The summer was scorching, and Chen Zikun was shirtless, wearing only a pair of single-cloth military pants, and carrying an ax to chop firewood at the door of the house.

Beads of sweat rolled down the bronzed skin, and the hard hair like a steel needle grew on the bald head that had been shaved half a month ago glistened, and the axe chopped down with the sound of the wind, and the firewood split in half in half, and the pile next to it was like a hill.

Chen Zikun worked hard and trained, he was using this method to relieve the depression in his heart, and he repeatedly performed miraculous achievements but did not reward him at all, which is by no means in line with Wu Peifu's principle of rewarding and punishing things, and the only explanation is that the handsome man is honing himself.

This matter was put on hold last year, and according to Chen Zikun's quick temper, he might just pat his ass and leave, but the various experiences over the past year or so have sharpened his character, and compared with himself when he first arrived in Beijing, he was more calm and less angry.

Look at who can survive whom, I don't believe it, Wu Peifu doesn't need to let go of a tiger general, and he is also put in the cooking class as a gang leader! Chen Zikun slashed down with an axe again.

"Chan Tsz Kun!" There was a shout in the distance.

"Yes!" Chen Zikun dropped the axe, and his reflex was generally upright, he was the lowest-ranking private in the army, and he had to salute anyone he saw.

It was the adjutant of the headquarters who came, although he was much higher than Chen Zikun's military rank, but he didn't dare to hold it up at all, and said kindly: "The commander has an order, Chen Zikun, a second-class soldier in the cooking class, should report to the camp gate quickly, there must be no mistake!" ”

"Yes!" Chen Zikun didn't say a word, turned around and ran into the room, picked up his military uniform and belt and hat and came out, ran forward, while wearing clothes and hats and belts, and when he ran to the gate of the camp, he saw Wu Peifu in military uniform shaking hands with several foreigners who got off the car.

Chen Zikun stood solemnly on the side very measuredly, waiting for Wu Dashuai's dispatch.

Today's guest is a very special guest, His Excellency Minister Reinsch of the Legation of the United States of America in China, and Military Attache James Murphy. Colonel Snodgrass, William of the 15th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army in Tianjin. Colonel Wild, etc., in charge of guarding are eight Marines in blue pants, two translators, one Chinese is sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the other is an American ** with the rank of captain.

According to intelligence analysis, although Cao Kun is nominally the leader of the direct line, the real soul of the direct line is the victorious general Wu Peifu.

The United States and China have been dealing with each other for a long time, during the Gengzi Rebellion, the U.S. Army participated in the Eight-Nation Alliance's attack on Beijing, and had a military parade in the Forbidden City, and later after the signing of the Xinchou Treaty, the 15th Army Regiment was ordered to enter the American Concession in Tianjin, and took on the task of defending the railway line and U.S. interests in China.

The Feng army is the army of General Zhang Zuolin in the northeast, this army born out of the green forest armed forces is very Chinese characteristics, and their honor guard uses a cold weapon called the Qinglong Yanyue knife, and the US ** officers have to admit that this weapon is very deterrent, although it does not play much role in actual combat.

After seeing the might of the Feng army, the American friends couldn't wait to understand the majestic posture of the legendary Third Division of the Beiyang Army, which had the strongest combat effectiveness.

Wu Peifu and his generals went to Yuanmen to greet the American guests, and after shaking hands and saluting, the interpreter of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coughed dryly and said, "Wu Dashuai, let me introduce you......

"You take a break first, we Wu Dashuai have our own English translator." An adjutant smiled and invited the interpreter aside, and then glanced at Chen Zikun, Chen Zikun suddenly realized that Wu Peifu had indeed not forgotten himself, and he had said in front of him that he had studied in college, and it seemed that the handsome man had taken it to heart.

Chen Zikun is proficient in French, Russian, and Japanese, but English is what he is best at, because St. John's University, where he studied in his early years, was a church school that used English to teach, and trained students who could speak to foreigners.

The meteor strode forward, snapped upright, saluted the officers, and introduced himself first in Chinese and then in English.

The American guests were stunned, they had seen Chinese fluent English, and they had seen burly soldiers, but they had never seen these two monsters together.

The Beiyang soldier in front of him with the epaulettes of the second-class soldier was probably the most handsome and mighty soldier they had ever seen, he was six feet tall, his legs were very long, the coarse cloth military uniform was collapsed by sweat and hugged his body, the armed belt was tightly tied around his waist, he looked extremely capable and energetic, his military hat was pressed on the tip of his eyebrows, his eyes were as sharp as lightning, if he changed into a suit, he could simply become a movie star.

Wu Peifu was extremely satisfied with the fleeting surprise in the eyes of the Americans, and he coughed dryly and said, "Zikun, on my behalf, I would like to welcome my American friends." ”

Chen Zikun immediately translated his words, his accent was very authentic, Americans could fully understand it, this visit was not a formal diplomatic exchange, so only Chen Zikun one translator was enough.

