Lonely person
After seeing Jiang Yuanxing off, Zhang Chenglin hadn't even reached his room when Xinjie came in from outside.
“Sir,” Xin Jie handed an envelope to Zhang Chenglin, “a letter from Mr. Sheng.”
Zhang Chenglin glanced down, assuming it was another mobilization order or war warning, as usual, and quickly grabbed the envelope and opened it.
What was taken out was an invitation card that was entirely red.
Sheng Dongsheng's wife gave birth to their second child in Shanghai. Sheng Dongsheng secretly wrote to invite three or five close colleagues to Shanghai to attend the baby's one-month celebration.
Because of the urgency of the situation, Sheng Dongsheng did not give prior notice, and Zhang Chenglin received the invitation the day after the baby's one-month celebration.
So, apart from Xin Jie, he didn't let anyone know that he had set off for Shanghai overnight.
After he arrived in Shanghai, the person who came to pick him up was Tan Yuanbo.
Tan Yuanbo was among the three or five people invited by Sheng Dongsheng.
On the way to Sheng Dongsheng's house, Tan Yuanbo seemed to sigh and regret at the same time: "In the current situation, it's rare to have a happy event."
"Congratulations to him indeed."
Hearing the jealous tone in his voice, Zhang Chenglin lowered his eyes, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
The baby's one-month celebration was very simple; it was just a few close friends having a simple lunch at Sheng Dongsheng's house.
Tan Yuanbo and the other two roughnecks drank and didn't go to see the child, but Ji Yuxing enthusiastically dragged Zhang Chenglin to see the child.
Ji Yuxing really likes children. Zhang Chenglin thought to himself that if it weren't for the current situation, Ji Yuxing's children would probably be the same age as Zheng Xuewen.
"Ah Lin, Ah Lin, look! This child's features look just like Mr. Sheng's!"
After hearing Ji Yuxing's words, Zhang Chenglin took two steps forward and looked at the baby in the crib.
His eyebrows and eyes are exactly like Sheng Dongsheng's, and his nose and mouth are exactly the same as Sheng Dongsheng's wife. Anyone who sees him will immediately recognize his parents.
Looking at the little baby, Zhang Chenglin couldn't help but wonder, if he and Fengyue had a child, would the child resemble him more or Fengyue more...?
"Ah Lin!"
Someone outside shouted something, and Zhang Chenglin snapped out of his daze. He suddenly realized that this was probably the first time he had ever thought about having a child with Fengyue.
I hope this chaotic world will end soon, and I hope he can return to her side.
May all your wishes come true.
After the banquet, Tan Yuanbo and the other two who had attended went home, while Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing were temporarily left in Shanghai by Mr. Sheng.
Zhang Chenglin had a feeling that something new had happened, but Sheng Dongsheng kept quiet about it and he couldn't speculate, so he could only stay in Shanghai with Ji Yuxing.
Sheng Dongsheng kept the two of them in Shanghai for a week, and then sent them back to Shandong around September 10th.
Even now, Sheng Dongsheng still hasn't said anything to them, only telling them to go back and guard Shandong well.
After returning to Shandong, Zhang Chenglin was still thinking about Sheng Dongsheng's son. The first thing he said to Xin Jie was, "Have things been relatively peaceful here these past few days?"
"Hmm." Xin Jie nodded, sensing that he had something to say, and waited for him to continue.
"Then I'll probably go home the day after tomorrow."
He didn't say what he was going to do, but Xin Jie felt that it was exactly what he was thinking, so he agreed without any objection: "Okay, I'll arrange it."
During this period, Zaozhuang and the surrounding areas of Jining, Linyi, and even Xuzhou were very peaceful, and he thought he could finally go home and see Fengyue with peace of mind.
There's nothing else to it, I just wanted to see for myself if she was doing well.
This was his only wish, given that he prioritized the nation and its people.
*
But plans don't always go as expected. Xin Jie arranged everything for Zhang Chenglin to guard, and even secretly prepared a car for him to go home.
On the morning of the day Zhang Chenglin was to depart, he received a letter from Shanghai.
Zhang Chenglin had just gotten up when he saw Xinjie rush in with a letter, and he felt a pang of panic.
Then Xin Jie spoke up: "Sir, Mr. Sheng has sent a letter."
Zhang Chenglin put aside all his discomfort and calmly accepted the letter.
The letter contained only three simple lines, yet it cut off all of Zhang Chenglin's escape routes.
[Yi Boyan betrayed the Communists, Beiping fell, and all the Communists retreated to Shandong. Over the next two days, you will assist Tan Yuanbo in arranging matters related to these people.]
The matter was of great importance, so Zhang Chenglin had to temporarily change his plans to go home and prioritize this matter.
Seeing the solemn expression on Zhang Chenglin's face, Xin Jie knew that this mission was extremely urgent, and Zhang Chenglin probably wouldn't be able to go home today.
At the same time, I can't help but feel regretful. If I can't go back this time, when will I be able to go back next time?
The largest number of people were left behind in Beiping and Shanghai. Almost all of the elite troops of the Party Central Committee were in Shanghai and Beiping. Therefore, there were many people coming from Beiping, and settling them in was a very difficult task for Tan Yuanbo and Zhang Chenglin.
