As soon as these words came out, the two laughed, walked out of the room hand in hand, and looked into the distance by the railing, Tianjin City was shrouded in the darkness before dawn, the streets and alleys were empty, and the monotonous sound of bangzi came through the night.

"In fact, what China needs most is not soldiers." Zhang Xueliang said suddenly.

Chen Zikun was stunned for a moment, turned his head to look, Zhang Xueliang looked at Tianjin City at night thoughtfully, and said with emotion: "There have been too many battles, and a few more fierce generals and famous generals will only increase the suffering of the people. ”

"The duty of a soldier is to defend against foreign aggression, not to take care of the home for a lone husband and a thief, but unfortunately there are very few people who can realize this." Chan said.

"Brother Kunwu, the changes in China are still on the shoulders of you and me." In the night, Zhang Xueliang's eyes were blazing, like a bright morning star.

"I am willing to encourage him with Han Qing." Chen Zikun has a great feeling of meeting a confidant, and the two young hands are held together and have not been separated for a long time.

"Hehe, when Han Qing asked me to watch the play, I thought you wanted to win me over, I wanted to make a fool of myself, but I knew that it was really providential to meet a good brother who was kind to him." Chen Zikun said with a smile.

Zhang Xueliang also smiled: "Actually, I don't have this meaning, my father will never let go of any opportunity to weaken Wu Shibo's strength, and this time he asked me to ask you out, but I am not a lobbyist by nature, and I will put my heart in my heart and reveal my bottom when I talk about it." ”

Chen Zikun said: "The world is impermanent, if one day I Chen Zikun is cornered, I will definitely serve under the command of Fengjun." ”

Zhang Xueliang said: "From my personal point of view, I don't want you to join the Feng army. ”

Chen Zikun said: "Why is this? ”

Zhang Xueliang said: "Joining the Fengjun, we are the relationship between superiors and subordinates, if the brotherly relationship is mixed with interests, but you can't put your heart into your heart, then what's the point." ”

Chen Zikun sighed: "Han Qing is so upright, he is also a real husband. ”

As he spoke, the dawn broke in the east, and a red sun rose from the horizon, Zhang Xueliang said: "Unconsciously, the night has passed, delaying Brother Kunwu's rest, it is really a crime that deserves death, I have prepared a gift to make amends, and I hope Brother Kunwu will accept it with a smile." ”

As he spoke, he glanced at the adjutant, and the adjutant dodged out, and came in with a mahogany box without much effort, and opened it to Chen Zikun, on top of the red velvet liner in the box was a chrome-plated flower mouthpiece, with two empty magazines, and the small and delicate pistol flashed silver, which was endearing.

"Good gun!" Chen Zikun played with it, praised it, and said, "Han Qing, then I will be disrespectful." ”

"This gun is small, suitable for self-defense, I'll have someone send you a few boxes of bullets when I go back." Zhang Xueliang was very pleased to see that Chen Zikun liked this gift.

……

When the sky was bright, Chen Zikun finally returned to Cao's garden, and after breakfast, he took two boxes and came to the door of Wu Peifu's bedroom and knocked gently: "Yu Shuai." ”

"Come in." A majestic voice came.

Chen Zikun pushed the door in, and placed the box in his hand on the coffee table, two boxes containing a pistol and a pile of banknotes.

"Last night, Zhang Shaoshuai invited me to watch a play, and then I played a few rounds of mahjong, which was a gift from him to me, as well as the money he won at the table." Chan reported.

Wu Peifu sat upright behind the desk, and said expressionlessly: "The Zhang family boy appreciates you very much." ”

Chen Zikun said: "It's just an invitation to buy people's hearts, how can you be fooled by a lowly position." ”

Wu Peifu said: "He gave you these things, didn't say anything else?" ”

Chen Zikun said: "Young Marshal Zhang invited me to study at the Japanese Non-commissioned Officer School, and promised to bear all my expenses, but I politely declined. ”

Wu Peifu snorted: "The Zhang family kid went to school in the Northeast Lecture Hall for a year, and he came out as a colonel and brigade commander, and then went to Japan to gild a layer of gold, and when he came back, he was afraid that he would become a general, is this Japanese Army non-commissioned officer school so good?" It's ridiculous. ”

Chen Zikun didn't speak, and watched Wu Peifu's expression, it seems that he took Zhang Xueliang's words out of context and had an effect.

Wu Peifu waved his hand and said, "Okay, you go down, take this gun and all this money." ”

Chen Zikun said: "This is what Feng Zhang bought me, and I can't take it from my humble position." ”

Wu Peifu said: "Let you take it, and in the future, the Zhang family boy will give you all the things, I want to see how much money Zhang Zuolin can spend to buy my general." ”

Chen Zikun was not hypocritical, picked up the gun and banknotes and retired.

Wu Peifu grabbed the phone on the table, shook it and said, "Pick up the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for me." ”

……

In the afternoon of the same day, Chen Zikun returned to Beijing by train with Cao and Wu, but failed to see Zhang Xueliang again.

Early the next morning, Wu Peifu immediately ordered Chen Zikun to accompany him to the presidential palace on a business trip.

Chen Zikun chuckled in his heart, and had a premonition that something was happening.

