Most of the other people put down all their work during the New Year, reunite with their families happily and easily, or walk around to visit relatives and friends, but Xiao Yiming does not have the time and mood, leaving early and returning late all day, and is busier than usual.

The missionaries of Britain, the United States, France and Germany had never had the habit of celebrating the Spring Festival, and it was difficult to recruit Chinese Christians during the Spring Festival, so they all had time to help Xiao Yiming.

Xiao Yiming led a group of missionaries to conduct two field surveys, held three sumptuous and exquisite thank-you banquets, and the modernization plan and construction plan were freshly released after repeated discussions by seven missionaries.

This plan is not only the planning and construction plan of more than 700 acres of land that Xiao Yiming already owns and will buy, but also includes the construction and renovation within 100 meters on both sides of the two main roads.

On the afternoon of the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Xiao Yiming took back the planning drawings and design drawings he had just obtained, hung them on the wall of his study excitedly, stood in front and watched them repeatedly, and sighed.

"Little brother, there is a guest visiting, and he said that he is from Luzhou."

Sixteen-year-old Tang Fei stood at the door and reported loudly, this young man with a height of 1.65 meters and a childish face was Xiao Fei, who had made great contributions to Xiao Yiming's revenge action, and he, like Wu San, wore the long-awaited military uniform.

Sister Yi and a few women hurriedly returned to the backyard, Xiao Yiming dressed up, walked out quickly, saw the person who came, stepped forward in a few steps, grabbed the outstretched hands of the person, and was happy: "Brother Huaijin came to me so soon to take a look, it seems that you are longer and much more handsome." ”

Zeng Chaoran gratefully gave Xiao Yiming a punch: "You are still like that, you talk nonsense as soon as you meet...... This is a few souvenirs sent by my father and mother, and I don't pay respect, you have to accept it. When we received your telegram on the second day of the Lunar New Year, our family was very happy, and my father was so self-disciplined that he was so drunk that night that he danced."

Xiao Yiming laughed, walked to the two beautifully woven bamboo baskets, and opened the lid happily: "Lahamie, spicy smoked sausage, so much!" are the little brother's favorite, Brother Huai Jin has a heart, and he will have time to meet his uncle and aunt in the future, and the little brother must thank him! Moon girl, you guys, what are you doing standing stupidly, call Brother Zeng quickly! ”

The nine-year-old girl put down the saucer, led the three six or seven-year-old girls, shyly saluted Zeng Chaoran, and hurriedly left with two baskets of cured meat under Xiao Yiming's instructions.

Zeng Chaoran asked in a low voice, "Who are these little girls......?"

"Oh, they were all picked up by me and my second brother from outside Xicheng a year ago, and there are more than a dozen in the backyard, and those who remember their surnames have taken names, and those who don't remember are all with my surname Xiao, and they have all become my younger brothers and sisters. These little guys are very obedient and competitive, and they can recite and write thirty Tang poems silently. Don't talk to yourself, drink tea! Xiao Yiming explained casually.

Zeng Chaoran was quite emotional, he knew Xiao Yiming's background, when he was first admitted to the Army Police Academy, he paid special attention to Xiao Yiming, who was gentle and polite, and his bearing was very different, and since then, Xiao Yiming's outstanding performance in all aspects has made him secretly admire.

Zeng Chaoran, who is humble on the outside and arrogant in his heart, competes with Xiao Yiming in all aspects, from entering the school to graduation, he has never been able to surpass Xiao Yiming, but has become a confidant because of mutual appreciation and competition. With the deepening of the relationship, Zeng Chaoran gradually learned about Xiao Yiming's struggle and the good deeds of adopting more than 30 women and children, and since then he has admired Xiao Yiming's character, in addition to admiration, more closeness.

Xiao Yiming also used practical actions to repay this trust and friendship, on the second day of the Lunar New Year, he received a telegram of only twelve words, his eyes were immediately moist, and he was so excited that he couldn't help himself, he knew how difficult this opportunity was, and how heavy this love was.

The two of you are talking back and forth, Xiao Fei brought Liu Bingxian, who was wearing a military uniform, Xiao Yiming and Zeng Chaoran were very happy, and they went up to play and laugh non-stop.

