On the evening of 12 May, Ye Yanbing, who had been negotiating personnel with the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff Department, the Joint Logistics Headquarters, the Air Force Command, and other units for several days due to the establishment of the headquarters, finally made time to go to the presidential palace to meet his father-in-law, his wife, and his sister-in-law. Since the presidential palace was put into use last year, Ye Yanbing has come to the door for the first time.

The phone was called by Chen Shu, saying that if he had time, he would come to the house tonight, and his uncle was also there.

Perhaps Long Qian had something to explain and said in private, Ye Yanbing postponed the banquet with Song Jinguo, and took the car sent by Gu Xiaolin to the presidential palace in the western suburbs. Chen Xian and her two children are still in Nanjing, and when he returned to the Central Military Region, his butt was not yet hot, and he had to leave again.

I can't see it clearly at night, but I think the street lights in this government office area are extremely beautiful, and the streets are wide and clean, but there are few pedestrians, which looks a little gloomy.

The presidential palace is not as heavily guarded as imagined, and there is not even a gate, only two guards in military uniforms checked the passengers in the car and let them go, and the car drove directly to the bottom of the main building, when Ye Yanbing got out of the car, he saw Gu Xiaolin, the chief of staff of the president, who was wearing a major general's epaulette and saluting him.

Ye Yanbing returned the salute seriously, "Gu Xiaolin, are you still wearing a military uniform?" ”

"Report to Commander Ye, reluctant to take it off. Fortunately, the commander allowed it. Gu Xiaolin immediately lowered his voice, "Commander Ye, can you ask the commander for a favor?" Let me go to war with you? ”

"Hey! You kid! Ye Yanbing smiled, "I don't know how many people envy you and even want to leave?" ”

"It's not that I don't want to serve the commander, I'm really not the material to do this......"

"I won't go to school. There must always be someone to rely on by the commander's side. You're the commander's old guard. Now he is also the chief of the security bureau, and the burden is not light. I warn you, don't be sloppy, I see that the security measures of your presidential palace are very loose, if you go on a business trip, I will peel your skin carefully! ”

"Yes, yes, Commander Ye, please rest assured. The guards of the presidential palace are loose and tight, which Jiang Yun personally asked, and the president's internal guards were also selected by Jiang Yun. He has more experience than me. ”

"Your position is very important. I heard that the Commander was out on patrol. Be sure! What are you going to do with me? Be a division commander? Unpromising! You're now a ministerial-level official! Don't be cranky, where is the commander? ”

"The commander is not at home, Mrs. and Mr. Chen are here, waiting for you. Get on in. ”

The lights on the ground floor of the main building suddenly turned on. Illuminates the lawn in front of the door. Chen Chao's figure appeared at the door. "Is it Yan Bing?"

"It's me, father-in-law." Ye Yanbing patted Gu Xiaolin's shoulder and strode towards the gate of the main building.

"Xiaoxian will be here tonight. You don't know yet, do you? Chen Chao looked at his beloved son-in-law who was about to go on the expedition.

"Really? I really don't know. Was it notified by the eldest sister? ”

"It's me. I don't know how long it will take for you to come back. Let's get inside. ”

"You're finally here...... Chen Shuzheng came down the stairs, "I don't know how to call Xiaoxian!" You people. ”

"Are you going out?"

"I went to the station to pick up Xiaoxian and the children. Stay here tonight, the room is ready for you. ”

"Thank you, big sister." Ye Yanbing suddenly saw her mother-in-law, "Mother-in-law is fine." ”

"Good, good. Yan Bing, I heard that you came to the capital, but I didn't see a shadow...... "You already knew that his son-in-law was about to take command and go on the expedition, and his mood was very complicated. Ye Yanbing and Chen Xianqin are in harmony, and You is very loving to his son-in-law.

"I really can't take care of it. How are you old? ”

"Leave her alone, sit down. You go make us a cup of tea," Chen Chao pointed to the sofa, "Sit." How long have we not seen each other? ”

"I don't think I've seen it after the Chinese New Year. You're getting old. Ye Yanbing waited for Chen Chao to sit down, sat down on Chen Chao's side, and saw that his father-in-law's hair was almost white under the light.

"yes, I'm going to retire this year. I'm old, I don't have enough energy, and I'm not up to the task. ”

"Why?" Ye Yanbing was taken aback. He had heard his wife say that his father-in-law was reluctant to be re-elected, and the main reason was not age or physical reasons, but the nature of his work.

