Hearing the young clerk's words, the bystanders assumed the two were spies being rounded up. Catching glimpses of what looked like weapons tucked at their waists, the crowd tacitly backed away, leaving the line Zhu Shiqing had been standing in practically empty.
"Explain yourself. Who is your superior, and why did they give such an order? We have official military business." Zhu Shiqing remained relatively restrained for the moment, his tone quite gentle as he questioned him.
"Please wait a moment, sir."
The clerk gave only that brief reply before slipping away from the bustling train station and heading over to a guard booth to place a call. A moment later, he jogged back, bowing and apologizing profusely. "My apologies, my deepest apologies, sirs! I must ask you both to wait just a little longer. Someone will be here shortly to pick you up."
Seeing the clerk's deferential attitude, Zhu Shiqing gathered that this was likely neither an arrest nor a frame-up. If a superior had asked for them by name, it probably had something to do with Nanjing.
"Where should we wait?"
"Right here is fine. Let me brew a pot of tea for you two." The clerk had evidently gathered from the call that these two were no ordinary figures, and his newfound deference showed in every word and gesture.
About ten minutes later, accompanied by a screech of brakes, two jeeps pulled up outside the main entrance along the street.
Zhu Shiqing turned his head to look. A man dressed in an olive-green officer's uniform, white gloves, and tall military boots stepped out. He looked exceptionally sharp and capable—an appearance that stood out jarringly against the backdrop of chaotic Baoding. A closer look revealed a long face, straight brows, thin lips, and white teeth; he was remarkably handsome, with an undeniably gallant air.
"Hello, Zhu Shiqing."
Behind this officer followed two or three soldiers in plain clothes, carrying standard submachine guns. Approaching Zhu Shiqing, he introduced himself: "I am Ren Shunan, Deputy Director of the Department of Military Affairs under the Army Administration of the Ministry of Military Affairs."
Zhu Shiqing frowned slightly, glancing at the insignia on the man's shoulders. Oho, a lieutenant colonel! He promptly saluted.
"Greetings, sir. I am a regimental staff officer of the 219th Regiment, 37th Division, 29th Army."
Fang Wenjian reacted at once, following Zhu Shiqing's lead and saluting in turn.
"At ease, at ease. We're all on the same side, no need to be so formal." Ren Shunan waved a hand with a smile. Taking off one glove, he shook hands with each of them in turn and added, "Get in. Chief Ming is waiting for you."
Chief Ming? Zhu Shiqing froze. Ming Quan? Ming Quan had come to Baoding?
Though it seemed improbable, Zhu Shiqing could think of no other superior in the entire Nationalist government surnamed Ming whom he knew.
The two climbed into the jeeps one after the other. As the canvas door curtains dropped, the engines roared to life, and the vehicles began jolting through the city toward an unknown destination.
Sitting in the back, Zhu Shiqing kept stealing glances at this Ministry of Military Affairs officer. To his understanding, the ministry was primarily responsible for military administration and logistics—support work, to put it plainly. Those holding positions there ought to have been desk-bound bureaucrats, yet here was a strikingly sharp professional soldier.
"Shiqing, word of your deeds in the 29th Army reached Nanjing long ago. Risking your life against the Japanese invaders on the front lines is something I find truly admirable." Eyes fixed on the road ahead, Ren Shunan began lavishing Zhu Shiqing with seemingly unprovoked compliments.
With such a vast gap in rank between them, Zhu Shiqing instinctively sensed that this flattery carried an ulterior motive. He replied stiffly, "You flatter me, sir. Defending our homeland is a soldier's duty. Since the General Staff assigned me to Beiping-Tianjin, it was only natural for me to do my utmost and not bring shame upon my colleagues."
"I know you previously served in Jiangning County. How did you come to be in the General Staff?" Ren Shunan shifted the conversation, cutting straight to the point.
"I did indeed serve in Jiangning County, but in a national crisis, one must serve one's country. With the Japanese invaders bearing down so ruthlessly, every real man ought to pick up a rifle and head to the battlefield."
The questioning felt deliberately probing. Zhu Shiqing was not about to lay bare his personal history without reason. Having no idea what this man's angle was, he offered only high-minded platitudes.
"Abandoning the pen for the sword—quite the commendable tale within the Nationalist government. And with the General Staff looking out for you, you have a limitless future ahead."
"You praise me too much, sir."
"After this stint in the field, what is your assessment of the Japanese army?"
"The Japanese are well-trained and well-equipped. Their commanders are highly adept in their tactics. They are indeed formidable opponents," Zhu Shiqing answered candidly.
