Chapter 9: The Military Law Department’s sword remains

Thirty thousand men and women crossed the Yangtze River, and it took several days to do so. The troops who crossed the river first took a rest in Hankou. Zhao Yufeng, the Military Control Department of the Division Headquarters, brought a few teams to the street to buy flour. A group of northern soldiers stationed in Hengyang for two years. They ate rice every day and had a bird faded out of their mouths.

The most prosperous thing in Hankou is Yanjiang Avenue. Looking around, there are many signs, including Pacific Foreign Service, Nissing Shipping Company, and Asia turtle oil company. They are all traded by foreigners. The river is full of ships, which is no less lively than Shanghai.

The group of people were dazzled and walked in without realizing it. Suddenly, two foreign policemen came to stop them, pointed at the rifle on their backs, and shook their hands to express their refusal.

Zhao Yufeng immediately came to his senses, afraid that he had arrived at the British Concession, and in any concession, Chinese armed personnel were strictly prohibited from entering. It would cause diplomatic disputes to cause trouble for the division commander. He could not resist the fact that he had a few heads. He quickly nodded and bowed and took the people back.

After finding a grain shop, Zhao Yufeng asked carelessly: "Boss, do you have flour?"

The boss was dialing the abacus to settle accounts with the previous wave of customers, and looked up and said, "I believe you, why did you buy so much flour today? The last two bags were sold out."

Zhao Yufeng's eyes rolled, took out a cigarette and rushed to the customers dressed by the two workers in front of him and said, "Friend, let's discuss it, how about let's give us a bag of flour? We come from the north and are tired of eating rice all day long, so we want to eat steamed buns."

"Cheng, we are also from the north. I heard that you have a Shandong accent?" The worker was very generous and immediately brought a bag of flour over.

"I am from Shandong, who is my brother?" Zhao Yufeng handed the cigarette with a smile.

"I am from Jinan Prefecture. My ancestors moved to Beijing. Which part are you from?" The worker took the cigarette and lit it with Zhao Yufeng's matches.

"We are soldiers of the Third Division." Zhao Yufeng said.

"It turned out to be Marshal Wu's soldier. I'm giving this flour for nothing!" The worker's eyes lit up, and he patted his chest and insisted on pushing the silver dollars that Zhao Yufeng took back.

"Mr. Wu is very wise and the workers on the railway are very impressed. Besides, the brothers are not rich at the hands of the soldiers. We are still fellow villagers. What is a bag of flour? Let's go and drink with me." The workers are so generous that Zhao Yufeng felt embarrassed.

As he was talking, Chen Zikun came in. When he saw the worker, he immediately said happily: "Brother Dahai!"

It turned out that this worker was Zhao Dahai. When he met an old friend in a foreign land, the two of them hugged each other and tears flew everywhere.

"Brother, why are you here?" Zhao Dahai took a step back and looked at Chen Zikun's military uniform, "Why are you still wearing two and a half feet?"

Chen Zikun sighed: "It's a long story."

"Then let's talk slowly, go and find a place to drink, go all the time, no one will give me face if they don't go." Zhao Dahai waved his hand and took everyone to a nearby tavern without saying a word, ordering two pots of wine and eight dishes, and then introducing them to everyone: "This is a worker, named Lin Xiangqian. We are all workers on the Beijing-Han Railway. My name is Zhao Dahai, and Da Kunzi is an old neighbor."

Zhao Yufeng and others bowed their hands and introduced themselves. On one hand, there were soldiers in the army and workers on the railway. They were all pure men. The wine was so pleasant.

While everyone was drunk, Zhao Dahai called Chen Zikun out and whispered: "Do you know what's happening at home?"

Chen Zikun's heart sank and said, "I've been out for a long time, I don't know."

Zhao Dahai said: "In the twelfth lunar month, Uncle Xue died in the detention center without any clarity. They said that they died of typhoid fever. In fact, it was caused by the Ma family. In order to occupy the Ziguang Train Factory, they did not hesitate to kill people. They were simply beasts!"

As he said that, two smoke pillars spurted out from his nostrils, trampling the cigarette butts hard: "This world will not allow poor people to have food to eat."

Chen Zikun felt a pain in his heart. Uncle Xue's appearance appeared before his eyes, but such a good person would never be seen again.

