On November 22, 1912, on a flat piece of open ground revealed by the low water level of the Yangtze River in Wuhan, red flags fluttered, and ranks were orderly. At the founding ceremony of the People's Party Railway Corps, all 20,000 troops of the 5th Division of the 4th Army of the Railway Corps in Wuhan participated in the flag presentation ceremony. People's Party Chairman Chen Ke personally presented the flags to the four railway units.

The officers and soldiers of the 5th Railway Division had never imagined that they would be able to see Chairman Chen Ke in person, let alone that the honor of receiving a flag personally presented by Chairman Chen Ke would fall to their division. This was because the 4th Railway Division was stationed in Huaihai Province. Representatives from the 4th, 6th, and 7th Divisions formed three small phalanxes respectively to participate in the flag presentation ceremony.

Chen Ke's voice came from the loudspeakers. "The ancients said that a journey of a thousand *li* can be started in the morning and arrived at in the evening; this is a beautiful imagination. Now, this beautiful imagination is about to become a reality in the hands of you Railway Corps comrades. The future China will first be a China on rails. Everyone must cross high mountains, span rivers, and tread over plains to lay iron rails on the land of our motherland. The beneficiaries will not be tens of thousands, not millions, not even tens of millions, but hundreds of millions, over a billion Chinese people will benefit through the railways. And everyone will remember the glorious name of the Railway Corps. All Railway Corps comrades are members of this great team, and your names will surely go down in history along with the great achievements of this great team! You are destined to be the meritorious servants of China!"

These young soldiers looked up at Chen Ke with a gaze full of longing. Although many people didn't know exactly what their work would involve, many had seen a railway and a locomotive speeding on the tracks for the first time only after arriving in Wuhan. Some even felt a sense of fear towards that behemoth spewing thick smoke. But hearing Chairman Chen Ke personally tell everyone that the Railway Corps was destined to be the meritorious servants of China, uncontrollable excitement and the ensuing cheers still resounded through the clouds.

As a child of the railway, Chen Ke had a natural affinity for the Railway Corps. Because Chen Ke had been accustomed to locomotives and tracks since early childhood, and accustomed to the sounding whistles. He knew the rule of no holidays 365 days a year, and the study sessions held every so often. This was the life of railway workers, day after day, year after year. So Chen Ke's voice contained enough passion; this was the first time since returning to the early 20th century that he truly felt the life he was once familiar with. Everything before his eyes was a part of Chen Ke's life. At least this team would build a part of the life Chen Ke once lived.

Facing the thunderous cheers, Chen Ke waved his hand, and the sprawling phalanx quickly quieted down. Minister of National Defense Hua Xiongmao seized the opportunity to shout into the microphone in front of him: "Now, proceed with the flag presentation!"

The Railway Corps did not yet have its own anthem, so the "People's Liberation Army March" was played. Commanders at the corps, division, regiment, and battalion levels ascended the podium one after another. The master of ceremonies shouted the designation of the unit, and Chen Ke held the flag of that unit with both hands and solemnly handed it to them. The commanders received the flag with both hands, then held the flag with their left hand and saluted Chen Ke with their right hand. Chen Ke also solemnly returned the salute. The observers from that unit would then applaud and cheer enthusiastically. Where had these young soldiers ever seen such a warm and solemn scene? The cheers rose wave after wave, and the cheers of tens of thousands of officers and soldiers could be heard within a range of several kilometers on both banks of the river.

Hundreds of kilometers away from where the flag presentation ceremony was taking place, the 4th Division of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army Railway Corps, along with the 4407th Division in the sequence of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army Huaihai Military District, had already received orders to march into Shangqiu. The Longhai Railway is the most important trunk railway line running through eastern, central, and western China, traversing the five provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Shaanxi, and Gansu. The Longhai Line and the Beijing-Guangzhou Line intersect in Zhengzhou, thereby establishing the foundation of Zhengzhou City. Zhengzhou City has an east-west Longhai Road and a north-south Jingguang Road. Chen Ke's life from junior high school to high school was spent by these two roads. The intersection of these two roads is the location of the Zhengzhou Railway Bureau.

