It was already dark when we took the ferry from Pukou to Xiaguan Pier. When the employees of the shipping company saw more than thirty smelly horses leaving the ferry and walking onto the pier, they all frowned and hurriedly turned their heads to the side, all dressed in school.
An Yi, who was wearing an official military uniform, kept his hat brim low and walked quietly behind his horse. No one recognized this famous young general.
After breaking up with the reporter friends, An Yi and his party went directly to stay at the Yangtze Hotel not far away. The deputy captains of the guard, Chen Mian and Chen Yu, led the brothers into the room to settle down. The captain of the guard, Lin Yaodong, followed An Yi.
An Yi used the landline phone in the hotel lobby to call the Attendant's Office of the General Headquarters. Major Chen, an Attendant who graduated from the third phase of Huangpu, recognized An Yi's voice and quickly told him in a low voice that the principal was meeting with guests from Shanghai tonight.
, Unable to arrange a time for the interview, Yu Jishi and Zeng Kuaqing accompanied the principal there, and it was estimated that it would end very late. They asked An Yi to stay first and then call again tomorrow morning. He would definitely report the news of An Yi's arrival in Nanjing in time.
Finally, Major Chen told An Yi with great concern that the incident had a very bad impact and the principal was very angry. However, during the discussion this morning, the principal denounced those in the Government Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and would never agree to expel An Yi from the military.
, the specific punishment is still under discussion. He advised An Yi to call the first army left-behind office to report, and we will talk about it tomorrow. The brothers and the instructors in Huangpu are all saying good things for An Yi.
An Yi shook his head in frustration, put down the phone and went upstairs to his room. After taking a shower and shaving, he called Lin Yaodong over and told him to take the brothers down for dinner. He would treat it as a holiday tonight, and then put on a new suit.
Wearing a clean general uniform, he went out alone.
Lin Yaodong was worried but did not dare to offend An Yi, who was in a bad mood, so he had to lead two brothers to follow An Yi quietly to protect him secretly.
The rickshaw took An Yi to the gate of No. 35 Houzai Lane next to the Drum Tower. After paying for the taxi, An Yi straightened up his appearance a little, walked to the closed door, and knocked on the door knocker.
Wu Ma responded in the room and soon came out to open the door. She was very happy to see An Yi. She quickly pulled An Yi into the room and asked An Yi if she had eaten. When she saw An Yi shook her head, she immediately walked into the kitchen.
Cooking for An Yi, An Yi thought about it and followed suit to help.
After a while, two plates of side dishes and a bowl of egg soup were put on the table. At this time, Gong Qian, who had just finished the meeting, also came back.
Gong Qian happily put down her briefcase, touched An Yi's head to ask for warmth, ran to the yard to wash her hands, took a small bowl and sat next to An Yi:
"I couldn't eat anything at dinner, and then I had a two-hour meeting, and now I'm hungry. You guy, if you hadn't gotten into trouble with your talk, my sister wouldn't have been able to see you...
Eat something."
"Sister, do you also think what I said is nonsense?" An Yi stopped his chopsticks and asked with a smile.
Gong Qian shook her head and looked into An Yi's eyes caringly: "Sister, I know that you must have your own reasons for saying this. Although it is a little abrupt, considering what the Japanese have done in the past few years and a series of vicious crimes recently,
Judging from the facts, your inference makes sense.
However, you spoke at the wrong time. Now is the time when our Nanjing government desperately needs recognition of its legitimacy by countries around the world. Your words are viewed by the outside world as strong nationalism and against the interests of European and American powers in China.
potential threats, so the central government and diplomacy
The department is very passive. Because of your remarks, the British envoy terminated the ongoing secret negotiations and warned our negotiators from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those scholars from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs talked with the scholars for two weeks and achieved nothing, so they
I vented all my anger on you.
The Japanese reaction was even stronger. According to reliable information, the Japanese ambassador to China made public remarks in Beijing last night, strongly supporting Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Zongchang in their fight against our Northern Expeditionary Army, and promised to immediately transfer a batch of weapons and ammunition from the garrison armory in Tianjin
Supporting Sun Chuanfang's troops put great pressure on everyone at the headquarters."
An Yi shook his head, took two mouthfuls of rice and put down his rice bowl: "Sister, did you see it? The Japanese have such a face. They are very afraid that the revolutionary army will attack Beijing. I estimate that our army will be very powerful in the next Northern Expedition.
