Chapter 36: Watanabe plots to protect his teacher and student Xiangyue, who is willing to be held hostage.
Japanese Central China Theater Command.
Under the cover of night, a state-of-the-art helicopter circled and landed on the lawn in front of the door.
A dashing young general disembarked from the plane. The officers and soldiers at the headquarters had been waiting in formation for a long time. They bowed in unison and shouted in unison, "Welcome General Watanabe! Commander Watanabe, please come in and hear us!"
The young general was none other than the new commander of the Japanese Central China Theater, Hiko Watanabe.
The Japanese suffered repeated setbacks in the Far East and were unable to win the war. Prime Minister Tojo, the supreme commander at the time, sent his most trusted general, Hiko Watanabe, to the Central China battlefield in an attempt to reverse the defeat.
Watanabe Hiko, dressed in a neatly tailored general's uniform, held his sister Junko by his left arm and carried a small, dark brown suitcase in his right. The guards hurried to take it, but he declined the attentive attendants, nodded slightly to the officers and soldiers lined up to welcome him, and personally carried the suitcase, accompanied by his adjutant, into the headquarters.
Watanabe Hiko had married Ono Chiyo five years ago, but this time he did not bring his wife with him, only his younger sister Junko.
Junko had been familiar with classics like "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Dream of the Red Chamber" since childhood and had a particular fondness for Chinese culture. When she heard her brother was going to China for a post, she begged him to come along. Though stern and serious, Watanabe Hiko was deeply devoted to his only sister. Thinking that, despite the wartime, the Japanese army had already occupied most of China and possessed an absolute military advantage, and that her safety was assured, he granted her wish. As a precaution, Watanabe Hiko placed his sister in an ancient Tang Dynasty temple a hundred miles from his headquarters. The temple's abbot, Master Kongneng, was a Japanese monk who had traveled in China for many years and was a family friend of the Watanabe family, making him a very reliable person.
It was already late at night when they returned to their base after settling Junko down. Watanabe Hiko sat beneath the lamp, lost in thought, staring at the small suitcase he never left behind. After much hesitation, he finally opened it and began to caress the items inside, each one as if inspecting a treasured possession, solemn and reverent.
In the small suitcase, there were only an old shirt and a disc, and the rest were piles of photos...The young man in the photos was noble and handsome, and they were photos of Xiao Xiangyue on various occasions over the years, including visits and performances in the United States!
...This was a secret Watanabe Hiko had hidden for years, a secret unknown to the world! He struggled, suffered, and blamed himself for it, but no matter how hard he struggled, he could not escape the obsession with that figure, that face, and the mad desire to possess it for himself...
Seven years had passed, and he couldn't forget those eyes, shimmering with light, by the misty hot springs. But those eyes were always fixed on his lover, that equally handsome man, never even glancing at anyone else... Beneath the vibrant cherry blossoms, that stunning figure, the song "Moon Over the Deserted City," astonishing and shocking, the shock it brought him was difficult to describe in words... And that lingering, deep kiss, even now, when he thinks of it, his soul trembles...
He felt ashamed and blamed himself. As a noble warrior, he took advantage of a man, and he did something dirty and despicable! He could not forgive himself... He exiled himself to Hokkaido for two whole years, living an ascetic life. But the physical torture could not alleviate the mental pain at all. The slightly yellowed white shirt was what Xiao Xiangyue had changed out of on the train that year. He secretly hid it. When he missed her madly, he would take it out and sniff it deeply, as if the person's body fragrance was still lingering on the clothes... There was also a disc with the person's autograph on it. He often stroked and played with it over and over again... He was familiar with all of Xiao Xiangyue's music, and every melody couldn't be more familiar...
He also felt that he was possessed by a demon. To make up for his inner guilt and to forget the lingering figure, he married the beautiful and gentle Chiyo five years ago. However, the name he often called out in his dreams was Yue... Yue...
Hanchang wartime command center.
All the soldiers gathered in the conference room to discuss the battle situation.
In front of Luo Guyun was a secret telegram: Watanabe Hiko, the new commander-in-chief of the Japanese Central China Theater, arrived in Shanghai.
Yi Shui was worried: "I heard that Watanabe Hiko was a master of military strategy in the wars against the Soviet Union and Korea, and he never suffered a defeat. He is known as the 'God of War' of the Japanese Army. This time, he was entrusted with an important task by Tojo. He is a formidable enemy who is invading central China! He should not be underestimated!"