"Joseph, I'm sorry that someone robbed you of your job." Minister Ryan Schusch joked.

A U.S. captain in his thirties shrugged his shoulders and stretched out his hand to Chen Zikun: "I'm glad to meet a colleague who speaks English so well. Captain Stilwell, a language officer in China. ”

Chen Zikun saluted first and then shook hands: "Fortunately, captain, I am Chen Zikun, a private in the cooking class." ”

Stilwell's mouth opened wide in shock, Americans are all quick talkers, and he immediately asked Wu Peifu in Chinese that was not very fluent: "Your Excellency, General, may I ask why your army put such an excellent soldier in the cooking class?" ”

Wu Peifu laughed heartily: "I have a lot of land and talents, such soldiers abound in my team, where else can I put them if I don't put them in the cooking class?" ”

The Chinese in the audience laughed, Chen Zikun quickly and accurately translated Wu Peifu's words, and the Americans also laughed, they wanted Wu Peifu to feel that they appreciated this sense of humor.

A guard of honor composed of the division headquarters guard battalion has been lined up in the Yuanmen, the scorching sun is in the sky, the soldiers do not move, let the beads of sweat flow, with this spirit alone, the third division is enough to laugh proud of the Beiyang.

Wu Peifu made a gesture, the officer on duty pulled out his command knife and gave a loud order, and the troops carried out a separate drill with the order, the pace was the same, the slogan was shocking, and the iron army posture was in a position.

This was followed by a variety of military performances, including assassination drills, shooting, and hand-to-hand drills.

The US ** officers are all experts, in terms of the Chinese battlefield, the third division can indeed be called elite, and they have stretched out their thumbs and praised: "The third division, ok!" ”

Wu Peifu's vanity was greatly satisfied, and he laughed heartily: "Zikun, tell them that I will hold a banquet for them at noon." ”

Chen Zikun translated in the past, and the Americans were not as polite as the Chinese, so they agreed on the spot.

When it was time for lunch, Wu Peifu led the American guests to the officers' canteen, personally took an enamel bowl to make a bowl of gruel, took two steamed buns and walked to the table and sat down.

The American guests looked at each other, where did the imaginary feast go? You must know that yesterday they ate fine venison and bear's paws at Fengjun's place, drank French brandy, and had chilled watermelon after the meal.

"Dear General, where is the dish?" Stilwell asked.

Wu Peifu pointed to the basin on the table and said, "This is the dish." ”

Oh my God, a whole plate of red-colored salted radish, would you eat this today?

Seeing that the Americans were dumbfounded, Wu Peifu snorted coldly and said, "Zikun, tell them why they want to eat this." ”

Chen Zikun secretly scolded in his heart, how do I know why you want the Yankees to eat pickles, but after thinking about it, I understand Wu Peifu's move, our brothers in the third division usually eat this, these dog-day foreign devils, why do you want to eat fragrant and spicy food when you come.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the officers and soldiers of our Third Division are equal, and the whole army eats such lunches, this is because of the tight military budget, we have an old saying in China called "follow the customs of the locals", if you want to experience the life of our Third Division, pick up chopsticks."

After speaking, he narrated it to Wu Peifu in Chinese, and Wu Peifu nodded with satisfaction: "Well said." ”

The personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who accompanied them were very nervous, for fear of angering the Americans, but they did not know that the American guests were not angry, but picked up the enamel bowls in a very regular manner, lined up to make the same gruel and steamed buns, and sat around the basin with salted radishes to eat.

Chan did not dine with them because he was a soldier in the cooking squad and was responsible for serving the soldiers, as well as cleaning up the tables, chairs, dishes and chopsticks.

Wu Peifu said that the most important issue at present is to reunify China by peaceful means, and as for the formation of a cabinet and the change of president, he has no opinion as a soldier, and his responsibility is only to strengthen the enemy from outside and ensure peace at home.

"Soldiers can't interfere in politics, and political affairs are decided by the prime minister, the president, and the parliament, so I just need to train the army and recover the country." Wu Peifu said.

Although it was not explicitly stated, Wu Peifu's meaning was very clear, the current biggest enemy of China is Japan, which allowed Rui Enshi to find common ground between the two sides, in fact, a pro-Japanese Duan Qirui government is not wanted to be seen by European and American countries, as a direct leader Wu Peifu said this, the Americans are very satisfied.

The talks were friendly and warm, and the US minister highly praised Wu Dashuai's patriotic spirit and military talents, and invited him to visit the 15 th Regiment of the US Army in the American Concession in Tianjin at an appropriate time.

Wu Dashuai's self-esteem was greatly satisfied, and he agreed.

At the end of the visit, the guests left by car, and when they returned from the camp gate, Wu Peifu said: "Zikun, after finishing the work of the cooking class, come to my signing room." ”

Chan's heart fluctuated, and he knew that his opportunity had come.