Chapter 27: The Brothers Capture the Dark Ghost and Prepare Their Troops, Lone Cloud Enters the Battlefield
The day after the wedding, Luo Guyun, Yi Shui, Li Erhu, and their group packed up and set off overland for Anyang. Passing through Hanchang, they inspected the arsenal and met with Mayor Zhang and relevant officials to discuss building a railway directly from Shanghai to Hanchang to facilitate the future transportation of munitions. After more than ten days of travel, they arrived in Anyang in mid-July.
Under a blazing sun, Luo Guoyun stood on a high platform, his handsome face etched with a resolute gaze and a powerful aura emanating from him. He reviewed the troops and announced the upcoming march. The soldiers sang resounding military songs, their roars shaking the heavens, and the commander-in-chief's shouts of victory echoed like a tsunami, revealing the beauty of unstoppable strength.
Everything remains the same, except for the handsome figure in red clothes.
As soon as Luo Guyun arrived in Anyang, he went directly to the military base to comfort the soldiers and deploy combat plans. After everything was arranged, he returned to the Luo Mansion in the city to rest.
After the Spring Festival, the old housekeeper of the Luo Mansion retired and returned home, and Qionghua became the housekeeper of the mansion. Now she was seven months pregnant, with a big belly, and was directing the servants to sweep the courtyard, prepare a banquet, and welcome the master's return. Seeing Luo Guoyun, she was both happy and sad, and kept muttering: "It would be great if the young master was here... After I got married, the commander-in-chief took the young master away. Luo Ta wanted to apologize to the young master, but he didn't have the chance. We originally said that we would thank the young master when you came back. My wife and I also wanted him to name the unborn child... Who knew he went so far away! The young master is simple-minded and weak. He is alone outside without anyone reliable to take care of him. Qionghua is really worried..." She hurriedly took out an envelope: "...This letter has been here for several days. It was forwarded from Shanghai. Young master, please take a look. Maybe it was written by the young master!"
Luo Guoyun took it, opened it, and saw that it was from Xiao Qin. The Shanghai guards waited at the port every day, and whenever there was a letter, they would immediately forward it to Anyang as Luo Guoyun instructed. Luo Guoyun had been delayed on the road for some time, so this letter had arrived before him.
Xiao Qin wrote that Master Xiangyue had been doing well since boarding the ship. However, when the ship reached the Indian Ocean, it encountered a violent storm, tossing and turning violently, causing most of the crew to become seasick. The young master vomited everything he ate, remaining refraining from eating or drinking for days and nights. He tried various remedies for seasickness, but to no avail. By the end, he was so weak he couldn't even get out of bed. Upon arrival, Madam Daisy rushed Master Xiangyue directly to the hospital.
Mr. Charade met the young master for the first time on a hospital bed. Seventeen years ago, Francis was lying on the hospital bed in the same haggard state before he died. Mr. Charade seemed to have seen his seventeen-year-old son again. He was so excited that he could not express it in words. He told everyone that his son was not dead and had returned from the distant East. He poured all his love for his son into the young master Xiangyue, staying by his bedside day and night, and invited the royal physician of the Swedish family to treat the young master. Xiao Xiangyue was not seriously ill, but was extremely weak because he could not eat. After receiving nutritional injections in the hospital and resting for a few days, he has recovered a lot. Everyone was afraid that the young master would be too tired, so they did not let him read or write, and just let him rest quietly. Xiao Qin was afraid that Luo Guoyun would worry, so he quickly wrote a letter back to report that he was safe.
Yue'er's condition was pretty much as expected, she was just seasick and nothing serious. Luo Guyun felt relieved.
That evening, Luo's residence held a grand banquet, which was extremely lively. Officers and soldiers from Luo Guoyun's army, as well as the dignitaries and gentry of Anyang City, gathered together to welcome the commander-in-chief back.
Luo Guyun had a good alcohol tolerance and was very self-disciplined, rarely getting drunk. Tonight, he was at his old house, and knowing Yue'er was safe, he felt relaxed, chatting and laughing with everyone, accepting all offers and drinking bowl after bowl with great enthusiasm and generosity.