"He has plans to split the police department. In recent years, the basic construction of the police force has been completed, and it is somewhat inappropriate to co-locate with the intelligence agencies. You know his temperament, it's really not suitable for this kind of thing, leave it to the young people. ”

"What about Xinghua? Why didn't you see it? Tiger head in the United States, okay? I don't bother to ask. ”

"It's ok. David took good care of it. The second child is upstairs, probably not finished his homework, and he reprimanded him yesterday. This kid is stubborn, not the same way as the boss, I think he will wear a military uniform in the future. ”

"It's hard to see right now. What are the origins of our people? You don't know yet? Now none of them look like dogs? I think their generation will be better than us! ”

"Human-like dogs? Ha ha. Chen Chao looked at his son-in-law kindly, "The times create heroes, I really didn't expect that you people would do it now!" Even I, a declining squire, was able to take charge of the nation's policing power for six years. Chen Chao took the teacup handed by You Shi, "Now I finally feel the taste of the cold in the heights." What do you think? When to go? ”

"The day after tomorrow at the latest. There are still some things to be determined with the headquarters, and the troops have begun to assemble, and I am not sure. ”

"Tell me, your position is said to be very fierce?"

"Yes. A few of them also want to go, first, the commander ordered my general, and second, it is probably not good to fight with me. I am a pioneer, and the next step is to form an expeditionary force headquarters. ”

"Xu Sheng is not allowed to lose. It's a risky move. I hope that Fang Shengyuan and Situ Jun can't get along with Meiying and blow it. To be honest, I am not in favor of sending troops. The Russian front line is thousands of miles away from home, and the opponent is the Germans, which is dangerous. I had a fight with your brother-in-law," Chen Chao shook his head, "He doesn't listen, what can I do?" I know that you commanders are willing to fight, and the soldiers are in danger, what are you doing in this troubled water? ”

"The Commander always sees far. You can't go wrong with what he does. Don't go against it publicly. ”

"I'm not old yet. Now that the whole family is tied together, how can I speak out against it? But I know that there are quite a few people who oppose it. Some people don't say it publicly, oppose it privately, and are ready to see jokes. So I'm especially worried about you. If you win, you can say that if you lose, you will be in trouble. ”

"It's not going to be defeated. The commander knows that I am cautious in my use of troops, and I can't lose my pocket if I don't get back the rice......"

"Be careful, be careful. This time it's not you who defend Texas, it's Shandong that fights with the Japanese. Hundreds of thousands of horses ran to other people's territory, and they couldn't stand the slightest mistake. How many of your armies are still satisfied? ”

"It's ok. The 9th Army and the 7th Army are all old troops, and the 16th Army is basically the old foundation of the Shandong Army. Xue Xiao is my old subordinate. Xiong Xun is also a good hand at fighting. What I'm worried about now is logistics. As long as there is no shortage of food and ammunition, there is no big problem. ”

"There's no question of zài commanding immobility, right?" Chen Chao was a little worried, "I heard that Shi Dashou really wants to go." At the beginning, the most powerful of the three front armies was not the Southern Army under his personal command. It's not you and Ning Shijun's Shandong Army. It was the Northern Army created by Lushan. The 5th Army is Xiong Xun's old unit. The 9th Army was brought out by Shi Dashou, and the reason why Xiong Xun was transferred to be your deputy was because he had been your soldier. Second, it is also to take into account the large number of troops in the northern military system. That's a little bit of my thinking, and I haven't mentioned it to anyone. ”

"Don't save it," Ye Yanbing remembered the day before yesterday Xiong Xun recalled the scene when he was punished for running a prisoner in Zhengjiazhuang, and said that he must be his deputy, "First, there are only a few people who can lead the army, and secondly, it always depends on the commander's face, and third, in recent years, Mingyuan has vigorously broken the old pattern, and the exchange of senior and middle-level officers has been very strong. The key is that everyone knows that it is powerful, and the expedition of thousands of miles is not aligned? Rest assured. ”

"That's good. Over the past year, I have been paying attention to collecting information on the European wars, which are not of the same level as the battles in which you founded the country. Even if the national pillar beats the Japanese, I am afraid that it will not be able to compare. The Germans are a good ......"