Zhao Dahai patted his shoulder and said, "It's not too late for a gentleman to take revenge for ten years. Let's remember this account for him. By the way, how about Xiao Shunzi?"

Chen Zikun said: "He is in Shanghai and he is doing well. I wrote a letter to him before I came."

Zhao Dahai nodded: "Just have a meal and go and drink."

...

The train ran northward, and the air in the tank truck was dirty. The soldiers were lying in the carriage, dozing, only Chen Zikun was smoking and dazed in the gap in the car door. A year ago, he also fled from Beijing by train, but now he is back by train.

Life is like a dream, and the ups and downs of the past year are as vague as dreams. Those people and things seem to be far away and untouchable.

Wang Degui moved over and took out cigarettes on Chen Zikun: "Boy, what are you thinking?"

Chen Zikun squinted his eyes and looked at the rape flowers on the field and said, "I am thinking about the philosophy of life. Where is the end and where is the starting point?"

Wang Degui was stunned for a moment, then slapped Chen Zikun on the head: "Are you being evil? Why are you talking about me?"

Chen Zikun was also stunned. Qiu Ba, who was full of swearing words suddenly said such words. Even he himself did not expect them to do so. Then he grinned: "Old Wang, actually I..."

Wang Degui covered his mouth: "Boy, I've seen it long ago. There is something hidden in your heart. Don't say anything. Whether you want to make a name for yourself or want to avenge your revenge, you should first treat the soldiers first. These days, guns are the most valuable and more effective than you have read for many years."

Chen Zikun nodded deeply when his words were rough.

The troops of the Third Division went north to Zhili along the Beijing-Han Line. The division headquarters was located in Tianjin, the base camp of the Zhili Army. Representatives from all walks of life came in and out every day. The Cao family garden was crowded with people, and the rumors were flying everywhere. Sometimes I heard that Japan was preparing to mediate by force, and sometimes I heard that the Fengtian army had 100,000 troops entered the pass. Finally one day, the exact news came. Cao Kun and the General Cao announced the formation of the anti-rebellion army, appointed Wu Peifu as the commander-in-chief of the front enemy, and officially declared war on Duan Qirui.

A big battle is imminent, and the warning of the division headquarters has been greatly strengthened, and the command changes three times a day, and the atmosphere is quite tense.

The cooking team is busy baking big cakes and steaming buns all day long. When fighting, how can I have time to cook hot rice? I have to rely on these dry food to support me. Chen Zikun was anxious and couldn't help but regret why he didn't enter the machine gun company. He had only a good skill but could not go to the battle to kill the enemy. He could only deal with flour and rice. There was no place to say about this affliction.

"Come out of the house to help with the work." Zhao Junhui shouted again from outside the kitchen. A large cart was parked at the door, and the cart was piled full of flour.

Chen Zikun came out from inside with a rolling pin. When he saw this formation, he quickly threw the rolling pin, grabbed a bag of flour and held it on his shoulders, and asked, "Zhao Junxu, is there any inquiries about my application to be an infantryman in the company?"

Zhao Yufeng was a little absent-minded: "Oh, ah, right."

Chen Zikun carried another bag of flour, feeling that it was much lighter than usual. He asked again: "It's just the matter of joining the army in the lower company."

This time, Zhao Junwei heard it clearly and sneered: "It's not easy to be a supplementary soldier. When the fight starts, there will definitely be a shortage of people on the front line."

Chen Zikun said: "Then I'll trouble Zhao Junxu, help me when the time comes."

"Okay, okay, let's go." Zhao Junxu waved his hand impatiently. Chen Zikun carried two bags of flour into the kitchen, threw his pockets to the ground and said, "Strange, in the past, I could carry two bags, but today I think all three bags can be carried."

When Wang Degui heard this, he came over to weigh the weight of his pocket, found a big scale and hung it, and spat and cursed: "The surname Zhao is really bad."

Chen Zikun said: "Why, I'm short of weight?"

Wang Degui stretched out a finger: "Shh, don't say anything, don't meddle in other people's business. This kid is very smart and will definitely not treat us badly."

After a while, Zhao Yufeng walked in, inspected the pancake in a pretentious manner, and picked up the pancake and took a bite, praising: "The skills are good. Thank you brothers for your hard work. I will treat you to mutton hotpot tonight."

Wang Degui smiled knowingly at Chen Zikun.

