novelhk Chapter 146 One day before the wedding
Chapter 146 One day before the wedding
December 26, 1925, evening.
Current funds: £6,543,876
Current Strength:
•Army: German-trained Guards Division (30,000 men), Newly Organized German-trained Division of the Wehrmacht (200,000 men), Centrally Reorganized Army Division (100,000 men), Engineer Brigade (50,000 men), Independent Armored Division, Independent Heavy Artillery Brigade, Wusongkou Fortress and its Garrison Brigade, Maritime Anti-Smuggling Detachment of the Tax Police Corps
• Industry: Ma'anshan Coal and Steel Complex (annual production of 500,000 tons of special steel), Jiangnan Shipyard (10,000-ton dry dock already in operation).
• Navy: Three Type A destroyers have entered service, and six new batches are under construction.
• Territory: Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian (excluding Xiamen), the entirety of Jiangsu, and Huaibei, Suzhou, Bengbu, Ma'anshan, and Wuhu in Anhui.
Shanghai, Cao Qingdi's residence.
Chen Zijun stood at the door and took a deep breath.
Tomorrow is my wedding day.
He pushed open the door and entered Cao Qingdi's residence.
Cao Qingdi, dressed in an elegant cheongsam, sat by the window, watching the sunset outside.
"Brother Zijun." She turned around, a faint smile on her face. "You've come."
Chen Zijun walked over and sat down next to her: "Sister Cao."
Cao Qingdi grasped his hand: "Tomorrow is our wedding day, are you nervous?"
Chen Zijun smiled and said, "What kind of situation haven't I, Chen Zijun, seen? Nervous?"
Cao Qingdi smiled as well: "That's true. But I still want to ask you, are you really ready to marry me?"
Chen Zijun looked into her eyes and said earnestly, "Sister Cao, I, Chen Zijun, never do anything I'm not sure of. I'm marrying you because I love you. Not because of your status, not because of your talent, but simply because you are Cao Qingdi."
A flicker of emotion crossed Cao Qingdi's eyes: "Zijun..."
"Sister Cao," Chen Zijun said, "I know there are many obstacles between us. You are Cao Yu's daughter, and I am Chen Yuhe's son. The older generation, one from the Zhili clique and the other from the Anhui clique, have a long history of infighting. Our union will attract a lot of criticism. But I don't care."
"I don't care," Cao Qingdi said. "As long as I can be with you, I don't care about anything else."
Chen Zijun gripped her hand tightly: "Sister, I will protect you for life. No matter what happens, I will never let you suffer."
Cao Qingdi's eyes filled with tears: "Zijun, I believe in you."
……
Cao Qingdi stood up, walked to the dressing table, and took out a delicate little box.
"Zijun." She turned around. "This is a gift for you."
Chen Zijun took the box, opened it, and found an exquisite military uniform collar insignia inside.
The collar insignia is embroidered with the character "Chen" in gold thread, which sparkles under the light.
"I sewed this myself," Cao Qingdi said. "I know you're usually busy with military affairs and rarely have time to pay attention to these details. But I hope that every time you wear this collar insignia, you'll think of me."
Looking at the collar insignia in his hand, Chen Zijun felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
"Sister," he said, "this gift is more precious than any gold or jewel."
Cao Qingdi smiled: "I'm glad you like it."
……
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Chen Zijun said.
Mo Huixin and Mo Lanzhi walked in.
"Young Master," Mo Huixin said with a smile, "we've come to congratulate you and Sister Cao."
Mo Lanzhi smiled and said, "Sister, tomorrow is your wedding day, so we came here especially to keep you company."
Cao Qingdi greeted them with a smile: "Huixin, Lanzhi, you've arrived."
The three of them sat on the sofa and began to chat about everyday things.
"Sister," Mo Huixin said, "the wedding is tomorrow, are you ready?"
Cao Qingdi nodded: "Ready."
"That's good," Mo Huixin said. "Lanzhi and I will arrange everything for you. You just need to focus on being a good bride."
Cao Qingdi smiled and said, "Thank you."
Mo Lanzhi teased, "Young Master, you seem very gentle today. You usually have such a cold demeanor, why are you being so considerate today?"
Chen Zijun smiled and said, "Tomorrow is my wedding day, so of course I have to be gentle."
Mo Huixin smiled too: "Young Master, you've finally found happiness. We're so happy for you."