The soldiers could see that the commander-in-chief was in a good mood tonight, and they all came over to toast him. Li Erhu and several adjutants wanted to step forward to block the wine for him, but Yi Shui stopped them and said, "Third brother, you have been worried about Yue'er day and night recently. You are happy tonight, and you are at home, so it's okay to drink a few more cups."
The atmosphere was tense when someone started a commotion, saying they admired the commander-in-chief's calligraphy and wanted to obtain a copy. A secretary quickly offered him brush and ink. Luo Guoyun, already a little tipsy, picked up his pen and without hesitation wrote the words "A bright moon rises over the sea, and we share this moment across the world." His strokes were so powerful that they pierced through the paper, and the crowd roared with applause.
Chairman Zhou of the Mining Chamber of Commerce is the richest man in Anyang City. Seeing that the Commander-in-Chief is in a good mood today, he quickly said, "My family has spent a huge amount of money to build a new Buddhist temple. We have bought a jade statue of Guanyin for worship, and we plan to worship Buddha every day. However, we have never found a suitable plaque for the entrance of the temple. Could you please write a few words for it?" Luo Guoyun thought for a moment and wrote two lines of words: "A piece of stone and a lonely peak glimpse the colors, the breeze and the bright moon illuminate the Zen heart." The words were simple, clear and vigorous, and the rhythm was solemn. Everyone was amazed again. Chairman Zhou's face lit up, and he said happily: "Thank you very much, Commander-in-Chief Luo, for your kindness. I will give you the fee for writing the calligraphy another day..."
Yi Shui chuckled to himself. Third Brother was truly drunk, his mind clear, his words lingering on the moon. He used someone else's Buddhist temple as a place to display affection, and was even being thanked...
After the feast, Luo Guyun was drunk, a rare sight. Yishui and Li Erhu helped him back to his bedroom, flanked by several aides and secretaries. Qionghua and the maids bustled about, preparing sobering soup and wiping him with hot towels. Luo Guyun was so drunk that he kept mumbling, "Yue'er... Yue'er... I want Yue'er..."
Erhu complained, "I just don't understand how the young master could bear to let the young master go so far away alone. If I were here, I would definitely try to persuade him. Seeing the young master suffer like this is really heartbreaking." Yishui teased, "Your two young masters are both love-struck. They are willing to die for each other. What's so scary about suffering a little?"
After Luo Guyun fell into a drowsy sleep, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.
It was already three o'clock in the morning, and the vast Luo Mansion was drenched in darkness, without a single light. A figure sneaked into Luo Guyun's bedroom, quietly crept to the bedside, and said in a low, gentle voice, "Commander-in-Chief, since Master Xiao is not here, let Yumin warm your bed..."
The lights outside the house were bright. Yi Shui kicked the door open and strode into the house. He shouted at the person lying on the bed, trembling with fear, "It's you!" Luo Guyun had also sat up and kicked the person in front of him a few feet away. He sneered, "Who the hell are you? You are worthy of mentioning Yue'er?"
On Xiao Xiangyue's birthday, Luo Guyun heard him mention the love letter and the date. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. These matters were extremely confidential, so how could they have reached his ears? And the rumors that had been circulating recently, although they were groundless, some of the details mentioned, such as the Peace Hotel and the piano, were completely unknown to outsiders. There must be a reason for the rumor. Could it be that someone was deliberately spreading rumors and gossiping in front of Yue'er? Luo Guyun couldn't figure it out. Yue'er was simple and kind, and treated people kindly. Everyone in the mansion liked him. Who was trying to harm him? And for what purpose?
After hearing about this, Yi Shui and Yi Han also felt that the matter was serious, so they kept silent during this period and continued to investigate secretly.
