Chapter Fifty-Nine: Preparing to Declare War on Germany

Now, Liu Susu, living on Azure Dragon Mountain, gazes daily toward the direction of Jiangning City, longing for Xiao Fei night and day. Though their separation has lasted less than half a month, it feels as if ten years have passed. She knows this forbidden love between uncle and sister-in-law should never exist. She struggles to restrain her feelings, yet the more she tries, the more intense they become.

During these days, Zhen Sanjiang has shown Liu Susu every care and affection. Liu Susu can see Zhen Sanjiang’s fondness for her, but her heart already belongs to Xiao Fei. Even without Xiao Fei, she would never accept another man; after all, she is a married woman.

Tonight, with sparse stars and a bright moon, Liu Susu stands atop Azure Dragon Mountain, gazing in the direction of Xiao Fei. “Uncle, oh uncle, when will you return?”

Far away in Jiangning City, Xiao Fei seems to hear Liu Susu’s call. He thinks, “Susu, I will return to you as soon as possible. But for now, I cannot leave. There are matters in the city yet unresolved. Once they are settled, I’ll hurry back to Azure Dragon Mountain.”

Xiao Fei is surrounded by four beautiful women. He says mischievously, “Tonight, the flowers bloom and the moon is full. Why don’t we all rest together? Let me enjoy the blessings of many wives—wahaha!”

“Pah, shameless!”

Unexpectedly, the four girls all spit at Xiao Fei at once, embarrassed, and return to their rooms.

“Hey, hey, hey, Wanyu, Wanyu. The others have their own rooms, but you just arrived and haven’t been assigned one yet. Why not make do with mine for tonight?” Xiao Fei says shamelessly.

“Hmph, I’d rather sleep on the street than share a room with you. Oh, how could you say such things? It’s mortifying!” Jin Wanyu says, then runs lightly away to squeeze into a room with Liu Ruyan.

“Good grief, we’re all adults. Why be so formal?” Xiao Fei sighs. He was only joking. He knows this is the Republic era, unlike the open society of his previous life. Without a wife formally wedded, how could one casually share a bed?

But Qin Tianxiang is different. Born into the world of martial artists, she has fewer rules. Since their first encounter, she no longer hesitates. With that, Xiao Fei quietly approaches Qin Tianxiang’s door and gently pushes—it is unlocked.

With a creak, Xiao Fei opens the door and quietly comes to Qin Tianxiang’s bedside.

“Who is it?” Qin Tianxiang asks, feigning ignorance.

“Little darling, I’m here.” Xiao Fei eagerly undresses and slips into bed, reaching into the covers. To his delight, Qin Tianxiang lies beneath the quilt completely unclothed. He gently lifts the blanket, revealing a flawless woman’s body. The soft bedding accentuates her two jade peaks, like inverted porcelain bowls, alluring and exquisite.

Qin Tianxiang murmurs softly, pulling the quilt back over herself, “Husband, you’re so naughty…”

“Heh heh, you call me husband. Since I am your husband, we should fulfill the rites of marriage. Let me carry out my duty—my little darling, I’m here to do just that.” With these words, Xiao Fei slips under the covers, turns lightly, and presses Qin Tianxiang beneath him.

“Husband… be gentle… I’m afraid of pain…”

“I will…” Xiao Fei whispers warmly into her ear.

The waves of passion rise, and the night is spent in pleasure.

In the neighboring room, the three girls huddle together, listening and talking through the night. The feelings stirred are perhaps only understood by their own hearts.

The next day, Xiao Fei, carrying the symbol of leadership entrusted to him by his great-uncle Xiao Yuanfeng, arrives at the Hongwu Dojo. His arrival surprises everyone. In a single day, the Hongwu Dojo had undergone dramatic changes: Master Yamamoto Taro vanished without explanation, the eldest disciple was killed in the master’s secret chamber, and now the dojo is in chaos.

