Chapter 37: Republic of China: Starting from Whampoa Phase One Chapter 37 Graduation Assignment

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

"Little brother, judging by your accent you're not a local, do you know me?" Huang Feihong asked while unwrapping the gauze from Lv Muzhi's arm.

Lv Muzhi hadn't answered yet when Chen Geng cut in: "How could he not know you? I've only been in Guangdong Province a short while, and I already know of your deeds in the martial world—invincible under heaven."

"Aiya, too exaggerated. In the past I was nothing to boast about, just hot-blooded when I was young, fond of brawling..." Huang Feihong looked kind and benevolent, shaking his head with a smile.

But Lv Muzhi had a whole pile of questions. To travel to the Republic of China and still meet Huang Feihong—that was unexpected.

"Where's Thirteenth Aunt?" Lv Muzhi asked, as if possessed by a ghost.

"What Thirteenth Aunt?" Chen Geng looked puzzled, and Huang Feihong was equally baffled.

Oh, Lv Muzhi then remembered that Thirteenth Aunt in the Huang Feihong movies was fictional.

"Amo, bring out the Jinchuang Medicine." Huang Feihong called into the pharmacy, and a middle-aged woman came out carrying various bottles and jars.

"This is my wife, surnamed Mo. There really is no Thirteenth Aunt as you say. If you want to find relatives, go look elsewhere..."

Huang Feihong began cleaning Lv Muzhi's wound and applying medicine.

Lv Muzhi looked at Huang Feihong's aged face—he looked like an ordinary commoner—and asked: "Senior Huang, why do you treat wounds for us soldiers? Other commoners are trying to hide as fast as they can!"

Huang Feihong smiled slightly: "I've observed that the various troops in this city are mostly birds of a feather, all with their own problems, but you students from Huangpu Island are different. Just for your initiative in protecting the property of Ren'an Street, why should I be stingy with these medicines?"

"I've lived this long and seen many revolutionaries, but your kind... is rare. Most importantly, you're very young. I think the future holds infinite possibilities..."、

Huang Feihong finished applying medicine to Lv Muzhi and rewrapped the bandage.

Lv Muzhi asked another question: "Senior Huang, among the Commercial Corps Joint Defense Army there are many from nearby civilian corps and village militias. I heard that when you were young you often served as a martial arts instructor training civilian corps and village militias. Now many in the Joint Defense Army we're fighting are corps and militias you once taught. Senior... do you have any opinion of us?"

Huang Feihong finished wrapping the bandage on Lv Muzhi, placed his hands on his knees, sat upright, his eyes bright: "Commercial corps, village militias, civilian corps—most don't know what a country is. All they know is defending their own hometowns. You revolutionaries are outsiders, and the corpsmen were incited by Chen Lianbo and tempted with money, so today's conflict is no surprise..."

"But I saw that you still left the corpsmen a way out—surrounding three sides and leaving one—and didn't slaughter them all. Most corpsmen are simple and honest. I think as long as you're willing to guide them, they'll become a help on your revolutionary path."

"Good! Senior Huang speaks well!"

Wu Instructor had come to check on Lv Muzhi's injuries, and hearing Huang Feihong's words, he entered at the right moment: "Senior Huang seems to be a benevolent man of lofty ideals with a heart for the revolution."

"I dare not accept such praise. It's just that this world has been in chaos for too long—foreigners, Manchu emperors, revolutionaries, warlords, merchant compradors... decades without peace. I think there must be strong figures to end all this. Comparing them all, it's these children on Huangpu Island who have the most hope." Huang Feihong said, his eyes full of hope.

"Our Whampoa Student Army is dedicated to ending the chaotic era and founding a true republic. Senior Huang, you have many highly skilled disciples. Why not join us and end this chaotic era together?"

Huang Feihong waved his hand: "I see you have an extraordinary bearing and heroic spirit. This great undertaking should be left to you to lead these youngsters. I'm old and can't do it anymore. My disciples... can't be forced. Everyone has their own aspirations... everyone has their own aspirations..."

