Chapter 22: The Joke Caused by Penicillin

  The young man's words were shocking and astonishing, even Song Zheyuan, an old veteran, couldn't help but tremble at the mention of them. The young man's sentence had struck a chord in the old man's heart, touching the softest string.

  Looking back, it's not easy for the 29th Army to have come this far. History has proven that the officers and soldiers of the 29th Army are all good men, capable of defending their homeland and ensuring peace and stability, and they can even do better than that. However, the land of Chahar is really too barren, and since the 29th Army settled here to rest and regroup, they have only been able to barely make ends meet. If Song Zheyuan had an area as rich and prosperous as Guangdong and Guangxi like Chen Jitang and Li Zongren do, then...

  He looked at Ouyang Yun's young face, his emotions were very complicated. After all, Ouyang Yun was still too young, so young that what he said sounded extremely childish.

  Song Zheyuan didn't want a good place, but who made the 29th Army not someone's direct line? A child raised by a concubine can already be content with having a place to shelter from the rain, what more could they hope for? Not just him, most of the officers and soldiers in the 29th Army thought this way, so when he was appointed as the Chairman of Chahar Province back then, they were like they had taken stimulants, rushing over a hundred miles overnight, wishing they could grow wings to fly here.

  Historians are also human beings and they can hardly avoid making mistakes - they cannot enter into the inner world of historical figures, and their analyses based on so-called facts can only serve as references.

  Ouyang Yun's words uncovered the scars in Song's heart, reminding him of his days living under others' roofs, and the image of the 29th Army officers and soldiers dressed like beggars, filling his heart with a sense of desolation.

  Ouyang Yun saw his pale face, restrained his smile and said in a low voice: "Song Gong, according to the small news, He Mouren's negotiations with the Japanese have reached a preliminary intention. The Central Army, including the government, will withdraw from Hebei, at that time, the whole Hebei will be empty - Hebei is much richer than Chahar."

  That's enough said, Song is a clever person and immediately came to his senses, looking at him with some surprise and more excitement, asking: "Inside information? Is it certain?"

  "The news released by people around him should be accurate."

  "Good!" Song slapped the table and stood up, thought for a moment, then sat back down, furrowed his brow and said: "But isn't the 29th Army's defensive position in Chahar?!"

  Ouyang Yun saw that he was moved and knew that his goal had already been achieved halfway, so he smiled and said: "Don't worry about this Song Gong, someone will naturally invite you over at the right time."

  "Oh? What makes you so sure?"

  "Duke Song, the land of North China does not only produce traitors, since ancient times, there have been many loyal and brave warriors."

  "Huh?" Song moved his brain and immediately understood, which made him more curious about the origin of the young man in front of him, and asked the same question again: "Ouyang, what kind of person are you?" Different from before, this time it was said with a smile, looking especially kind and gentle. He thought to himself: This kid is not simple! Who does he represent? It's impossible for him to be Japanese, so... who cares which faction he represents? As long as I can control Hebei in my hands, in this era where guns speak louder than words, what am I afraid of?

  Ouyang Yun smiled and said: "Song Gong, this is not important, what's important is that I want to make some contributions to the country and the people. You and the 29th Army have always been my idols - these words sound a bit like slogans, very empty, but I dare to ask myself, this is my heartfelt words. Song Gong, I know you've been in Tianjin for a while, just pretending to get along with those traitors, it's not easy for the brothers of the 29th Army, you just want everyone to live a little better, and have fewer worries when killing the devils - this I can understand, this is also what I admire most about you."

  He spoke with such sincerity that Song Zheyuan was deeply moved, and he couldn't help but think that the person who understood him best in this world would be a young man like this. However, as someone who had experienced great storms, he naturally wouldn't be swayed by superficial things, saying: "Let's not talk about empty words, if the 29th Army really goes to Hebei, it won't be you who initiated the invitation, will it?"

  "Duke Song smiled and said, 'What virtue or ability does this young man have?' Of course, I will do my best to make it happen. If we really want to take it to that step, then I'll need your help."

  "Hmm?" Song Zheyuan responded with a single sound, his face expressionless. In his heart, he thought: He's making conditions. After so many years in the official circle, having met countless people, Song Zheyuan was refined and wouldn't think that the other party was truly helping him for these righteous reasons - after all, people always have their own motives.