"The commander prefers to deal with Austria. Compared to the German army, the Austrian army was much weaker. The Russian army was completely inferior to the German army, but it still won a lot of battles against the Austrian army. Ye Yanbing smiled, "You have to admit that our strength is also much stronger." In terms of the firepower of the troops and the allocation of special forces, compared with the Shandong Campaign, these armies, especially the Ninth Army, which is a fully trained army, cannot be compared with the armies in my hands at all, and they are not much better than the German Army, only above them, not below them. Don't worry about it. Why don't you want to do it? ”

"What do you say about the nature of the work of the Ministry of Police, especially the General Directorate of National Security? It's too dark. You can't imagine how to deal with some things, I understand Jiang Yun's loyalty to your brother-in-law, but I'm really not suitable for this. I have told your brother-in-law a few times that it is better to step down and put the Peasants' and Workers' Party, which he has always been unhappy with, in order. There will be a general election this year......"

"That's just a formality."

"You can't say that." Chen Chao's expression became solemn, "Do you know where your brother-in-law has gone?" ”

"How do I know?"

He went to visit Liang Qichao, who was sick. There are always people who make a name for themselves below, and you have to pretend to be confused and endure it. He single-handedly created a system that people openly opposed him, what is this called? Is this what democracy is called? In good conscience, who could be stronger than him? Who can govern the country like this in a few years? Just those who were ready to overthrow him? Joke! ”

"Who?" Ye Yanbing's expression became solemn, "Is it Yuan Shikai?" ”

"You don't care about this. He doesn't want you uniformed people to bother with this. Actually, I don't want you to go out and lead the troops, if Mingyuan is in charge, you can take over the Ministry of Defense from him. In terms of qualifications, you are enough. No one else dared to say anything. But I can't do it, my son-in-law is the president, but I am in charge of the police and the secret service? Now I understand his intention to bother to set up the General Administration of National Security, but, forget it, you can lead the troops out of the battle with peace of mind, and don't think about family affairs. It's already decided, it's better to fight a few beautiful battles, which will be better for you in the future. In the future, I told him to stay at the headquarters in Beijing. By the way, you haven't had dinner yet, have you? ”

As if hearing Chen Chao's words, You Shi shouted, "Yan Bing, come over for dinner." ”

"I've eaten......"

"Then come and have a drink with me. Let's go, after dinner I'll take you on a tour of this so-called presidential palace. ”

"Oh, when did my uncle come?" Hing wah

Ye Yanbing still ate a lot of hometown dishes cooked by You Shi, and even accompanied Chen Chao to drink Xiaosan Liangfen wine. During the banquet, Long Xinghua, the second son of Long Qian, asked his uncle-in-law a lot about sending troops to fight, and it seems that the family often talked about war and did not avoid the children. Meal. Chen Chao took his son-in-law upstairs and downstairs to visit the main part of the presidential palace, "How is it?" What do you think? ”

"If you consider it in the position of the supreme head of the country, it is still a little simple."

"What kind of official residence system! Your brother-in-law, who grew up in the United States and was poisoned, is the American's stuff so good? I don't think so. Just like now, if someone else lives in this house, the country has to mess up. Come, come to my room and talk to you about something. ”

This bedroom with an en-suite bathroom is reserved for Mr. and Mrs. Chen Chao. Although he had already bought a good three-entry courtyard house in Shijia Hutong, from time to time, the old couple would also come here to stay for two days. Especially when Chen Chao has official business and needs to ask or discuss with Long Qian. It's always nice to talk at home.

"You sit," Chen Chao closed the door, "This matter has been held in my heart for a long time, and it is uncomfortable." There's no one to talk to......"

Ye Yanbing looked at his father-in-law with a solemn expression. "What's embarrassing you?"

"Embarrassed? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Bewilderment. When you were in Jinan, I was talking about the daughter of a professor surnamed Xu at Shandong University when he was in charge of the Fifth Town. The two had exchanged letters. Chen Chao pondered the words, "Who knew that he took the main force of the Fifth Town south to Huxiang in the autumn of Bingwu, and you were left in Shandong ...... by him."

"What's wrong?"

"You really haven't heard of it?"

"Nope. What's wrong? ”

The schoolgirl surnamed Xu eloped south and caught up with the army on the way. He followed him for several years, and it is said that in his capacity as a recorder, many documents came from him. It wasn't until three years later that he raised an army against the Qing Dynasty and the army took Wuchang, and the girl suddenly said goodbye to him, saying that she was going back to Jinan to visit her parents, and she no longer had any contact with him......"

