Chapter 27 first quarter

The weather is fine. Zheng Sichu put his hands in his pockets and walked out of the house.Today is the National Day of the People's Republic of China. The streets are decorated with lanterns and festoons, and the fire trees and silver flowers reflect the sky is getting darker, but as long as you look up, you can still see the dark starry sky. "Master." It was Old Wu, the gatekeeper, greeting him.Zheng Sichu frowned, and said, "Old Wu, how many times have I told you that there is no title of young master now, have you forgotten?" "Yes, yes, I should call you Xiao Zheng, young master." Old Wu said with a smile on his face, as if on purpose.

Zheng Sichu sighed.The young master is the young master, although this title has been abolished since the founding of the Republic, and similar titles such as "Master", "Miss", and "Master" have been abolished at the same time.Because the republic is people-oriented and everyone is equal, legally speaking, no matter whether it is a big government or a beggar on the street, they enjoy the same rights, and of course there can be no artificial class distinctions.But people like Old Wu who came out of the old empire still retain the title they used more than ten years ago.What's more, Zheng Sichu himself didn't believe that the patriarchal system, revered as the father of the nation, was equal to a beggar.

How is the empire? Sometimes Zheng Sichu thought the same way.In the year when the empire was overthrown, he had just started school and had just joined the scout regiment, but he still didn't know much about this behemoth that had spanned hundreds of years in history.From the school textbooks, the empire is a decadent and depraved dynasty. Those who work for the empire are all despicable and shameless villains. The people are living under the rule of the empire. To overthrow such a corrupt rule in one fell swoop will give the common people of the whole country a way out.Indeed, that's what the book said, and he believed it.However, the imperial officials in his memory were not as rogue-headed as they were in the book. There were also majestic, handsome and handsome characters. Just like the officials of the Republic, either the system was degenerate, or they were all despicable.

What exactly is an empire like? This question was the first time he started to think about it when he took the "History of the Development of the Republic" when he was in the military school.In that book, the Republic was written in great detail from its beginnings, to its growth, and then to its rise to power, the most detailed of which was the seven years of fighting against the Snake Man.However, he found that the book did not mention the relationship between the empire and the republic that still existed during those seven years. It seemed that the empire had become a phantom and ceased to exist.He also asked the teacher, but the teacher replied with "it is very clear in the book".

It's just a prevarication.Zheng Sichu understood that the teacher didn't want to let himself know, even though the empire's demise has only been in twelve short years.But he knew that he would be able to understand the truth. After all, only twelve years had passed, and too many parties were still alive in this world. He walked to the gatehouse where Old Wu lived, and said, "Old Wu, are you used to living here?" Old Wu smiled and said: "I'm used to it, I'm used to it, master... Ah, Mr. Zheng is so kind. If the old man says he's not used to it, he really has lost his conscience."

Zheng Sichu smiled lightly.Father, as a senior officer in the Republican Army, had always been very kind to these workers, which made him proud.It's just that today he didn't want to come to listen to Old Wu singing praises to his father. "Old Wu, how old are you this year?" "I'm already sixty-two." As soon as Old Wu mentioned his age, he immediately got excited. "He's still in good health, and he can eat two bowls of rice for one meal." "That's good. By the way, what were you doing when you were my age?" This is already a small trap.When Zheng Sichu said these words, his heart trembled slightly.The Republic clearly ordered that the empire from more than ten years ago should not be mentioned again, and all the streets in Wuyun City were renamed, as if this would bury the empire forever.But Zheng Sichu knew that in Old Wu's mind, the shadow of the empire still remained.

"At that time, what could I do? For decades, my family was poor at that time, and I could only carry bags to make money. It was hard at that time, working hard, and I couldn't eat a few mouthfuls of food a year." These words are also clichés, but they should not be far from the truth.Zheng Sichu heard from the old people that there was a huge gap between rich and poor during the empire, and there were much more beggars in Wuyun City than now.He said: "Do you still remember what happened at that time? Couldn't you survive at that time?" "I remember it's all true. It's also a lie to say that everyone can't survive. However, the soldiers at that time were not as good as the soldiers now. They were all vicious, extremely vicious, that is, the big man. The handsome soldiers are still kind."

Zheng Sichu frowned: "Marshal?" "Yes. The commander's soldiers are very good. They sleep in the open air during the march, and they never steal anything from others." Old Wu seemed to feel a little talkative when he said this, so he quickly added: "Of course there is no such thing as now." Good soldiers." Zheng Sichu only remembered what was said in school that the imperial military discipline was broken, soldiers burned, killed and looted, and did all kinds of evil, and he never said that there was a commander who had strict discipline.He said, "Do you remember which handsome man it is?"

Because it has not been many years since the empire fell, and some soldiers from the empire may still be in the army. The creed of the Republican Army is to ignore the past, so except for the dead generals of the empire, no one is named, and he does not know the end of the empire. How many great men have there been. "How many commanders can there be, just one. The commander-in-chief is still young. He seemed to be under thirty when he became the commander-in-chief. He is a good man." Old Wu Mi raised her eyes, as if recalling Let's start from the beginning. "At that time, if I wasn't afraid of death, I would have almost joined the army. Hehe, if I joined the army, I probably wouldn't be able to live the good life I am today."

"what is his name?" Old Wu was stunned, knocked his head and said: "I haven't mentioned it for more than ten years, what's the name of the commander? Look at my memory." It seems that he forgot that he just boasted about his own memory.Zheng Sichu said carefully: "Then what's his last name?" Old Wu said: "The surname... Hey, it's on the edge of my mouth, why can't I remember it, the surname..." He frowned, looking like he was thinking hard, but it seemed that he really couldn't remember it.Zheng Sichu was a little disappointed, and said, "You really can't remember?"

