Chapter 19: Sanxiang First Normal School

The office door at the end of the corridor was ajar, letting out the muffled voices inside. An officer in a Major General's uniform stepped forward, scanning Li Yuxuan up and down, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth: "You are Li Yuxuan?"

He replied, "Sir, I am Li Yuxuan." He promptly stood at attention and saluted, his posture flawless. The military habits he cultivated in Germany made his nerves tense subconsciously when facing a superior.

"Very good, truly a hero from a young age," the Major General patted his arm, his tone warm, "The Chief, Deputy Chief and others are waiting for you in the office to hear your report. Follow me."

Li Yuxuan fell in step with him, and as they passed the guardroom he quietly slipped a small brocade box from his bag and handed it over: "Sir, this modest gift is a token of respect; I hope you will look after me." Inside was a pocket watch he had brought back from Germany—nothing precious, but a sincere offering.

The Major General's eyes lit up; without a hint of reaction he slipped the brocade box into his pocket, leaned close and whispered, "The Chief is in a temper right now, apparently after a quarrel with the Deputy Chief over the European war. When you go in, speak little, listen more, and be cautious."

"Understood, thank you for the warning, Sir." Li Yuxuan's heart tightened; he thought to himself that returning just to run into a gunpoint was truly unlucky.

"Report!" he shouted, standing at the door of the Chief's office, his voice resonant.

"Enter." a commanding voice came from within, bearing undeniable authority.

Li Yuxuan pushed the door open and saw three officers seated in the office. At the head was a middle‑aged man with a square‑shaped beard, a stern aura in his brows—the Army Chief Duan Qirui. Beside him sat Deputy Chief Jiang Zuobin, spectacles on, appearing refined yet with a shrewd glint in his eyes. The third was the Operations Hall Director, bent over a stack of documents.

"I, Li Yuxuan, respectfully present my report to the Chief," he saluted again, handing over his graduation certificate and the report.

Duan Qirui took the report, tossed it on the desk after a few lines, and asked outright, "Did you study artillery tactics in Germany? Then tell me, with our current Army equipment, how would you deploy artillery if faced with an attack by a Japanese division?" Li Yuxuan's heart skipped a beat. The question was sharp, testing both theory and knowledge of domestic armaments. He steadied himself and replied, "Sir, regarding equipment, our artillery's caliber and range are inferior to the Japanese. However, in mountainous terrain we can use the topography to create concealed gun positions, concentrate fire on the enemy's flank, and have infantry harass their logistics, playing to our strengths and avoiding our weaknesses…"

He had just finished speaking when Jiang Zuobin spoke again: "I hear Germany is developing Motorized Forces. Do you think this would be suitable for China?"

"Deputy Chief, Motorized Forces demand extensive roads and fuel, making nationwide deployment difficult at present. However, we could first form a small tank company, coordinated with cavalry reconnaissance; in the plains it might achieve surprising results…"

The next few hours turned into a relentless barrage. From analysis of the European war situation to domestic armament reforms, from tactical simulations to logistical support, each of the three superiors posed sharper questions, as if they wanted to strip the knowledge he had acquired in Germany to the root.

Li Yuxuan muttered inwardly: "It's not that… no one warned me these people would be so relentless! Why do they keep probing every detail? The theories I learned in class and the later‑generation knowledge stored in my mind are being drained!"

He could only summon all his focus, picking suitable material to answer—neither appearing incompetent nor revealing his secret of "foreseeing the future." He measured his responses cautiously. Fortunately, six years in Germany were not wasted; the tactical regulations and weapon specifications were already etched in his mind, so handling the questions did not betray any weakness.

When the setting sun streamed through the window into the office, Duan Qirui finally ceased his questioning, lifted his teacup for a sip, and his tone softened: "Yuxuan, during your years studying in Germany you have indeed learned many skills."

Jiang Zuobin also laughed: "Hahaha, he truly is a talent; his grasp of new tactics is far more thorough than us old men."

"That's enough, Yuxuan, you may return for now; once we finish our discussion we'll assign you a post," Duan Qirui waved his hand.

"Very well, Chief, Deputy Chief," Li Yuxuan said, feeling as if pardoned, saluted, turned, and left the office, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

He had just left when the atmosphere in the office shifted. The Operations Hall Director was the first to speak: "What do you think of this Li Yuxuan?"

"Talented," Duan Qirui said, setting down his teacup, fingers drumming on the table, "His insights on artillery and mechanized tactics are unique; he's a useful asset. The only question is whether he's one of our own."

Jiang Zuobin adjusted his glasses: "If he's one of our own, can't we just test him and find out?"

"How to test?" the Director asked.

A spark of brilliance flashed in Duan Qirui's eyes: "I hear Sanxiang is a bit restless now; Revolution activists are active there. Send him to Sanxiang and see if he can hold his ground."

"Inappropriate," Jiang Zuobin objected immediately, "Deputy Chief Jiang Zuobin says, such talent placed in a place like Sanxiang would be a waste. Better keep him in the Army Department to take part in the new army's training."

"It's fine," Duan Qirui waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for doubt, and decided to send him to Sanxiang's First Normal School first. "Chief, isn't that inappropriate?" the Director was stunned, "He's a military talent; putting him in a school—what's that? Let him teach students how to carry rifles?" It's fine; after all, teaching at a military academy is still teaching. Duan Qirui smiled, "The Education Department chief of Sanxiang complains to me daily that the school lacks talent who understand the new studies. Sending him there as head of the education section neither wastes his ability nor prevents him from observing the situation in Sanxiang."

Jiang Zuobin thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "That's a solution. The First Normal School's students are lively in thought, hidden talents abound; letting him stay there can both utilize his abilities and let us gauge his stance. Agreed, it's settled."

The three superiors exchanged a glance, sealing the decision.

At this moment Li Yuxuan was still unaware that his destination had been decided, dragging his weary body along the road back to the inn. In Beijing's dusk, the alleys wafted with the scent of food, distant patrol whistles sounded, a scene of tranquility that concealed unseen undercurrents.

He stared at the evening clouds, pondering the upcoming assignments. No matter where the Army Department sent him, as long as he had work, it was better than idling. He just hadn't expected that this seemingly ordinary report would thrust him toward a completely unforeseen place—Sanxiang First Normal School.