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

Tang Yulin stood still, watching Sun Liechen stride into the city alone with an adjutant. Outside the city, the elite cavalry reined in their horses and formed a defensive formation, seemingly encircling the city, keeping a close watch on the entrance and exit of the 11th Mixed Brigade's garrison.

His heart sank instantly.

Sun Liechen's arrangement was clearly to prevent him from playing any tricks, leaving people outside to monitor him and cut off his escape route to secretly mobilize troops and hide Tang Zongxi.

Tang Yulin gritted his teeth inwardly, his face darkening:

He originally planned to use his status as a veteran to subdue Gu Cheng. Even if things got out of hand, he could get away with it by virtue of his sworn brotherhood with the warlord, and even take control of Jinzhou.

But with Sun Liechen's sudden arrival and the deployment of such precautions, his wicked nephew Tang Zongxi is now truly trapped.

He watched the figure disappear into the distance in the direction of the city gate, and could only hang his head, pacing anxiously in place, secretly pondering a solution.

Meanwhile, on the other side, seeing that the situation had temporarily stabilized, Gu Cheng immediately helped Wang Yongjiang and led Zhang Tingshu and others down the city wall to personally greet them at the city gate.

When Sun Liechen approached, Gu Cheng took the lead in standing at attention and saluting, displaying a disciplined demeanor.

Sun Liechen's gaze swept over them, his face as cold as ice: "Jingchuan, as a junior, how could you escalate the conflict with Master Tang to the point of armed conflict? Is this how your uncle Feng Delin taught you?"

Such blunt and uncompromising remarks, made in public, leave absolutely no room for compromise when addressing a regimental commander.

Zhang Tingshu, who was standing nearby, immediately became anxious and stepped forward to defend himself: "Brigadier Sun, this matter cannot be blamed on Jingchuan! It was clearly Tang Yulin who condoned his nephew Tang Zongxi to lead his thugs into the city to rob, kill, and kidnap women!"

When we went to his door demanding our release, he not only confronted us with a gun, but also secretly sent men to silence us en route. Now he's openly shelling the city... No matter how you look at it, it's not our fault!

But Sun Liechen wouldn't listen to his explanation at all, remaining stern: "Tingshu, don't get involved either. Your father has always been steady and composed, and knows how to get along with colleagues. Is this how you're supposed to be taught to follow the younger generation and confront the military elders head-on, escalating internal strife?"

Zhang Tingshu was about to retort when Gu Cheng grabbed him.

Clearly, going against one's superiors now would only earn one accusation of insubordination.

Zhang Tingshu felt a tightness in his chest from frustration, but he could only suppress his anger.

However, at this moment, Wang Yongjiang, who had been recuperating, suddenly coughed violently, his legs went weak, his body swayed violently, and he almost fell to the ground on the spot.

"Min Gong! What's wrong with you!"

Li Mingshan, who was standing next to him, exclaimed in surprise and quickly reached out to support the swaying Wang Yongjiang, looking flustered.

Mo Dehui was so frightened that she was at a loss for what to do and kept going forward to help him up.

Seeing this, Gu Cheng immediately stepped forward and firmly supported Wang Yongjiang's arm. Noticing that Wang Yongjiang's face was pale and his breathing was unsteady, Gu Cheng immediately ordered the guards beside him in a deep voice: "Quickly, prepare a stretcher and escort Duke Min and Mr. Liu Chen back to their official residence to recuperate. Take good care of them and do not neglect them in the slightest!"

Several guards immediately stepped forward and carefully helped Wang Yongjiang and his entourage, hurrying them toward the official residence in the city.

After settling the people in and sending them off, Gu Cheng turned around and addressed Sun Liechen in a respectful yet assertive manner: "Brigadier Sun, Min Gong is ill from overwork. He came to persuade Brigadier Tang, but he cannot withstand the shock of such warfare. I can only send someone to take him back to rest."