It may be obstructed by Japan, because they cannot tolerate our revolutionary army occupying the vast land in the north, which prevents them from plundering our resources and enslaving our people. They are even more afraid that the army will return to the three northeastern provinces and hinder them step by step.
The ambition and plan to encroach on the Northeast.
Furthermore, since the British were forced to abandon their concessions in Wuhan, Jiujiang, and Zhenjiang and withdraw their consulates in the above three places, the Japanese immediately felt the threat posed by our National Government to their interests in China, so they tried their best to threaten and obstruct them.
But relatively speaking, they are more afraid of communism
The Communist Party, because the Communist Party is more resolute and thorough than the Kuomintang, it can be driven away directly without any bargaining with it. This is why the Communist Party has gained the support and participation of so many young people, and it is also why Japanese warships surrounded Hankou and openly shelled our Northern Expeditionary Army barracks.
reason.
Sister, you are engaged in party affairs. You should be more familiar with these situations than me. Please tell me. I just said a few words from my heart to remind the people who are still in chaos. How come the big bosses of the central government are allowed to
Are you jumping up and down with anxiety?"
Gong Qian put down her job, picked up a napkin and gently wiped away the grease stains on An Yi's mouth: "You have a different status now, and your influence has far exceeded your own estimation. Countless young people across the country are following your example, and they are all over the streets.
Everyone is talking about your deeds of An Yi, every military achievement and every word you say is talked about by people, do you understand? Otherwise, who would care about these few words from ordinary people?
However, European and American public opinion has seen the profound crisis hidden in your words. Countless patriots and radical social groups are applauding and cheering you. In particular, a small party in Germany, the Nazi Party, publicly declared in newspapers that only
War can wash away the shame inflicted on Germany by World War I, and this day will not be long ago. Don't you know all this on the front line?
Our Central Party Committee has very clear opinions on how to deal with you. We believe that although your remarks are extreme, they only represent your own views. According to the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Party Constitution, you have the right to express your own opinions. The reason why I sent you a telegram to call you back is
You are required to fully explain your point of view, rather than punishing you.
But our central government is not so easy to talk to. They say that your remarks have had a substantial negative impact and caused confusion in the consciousness of the military and civilians. In fact, the biggest reason is that it has created a passive situation in the central government’s external relations. Therefore,
The pressure comes from the central government, not the party, and neither Minister Chen nor the brothers support your punishment, but I estimate that Commander-in-Chief Chiang Kai-shek will have to compromise with those from the central government, especially those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so you must be fully mentally prepared."
An Yi was secretly surprised by the news about the German Nazi Party. When he heard that he would really be punished, he couldn't help but asked angrily: "What do those grandsons from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plan to do to me?"
"Pah——"
Gong Qian slapped the back of An Yi's hand: "If you say bad words again, I won't punish you! Tomorrow when you go to the Party Headquarters and the Central Government Office, you are not allowed to talk nonsense. If you are asked anything, you must answer politely, even if you insist on your own
Opinions must be stated clearly and politely. If you receive any administrative sanctions, you must never yell on the spot.
You are an adult now. Hasn't such a long military career taught you to be tolerant and restrained? The Central Government Supervisory Committee recommended that our party department put you on probation, but Minister Chen vetoed it with one sentence.
Minister Chen told them that it was just a verbal warning at most, otherwise they might be called traitors by the Wuhan authorities.
It was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the General Office of the Government that jointly submitted a request to expel you from the military. As a result, you were scolded by your Principal Jiang and the ministers of the General Headquarters. Deputy Director Yin Zusheng of the General Staff Office even ridiculed the civilian officials and said that they were scholars.
The country only talks about words but has nothing in its stomach. As a result, the two sides quarreled fiercely and there is still no clear opinion on how to deal with it."
An Yi laughed after hearing this, and felt the care and warmth conveyed by Gong Qian's tender palm on the back of his hand. He couldn't help but turn over Gong Qian's hand and whispered:
"Sister, I listen to you. No matter what they do to me, I will accept it calmly. In this way, Principal Jiang and so many instructors and classmates who excused me can avoid a lot of trouble. No matter how I deal with it, little brother
Just admit it."
