Chapter 119: Meeting Li Bai
After taking a shower, Xiao Lu brought another lunchbox and handed it to Su Yaoyang.
Su Yaoyang, who was just hungry, opened the lunchbox and started eating heartily, asking Xiao Lu while eating, “Where did Song Mei go? Why isn’t she here?”
Xiao Lu told him, “These days, there have been too many wounded soldiers sent back to Xuzhou from the front lines. Doctors in all the major hospitals are overwhelmed, so Sister Song Mei went to help and won’t be back until evening.”
“Entered the city?”
Su Yaoyang furrowed his thick eyebrows, somewhat puzzled, and asked, “Song Mei was staying fine in our camp, so why did she suddenly decide to go help at Xuzhou Hospital?”
“I don’t know about that.” Xiao Lu shook her head.
Su Yaoyang asked again, “Do you know which hospital it is?”
Xiao Lu thought for a moment, “It seems like it’s… right… called Xuzhou Christian Hospital.”
“Alright, I got it.” Su Yaoyang finished his meal in three or five bites, casually wiped his mouth, stood up, held Xiao Lu in his arms, lowered his head, gently kissed her forehead, and then said softly.
“Xiao Lu… I’m going to the city now for a meeting. When I come back, I’ll pick up Song Mei on the way. You stay here and wait for me safely.”
Xiao Lu hesitated for a moment and said softly, “Young Master, then go quickly and come back soon. I’ll wait for you here.”
“I’ll do my best to hurry.”
Looking at the reluctant Xiao Lu, Su Yaoyang sighed inwardly. No wonder they say a hero’s grave is a gentle land; the ancients were not deceiving me.
He lowered his head and kissed Xiao Lu’s pretty face again, then Su Yaoyang walked out of the tent.
At this time, Xu Dapeng was already waiting outside. After Su Yaoyang got into the Willys Jeep, a Dodge truck loaded with soldiers followed closely behind the Jeep toward Xuzhou city.
Half an hour later, Su Yaoyang and his group drove to the outside of the theater command headquarters. Su Yaoyang first had Xu Dapeng and all the soldiers wait hundreds of meters outside the command headquarters, while he himself went alone to the outside of the command headquarters and presented his credentials to explain his purpose.
The guard checked the credentials, called inside to verify, and then let him in.
This was already Su Yaoyang’s second time at the theater command headquarters. Though he wouldn’t say he knew it like the back of his hand, he at least didn’t need anyone to guide him. He made his way alone to the outside of the theater commander’s office and knocked on the office door.
“Knock knock knock…”
“Come in!” Li Zongren’s voice came from inside.
Su Yaoyang pushed open the door. As soon as he entered, he saluted and said loudly, “Report… Nanjing Security Regiment Commander Su Yaoyang reporting as ordered.”
As soon as he spoke, he saw two pairs of eyes fixed on him. One was naturally Li Zongren, and the other was a middle-aged man he had never seen before.
He had a lean face, slightly prominent cheekbones, deep-set eyes but a piercing gaze, as if it could penetrate the smoke-filled battlefield.
His gray cloth military uniform wrapped a gaunt frame, the collar worn white, the cuffs stained with pencil dust and tea stains, and his knuckles yellowed from long-term pen-holding.
What surprised Su Yaoyang the most was that the military rank on his shoulders was the same as Li Zongren’s—three gold stars.
Seeing the visitor, Su Yaoyang’s heart stirred. He then saluted him again and said loudly, “Hello, Commander Bai!”
“Oh…”
Hearing this, the other man looked at Su Yaoyang with interest and asked, “You know me?”
“No, I don’t.”
Su Yaoyang shook his head but explained, “Although this junior has not met Commander Bai, I have long heard of both commanders.
Both commanders hail from Guilin. They joined the revolution together in their early years, went through the National Protection War and the Northern Expedition, and decades of shared life and death forged a bond between them that is closer than brothers, though not blood brothers.
This fine story is known throughout the country. This junior, upon entering, saw both commanders sitting so casually chatting. I think no one except Commander Bai could be so relaxed in Commander Li’s office.”
“Hahahaha…”
After Su Yaoyang finished speaking, it elicited laughter from both of them.
Li Zongren laughed heartily, pointing his right index finger at the other, “Jiansheng… As the saying goes, honor the bet. What more do you have to say?”
This middle-aged man was none other than the Little Zhuge, Bai Chongxi.
He shook his head helplessly, “Alright, this time I fell for your trick, Li Delin.
Fine, fine, what’s the harm in giving you that painting?”
After the two joked around, Bai Chongxi turned to look at Su Yaoyang.
Su Yaoyang then noticed a faint scar on Bai Chongxi’s right eyebrow, said to be from a shrapnel wound during the early Northern Expedition. At this moment, under the sunlight from the window, it appeared even more sharp.
Compared to Li Zongren’s broad and kind appearance, Bai Chongxi’s aggressive presence was evidently stronger.
He sized up Su Yaoyang for a moment and suddenly asked, “I heard Delin say you’re giving him a batch of artillery?”
“Yes.” Su Yaoyang nodded, “This junior was ordered to return from Taierzhuang. Besides reporting the military situation, it’s to ask Duke De to send someone to the suburban barracks to receive this batch of artillery.”
Bai Chongxi exclaimed in admiration, “You’re really something, young fellow. Over twenty American-made artillery pieces, just given away like that. You know, with this batch, you could form an artillery regiment. For you, this would be a great boost to your strength.”
Su Yaoyang smiled faintly, “Commander Bai is right, but this junior believes in one saying: One flower blooming alone is not spring; a hundred flowers blooming brings spring to the garden.
On China’s vast battlefield, one person alone cannot hold it up. Only by striving to improve the strength of the entire Chinese army can we drive out the Japanese invaders faster.”
“Good… well said.”
Li Zongren couldn’t help but applaud loudly, then sighed to Bai Chongxi, “Jiansheng… listen… listen… Even a young man understands this principle, but someone just won’t get it.
If he heard this, he’d probably die of shame.”
Bai Chongxi couldn’t help but burst out laughing, “Delin, you still can’t forget the humiliation of being forced to flee to Hong Kong back then. The Generalissimo is also… never mind…”
He waved his hand, “Alright, no more on this.”
He then turned to Su Yaoyang, “You’re Su Yaoyang, right? I was just talking about you with Delin.
He praised you to the skies. I was a bit skeptical at first, but now it seems you truly deserve his praise.”
“Commander overpraises me; this junior dares not accept it.” Su Yaoyang said humbly.
“Alright, no need to be modest.” Li Zongren looked very pleased and said, “Your Security Regiment has fought very well these past few days.
Not only did you heavily damage the 33rd Brigade, but you also withstood repeated attacks from the 8th Brigade. Now Isogai Rensuke will have a headache.”
“But don’t get careless.” Bai Chongxi said gravely, “Isogai Rensuke suffered a big loss at your hands and will definitely seek revenge.
I estimate he will ask for aid from his superior, the 2nd Army Commander or even the North China Area Army. So I expect the Japanese will launch a large-scale retaliatory operation against Taierzhuang next, which will be a huge test for you and the Nanjing Security Regiment.”