"Finally, I have to confront him head-on..." Luo Guyun frowned.
Adjutant Lin shouted, "Who cares if he's a god of war or a god of plague? With the commander-in-chief here, why should we be afraid of him?"
Secretary Wu was also worried: "Hanchang City has been under siege for a long time, and the possibility of our breaking out by force is almost zero. The only way is to achieve victory by surprise and launch a surprise attack on the Japanese headquarters in Wugang, 300 miles away, so that they will be attacked from both sides and be at a loss. However, Wugang is heavily guarded by the Japanese army. Our army has tried several times but failed, and countless brothers have been sacrificed in vain. With the arrival of Watanabe Hiko, I am afraid there is no hope..."
The conference room was filled with smoke, and the generals were engaged in a heated discussion. Dongdong rushed in like a whirlwind, dragging Xiao Xiangyue with him. Before he could even stand still, he shouted, "Commander-in-Chief, please agree to let Brother Yue'er go to Hanlin to attend Dongdong's graduation ceremony!"
Hanlin City, about a hundred miles from Hanchang, is the hometown of General Zhang Zizhong, the renowned general who recently died fighting in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Dongdong is graduating from Tiannian Conservatory of Music this year, and the students plan to hold a graduation concert there in the general's memory. Dongdong, who is closest to Xiao Xiangyue, naturally wants to invite him to his graduation ceremony. Luo Guoyun originally wanted to accompany him personally, but he was currently busy planning a storming of the Japanese base at Wugang and was unable to spare the time. Hanlin would require at least one night's stay, and he hesitated, reluctant to part with Yue'er even for a moment.
Relying on Xiao Xiangyue's favor, Dongdong was one of the few people who dared to act like a spoiled child in front of Luo Guyun. Seeing that he wouldn't give in, he pleaded again, "Don't worry, General, we'll only stay for one night... We'll be back in one night! Principal Wu and Aunt Mei are both gone! We promise! We'll return Brother Yue'er to the Commander-in-Chief without missing a single hair!"
As soon as Luo Guyun saw them coming in, he hurriedly threw the cigarette butt he had just taken a few puffs on the ground and stomped it out. He was a heavy smoker, but he never smoked in front of Yue'er. Those who didn't know would think that Xiao Xiangyue didn't allow him to smoke. Only a few close followers such as Yishui Erhu knew that Xiao Xiangyue was born to like novelty and playfulness. When he saw him smoking, he was itching to grab the cigarette and try a few puffs himself. Xiao Xiangyue had a bad lung and would cough when he inhaled the smell of cigarettes. How could Luo Guyun bear to let him smoke, so every time he saw someone coming from a distance, he would quickly put out the cigarette butt.
Seeing Mei and Xiaoxin also running in, they joined in, "Brother Luo, please let Yue'er go with the others! Dongdong is Yue'er's direct disciple. It would be such a shame if he couldn't even attend the graduation ceremony! Besides...with us here, we will definitely be able to protect Yue'er and prevent him from getting into any trouble..."
Luo Guyun couldn't persuade the others, and seeing that Xiao Xiangyue was also very eager to go, he had no choice but to call the chief guard Wu Fang and ask him to bring an elite squad for close protection. He thought that the main force of the Japanese army was stationed at the Wugang military base, and a small part was surrounded outside Hanchang City. The two pass fortresses to Hanlin were in his hands, and with the garrison of over ten thousand people there, he should be able to ensure safety. He also thought that Hanchang City had been under siege for a long time and the city's ammunition and food were almost exhausted. The army had planned to storm Wugang tomorrow night. This was a risky move that they had to take, and the fighting would surely be very fierce. It was good that Yue'er was not there, so that he would not be frightened.
Yesterday, the sun was shining brightly, but this morning, the weather changed, with a light drizzle. Thinking of Xiao Xiangyue's departure for Hanlin this morning with the teachers and students from the Conservatory of Music, Luo Guoyun quickly woke him up after his morning exercise and had breakfast together. He personally tied a camel-colored plaid wool scarf around him, held a large black umbrella, and carried him to the starting point. He kept nagging along the way: "Don't eat anything you want..." "Call me if you can't sleep..." "Just watch the performance, don't go on stage yourself, don't tire yourself..." "Don't go to crowded places, be careful you might get lost..."
