Courtyard House: Home Alone

Suddenly, with a sharp "crack," an exquisite porcelain cup was smashed to the ground and shattered into pieces. Scalding hot tea splashed onto his trouser legs, but he was completely unaware, only burying his head even lower.

"Baka! Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" An uncontrollable roar exploded like thunder in the imperial study, making his eardrums ring. "Okamura Yasuji! The 20th Division! The Empire's elite! Gone just like that, without any explanation?!"

The Emperor's voice was filled with incredulous anger and a hint of barely perceptible panic, "North China! What happened to North China?! Tell me!"

The Minister of War shuddered, his forehead instantly covered in cold sweat. He opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't utter a single complete sentence.

He could feel the gaze emanating from the throne was like a tangible blade, almost tearing him to pieces.

"Speak!" came another angry shout, carrying an unquestionable authority.

The Minister of the Army swallowed hard, his throat dry as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I have ordered the 23rd Brigade in Tianjin to find Mr. Okamura and the 20th Division at all costs."

In addition, I have ordered the Special Higher Police to gather intelligence on the Beiping area as soon as possible.

I don't care what methods you use! Three days! I'm only giving you three days! Within three days, I need accurate information about Okamura Yasuji and the 20th Division!

"I demand to see you alive or dead! If you still cannot give me a satisfactory answer in three days, you can bring yourself to me with your head!"

The Emperor's voice seemed to come from the deepest hell, filled with icy killing intent.

The Minister of the Army knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold ground, his voice trembling with tears: "Yes, Your Majesty! Your Majesty... Your Majesty obeys! I will certainly give you an explanation within three days!"

His body trembled violently with fear, and cold sweat soaked his back, soaking a large area of ​​his general's uniform.

The Imperial Study fell into a suffocating silence once again, with only the Emperor's heavy breathing and the Minister of War's suppressed, almost inaudible sobs.

After a long while, the Emperor waved his hand, his voice tired and hoarse: "Get lost."

"Hey!" The Minister of the Army felt as if he had been granted a pardon and scrambled out of the Imperial Study as if a demon was chasing him.

As he stepped out of the palace gates, a gust of cold wind hit him, and he realized that his legs were so weak that he could barely stand. If the guards hadn't been there to support him, he probably would have collapsed at the palace gate.

He looked up at the gloomy sky, his heart filled with despair.

Finding a missing division and army commander in the vast North China region in just three days is an impossible task.

But he dared not slacken in the slightest, because he knew that the words of the one on the throne were never a joke.

He took a deep breath, mustered his strength, and shouted sternly at the guards beside him, "Prepare the car! Return to headquarters immediately!"

A massive storm triggered by the disappearance of Okamura Yasuji and the 20th Division is rapidly sweeping across North China, centered in Beiping, and even reaching the highest levels of the Japanese Empire.

Lin Yifan, the instigator of all this, had already placed the weapons and ammunition intended for Old Master Tang in that abandoned courtyard and was on his way to Old Master Tang's house, completely unaware of the turmoil within the Japanese military headquarters and the Imperial Palace.

At this moment, what he was thinking about was how to use Manager Zhou as a connection to quickly make contact with the underground Red Party organization and obtain the intelligence he needed.

Then, relying on Old Master Tang's information, within three days, they cleanly and efficiently eliminated the two traitors, Wang Defa and Li Sangou, ridding the people of Beiping of a great scourge.

Night, like a giant black silk ribbon, slowly enveloped Beiping, burying both the city's prosperity and its sins in silence.

He quickly arrived at Grandpa Tang's door, knocked a few times in a measured rhythm: three short knocks followed by a pause, then two long knocks, ending with a crisp single knock. This was the pre-arranged signal between him and Grandpa Tang, used only when safety was assured and there was something important to discuss.

There was no immediate response from inside the door, only a faint rustling sound. Lin Yifan patiently stood still, spreading his mental energy to scan the surroundings, making sure there were no suspicious persons.

A moment later, the door creaked open a crack, revealing the butler's wrinkled face. He scrutinized Lin Yifan's face warily for a moment, then quickly glanced at the alley behind him. After confirming that no one was around, he lowered his voice and said, "Is that you, young master?" Lin Yifan nodded slightly.

The butler then opened the door wider, stepped aside to let him in, and quickly closed the door, not forgetting to bolt it from the inside. His movements were swift and efficient, clearly those of a seasoned professional.

"Grandpa Tang is waiting for you in the main house. Please go there as soon as you arrive."

As the butler spoke, he led Lin Yifan through the courtyard, the bluestone slabs under his feet making a soft thud in the quiet night.

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone slabs.

Lin Yifan followed the butler through the corridor, where a faint fragrance of herbs and a subtle medicinal scent filled the air.

The door to the main house was ajar, and dim light shone from inside, through which low voices could be faintly heard.

The butler stopped outside the door and said softly, "Young master, we've arrived." Then he bowed and withdrew.

Lin Yifan took a deep breath and gently pushed open the heavy wooden door.

The room was dimly lit, and Grandpa Tang was sitting in a pear wood armchair, holding a purple clay teacup in his hand. The rising steam blurred the wrinkles on his face.

Seeing Lin Yifan enter, he put down his teacup, pointed to the chair opposite him, and said in a calm voice, "Sit down, young master."

Beside him sat a middle-aged man with a sharp face and piercing eyes, exuding an air of seasoned experience, who was intently scrutinizing Lin Yifan.

Lin Yifan sat down as instructed, his gaze lingering briefly on the middle-aged man before turning to Old Master Tang and getting straight to the point: "Old Master, I'm back. You're my senior, so you can call me Xiaofan from now on. There's been some initial progress with Manager Zhou."

"Alright! I'll call you Xiao Fan from now on." Old Master Tang nodded slightly, then gestured for him to continue. Lin Yifan then briefly recounted his meeting with Manager Zhou, including the purpose of the insignia and Manager Zhou's promise to provide a response within two days.

When he heard "two thousand rifles and one hundred light machine guns," the middle-aged man next to him had a glint in his eyes and his breathing became slightly rapid, but he quickly regained his composure. However, his gaze toward Lin Yifan held a newfound scrutiny and inquiry.

After listening, Old Master Tang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly said, "Manager Zhou is a man of integrity and loyalty. With him as the go-between, things will be much easier. However, the Red Party is always cautious in its actions, so you must be careful with the details of the meeting."