The Republic of China: I, Xiangzi, a Hero in a Chaotic Era

"The top levels of the government, including the presidential palace, all see this as an opportunity. With the Western powers fighting on the front lines, the manpower and resources at home must be stretched thin. The government has recently had several informal contacts with countries such as Britain and France, and their attitudes have been quite positive."

He paused for a moment, his gaze falling on Zhang Tiancheng's face.

"The general intention was that the government planned to use labor as a substitute for soldiers, sending a large number of laborers to the rear of the European battlefield. These laborers would not participate in combat directly, but would mainly engage in logistical work such as building fortifications, transporting supplies, and factory production."

"This move can alleviate the shortage of manpower in the West in exchange for more support from them in international affairs, and even some substantial assistance, thereby increasing the voice of our government in the international arena; secondly, it can also partially alleviate domestic population pressure and potential instability factors."

Zhang Tiancheng listened intently, his eyes gleaming.

Although he was not a diplomacy or strategy expert, his long experience in officialdom made him immediately aware of the enormous interests and complex power and responsibility relationships involved.

"Using labor as a substitute for military service... transporting laborers... this scale is probably not small."

"It can't be small."

Sun Wenlin nodded.

"The initial intention is that the first batch could be in the tens of thousands. Further increases may be possible depending on the situation."

"This involves the recruitment, screening, assembly, training, transportation, and overseas management of personnel, as well as... most importantly, maintaining domestic order and preventing chaos."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowered but more forceful.

"Recruitment and transportation cannot be separated from local cooperation, and even more so from the suppression and coordination of powerful departments. The National Police Agency, especially the General Affairs Department where you will be taking office, will bear a very important responsibility. Initial screening of personnel, maintaining security at assembly points, preventing incitement and disturbances, ensuring smooth transportation... all of these require the efficient operation of the police system."

Zhang Tiancheng's heart beat faster, feeling both the pressure and the power and opportunity it contained.

If he can play a key role in such a large-scale government operation involving both domestic and international affairs, his position will be more secure, and the resources and connections he can control will be incomparable to what they were before.

He immediately straightened his back, a resolute look on his face.

"Deputy Minister, I understand. Rest assured, once I take the position of Director of General Affairs, I will take this responsibility without hesitation and do my utmost to ensure that the Police Department makes no mistakes and fully cooperates with the government's decisions."

Sun Wenlin was satisfied with his statement, and a gentle smile returned to his face.

"The specific details involve the distribution of interests among all parties, the allocation of funds, operating procedures, and so on, which cannot be explained in a sentence or two."

"When Chief of Staff Wang and Deputy Chief of Staff Bai arrive, we'll discuss it together, and you'll understand immediately. The reason I called you here today is to give you a general idea and allow you to make some preparations in advance."

"Yes, Deputy Minister. I will listen carefully and understand thoroughly," Zhang Tiancheng replied solemnly.

Inside the study, the hushed discussion about their grand future plans continued. The flickering light from the fireplace cast shadows on their faces.

Meanwhile, downstairs in the foyer, Liu Jiaxiang was being shown around by an elderly butler with gray hair, dressed in a black long gown, and with impeccable manners. The butler, surnamed Wu, was an elder of the Sun family. Though concise, he clearly pointed out the layout of the villa's first floor: the living room, the small salon, the dining room, even the temporary living room set up for the party and the glass conservatory connecting to the warm corridor outside. He explained where the guests and hosts rested, where the young people played, and where tea, snacks, and drinks were prepared.

Liu Jiaxiang listened attentively, nodding occasionally, memorizing the location and function of each item. His humble attitude and respectful words quickly won over Butler Wu.

In the afternoon, the party in the living room of the mansion came to an end. The music gradually stopped, and only scraps remained of the delicious food on the table. Servants came and went to clear away the cups and dishes, and the air was still filled with the aroma of wine and the sweet scent of pastries.

Throughout the banquet, Liu Jiaxiang interacted with the guests, deliberately maintaining a gentle and humble demeanor.

As the guests gradually left, only Sun Wenlin, Zhang Tiancheng, and Liu Jiaxiang remained in the large living room.

Several people sat around a long pearwood table, quietly finalizing arrangements for transporting laborers.

After the discussion was completed, it was already close to evening, and Liu Jiaxiang drove Zhang Tiancheng away from the villa.

The car engine roared and bumped as it drove away from the mansion and onto a dirt road winding through the mountains in the suburbs.

The night was thick, with no moonlight for illumination. There were only sparse, old oil lamps along the roadside, and no protective fence on one side of the ravine.

Liu Jiaxiang was intoxicated, his mind was hazy, his vision was blurred, and his hands on the steering wheel trembled slightly. He drove faster and faster, and all he could hear was the whistling wind and the sound of the wheels crushing stones.

Zhang Tiancheng sat to the side, still planning how to maintain order during the recruitment of laborers, completely unaware that the person next to him was out of control.

When they reached a sharp bend, Liu Jiaxiang reacted slowly, turning the steering wheel a beat too late. The wheels suddenly slipped, and the car instantly went out of control, crashing through the low embankment by the roadside and plunging straight down into the ravine several meters deep below.

With a deafening crash, the metal car slammed into the rocks at the bottom of the ditch. The windows shattered, the metal twisted and deformed, and the ear-piercing impact tore through the silent mountains.

The two people inside the car were severely injured by the violent impact, and their clothes were instantly soaked in blood.

Liu Jiaxiang experienced severe chest pain, multiple fractures throughout his body, and his consciousness rapidly faded, leaving only a faint sound of wind in his ears.

In a daze, a slogan from his past life uncontrollably surfaced in his mind: "Don't drink and drive."

This saying was widely circulated in my past life, but tonight I was blinded by greed and indulged in drinking, which led to this end.

Endless regret welled up in his heart. Since his transmigration, he had been meticulously planning every step of the way, wiping out the entire Liu family, controlling Master Liu, subduing Hai Gouzi, and winning over high-ranking police officials. He was about to climb to a higher position of power, but due to a moment of indulgence in alcohol, he lost his life. All his calculations, accumulated money, and planned future were all in vain.

Zhang Tiancheng beside him was already lifeless, his eyes wide open, his face still bearing the smug satisfaction he had just displayed when they were discussing how to divide the spoils.

The last glimmer of life slowly drained from Liu Jiaxiang. The cold wind from the mountain valley, carrying the smell of blood, rushed into the broken car window, and the last glimmer of light in his eyes was completely extinguished.

In the dead of night, the mountains were deserted. The overturned, abandoned car lay silently in the rocky ditch. This power struggle in the chaotic Republican era came to an abrupt end with the loss of two lives.

This book has come to an end.