Now the Bian-Luo Railway (Kaifeng to Luoyang) had been built, the railway from Lianyungang to Xuzhou was basically completed, and the railway from Xuzhou to Shangqiu was also under construction. The People's Party was determined to connect the eastern section of this newly built Longhai Line with the Bian-Luo Line. Once the backbone lines of the Beijing-Hankou Railway and the Longhai Road (Luoyang to Lianyungang) were built, the rich and vast plains could be controlled to a great extent through the railways.

Huaihai Provincial Military District Commander Wu Xingchen stood on an earthen slope. Before him were 50,000 mighty troops. Although the draft was written by Chen Ke, Wu Xingchen still felt the passion within it. He shouted loudly into the microphone: "Comrades, today is the day the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army Railway Corps is formally established. It is also the day the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army formally marches into Henan. This day has been written into our military history, and it will also be written into China's history in the future. This is not only the beginning of the liberation of Henan, but also the new beginning of the construction of Henan. The railway behind you comrades will follow your footsteps, westward, westward. In the next few hundred years, or even a thousand years, the name of this Longhai Railway will surely exist in the textbooks of Chinese schools. Every Chinese person will know this name. Because hundreds of millions, over a billion Chinese common people will take trains passing through this railway. This railway will be China's history, and every one of us present is a participant in this history."

In the past, Chen Ke rarely mentioned history in speeches addressed to the broad masses of officers and soldiers, because more than 90% of the newly enlisted soldiers had never heard of this word, and 99% of the soldiers did not understand what the word "history" actually meant. Wu Xingchen knew that the 50,000 officers and soldiers he faced now had received enough education, and a considerable number of new recruits even had an elementary school education level. Everyone could already understand the meaning of the word "history" and understand the meaning represented by "creating history." Even just this one item had already opened an unprecedented page in Chinese history. Not to mention how glorious the great undertaking these 50,000 officers and soldiers were about to create would be.

Cheers rang out following Wu Xingchen's speech. The officers and soldiers of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army showed no fear, let alone any hesitation. The work everyone had to face had long been known to every comrade at the mobilization meeting. Not only to overthrow the enemy but also to build a new world. The difficulties to be faced were explained in detail by political workers at all levels, and precisely because of this, the enthusiasm of the young people redoubled instead. having seen with their own eyes and personally experienced the earth-shaking changes in the base areas, every soldier was surprised, delighted, and moved by it. Everyone knew how difficult the road ahead would be, and everyone knew how hard the work ahead would be. Although some comrades were full of confidence, and some comrades felt uneasy, at this moment all comrades knew that this order would not change. Every comrade knew that as long as they heard the order to march, they would march forward, forward, forward, shoulder to shoulder with other comrades.

"I now order, move out!" Wu Xingchen shouted the words the comrades were expecting. The majestic melody of the "People's Liberation Army March" rang out, and the troops rumbled forward toward the designated direction under the leadership of their commanders.

On November 23, gloomy clouds hung over Kaifeng City. Dense dark clouds obscured the sky, foreshadowing a rain at the turn of autumn and winter was about to fall. Zhang Zhenfang, Duan Zhigui, and Lei Zhenchun, these current high-ranking military and political officials of Henan, sat together in silence, their faces even gloomier than the sky before the rain. The news that the People's Party had formally marched into Henan in the name of building a railway left everyone at a loss.

In the past, although the People's Party's infiltration was annoying, at least no county seats or prefectural cities had fallen. This time, the People's Party no longer had any intention of hiding it. Thousands of troops marched all the way into Shangqiu City. The few defenders of Shangqiu City surrendered without a fight. The Intendant of Guide Circuit (*Guide Fu Daotai*) was captured alive. He was now locked up in the jail in Shangqiu City.