With troops currently locked in a standoff outside the city and numerous complex circumstances at play, public debate could easily breed rumors.

"Please, Brigade Commander, come to the garrison regiment headquarters. We will respectfully report the entire incident, including all witnesses and evidence, to you behind closed doors."

Sun Liechen coldly sized up Gu Cheng for a moment, noticing that he was composed and steady, unlike Zhang Tingshu who was impulsive and reckless. He couldn't help but scrutinize him from head to toe.

After a moment of silence, Sun Liechen nodded slightly: "Very well. Lead the way."

…………

Jinzhou Regiment Headquarters.

"What?! This Tang Yulin is such a scoundrel!"

Sun Liechen's roar came from Gu Cheng's office, "He condoned his cronies causing chaos among the people, and then dared to kill to cover it up. He even secretly mobilized troops to bombard the city. Does he still have any regard for the discipline of the Fengtian Army? Does he still have any regard for the commander-in-chief?"

The table was covered with physical evidence and witness testimonies—the tearful testimonies of the abducted women and their families, the shell casings and knives found at the scene of the massacre in the mixed forest, and the interrogation confessions of Zhao Quancai and others. Each and every piece of evidence was irrefutable, which made Sun Liechen furious.

He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth: "I warned him long ago that after the war, during the military reorganization, it was strictly forbidden for soldiers to harass the people. But he, relying on being the commander-in-chief's sworn brother, acted lawlessly and completely ignored the commander-in-chief's orders!"

Gu Cheng stood to the side with his hands at his sides, and only spoke slowly after Sun Liechen's anger subsided: "Sixth Uncle, I did not intend to fall out with Brigade Commander Tang today, nor did I intend to use the rules of the Army Reorganization Department to pressure you. You may not know, but this time when I came to Jinzhou, in addition to serving as the commander of the 105th Regiment, I also served as a staff officer of the 11th Mixed Brigade."

He looked up at Sun Liechen, a hint of helplessness in his eyes: "But Brigade Commander Tang has never allowed me to interfere in any affairs of the 11th Mixed Brigade. His troops are undisciplined and rampant with thugs. I have reminded him many times, but he has turned a deaf ear."

This mutiny by the soldiers was not accidental at all; the root of the problem lies with his superior—it was his indulgence and protection that nurtured a villain like Tang Zongxi, leading to this disaster.

In fact, the 11th Mixed Brigade has only just arrived, and let alone any talk of "interference," these soldiers haven't even had a chance to warm their bedding yet—

These words were purely embellished, intended to "add something" to Tang Yulin's story.

Despite his anger, Sun Liechen sighed again: "Jingchuan, I know you uphold justice, and I know Tang Zongxi deserves to die. I will join you in writing a report to the Marshal, to deal with him according to the law, without any leniency."

But when he got to this point, he lowered his voice, "It's just... about his nephew Tang Zongxi, I want to ask you for a favor. You may not know, but Tang Zongxi is nominally his distant nephew, but in reality, he is his illegitimate son."

Tang Yulin has no children, which is why he's going to such lengths to protect him. If you could show leniency and spare his life, Tang Yulin would face less resistance, and the subsequent handling of the case would be smoother.

"No!"

Gu Cheng interrupted Sun Liechen almost without hesitation: "Sixth Uncle, please forgive me for not being able to obey. Military orders are like mountains, and military discipline is like iron! Tang Zongxi's cruelty towards the people and his abduction of women are crimes deserving of death!"

If we spare him, how can we face the victims? How can we face our brothers who upheld military discipline? How can we explain this to the people of Jinzhou?

He looked up at Sun Liechen and said, "I know you cherish your brotherhood with Commander Tang, but personal feelings cannot supersede military law, much less the lives of ordinary people."

If we set this precedent today, and in the future someone relies on power and condones their cronies to commit evil, how will we gain the respect of the people? How will we implement the Commander-in-Chief's orders to reorganize the army?