Chapter 6: Japan

The early summer wind, carrying Xikou's characteristic humidity, blew into the rented little courtyard in the county town. Jiang Ruiyuan snapped his diary onto the table and suddenly blurted out: Yuxuan, I'm preparing to go to Japan.

Li Yuxuan was squatting on the ground feeding the limp‑legged kitten that Jiang Ruiyuan had rescued, and upon hearing that, his hand trembled, nearly spilling the cat food. He jerked his head up, a bewildered expression on his face:??? What the heck?

A barrage of question marks exploded in his mind: Has the principal ever been to Japan? Young Master, why are you going to Japan? Li Yuxuan pushed the cat bowl in front of the kitten, clapped his hands and stood up.

Jiang Ruiyuan walked to the window, gazing at the distant City wall, his tone carrying an unshakable certainty: Studying abroad in Japan, isn't that perfectly normal? Our Gu Xiansheng went to Japan to study, didn't he? He said the military academy there teaches well, you can learn the real stuff.

He turned around, excitement flashing in his eyes: And haven't you heard? In the Russo‑Japanese War, Japan actually won! A small country managing to knock down a great power like Russia must have something extraordinary. I'm going to learn their Army knowledge so I can do great things in the future.

Li Yuxuan opened his mouth, intending to say that the Russo‑Japanese War was fought on Huaxia soil, just two strongmen fighting over territory, but he swallowed the words back. Saying that to Jiang Ruiyuan now, he might not understand and could even think he's raining on his enthusiasm.

But Young Master, he changed the angle: we have no money. To study in Japan, the passage fare, tuition, living expenses—none of them are free. Even if we wanted to go, we couldn't.

Jiang Ruiyuan laughed, looking confident: Damn, of course I know that. But I did some digging—right now the Imperial Court has opened a National Army Accelerated Academy in Baoding, and it's publicly recruiting. Crucially, a portion of the slots are for Study Abroad exchange students, who can be sent to Japan, with tuition and living costs covered by the Imperial Court!

He patted Li Yuxuan's shoulder firmly: Yuxuan, you come with me to take the exam. I don't believe we can't pass.

Li Yuxuan's face turned pale: Young Master, I feel I won't pass.

Inside his mind a roar had already begun: Damn! This Army Accelerated Academy sounds like a tough nut to crack—both military theory and physical tests. In my previous life I couldn't even finish an 800‑meter run as a college student; how could I endure this? If I could pass this, I wouldn't have ended up as a mere junior college graduate in my past life; I'd have gotten into a top university already! Even though I'm now a Servant, I rarely have to do any physical labor.

Yuxuan, stop messing around. Jiang Ruiyuan furrowed his brow, his tone turning serious: you're one of the top students at our Xinshi School, your arithmetic and science even surpass mine; if you can't handle this, who can?

Li Yuxuan wanted to cry but had no tears. He couldn't say that his skill with arithmetic came from having studied modern mathematics, that he could answer science questions because he knew basic physics and chemistry principles, or that even the novel ideas praised by Gu Qinglian were merely plagiarized later‑era knowledge.

I... all that was just theory. He forced himself to find an excuse: the Army Academy will surely test horseback riding, shooting, and drill formations—none of which I know how to do.

You can learn it if you don't know. Jiang Ruiyuan replied dismissively, I don't know either, so we'll train together. Think about it: go to Baoding, enter the Army Academy, then later you can go to Japan, see a real army, learn how to lead troops in battle—it's better than studying in this tiny county town.

He grew more animated, picked up the diary again, opened a page for Li Yuxuan: Look what I wrote—A true man should brandish a three‑foot sword and achieve lasting fame. To be confined to the countryside is no different from an ant. This Army Academy is our chance.

Li Yuxuan stared at the bold, forceful characters in the diary, a mix of emotions swirling inside him. He knew the Baoding Army Accelerated Academy was indeed a springboard; many later military and political bigwigs had emerged from there. Jiang Ruiyuan's taking the exam might fit the historical pattern, but what about his own haphazard involvement?

Young Master, you go and I'll stay behind. He tried to back out, saying I'll stay here, watch over the Family, and wait for you to return from Japan...

No way! Jiang Ruiyuan cut him off, his tone resolute: you must come with me. We grew up together; wherever I go, you have to go. Besides, your mind works better than mine, so at the Academy you'll definitely be able to help me.

He paused, softened his tone: Did you forget what Gu Xiansheng said? To accomplish great deeds in the future, you need trustworthy people by your side. I trust you, Yuxuan.

Those words warmed Li Yuxuan's heart, then made it ache. He knew Jiang Ruiyuan meant it sincerely. In this era, the phrase "grew up together" weighs more than anything.

But he still hesitated. Going to Baoding, going to Japan means being fully swept into the torrent of this era, no longer being a half‑hearted bystander as he is now. The road ahead is filled with flashing swords and blood‑rain and corpse‑wind; as an ordinary person from a peaceful age, can he really endure it?

"Let me think some more..." he whispered.

Jiang Ruiyuan didn't press him, just shoved the enrollment regulations for the Army Academy into his hands: Take a look yourself. There's still a month left before the application deadline—plenty of time to think.

That night, Li Yuxuan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He held the regulations, reading them repeatedly by moonlight. The admission requirements read: age sixteen to twenty‑five, healthy body, basic literacy in arts and sciences... he seemed to meet them all.

But the thought of donning a uniform, undergoing drills, learning killing techniques made his whole body tremble with fear.

Sigh... he exhaled, gazing at the moon outside the window. The air‑conditioned rooms, smartphones, cola of his past life seemed like things from a previous incarnation. This damned Republic era truly isn't romantic at all—just a series of headache‑inducing multiple‑choice questions.

He didn't know, Jiang Ruiyuan hadn't actually fallen asleep either. The boy lay on his bed, listening to Li Yuxuan's shifting on the other side, a faint smile curling his lips as he added another line to the diary: Yuxuan must go with me. Though he may appear timid, his heart holds valleys and peaks; he is no mere pond‑dweller.