What kind of person Wu Dashuai is, Chen Zikun couldn't be clearer, during the May Fourth period, he repeatedly issued telegrams to support the student movement, and after the Anhui War, he took power, and even shouted the extremely progressive slogans of "labor sacredness" and "national self-determination", and the workers of Jinghan Road organized a trade union, which was also something Wu Peifu promised.

But the workers took it seriously, but Chen Zikun didn't take it seriously.

Because he knew very well that Da Shuai made these moves only for political considerations, including the classics collected in Da Shuai's study, anarchist books, and Marxist books, all of which were just to learn two fashionable terms to cater to the public.

Wu Dashuai is an enlightened general and a progressive soldier on the surface, but in his bones he is an out-and-out defender, an old Xiucai, an old Taoist, and his mind is full of the five constants and eight virtues, etiquette, righteousness and shame, which can deceive others, but cannot deceive Chen Zikun, because he has studied behind closed doors in Dashuai's study for three days, and has read Wu Peifu's autograph inscriptions on those books.

Chen Zikun bet right, if he answers any foreign works, then the future is over, but he mentioned Zeng Wenzheng's official letter, the effect is naturally very different, Wu Dashuai admires three people the most, Yue Fei, Qi Jiguang, Zeng Guofan, the first two are old, but Zeng Wenzhenggong is a figure of the former Qing Dynasty, not far away, in the main hall of the patrol embassy, there is even a portrait of Zeng Guofan, Wu Dashuai often imitates Zeng Wenzhenggong's words and deeds, Chen Zikun replied like this, which naturally made him very satisfied.

Wu Peifu's heart was immediately put back in his stomach, and his face looked much better, "Zikun, what do you have to say about today's matter." Wu Peifu was in a slightly better mood, and wanted to give Chen Zikun a step down.

"Back to Dashuai, it was me who let Zhao Dahai go." Chan is a tough guy and doesn't deny it at all.

Wu Peifu's pupils contracted slightly, and Chen Zikun's answer he was not surprised, let alone annoyed, but a little relieved, it was rare that this kid was loyal to himself and did not hide what he did.

"Oh, then why did you let him go, don't you know that he was the one who instigated the strike?" Wu Peifu said indifferently, flipping through a book on the table, but his mind was not on the book at all.

Chen Zikun said loudly: "Dashuai, don't hide it, Zhao Dahai is my righteous brother, we once swore an oath to live and die together, I really can't bear to be shot, so I made this decision, one person does things and one person is responsible, please punish Dashuai." ”

Wu Peifu snorted, got up and paced a few steps in the room with his hands behind his back, and said, "You can kneel here." With that, he picked up the curtain and left.

Chan knelt in the study until dawn.

……

A disaster was turned into a disaster in this way, and the military trial that Chen Zikun expected did not appear, and kneeling all night was regarded as punishment, but the matter did not end there.

The old calendar year was getting closer and closer, the Jinghan Railway Strike was also forcefully suppressed, and the railway was restored to smooth operation, Wu Peifu was in a good mood and invited Bai Jianwu, the chief of staff, to play chess, drink and enjoy the snow in the garden.

Bai Jianwu observed his words and looks, and saw that there was a trace of worry between Wu Dashuai's eyebrows, so he said: "If Dashuai has anything on his mind, he might as well spit it out." ”

Wu Peifu didn't hide it from him, and told Chen Zikun about letting go of the red elements without permission, Bai Jianwu laughed when he heard it, and said: "Why do you need to worry about Yushuai, isn't this a living Huarong Dao." ”

A word woke up the dreamer, Wu Peifu is naturally familiar with the allusion to Huarong Dao, Guan Yunchang is thin and cloudy, and Cao Mengde was let go privately in the Battle of Chibi, but this incident not only did not damage Guan Gong's reputation at all, but showed his righteousness even more.

"Such a loving and righteous person, Yu Shuai can rest assured when he uses it, but it is those who turn their faces and are ruthless, so they need to be careful." Bai Jianwu said with a smile.

Wu Peifu raised his eyebrows, his depressed and unhappy color was swept away, and he said: "Jianwu knows my heart very well." ”

Bai Jianwu said again: "However, this son does need some experience. ”

"How?" Wu Peifu wondered a little, Chen Zikun had been the lowest-level soldier, and he had studied abroad, so he didn't have enough experience.

Bai Jianwu said: "You need to grind off some edges and corners to be useful." ”

"Isn't serving in the Staff Office an experience?"

"The Staff Office is far from adequate."

"That?"

Bai Jianwu smiled indifferently and said three words: "War Department." ”

Wu Peifu stroked his palms and laughed, the War Department can be described as a good place to sharpen young people, it is full of old scholars who do not know how to eat the past and foreign students who are above the top, and it is not their turn to take care of military and political affairs, except for drinking tea and reading newspapers every day, there is only intrigue left, and it is a suitable place to send Chen Zikun to sit in the office for a few days to hone his temperament.

So, before Chen Zikun's chair in the staff office was hot, he was sent to the War Department by a paper order, and it happened that the old calendar year was approaching, and Wu Peifu granted him a month's vacation and embarked on the road to the north ten days ahead of schedule.

……

When he first arrived in Beijing four years ago, he was still a stunned young man wearing an old sheepskin jacket with a sharp blade, and now he is already a dignified army colonel.

