Chapter Fifteen: The Two Heroes of the Anti-Japanese War

  "Japanese people are so arrogant!" Chu Tian Ge said softly, her hands gesturing as if holding a gun and shooting.

  Ouyang Yun stood beside him, his eyes fixed on the Japanese soldiers standing in front of the Hebei Provincial Government building, their loud and clear Japanese shouts ringing in his ears. In his heart, he thought, at the beginning of the war against Japan, one Japanese soldier was equivalent to three Chinese soldiers. Where did this gap come from? Was it due to weapons or quality? Perhaps it was both. So, if he wanted to train a team himself, where should he start? Should he join the army or create a guerrilla force...

  After coming to this era, I saw a large number of Japanese soldiers for the first time. It was only then that I realized why the Japanese devils dared to utter the mad words "three months to destroy China". From a military perspective, these armed protesting Japanese soldiers were well-organized, had high morale, and their equipment was also considered excellent, making them a strong army.

  Ouyang Yun carefully observed Feng Yuanshu, bringing him from Zhong Ri Middle School all the way here. Along the way, he saw the arrogant Japanese, the sycophantic traitors, and the compatriots who dared not speak out in anger. All sorts of people were etched in his mind. He quietly observed the young man beside him, seeing that he remained expressionless, only occasionally revealing a hint of sorrow and indignation in his eyes. In his heart, he couldn't help but secretly approve - this young man was deeply thoughtful, understood great righteousness, and with proper nurturing, would certainly be of great use.

  "Yuanxiu, is your uncle really a traitor?"

  "Yes," the young man lowered his head, this was his shame, although this shame was imposed on him by his own family.

  Ouyang Yun patted his shoulder and said: "Things in life are unpredictable and don't always go as planned, lift your head up, this isn't your fault."

  "Big brother!" The young man looked up at him, his eyes filled with emotion. His good friend Huang Jiahua had also said this before, but what was different now was that the person saying it to him was someone he had just met and was still a stranger. Trust from a stranger always felt especially warm.

  "Everything has two sides, change the angle, and it may not be a bad thing. Your uncle is now your shame, but one day he may become the cornerstone of your success."

  The young man was clever and immediately grasped the implication of their identity, his voice trembling with excitement as he asked in a hushed tone: "Do you mean... can I join you?"

  Ouyang Yun and Chu Tiange smiled at each other, he asked: "Do you know who we are? Are you going to join us, not afraid that we are traitors?"

  Feng Yuanshu raised his small face, looked serious and said: "Two brothers, I don't know what your names are, but I can be sure that you absolutely won't be traitors. If my guess is correct, the assassination case in the concession must have been done by you."

  "Oh, what's so special about it?" Chu Tian Ge became interested.

  The young man said affirmatively: "Depending on what you just said and did to Cheng Rihe."

  "Hehe, it seems like any Chinese person with a conscience would do the same."

  "But they don't have your quick reflexes," the young man looked at Chu Tian Ge and continued, "This big brother, the weapon you used just now should be the Japanese 'rib difference'?"

  Chu Tian Ge laughed: "Hehe, you've figured it out. This knife of mine isn't just any ordinary Japanese goods..."

  Ouyang Yun saw that he had a tendency to talk too much, so she glared at him and said: "Speak softly, are you afraid others won't know it was us who did the things in Beiping?"

  "Ah! Almost forgot," Chu Tian Ge's eyes darted around in all directions, seeing that no one around them was paying attention, only then did he relax.

  "Beiping——" The young man's eyes lit up, and he grabbed Ouyang Yun's right hand with both hands, excitedly asking: "The Black Dragon Society's stronghold in Beiping was cleaned up by you guys—— Ah, I'm so stupid, there are just the two of you. Hehe, Ouyang Yun, Chu Tiange, you have such big guts!"

  Chu Tian Ge listened and immediately widened his eyes: "Ah! You know us?!"

  Ouyang Yun smiled slightly and remained silent. His previous sentence was intentionally meant to let Feng Yuanshu know their true identities.

  Feng Yuanchu's eyes rolled around, and his youthful nature was revealed: "Which of you is more powerful?"

  "You little stinker, trying to stir up trouble?"

  "Of course, big brother is even more formidable."

  "Is Ou Yang Big Brother even more powerful?" The young man's gaze darted back and forth between the two.

  Ouyang Yun smiled, he liked Feng Yuanchu more and more, saying: "I'm Ouyang Yun, he calls me Big Brother."

  The young man's eyes shone brighter as he looked at him eagerly and said: "Ouyang brother, take me on as your apprentice."