Getting this news was not due to how capable the intelligence system organized by Zhang Zhenfang was. After the People's Party imprisoned the Intendant of Guide Circuit, they immediately wrote a letter and sent someone on a fast horse to deliver it to Kaifeng. The letter listed the "Five Major Crimes" of the Intendant of Guide Circuit, such as harming the public for private gain and disregarding the interests of the people. These crimes were unbearable to read. In the final analysis, it was one sentence: "The Intendant of Guide Circuit refused to establish the Longhai Road East Line Shangqiu Section Management Committee together with the People's Party. This is counter-revolutionary and requires imprisonment."

The official document finally demanded that Henan Military Governor Zhang Zhenfang order the beheading of the Intendant of Guide Circuit and then display his head in various places in Henan as a warning to others.

Zhang Zhenfang had never seen such a barbaric "official document." He cursed in his heart, "Why don't you behead me, this Henan Military Governor, and display my head in various places in Henan as a warning to others?" These words certainly couldn't be spoken aloud. The implicit meaning in the People's Party's official document was actually a strong threat to Zhang Zhenfang.

As the Commander of the Beiyang 2nd Division, Duan Zhigui faced Henan Military Governor Zhang Zhenfang like Xu Shu entering Cao Cao's camp—no matter how Zhang Zhenfang urged him, he kept silent as much as possible. Zhang Zhenfang could no longer endure it, slamming the table and shouting angrily: "Commander Duan, you garrison the 2nd Division in Henan to protect the territory and comfort the people. The People's Party has now fought into Henan, yet you remain so silent. Are you waiting here for the People's Party to fight into Kaifeng? Although I haven't fought a war, I know a little about military matters. The current plan should be to deal them a head-on blow while the People's Party has not yet gained a firm foothold. I, this Henan Military Governor, may not be able to command you, but I have already sent a telegram to the Great President. Or should I send another telegram to the Great President telling him about your current conduct?"

Seeing that Zhang Zhenfang was almost driven mad with anger, Duan Zhigui had no choice but to speak. "Governor Zhang, we Beiyang troops follow rules when dispatching troops. Before dispatching troops, we first need to raise the regular pay by one tael of silver as a deployment fee. Regardless of how long it has been since last month's pay was issued, even if you just issued pay yesterday, if we are to dispatch troops today, this deployment fee must be issued immediately. Besides this, before charging in battle, 'life-selling money' must be issued. Everyone isn't doing it for silver, who would risk their life for you? It's best to pile a pile of silver dollars in front of the formation, and it must be explained that if one is unlucky and gets killed, our Beiyang Army provides generous compensation..."

Duan Zhigui rambled on about a circle of Beiyang Army rules, and Zhang Zhenfang almost fainted listening to it. Beiyang was truly "strictly disciplined"; many places where money was spent were clearly priced, quite methodical.

After finishing talking about the expenses to be paid at the time of deployment, during deployment, and during combat, Duan Zhigui looked troubled. "Governor Zhang, ever since the brothers have been stationed in Henan, the discipline has been strict, and they are not allowed to harass the common people. And there hasn't been a war for a long time, so the brothers are taking the lowest pay. This pay is also often delayed and not issued on time. Asking me to dispatch troops, fine. Governor Zhang, you have to take out one million silver dollars first. Otherwise, I, your brother, have no way to explain to those below. Even if we dispatch troops and confront the People's Party head-on, I'm afraid they will only go through the motions without putting in effort. Wouldn't that be even worse?"

Zhang Zhenfang's lips were trembling with anger at this point. "Soldiers are maintained for a thousand days to be used for one hour. Right now, the People's Party has already reached Shangqiu. If we beat back the People's Party, we will naturally reward you heavily. Asking for money now, this... can we still fight this war?"

Duan Zhigui answered loudly: "Governor Zhang, rules are rules. You are also a *Jinshi* graduate. Officialdom has the rules of officialdom, and we in the military also have the methods of the military. The rules of the Beiyang Army were set down in these years, and we have been doing it this way for many years. It's not that I, your brother, am unwilling to exert myself, but if I break the rules, how can I make the brothers of the 2nd Division believe what I say?"