Secretary Fang, who was following behind, burst out laughing: "Commander-in-Chief, do you still think Master Xiangyue is a child? Don't worry! With us by his side, we will make sure he won't get lost!" Luo Guyun turned around and glared at Secretary Fang: "Yue'er will always be ten years old in my heart!"
Watching the car full of teachers and students slowly drive away, Luo Guyun stood in the rain with a large umbrella, still pausing in his place, unwilling to leave. Xiao Xiangyue leaned out of the car window, a bright smile on his handsome face, and waved, "Brother Yun, go home soon. Don't worry! Yue'er will be back tomorrow!"
The Battle of Dock Harbor went exceptionally smoothly.
That night, Luo Guyun commanded the Hanchang City while Yishui led a large force in a general offensive. They encountered little resistance, captured over 3,000 Japanese soldiers, and seized all the base's supplies and weapons. Luo Guyun received an excited call from Adjutant Lin at the front lines: "The Japanese keep bragging about Watanabe Hiko being a god of war, but I think he's just a fool! We've already destroyed his lair, let's see what he can do..."
The graduation concert was held in the Hanlin Auditorium. The large auditorium was packed, and the performances were brilliant, drawing bursts of enthusiastic applause from the audience. Xiao Xiangyue sat front row, absorbed in the students' performances. His distinguished demeanor and handsome features, illuminated by the stage lights, looked especially captivating.
The performance ended with a grand ensemble of all the teachers and students. The audience stood up and applauded. Xiao Xiangyue also stood up, her palms red with excitement.
A burst of fierce gunfire drowned out the thunderous applause, and someone shouted: "Run! The Japs are attacking!" The hall fell into chaos.
Captain Wu Fang, the captain of the imperial guards, staggered in, covered in blood. Before he could get close to Xiao Xiangyue, he was captured by a group of fully armed Japanese soldiers with guns and live ammunition.
The soldiers were divided into two teams, and in the middle came a young general with a heroic face and a stern temperament.
The young general strode up to Xiao Xiangyue, stopped, took off his military cap, and looked directly at him with sharp and deep eyes: "Lord Xiangyue, how are you?"
After receiving the victory call from Adjutant Lin, Luo Guyun was excited, but he also felt something was amiss. He lit a cigarette and half-closed his eyes in thought. The phone rang rapidly. This time it was Commander Wang stationed in Hanlin. Amidst the chaos on the other end of the line, Commander Wang's panicked voice said, "Tens of thousands of elite Japanese troops have suddenly appeared! Our army is outnumbered, and all our men have been killed. Hanlin is about to fall..." Before he could finish his words, the signal was cut off, and only a "beep...beep..." sound came from the receiver.
Luo Guyun jumped up from his chair in shock as if struck by lightning... It was unbelievable that the Japanese army gave up this golden opportunity to break through Hanchang City, abandoned their military base, and turned to attack an insignificant Hanlin!
The microphone in his hand fell to the ground, and Luo Guyun's legs went limp, and he slumped down in his chair... Suddenly, he realized something, and regretted it all! He had been careless! How could he forget that his opponent was Watanabe Hiko, whose eyes burned with fire whenever he looked at Yue'er! Only Watanabe Hiko would do such a crazy thing! He would miss the golden opportunity to break into the city and even sacrifice the military base, all for Yue'er!
Luo Guyun seemed to be drained of energy as he collapsed to the ground, holding his head with both hands in vain, muttering to himself: "Yue'er... Yue'er... It was my brother who harmed you..."
Hanlin Auditorium.
Xiao Xiangyue was startled for a moment, but quickly calmed down. She stared at the young general in front of her with clear eyes, as if asking a question, but also as if talking to herself: "General Watanabe? Is it you?"
Seeing the person he had been thinking about day and night standing in front of him, his chest heaved slightly. He suppressed his inner excitement and said calmly, "It's me! Xiangyue-kun, you must be surprised. That year in Japan, I tried to persuade you to stay, but Xiangyue-kun insisted on leaving... This time, I'm afraid you have no choice but to come with me!"
Xiao Xiangyue pursed her lips and asked, "What are you going to do?" Watanabe Yan said, "The lives of everyone in Hanlin City are in your hands. It all depends on what you choose!" Xiao Xiangyue said in a clear voice, "As long as you don't harm the people, and... as long as the teachers and students of the Conservatory of Music return to Hanchang safely, I'll do whatever you want with you!"
