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

Gu Cheng pushed open the door, and the night breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees rushed in, dispelling the stuffiness in the study.

Yang Song was standing guard under the corridor when he saw Gu Cheng come out. He quickly went up to him and asked, "Mr. Gu, are you done talking?"

"Hmm." Gu Cheng strode out of the courtyard. "Let's go back to the brigade headquarters."

Yang Song followed beside him, lowering his voice: "Master Gu."

Sensing something amiss in his words, Gu Cheng immediately turned his gaze to him: "What is it?"

Yang Song gave a simple, honest smile and produced a package as if by magic: "The Wang family's butler just came over and secretly slipped me a package, saying that it must be delivered to you."

The Wang family butler said that Miss specifically instructed that it be handed to Master Gu personally, and no one else was allowed to touch it.

Gu Cheng didn't speak, but quietly took it.

The oil paper package had pointed corners and was carefully tied with fine hemp rope, showing the thoughtfulness of the gift giver.

But this small bag, which wasn't heavy to carry, felt like a stone weighing heavily on his heart.

He didn't say anything, but straightened his back and walked towards the car parked at the gate of the yard.

This was after Tang Yulin was dismissed from his post. In addition to approving funds, providing grain and equipment, the Marshal's Mansion also provided him with a car.

Yang Song quickly stepped forward and opened the back door. Gu Cheng bent down and sat inside. The moment the door closed, it shut out the lights of the Jinzhou official residence and the cold dew of the late night.

The interior of the car was dimly lit, with only moonlight filtering through the windows and falling on the plain cotton cloth on my lap.

He remained silent until he returned to his room and sat down at the table. Only then did he turn on the table lamp, calm himself down by the warm light, and slowly unpack the cloth bag.

It was tobacco.

A rich, distinctive tobacco aroma wafts over, and its golden-yellow color clearly indicates that it is not the top-grade tobacco commonly available on the market.

She actually...

Gu Cheng was somewhat shocked.

He didn't even know how Wang Yuyou knew he loved smoking, let alone that she cared so much about his preferences.

He composed himself, gently placed the oil paper package on the table, the rich tobacco scent still lingering on his fingertips.

Only now did he notice that the tobacco was pressing down on a neatly folded letter.

Gu Cheng reached out and pulled out the letter, then unfolded it.

The warm light of the lamp illuminated the paper, revealing neat and orderly handwriting, each stroke carefully written.

To Commander Gu:

My father is irritable during his illness, and if his words are offensive, please do not take it to heart, Commander Gu.

I've heard that you've been overworking lately and have a heavy smoking habit. Those coarse tobaccos on the market are harmful to your health.

This pack of tobacco was brought to me from inside the Great Wall; it's better than the local tobacco. Please make do with it.

The situation in Jinzhou was difficult, and you single-handedly held up the sky. I admire you deeply.

Yu You understands everything that's going on here. I just hope you take care of your health and don't overwork yourself.

Wang Yuyou bows

Gu Cheng read those few lines of text three times.

The letter contained not a single word that crossed the line, no complaints, no grievances, and even the father's reprimand was only mentioned lightly.

She only said "quick-tempered and offensive in speech," taking all the blame upon herself.

But the phrase "You understand everything here" felt like a fine needle, gently pricking his heart.

What do you know?

Do they understand each other's helplessness?

Do you understand that they shouldn't get too close... or do you understand the deeper meaning behind your father's words?

Gu Cheng folded the letter again, picked up the notebook on the table, and carefully slipped it inside.

He then gently twirled a cigarette and fell into deep thought.

"If word gets out that you're getting close to my daughter, what will people say?"

"They'll say that you, Gu Jingchuan, are trying to curry favor with the Wang family."

"Are you really going to let all the prestige you've worked so hard to build be used up by gossip and backbiting?"

That's true.

He was the commander-in-chief of Jinzhou, handpicked by the general, and sent by the Army Reorganization Department to reorganize and strengthen the army.

With the situation in Jinzhou still unstable, Japanese spies lurking in the shadows, Tang's old subordinates eyeing the city covetously, and internal traitors still not completely purged—all these things leave him no room for distraction.

But that pack of cigarettes, that letter, and that phrase "You understand everything here," were like a pebble thrown into a lake he thought was sealed off, creating ripples that spread out in circles.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes again, the turmoil in them had mostly subsided.

He then put the pack of tobacco into the drawer and closed it.

Then he blew out the lamp and lay down fully clothed.

Outside the window, the moonlight gradually sank in the west, and the night breeze grew a bit cooler.

He didn't sleep well that night.

…………

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Gu Cheng got up.

After he finished washing up, he took out the ledger that had been transferred from the quartermaster department from the drawer. It was a thick stack of books with a thin layer of dust on the cover, obviously indicating that no one had touched it for some time.

In addition, Wang Yongjiang lent him two ledgers related to building materials at the Jinzhou military camp, since he had nothing else to do today.

"Haozi," he called out towards the door.

Yang Hao trotted in carrying a pot of hot tea, his face still showing signs of sleepiness: "Mr. Gu, you're up really early."

"The early bird catches the worm." Gu Cheng pushed the stack of account books towards the center of the table. "Come, sit down and help me look at them."

Yang Hao responded, moved a chair to sit opposite him, opened the first account book, and looked at it line by line.

Gu Cheng also opened a book, his fingertips moving down the densely packed entries—grain procurement, timber purchases, cement batches, transportation losses… every entry was meticulously recorded, and at first glance, there was nothing wrong with it.

But it is precisely this kind of "too neat" accounting that arouses suspicion the most.

Real military supply accounts are so complex and numerous that it's impossible to keep every entry clear and without any smearing.

Unless it was copied again afterward.

Gu Cheng narrowed his eyes, circled several suspicious places in red with his brush, and continued flipping through the pages.

The room quieted down, with only the rustling of turning pages and the occasional gurgling of the teapot.

Time passed little by little, and the sun crept in through the window, then slowly moved to the corner of the table.

Yang Hao's forehead was sweating as he looked at the ledger. He circled a few suspicious points with his fingers for a long time, but he couldn't find any. He would steal a glance at Gu Cheng from time to time. Seeing that the other man's brows were furrowed and his pen was flying, he became even more nervous. Even his hand was trembling as he turned the pages.

Gu Cheng noticed his unease, put down his brush, picked up his teacup and took a sip: "Haozi, don't rush. This ledger can't be finished in a day, take your time."

Yang Hao nodded hurriedly, but the panic in his eyes was unmistakable.

He was a clerk that Mu Haisheng had brought from the regimental headquarters. He could only read and count, but he had never seen much of the world, so checking such densely packed accounts was indeed difficult for him.

Gu Cheng saw it all, but didn't say anything.

These days, it's hard to find even literate people, let alone professionals who are experts in accounting.

The Jinzhou Brigade Headquarters has no shortage of brave men to charge into battle, but when it comes to auditing accounts, calculating pay, and coordinating supplies, the only one they can rely on is "Little Calculator" Gao Tianqi.