"It seems to be very familiar, but... look at my memory, I really can't remember it." Zheng Sichu was a little disappointed, and he wanted to let Lao Wu think about it again, when someone outside suddenly shouted: "Sichu! Zheng Sichu!" That was Cheng Diwen, his colleague in the military.Cheng Diwen and he graduated from the military academy in the same year, and they also entered the military headquarters together as a marching staff officer, and usually talked about everything.At this time, he was riding a horse and standing across the street, his head was covered with sweat, and he seemed to be in a hurry.Hearing Cheng Diwen's cry, Lao Wu suddenly said "ah", but Zheng Sichu hurried over without noticing it.He came to Cheng Diwen's horse and said, "What's the matter? It's so urgent." Cheng Diwen took the horse, probably running in a hurry, and the horse was still spinning on the ground. He reined in the reins vigorously, panting and said: "There is an order from the military department to gather urgently. Si Chu, go quickly." There is an order from the military department?Zheng Sichu was taken aback, and said, "Did the bandit suppression army fail?" Cheng Diwen said: "You are so smart, you seem to be. Change your clothes quickly, I have to notify a few, the assembly order is too urgent." After he finished speaking, he hit his horse and galloped along the road again and go. Seventeen years have passed since the founding of the Republic, and twelve years have passed since the country was unified.But this unification can only be said to have unified 18/19 of the country, and Langyue Province in the west has not been able to recover.The terrain of Langyue Province is extremely barren and precipitous, with a small population. After the empire collapsed, a group of remnants fled there and established a separatist regime.Because Langyue Province is too remote and barren, after the founding of the Republic, it has been waiting for a new one, and has been unable to find the strength to deal with the remnant soldiers. I thought that the remnant soldiers of the empire would stay in such a place for a long time, but I didn't expect that the remnants were like Like a weed with strong vitality, it took root in that land.In the third year of the Republic of China, when the country was initially established, a partial division was sent there. Although it achieved considerable results, it still failed to eradicate that force. Later, there was no time to look around, and Langyue Province was too poor. This province was almost forgotten by the Republic. It was not until March this year that the military department really put the issue of Langyue Province on the agenda.In May, taking advantage of the hot weather, the republic's famous general Fang Ruoshui led 20,000 people to form an army to suppress bandits.More than two months have passed, and according to the schedule, the conquest has already begun, but according to Cheng Diwen's overnight order, it seems that Fang Ruoshui has a bad start and has suffered a disadvantage. Zheng Sichu hurried to the door of the house.Since the military department has an urgent order, it's time to change into the military uniform and report for duty.When he walked to the door, Old Wu greeted him and said, "Master, I remembered!" Zheng Sichu was no longer in the mood to listen to him talking about the empire, and said, "I have to change clothes, so you can tell me when you come out." He rushed to his study in a hurry, changed into his military uniform, put on his waist knife, and pulled out the horse from the stable.When he reached the door, Old Wu was still standing there. He said, "Old Wu, I have to go out. I have something to do with the military. What's the commander's name?" "I can't remember what it's called..." Old Wu also saw the displeasure on Zheng Sichu's face, and hurriedly said, "I just remembered when I heard the general call you. The commander's surname is Chu." , people call him Chu Shuai!" Zheng Sichu had already taken Ma Ma out of the door, and when he heard what Old Wu said, he was suddenly taken aback.But he jumped on his horse immediately, whipped his whip and ran to the military headquarters. surname Chu... At the horse, he murmured.This uncommon surname is just a word in his name, and Lao Wu probably only remembered it when he heard Cheng Diwen call him.However, what he thought of was not his own name, but another person. His spear teacher.That middle-aged man who has no official position but is respected by officials in the government and who lives in a semi-reclusive state is named Chu.Are these two people related? The emergency convening order of the military department is about the bandit suppression army.Due to the need to carry a large amount of luggage, the bandit suppression army arrived in Langyue Province only a month ago.Fang Ruoshui is a famous general of the Republic, second only to the three marshals, and the third among the five generals. The number of bandits is not too large, so there is no reason for failure, but Fang Ruoshui still failed. The Wan Bandit Suppression Army lost 3,000 people, and what is even more worrying is that the morale of the soldiers in that remote province where they are not familiar is getting lower and lower.This matter is related to the face of the Republic. The Grand Command has ordered that the bandit army must be eliminated at any cost. Therefore, it is necessary to organize a support army to replenish supplies and boost morale for the bandit suppression army. General Bi Wei, one of the five generals of the Republic, organized the meeting.Bi Wei leads an army that uses long-range weapons and also has outstanding fighting abilities, known as the Fire Army.Although General Bi Wei is very old, approaching sixty years old, he is already on the verge of retiring from the army, but this time he has to lead this army that has made great achievements many times. The next conquest is inevitable, only success is allowed, and failure is not allowed. General Bi Wei assigned a list of generals to accompany the army.They will be leaving in two days. Zheng Sichu and Cheng Diwen are both on the list as the marching staff officers. Zheng Sichu was grooming his beloved horse in the stable.The weather is very hot, and the horses are prone to sweating, and when they sweat, even the hair is covered in one place.Although this kind of work should be done by the groom, but for this beloved horse named "Fei Yu", he is really worried about letting the groom do it. Zheng Sichu poured a basin of water on the horse, and then gently brushed it with a soft brush.Just after the National Founding Day on the ninth day of July, the sky was as hot as burning.Cool water was sprinkled on Fei Yu's body, and then washed with a soft brush. Fei Yu comfortably shook her slender ears and snorted from time to time.