Did he trick the young marshal into becoming sworn brothers and then go south to Huangpu Military Ac

Just as the gentleman was digesting this lengthy discourse with a look of utter shock.

Lin Qi put down his brush, sat back down at his desk, and continued.

"As for Yan Xishan, the Shanxi faction is holding back, waiting to see which side wins. He will send a congratulatory telegram to whichever side wins."

"Sun Chuanfang will also remain inactive. In Fujian, he is only thinking about waiting for Qi Xieyuan and Lu Yongxiang to be weakened before he can reap the benefits in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Both of them are just watching the show."

Lin Qi turned around and met the teacher's gaze.

"Sir, this is the key to the battle."

"Not at Shanhaiguan."

"In Chahar."

"That stab from Feng Huanzhang."

The gentleman didn't speak, but stood up and slowly walked to the map, staring at the marks Lin Qi had drawn on it with a brush.

Shanhaiguan, Jiumenkou, Chahar, Beijing, Wuhan.

The lines are messy, yet they clearly outline the situation in the north for the next three months.

After a long while, the gentleman turned around.

"Takuyuki."

The voice was deep.

"Your mission to Fengtian has changed this time."

Lin Qi lowered his head.

"Please speak, sir."

"I was just going to give it a push."

"Now."

The gentleman returned to his desk and sat down.

Take out a sheet of gold-flecked red Xuan paper used exclusively by the headquarters.

I pick up my pen.

"Now."

"It's to form an alliance."

The pen tip falls.

"I wrote a letter by hand to Marshal Zhang."

"We clearly state that from now on, the South and the Fengtian clique will be mutually supportive. If the Northern Zhili clique is defeated, we will pledge to be brotherly nations and never invade each other again."

Lin Qi stood aside, watching the teacher finish writing the letter stroke by stroke.

As he finished writing, the man paused for a moment and looked up.

"Takuyuki."

"Only you can deliver this letter."

"With so many factions within the Fengtian clique, this kind of secret letter, falling into the hands of people like Yang Yuting, would inevitably be leaked."

"You must personally deliver it to Marshal Zhang."

Lin Qi took the newly written letter with both hands, folded it, and put it into his inner pocket.

"Don't worry, sir."

"I will certainly not fail in my mission."

Lin Qi left the study; it was past midnight.

Instead of leaving the Grand Marshal's Mansion directly, he went to Lu Xiaojia's guest room and knocked on the door twice.

Lu Xiaojia was still awake and was smoking shirtless in the room.

"Brother Lin."

"Did you agree to what you just did?"

Lin Qi nodded.

"Two days later, in Dalian."

"We traveled directly from Hong Kong to Dalian on a Japanese cruise ship, disguised as purchasing agents, for a five-day sea voyage."

"When we arrive in Dalian, have Hanqing come to pick us up in person."

Lu Xiaojia grinned.

"Brother Lin, I'll go with you this time."

Lin Qi glanced at him.

"Don't report our trip to Fengtian back to the Zhejiang Governor's Office for now."

There were no promises between me and your father.

Lu Xiaojia's smile vanished.

He knew that Lin Qi was making it clear that Lin Qi's trip was not to do errands for Lu Yongxiang, but for his teacher, and he was just passing by.

"clear."

Lu Xiaojia nodded.

"Whatever Brother Lin instructs, I will do."

Lin Qi patted him on the shoulder, said nothing more, and left the guest room.

……

Luoyang.

The direct headquarters.

Wu Ziyu, dressed in a faded long robe, sat behind a rosewood desk.

There was a copy of Mencius lying on the table, and I had just read the passage about "those who have the Way receive much help".

The adjutant strode in, carrying a copy of a newly intercepted coded telegram.

"General."

"There's been some activity in Guangzhou."

Wu Ziyu didn't even raise his head.

"explain."

"Lu Yongxiang's representative has secretly arrived in Guangdong. Mr. Lu hosted a banquet to entertain him and expressed his stance that supporting Zhejiang is protecting Guangdong."

"More importantly..."

The adjutant paused for a moment.

