Chapter 59: A Student of the Son of Heaven

Facing the dark gun barrels before and behind him, Cheng Qianfan did not panic.

“Reporting to Deputy Director Yu.”

He stood at attention and saluted.

“My name appears in the enrollment roster of the First Regiment, Tenth Infantry Class.”

Yu Ping’an glanced at Cheng Qianfan and pressed the bell again.

“Bring the enrollment roster for the First Regiment of the Tenth Infantry Class of the Central Military Academy. Quickly.”

Sure enough, the female secretary immediately brought over the enrollment roster.

Yu Ping’an scanned it rapidly.

Very soon, among the densely packed names, he found:

Central Military Academy, Tenth Infantry Class, First Regiment.

“Cheng Qianfan, eighteen years old, native of Jiangshan, Quzhou Prefecture.”

Yu Ping’an waved his hand.

The soldiers lowered their weapons, quickly withdrew, and closed the door behind them.

The young man beside him also holstered his pistol.

After glancing at Cheng Qianfan, he resumed his cold and stern expression.

“Your name is in the enrollment roster, but not in the current roster.”

Yu Ping’an fixed Cheng Qianfan with a scrutinizing gaze.

“How do you explain that?”

“Reporting to Deputy Director Yu.”

Cheng Qianfan said:

“In the twenty-second year of the Republic, I sat for the entrance examination to the Military Academy, passed into the Tenth Infantry Class, and was assigned to the First Regiment.”

“To be honest, I applied to the military academy behind my grandfather’s back. He always believed I was still studying at National Tongji University in Shanghai.”

“Why did your grandfather oppose your enrollment in the military academy?” Yu Ping’an asked.

“You should know that a fine young man achieves merit on the battlefield. Being admitted to the finest military academy of the Party and nation should have delighted your grandfather.”

“My grandfather often said that war was perilous and feared for my safety,” Cheng Qianfan replied.

“That foolish old man!”

The young man who had remained silent beside Yu Ping’an suddenly spoke.

“The nation is in difficulty. If everyone fears death, when will the country ever be revitalized?”

Cheng Qianfan glared at him and was about to respond angrily.

“Yansheng.”

Yu Ping’an waved his hand.

“There are circumstances you do not know. Cheng Qianfan is the descendant of martyrs. Mr. Cheng Wenzao and Ms. Su Zhifu were both party members and gave their lives for the nation in the fifteenth year of the Republic. Cheng Qianfan is their family’s only son.”

Upon hearing this, the young officer revealed a look of shame.

Extending his right hand, he said:

“Zhao spoke out of turn. I am deeply ashamed and hope Brother Cheng will forgive me.”

Cheng Qianfan merely snorted coldly and ignored him.

Zhao Yansheng awkwardly withdrew his hand and resumed his respectful posture.

“Continue,” Yu Ping’an said, apparently unconcerned by the minor dispute between the young men.

“In the spring of the twenty-third year of the Republic, my grandfather accidentally learned that I had already become a military academy student. At that time, the situation in Fujian was tense, and my grandfather believed rumors that the National Government intended to deploy military academy students to the Fujian front.”

A complicated expression appeared on Cheng Qianfan’s face.

“I received a telegram from home stating that my grandfather was gravely ill. I hurriedly obtained leave from the academy and returned home to Jiangshan.”

“Your grandfather pretended to be seriously ill in order to trick you into returning?” Yu Ping’an asked.

“Yes.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded.

“My grandfather would not allow me to return to the academy. We argued fiercely. Just as I was preparing to secretly return to Nanjing, my grandfather, already advanced in age, suddenly became genuinely ill.”

Cheng Qianfan revealed a complicated expression of sorrow, guilt, resignation, and lingering unwillingness.

Yu Ping’an understood.

The outcome was naturally that Cheng Qianfan chose to remain at his grandfather’s bedside and fulfill his filial duties rather than return to Nanjing.

“Failing to return by the deadline is treated the same as desertion.”

Yu Ping’an spoke slowly.

Although Cheng Qianfan’s actions were understandable emotionally, the Central Military Academy was the Party and nation’s military academy.

Its cadets were equivalent to soldiers.

Failure to return on time meant desertion.