"No wonder! No wonder!" Zhang Zhenfang murmured. He wanted to say no wonder the Beiyang Army mutinied in Beijing, but out of respect for Yuan Shikai's face, Zhang Zhenfang couldn't say it. Moreover, Zhang Zhenfang was not unheard of these rules from the late Qing Dynasty. The key now was that Henan didn't have ready cash either. Even though grain prices had risen recently, this grain couldn't be sold off in a short while. The money was spent as soon as it came to hand. Asking him to scrape together one million silver dollars now, he truly couldn't bring it out.

Seeing Zhang Zhenfang and Duan Zhigui almost locking horns, Lei Zhenchun hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Governor Zhang, the People's Party is clearly coming for our Kaifeng now. Why don't we hurry up and send a telegram to the Great President? Ask the Central Government to send troops. At least hurry up and mobilize some money to solve this urgent need."

Zhang Zhenfang barely controlled his emotions. "The telegram has already been sent. I'll send another one to apply for some money from the Central Government."

By the next day, Yuan Shikai's reply telegram arrived. In the telegram, Yuan Shikai told Zhang Zhenfang that he had already ordered Duan Zhigui to defend Kaifeng to the death. What Zhang Zhenfang needed to do was to guarantee the grain supply. And to scrape together the pay as much as possible. The telegram repeatedly emphasized that Zhang Zhenfang, as the Henan Military Governor, had the responsibility to defend the territory. If Kaifeng fell, Zhang Zhenfang would definitely be held accountable.

Knowing that it didn't involve dispatching troops now, Zhang Zhenfang at least felt a bit better in his heart. The walls of Kaifeng City were quite high, so there was still a good hope for 20,000 Beiyang troops to defend Kaifeng City to the death. Moreover, the news brought back by the scouts sent out by Governor Zhang also made Governor Zhang feel relieved. Not only did the People's Party troops not concentrate to prepare for an attack on Kaifeng, but they instead swarmed out and went to the countryside. Hearing this news, Duan Zhigui immediately became spirited. "Presumably the People's Party went to the countryside to rob things. This is good; they won't come back without robbing for a month or so."

Zhang Zhenfang looked at Duan Zhigui with a look full of malice. He also knew some news about the Beiyang Army. Duan Zhigui dispatched many Beiyang Army spies to investigate the People's Party's intelligence, but the cavalry units were chased and annihilated by the People's Party cavalry, and hundreds had already been captured. The scouts of the Beiyang 2nd Division now only dared to operate within twenty-some *li* around Kaifeng City, tantamount to becoming blind and deaf. Zhang Zhenfang hated the army harassing the people most, but at this moment, with all of the People's Party's attention focused on going to the countryside to harass the people, they would be unable to attack Kaifeng. Zhang Zhenfang couldn't help but hope that the People's Party would plague the countryside for as long as possible.

However, it is better to rely on oneself than on others. Zhang Zhenfang didn't stay idle either. He not only urgently assembled the tax police troops remaining in Kaifeng for arming and training but also urgently ordered the tax police troops scattered in various places to transfer half of their manpower to rush to Kaifeng. If they really encountered a situation where the People's Party attacked the city, having one's own trustworthy armed forces would make a world of difference in the result.

Tax Police School Principal Zhu Danbi was also burning with anxiety. Although he didn't like Zhang Zhenfang, the People's Party had publicized its political program to the whole country. The first article, thorough land reform, made Zhu Danbi decide to oppose the People's Party. At this point, Zhu Danbi couldn't care about past conflicts either. For several days in a row, he tried to incite the assemblymen in the Assembly to stand together with Zhang Zhenfang.