Luo Guyun's daily correspondence and travel arrangements are all handled by the Confidential Office. There are a total of six secretaries, four men and two women. Those who can enter the Confidential Office are all very reliable people who have been screened at various levels. The chief secretary, Wu Chengliang, is nearly fifty years old, mature and steady. He was an old subordinate who followed Luo Qifeng in the past, so there should be no problem. Among the remaining three men and two women, who is the traitor? After two months of open and secret investigations, the suspect has been basically locked in. They were too busy to deal with this person along the way, so when they returned to the old house tonight, Yi Shui and Luo Guyun made a strategy to use this trick to lure him into the trap. Li Erhu is honest and simple, and he was afraid of revealing his flaws, so he even hid it from him.
The man who infiltrated Luo Guoyun's bedroom was Tao Yumin, a secretary in the Confidential Office. He was in his twenties, handsome, and a graduate of Yenching University. He was a skilled writer. He had been connected to Mayor Wu and had previously worked for Yi Han in business. Yi Shui, impressed by his ability and diligence, checked his background and found no flaws. After a period of investigation, he was transferred to the Confidential Office as a secretary.
After Luo Guoyun brought Xiao Xiangyue to the Shanghai mansion, Tao Yumin saw how attentive and caring the commander-in-chief was towards Xiao Xiangyue, eagerly offering him everything, no matter how good it was. She assumed Luo Guoyun was a man of many talents, and that Xiao Xiangyue, simply because he was handsome and favored by the commander-in-chief, could have everything he wanted. She felt a mixture of envy and jealousy. She thought that since she graduated from a prestigious university and was not bad looking, if she could win the commander-in-chief's favor, she would be on the rise, calling the shots and having everything she wanted. She initially tried to sow discord in front of Xiao Xiangyue, but seeing that her words had no effect and that the relationship between them was as solid as a rock, she deliberately spread rumors, saying that Xiao Xiangyue was using her beauty to please others, relying on selling her body for fame and fortune. However, the more slanderous words he leveled against Yue'er, the more Luo Guoyun protected him. The two of them were almost inseparable, and Tao Yumin never had a chance. Finally, Xiao Xiangyue had left. Luo Guyun had been in a bad mood for the past two months, with a bad temper, often scolding his subordinates, and Tao Yumin didn't dare approach him. Today, seeing the commander-in-chief happy and drunk, Tao Yumin thought he had finally caught his chance and eagerly walked into the trap set by Luo Guyun and Yi Shui.
The courtyard was brightly lit. Tao Yumin, bound and thrown on the bluestone pavement in the center, lay in two columns. The guards formed two lines, one on each side. Luo Guyun sat on a throne in the corridor, Yi Shui standing nearby. The servants, hearing the commotion late at night and wondering what was going on, gathered in the courtyard. Li Erhu, Qionghua, and others who lived next door also got up and went to the courtyard to investigate.
Luo Guyun squinted his eyes at the person on the ground, his expression unrecognizable, his voice as cold as ice: "Tell me, how did you frame Yue'er? What did you do?"
Seeing that the matter was exposed, Tao Yumin was desperate. With a fierce look in his eyes and a face full of resentment, he stiffened his neck and said, "If Xiao can do it, why can't I?"
Luo Guyun chuckled coldly and was about to speak... Qionghua, standing by, figured it out. His master had always been kind and compassionate, never easily getting angry, but today, in the middle of the night, he'd started a fight because this person had harmed the young master! The country woman, a fierce and aggressive woman, rushed forward and slapped the man on the ground with several loud slaps, leaving him stunned. With her big belly sticking out, she put her hands on her hips and cursed: "Who the hell are you? Why don't you take a piss and look in the mirror! With your dog character, you are not even worthy of licking my young master's feet! You are just a toad... a beast! How could your mother raise such a bastard like you! You are so immoral and damnable... You have done so many bad things that your ancestors would be so angry that they would crawl out of the coffin and tear your skin apart! The words that come out of your dog mouth are stinkier than the shit in the pit! You are so unscrupulous! How dare you have evil ideas towards my young master..." Qionghua cursed people in all kinds of ways, and cursed all eight generations of the Tao family's ancestors.