Walking out of the gate, a group of foreign coachmen immediately came over and greeted warmly: "Sir, do you want a car, my car is clean." ”

Chen Zikun glanced at them with a smile, pointed to a young man wearing a "purple light" and said, "It's you." ”

The young man showed a mouthful of white teeth and smiled proudly: "Sir, you really didn't say anything about this eyesight, the car of our Ziguang Depot is the No. 1 in Beijing City." ”

Chen Zikun smiled and didn't say anything, followed the coachman into the car, and said, "Xuanwumen is in the hair alley." ”

The coachman pulled up the cart, threw off his two legs and ran, accosting him as he ran: "Sir, are you visiting relatives or friends?" ”

Chen Zikun smiled but did not answer, and when he arrived at the entrance of the alley, the coachman asked, "Which one are you going to go to?" Do you know the house number? ”

Chen Zikun said: "Keep going." ”

"We're going to our depot." The young man grunted and continued to pull forward, and when he arrived at the gate of the Ziguang Depot, Chen Zikun stopped the foreign car, took out a small ocean and threw it over, lifted the suitcase and strode into the gate.

Xue Baoqing was standing in the yard, wiping the car with a clean towel in his hand, when he suddenly heard the sound of riding boots hitting the ground, and hurriedly piled up a smiling face to prepare to deal with it, but he didn't know that what he saw was a familiar face.

Dressed in a crisp woolen military uniform and shiny high riding boots, he held a coat in one hand and a suitcase in the other, looking at himself with a smile.

Baoqing was stunned for a moment, then threw away the towel and stepped forward: "Da Kunzi!" ”

"Baoqing." Chen Zikun put down the suitcase and hugged Baoqing.

Xing'er came out of the inner courtyard with a sewing basket, and when she saw this scene, her nose was sour and tears came down: "Da Kunzi, you are back." ”

The coachman who pulled Chen Zikun just now stood at the door, all dumbfounded, this chief turned out to be an old acquaintance of the shopkeeper.

It happened that Wang Dongliang pulled the car in, and the coachman pulled him and said, "Brother Wang, who is that?" ”

"You don't even know this, he's our big boss." Wang Dongliang said.

"It turned out to be Boss Chen." The little coachman was really dumbfounded this time, pinching the little yang and muttering, "I have to keep this money." ”

Chen Zikun was still a small second lieutenant when he left, but now he is a dignified colonel officer, it can be said that he has returned to his hometown, Beijing City has been peaceful in the past two years, last year's Zhifeng War, the city heard the rumbling cannons, every household was scared to death, how do you know that a few days later, Wu Dashuai won the war, the world is peaceful, the business of the car factory is easy to do, plus Baoqing is kind, the business is booming, and now the name of Ziguang has been started in Beijing, there are more than 100 foreign cars up and down.

I haven't seen each other for two years, there are thousands of words to say between the brothers, but I don't know where to open for a while, Baoqing is stupid, rubbing his hands excitedly, laughing from ear to ear, apricot is careful, take cigarettes and pour tea, bring out pastries and snacks to invite Chen Zikun to eat, Aunt Wang heard that Chen Zikun is back, ran upside down to see, looked up and down, and then said with tears: "Tall, strong, aunt has been worried about death in the past two years." ”

Xing'er said with a smile: "Every fifteenth day of the new year, Aunt Wang has to burn incense and worship the Buddha, please bless you with safety." ”

Suddenly, a tall and thin figure appeared at the door, wearing a navy blue student uniform and a student hat. With a familiar face, as if embarrassed to come in, Xing'er beckoned: "What are you doing standing stupidly, come and meet Brother Kunzi." ”

Chen Zikun smiled: "This is Guo'er, I haven't seen an adult for two years, there are eighteen, right?" ”

Guo'er blushed and nodded: "Eighteen after the New Year." "The voice is a little hoarse, which is characteristic of the vocal change stage of puberty.

Chen Zikun suddenly thought of Chen Sanpi, and asked, "Where is your father?" ”

Xing'er pouted and said: "Now that my son-in-law is rich, people have to get up, and they soak in the flyover all day long, either taking a bath or listening to a play, but they don't play money anymore." ”

"Godmother, are you okay?" Chen Zikun did not forget that he also recognized this relative.

Xing'er said: "My mother's body is very good, she went back to Willow Hutong today to give a gift, and those old neighbors are still coming and going." ”

Chen Zikun said: "By the way, has Brother Dahai returned to Beijing?" ”

After a period of silence, Baoqing spoke: "Brother Dahai committed an incident in Henan, he was wanted by the government, and Captain Xu of the Police Department also came to interrogate, I heard that he committed the capital crime of killing his head, and he couldn't go home this year." ”

Guo'er, who had been sitting shyly next to him and silent, suddenly spoke: "Brother Dahai didn't commit a crime, establishing a trade union and organizing a strike, that is the right that workers should enjoy, and the authorities shot dozens of workers in Hankou without trial, this is a crime!" ”

Guo'er's words startled everyone, and Xing'er hurriedly said: "Don't be nonsense, just talk nonsense at home, don't dare to talk nonsense when you go out of the house." ”

Chen Zikun restrained his smile, stared at Guo'er and asked, "Who taught you these words?" ”

He was dressed in a military uniform, not angry and arrogant, Guo'er was not afraid, and said: "No one taught me, I knew it by reading the newspaper myself." ”

Chen Zikun continued to stare at Guo'er, without saying a word, the atmosphere in the room became cold, Xing'er and Baoqing looked at each other, both a little scared, Xing'er even persuaded him: "What, children are ignorant and nonsense, don't take it seriously." ”

Suddenly, Chen Zikun laughed, patted Guo'er on the shoulder and said, "Boy, you have the guts and your own opinions, not bad." As he spoke, he took out a golden pen and stuffed it into the pocket of Guo'er's student outfit and said, "I brought this Parker gold pen from the United States, you take it and study hard, remember, never follow the crowd, stick to your own ideas." ”

Baoqing and Xing'er glanced at each other with relief and let out a long breath.