“Ah, it’s you! What are you doing here?” a disciple of Hongwu Dojo asks.

Xiao Fei wastes no words, produces the leadership token, and relays Yamamoto Taro’s dying instructions to everyone.

Though the disciples are skeptical, since the founding of the Shenwu School, its rule has been that whoever possesses the leadership token is the master, and may command all.

Xiao Fei’s first order is to strictly constrain their activities in China: they must never harm Chinese interests, must not participate in any Japanese military actions, and if Japanese military investigators come, they are forbidden to answer any questions.

Xiao Fei knows these people have already been trained under his great-uncle’s strict guidance, so he trusts them.

Yet, as they are all Japanese, to have them assist in actions against their own people would be difficult. To truly use them, time is needed.

According to his great-uncle, disciples of Shenwu School are scattered worldwide. With the First World War raging, Xiao Fei urgently needs foreign intelligence. He orders his disciples to quickly contact others abroad, especially those on the European front, to provide continuous war information.

By coincidence, one disciple has just returned from Germany with crucial news: Germany intends to return the territory of Jiaozhou Bay, seized in China, to China—thus reducing its enemies.

Xiao Fei suddenly recalls real history: on August 13, 1914—just two days from now—Germany handed Jiaozhou Bay in Shandong back to China, but Japanese military intervened, seizing the bay from the Germans. This led to strong protests from patriots, but did not alter the outcome. The tragedy lay with the incompetence of the Beiyang government, which sought only to curry favor with Japan.

Damn it, as long as I’m here, Japan’s schemes will never succeed, Xiao Fei thinks. After receiving this intelligence, he quickly leaves the Hongwu Dojo to plan his next moves.

History further records that on August 23, Japan declared war on Germany, soon landing troops at Longkou, Shandong on September 2, occupying the Jiaozhou railway on October 6, and capturing Qingdao on November 7. Thus, Germany’s influence in Shandong fell entirely into Japanese hands.

But just as Xiao Fei leaves the dojo, he hears large protest crowds shouting, “Down with the traitor Cao Rulin, drive out American imperialists! Down with the traitor Cao Rulin, drive out German imperialists!”

A sense of foreboding fills Xiao Fei—history has shifted ahead. He quickly inquires and learns that Deputy Foreign Minister Cao Rulin has defied public opinion, secretly signing an agreement with Germany to transfer Jiaozhou Bay to Japan. Japan seizes the opportunity, and even Qingdao is in danger.

History’s track has truly begun to shift; Japan and Germany, without war, are easily trading Chinese territory.

Outrageous! Damned Germany and Japan are using Chinese land as bargaining chips—how can Chinese people not be furious?

This fight must be waged. Xiao Fei immediately gathers Jin Shaohua, Hu Baiwan, and others to prepare for battle.

At that time, the Beiyang government had declared it would not join the First World War, maintaining friendly relations with Germany. Moreover, Germany planned to transfer its influence in Shandong to Japan, and Japan had always secretly supported Yuan Shikai. Thus, Yuan Shikai would certainly not go to war with Germany and Japan over this matter. Relying on the Beiyang army was impossible.

Furthermore, if Xiao Fei were to have Hu Baiwan secretly mobilize troops to attack German and Japanese forces in Shandong, it would alert Yuan Shikai, and the southwestern part of Jiangning borders Anhui province. Any military action toward Shandong would inevitably involve Anhui’s warlords, Yuan Shikai’s staunch ally Duan Qirui. So, what sounds simple is not so easy to execute.

Thus, the best approach is to force the Beiyang government to take a firm stand: demand unconditional return of all German-occupied territory to China, or else declare war on Germany. If Japan interferes, prepare for war with Japan as well.

But to compel Yuan Shikai to take such action is easier said than done.

If war breaks out, it is the Chinese troops and civilians who will suffer most. Xiao Fei must weigh his options carefully and devise a foolproof plan.