Chapter 4: Encountering Jingxiao Again

"Hello, Teacher! Hello, Chief of Staff Bai!"

The young man is speaking incessantly about the old affairs of the Republic; he is quite eloquent, but unfortunately, few people are paying attention to him. The person he is trying to persuade is a bald old man, who is thin and rather unremarkable. He has ordered a cheap breakfast and is eating alone. Although his face shows little emotion, he is evidently somewhat annoyed by the fly. The principal nods in response to the young man's words, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Are those two your friends? Go over and say hello

The speaker is a petite woman, approximately in her early thirties, with a face as cold as frost. Her attire is quite simple, yet this woman exudes a sense of determination in her every gesture.

Teacher! This voice is quite familiar. Turning around, I saw Liu Jingxiao and her chief of staff. The two of them walked respectfully to the table of the elegantly dressed woman, simultaneously removed their military caps, saluted, and said in unison: "Students pay their respects to the teacher"

Bai Ling turned her head and replied, "Oh, it's the principal! Yes, I just saw Director Liu a moment ago"

Mirror Dawn

For Su Bai and the other person, this individual is indeed the culprit behind the defeat of the E Army in their return to De. Although the defeat of the E Army began with Liu Jingxiao, there was not much animosity towards him within the E Army. At that time, he rebelled against the E Army to avenge his former lord, an act that was not only honorable but also justifiable. Moreover, after Liu Jingxiao took control of Lu, he provided considerable care for the veterans of the E Army, winning the hearts of the old E Army officers and soldiers.

Then how do we explain the absence of commanders in Henan? I remember that several commanders of the Yu Army were reported in the newspapers

Su Xue's face involuntarily flushed with a hint of redness, and at that moment, she suddenly heard a voice: "Has my Jing Xiao returned?"

Yang Linyi, though still young, has already assumed the position of Governor and Military Commander of Henan, wielding significant power over the province. He is the first person to hold the position of Military Commander at under thirty years of age since the establishment of the Republic.

Yan Aoshuang merely nodded and replied in a lukewarm manner, "Is everything alright in Shandong?"

You will be twenty-eight after the New Year, right?" After a brief pause, Yan Aoshuang continued, "I have asked someone to find a marriage match for you. It is said that the young lady from the other party is a good match for you in terms of family background. Are you satisfied with this?"

Su Xuedao: "Yang Linyi, the military governor of Henan, is young and capable, but he is not from Henan."

The female officer replied succinctly: "Guo Junqing, Chief of Staff of the 17th Army Division"

Yang Linyi's basic force consists only of the Second Division of the Shaanxi Army. Therefore, when consolidating troops in Henan, the total number of units under his command includes eight divisions and nine brigades. With so many division commanders, it naturally becomes a case of a plucked phoenix—no longer valuable

Oh! The woman responded and casually greeted Bai Ling before finding a table nearby to sit down. She said to the man who was casually criticizing the military governor, "Xiao Yang, if you have something to discuss, you can go to the Council of State! Don't bother Mr. Chen!"

Speaking of Liu Jingxiao, it immediately led to the question that the young girls were most concerned about: "I heard that Liu Jingxiao is as handsome as jade, exceptionally elegant. Has he perhaps stolen our Xue'er’s heart?"

Chen Yuanqing responded: "Yes, he is from Shaanxi!"

Upon hearing the name "General Yang," both Qi and Su Bai's expressions changed dramatically, and they asked in unison: "General Yang? Are you the Governor of Henan, Yang Linyi?"

Everything is determined by the teacher

Students in

The two responded in unison: "Yes! Teacher!"

However, upon this arrival, the handsome young man with the surname Yang found himself unable to continue speaking. In a state of helplessness, he turned around and found a table with books, sulking by himself.

The two said in unison: "Teacher, the students in Shandong are doing well!"

