Chapter 1: Bloody Bridge
Early autumn, 1936.
Nanjing, dormitory for students at the Whampoa Military Academy.
Xiang Chu was packing his luggage silently, feeling mixed emotions.
After three years of hard study, he will go to his assigned post tomorrow - the First Army on the Northwest Front.
He joined the White Party's ace army, but it was absolutely impossible for him to point his gun at his former comrades.
He wanted to take advantage of today's holiday to go to the meeting point to find the contact person "Cuckoo" and tell him that he was about to leave Nanjing for the northwest, and take the opportunity to leave the First Army and return to the organization.
He really couldn't stand the White Party's behavior, even the assignment of students after graduation was based on relationships.
Those with connections can join the White Party’s party, government, military and other major organizations.
For example, Qian Fugui, a rich second-generation who had mediocre grades in the same dormitory, was assigned to the Logistics Department of the Ministry of Military and Political Affairs with the help of his family.
Lin Junhao, a second-generation military officer who was usually feared even by his instructors, was naturally assigned to the Military Affairs Department, which was responsible for directing the operations of the entire army.
Even Zheng Longzheng, the son of an official who had the worst grades and relied on Xiang Chu's help to graduate, was assigned to the Political Department.
If it doesn't matter, just rely on your own strength and give it a chance.
For example, Xiang Chu ranked first among the tenth batch of students, and was assigned to the first army together with Zhang Fei, who had excellent grades and lived in the same dormitory.
The other seven students in the dormitory had mediocre grades, so they were all assigned to the miscellaneous troops on the northwest front to encircle and suppress the Red Army.
Lin Junhao said proudly: "Everyone! I guarantee that I will be promoted to company commander within one year and regiment commander within two years."
Zheng Longzheng said bluntly: "Xiang Chu and the others still have a chance to go to the front line, but you have no chance in the military headquarters."
Qian Fugui and Lin Junhao have a good relationship, and are not on good terms with Zheng Longzheng. He immediately said in a sarcastic tone:
"Going to the northwest front to fight the Red Party is a life-threatening situation. Thinking of getting promoted and getting rich is simply a dream!"
Zhang Fei retorted: "You are talking nonsense! Xiang Chu and I will definitely be able to achieve great things. Right! Xiang Chu."
"No! Old Qian is right."
Xiang Chu smiled bitterly, changed into an old Zhongshan suit and walked out of the dormitory.
"You want to go out into the streets?"
Zhang Fei shouted from behind.
Xiang Chu waved his hand and said, "I won't be back anymore. I'm going to Confucius Temple to have a look."
"I'm with you!"
Zhang Fei changed into casual clothes and ran out of the door, but Xiang Chu was nowhere to be seen. He couldn't help but mutter,
"This guy! He always keeps to himself and appears and disappears mysteriously."
Zhang Fei and Xiang Chu are fellow villagers from Fenghua. They have a very good relationship and can always talk about anything, but Xiang Chu never goes out with him, and he has gotten used to it.
Confucius Temple is crowded with people.
On the Wende Bridge, Xiang Chu held a copy of the Jinling Times and leaned against the railing to enjoy the scenery.
Not long after, he saw from afar a middle-aged man wearing glasses, a top hat and holding a newspaper, approaching him in the crowd.
Needless to say, this person was the contact person assigned to him during his military school years - "Cuckoo".
Suddenly, a large number of capable young men with stern expressions and wearing Zhongshan suits appeared in the crowd.
They wandered around and shopped as if nothing had happened, trying every possible means to conceal their actions.
They moved forward stealthily, gradually spreading out in a fan shape, as if they were tracking someone and about to carry out a capture operation.
This may fool ordinary people, but it cannot fool Xiang Chu's eyes.
"No! These people are spies of the White Party."
Xiang Chu was shocked and determined the target of the White Party spy.
