Chapter 131: Senior Fellow Apprentice Wu Peifu

Chen Hao whipped his horse and hurried back to Penglai County. Upon returning to his small courtyard, he tethered his Snow-Treading Dapple stallion and opened the game forums.

Returning to kill Guan Ning was not just about revenge; his primary goal was to build his reputation once more, preparing for the establishment of his own base at the end of the year. If he had not planned for rapid expansion, remaining obscure in the early stages would have been ideal. However, having decided to obtain an official position within the Qing government and establish a stronghold, it was essential to build a name for himself to attract players to assist in managing his territory.

For the development of his forces, Chen Hao intended to focus on NPCs. He would never allow players to hold high-ranking officer positions in his NPC armies, but maintaining a core contingent of players was necessary. The advantage of players was their ability to respawn; if they set their respawn points within a city, they could return to the battlefield an hour after death, making one person as effective as several.

Chen Hao did not possess the immense financial resources that Guan Ning had to build a reputation. Even if he obtained blueprints, building a headquarters meant nothing; disrupting Guan Ning’s celebratory ceremony was an excellent way to make a name for himself. After logging into the forum and reading the players' comments, a smile appeared on his face. With this dramatic ceremony, he believed many players would remember a character like him.

Chen Hao went to a tailor shop and bought a long gown. Changing into it increased his charm by 5 points. He remembered seeing pictures of "Senior Brother" online and noticed that whenever he was not in uniform, he wore a long gown. His "Senior Brother" had passed the imperial examinations as a scholar during the Qing Dynasty and had not yet embraced revolutionary ideas; he was a very traditional man. He figured that wearing a long gown would make it easier to gain his favor in the early stages.

He arrived at Li Pisen’s mansion. After the gatekeeper announced his arrival, Li Pisen came out to greet him, followed by a young man in a long gown. Li Pisen laughed heartily, "Haha! Baxian, you haven't visited the residence in a long time. Your Senior Brother returned yesterday, and I sent someone to look for you, but you weren't around. You've come at the perfect time today."

Chen Hao said respectfully, "I have troubled you with my absence, Teacher. I went to Northern Hebei a few days ago. Governor Nie of Zhili asked me to help deal with the Boxer rebels, so I was delayed there for quite some time."

Li Pisen looked surprised, "A scholar like you was actually able to help Governor Nie deal with rebels? Come into the parlor and tell me all about it."

Hearing Chen Hao mention serving under Nie Shicheng, the young man behind Li Pisen looked up at him, also showing curiosity. Chen Hao’s boasting about the battles in Northern Hebei was primarily intended to attract this Senior Brother. He had researched all the available information on him online. Currently, his Senior Brother was serving as a bodyguard for a battalion commander under Nie Shicheng.

Li Pisen walked in front, while Chen Hao and his Senior Brother followed. After they were seated in the parlor, Li Pisen smiled and said, "Baxian, you look much more refined in that long gown. As it happens, your Senior Brother is also serving under Governor Nie."

Chen Hao feigned surprise, "Oh? May I ask how I should address my Senior Brother?"

Li Pisen pointed to the young man on his left, "This is your Senior Brother, Wu Peifu, courtesy name Ziyu. He is currently serving as a bodyguard under Governor Nie."

Chen Hao stood up and bowed, "Baxian offers his respects to Senior Brother."

Chen Hao’s "Senior Brother" was none other than Wu Peifu, known as the fiercest general of the Beiyang Army. Legend had it that when Wu Peifu was born, his father dreamt of Qi Jiguang coming to their home, so he took the characters of Qi Jiguang’s courtesy name, "Peiyu," and split them to name his son Wu Peifu, with the courtesy name Peiyu. Wu Peifu was a native of Penglai, Qilu. He had studied under Li Pisen. In 1906, he began his rise to prominence while serving as a battalion commander under Cao Kun. After Feng Guozhang died of illness in 1919, Wu Peifu and Cao Kun inherited the leadership of the Zhili clique, becoming one of the three major warlords.

Wu Peifu had not yet risen to power; he was just an ordinary soldier under Nie Shicheng. Because his life was not going well, he had returned to prepare for the examinations to enter the Kaiping Military Academy. He respected his teacher, Li Pisen, and after hearing Chen Hao mention serving under Nie Shicheng, he felt a greater sense of kinship. Seeing Chen Hao bow, he stood up and said, "Junior Brother Baxian, there is no need for such formalities. Teacher has always praised your resourcefulness. From now on, let us brothers grow closer."

Li Pisen laughed, "You two don't need to be so formal. Baxian, tell me about how you suppressed the Boxers under Governor Nie."

Chen Hao recounted the process of receiving Nie Shicheng's orders, venturing deep behind enemy lines, and killing over a thousand rebels. Wu Peifu said in amazement, "I heard about this while serving under Battalion Commander Shen. They said a 'strange person' had performed a great service, and the Governor held a banquet to celebrate, but I never imagined it was you, Junior Brother."

Li Pisen struck the table three times, exclaiming in admiration, "Baxian has the flair of the Marquis of Champion! Leading twelve riders deep behind enemy lines to slay a thousand is truly the act of an unparalleled military genius. I had intended to groom you both as scholars, but I never expected both of you to enter the military. In this time of national crisis, it is not a bad thing for you to follow the example of the Marquis of Dingyuan and trade the brush for the sword."

"Baxian, have you mastered the 'Great Learning' lately?" Li Pisen suddenly asked.

Under Li Pisen’s guidance, Chen Hao learned quickly, but his own self-study had yielded little, and lately, he had no patience for reading. Hearing the question, his face turned bright red, and he stammered, "I have not yet mastered it."

