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

Gu Cheng put down his teacup, his gaze quickly sweeping across the reception room, taking in this subtle moment.

He knew perfectly well that sending gifts like silk and pastries was one thing, but if it involved the construction of the main camp and required a large sum of money, grain, and supplies, that was another matter entirely.

Jinzhou has only just returned to peace, and some merchants have even been robbed by Tang Zongxi... The current situation is unstable, and the Zhili army is still entrenched outside the pass. No one is willing to spend a lot of silver dollars out of thin air, for fear that the money spent will not go to any real benefit.

Lu Shoulian immediately sensed the awkward atmosphere. He turned and glanced at the people behind him. Seeing that they all looked embarrassed and remained silent, he felt awkward as well. He could only cough twice to try to ease the situation.

"Hehe, are you being a little reluctant to ask everyone to empty their pockets?"

Gu Cheng cut to the chase, "I, Gu Jingchuan, am a rough-around-the-edges soldier. I like to put my words on the table—"

As I just mentioned, the construction of the Jinzhou military camp was an order from above, intended to safeguard peace in the region.

Someone muttered, "The previous officer said the same thing, 'You shouldn't steal, but you still do.'" Lu Shoulian immediately turned his angry gaze towards them, then quickly bowed and smiled apologetically at Gu Cheng.

"Commander Gu, please excuse this! After all, Jinzhou is a small place, while you are a big shot from Fengtian. Please don't take offense at us who are not worldly."

Gu Cheng stared at him for a moment, until he was sweating profusely, then smiled gently: "President Lu is being too modest... When I was in my hometown of Xinmin, I always heard my elders say that Jinzhou was a major distribution center for goods from both inside and outside the Great Wall."

"All sorts of business, from furs and medicinal herbs to silks and satins, comes through here. If anyone's unsophisticated, it's us soldiers."

His words were neither warm nor cold, but they made Lu Shoulian feel uneasy.

This is bad. We just got rid of that blatant robber surnamed Tang, and now another one is sneaking around picking pockets?

In the chaos of war, with guns at their disposal, they can really do whatever they want. The merchants in the city are going to suffer again...

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, Gu Cheng smiled and said, "Alright, everyone, you've all overthought this! I brought this up today not to force you to give me all your help, nor to impose any demands."

Gu Cheng's gaze slowly swept over the crowd. "The purpose of building this camp is to guard the gates of Jinzhou and protect the people and merchants of Jinzhou. From now on, with the military camp stationed here, discipline will be strict, and soldiers will never be allowed to plunder or seize. With the garrison as a barrier, the Zhili Army will not dare to easily invade, and everyone can do business in peace and without fear."

He then gave everyone a way out, saying, "Those who have money can donate some silver as they wish, and those who have grain, medicine, or building materials can provide some assistance."

If you are truly experiencing cash flow problems, that's fine too. Just help coordinate manpower and building material allocation in the future; it will be a token of my appreciation. I never force anyone to do anything; it's all up to you.

These words were insightful and considerate, pointing out the benefits of building a large camp without forcing anyone to spend money, which immediately dispelled everyone's concerns and anxieties.

Upon hearing this, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the troubled expressions on their faces gradually faded.

The previously uneasy merchants raised their heads again, their expressions much more relaxed.

Seeing this, Lu Shoulian quickly tried to smooth things over: "Did you all hear that? Commander Gu is considerate of us and never forces anyone to do anything! Building a large camp is to ensure our own safety. If we help out in any way we can, it's also for our own future peace of mind!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they heard Gu Cheng speak so frankly and clearly.

No one hesitated or looked embarrassed anymore; they all nodded in agreement, and genuine smiles returned to their faces.

"Commander Gu is truly insightful and understanding, showing great compassion for our merchants' difficulties. He is a rare find!"

"Yes, we should do what we can. For the long-term stability of Jinzhou, we should do our part."

"I'll take inventory of the building materials and bricks in the shop as soon as possible, and prioritize delivering them to the main camp construction site. I won't refuse!"

The atmosphere in the reception room became lively again, with everyone chiming in and expressing their willingness to support to the best of their ability, no longer feeling as reserved and apprehensive as before.

Just then, Gao Tianqi walked slowly and quietly through the side gate of the courtyard, went straight to Gu Cheng's side, leaned down slightly, and whispered a few words in his ear.

Gu Cheng's expression shifted almost imperceptibly, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Gao Tianqi brought news: Wang Yongjiang has suddenly fallen seriously ill and is bedridden, his breath weak. Mr. Mo Dehui specially sent someone to ask her to go to the official residence immediately.

Gu Cheng gestured for him to go and prepare, but in his heart he thought to himself that he was not good at medicine, so why did Wang Yongjiang ask him to come over when he was seriously ill?

But then he realized what was going on.

From the time he took charge of the finances in Fengtian, Wang Yongjiang devoted himself to the cause for many years. Later, during the Zhili-Fengtian War, he was stationed in Jinzhou to allocate resources for the front lines. After the war, he tried his best to rebuild Jinzhou and restore people's livelihoods, which eventually led to him falling ill from overwork.

Thinking back to history, Wang Yongjiang resigned from his official post in 1926 and died the following year from a serious illness.

Although he is no longer in mortal danger, he must be aware that his time is coming to an end and wants to take advantage of his remaining sanity to summon me to explain some things before he dies, as well as the local government affairs in Jinzhou and the situation in the province.

Gu Cheng knew that now that Jinzhou was newly pacified, Wang Yongjiang was seriously ill and could not speak out, which might disrupt the plans for the construction of the main camp and the reorganization of the city's defenses.

He immediately stood up and said, "I am really sorry, everyone. I just received an urgent message from the Fengtian Provincial Administration that I need to go there immediately to make contact. It is a very important matter and I cannot stay any longer."

"I must take my leave now. The matter of assisting the main camp is entirely entrusted to Lieutenant Mu. Remember, it is entirely voluntary; you must not be forced in the slightest."

Upon hearing this, Lu Shoulian and the others quickly rose to return the greeting: "Commander Gu, official business is important, please go ahead! We will definitely discuss the matters of the main camp thoroughly and will not dare to delay the important matter of defense!"

The other merchants echoed this sentiment, repeatedly stating that they would act within their means and would never cause trouble for Gu Cheng.

After watching everyone leave, Gu Cheng called Zhang Tingshu over and lowered his voice: "Min Gong has suddenly fallen ill. People from the official residence have come and asked us to go and see... Remember, don't make a fuss."

Zhang Tingshu was taken aback, realizing the gravity of the matter, and then they walked quickly out of the courtyard side by side.

Before long, the two arrived at the gate of the Jinzhou official residence. The residence was heavily guarded, and Mo Dehui's confidants were already waiting at the gate. Upon seeing Gu Cheng and Zhang Tingshu arrive, they hurriedly stepped forward to greet them: "Sirs, Mr. Mo is already waiting inside the residence. Lord Wang is in a weak state and has specifically instructed that we must not make a fuss or allow any irrelevant people to approach the bedroom."

The two followed their confidant into the official residence, through the quiet corridors, and all the way to Wang Yongjiang's bedroom.

The bedroom was dimly lit, and the strong smell of medicine was overwhelming, making one's nose sting.

Mo Dehui, looking haggard, stood guard by the bedside. When Gu Cheng and the other man entered, she quickly stood up and said, "Commander Gu! You've finally arrived. Minyuan has been holding on, just waiting to see you."