Looking at them, Chen Zijun felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
Over the years, he had been busy with military affairs and had little time to care about these things. But now, he has finally found his own happiness.
……
Late at night, Chen Zijun returned to the study in the Chen Mansion.
He sat at his desk, looking at the moonlight outside the window.
More than a year has passed since I was reborn.
He has experienced too much in the past year.
From a minor warlord in Shanghai to a dominant force sweeping across Jiangsu and Zhejiang and controlling the southeastern coast.
He possessed a powerful army, substantial financial resources, and countless riches.
However, he also lost a lot.
He lost his peaceful life, his freedom, and even his humanity.
But he doesn't regret it.
Because he found his own happiness.
Cao Qingdi.
This woman brought him a long-lost sense of warmth.
"Sister Cao," Chen Zijun said softly, "I will protect you for the rest of my life."
……
The next morning.
Chen Zijun got up early to start preparing for his wedding.
He put on his military uniform and wore the collar insignia that Cao Qingdi had sewn by hand.
The collar insignia shimmered in the sunlight, as if telling the story of Cao Qingdi's love.
"Young Master." Mo Lanzhi hurried into the study, her face grave. "The Military Intelligence Bureau has discovered unusual activity by Chang's agents near the wedding venue. We may need to act ahead of schedule."
Chen Zijun frowned: "What unusual activity?"
"Our intelligence indicates that Chang's agents have positioned snipers at several high points near the wedding venue," Moranzi said. "They may be planning an attack on the wedding day."
Chen Zijun sneered, "They really won't give up."
"Young Master, what should we do?" Mo Lanzhi asked.
"Tell Shen Li," Chen Zijun said, "to arrest these spies immediately. No matter where they are hiding, find them for me."
"Understood," Moranzhi said. "In addition, I suggest strengthening security at the wedding venue."
"Okay," Chen Zijun said. "Have my personal guards in charge of security at the wedding. Don't let any suspicious persons get away."
"Let all of China see what a true army is, what a king's army is!"
"Guards, attack!"
"yes!"
Moranzhi accepted the order and left.
Chen Zijun stood by the window, looking at the sunlight outside.
Tomorrow is my wedding day.
Did Chiang Kai-shek want to ruin his wedding?
Let's give it a try.
……
Shanghai, Cao Qingdi's residence.
Cao Qingdi sat in front of the dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror.
Tomorrow, she will become Chen Zijun's wife.
"Sister," Mo Huixin said as she walked in, "Are you ready?"
Cao Qingdi nodded: "Ready."
After thinking for a moment, Cao Qingdi smiled and said, "Thank you."
Mo Huixin grasped her hand: "Sister, we are happy for you. Young Master is a good person, he will treat you well."
Cao Qingdi nodded: "I know. But you've both been with Zijun for so many years, it hasn't been easy for you. I know you two sisters love him, so I've decided that after the wedding, he'll marry you both!"
"Sister Cao, what did you say?"
Mo Huixin's face flushed red instantly, then she turned around and quickly walked out.
……
On the streets of Shanghai, citizens were discussing the matter extensively.
"Have you heard? Marshal Chen is getting married tomorrow."
"Yes, the bride is Cao Qingdi, the daughter of President Cao Yu."
"Young Marshal Chen and Cao Qingdi are truly a match made in heaven."
"I heard that Marshal Chen is going to use armored vehicles to clear the way. That's quite a grand display."
"Of course, who is Marshal Chen? He's the top dog of the five southeastern provinces, a local tyrant. His wedding must have the pomp and circumstance of a tyrant."
The citizens discussed it, their faces showing envy.
Chen Zijun's wedding became the hottest topic in Shanghai.
……
Late at night, on the streets of Shanghai.
Several men in plainclothes loitered near the wedding venue.
They were regular secret agents, ordered to launch an attack on the wedding day.
"Big brother," one of them said, "tomorrow is the wedding, are we ready?"
"Ready," the leader said. "We've positioned snipers at several high points. As soon as Chen Zijun appears, they'll open fire."
"Good," another said. "As long as we kill Chen Zijun, Commander-in-Chief Chang will reward us handsomely."
"That's right," the leader said. "This operation can only succeed; failure is not an option."
The agents exchanged a knowing smile, a hint of coldness flashing in their eyes.