Li Pisen waved his hand, "Don't be nervous. I don't mean to blame you. You went to Northern Hebei and accomplished such great things; it is no surprise you had no time to review your lessons. I ask about your studies because your Senior Brother is preparing to apply for the Kaiping Military Academy. Since you have a talent for military affairs, entering the academy is a viable path for you as well, though I fear your studies have been too brief for you to pass the exam."

Chen Hao shook his head, "Teacher, I do not intend to enter the military academy for the time being. I have more important matters to attend to."

Li Pisen frowned, "What could be more important than entering a military academy?"

Chen Hao said with a solemn expression, "Today, I received news that due to the Boxer rebellion in the Northeast, the Russians are also gathering large numbers of troops and may move south at any moment. When the Treaty of Aigun was signed, the Russians acknowledged the Sixty-Four Villages East of the Heilongjiang River and Hailanpao as settlements for Chinese residents, but I have heard rumors that the Russians may slaughter the cities to avoid future complications."

"I am unworthy, but I know to share the country’s burdens and resist the Russian atrocities with my own flesh and blood. If I study hard, I may have a chance to enter the Kaiping Military Academy next year, but the Russian invasion is imminent. I must go to the Northeast to kill the enemy for my country."

Li Pisen frowned, "The Russians are extremely brutal, and what you say is likely true. But you are a weak scholar with no soldiers under your command; how can you resist their sharp firearms?"

Chen Hao smiled, "During the fighting in Northern Hebei, I captured tens of thousands of silver dollars. I have already asked a close friend to take the funds to the Northeast, hoping to recruit some local horse bandits. If the Russians slaughter our Chinese people, I shall fight them to the death."

"Good."

Li Pisen slammed the table and stood up, "Baxian is truly a man of spirit. At your age, you already know to sacrifice yourself for your country; how could I lag behind? When you leave for the Northeast, I will contribute 10,000 silver dollars to help you fight the Russians."

Li Pisen’s contribution of 10,000 silver dollars was an unexpected joy for Chen Hao. This must have been a green light from the system; when a player has the ambition to change anti-human plots, everything they do proceeds smoothly.

Chen Hao said gratefully, "Thank you, Teacher! If I cannot stop the Russians in the Northeast this time, I will surely die for my country."

Li Pisen said kindly, "I will not stop you from fighting for the country, but if you cannot hold back the Russians, you must preserve your life for future use. On the day you leave for the Northeast, I will hold a farewell banquet for you."

Chen Hao sighed, "Though I am confident I can recruit tens of thousands of horse bandits, I lack military experience and fear I cannot command those fierce outlaws. I returned to Penglai this time to ask if you know anyone well-versed in military affairs who could command those bandits for me."

Li Pisen pointed to Wu Peifu, "You are indeed a bit young; commanding ten thousand men would be very difficult. Ziyu has spent two years in the Huai Army and is very familiar with military life. He could be your assistant."

Chen Hao was overjoyed, "If Senior Brother Ziyu can help, that would be perfect. But Senior Brother is planning to attend the Kaiping Military Academy—I do not know if he is willing to risk going to the Northeast with me."

Wu Peifu looked hesitant. He had returned with the intention of applying to the Kaiping Military Academy, and the sudden request to go to the Northeast to deal with the Russians left him at a loss. If going to the Northeast meant joining the Qing government's regular army, he would not hesitate. But his Junior Brother had said he was recruiting horse bandits; even if they won, it wouldn't necessarily lead to a promotion or title.

Wu Peifu later became a general who denounced Puyi for being a puppet, so he was a patriotic general, but he was also extremely ambitious. Joining the Huai Army or entering the Kaiping Military Academy was all part of his plan to get ahead. Going to the Northeast to fight the Russians alongside horse bandits was a thankless task, which was why he hesitated.

After a long silence, he demurred, "Although I spent two years in the Huai Army, I was only a bodyguard. I fear I am unable to assist Junior Brother."

"Bang!"

Li Pisen slapped the table, his whiskers trembling with anger, "Your Junior Brother is younger than you, yet he knows the meaning of loyalty to the country and is willing to donate his family wealth to serve it. Now that you hear of danger, you are unwilling to go? Do you feel no shame? I have no right to force you, but if you insist on not helping your Junior Brother fight the enemy, from this day forward, our master-disciple relationship is severed."

Being expelled from the sect was a severe punishment. Wu Peifu was terrified and hurriedly knelt, "Disciple is not afraid of death, but I fear that colluding with horse bandits and engaging the Russians without authorization—even if we win, the imperial court will not acknowledge it and may even implicate our families."

Li Pisen also grew hesitant. What Wu Peifu said was not unreasonable. The court was terrified of the foreigners; if they rashly joined forces with bandits to provoke the Russians, the court would likely side with the foreigners. He hesitated, "Baxian, your idea of joining forces with bandits to deal with the foreigners is good, but should we not deliberate carefully? Perhaps let Governor Nie come forward?"

Chen Hao quickly said, "Teacher, I would never do anything that would implicate my family. Recently, the Boxers have been destroying foreign churches everywhere. I am certain the foreigners will retaliate, and I suspect the Empress Dowager will not be able to swallow this and will declare war on the foreigners. If that happens, my Senior Brother and I will not only be guiltless for stopping the Russians, but we will have performed a great service."

Wu Peifu, kneeling on the ground, was moved upon hearing that they would only act once the court declared war. If the court was determined to fight, and he could lead the bandits to victory, he would surely gain military merit. Thinking of this, he said to Chen Hao, "Junior Brother, are your words true? If the court does not declare war, you will not act recklessly?"

Chen Hao nodded, "Of course. I wouldn't gamble with my own life and family fortune either!"

Wu Peifu stood up with a start, "In that case, I will accompany you to the Northeast. I am willing to serve under your command."