After all, the first priority is to ensure that these people do not suffer any mishaps in Shandong, and secondly, if war breaks out in Shanghai or other places, these people need to rush to the rescue as soon as possible.
Therefore, we cannot hide people too deep, leaving them with no opportunity to use their talents and wasting their potential, nor can we place them in places that are too urgent, in case a major artery is disrupted during a subsequent transfer.
After repeated debates and final decisions, Zhang Chenglin, Tan Yuanbo, and several generals trusted by Tan Yuanbo finally devised a very suitable plan overnight.
Over the next two days, Tan Yuanbo and Zhang Chenglin personally led their men to deploy troops throughout Shandong.
After settling the people from Beiping, Tan Yuanbo, Zhang Chenglin, and Ji Yuxing, who had been guarding the base camp in Zaozhuang, stood in the courtyard looking at the moonlight.
That night was cloudy, and the moon was barely visible, so it wasn't very pretty.
Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing hesitated several times before finally remaining silent, simply standing there quietly, waiting for Tan Yuanbo to speak first.
"Yi Boyan's betrayal is the most serious setback in the Party so far. The loss of the capital is tantamount to the loss of the country, and it has crushed the backbone of countless revolutionary predecessors who fought to the death."
When the clock on the wall struck twelve, Tan Yuanbo suddenly spoke, his tone filled with hatred and a hint of despair.
"North China is so vast that it cannot accommodate a peaceful school desk."
Yi Boyan's position in Sheng Dongsheng's eyes and in the Party Central Committee was unparalleled by ordinary people; it was a height that ordinary people might not be able to reach even after many lifetimes of effort.
Perhaps it was too easily obtained for him, so he didn't think it was that precious.
He could sell everything he owned to... or even give it to the enemy, but those things that seemed insignificant to him were related to the life and death of a party, a country, and a nation.
“I applied to defend Beiping, and the organization has approved it.” Tan Yuanbo suddenly turned to look at the two of them. “The organization can’t bear to lose talented people. Besides the soldiers they can lead, there are limits on the number of team leaders. In the end, Shandong is still of paramount importance, and we still need to keep some talented people to guard this gateway.”
"After much thought, I realized that only the two of you are the best fit for my style of doing things. I originally wanted to take the two of you with me to Beiping, but the application I submitted was rejected."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing were startled, their faces filled with confusion as they waited for Tan Yuanbo to continue.
“Mr. Sheng treats you two like his lifeblood and has given me a death order,” Tan Yuanbo said, then added as if he didn’t care, “If it’s either of you, I can only take one of you. Whether this battle succeeds or fails, I have to leave one of you for him.”
"I think that makes sense. After all, he put a lot of effort into training you two."
"I'm a little undecided, so I wanted to ask what you two think."
“I…” Almost as soon as Tan Yuanbo finished speaking, Ji Yuxing immediately spoke up, but was cut off by someone next to him who spoke even faster: “I’ll go!”
Ji Yuxing frowned at him, as if blaming him for stealing the limelight.
Tan Yuanbo remained silent for a moment, as if waiting for someone to speak and give him a reason that could reassure him.
“He has parents, sisters, and a wife. There are always many people waiting for him to come home. In times of chaos, he should be a hero of the country, and in times of prosperity, he should always go back to be the pillar of his family.” Zhang Chenglin said, glancing at Ji Yuxing, and then added, “As for me, I am all alone, with no ties.”
At this critical juncture, everyone knows what going to Beiping means; the chances of returning alive are extremely slim.
Some people are alone, while others have families behind them. The answer to this question is already very clear.
Ji Yuxing had no choice but to refute further, and Tan Yuanbo had no choice but to hesitate and struggle.
A short while later, Tan Yuanbo took a few steps forward, reached out and patted Zhang Chenglin's shoulder, who was wearing a military uniform, but ultimately said nothing and went into the room.
Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing were still standing in the courtyard, neither of them showing any intention of leaving.
After all, although Tan Yuanbo didn't say it, they all knew that, given the current situation, they would have to set off tomorrow.
Beiping is not worthy of it.
The dark clouds completely obscured the moon, and the night sky was pitch black, without a single ray of light.
Zhang Chenglin looked up at the sky and suddenly asked, "Do you know what a materialist is?"
Many images flashed through Ji Yuxing's mind in an instant: their social science classroom, their first arrival at Sheng Dongsheng's side, the patriotic fervor of twenty-year-old youths, and the life-or-death choices they faced today. In the end, he said, "We have an unwavering belief."
Zhang Chenglin seemed to chuckle, but it was fleeting. He then said something that Ji Yuxing hadn't expected at all: "Yes, the moment I met her, all my unwavering beliefs revolved around her."
Despite his tough exterior, he ultimately chose to die a heroic death, leaving his most vulnerable and tender side to the people he loved.
Materialism, materialism, only her.
Ji Yuxing remained silent for a long time before finally raising his hand to pat Zhang Chenglin on the shoulder and saying, "Come back safe and sound. After the war is over, your brothers will be waiting to eat your wedding candy."
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