  Then, an old and young pair of foxes began to each plan what they needed —

  "I want to ask Comrade Song for support with some guns and ammunition. Also, I'd like to take over the student training battalion of the 25th Division."

  "Guns are easy to talk about, it's just a training class for the 25th Division, Ouyang, I'm just being casual, so I called you Ouyang."

  "It's an honor for a junior like me."

  "The 25th Division and the 29th Corps did not belong to the same command system, it was unlikely that someone would be transferred."

  "Director Song, according to a small rumor, the training class of the 25th Division will definitely be disbanded. The Japanese have made such a request. If you reveal this message to the 25th Division, I think they will owe you one for your sake. Actually, I want that training class also for the future of the 29th Army."

  "What about the future of the 29th Army?" This remark was a bit too much, Song Zheyuan suddenly felt like laughing: this young man had no idea how high the sky was or how thick the earth was, what did he care about the future of the 29th Army?

  His expression was expected by Ouyang Yun, and he didn't rush to take out the two plagiarized designs, handing them over with a bow, saying: "These are some designs I did when I was studying in the US, thinking that one day I could make a humble contribution to improving the living conditions of the 29th Army. Now it seems that the future of the 29th Army rests on these two designs, and the students in the training class are exactly the talents I have chosen to perfect these two designs."

  This statement was too arrogant, and it made Song Zheyuan feel quite ridiculous. However, considering the young man's previous performance - the rumors one by one, even killing traitors with ease - he wouldn't be an ordinary person. He didn't sneer at him, but instead looked at him seriously. After a while, he still couldn't figure out what was going on, mainly because there were too many professional terms that he couldn't understand. As it turned out, Song Zheyuan was indeed a capable general who could control the situation. He didn't make any conclusions due to his own ignorance, but instead called Guo Biao to invite an expert: "Biaozi, go and ask Mr. Jiang to come over."

  Mr. Jiang's full name is Jiang Shuren, 36 years old, Song's staff member, who had studied in France before. He took a rough look at the two designs and his eyes were fixed on them, his eyes became fiery. After finishing reading, he excitedly asked Song Zheyuan: "Song Gong, where did you get this treasure?"

  "Baby?!" Song Zheyuan couldn't help but look at Ouyang Yun with a higher gaze, thinking that this young man was not simple after all. Seeing Ouyang Yun looking expectant and confident, he pointed at him.

  Jiang Shuren's scorching gaze immediately retracted from those few pieces of paper and was cast towards Ouyang Yun, hastily asking: "Sir, may I ask whose designs these two are?"

  I.

  "Ah!" Jiang Shuren's eyes widened, sizing him up from head to toe, somewhat incredulous - this young man looked barely twenty years old, with his education, how could he possibly design such a high-end product?! But facing the other party's confident gaze, he couldn't help but retract his doubts and said: "Sir is a great talent, may I ask your esteemed name?"

  "Ouyang Yun."

  "Ouyang Yun," Jiang Shuren muttered to himself twice, feeling that the name was somewhat familiar, but couldn't recall where he had heard it before. He thought to himself, "Heavens, China is indeed not going to perish, for China can actually produce such talent." He asked, "May I ask who your teacher is?"

  This question is well-asked, a rigorous scholar's usual thinking - these two designs involve too many aspects, and it's like a fantasy for Ou Yang Yun to come up with them on his own. So, the most likely explanation is that he has borrowed from some master, standing on the shoulders of a giant to pluck down these two stars.

  Ouyang Yun secretly admired the other's prowess, thinking that they were thorough and able to immediately determine that these two designs weren't created by him. However, as a transmigrator, one can't view things with the same eyes as ordinary people. Shameless plagiarism! But as a transmigrator, not being shameless isn't enough to become a genius, nor does it possess the super ability to create heaven and earth - as one of them, he could only follow the trend and be shameless too. Very modestly, he said: "I studied in America for a few days." Meaning that I didn't receive any guidance from a great master.

  Jiang Shuren was startled and stood up, looking at him like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, with great joy - the words "genius" came out of his mouth.

  What a genius! A brilliant halo shines brightly, but Ouyang Yun ultimately didn't have the audacity to claim "no one before me, no one after me", so he's still modest.