With the People's Party's land reform as a backdrop, the attitude of the assemblymen was naturally completely consistent. To Zhu Danbi's request that everyone donate money and grain as much as possible to support the government in resisting the People's Party's invasion, the assemblymen also agreed readily. But every time a meeting was held, there would be a few fewer assemblymen. After a few days, only a few assemblymen from the Shangqiu area remained in the Assembly. Other assemblymen were either on the road running back to their hometowns or preparing to run back to their hometowns. Looking at the deserted Assembly location, Zhu Danbi simply went to find Zhang Zhenfang to volunteer.

"Assemblyman Zhu, are you saying you want to go and blow up the People's Party's munitions depot?" Zhang Zhenfang looked at Zhu Danbi with an incredulous gaze.

Zhu Danbi looked tragic and heroic. "Exactly. The People's Party army is outside. I heard their troops have gone down to the countryside to plague the common people. I will take some people to infiltrate Shangqiu and blow up the People's Party's munitions depot. Without munitions, their formation will inevitably be thrown into chaos. At that time, whether the Central Government sends troops or the 2nd Division dispatches troops, the odds of winning will be much greater."

Zhang Zhenfang nodded slightly. This was not approval of Zhu Danbi, but because he recalled Zhou Zhentao's words: "The People's Party strongly opposes petty bourgeoisie joining the People's Party's ranks. This bunch of petty bourgeoisie is restless by nature; give them an inch and they'll take a mile. I see this person Zhu Danbi is a standard petty bourgeois. He is not afraid if you ask him to die; they are just afraid of not being able to do some earth-shattering big thing. So Governor Zhang, regardless of whether you like Zhu Danbi or not, as long as you win him over properly and let him feel that what he is doing is an earth-shattering big thing, this Zhu Danbi will definitely not let you down."

Zhou Zhentao's ability to judge people made Zhang Zhenfang feel sincere admiration. Since the establishment of the Tax Police Brigade, Zhu Danbi had always dared to stick his neck out on these offending matters, blocking quite a few open spears and hidden arrows for Zhang Zhenfang. And as long as Zhang Zhenfang lightly "covered" Zhu Danbi a bit at critical moments, Zhu Danbi would feel sincerely grateful.

Since Zhu Danbi was willing to take the huge risk to blow up the People's Party's munitions depot, Zhang Zhenfang naturally had no reason to stop him. He stood up and bowed deeply to Zhu Danbi. "Assemblyman Zhu, people say that a hero's true colors are shown only when the sea flows across. Now that Kaifeng is in imminent danger, the only one who dares to stand out is Assemblyman Zhu. In the past, I have offended Assemblyman Zhu a lot. Thinking about it now, I am truly ashamed."

"What are you saying, Governor Zhang!" Zhu Danbi hurriedly supported Zhang Zhenfang. "If not for Teacher recommending me to attend the Beiyang Normal School, how could I be where I am today? At this point, it is also time to do something for our elders in Henan. I am willing to step forward."

Zhang Zhenfang didn't know if he was moved or if he felt it was a bit too laughable. Anyway, when he couldn't help grinning, he suddenly felt a sourness in his nose, and tears actually flowed out. "Assemblyman Zhu, your trip is fraught with danger. I naturally hope you can return safely. But if you cannot return, I will definitely build a big tomb for you in our Xiangcheng, so that the people of Xiangcheng will remember Assemblyman Zhu."

Zhu Danbi lowered his voice and said, "Governor Zhang, on this trip I must not reveal my identity. It's just that I'm still not at ease about the Beiyang New Army. They are hesitant to move forward; I'm afraid they are completely unreliable."

Zhang Zhenfang hurriedly wiped his tears. "Assemblyman Zhu, I am already prepared to live or die with Kaifeng. If the People's Party attacks Kaifeng, I will personally hold a gun and supervise the battle. I will never let the Beiyang Army abandon the city and flee, leaving the people of Kaifeng to the People's Party to plague."

Hearing Zhang Zhenfang speak sincerely, Zhu Danbi had tears in the corners of his eyes. "Governor Zhang, if it can really be so, that would be great."