Watanabe Hiko was followed by a traitor who acted as an interpreter. He said sinisterly: "Mr. Xiao wants to negotiate terms when he is about to die? It's because our general is kind-hearted that he specifically told you to wait until the performance is over! Humph... otherwise you wouldn't be alive until now..." Watanabe Hiko's sharp eyes swept over him, and scared the traitor so much that he swallowed the second half of his sentence.
Adjutant Inoue, who was following Watanabe Hiko, slapped the traitor in the face and cursed, "The general and Mr. Xiao are talking, how can you, a dog slave, butt in?"
Watanabe Yan said proudly, "Whatever Xiangyue-kun requests, I will naturally agree to it! As long as you are willing to come with me, the rest of us will be sure to return safely! I can also guarantee that the people of Hanlin City will not be harmed." Xiao Xiangyue bit her lower lip and said resolutely, "Okay! Xiangyue believes that the general will not break his promise!"
Dongdong suddenly rushed out of the crowd and threw himself at him desperately, shouting, "Brother Yue'er, you can't be left alone. Dongdong must stay with you!" The soldiers standing in the front row raised their guns and opened fire. Xiao Xiangyue was shocked and turned sideways, tightly hugging Dongdong in her arms. With a "bang", the bullet hit his left arm, and blood splattered everywhere.
Watanabe Hiko rushed forward, pulled Dongdong away and supported the staggering person.
Adjutant Inoue Zaki had been a close confidant of Watanabe Hiko for many years and knew his intentions well. He kicked the soldier's gun away and shouted, "The general ordered not to shoot in front of Mr. Xiao! Are you so bold? Take him down and be court-martialed!"
The teachers and students of Tiannian Conservatory of Music were driven out of Hanlin City by the Japanese army and returned safely to Hanchang. Only Xiao Xiangyue was missing.
When Luo Guyun heard that Yue'er had been shot, his eyes turned blood red, and he was about to lead his men to attack Hanlin. Yi Shui regretted, "That year in Japan, my third brother realized that Watanabe Yan had ulterior motives towards Yue'er! My eldest brother thought that my third brother was worrying too much... Now it seems that the guy is actually scheming and wants to capture Yue'er at all costs! Alas, it's all my fault that I didn't think it through! Let Yue'er fall into the hands of the enemy..." He tried to dissuade him, "But Watanabe Yan is extremely cunning. If he has succeeded, I'm afraid he has already moved on. If we attack the city now, we will definitely be in vain! From what Jianmei and the others said, it seems that Watanabe Yan is quite polite to Yue'er. If we provoke him into desperation, I'm afraid it will be disadvantageous to Yue'er! We need to think carefully before we act..."
In an ancient temple hidden in the deep mountains and dense forests, a faint light is coming through the rooms on the second floor.
Xiao Xiangyue lay on her back in bed, the bullet in her arm already removed and bandaged. Her already pale complexion had become even paler due to blood loss.
Watanabe Yan sat at the head of the bed, looking at the handsome face like a sculpture, a little lost in thought, and couldn't help but want to reach out and touch it. Xiao Xiangyue, who was in a coma, murmured, "Yun... Brother Yun..." Watanabe Yan's face suddenly changed, and his hand stopped in the air, stunned for a moment.
Adjutant Inoue knocked on the door: "General, there's an urgent message from General Yamamoto."
The furious voice of Yamamoto Taro, commander-in-chief of the Japanese Greater China region, leapt out from the paper: "Damn it! Ridiculous! What are you up to? You actually abandoned the docking base just to capture Hanlin City! I heard you even spared the local civilians and only captured a composer?!"
Adjutant Inoue stood solemnly to the side and said respectfully, "General, please advise me on how to respond." Watanabe Hiko calmly replied, "Reply: This man is worth a thousand troops. Within a few days, Hanchang will be thrown into disarray, and it will only be a matter of time before the city is captured."
After succeeding in Hanlin that day, Watanabe Hiko was afraid of Luo Guyun's attack on the city, so he quickly transferred Xiao Xiangyue to Jueyuan Temple, an ancient Tang Dynasty temple hundreds of miles away.