  Song Zheyuan had been watching the two perform with great interest, and when Jiang Shuren shouted "genius", and this genius had already shown that he was going to help himself and the 29th Army, he finally realized what he had gotten himself into, and his attitude towards Ouyang Yun completely changed.

  Jiang Shuren flipped through the two designs again and asked Ouyang Yun: "Mr. Ouyang, it seems that there are some data missing in your design."

  "Yes, after all, it's my patent, and if it gets stolen, the loss will be huge."

  Jiang Shuren nodded in understanding and said, "I heard about penicillin when I was in France. It was first discovered by the British Alexander Fleming, and some foreign experts are still studying it now. I didn't expect you to have fully grasped its properties. If its efficacy is as described in your paper, this will be a milestone in human medical history... Are you planning to set up a factory domestically?"

  Jiang Shuren's words were quite impressive, with terms like "milestone" appearing. Song Zheyuan was so taken aback that his eyes nearly popped out, and even Ouyang Yun was drenched in sweat - how embarrassing! He had thought that there were already countries capable of producing penicillin, only to find out now that it had just been discovered. Alas, he was a medical student who had once aspired to hang up his shingle and heal the world...

  Ignorance is bliss, ah! Ou Yang Yun only truly understood the meaning of this phrase today. After breaking out in a cold sweat, he secretly thought to himself that from now on, he must be careful with his words and actions, or else who knows what kind of joke he would become. This was when he met someone who knew about penicillin; if he had met an outsider, wouldn't all his efforts have been like playing a lute to a cow?! After calming down, he nodded his head and gave Jiang Shuren a grateful look, then said to Song Zhiyuan: "I mainly came to find you for this matter. Multi-purpose vehicles are one thing, but if penicillin were to be mass-produced, it would be more valuable than gold! If we really were to set up such a factory, without the protection of the military, I'm afraid it would be exploited by people with ulterior motives."

  Jiang Shuren smiled: "Then why don't you directly cooperate with the National Government?"

  Ouyang Yun sneered: "National Government? Do you still believe in it? I'm extremely distrustful of it."

  Jiang Shuren asked this question with a probing intention, after all, he was dependent on Song Zheyuan for food. Having received a satisfactory answer, he said to Song Zheyuan: "Mr. Song, Shuren wants to congratulate you. If Mr. Ouyang can really cooperate with the 29th Army to run a factory, then the 29th Army will be equivalent to holding a money jar in the future."

  Song Zheyuan became excited, Ah, the money, this is what the 29th Army lacks the most. With money, it's equivalent to having good weapons and equipment. If the 29th Army's equipment can be as good as that of the Japanese army... He didn't dare think about it anymore. Jiang Shuren wouldn't deceive him, but he still had some concerns about Ouyang Yun's intentions. "Ouyang being able to cooperate with the 29th Army is a very good thing, Ouyang, state your conditions!" In his view, the other side would definitely have conditions, and he made up his mind that as long as the conditions weren't too harsh, he would accept them.

  Things have finally developed according to his own plan and are now on the right track, Ouyang Yun let out a sigh of relief and secretly congratulated himself on making the right gamble. This move today was a risky one - if Song Zheyuan had indeed been as wishy-washy in his stance towards the Japanese as history had claimed, then he would have been throwing himself into the tiger's den today. Fortunately, it seemed that history had deceived him, which just goes to show that even the wisest historians can still make mistakes when studying human nature.

  He came to cooperate with the 29th Army, naturally with conditions, but this condition for Song Zheyuan and the 29th Army at that time was not even considered a condition.

  Ouyang Yun's conditions were simple, and can be summed up in one promise and one guarantee: the 29th Army must promise not to engage in civil war, resolutely resist Japan, and ensure the independence and safety of subordinate enterprises. The promise must be published in the newspaper, while the guarantee requires signing an agreement with Ouyang Yun, and providing a regimental organization, which is called the "Student Soldier Regiment".

  Historically, the student army of the 29th Army emerged after the December 9 Movement. Now, due to the appearance of this little butterfly Ou Yang Yun, she has taken the stage ahead of schedule.

  What kind of story will the learning group bring to China again? Will it be another tragedy?