In Jingzhou, there stands a grand and imposing siheyuan. Buildings surround a central courtyard on all sides, with walls as high, thick, and sturdy as those of an ancient fortress. The towering gatehouse features a lifelike tiger head carved into the lintel, exuding an air of formidable authority. In the courtyard, a massive screen wall painted with an image of a tiger descending from a mountain silently radiates a sense of awe and inviolability.
"Ring, ring, ring..."
The butler picked up the phone, and upon hearing the purpose of the call, immediately trotted toward the main courtyard. In the center of the courtyard, an old man sat perfectly still, gazing at a mottled military uniform hanging on the wall, his thoughts drifting far away. The deep wrinkles on his face looked like the topography of mountains and rivers engraved on a map, recording a lifetime of hardships and glory, while the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes bore witness to countless sleepless nights of contemplation and vigil.
"Sir, a call from the son of an old friend," the butler gasped.
The old man’s expression showed a flicker of surprise at these words. His eyes, though no longer young, still shimmered with the light of resolve and wisdom, as if they could pierce through time and space to look back at the battlefields and honors of his youth. The old man walked to the phone in the inner chamber. "Hello?"
"Is this Zhao Mengsheng?" the voice on the other end was urgent and youthful, rising and falling with emotion.
The old man frowned slightly, then replied in a resonant, powerful tone. "I am Zhao Mengsheng."
"Uncle Zhao! I’m Liang Song, Liang Sanxi's son!"
Hearing the name of his old friend, memories of smoke and blood washed over Zhao Mengsheng like a tidal wave. Before he could even ask a question, Liang Song began to recount the situation at home in a panicked rush.
"Uncle Zhao, I would never disturb you if I weren't absolutely desperate."
Zhao Mengsheng had not yet had the chance to express his joy when his expression turned stern upon hearing this. "What’s wrong? Have you run into trouble?"
"Local thugs are trying to force a demolition of our house. The town mayor and county magistrate are shielding each other. The excavators are parked right at our doorstep, and there’s no one home but Mom and my elderly Grandma. I’m rushing back now..."
Zhao Mengsheng immediately realized the urgency of the situation and spoke with firm, unshakable assurance. "Don't you worry. I will send people over immediately."
After hanging up the phone, Zhao Mengsheng’s blood was boiling. Liang Sanxi, Company Commander of the Ninth Company. He remembered those tumultuous years as if they were yesterday. The image of the Company Commander dying on the battlefield to save him was seared into his mind. Liang Sanxi was more than just a company commander; he was his savior. Without his guidance and sacrifice back then, there would be no Zhao Mengsheng today! He would never tolerate the family of his savior being bullied!
Almost instantly, Zhao Mengsheng picked up the phone and dialed the rotary dial.
"Hello, Gao Yuliang!"
"This is Zhao Mengsheng. You are to send people immediately to stop the forced demolition of Liang Sanxi’s home!"
Gao Yuliang was stunned; he didn't recognize the name. But not daring to offend Zhao Mengsheng, he could only probe cautiously in a low voice. "Liang Sanxi? Which high-ranking official is that?"
Zhao Mengsheng cursed in anger. "He's no high-ranking official! He is my savior!"
"Liang Sanxi’s home is in your Handong Jingzhou. They are currently being forced out by thugs!"
"I’m telling you, if anything happens to Liang Sanxi’s family, none of you will escape the consequences!"
With that, Zhao Mengsheng hung up. Listening to the dial tone, Gao Yuliang was drenched in cold sweat. He caught his breath and immediately dialed the number of his top protégé, Qi Tongwei, the head of the Public Security Department. "Quick! Go to Liang Sanxi’s house! Someone is forcing a demolition—you go and stop it."
Though respectful when he received the call, Qi Tongwei did not grasp the urgency in Gao Yuliang's voice. "Liang Sanxi? I’ve never heard of this person. Has something happened?"
Gao Yuliang exploded. "How would I know what happened?! It’s someone in your jurisdiction, and their house is being demolished!"
"If you want to keep your position, go stop it immediately! Otherwise, don’t talk about yourself—I’ll be ruined right along with you!"
"Do you hear me?"
Gao Yuliang hung up, still feeling agitated. Even though he was already the Deputy Secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee, he still could not afford to offend Zhao Mengsheng. Thinking of Zhao Mengsheng’s tone, he only hoped he hadn't provoked a sleeping lion.
Qi Tongwei finally realized the gravity of the situation. He immediately gathered his subordinates and began trying to figure out who this Liang Sanxi was. The entire Jingzhou municipal government was in a state of shock, with everyone scrambling to dig through the files.
Watching the time slip away, Qi Tongwei was so anxious he paced back and forth. He wanted to call back for more specific information on Liang Sanxi, but he was afraid of being berated by Gao Yuliang for incompetence. There was nothing for it but to recall the conversation.
"Forced demolition..."
"Everyone stop! Where in our area is there a demolition project?"
"De'an County seems to have some demolitions..."
Qi Tongwei rushed to his desk and dialed the number for the De'an County magistrate, Sun Da. The phone rang and rang, and the tension in Qi Tongwei’s head reached a breaking point.
"Damn it! Why won't he pick up!"
One of his cleverer subordinates searched the relevant personnel information for De'an County and finally located Liang Sanxi's home. "Found him! Liang Sanxi was a revolutionary martyr, the Ninth Company Commander during the counterattack against Vietnam. The house is in Baojia Village, Ping'an Town, De'an County."
Qi Tongwei immediately reported the news to Gao Yuliang. Upon hearing it, Gao Yuliang understood at once. Zhao Mengsheng had been a veteran of that very conflict. It was just an old comrade-in-arms' family facing trouble. He immediately called back to report the status. "Please rest assured, I have already sent people there. We will definitely protect the honor of our revolutionary martyrs!"
Although Zhao Mengsheng was burning with anxiety, he knew this wasn't something that could be resolved in an instant. But he was so worried that he continued to pressure Gao Yuliang relentlessly.
"Your province has such a deep revolutionary tradition—how could something like this happen?!"
"If this isn't handled properly, I will make all of you pay the price!"
Zhao Mengsheng was a man of blood and courage who had returned from the battlefield; even through the phone, Gao Yuliang felt his legs shaking. "Please, I will investigate this thoroughly! Any subversive elements who disrespect our revolutionary traditions will be dealt with severely!"
Gao Yuliang issued a final, desperate order to his subordinates. "How are you handling this? How did a demolition reach the home of a revolutionary martyr?"
"If this isn't handled well, forget about your career! Watch yourself spend the rest of your life in prison!"
Qi Tongwei could no longer sit still; he drove directly to De'an County. Before leaving, he instructed his subordinates: "Keep calling the De'an County magistrate! Don't stop until he picks up!"
"Yes, sir!"
Because of a single phone call, the entire city of Jingzhou was thrown into turmoil. Meanwhile, Zhao Mengsheng's mind was filled with the sound of Liang Song's hurried, helpless voice. He clenched his fists, blaming himself endlessly. Liang Song's father was a revolutionary martyr! What kind of scum would force the demolition of a revolutionary martyr's home?
Zhao Mengsheng knew Liang Sanxi was the only child in his family and had left behind only this one son. He would absolutely not let anything happen to Liang Sanxi's family! If anything did happen, he would make those blind fools pay the price.
"Someone! Prepare the car!"
The butler immediately brought a cloak and handed it to Zhao Mengsheng. "Where are you going, sir?"
Zhao Mengsheng's voice was low and resolute. "Handong, Jingzhou!"