This place is exceptionally secluded, and the temple's abbot, Venerable Kongneng, is a longtime friend of the Watanabe family and a highly reliable figure. Kongneng, a renowned monk in Japan, stumbled upon this nearly dilapidated Tang Dynasty temple while traveling over a decade ago and transformed it into a Japanese-style temple. Favoring the environment, he settled there. After the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, the temple became a secret base for the Japanese army.
Watanabe Yan has been coveting Xiao Xiangyue for many years, and now that the person he has been thinking about is right in front of him, his thoughts are complicated and he is worried about gains and losses. He is arrogant by nature, possessive, and has a strong desire to conquer. Xiao Xiangyue only has eyes for Luo Guyun, and she never even glances at him, which makes him jealous and frustrated. That year in Japan, the affection and intimacy that the two of them inadvertently revealed, and the affection that could not be hidden in their eyes, strongly stimulated him. Countless nights tortured him tossing and turning, burning with jealousy. He was not willing to just possess the body, and he longed for one day... Xiao Xiangyue could look at him with the same eyes she looked at Luo Guyun, completely surrender to him, and no longer call out "Yun... Yun..." but "Yan... Yan..."
Watanabe Yan's mind had countless charming images... Or embracing naked with Xiao Xiangyue in the misty hot springs, or lingering with him on the big bed in the ancestral home, or under the colorful cherry trees, she played the zither while he drank and practiced swordplay beside her... The years were peaceful, and living together like this until old age would be worthwhile... He planned to bring her back to Japan after the war was over. He believed that over time, Xiao Xiangyue would eventually forget Luo Guyun and be willing to be with him... But when he got close to him and smelled the faint body fragrance, Watanabe Yan couldn't help but feel his heart surging, and he wanted to immediately hold her in his arms, press her under him, and relieve the pain of longing for her for so many years... Every day, he was tormented by ice and fire, and felt a little more distant.
Xiao Xiangyue was abducted and taken to this unfamiliar place. Although anxious, he was innocent by nature. He recalled how he was kidnapped as a child, sold to a brothel, and then abducted by the fat, big-eared man to a mansion. Luo Guoyun soon found him. He was certain that Brother Yun would come to rescue him. Furthermore, Junko Watanabe also lived in the temple. Junko admired Xiao Xiangyue's talent. She had been even more impressed by his appearance and demeanor when she saw him in Japan that year. Now, seeing that her brother had brought him back and injured him, she strongly opposed Watanabe Hiko's actions. After Xiao Xiangyue regained consciousness, she often stayed by his side, not only caring for him but also reassuring him to take care of himself and not worry, saying that she would convince her brother to release him as soon as possible. Xiao Xiangyue felt at ease for the time being, spending his days studying music with Junko Watanabe or discussing Buddhism with Master Kongneng. After more than a month, the wound on his arm was almost healed.
One day, after finishing his military duties, Watanabe Hiko arrived at the temple and heard the melodious sound of a flute. From afar, he spotted Xiao Xiangyue sitting on the temple's corridor, a bamboo flute resting on his lips. Watanabe Junko and several other monks sat nearby, listening to him play. The clear, melodious sound echoed far into the quiet mountain forest. Unable to interrupt, Watanabe Hiko paused outside the wall to listen. When the song ended, its lingering sound seemed to linger over the ancient temple, and the birds in the trees ceased their chirping.
Everyone was stunned. After a long moment, Junko Watanabe clapped her hands and said, "This song should only exist in heaven, rarely heard on earth!" She continued, "That year at our ancestral home in Hot Springs, I heard Xiangyue-kun play 'Moon over the Deserted City'. I was stunned by his beauty! Over the years, I've often recalled that moment. I'd have no regrets if I were lucky enough to hear it again in this lifetime!"
Xiao Xiangyue had just been playing the flute with great effort and was a little tired. Her face flushed as she said, "The tune of 'Moon over the Deserted City' is clear and cold, and its charm can only be captured by playing it on a Japanese koto. Your mother's koto was made by Kutong of the previous dynasty, and it is quite rare, making it particularly suitable for playing this piece. However, after General Watanabe gave it to Xiangyue, it has been kept in the old house in Anyang. I don't have a suitable koto on hand right now..."
Watanabe Hiko, who was outside the wall, was mesmerized by the story. A charming picture emerged in his mind: a delicate person in flowing white clothes sitting under a colorful cherry tree, stroking the zither left by his mother. He held her in his arms from behind, inhaling her faint body fragrance, their lips touching, their ears rubbing... He could not help but be mesmerized for a moment...
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