“While lying sick in bed, my grandfather wrote a letter and respectfully requested that the Jiangshan County Party Headquarters forward it to the Principal.”

Cheng Qianfan said:

“After reading the letter, the Principal personally approved my withdrawal from studies and return home.”

“What?”

An expression of extreme surprise appeared on Yu Ping’an’s face.

“You’re saying the Chairman personally approved your withdrawal from the academy?”

“Yes.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded.

Even with Yu Ping’an’s deep self-control, he was shocked.

The Chairman placed enormous importance on military appearance and discipline.

Even Huangpu cadets who appeared before him with slightly improper bearing would be scolded mercilessly.

As for the Central Military Academy, the Chairman valued it immensely and repeatedly emphasized strict military discipline, training cadets from the outset to obey regulations rigorously.

Therefore, upon suddenly learning that Chiang Kai-shek had not only refrained from punishing a cadet who failed to return on time but had personally approved his withdrawal from studies, Yu Ping’an’s shock was understandable.

Yu Ping’an very much wanted to ask Cheng Qianfan, “What exactly is your family’s relationship with the Chairman?”

Naturally, that was a question he could neither ask nor should ask.

“So that is why your name appears in the enrollment roster but not in the current roster.”

Yu Ping’an nodded and did not pursue the matter further.

Chiang Kai-shek had personally opened a special path for Cheng Qianfan.

Yu Ping’an neither dared inquire further nor wished to.

Looking at Cheng Qianfan, Yu Ping’an could not help sighing inwardly.

People often said that students of the Central Military Academy were students of the Son of Heaven.

In reality, only Huangpu graduates could still call themselves the old man’s students in his presence. Graduates of the Central Military Academy no longer enjoyed such an honor.

Yet Cheng Qianfan’s case as a withdrawn student had actually reached the Chairman himself.

To have personally troubled the old man, such an honor indeed deserved admiration.

“Qianfan, write a personal statement and submit it to me tomorrow.”

“Yes, Deputy Director Yu.”

“Your luggage is still at the inn?”

“Yes. I was concerned that Kawada Eikichi might be following me, so I left through a different route and did not bring my luggage out through the main entrance.”

“Hm, very good. Caution is the correct approach.”

Yu Ping’an pondered for a moment.

“Qianfan, you’ve endured a tiring journey and have also had to contend with Japanese agents.”

A gentle smile appeared on Yu Ping’an’s face as he pressed the bell.

A young man wearing a Zhongshan suit entered.

“Yuanfang, take Cheng Wufang to the dormitory and make the necessary arrangements,” Yu Ping’an instructed.

“Yes, Deputy Director Yu.”

The young man replied.

“Brother Cheng, please come with me.”

“Deputy Director Yu, I take my leave.”

Cheng Qianfan saluted Yu Ping’an.

“Go on.”

Yu Ping’an nodded.

After Cheng Qianfan departed, Yu Ping’an rubbed his temples.

The Special Service Office’s special training class, organized by the Lixingshe, had already run for many sessions.

This was the first time he had encountered a student as unusual as Cheng Qianfan.

Both of his parents had been party members and martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the Party and nation during the Northern Expedition.

His background could not have been more politically impeccable.

He was now a police officer in the French Concession police station in Shanghai, a favored subordinate of Xiu Gongshen of the Special Service Office’s Shanghai District.

Lu Jingqian (Song Fuguo) also praised him highly.

And he had once been a withdrawn student from the Central Military Academy.

It was the first time Yu Ping’an had ever heard of such a thing as a withdrawn Military Academy student, much less one personally approved by the old man.

Furthermore, on the train to Hangzhou, merely by identifying the taste of a drink, he had exposed a group of Japanese agents.

He had even impersonated a Japanese man and gained the preliminary trust of their leader, Kawada Eikichi.

Even Yu Ping’an could not help looking at him in a new light because of that feat.

Many of the Special Service Office’s finest agents could not have accomplished such a thing.

And that was not all.

He was even skilled at sketching and had drawn portraits of the Japanese agents that were virtually identical to photographs.

Yu Ping’an paced back and forth.

Picking up the cigarette case from the desk, he took out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled deeply.

The more he thought about it, the more astonishing it all seemed.

He unconsciously shook his head.

Was this kid really here to attend the special training class as a trainee?