armchair strategist

Fifteen minutes later, Feng Yue tiptoed into the room, but Zhang Chenglin had already woken up as soon as she opened the door.

So no matter how careful she was afterwards, it was no use.

Fengyue first changed the incense in the incense burner. Zhang Chenglin didn't know anything about incense and didn't know what the new one was called. He only knew that the scent was lighter and not as cloying as the previous one, which made him feel drowsy and sleepy.

After changing the spices, Fengyue went back to the table, took the teapot and teacups she had just brought in, and poured a cup of tea for Zhang Chenglin.

After doing all that, I went to the bedside, intending to wake him up.

Feng Yue stood by the bed, gazing intently at Zhang Chenglin, who had his eyes closed.

Fengyue had only met him twice so far. The first time was at Huayue Tower, where she met Zhang Chenglin, a man of reserved temperament who captivated her at first glance.

The second time, I saw Zhang Chenglin asleep. He was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, his nose was high and his features were regular. It was hard to tell whether he had more of a scholarly and refined air or more of a seasoned general.

As if afraid of disturbing the sweet dream of the person in the dream, Fengyue spoke softly: "Sir."

Her voice was soft and tender, like a spring breeze that brought flowers to the once barren and desolate fields.

In Shandong in 1936.

In Zhang Chenglin's heart.

Zhang Chenglin slightly opened his eyes, his not-so-clear "sleepy eyes" filled with images of Feng Yue, as if trying to melt her whole being into his gaze.

The sight of Feng Yue made Zhang Chenglin's heart flutter. He took a step back, then smiled and said softly, "Sir, it's time to get up."

"Hmm," Zhang Chenglin responded, sat up, and remained in that position for a long time, leaving Feng Yue completely puzzled.

It was only much later that Fengyue learned that Zhang Chenglin actually slept in very late. It was just that this was the first time the two of them had been alone together, and the usually shameless Second Young Master Zhang had for the first time cared about his image in front of outsiders, thus establishing a persona of "not sleeping in late."

Seeing that Zhang Chenglin finally made a move, Fengyue brought him the tea she had poured earlier, saying, "Sir, have some tea to soothe your throat."

“Okay.” Zhang Chenglin nodded and took the teacup.

*

When the streetlights came on outside, Zhang Chenglin followed Ji Yuxing and left Huayuelou.

Almost as soon as they stepped out of the Flower Moon Pavilion, the door to the brothel was pushed open.

Fengyue, who was sitting at the table reading a book, looked up and saw that the person who came was Aunt Rong.

Indeed, besides Zhang Chenglin and Aunt Rong, who else would dare to be so presumptuous as to enter her room without even knocking?

"Ah Yue." Aunt Rong smiled, her smile reaching her eyes, her features, and even her heart, lungs, and spleen. Feng Yue knew almost instantly what she wanted to ask.

"It didn't work out," Feng Yue said, answering Aunt Rong's question preemptively.

Aunt Rong's smile froze for a moment, then returned to its usual cheerful tone: "Oh, it's alright. Knowing Zhang Chenglin's temperament, he'll definitely be coming to our Huayue Tower quite often. Just take good care of him from now on."

Feng Yue looked at Aunt Rong's smile, which ultimately didn't reach her eyes, lowered her gaze, nodded, and softly replied, "Okay."

After leaving the brothel, Aunt Rong had only taken a few steps when she said to the person beside her, "Keep an eye on Zhang Chenglin when he comes."

"Yes." The person beside him replied, turning around to glance at Fengyue's tightly closed door with a complicated expression.

Fengyue finished reading a page of the book and looked up to see the teacup on the corner of the table.

That was the one Zhang Chenglin used. The tea inside was gone, leaving only a teacup, all alone.

It did seem rather pitiful.

Feng Yue chuckled and shook her head, feeling that she had truly gone mad.

They called someone in to take away the teapot and teacups.

She knew better than anyone that what she had just seen was not just a teacup, but also herself.

All alone, it did look rather pitiful.

But in this chaotic world, who isn't pitiful?

*

That evening, at the Tan residence in the south of the city.

Madam Tan prepared a table of fine wine and food to entertain Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing for Tan Yuanbo.

Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing had been in Shandong with Tan Yuanbo for some time, and this was the first time they had seen him in Shandong.

Previously, Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing were stationed in Shanghai with Sheng Dongsheng, while Tan Yuanbo was in the Sichuan-Chongqing region, so they didn't have much interaction.

When Sheng Dongsheng first brought Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing to meet Tan Yuanbo, Zhang Chenglin and Tan Yuanbo almost got into a fight—about the geographical location of Northeast China and Shandong and the serious situation there.

Zhang Chenglin grew up with Jiang Yuanxing in Shanghai and later followed Zhang Deyue around, studying abroad and learning a lot of the "martial spirit" of the army. But no matter what, he was raised in a bookish environment and always had some "scholarly air" about him.

Tan Yuanbo was a military man who grew up in the fields. He joined the army in his youth and fought on the battlefield for over thirty years. The southwestern region, including Sichuan and Chongqing, was defended thanks to him. At that time, Zhang Deyue led the National Revolutionary Army in a month-long battle to take over the southwest, but ultimately suffered a major defeat.