It is unlikely that they would target me because I have been studying in the Whampoa Military Academy for the past three years. I have very few opportunities to go out and I have only come into contact with the "cuckoo", so there is no way I would be exposed.
"Could it be that 'Cuckoo' has been exposed?!"
Xiang Chu pondered secretly and was about to warn the "cuckoo".
At this moment, two men wearing gentlemen's hats ran across the bridge dragging a little boy of five or six years old.
One of them looked very nervous, while the other one said something in Japanese softly and sternly:
"Ichiro Yamamoto! You're not here to arrest us. Go!"
"Japanese?!"
Xiang Chu's heart trembled, and he instantly determined that the White Party spies were here to capture Japanese spies.
He hastily threw away the newspaper, rushed towards the devil named Yamamoto Ichiro, and shouted:
"Quick! Catch the Japanese spies!"
Needless to say, he was taking this opportunity to muddy the waters, divert attention, and alert the "cuckoo".
Ichiro Yamamoto reacted quickly, suddenly took out a dagger from his sleeve, and waved his hand to stab Xiang Chu.
Xiang Chu twisted his body, grabbed Yamamoto Ichiro's hand holding the dagger, and pulled it forward.
His force was so great that Yamamoto Ichiro and his dagger were knocked against the stone railing of Wende Bridge.
"Bang!" a sound.
Yamamoto was knocked unconscious and lay flat on the ground.
The other Japanese soldier didn't expect Xiang Chu to be so powerful. He quickly gave up the little boy, let him fall to the ground, took out his pistol and pulled the trigger at Xiang Chu continuously.
"Bang! Bang!" twice.
Two bullets hit the stone floor, sending sparks flying.
Xiang Chu rolled on the ground in advance, came to the feet of the Japanese soldier, and performed a scissors kick.
The Japanese soldier fell to the ground, but was immediately pinned down by Xiang Chu and his pistol was taken away.
Xiang Chu swung the butt of his gun to knock the Japanese unconscious, quickly put the pistol behind his waist, picked up the little boy and stood up.
His movements were steady, accurate, and fierce, and were done in one go, drawing cheers from passers-by.
At this time, "Cuckoo" also discovered the White Party spies and quickly rushed across the bridge, trying to blend into the crowd on Xiang Chu's side to increase the probability of escape.
"Bang! Bang!..."
Suddenly there was a burst of gunfire, and all the bullets were fired at "Cuckoo".
The people around screamed and fled in all directions.
Some secret agents shouted loudly: "Catch the Red Party members!"
"Cuckoo" was shot in the thigh and abdomen. He staggered across the bridge and fell more than 2 meters away from Xiang Chu's feet.
He spat out blood, and his fingers rapidly typed out Morse code on the slate:
"Nighthawk has rebelled. Hurry to Room 208 of Tongfu Inn and cover the evacuation of important leaders!"
It was certain that the "cuckoo" could not be rescued, so Xiang Chu took the little boy and quickly stepped back a few steps, then turned around and was about to leave.
"No one is allowed to move! Catch the Japanese spy."
Suddenly, there was a roar behind me, and countless men in black Zhongshan suits were running towards here.
At the same time, the White Party spies on the other side of the bridge rushed across the bridge like the wind and approached the "Cuckoo".
It turned out that there were plainclothes White Party agents lying in ambush on both sides, but their targets were different.
Xiang Chu was extremely anxious. His own death was not a pity, but the important leader must not be allowed to get into any harm.
"Cuckoo" drew his gun and shot at the White Party spies who rushed onto the bridge, using his life to cover Xiang Chu's evacuation.
"Boom! Boom!"
The two White Party agents were caught off guard and fell to the ground wailing after being hit.
"Bang! Bang!..."
The White Party spies were furious and fought back fiercely.
Countless bullets hit the "Cuckoo", but none of them hurt the "Cuckoo"'s vital parts.
The leading spy shouted loudly: "Don't shoot, capture him alive!"
The gunfire stopped and the agents approached "Cuckoo" cautiously.