Xiao Xiangyue had lived in the old house for over a month last year, and the servants all liked this handsome, good-natured master. When they heard that the general was angry because this guy had framed the young master, they were all filled with righteous indignation and surrounded him, beating him up with fists and kicks. For a moment, saliva flew everywhere, and the guards on both sides of the line were useless.
Luo Guyun was already filled with rage, but after this incident, he felt that it was more satisfying than just shooting the man dead. He said in a deep voice, "Take this man to jail and await your punishment."
Tao Yumin wanted to make one last desperate move, shouting frantically, "Commander-in-Chief Luo is a man of great talent and strategy, yet he wants to punish his subordinates just for a male favorite. If this gets out, isn't he afraid of being laughed at by the world?"
Yi Shui frowned, threw a stack of letters at his feet, and said coldly, "What a scoundrel! Even when you're about to die, you still want to blame Yue'er! Do you really think we don't know about what you've done? You're a traitor, a traitor, and you're only interested in climbing the ladder. You reported all of our bandit suppression plans to Nanjing. If Yue'er's unintentional words hadn't let the commander-in-chief discover the clues, you would have succeeded!"
Luo Guyun was about to get up and go back to the house, but when he heard the word "male concubine", he turned around and looked at the person lying on the ground, his eyes flashing.
Li Erhu, who had been following him for years, knew he was ready to kill. He pulled out his pistol, put it to Tao Yumin's head, and was about to pull the trigger. Luo Guyun's face turned pale. After a moment's hesitation, he waved his hand and said, "Yue'er doesn't like the sight of blood. Don't stain the courtyard. Drag him down and let him be court-martialed."
Three days later, the troops set out, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers rushed to the battlefield.
This battle didn't originally require the commander-in-chief to personally lead the troops. Luo Guoyun decided to lead the troops himself, firstly because the Japanese army was eyeing Northeast China and could invade at any time. Future war was inevitable, so this was a good opportunity to train the troops. Secondly, it was also a chance to test the combat effectiveness of the new weapons manufactured by the military factories and the speed of logistical supply, thus preparing for future wars.
To avoid disturbing the local people, the strategy for suppressing the bandits was mainly to expel them. The enemy was driven into the mountains and sparsely populated areas before being stopped. The conditions were extremely harsh, with people sleeping in the open air.
Luo Guoyun commanded from the battlefield, living and eating with the soldiers. He played hard to get, bluffing and playing a game of cat and mouse with the enemy, making much noise but little action. The war raged across several provinces, lasting for more than half a year, and even the Spring Festival was spent in the freezing cold in the camp.
On the Lantern Festival, the soldiers hunted some roe deer, hares, and mountain goats, lit a blazing bonfire, and celebrated the commander-in-chief's 24th birthday in the snow.
Luo Guoyun, Yishui, and his lieutenants sat around a bonfire, drinking and chatting. Recalling last year's Lantern Festival, when Yue'er had played the violin at the banquet to celebrate his birthday, he couldn't help but feel sad. Now they were far apart.
Yi Shui knew that he was missing Xiao Xiangyue again, so he tried to comfort him. He deliberately joked, "Your Yue'er is a treasure, and we brothers are just weeds! Is there anyone like you who values love over friendship?"
Adjutant Lin spoke bluntly: "What do you mean, Deputy Commander?"
Apart from fighting, Luo Guyun often said that it was a good thing that he sent Yue'er abroad. If she had stayed with him and suffered hardships, how could he bear to let her go?
Luo Guyun laughed and said, "As the eldest brother, you are jealous of Yue'er! In my heart, Yue'er is of course a treasure, a priceless treasure! If I had a beloved one, I'm afraid I would also treat her as a treasure..."
Yi Shui sighed and said, "Third brother, don't think that all relationships in the world are as happy as yours and Yue'er's. Most people are either motivated by profit or just trying to get by. Even if there are those who marry for love, that love cannot withstand the test of time and often fades away or changes its nature. There are very few who can stay together forever and grow old together. Big brother has become indifferent to it. Like Yi Han, he has no plans to get married in this life."
