Chapter 27

Feng Yuxiang watched as Shi Congyun almost unreservedly chattered away to Yang Yuanzhao, and said with displeasure, "Alright, Congyun, this is just something within my responsibility. Don't say any more about it."

As Feng Yuxiang said this, his expression was tense, clearly indicating that this time, the trip to Zhengzhou to urge for military pay was not an easy task. He then asked, moved by a thought, "I wonder if I can contribute a little? You know, I studied in Britain and have some wealth. I can help with connections and arrangements."

"This!" Feng Yuxiang was about to refuse, but unexpectedly, Wang Jinming, who had been silent all along, interjected, "If we need a batch of weapons, do you have any channels?"

"Yes!" Yang Yuanzhao immediately stood up, made a decision in an instant, and said, "Please follow me!"

After saying this, Yang Yuanzhao left. Uncle Guang hesitated for a moment and did not follow, also stopping the bodyguard who was about to go. He looked at Yang Yuanzhao's back with a slightly unusual expression.

Yang Yuanzhao led the group to a private room. On the way, he had already instructed Dingdang to pack 10 rifles in a box made of jujube wood, which was left over from the previous gun handle production. Long guns could not be packaged like short guns, which required no packaging at all.

After entering the private room and closing the door, he rummaged under the bed and pulled out an unremarkable box. There were no labels or marks on the outside, but when opened, it revealed 10 brand new Model 1888 Mauser rifles neatly arranged inside.

"Original German Mauser?" Feng Yuxiang was slightly surprised. The Mauser rifle was the most common in the Beiyang Army, but for them, the peripheral units, it was already good to use the ones discarded by the stronger units. Most of them were made in Shanghai and Tianjin, and the quality was not high. It was already good if they could fire. This was the biggest difference between their backward units and the stronger ones. Even the soldiers were not as well-equipped.

Wang Jinming stepped forward, picked up one, and skillfully used and disassembled it. The smell of gun oil was strong, the rifling was clear, and when he tapped the barrel, the steel quality and weight were no different from a Mauser. A hint of doubt appeared on his face. Apart from the wooden stock, which was slightly different from the traditional Mauser, there seemed to be no other differences. It looked like it was original.

After examining the gun in his hand, Wang Jinming handed it to Feng Yuxiang. Feng Yuxiang, following Wang Jinming's method, inspected it and smiled with satisfaction, praising, "Good gun!"

Feng Yuxiang took it, and Shi Congyun also picked up a gun. As a veteran, he knew the quality of the gun at first touch and nodded, "Good gun!"

"How much does this gun cost?" Wang Jinming asked.

In the late Qing dynasty, original guns rarely cost less than 60 yuan, and German-made ones were even more expensive. Otherwise, Yuan Shikai would not have spent millions to form seven divisions, which were divided into strong and weak. The strongest third division was much more powerful than the weakest seventh division, mainly due to weapons and personnel. A good gun on the battlefield was incredibly efficient, almost equivalent to an extra life.

Yang Yuanzhao knew this, but how much to charge was a matter of expertise. After much thought, he said, "If the three of you want them, I can give you the cost price, 35 yuan each, including 100 rounds of ammunition. For others, it's 50 yuan!"

Wang Jinming was good at calculations and knew that such a price was definitely at cost. A 35-yuan German Mauser was hard to find, and even 100 rounds of ammunition would cost seven or eight yuan. Even at 50 yuan, it was quite cheap. He asked, "How many such guns do you have, Brother Yang?"

"Only this many?"

Disappointment flashed across the faces of Feng Yuxiang and the others. They had thought it was a big deal, but 10 guns were almost like a drop in the bucket for an army. Yang Yuanzhao then said, "I have a source for these guns, but we need to go to Shanghai to trade!"

"Shanghai?" The three exchanged glances, and finally, Wang Jinming asked, "No problem. We can go to Shanghai two days after we reach Zhengzhou!"

"Alright, when we get back, I'll have Uncle Guang tell you the location of the Yang family shop in Shanghai. You can find us there!"