As he was speaking, two large military policemen came in outside, with armbands wrapped around their arms and big swords inserted behind them. They stood on both sides of the door like two door gods. Then a military police captain walked in and scanned the kitchen with sharp eyes.

Zhao Yufeng's face turned pale in an instant and his legs were shaking.

The military police captain said, "You guys, have you seen Li Changsheng?"

Wang Degui thrust his back: "I didn't see what I said to the officer."

Chen Zikun also shouted loudly: "I didn't see it." But he was muttering in his heart, what did the groom Mr. Li do? Even the military police were dispatched.

When Zhao Yufeng heard that the military police were looking for Lao Li, he immediately returned to normal. He took out a cigarette and handed it over: "What's wrong with Lao Li?"

The gendarmerie captain took the cigarette with his white gloves, but did not light it. He changed his face to do business and said, "This old Li is also confused. He is a deserter at this critical moment. He will definitely be beheaded when he catches him. You are busy, so I will leave first."

The military police left, Zhao Yufeng let out a long sigh and said, "I will sauté mutton tonight, as usual." After that, he also went out.

Chen Zikun said in confusion: "Why does Lao Li want to be a deserter?"

Wang Degui was silent for a while before saying, "Old Li and I are small station soldiers of the same period. I heard that there is only one old mother in his family. This time he became a deserter, I guess something happened to the family."

In the evening, there was a noise outside. Chen Zikun ran out to see a team of fully armed military policemen came in with Da Ling and the ghost-headed sword. The dirt-faced groom Lao Li was immediately followed by the dusty groom. The collar and hat badge were removed, and there were a few shoe prints on the military uniform. It seemed that he had suffered a lot.

Old Li was pressed to the ground, and the sharp ghost-headed knife was raised high. The grooms, buddies and orderly soldiers of the division were silent. The groom captain looked at them majesticly, and said with his waist, "Did you see them all? This is the end of being a deserter, someone will come."

The military policemen also said: "Yes!"

"Cut it!"

When Lao Li closed his eyes, two drops of turbid tears flowed out from the corners of his eyes.

"Leave someone under the knife!" Just as the ghost-headed sword was raised, Chen Zikun shouted, and the unknown second-class private stood up without hesitation.

The gendarmerie captain stared at him: "Bold, do you want to rebel?"

Chen Zikun was not afraid: "Sir, let Lao Li live a life."

"Military law is like a mountain, why should I let him go?"

"Please give Li Changsheng a chance to make meritorious service. We are willing to guarantee him." Wang Degui also stood up, and then the groom and the orderly soldiers also stood up and pleaded for Lao Li together, and huh the people who knelt all over the ground.

The gendarmerie captain touched his chin and killed the chicken to warn the monkey. He did not want to commit murder, so he followed suit and said, "For the sake of the brothers, I will not kill you today, and I will deal with it after the war."

He turned to look at Zhao Yufeng and said, "Zhao Junwei, come with me to the Military Law Office."

Zhao Yufeng shivered and forced a smile: "What's the matter?"

The military captain said, "Oh, a small matter, let's talk about it."

The military police took Zhao Yufeng away. Old Li lay on the ground and cried in tears. He kowtowed to everyone with great gratitude and said, "I am not grateful for my kindness. I, Li Changsheng, gave me this life. I have written down this love."

Wang Degui came over to help him up and sighed, "Old Li, what are you doing? You run away without saying a word."

Lao Li said: "My family is sending a message, I can't do it anymore, I... am confused for a while."

...

Zhao Yufeng was taken to the Military Law Office. Looking at Guan Gong worshipped in the shrine and the ghost-headed knife hanging on the wall, his sweat was soaked in his clothes, and he regretted it. He shouldn't have greed for the 500 yuan cheaper and tampered with military rations.

The gendarmerie captain sat down in front of him with a smile, and was about to ask a question, suddenly a commander came in and said, "The general has an order, and you must not make any mistakes when you start immediately."

"Haha, Zhao Junxu, let's talk about our affairs someday." said the military captain.

Zhao Yufeng rushed back to the Military Control Commission for a meeting in a daze. It turned out that the two armies had already started a fierce battle in Zhuozhou and Gaobeidian. The troops were in short supply of troops to fight against the rebel army, so he had to send the logistics troops of the division headquarters to the front line for use.

Zhao Junhui's task is very simple, just take the cooking team to transport the dry food to the front line.
Chapter completed!