Luo Guyun's handsome face, illuminated by the flickering bonfire, seemed even more three-dimensional and profound. He thought about his past with Yue'er, lost in thought for a moment before speaking softly, "I don't know about others, but Third Brother and Yue'er are truly incredibly happy together. There's no greater happiness in the world than this. It's like drinking nectar, leaving anything else bland. No matter how much one sacrifices for this, it's worth it."
The campaign against bandits continued until early summer of the following year. The soldiers were so well-trained that they were strong and brave, and the troops moved swiftly and quickly, their combat capabilities greatly enhanced. They annihilated a small number of the bandits, driving the rest into the barren northwest before calling it a day. By the time they returned to Anyang City, it was already early May.
The troops returned triumphantly, and the Luo residence was festooned with lights and streamers, a scene of jubilation. The Nanjing government, in recognition of Luo Guoyun's achievements in suppressing bandits, allocated a substantial amount of military pay, and the Chairman sent a special commissioner to offer condolences and commendations. A crowd of officials gathered at the main gate, craning their necks to gaze. As Luo Guoyun's motorcade arrived, firecrackers blared, and gongs and drums roared.
Qionghua had given birth to a daughter, six months old. Luo Ta, holding her daughter, stood out in the crowd, towering over her. Luo Guoyun ignored the fawning crowd and, seeing the child's delicate beauty, pinched her face and strode into the house.
Without waiting for Luo Guoyun to settle down, Qionghua quickly held out a large pile of letters and said, "For the past six months, there have been letters forwarded from Shanghai almost every two weeks. The young master is away fighting and his whereabouts are uncertain, so we can't contact him, so Qionghua has been collecting them for him. Look, there are so many already... Young master, take a look, they must be from the young master."
Luo Guyun, impatient with socializing, sent Yishui, Li Erhu, and his lieutenants to dismiss the officials. He held the letters in his hands, as if they were treasures. He closed the door and carefully read each one.
Xiao Xiangyue's letter was still the same as before, rambling and covering every detail, and she couldn't wait to share everything with Brother Yun.
The letter said Mr. Charade treated him like a father, giving in to him in almost every way and caring for him meticulously, transferring all the love he had for his deceased son to him. While the other students lived in the dormitories, he lived in Mr. Charade's home. Francis was also allergic to pollen, so Mr. Charade's garden, devoid of any flowers or plants, was just right for him.
School started in June, with Mr. Charade as his tutor. He majored in composition, taking keyboard and orchestral instruments as electives. There were over twenty students in his class, hailing from all over the world, including Thailand, India, England, Arabia, Japan, and the United States. He was the only Chinese student. The students, through gestures and demonstrations, quickly overcame the language barrier.
Mr. Charade's teaching style was different from that of his father and uncle. He was not very demanding of him, allowing him to fully develop his own ideas. However, he had a good memory and could remember a piece after hearing it once. Mr. Charade often did nothing but listen to him play the piano and compose, occasionally giving him some guidance, and that was considered the end of his teaching.
He made rapid progress and was the most outstanding student in the class. Mr. Charade made no secret of his preference for him and was generous with his praise, often declaring him a genius in front of everyone. He was particularly interested in Western symphonies and classical music, which he had never been exposed to before. Through systematic study at school, he gained a more refined understanding and interpretation of music.
The classmates were all very playful and often held small concerts in their spare time. The classmates loved to listen to his performances on oriental instruments such as the flute, pipa, zheng, guqin, and erhu, which was very popular.
He also came into contact with unique musical instruments from all over the world, such as the Japanese shakuhachi, the British bagpipes, the Arabic oud, etc., each with its own characteristics and very beautiful and pleasant to listen to.
School life is rich and varied. I finally get to experience the feeling of attending a formal school, which is very interesting. The only thing I'm not used to is the food. I can't eat milk or cheese, and I don't really like chicken or steak. Xiao Qin's medical school is not far away, so every day after class I come home and cook him delicious meals in various ways, often using herbal remedies. So, he's doing well.