"Who said that? It's a rumor! The commander is very strict in self-discipline, and he even made rumors about him in this regard! Damn it! Grandma's, it should be found out and shot dead! ”

"It's not rumor-mongering! Mingyuan and Ouyang Zhong are both parties! I asked Wang Mingyuan, and he told me, what's more, what am I doing? It's not easy for the police department to investigate something? ”

"It's been seven years! Didn't that girl leave him earlier? You and your eldest sister still can't let go?! ”

"What nonsense!" Chen Chao glared at Ye Yanbing, "What do you mean we can't let go, am I such a small person?" The point is that it's not over! That girl gave birth to a son for him in the year of the founding of the People's Republic of China, that is, six years ago. ”

"What?!" Ye Yan stood up in a hurry, "What about the child?" Where are you now? ”

"The kid is fine. Always with his mother, Wuxi. ”

"This? How can the commander be like this?! That's his blood, his son! That woman, married? ”

"Nope."

"Father-in-law, I want to bring their mother and son back! Gotta pick it up! Don't think I'm talking on the side of the commander, the commander has lived too hard, what are you working hard for so many years? Could it be that the eldest sister really can't tolerate the commander's fault? ”

"Sit down for me! The reason why I talked to you about this is because your sister is very sad. Last month I sent someone to Wuxi, and I saw the child, who was very beautiful and said to look like him. Jiang Yun, this kid, did everything well, and took over the matter early, but he kept my boss secret. I asked Jiang Yun and found out that he had sent Jiang Yun to pick up their mother and son six years ago, but the woman refused, saying that it had nothing to do with him from now on. Shu'er was sad at first, feeling that she couldn't compare to others in terms of appearance or knowledge, but in the past two years, she felt sorry for him, and the child she harmed had no father. What do you say about this? ”

"Wuxi? You sent someone to talk to her? ”

"No, according to Jiang Yun's opinion, he just looked at the child from a distance. I also took pictures. With that, Chen Chao took out a stack of enlarged photos from the drawer and handed them to Ye Yanbing.

"This, this, so, I'll go to Wuxi tonight, I'll talk to him. It's the commander who is sorry for others, in short, his own child, how can such a tragic thing happen? The father is the founder of the country, but the son is lonely? Oh, I'll talk to the eldest sister first. ”

"Don't talk about it. It's a bit heavy to be alone. You don't have time for that. Jiang Yun has arrangements over there, and there is no problem with safety, that kid is afraid that I won't allow children, what a bastard! When you come back, let's discuss the matter properly. You said that you want to take their mother and son back, and that's what I mean. But he disagreed. ”

"How could you disagree? The commander is really ruthless! No, I'll have to tell him. ”

"Don't tell anyone about it, it's a big deal, it's not a big deal. There are a lot of big things to do at the moment, and I am not in a hurry, and I told you, I feel a lot more comfortable. Yan Bing, you're still facing him. ”

"Not really. Father-in-law, if he is the commander's child, he should be taken back, can he still shake the status of Tiger Head and Xinghua? Wouldn't it be good to give their brother an extra helper in the future? ”

"Yan Bing, have you ever had anyone outside?"

"Why would my father-in-law ask such a thing?"

"I know you have a good relationship with Xiaoxian, but if it weren't for his toughness in this regard, the monogamous marriage law might not be released, and even if it was released, it would be just a formality. Now the officials are begging for a little outside, like a thief. In recent years, how many concubines have been withdrawn because of private concubines? Well? ”

"Who dares to compare with the commander? Who can compare with the commander? Shameless? ”

"So he's right. Do one point above, dare to do ten points below. You're right, with his status, it's normal to marry ten or eight. Didn't Yuan Shikai have a wife of Aunt Jiufang? ”

There was a noisy sound downstairs, and Ye Yanbing heard Chen Xian's laughter.

"They're back. I'm an old fool, I shouldn't have talked to you about this when you went on the expedition, you calm me down first! I'll deal with this when you get back. Xiaoxian and their mothers and sons will live with me, you can rest assured at home, pay attention to safety, don't be careless. To put it mildly, isn't Lu Shan careless? If Lu Shan is here, I'm afraid it won't be your turn to be in charge. ”

"You put 10,000 hearts. In that matter, please take more care of your father-in-law, don't wronged the child. Ye Yanbing stood up and opened the door. (To be continued......)