  He smiled and didn't speak, but Chu Tiangong was anxious, saying: "Big brother, take him in, this kid is not bad."

  Feng Yuanxiu gazed at him with eager eyes.

  "Okay, but I must warn you, being my apprentice is very tough."

  I'm not afraid of hardship.

  "We're no 'anti-corruption special task force'."

  "It doesn't matter, 'Anti-Japanese Heroes' or whatever, as long as we kill the devils and eliminate the traitors."

  "What 'Anti-Japanese Heroes'?"

  "You yourselves don't even know, now outsiders are calling you like this."

  "Ah!" Ouyang Yun and Chu Tian Ge looked at each other, the former was crying with laughter, while the latter had a small sense of satisfaction. Seeing Feng Yuan Xiu looking at her with admiration, Ouyang Yun quickly changed the subject: "Killing devils and eliminating traitors is our duty, actually, we were also thinking of establishing such an organization. Yuan Xiu, are there many classmates in your school who share this idea?"

  "Many, Master, are you thinking of organizing them - can I take care of it?"

  "Take it easy, protect yourself first, only if you're alive there's hope - Yuanxiu, what do you think of the current situation?"

  "It's a national shame, a provincial government was actually ridden on and shit on; I envy the Japanese, if our military were as powerful, which country would dare look down on us?!"

  "Our army is indeed inferior to others, but there's no hurry. As long as we have battles to fight and our officers and soldiers are united in heart, one day our army will be stronger than the Japanese."

  "Master, I also hope our country has such a day, but what I fear is that our government and military don't have the courage to do so."

  Chu Tian Ge nodded and said: "Yuan Xiu is right, I think it's very difficult for China to reach this level."

  Ouyang Yun saw that they were underestimating the enemy and overestimating themselves, and he didn't think much of it. In his heart, he thought that if it weren't for the highest authorities making a fuss about "internal stability before external conquest", sending the Red Army to graze on grasslands and climb snowy mountains, but instead letting them come here, as long as they were equipped with good equipment, they would absolutely be the strongest army in the world.

  "But you can't say that," he said. "War between two countries isn't just decided by military strength. The clash of armies is just the final form of expression. In the end, it's a comparison of national strength and the cohesion of the people. We are indeed poorer than Japan now, and our technology lags far behind. But we have many people, and there are many young men like Yuan Xiu with great aspirations! I believe that when you all grow up, the ultimate victory will definitely be ours."

  These words were very inspiring, especially to a hot-blooded young man like Feng Yuanxiu. He immediately became excited and said: "Master, you're absolutely right! I also believe that we will ultimately be victorious and the Japanese devils will definitely be driven out of China."

  Patting his shoulder, Ouyang Yun said: "As long as we have this confidence, I believe that all difficulties will not be difficult for us. Tian Ge, take it out."

  "What?"

  "Water caltrop is too safe."

  The ribbed armor on Chu Tian Ge's body and the tachi obtained by Ouyang Yun were all confiscated from Liu Chuan Zheng Shu. The name of the tachi was "Liu Chuan Tai An", and the name of the ribbed armor was "Shui Wen Tai An". Both could cut through gold and iron, and he cherished them deeply. At this time, hearing Ouyang Yun's intention to give it to Feng Yuan Xiu, how could he bear to part with it? He couldn't help but shout loudly: "You're taking on a disciple, what right do you have to give away my things?"

  "Isn't your junior also my nephew? You and Yuan Xiu are meeting for the first time too, shouldn't I, as his senior uncle, give a gift to mark the occasion?"

  "This... uh..." Chu Tian Ge thought for a moment and with a bitter face took out "Water Ripple Taian".

  Feng Yuanshu saw that he was reluctant, and hastily said: "A gentleman does not rob others of their beauty, thank you, Master Shu." He firmly refused to accept.

  Ouyang Yun thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, this knife is quite famous, there are too many people in Tianjin, carrying it on you may not be a good thing." He searched his body and took out a water-based pen to hand over to him, saying, "I rushed out, I don't have anything good on me, take this water-based pen as a keepsake."

  Feng Yuanchu took it over, played with it for a while, and saw that the craftsmanship was exquisite. He thought it was a treasure and smiled, saying: "Thank you, Master. You're really too good to me."

  Ouyang Yun wiped the sweat, feeling like a swindler - just a 50-cent water-based pen, as if it was desecrating the pure teacher-student relationship. He was humble, don't look at the small pen, in modern times it's not worth a penny, but in the 20s and 30s, it was absolutely considered a "treasure", precious because of its rarity. "Far repair, if you have time during summer vacation, come to Yenching University in Beiping to find me, don't tell anyone about today's matter, including your good friends. You're still young, first study hard and read books well, only then will you have the ability to do great things - goodbye."

