saying, "This glass is first a toast to our brothers buried in Changxindian, to comfort their souls in heaven; second a toast to the three of us brothers, who shared life and death, never abandoning each other; and third a toast to the future of our Fengtian Army—from this day forward, we will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Zhang Xueliang stood up, wiped his eyes hard, and gripped the wine cup tightly.

Gu Cheng also brought his wine glass forward, and the three glasses clinked lightly on the table, making a crisp sound: "When we brothers are of one mind, our strength can break metal. One day, we will lead the revitalized Fengtian Army to reclaim our lost territory and comfort all the brothers who sacrificed their lives."

Zhang Xueliang nodded heavily and downed the strong liquor in his glass in one gulp. The pungent liquor burned his throat, but it also ignited the fighting spirit within him.

"Alright! Let's work together to avenge ourselves!"