"I've read the written materials you prepared back in Jiangning County. You have great potential for administrative work. Have you ever considered working in the central government?"
"What sort of administrative work do you mean, sir?"
"The Ministry of Military Affairs, for instance." Ren Shunan turned back with a faint smile.
"Reporting, sir, I have not yet looked deeply into other fields of work."
No sooner had he spoken than the jeep slowed to a halt. Ren Shunan said no more, stepping down from the vehicle. Beside where the vehicle stopped stood the largest surviving restaurant in Baoding, named Fuxing Restaurant. Standing three stories tall, it was furnished in a relatively rustic style, and the red banner sign protruding from the second floor lent the establishment a touch of the old martial world.
"After you."
Guided by Ren Shunan, they entered the restaurant. The waiter, clearly recognizing a regular, bustled over enthusiastically. "Officer Ren, on the third floor! It's on the third floor!"
They climbed the stairs to the third floor, which held only a single private room. Pushing open the door, they found two men already inside. One, sitting by the window, was raising a teacup to his lips while watching the crowd outside—it was none other than Ming Quan. Beside him sat an older man, chopsticks in hand, chewing on a plate of peanuts set on the table.
As the light caught his face, Zhu Shiqing saw him clearly—it was actually Sun Beifeng?!
Zhu Shiqing had never expected that months later, Sun Beifeng—who had come to Baoding on a mission—would still be here. In fact, a few days earlier he had wondered whether he might track down his uncle, but with no news and no leads, he had abandoned the thought.
"Chief Ming! Uncle Sun!" Overcome with excitement, Zhu Shiqing pushed forward without waiting for Ren Shunan to speak, greeting them in delighted surprise.
"Chief Ming, Officer Sun!" Fang Wenjian saluted, standing beside Zhu Shiqing.
Taking in the scene, Ren Shunan offered no further explanation. Walking farther into the room, he casually pulled out a chair beside Ming Quan and sat down, gesturing to the two young men. "Don't just stand there greeting everyone. Take a seat. Both chiefs have been waiting for you for quite some time."
A rather disheveled Zhu Shiqing stood before Sun Beifeng and Ming Quan once more. Two months of wind and frost had carved themselves into what had once been the face of a fair-complexioned scholar; red blemishes and cracks covered his cheeks, and his lips were severely chapped.
"Looking like that, you're making your uncle's heart bleed," Ming Quan quipped right away.
Beside him, Sun Beifeng beamed, gazing at Zhu Shiqing with deep satisfaction. "Good lad. You really made a name for yourself in Beiping-Tianjin. Didn't bring shame upon me, Sun Beifeng."
"I feel quite ashamed. In the fighting across Beiping-Tianjin, we lost troops and ceded territory, collapsing on every front." Zhu Shiqing lowered his head before asking, "Did something bring Chief Ming personally to Baoding?"
"Don't flatter yourself. I, Ming Quan, didn't come just for you." Ming Quan smiled. "With Beiping and Tianjin lost, Hebei is in peril. I came to arrange a few matters. When I heard most of the Beiping garrison had fallen back to Baoding, I had all the transit posts keep an eye out for you so I could bring Brother Sun to see you."
That was what Ming Quan said, but in truth, the moment he arrived in Baoding, he had dispatched local reconnaissance companies in all directions to scour for any sign of Zhu Shiqing, terrified that this prized pupil of his might truly have been left behind in Japanese-occupied territory.
"Had I returned to the capital overland, wouldn't Chief Ming have waited in vain?" Zhu Shiqing replied with a smile.
"No matter. Whether in Baoding or in Nanjing, it makes no difference." Ming Quan's tone grew grave. Folding his hands on the table, he suddenly announced in formal command, "Lieutenant Zhu Shiqing! Lieutenant Fang Wenjian!"
"Present, sir!"
Zhu Shiqing and Fang Wenjian snapped to attention.
"In view of your heroic actions against the enemy at the outbreak of the Lugou Bridge Incident during our nation's hour of peril, your meritorious service in resisting the Japanese, and your repeated blows against the formidable foe, as reviewed by the Personnel Evaluation Committee of the Military Affairs Commission, approved by the Ministry of Military Affairs, and verified by the Bureau of Civil and Military Appointments of the Military Affairs Commission, you two are hereby specially promoted to Infantry Captain.
"Of course, rank is only one part of it. The Military Affairs Commission has a far more important appointment to confer upon you. But before that, I want to hear your thoughts on this Beiping-Tianjin campaign."
Ming Quan's voice returned to a calm tone as his eyes narrowed slightly, looking upon the two standing at attention.
Chapter 84