Leaving Huang Feihong's Baozhilin, Lv Muzhi kept thinking about one thing. People in Guangdong Province value unity. Chen Lianbo raised his arm and called out tens of thousands of soldiers. Now most of the commercial corps and village militia soldiers have laid down their weapons, returned to production, and become ordinary commoners again. Why not guide them, mobilize them to join the revolutionary army together, and strengthen the Whampoa Cadet Army?

Having made the acquaintance of such a great figure as Huang Feihong, if they stayed in close contact, it would also be a useful relationship.

————

After the Merchant Corps Incident ended, economic order in Yangcheng returned to normal.

Life at Whampoa Military Academy seemed to have hit the accelerator. Day after day of study and training made the days fly by. In the blink of an eye more than a month passed, and the Whampoa students had already graduated at the end of November. The time came to early December.

During this month, several major events happened at the school.

First, the First Regiment and Second Regiment of the academy were established in succession;

Second, Chen Lianbo had been executed, and all Merchant Corps property was confiscated;

Third, naturally, the first phase students had all graduated, and they would soon face the problem of job assignments.

Lv Muzhi thought: Not bad. Graduation comes with assignment, no need to worry about unemployment.

The graduation exams had long been taken. Without objection, Jiang Xiangyun entered the school with the top score in the whole school and graduated with the top score in the whole school.

After the Merchant Corps Incident, Lv Muzhi trained hard and also managed a good result in the top five of the whole school.

But grades did not play a dominant role in job assignments after graduation.

For example, Du Yuming, whose grades were at the top, was only given the position of deputy platoon leader after graduation, while Song Xilian, only seventeen years old, likewise got a deputy platoon leader position. This left Du Yuming with nowhere to appeal.

Like Hu Gongnan and Sun Yuanlang, who were good at making connections, their grades were average, yet they could still be platoon leaders.

Lv Muzhi was the same, being given the position of platoon leader of the First Platoon, Fifth Company, Second Battalion, First Regiment.

Chen Geng stayed at the school as a company commander of the enlisted student company, responsible for training the Whampoa Second Phase cadets.

But what everyone discussed the most was still Jiang Xiangyun, Li Zhilong, and He Zhonghan.

The three had no soldiers under them, but their prospects were obviously broader than others'.

Jiang Xiangyun, first in the whole school, was appointed as the principal's secretary, showing how highly the principal valued him.

Li Zhilong and He Zhonghan were both assigned to the Political Department as captain secretaries, assisting Wu Instructor in carrying out work.

The two captain secretaries of the Political Department, Li Zhilong and He Zhonghan, one from the Workers and Peasants Party and one from the Qingtian Party—put nicely it was cooperation, put badly it was mutual checks and balances.

The two men's captain ranks were envied by others. Most others had second lieutenant ranks and served as platoon leaders.

Just as everyone was discussing heatedly in the dormitory, Lv Muzhi received a notification to go to the principal's office.

"See, the principal hasn't forgotten his little old fellow. I knew it wasn't as simple as just a platoon leader." Sun Yuanlang stood with hands on his hips, obviously unconvinced. He had flattered the principal for so long and only got a platoon leader position.

"You know what? Last time in the Merchant Corps Incident, Lv Muzhi can be confirmed to have killed at least twenty-plus Merchant Corps soldiers. Where were you back then? How come I didn't see you? Don't tell me you became a Flying General?" Song Xilian asked with a smirk.

"If I had a Maxim machine gun, I would... I can't be bothered to talk to you..." Sun Yuanlang, having made a fool of himself, waved his hand and left.

In the principal's office, Lv Muzhi sat opposite Xiao Zhan.

The principal took out a check and pushed it in front of Lv Muzhi: "The profits from short selling Taikoo Shipping last time have come in. The vast majority was used as military funds. As the planner who came up with the idea, this is your share."

Lv Muzhi took the check and looked—it was actually a full one thousand silver dollars!