Zhang Zhenfang stepped forward and patted Zhu Danbi on the shoulder. "Assemblyman Zhu, I also know about your family situation. You are upright and honest. When the tax police arrived in Xiangcheng, you asked them to collect tax from your family first. I will send someone to Xiangcheng right now to order the local officials to exempt your family from taxes. Even if you cannot return smoothly from this trip, you absolutely don't need to worry about things at home."

Hearing Zhang Zhenfang mention his home, a look of sadness appeared on Zhu Danbi's face. After hesitating for a while, he said, "I accept Governor Zhang's kindness."

Sure enough, just as Zhou Zhentao had predicted, Zhang Zhenfang had a "heart-to-heart" talk with Zhu Danbi, fully acknowledging the great significance of Zhu Danbi's actions. Zhu Danbi also didn't have the slightest shamelessness of those old officialdom slickers. He selected a few capable tax police and set off quietly three days later. Before leaving, he only left a few letters and didn't even bid farewell to Zhang Zhenfang.

Zhang Zhenfang naturally couldn't let Zhu Danbi go like this. He sent people to chase after him and deliver a few horses and two hundred taels of silver. After the personal attendant who handled the matter assured Zhang Zhenfang that Zhu Danbi and the others had indeed gone in the direction of Shangqiu, Zhang Zhenfang breathed a long sigh of relief.

Zhu Danbi and his party headed straight for Shangqiu. Zhu Danbi knew the news that the People's Party was intercepting and killing spies coming out of Kaifeng along the way. To avoid the People's Party's interception, the group specifically took small roads between villages.

Zhu Danbi also knew about "the People's Party troops scattering to the countryside to plague the common people," but along the way, they unexpectedly didn't encounter large groups of refugees as imagined. When asking the villagers along the way, everyone had heard that the People's Party had arrived in Xuchang, but they hadn't heard of any looting by the People's Party. However, the further west they went, the more prevalent another legend became. The common people swore that recently some silver-white birds had been flying in the sky, making a huge buzzing sound. It seemed there were people sitting on the birds. This news was really too bizarre, but since the common people telling these stories swore they had seen it with their own eyes, Zhu Danbi had to feel quite puzzled.

On the third day of walking, Zhu Danbi heard a strange buzzing sound. It didn't sound like a mosquito, nor did it sound like any flying insect Zhu Danbi had ever heard. At first, it was only faint. Looking around, he couldn't see any signs. As the buzzing sound became louder and louder, Zhu Danbi looked up and saw two strange things suddenly fly down from the dark clouds.

That thing looked like a bird and also had wings. It was just that the wings didn't flap at all. And the wings were double-layered, with a long silver object sandwiched in the middle. When Zhu Danbi and the others noticed the things in the sky, the things in the sky seemed to have also noticed Zhu Danbi. The strange thing flying in the sky turned its body sideways, revealing a gadget that looked like glass on the top. Zhu Danbi had sharp eyes; he saw a strange-looking head poking out from inside, looking carefully at Zhu Danbi and the others for a moment.

The time of intersection between the two sides was not long. Soon, those two strange things flew into the clouds. After another while, the buzzing sound also disappeared without a trace. Encountering such a strange thing, Zhu Danbi's group slowed down their horses and argued about what exactly was in the sky. Just as they were talking heatedly, the sound of horse hooves came from the distance. Soon, a team of cavalry galloped towards Zhu Danbi and the others. Those people were all wearing the People's Party's dark blue military uniforms and holding rifles in their hands. At a glance, this group of people was well-trained. A dozen people surrounded them in a semi-encirclement without stopping.

Fight or run? Zhu Danbi thought fiercely in his heart for a moment. He still felt that the people opposite might just be People's Party spies and didn't know who he really was. Holding this thought, Zhu Danbi ordered his subordinates to pretend as if nothing had happened and continue walking forward.

After being tightly surrounded, Zhu Danbi didn't resist either. He just asked innocently: "I wonder what business you military masters have?"

The officer of the cavalry squad looked Zhu Danbi up and down carefully for a few times, then suddenly laughed: "Principal Zhu, what business brings you to Shangqiu?"