I just miss Brother Yun so much. It's snowing, so I'm listening to Brother Yun and covering my mouth and nose with a large scarf and walking carefully. It's getting late, and I remember Brother Yun's advice not to stay up late, so I go to bed on time. Brother Yun also said I can't go on an empty stomach in the morning, so I insist on eating breakfast every day...
Ever since receiving Brother Yun's letter saying he was going to the front lines to fight bandits, there's been no news since, and Yue'er is deeply worried. Although Second Brother wrote that you were traveling with your troops in the mountains and unable to communicate, but not seeing Brother Yun's handwriting, I'm still a little worried...
On the night of the Lantern Festival, Yue'er missed Brother Yun so much that she broke her promise to go to bed on time and spent the entire night composing a song, which she would play for Brother Yun when she got home...
Mr. Charade will be touring various European countries soon, and Yue'er will be accompanying him. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have invited Mr. and Yue'er to a concert at their French winery. It would be so nice if Brother Yun were there...
Stockholm is beautiful. Princess Bena of Sweden often invites Yue'er and her classmates to parties at the palace. But the food at the parties is terrible. Yue'er never feels full. It's nothing like the delicious dishes cooked by the chefs from Yangzhou when we entertain guests at the mansion...
Luo Guyun read more than a dozen letters, frowning and smiling at times. He felt as if the moon was chirping beside his ears again, his breath audible.
During the war, he carried some old photos of Xiao Xiangyue with him, looking through them almost every day and even keeping them next to his pillow when he slept. There were also a few photos enclosed in these letters, some of Xiao Xiangyue, Mr. Charade, and classmates, some of them performing at parties, some of them relaxing in the courtyard.
Tucked inside a recent letter was a photo of Yue in school uniform. He possessed strikingly handsome features and a noble demeanor, his gaze fixed forward, a gaze that seemed to penetrate the photograph and melt into the depths of his gaze. Written on the back in crooked handwriting were the words: "Brother Yun, Yue'er is eighteen years old! April 1, 1935."
Luo Guyun stroked the photo over and over, unable to get enough of it. A year after their separation, Yue'er seemed taller, more handsome, and more refined. He placed the photo against his lips, gently pecking at it, like a treasure, pressing it to his chest, unwilling to let go.
Several other letters were from Xiao Qin, explaining that to better care for Young Master Xiangyue, he had enrolled in medical school nearby. The young master wasn't used to the local cuisine and ate very little. Fortunately, he'd brought plenty of Chinese medicinal herbs, and by making a variety of different herbal remedies daily, he was generally well-nourished. The young master was a diligent student and a music lover. Apart from eating and sleeping, he spent almost all his time studying, often spending entire days in the library or piano room on his days off.
On Christmas Eve, it was snowing heavily and the temperature was very low. The young master was happy and played in the snow with his classmates for a while longer. As a result, he caught a cold and developed a high fever the next day, which led to pneumonia. He had this high fever for more than ten days, and when he was delirious with fever, he kept calling for Brother Yun. When he was a little more awake, he held the general's letters and photo albums, reluctant to let go.
Seventeen years ago, Francis also contracted pneumonia and eventually died. Mr. Charade was so worried that his already graying hair turned completely white. He stayed by his bedside day and night and invited the best Swedish doctor to treat the young master. Later, he used a newly invented drug, penicillin injection. After several injections, the fever subsided and he gradually recovered. After a serious illness, his body was weak. All winter, Mr. Charade insisted on not letting the young master go to the classroom. He tutored him at home. He recuperated for more than two months, and only after the spring did he slowly return to normal.
Luo Guyun's brow furrowed as he read. Xiao Xiangyue's letter didn't mention her illness at all. Judging from the date of the letter, it had been over a month since December. Luo Guyun knew, of course, that Yue'er would write to him continuously as long as she could hold on. The lack of letters meant, of course, something must have happened... Silly Yue'er, she'd been like this since she was little, afraid to worry him... Luo Guyun closed his eyes, imagining Xiao Xiangyue lingering on her sickbed, calling out to him, and tears welled up in his eyes.
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