"The gentleman has sent a special envoy, disguised as a purchasing agent, to board a Japanese cruise ship from Hong Kong early tomorrow morning, with Dalian as the destination."

"The identity of the special envoy."

"It was Lin Tuozhi, the vice principal of the Whampoa Military Academy."

Wu Ziyu's finger stopped on the page of Mencius.

After a long while, he raised his eyes.

The adjutant immediately added:

"General, our men can intercept them."

"Or we can just board the ship together."

The adjutant lowered his voice.

"Then dispose of it."

Wu Ziyu waved his hand.

"No need."

The adjutant was stunned.

"General, this Lin Tuozhi is a favorite of the Master, and he is also a sworn brother of the young marshal of Fengtian. He must be on this trip to contact General Zhang."

"If we don't take action, a pincer attack from the north and south will soon take shape."

Wu Ziyu closed the copy of Mencius and placed it on the corner of the desk.

"General Zhang? He's just a bearded man."

He smiled.

"This old man has been cooped up inside the pass for over a year, and I can't wait for him to come out of Shanhaiguan."

"He's out. Only by completely defeating him can the country be unified."

The adjutant opened his mouth.

"The troops in the south are so small that even Chen Jiongming of Dongjiang couldn't defend against them."

Wu Ziyu picked up the teacup.

"Sun Yat-sen is all talk and no action."

"Send troops? He can't get out."

"Sending Lin Tuozhi to Fengtian won't make much of a difference."

Wu Ziyu took a sip of tea.

"Let him be."

"Let him pass."

"Let them unite."

"Once the old man really sends out troops, the Third Division will finally have a chance to prove its worth."

……

Two days later, Victoria Harbour.

Lin Qi changed into a navy blue wool suit and wore a wide-brimmed felt hat with the brim pulled low.

Lu Xiaojia disguised himself as an attendant, carrying a large leather suitcase. Through the connections of Jardine Matheson, the two boarded a Japanese cruise ship, the Kasuga Maru, and disguised themselves as merchants from Jardine Matheson in Shanghai who were purchasing soybeans.

The cabin was first class. The three-day sea voyage was uneventful, and Wu Ziyu showed no reaction whatsoever, clearly showing that he didn't take the master and the headquarters seriously.

A few days later, the Kasuga Maru slowly sailed into Dalian Port.

The rising sun pressed down on the red-tiled eaves of the harbor, and the seawater was bathed in a golden-red glow. Under the pier, several seagulls flew past, skimming the waves.

Lin Qi carried his suitcase down the gangway.

As soon as I stepped onto the pier, a young military officer in general's uniform rushed up to me in three strides.

"Big brother."

Zhang Hanqing.

He rushed over and grabbed Lin Qi in a tight hug, making it hard for Lin Qi to breathe.

"Hanqing".

Lin Qi patted his sworn brother on the back.

Zhang Hanqing released his grip, his eyes reddening.

"Brother, it's been more than half a year since we last met. I've missed you so much!"

Lin Qi smiled.

"Hanqing".

"I've come on behalf of you, sir."

Zhang Hanqing nodded, "I know, my father is already making preparations."

"Brother, let's chat later, the special train is waiting."

"My father personally ordered that a banquet be held at the Marshal's Mansion tonight to welcome you back."

The two brothers chatted enthusiastically, leaving Lu Xiaojia feeling invisible and standing awkwardly to the side.

Lin Qi turned around with a smile: "Young Master Lu, I'm so sorry, it's been so long since I've seen Hanqing, I've neglected you!"

Lu Xiaojia stepped forward and bowed to Zhang Hanqing, saying, "Hanqing, how have you been?"

Zhang Hanqing slapped his forehead and laughed, "Look at my eyes! I didn't see you, Xiao Jia, a grown man."

As he spoke, he took Lu Xiaojia's hand in one hand and Lin Qi's hand in the other, and the three of them walked together toward the other side of the dock.

A black Ford was parked at the end of the pier.

The next row was Zhang Hanqing's guard, a group of about twenty young officers from the Fengtian Military Academy, each carrying a Browning rifle. Their presence was quite conspicuous in Dalian Port.