If they could have foreseen the story that was to follow, perhaps Zhu Shiqing and Fang Wenjian would have cherished the present moment all the more.
"Waiter, what's with all the heavy traffic outside? The New Year festivities are practically over, so why is it so lively?"
Zhu Shiqing stared straight out at the street. Curiosity instantly surged within him, and he waved over the waiter to ask.
The waiter chuckled, leaned down, and pointed in the direction Zhu Shiqing was looking, pitching his voice up. "Today, the government is holding that committee meeting or whatever."
"A committee?" Zhu Shiqing's hand, halfway to picking up a melon seed, froze in midair. A sudden spark went off in his mind, and he inwardly scolded himself for being so addled from sleep. "I almost forgot," he murmured. "The Nationalist government's Third Plenary Session of the Fifth Central Executive Committee is today."
The waiter had no idea what "Fifth" or "Third Plenary" meant, but he nodded eagerly and chimed in with enthusiasm, "Right, right, that's the one!"
The Nationalist government's Third Plenary Session of the Fifth Central Executive Committee—formally the Third Plenary Session of the Fifth Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang—was also the only central conference attended by Soong Ching-ling. It marked a major turning point in China's transition from domestic policy to external defense.
Against this backdrop, the broader landscape of political, economic, cultural, transportation, resource, and military endeavors was set to undergo a massive transformation.
Following this logic, Jiangning being investigated yesterday made total sense. The construction and maintenance of national defense fortifications were bound to be of paramount concern at this conference, and the Nationalist government needed to demonstrate to the world its resolve to resist aggression with all its might.
Short of immediately going to war with the Japanese forces, there was no better way than turning the blade inward.
In Zhu Shiqing's mind flashed the vicissitudes of several great eras of transformation recorded in history. Better than anyone, he understood that opportunity lay in change. At the thought, Zhu Shiqing slammed down his teacup with a sharp clatter on the table, startling Fang Wenjian, who was halfway through a sip, so badly that he nearly spilled his tea.
"What's wrong, Shiqing?" Fang Wenjian used both hands to steady the cup carefully on the table, then dabbed and fussed at his wet crotch.
"Tonight we get a good night's sleep, and tomorrow—!" Zhu Shiqing's eyes were practically blazing with light, exuding the natural aura of a man born for greatness whom Heaven was about to entrust with a monumental mission. "Tomorrow, we find my uncle and have him secure posts for both of us!"
Fang Wenjian had thought Zhu Shiqing was about to say something extraordinary; he had been yammering about finding his uncle ever since they set out.
*Acting all mysterious and weird.* Fang Wenjian shook his head and went back to sipping his tea. This white tea really was something special!
***
The next morning, at Xiaguan Ferry.
The scene seemed no different from their last meeting, except that today the weather was fine, with half the sky dyed crimson by the dawn.
Sun Beifeng saw that an extra person accompanied Zhu Shiqing. Well-informed as he was, he had long since learned what had happened in Jiangning County. Seeing that Zhu Shiqing was unaffected, a weight was lifted from his chest.
"Uncle Sun, let me introduce you." Zhu Shiqing pushed Fang Wenjian forward. "This is Fang Wenjian. He was in the same section as me before."
The sight of Sun Beifeng and Fang Wenjian standing side by side was rather comical—one burly and built like an ox, the other a solitary figure looking frail enough to be blown away by the wind.
"Good, very good! Fine young man." Sun Beifeng could not resist giving Fang Wenjian's chest a thump, only to jar his own hand painfully. "Be sure to look after Zhu Shiqing down the line."
Fang Wenjian cupped his hands high, nearly moved to tears. "Don't say that, Uncle! My life belongs to you and your nephew!"
Sun Beifeng nodded in gratification, but what troubled him was the question of Zhu Shiqing's career path.
If he stayed in the General Staff, serving as an aide and think-tank policy adviser behind the political forefront like himself, it was hard to say whether he would eventually be dragged into complex party-political struggles.
The nation was currently in the midst of large-scale military reorganization. Since the central conference had opened yesterday, tensions across various regions had eased somewhat, so sending Zhu Shiqing into the armed forces seemed like a fine choice.
Yet Zhu Shiqing currently possessed no military skills whatsoever, and with skirmishes in the north constantly escalating, no one could say for certain when full-blown war would erupt.
Of course, those were not the only two paths open to Zhu Shiqing. He had already had contact with the route of becoming a secret agent, though Sun Beifeng remained unaware of it for now.
After turning it over in his mind, Sun Beifeng ultimately decided to keep Zhu Shiqing by his side for now; the General Staff Headquarters was the best option at present.
The Army General Staff building stood in the Presidential Palace's West Garden. Compared to the East Compound, where administrative offices were located, the West Garden was orderly and saw far less foot traffic. As the Nationalist government's military command and decision-making body, the Army General Staff was one of the places Chiang Kai-shek visited frequently.
Director of Political Training Ming Quan, who served in the General Staff's First Bureau, was on very good terms with Sun Beifeng. The First Bureau was in charge of national defense affairs, operational command, military planning, strategic analysis, and the like—the very core of the General Staff.
Ming Quan was quite handsome, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and jet-black hair, appearing remarkably youthful. Seeing Sun Beifeng bring two young greenhorns into his office, he stepped forward with a warm smile to greet them, shaking hands one by one starting with Sun Beifeng.
"Is this that nephew you're always telling me about?" Ming Quan asked as he pulled several stools over from by the desk, setting them out for the three visitors.
"That's the rascal. Got into a scrape in Jiangning County this time and nearly had those sons of bitches from the Control Yuan put a bullet in him. I was worried sick, so I brought him to Nanjing."
"I say, Sun Beifeng, what kind of uncle are you?" Ming Quan brewed tea, putting on a grumbling face. "He should have come to Nanjing earlier. Counties are treacherous undercurrents right now—no future in it, and easy to lose your life!"
Sun Beifeng tilted his head and let out a dry chuckle, then motioned for Zhu Shiqing and Fang Wenjian to take the tea Ming Quan offered. He then introduced him: "Let me introduce you two. This is Chief Ming Quan, bureau director in the Third Bureau, an honors graduate of the Berlin Military Academy."
Listening, Zhu Shiqing mused to himself that this man was a returnee from abroad. No wonder Ming Quan had an air about him distinct from those big-eared domestic bureaucrats; he was someone who had truly seen the world after all.
"Greetings, Chief Ming."
Zhu Shiqing and Fang Wenjian were sensible. The moment Sun Beifeng finished the introduction, they promptly saluted.
Ming Quan glanced at Zhu Shiqing again. The lad was indeed striking and composed, looking like someone capable of great things—and bearing a faint resemblance to himself from a few years back.
"Don't worry about formalities. Please sit, sit." Ming Quan's smile never faded. After attending to his guests, he slowly retreated behind his desk and sat down, then asked, "Brother Sun, since you've come to the General Staff, I pretty much understand what you have in mind. It's just..."
Sun Beifeng said, "Brother Ming, don't overthink it. I'm on the road most of the year and out of touch with the internal workings of the bureaus. I came here today just to ask for some guidance and see if we can find a direction."
"You misunderstand me, Brother Sun. What I mean is that the General Staff is also facing turbulent times. Yesterday's government conference established the program for military reorganization and war preparedness. If I really take these two youngsters in and they end up pushed onto the battlefield later, won't your heart ache for them, Brother Sun?"
Chapter 17