Gong Qian took out her slightly trembling hands, pretended to fiddle with her hair, glared at An Yi angrily, and then praised: "Yes, this is the attitude a mature man should have."
An Yi saw Wu's mother coming and standing next to him, holding her hand and asking with a smile: "Where is Wu's mother? I thought I heard you talking to someone in the yard just now."
Mother Wu lovingly patted the back of An Yi's calloused hand and said with some regret: "It's Mrs. Zhong from our neighbor. They are going to accompany their son and daughter to study in the United States. They want to sell the property next door, but it seems they don't plan to do so."
Back. Mr. Zhong was originally a deputy secretary-general of Sun Chuanfang’s Jiangsu government.
It is estimated that he had saved some money after serving as an official for many years. The Northern Expeditionary Army was very worried about Sun Chuanfang's revenge when he surrendered. Especially after hearing that Pan Henian, the richest man in Zhenjiang, was murdered by someone sent by Sun Chuanfang, the entire old bureaucrats in Nanjing were frightened to death. Many people moved to
I have gone to live in the Shanghai Concession, and those who have the ability are eager to go abroad."
An Yi smiled slightly: "Yes, Sun Chuanfang is ruthless, but he can do anything. This grandson... wait! Mother Wu, did you just say that the house next door is for sale?"
"Yes! What? Does anyone want it?" Wu's mother asked in surprise.
"I have always planned to buy a house in Nanjing. Otherwise, it would be inconvenient to get up and down. It just makes it much easier to have a ready-made house." An Yi then asked: "Is the house next door big? Is it the same as ours?
A small courtyard and a small garden at the back?”
Wu Ma happily moved a stool and sat down: "The house is more than twice as big as ours. There is a row of tiled houses behind the main building across a small garden. They don't have many family members and they are always empty. The main building alone is
It has two and a half floors, eight rooms on the upper and lower floors, and bathrooms and showers both upstairs and downstairs. It’s a nice little French-style house. You can drive directly into the car at the door. It’s very grand.
But it was too expensive. It was said that it cost ten thousand oceans to buy land and build a house at that time. Now they are eager to take action. People in Nanjing are rumoring that the revolutionary army is going to fight internally. They are afraid that Sun Chuanfang will come back again and make people panic.
, so the Zhong family only sells it for 6,500 yuan now, but no one has come to ask for it for half a month. It is probably too expensive, and I think it is quite expensive."
An Yi smiled and patted Wu's mother gently: "Wu's mother, please tell Mrs. Zhong's family that I bought it, six thousand five thousand, six thousand five thousand. I will take out the money at noon tomorrow."
Here, let’s take a look at the house and its layout. The two-and-a-half-story western-style building is still in the city center. Not to mention the convenient transportation, it’s worth it to be quiet in the bustle. In a year or two, when the situation stabilizes, I’m afraid the price will increase a lot.
Twice!"
"Yeah, do you really want to buy it?"
Gong Qian looked at An Yi and couldn't tell whether she liked it or was surprised.
"Of course I want to buy it. Not only do I want to buy the apartment next door, but I'm also going to buy more to hoard. Real estate is also a business. It's great if you do it well. It's more profitable than opening a bank, haha!" An Yi said with a naughty smile:
"Sister, after I buy it, I will ask someone to expand and decorate it, and open a small door in the middle courtyard wall. As long as I am in Nanjing, I will come here to eat every day. Do you agree?"
Gong Qian smiled and said: "I couldn't ask for more. There are only two of us in the house, Wu Ma. If you come back to live there, it will be lively. Haha! Then buy it. Anyway, you have plenty of money. You led one division to defeat three enemy divisions.
The whole country is in shock. Didn’t you just get a huge reward of 500,000 yuan from Principal Jiang? It’s more than enough to buy the entire street.”
"No, that money can't be touched. Tomorrow I will transfer the check to the public account of HSBC. The brothers paid for it with their lives and need special funds. But there are more than a dozen in the other passbook I have.
You can use your 10,000 yuan in whatever way you want. If you are in a hurry to use the money, just tell me." An Yi said solemnly.
Wu's mother looked at An Yi in surprise: "Xiao Yi, where did you get so much money?"
"My military pay and captured dividends are all there, and they haven't been touched. The more I save, the more I save. It would be bad if I don't use it. The money will depreciate. Unless it is converted into gold or silver, otherwise our deficit government will introduce a new policy."
