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

Gu Cheng put down his binoculars and said coldly, "We won't be a small target when we enter the city. Tang Yulin will definitely take risks once he knows that we have the witnesses."

Yang Song stood aside and whispered, "Master Gu, should we also immediately gather the entire regiment and set up a defensive standoff? In case he really dares to lead his troops over in the middle of the night."

Gu Cheng handed the binoculars back to Zhang Tingshu: "He'll definitely make a move. The old man dared to act recklessly towards Min Gong back then, so he'll surely resort to desperate measures now."

Having fought alongside the commander for half his life, how could he tolerate being bossed around by us juniors?

Zhang Tingshu sneered, "If he's going to act recklessly, we'll fight him! We'll hold the city gates, grab our weapons, and see how he manages to break in."

Gu Cheng shook his head again: "What, are you going to fight a mad dog head-on? If Tang Yulin wants to create momentum, let him."

Let him move troops if he wants. The more composed we are, the more flustered he'll become, and the easier it will be for him to slip up.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from downstairs. Mu Haisheng quickly climbed the city wall: "Master Gu, I've come to report. Those cowardly scoundrels have given in—"

Tang Yulin had a distant nephew named Tang Zongxi, who held the rank of deputy regimental commander in the 11th Mixed Brigade. It was he who led them into the city to "beg for alms," and it was he who took a fancy to Aunt Xu's daughter, Xiaoqin, and then took the opportunity to abduct several other women!

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tingxu slammed his fist into his palm in anger: "Damn it, I knew the old man was up to something when he was in such a hurry to kill and silence witnesses!"

Gu Cheng thought to himself: They are keeping a close eye on the movements of the 11th Mixed Brigade. That kid must still be hiding in the camp.

He immediately turned to Mu Haisheng and calmly ordered, "Old Mu, go back immediately and pick two cowardly soldiers from those who have already confessed. Release them back to the 11th Mixed Brigade."

Mu Haisheng was slightly taken aback: "Master Gu, should we release them? What if they go back and collude to give conflicting accounts, ruining our plans?"

"I know what I'm doing." Gu Cheng waved his hand. "Have those two tell Tang Yulin that it's my decision, Gu Cheng's decision: as long as he obediently hands over Tang Zongxi and severely punishes all the troublemakers according to military law, I can temporarily let bygones be bygones regarding his subordinates' misdeeds tonight and his sending people to silence them on the way."

Mu Haisheng was clearly still somewhat hesitant, but seeing his superior's resolute gaze, he said, "I'll go back and make the arrangements right away!"

After saying that, he quickly turned around and hurried down the stone steps from the city wall.

As soon as Mu Haisheng's figure disappeared into the night, Zhang Tingshu could no longer contain himself. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth: "Jingchuan, you're letting Tang Yulin off too easily! He allowed his nephew to harm the people, dared to stand up to us with guns, and even secretly sent people to kill and silence witnesses. The evidence is right in front of us. How can we give him a way out so easily? We can't explain this to the victims either!"

Gu Cheng gazed at the lights of the 11th Mixed Brigade's barracks and slowly said, "Do you think... he'll obediently agree?"

Zhang Tingshu was taken aback, his brows furrowing sharply. After a moment's thought, he immediately realized: "You mean, Tang Yulin won't give in?"

"That's right." Gu Cheng nodded calmly. "These old geezers are all about personal relationships and family ties. I heard he would kill and commit arson for a woman... My nephew holds the real position of deputy regimental commander, which is equivalent to his trusted confidant. Making him hand over the person for court-martial is more painful than cutting off a piece of his own flesh!"

Yang Song, standing to the side, also understood the deeper meaning: "The regimental commander is being polite first, then resorting to force, deliberately giving him a way out... If he still turns hostile, the marshal won't tolerate it!"

"That's exactly right," Gu Cheng continued. "By taking the initiative to back down, we show that Jinzhou is considering the overall situation."

Zhang Tingshu suddenly understood: "So you had this all planned out! You gave him face first, then waited for him to walk right into the trap and completely ruin his own life!"

…………

As dawn broke, the air in and around Jinzhou was thick with the smell of gunpowder.

The city gates were tightly shut, and the defending troops were fully armed and ready for battle.

Meanwhile, the 11th Mixed Brigade outside the city was on high alert, confronting the city in a posture of attack.

The people, who had just breathed a sigh of relief after the Zhili-Fengtian War ended, were terrified by the renewed flames of war.

"Who exactly is fighting with whom this time?"

"How would I know! Commander Gu personally led his men to defend the city—"

"Oh dear, when will this chaos and turmoil ever end?"

"Run! I heard they've set up cannons outside the city!"

Just as the people in the city began to feel uneasy, Gu Cheng and his group remained standing on the crenellations of the city wall, their eyes fixed on the direction of the 11th Mixed Brigade's encampment.

Suddenly, two crisp gunshots shattered the morning silence, "Bang! Bang!" The two shots echoed for a long time in the empty suburbs.

"Look—" Gu Cheng's eyes were calm and unwavering. "Tang Yulin couldn't hold back after all. He shot those two unlucky guys we let go."

Zhang Tingxu clenched his fists and said angrily, "That old bastard is hopeless! We kindly offered him a way out, but instead of appreciating it, he killed the messenger. He's really asking for trouble!"

At this moment, Yang Song strode up from the city wall and reported loudly, "Commander, the defenses at all the city gates are in place. All the weapons are on the walls, the brothers are loaded with bullets, and we're ready for battle. If Tang Yulin dares to take Jinzhou City head-on, we'll make sure he doesn't leave alive!"

A sharp glint flashed in Gu Cheng's eyes: "Good! These arrogant old men who usually act like bullies were chased around like chickens and dogs by Wu Peifu in the interior. They only know how to oppress the people and act tyrannically. Today, let them taste the might of our 105th Regiment!"

The soldiers on the city wall were greatly encouraged by this news. They straightened their backs, gripped their guns tightly, and locked their sharp eyes on the 11th Mixed Brigade troops lined up outside the city.

In the streets and alleys below the city, people, young and old, hid behind their doors, peeking out cautiously, their expressions filled with fear.

The two armies faced off, swords and spears clashing, and cannons were vaguely positioned outside the city. Everyone feared that once the war broke out, Jinzhou would be ravaged once again.

Just as tensions were about to escalate and a conflict was imminent, Wang Yongjiang, dragging his ailing body, arrived at the city defenses with his trusted confidant Mo Dehui and his steward Li Mingshan.

Before Gu Cheng and others could persuade him, he reluctantly climbed the city wall with the help of the steward. Standing behind the parapet, he shouted loudly towards the 11th Mixed Brigade's formation: "Brigade Commander Tang! You and Regiment Commander Gu are colleagues in the Fengtian Army, guarding the land of Jinzhou together!"

The war has just ended, and the people have finally found peace. Why, for the sake of a moment's anger, start another war and cause the people in the city to suffer the pain of displacement once more?

These words of reconciliation, when they reached Tang Yulin's ears, not only failed to make him restrain himself in the slightest, but instead seemed to add fuel to the fire.

Suddenly remembering the humiliation he suffered because of that damned scholar back then, Tang Yulin was so angry that he jumped up and down, lashed his riding whip hard on the ground, and roared into the city: "Wang Yongjiang! What are you pretending to be, you son of a bitch? I've fought my way up in the Fengtian Army for half my life, and it's not up to these young upstarts to dictate the rules."

Today I'm going to teach these ignorant and disrespectful juniors a lesson! Anyone who dares to stop me, I'll send them on their way!

After saying that, Tang Yulin suddenly raised his hand, about to order the entire army to charge and attack the city.