Because of this incident, Tan Yuanbo has always hated Zhang Deyue and Zhang Chenglin from the bottom of her heart.

At the time, the top party leaders gave Tan Yuanbo a choice: "Choose one: defend the Northeast or defend Shandong."

Without hesitation, Tan Yuanbo chose Shandong.

“Shandong is located in East China and is too close to the capital. Once the Northeast region falls, Shandong will be the last retreat for the people of the capital. Moreover, Shandong is a plain, which is not easy to defend but easy to attack. If Shandong falls, the entire war situation of China will be very passive.” Tan Yuanbo explained, and the senior leaders of the Party nodded frequently in agreement.

Zhang Chenglin, who was present at the time, disagreed and said, "The Northeast region is the country's first line of defense. What's the use of the second, third, and fourth lines of defense if we don't defend the Northeast region well?"

"Shandong has a very advantageous geographical location, and as you said, it is the last resort for the capital."

"But if we defend the Northeast well, the people of North China will remain at peace, the second, third and fourth lines of defense will be rendered ineffective, and the country will never face peril."

When the senior party leaders remained silent for a moment, Tan Yuanbo couldn't help but speak up: "All talk and no action!"

Zhang Chenglin wanted to defend Northeast China because of two reasons: the ongoing war between North and South Korea and the fact that Ji Yuxing's home was there.

He had a strong sense of national duty, but he also harbored selfish motives.

Regardless, he genuinely admired Tan Yuanbo, a brilliant strategist, and believed that as long as Tan Yuanbo was stationed in the Northeast, the Northeast would remain safe even if war broke out.

Zhang Chenglin sees Tan Yuanbo as a general, but Tan Yuanbo sees herself not only as a general, but also as a politician.

His concern was not the peace of one side amidst war, but the stability of a nation engulfed in conflict.

So the two of them expressed their opinions and argued heatedly about whether to defend Shandong or the Northeast.

After that, the two became irreconcilable enemies, and would exchange a few words every time they met.

Later, orders came down from above, and Tan Yuanbo was stationed in Shandong, accompanied by Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing.

Zhang Chenglin was naturally extremely unwilling. He wanted to go to the Northeast, to the place where the situation was most tense, to the front line where the war had begun.

The reason why Zhang Chenglin was most unwilling to go to Shandong with Tan Yuanbo was that there was a rumor that, according to the superiors, if the war broke out, Sheng Dongsheng had to rush to the Northeast to provide support as soon as possible.

For Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing, Sheng Dongsheng was a mentor, a leader, and a friend. Therefore, from any perspective, Zhang Chenglin was more inclined to follow Sheng Dongsheng.

Finally, Sheng Dongsheng found Zhang Chenglin and said something that Zhang Chenglin would remember for the rest of his life:

"Go to where the Party and the country need you."

"Go where the people need you."

-

Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing arrived at the Tan residence under the cover of night. When they arrived, Tan Yuanbo was still talking with guests, and the servants led them to a separate courtyard.

Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing waited in the villa. November in Shandong was already quite cold, but the house in the villa was warm as spring because a stove was lit.

Zhang Chenglin couldn't help but look around the room in front of him. There was a door, a window, two single sofas, two chairs, and a charcoal stove. That was all.

It's so simple, it doesn't look like the home of a provincial-level official.

Fifteen minutes later, Tan Yuanbo's guests left, and Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing were led to the main house by Tan's servants.

The main house and the room in the detached courtyard were not much different; both were extremely simple.

-

Zhang Chenglin recalled Sheng Dongsheng saying: "Tan Yuanbo is a soldier who doesn't care about wealth and honor. If he has money, he will invest it all in the army, recruit soldiers or provide food and clothing for his subordinates. I have known him for many years and have witnessed him rise from a lowly soldier to a higher and higher leader. But he is still the same person he got to be."

"He met the Communist Party empty-handed, and many years later his reputation soared, yet he still lived a life of poverty."

"There are many people like Tan Yuanbo in the Communist Party, who are willing to sacrifice everything, including their lives, for the Party, the country, and the people."

"If you want to be a part of this team, you have to be prepared to do so at all times."

-

When Tan Yuanbo saw Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing, his usually serious face showed no smile, and he didn't even exchange a few pleasantries. He simply asked, "How long have you been here?"

Ji Yuxing glanced at Zhang Chenglin without showing any emotion, and seeing that he had no intention of speaking, he said, "I just arrived recently."

Ji Yuxing wasn't stupid; he knew that Tan Yuanbo's cold words were meant to express "I've kept you waiting" and "I'm sorry for not welcoming you properly."

Tan Yuanbo didn't say anything, but simply nodded and told them to sit down first.

Mrs. Tan instructed the servants to serve the dishes. The variety of dishes was vastly different from the decor of Tan Yuanbo's home. Zhang Chenglin even felt that Tan Yuanbo had prepared the most upscale meal to entertain the two of them.

Indeed, such a banquet has only been held twice in the more than thirty years since Tan Yuanbo's last residence.

One instance was a few years ago when the General Secretary—the Party's top leader—visited the Tan family residence in Sichuan and Chongqing.

And then this time.

Tan Yuanbo genuinely considered Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing as his own people, and truly recognized their abilities and their dedication to the country and its people.