The loss is huge, so I have to spend it as soon as possible." An Yi said with a smile on his face.
Gong Qian was still so surprised when she saw Wu's mother, and said quickly: "Don't worry about Xiao Yi, I also know a little about how he got his money. He turned out to be a businessman who smelled like copper. Have you forgotten? What's more, he
I have been doing business in partnership with Mr. Ou Yaoting, a wealthy man from the province and Hong Kong. It is normal to have more than 100,000 yuan, so you can rest assured."
Wu Ma nodded happily. After thinking about it, it would be best to tell Mrs. Zhong, so she got up and hurriedly went to the next door to deliver the message. Gong Qian asked with a smile in her eyes: "Where are you staying tonight?"
?”
"Yangtze Hotel, my guards all live there." An Yi replied casually.
Gong Qian said displeasedly: "That place is a mixed bag of good and bad, you can't be a bad example!"
An Yi was stunned and suddenly understood: "Sister, who do you think I am? Is your brother so tasteless?"
Gong Qian slapped An Yi again, stood up and cleared the table quickly: "I'm going to wash the dishes. I want to drink tea and make it myself."
An Yi also stood up: "No, I have to go back. It's too late to call a taxi. It's probably going to rain tonight. I'd better go back first. I'll come back at noon tomorrow."
Gong Qian stopped cleaning up and asked in a low voice: "Will you come back for dinner tomorrow night?"
"I'm not sure. If I'm called to eat by my brothers, I won't be able to come back. And if I have to see the principal tomorrow, I have to wait for a call from our First Army headquarters at any time." An Yi said apologetically.
Gong Qian's face was full of confusion: "What principal are you meeting tomorrow? Your principal left for Zhenjiang this afternoon. He will start to inspect the Bengbu front line tomorrow and won't be back until at least the night after tomorrow. You guys will
The commander who stayed behind in the army will also follow, who do you report to?"
An Yi was stunned for a moment. The more he thought about it, the more he was holding his breath. He quickly walked to the phone and dialed the number of the Commander-in-Chief's Attendant's Office again. Major Chen, who was still on duty, had to tell the truth under An Yi's angry inquiry:
The principal asked him to do this. This time the principal was really angry and asked An Yi to go to the First Army Military Headquarters at nine o'clock tomorrow morning to wait for orders.
"What’s wrong with you?"
Gong Qian saw An Yi put down the phone with a look of disappointment on his face, and hurriedly walked over and asked with concern.
An Yi gently pushed Gong Qian's hand away, shook his head and said with a forced smile: "It's nothing. I didn't know that the principal went to inspect the front line today. I really thought he was meeting celebrities from Shanghai... Sister, I'm leaving first. Tomorrow
I'll come back at noon, and I'll move in after I buy the house next door. It seems that I have to stay in Nanjing for a while."
Gong Qian nodded: "Then go back. You are tired after traveling all day. If you need anything, call me tomorrow, okay?"
"Well! I'm leaving, sister..."
Back in the hotel room, An Yi didn't sleep all night. Amidst the patter of rain, An Yi suddenly understood that Principal Jiang had deliberately neglected him. He also understood that the punishment he faced was unavoidable, but it would never be enough.
Being expelled from the military and party membership, at least so far, I have not had such worries.
However, an encounter the next morning completely hurt An Yi's self-esteem. Accompanied by He Yushu, the director of the Political Department of the First Army, An Yi went to the Supervisory Committee to state what happened.
He endured the scolding in silence for an hour and a half, and had to sign his name on a document proving that he had said these words.
An Yi thought he had passed the test, but he was taken to the Military and Political Department of the General Headquarters. Liu Wendao, deputy director of the Political Department, sadly read out An Yi's punishment decision. Two major generals from Quanxu Branch ordered An Yi with dark faces.
Remove the major general collar insignia and return the general officer certificate.
An Yi gritted his teeth and obeyed the order, took the letter of appointment from the hands of the Deputy Minister of Military and Political Affairs, smiled, saluted the officers, turned and left without saying a word, leaving a group of generals sighing in place.
From this day on, the instructors directly under the Nanjing Government's Northern Expeditionary Army Headquarters, which was just established, had an additional colonel leader, and he was the head of the supplementary regiment specialized in training new regiments. He was the famous An Yi.