Liu Bingxian put down the suitcase and gifts, took a step back, and respectfully clasped his fists and saluted: "Yiming, although I don't thank you for my great kindness, I still have to thank you!" ”

"Hey...... Stand up straight, are you still the arrogant Liu Bingxian? You're here to do this, where do you put my face? Come on, sit down, take a sip of tea to quench your thirst, the dish will be ready soon, today is a drunken party, otherwise tomorrow as soon as you leave, the younger brother wants to find you to drink after three years. ”

Xiao Yiming held Liu Bingxian's hand and pressed him to the chair.

Liu Bingxian was stunned: "Tomorrow? So fast? ”

Xiao Yiming nodded regretfully, and Zeng Chaoran explained on his behalf: "Brother Zicheng, Yiming has already helped you and me get back the dispatch document signed by the Governor, and tomorrow morning, we will have to go to the Governor's Mansion with Yiming to thank the Governor, and in the afternoon, take the British cargo ship from the East Wharf to Shanghai, and then transfer to the passenger ship to report to the Yanjing Military Headquarters." ”

"Yiming is so well arranged?" Liu Bingxian was surprised.

Xiao Yiming said with a smile: "I wanted you to stay in Yucheng and walk a few steps less, but considering the Governor's strong recommendation, the two of you have to thank you in person, so I let you come today." ”

"Yes, it's okay to drive another 30,000 miles!"

Liu Bingxian restored his original surname and began to regain his heroic and uninhibited side.

Everyone's hearts were warm, and soon the banquet was set up and each other joined hands to the table, and they clinked glasses again and again under the excitement, and laughter continued.

When the wine was half-drunk, the twenty-five-year-old Zeng Chaoran took the lead in bringing the topic to the current weakness and chaos of the army.

After drinking a large glass of wine, Liu Bingxian opened his military uniform and said loudly: "This degenerate imperial court is hopeless, and there may really be only one way to overthrow and rebuild." ”

"Zicheng, you are talking nonsense, you are going to lose your head!" The mature and steady Zeng Chaoran was so frightened that he woke up most of the time, and grabbed Liu Bingxian and scolded him in a low voice.

Xiao Yiming smiled slightly, and didn't care: "It's okay, I'm remote, there is no one around, there is Xiaofei watching outside, killing pigs will not alarm others, Brother Zicheng has learned from a small family, both civil and military, full of ambition to serve the country, seeing the decline of the current situation, he panicked, let him roar a few scruples to drink a few more glasses." ”

Zeng Chaoran glanced at Xiao Yiming: "Yiming, why do you have such an attitude?" I've never heard you say anything about the imperial court before, and you never participate in the activities of various groups, so how can you become as extreme as Zicheng? ”

"It's not extreme, it's extreme despair!" Liu Bingxian fired the cannon again, so angry that Zeng Chao didn't care.

Xiao Yiming looked at the two of them, couldn't help but smile and said meaningfully:

"Before, I didn't participate in any groups, I didn't speak ill of the court, I didn't criticize the current affairs, and I studied hard because I needed the opportunity to learn, the opportunity to accumulate qualifications, and to put it mildly, I needed to show the advantages of being clean, self-conscious, diligent and self-disciplined, so that I could enter the officialdom and live a peaceful life, but this does not mean that I do not accept new ideas and new concepts.

"I have also read the "Fierce Return" that is secretly circulated by the League and is highly sought after by young people, although the content is not very good, but Zou Rong and others love the nation and worry about the future of the country, I still appreciate it, but this does not mean that I believe in their set."

Zeng Chaoran and Liu Bingxian looked at Xiao Yiming, who was relaxed and calm, in shock, and Liu Bingxian asked, "Yiming, whose doctrine do you believe?" ”

Xiao Yiming said with a smile: "Now that the streets are full of newism, I am dazzled, so I have to turn my attention to the reform of the army, saying a thousand ways and ten thousand, strength is the basis that determines everything, so I think, whether it is for self-preservation, or to do something for the country and the nation, the first condition is to figure out what you can do, what do the two brothers think?" ”

Liu Bingxian was greatly excited, Zeng Chaoran was thoughtful, and closed his mouth one after another and pondered. Xiao Yiming stopped talking, and secretly admired the super strong surnames of the two best friends.

"Yi Ming, you must have thought deeply about the issue of the army, can you tell me about your experience?" Liu Bingxian took the lead in asking.

