Chapter 11: Separation

The ginkgo leaves at the Baoding Army Accelerated Academy have turned yellow and fallen, and Li Yuxuan and Jiang Ruiyuan have been back here from Japan for almost two years. Time passes like the water flowing before the academy's gate—silent yet never ceasing—and in the blink of an eye it is the summer of 1908.

During those two years they received systematic military training at Qinghua School, from drill formations to weapon disassembly, from sand table simulations to field exercises, enduring many hardships and indeed gaining skill. Jiang Ruiyuan has tanned considerably, gaining a soldier's robust bearing, no longer the wild boy from Xikou who only climbed trees and peered into bird nests; Li Yuxuan, relying on his rote memorization, has mastered the Japanese Army drill manual inside out, even able to point out minute errors in the instructors' demonstrations, earning the admiration of many Japanese students.

Back in Baoding, the atmosphere in the academy was clearly different. The news of Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi's successive deaths fell like a massive stone into stagnant water; students whispered in private, some saying "the court is about to change," others worrying "the new army will be reshuffled," and the air was thick with a restless tension as if a mountain storm were about to break.

That afternoon, the two sat under a ginkgo tree by the field, watching the lower‑grade students march in Marching in Step. Jiang Ruiyuan suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with reluctance: "Yuxuan, I'm planning to go back to Japan. The instructors at Qinghua said I can be recommended to the Shinbu School for further study, where I can learn more advanced Command Tactics."

Li Yuxuan was not surprised. Jiang Ruiyuan has always performed well at the Shinbu School, especially in the Cavalry Department where he ranks among the top of his cohort, so being recommended is understandable. He smiled: "That's fine, graduating from the Officer School, the future is boundless."

"What about you?" Jiang Ruiyuan turned to look at him. "Has the academy not arranged anything for you?"

Li Yuxuan pulled a notice from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Ruiyuan: "Young Master, I have been assigned to study abroad in Germany. The academy says the German Army is the strongest in Europe, and wants me to learn their Staff Work and Heavy Weapon Tactics."

"Germany?" Jiang Ruiyuan's eyes lit up as he took the notice and examined it closely. "Sure, Yuxuan! Germany's Krupp Cannon and Mauser Rifle are fine pieces! Going there to learn skills is far better than staying in Japan!"

He said he was happy for Li Yuxuan, but his tone could not hide a hint of loss: "Alas, it's a pity you can't accompany me. In those two years in Japan, having you by my side always made me feel secure."

Li Yuxuan patted his shoulder: "It's fine, Young Master. I'll study hard in Germany, you make good use of your time in Japan, and when I return from my studies we can both help each other. If we ever lead troops into battle, you know cavalry, I know staff work; together we'll be unstoppable."

Jiang Ruiyuan laughed at his words and nodded vigorously: "It's settled then! You must return early, don't stay in Germany too long; I'm afraid by the time you come back I'll already have become a general."

"Then I'll have to hurry, or else when I return I'll still have to salute you," Li Yuxuan joked.

The two looked at each other and laughed, their laughter carrying youthful vigor, temporarily easing the sorrow of parting. They both knew this separation was not an end, but a means to fight side by side better in the future— in these turbulent times, only by mastering greater power can one stand firm in a chaotic world.

In the following days both were busy preparing their gear. Jiang Ruiyuan's luggage was simple: a few changes of clothes, a worn copy of Step Cannon Coordination, and a wooden plaque engraved with the character "Ming" given by Mr. Gu Qinglian. He even went to a photo studio to take a military uniform portrait, saying he would keep it for Mao Fumei and Wang Caiyu.

Li Yuxuan, meanwhile, packed a full box of material he had gathered in Japan: Japanese Army exercise reports, weapon specification tables, and a covertly copied map of the Japanese Army Ministry's defensive dispositions. He also had someone purchase a German dictionary, which he was devouring with relish, though those twisted letters gave him more of a headache than Japanese characters.

The night before departure, the two drank a little wine in the dormitory. With no extra words, they clinked glass after glass, as if to dissolve years of friendship into the drink.

"When you get to Japan, don't keep picking fights with people," Li Yuxuan warned. "Young Master, last time you argued with Japanese students over 'who was right in the First Sino-Japanese War,' you almost came to blows, remember?"

Jiang Ruiyuan scratched his head: "Got it. And when you get to Germany, don't just bury yourself in books; go out more. I hear Berlin's Arms Exhibition is famous, take plenty of photos to bring back."

"Don't worry."

At dawn the next day, two horse‑drawn carriages were parked at the academy's gate: one bound for Tianjin Port to board a ship to Japan, the other to Shanghai to transfer to a liner bound for Germany.

"Take care on the road," Jiang Ruiyuan swung onto his horse, turned and waved at Li Yuxuan.

"You take care too," Li Yuxuan stood beside the carriage, seeing him off.

The clatter of hooves faded, Jiang Ruiyuan's figure vanished around the corner. Li Yuxuan inhaled deeply and boarded the carriage bound for Modu.

The wheels rolled onward, carrying him toward a different direction. Outside the window, Baoding's streets receded slowly, the academy's ginkgo leaves rustling in the wind as if bidding farewell to the two youths.

Li Yuxuan leaned against the window, gazing into the distance. He knew Japan and Germany represented two entirely different military systems—Japan adopted Western methods yet retained the fierce spirit of the samurai, while Germany was built on a rigorous staff system and powerful industry. Studying in Germany might teach him more of the Techniques of a Strong Nation than Japan, but it also meant he would be farther from this familiar land and from the looming storms.

"This time I'll truly be fighting alone in Germany," he whispered to himself, a smile tugging at his mouth. "No matter what, getting to see the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and how a real European great army operates is something to look forward to."

The carriage left Baoding City, taking the official road toward Shanghai. The road ahead stretched endlessly across countless rivers and mountains, yet Li Yuxuan felt steady. He knew he and the principal were like two seeds blown by the wind to different directions; their temporary parting was to allow them to take root and grow on broader soil, eventually becoming a great tree that shelters this suffering land from wind and rain.