Looking at the principal, Su Xue suddenly recalled that she was the renowned Yan Aoshuang, known as "one person can rival a nation." Yan Aoshuang is considered an extraordinary woman in the military, maintaining the Zhuque Military Academy with her own strength, and her students are famous for their combat abilities. Liu Jingxiao is her most favored disciple. Thinking of Liu Jingxiao, for some reason, Su Xue felt a slight flush on her face.

The person replied: "Commander Su, Chief of Staff Bai, I am indeed Yang Linyi from Weibei."

At this moment, Liu Jingxiao smiled at the man and said, "General Yang, you are here as well"

"Good!" Su Xue and Bai Ling replied in unison. At this moment, the Yang surname man, who had been sulking by himself, stood up and said to Liu Jingxiao: "Jingxiao, you didn't inform your elder brother when you returned?" As he spoke, his voice was firm and powerful, resonating with authority. He then pointed to the chief of staff: "Who is this young lady to my brother?"

Yan Aoshuang said, "That's good! In Shandong, make sure to do a good job and do not let me down!" Although her words were spoken casually, they carried a certain charm that compelled respect.

"The Eighth Division and the Ninth Brigade..." Chen Yuan pondered for a moment, furrowing his brow and asking, "Isn't that nearly 200,000 people? How can Henan support so many troops?"

It is rare for such a talented woman to be unclear about something, and the smile on Su Xue's face grew even more pronounced as she said: "Xiao Qing also has things she doesn't know! First, regarding the Governor of Shandong, the current Governor and Provincial Chief Ding Jing can be considered a remnant of our E Army from back in the day, but she does not hold the real power in Shandong; the authority is firmly in the hands of Liu Jingxiao"

Bai Ling replied on behalf of Su Xue: "The troop formations in Henan are small; a division consists of only three to four thousand people, and the formation of a brigade is even smaller, not even comparable to Liu Jingxiao's regiment."

The young girl, lost in her thoughts, took small bites of her breakfast, her manner of eating quite elegant. At that moment, the sound of orderly yet somewhat hurried footsteps interrupted her reverie.

Moreover, this person is indeed a remarkable talent. Back in the day, he raised an army with just a battalion in Weibei, resisting the forces from nine provinces with only eight counties, and surprisingly did not fall behind. Later, during the Battle of Guidé, Yang Linyi wavered between E and Lu, watching both sides engage in a bloody battle. However, at a critical moment, he suddenly accepted the appointment as the Governor of Henan from Ding Jing, declaring independence from E. Tens of thousands of E troops were unable to regroup, and Yang Linyi thus secured territory in Henan. After the battle, Liu Jingxiao also spoke with authority, ordering the entire army to retreat to Shandong, leaving not a single soldier in Henan. Therefore, the two can be considered long-time acquaintances.

Bai Ling was secretly startled; although Guo Junqing was a woman, she was an important figure in Shandong wielding significant power. Guo had followed Liu Jingxiao since the time of the Rouran campaign and was highly valued. It was rumored that during the uprising led by Yang Jingliu against the E, he often instructed his subordinates: "You may not listen to me, but you must listen to the Chief of Staff." Now, the adjustments and promotions of key positions in various counties of Shandong were all managed by Guo Junqing.

In contrast, Yang Linyi stood by as his allies engaged in a fierce battle with Liu Jingxiao. When the situation turned unfavorable, he stabbed his allies in the back, subsequently cutting off the retreat route for the E Army. Most infuriatingly, after occupying Henan, he uprooted the E Army's influence entirely. The mere thought of this added several more layers of frost to the expressions of Su Bai and his companion.

Liu Jingxiao holds the military and political power of a province, and the chief of staff must also be a prominent figure from Shandong. Yet, in front of Yan Aoshuang, he does not dare to breathe loudly, showing utmost respect, to the extent that even matters of marriage are decided by Yan Aoshuang. Su Xue could not help but feel greatly curious. Turning her gaze again, she saw Chen Yuanqing looking at Yan Aoshuang with an expression that was no less than that of a man, completely entranced.