  "Okay, I will study hard - Master, what does 'Bai Bai' mean?"

  "It's just goodbye, 'BAYBAY' in English."

  "Hehe, Master, Uncle, goodbye."

  After Feng Yuanxiu left, Ouyang Yun said to Chu Tiange: "Tiange, do you believe that in two years at most, we will have an army stronger than theirs?"

  Chu Tian Ge had long felt that this big brother's ambition was not small, and he asked in a low voice: "Big Brother, do you want to be a warlord?"

  "Not a warlord, I want to build for the Chinese people an army that is counted among the best in the world!"

  "Hmph!" Chu Tian Ge sneered, "Are you daydreaming?! Do you think just the two of us are enough?!"

  Ouyang Yun looked at him and said calmly, "Just wait and see. Let's go find your uncle."

  The 51st Army was reorganized from a part of Zhang's Northeastern Army, with the 113th, 114th and 118th Divisions under its command. Since the army commander Yu Xuezhong concurrently served as the chairman of Hebei Provincial Government and the mayor of Tianjin, the army headquarters was set up in Caijia Garden, while Chu Baoqi, as Yu's deputy officer, was assigned a separate small courtyard.

  Two people rushed to Chu Kuo's place, where Deputy Officer Chu was drinking with two good friends in the study. He had clearly drunk too much, so as soon as he heard that his nephew had arrived, he immediately let orderly soldier Little Li lead them in, completely forgetting that these two were still wanted criminals at this moment, and Jiang Xiaoxian was leading his men to arrest people all over Beijing.

  Chu Kuai's eyes had bloodshot, his tongue was also swollen. He held a wine cup in his right hand and pointed at the young man who just came in, saying to the middle-aged man sitting opposite him: "Old Chen, my nephew Chu Tian Ge, next to him is his friend, kid, introduce yourself, I forgot your name."

  The middle-aged man was short and stout, with a ruddy complexion, his small eyes narrowing as he scanned them before landing on Ouyang Yun's face, smiling as he said: "No need for introductions, being with Tian Ge means it must be Ouyang Yun, not bad kid, quite daring!" He sounded like he was very familiar with Chu Tian Ge.

  Ouyang Yun smiled and greeted the three with a nod, learning that Chen Shaohua, the fatty, was actually the head of the logistics department of the 51st Army, and another one named Qiu Jian was a colonel and regimental commander, couldn't help but look at these two people in a new light.

  Chu Kuaiji invited the two to sit down, and had Xiao Li add two more sets of bowls and chopsticks. Then he sighed and said: "Heroes emerge in their youth. To tell you the truth, this nephew of mine is much more promising than his uncle."

  Three people were just talking about something, their emotions a bit agitated. Qiu Jian slammed his wine glass on the table and gritted his teeth: "This team is led by a good-for-nothing, the little Japanese are running wild under our noses, but we're restricted from leaving the camp... damn it, it's better for Tian Ge and them to have a good time." Apparently, he was indignant about today's armed demonstration by the Japanese soldiers.

  Chu Kuaiji let out a sigh and said, "The military commander is also helpless. You know, He Yingqin has always wanted him to take an extended leave of absence... Ah, you don't know? General Song was relieved of his duties today."

  "Which Song General? Song Zheyuan of the 29th Army?"

  "The 29th Army was pulled together by him, can the old man just dismiss it? Old Zhang and Old Feng won't let that happen?"

  "Not removing him from his military post, but relieving him of his position as Chairman of the Chahar Provincial Government, saying that he was incompetent as a commander and indulged his subordinates, alas!"

  "The General's incompetence is a joke. If he were truly incompetent, Chahar would have fallen to Japan long ago."

  "This little Japan is playing a high-level game, heh heh, if I'm not mistaken, as soon as Song Zheyuan was dismissed, the Japanese will arrange a bunch of traitors to go and persuade."

  Chu Kuaiji shook his head, took a sip of wine with a "sip" sound, and said: "Shao Hua brother is absolutely right, the old man is clearly pushing General Song into the arms of the Japanese."

  Qiu Jian sighed and said: "There's something you guys have heard about, He Yingqin has sent someone to Tianjin."

  "What did he send someone to Tianjin for? Isn't it chaotic enough here?"

  "I heard we're going to negotiate with the Japanese."

  "Isn't it?! Are we going to come up with a 'Tangguo Agreement' now?!"