"Alright, it's a deal!"

A simple exchange led to a preliminary agreement. Yang Yuanzhao also gave the 10 guns to Feng Yuxiang. Feng Yuxiang's face changed, "No, this is several hundred yuan!"

"It's just a few hundred yuan. Brother Xianzhang, why refuse? We might have a big deal to discuss next. Consider these as samples. You can help me test them to see if they are good!" Yang Yuanzhao said generously.

With Yang Yuanzhao's words, Feng Yuxiang could not refuse. Compared to short guns, long guns were more to their liking. They could use them to see their true effectiveness.

When Yang Yuanzhao and the others returned, it was not more than half an hour later. Feng Yuxiang and the others brought a box of what looked like guns. The source of Yang Yuanzhao's guns seemed to be a mystery, and this mysterious young master Yang seemed to have many secrets.

Uncle Guang suppressed his questions and decided to investigate later.

Just as they sat down, the sound of a train whistle came from ahead. Shi Congyun laughed, "It seems the train is finally moving!"

Indeed, a few minutes later, the train began to move slowly, much slower than before. After traveling about 2 kilometers, it was clear that workers were urgently repairing the railway embankment, which had collapsed. The train could move slowly, but the reinforcement work was still ongoing.

After passing this section, the train's speed increased significantly. From Shijiazhuang, it slowly traveled through Hebei, gradually picking up speed. Cities in the late Qing dynasty were small, and train stations were usually on the outskirts. Beyond the city, it was a vast wilderness, and the rural areas of old China were even more dilapidated than in that era.

Yang Yuanzhao and Feng Yuxiang's group chatted more and more enthusiastically. They shared many common views and perspectives. Yang Yuanzhao came from the future, where the information age had brought an explosion of knowledge. He had seen many things inadvertently. Feng Yuxiang had great ambitions from a young age. After joining the Wuwei Army, he did not get the chance to study abroad but learned from the Beiyang Army's instructors, absorbing all their knowledge, which allowed him to stand out in the talent-rich Beiyang Army.

During the conversation, Shi Congyun and Wang Jinming tried to guide Yang Yuanzhao towards the revolutionary path a few times. Yang Yuanzhao deftly changed the subject each time. Finally, Shi Congyun could no longer hold back and asked directly, "What is Yuanzhao's view on the Tongmenghui?"

As soon as the words were out, everyone fell silent. Even Uncle Guang, who had been like a stone Buddha, opened his eyes wide. The Tongmenghui was a taboo topic in this era, equated with rebels, and was ruthlessly suppressed everywhere.

The three men looked at Yang Yuanzhao with intense gazes, even Feng Yuxiang, who was displeased with Shi Congyun's unreserved question, was paying attention. The Tongmenghui desperately needed recognition. Although Yang Yuanzhao was a newcomer, he was well-informed and clearly a distinguished returnee from abroad. Such a far-sighted and wealthy individual joining the Tongmenghui would be a great boost and encouragement for the revolution.

Everyone looked at Yang Yuanzhao, waiting for his response. Yang Yuanzhao's feelings were complex and conflicted. He knew it was already 1908, and Feng Yuxiang was already a member of the Tongmenghui. The two officers he was familiar with were likely also members. Since they were so close, they must be the same. Their attempts to guide him towards the revolution were clear. They wanted to know his thoughts. Honestly, he wanted to change China's fate, but could a revolution do it? After careful consideration, he said calmly, "Brother Congyun, what you want to ask is not about the Tongmenghui, but about China's future path, right?"

"The future path of China, well said. What are your thoughts on China's future, Yuanzhao?" Feng Yuxiang asked lightly.

"Looking at the world, the strength of the great powers does not lie in their wealth or their armies. Germany, from a European inland country, has grown into a significant force in Europe. The army, to a certain extent, only serves to enhance its power. The true strength lies elsewhere!"

"What is it?" Feng Yuxiang stared into Yang Yuanzhao's eyes, asking word by word.

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