Today, Wu Peifu was dressed very formally, his military uniform was meticulous, his riding boots were shiny, and he sat in the car with a saber in his hand thoughtfully, Chen Zikun was restless, but he didn't dare to ask more.

The car arrived at Xinhua Gate, eight guards raised their guns and saluted, the vermilion lacquer gate was covered with copper nails, the majesty of the emperor came to the face, the car drove in slowly, the green trees in the presidential palace were shaded, the ridges and cornices were flying, the blue brick ground was clean and tidy, the water surface was rippling, and the willow branches on the shore were hanging low.

President Xu Shichang met with Wu Peifu, deputy envoy of the Zhilu-Yu Parade, at the Ziguang Pavilion, which was the first time Chen Zikun had met the nominal supreme leader of the Republic of China.

Xu Shichang sat next to a personable young man, and after seeing Wu Peifu come in and salute the president, he stepped forward to shake hands and said: "I have admired the name of Admiral Fuwei for a long time, and I can see it today, and it is indeed worthy of his name. ”

Wu Peifu said with a smile: "Minister Gu said that you are laughing, your feat at the Paris Peace Conference can be called the backbone of China. ”

Gu Weijun looked at Chen Zikun behind Wu Peifu, nodded and said, "The person introduced by the general on the phone is him?" ”

Chen Zikun immediately stepped forward and said, "Second Lieutenant Chen Zikun of the Army, I have seen Minister Gu. ”

Gu Weijun praised: "The young man is really a talent, but he ......"

He didn't continue, but said to the president: "The Academy of American Affairs is indeed far from being comparable to a junior military academy like the Japanese Non-commissioned Officer School, it trains high-level military talents, but the admission is quite strict, so far, no one in my country has studied at West Point." ”

Wu Peifu said: "Didn't you say that if you have a letter of recommendation from the head of an ally and you can be admitted without examination?" ”

Gu Weijun said: "That being said, if you don't have a solid foundation in English and culture, if you enroll in the school based on a recommendation letter alone, I'm afraid you won't be able to keep up with the course, but it's not beautiful." ”

Xu Shichang said: "This is reasonable, Ziyu, have you considered this layer?" ”

Wu Peifu said with a smile: "President, Minister Gu, you can rest assured, the talent I recommend will definitely not be embarrassed to the country, I, the adjutant, am a double top student of St. John's University and Peking University." ”

Gu Weijun's eyes lit up, and he said, "I didn't expect it to be an alumnus of St. John's, which class are you?" ”

This passage was said in English, and Chen Zikun immediately switched to English to reply: "I am from the class of 1915, and later I studied English from Professor Gu Hongming for a period of time at Peking University. ”

"I mean, your English is very authentic, it turns out that you are highly educated." Gu Weijun became excited, and couldn't help but look at Chen Zikun a few times, "Why did you join the army?" ”

"I wrote to clear the shame of the Paris Peace Conference." Chen Zikun perfectly answered Gu Weijun's question in one sentence.

Xu Shichang bowed slightly, and cast an inquiring glance at Gu Weijun, who nodded solemnly.

"Someone, pen and ink are waiting." Under the president's order, the attendants were busy, laying a document written in Chinese and English on the case, Xu Shichang lifted the brush and signed his name below, and then the palm seal officer held a rectangular Nanmu box, which was full of various seals of the president of the Republic of China, Xu Shichang picked one out of it and stamped a bright red stamp under the name.

"Okay, the rest is a matter for our Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Gu Weijun took the letter of recommendation from the attendant officer, and then held it to Chen Zikun with both hands: "Take it, with this, you can study at the United States Military Academy at West Point." ”

Chan looked at Wu Peifu, who looked at him with a smile and an elder-like concern in his eyes.

"President Xie, Minister Xie Gu, Xie Yushuai cultivates!" Chen Zikun tried his best to control the tears, he was really kind to his father and son, such a big thing as studying in the United States was done in a blink of an eye, it was really like a dream to think about it.

"Don't thank me, study hard and win glory for the country." Wu Peifu patted Chen Zikun on the shoulder, and his ardent hopes were all in it.

After the matter was done, the president had other official business, Gu Weijun accompanied Wu Peifu and Chen Zikun out of the Ziguang Pavilion, and the three of them walked in Zhongnanhai, Gu Weijun said: "Crossing the ocean, but a hard messenger, is Xiao Chen ready to take which route?" ”

Chen Zikun said modestly: "The junior has never traveled far and has no experience, so I also ask the senior for advice." ”

Gu Weijun said: "There are two routes, one is to cross the Pacific Ocean by boat to the east, stop at Japan and Honolulu on the way, first to San Francisco on the west coast of the United States, and then take a train across the continental United States to New York on the east coast; Another route is to cross the Indian Ocean westward, take the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to Europe first, and then go directly to New York via the Arctic Ocean. ”

Chen Zikun said: "If I want to travel more of the world, let's take the western route." ”

Gu Weijun said with a smile: "Yushuai, is there enough money for your students to travel around the world?" ”

Wu Peifu said: "I support reading 10,000 books, traveling 10,000 miles, and going out for a walk. ”

Gu Weijun said: "That's great, it just so happens that I will go to London next month to serve as the minister to the UK, so it is better to go together." ”