Xiao Yiming waved his hand: "I can't talk about my experience, but I have some feelings, and my little brother will be ugly today." After graduating, the younger brother was unexpectedly assigned to the Governor's Yamen Supervision and Training Office to join the army, and then was dragged by General Zhong Ying to prepare for the Army Crash School, so that he had the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the current situation of the army. Those who are officials deduct military salaries and deceive their superiors and subordinates, and those who serve as soldiers make trouble everywhere and oppress the people, and in more serious cases, they collude with the upper and lower levels to resell military funds, and even dare to sell guns and ammunition. After thinking about it repeatedly, I found that this was not the source of the chaos in the army, and I also had a strong sense of powerlessness and was very frustrated, so General Zhong Ying asked me to help him wipe his ass, merge several bankrupt military schools, and prepare for a unified army crash school, and I went. ”

Zeng Chaoran raised his hand: "Wait! Yi Ming, as you said just now, these are not the root causes of the army's chaos, what is the root cause? Where is it? ”

"That's right! I'm savoring your words, too. Liu Bingxian echoed loudly.

Xiao Yiming shook his head: "This question is too big to say, but it can be summarized as follows: Who should the army fight for?" What is the primary duty of the military? What are the development goals at each stage? I think that as long as these three points are clarified, the other problems will be solved. ”

Zeng Chaoran and Liu Bingxian looked at each other, their hearts were terrified, and the confusion and depression that had been bothering their hearts suddenly disappeared, although there was no clear and comprehensive consciousness, but Xiao Yiming's words gave the two of them great touch and enlightenment, just like breaking through the fog and shooting into a ray of tempting sunshine.

"Don't think about it, you won't be able to figure it out for a while, and after the two of you set off, there will be time to think. Have a glass, after drinking this glass of wine, the younger brother has a few words to say to the two brothers, hoping that the two brothers will not blame the younger brother for being abrupt. Xiao Yiming took the lead in raising her glass.

"Good!"

Zeng Chaoran and Liu Bingxian raised their glasses together, and the three of them clinked glasses and drank them all.

Xiao Yiming wiped the wine stains from the corners of her mouth, and solemnly and sincerely said her expectations: "The two brothers crossed the ocean this time, and I am afraid that they will not be able to come back in three years. ”

Xiao Yiming paused slightly, and when she saw that the two of them had calmed down and showed thoughtful expressions, she opened the skylight and said something bright:

"The alliance founded by Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing and others is very active, especially in Yueben, which can be called the base camp of the alliance and many parties, and the two brothers will inevitably be recruited by the alliance when they arrive there.

"I've already looked for it, the New Army, the Military Academy, and the Political and Legal School have already established an alliance, and Brother Fool visited the Wuhou Temple last year, and I was fortunate to see Mr. Xiong Kewu, but he came and went in a hurry, and he didn't have a chance to talk deeply, and he probably didn't look down on a pawn like Brother Fool." Liu Bingxian said self-deprecatingly.

Xiao Yiming didn't smile, she was still very serious: "My little brother always thinks that it's good to make friends and exchange ideas, but when you focus on your studies, you must learn real things in order to lay a solid foundation for your ideal goal." There are only two brothers in the province's public military students studying abroad, no matter what the future is, how to choose the path and beliefs of the individual, the younger brother implores the two brothers to cherish the precious time of three years, learn the real things back, and build a strong Sichuan army with advanced civilization ideas, the people of Sichuan are too bitter, for more than two hundred years, they have been discriminated against and oppressed by the imperial court, and they have fed the army of the surrounding six provinces with the strength of one province, bitter! The younger brother is waiting at home, desperately making money, and it would be better if he could keep climbing up, looking forward to the return of the two brothers. ”

Zeng Chaoran, who had a steady surname, couldn't help but grab Xiao Yiming's hand: "Yiming, I didn't expect you to be so profound, your words are almost the same as the father's earnest advice before the foolish brother walked out of the house." ”

Liu Bingxian grabbed the hands of the two best friends with both hands: "Don't worry, I, Liu Bingxian, am not a mediocre person who follows the crowd, and I have my own shot in my heart!" Brother Huai Jin, Yi Ming, I, Liu, swear here today that in this life and this life, I will use my flesh and blood and all my strength to revitalize Sichuan, drive out the rape, and return the Sichuan fathers and villagers to a bright future! ”

"Good! It's so pleasing, three more glasses, and a drunk party tonight! ”

"Get drunk!"

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