Shanhai Pass, historically known as Yuguan, Lin yu Pass, or Linlü Pass. The ancient Yuguan was located twenty *li* east of Funing County, backed by towering mountains to the north and facing the vast sea to the south, with a separation of only a few *li*. It was a location of extreme strategic importance. Before 1990, it was considered the eastern starting point of the Ming Great Wall. Later archaeological discoveries placed the starting point at Hushan Great Wall in Hushan Town, Kuandian County, Dandong City, Liaoning Province.

Outside Shanhai Pass, Zheng Sirang gazed at this magnificent pass, feeling inevitably moved. People sent by the Shanhai Pass Garrison Commander, Li Yidao, had already come out to welcome him. Zheng Sirang took two guards and entered the pass.

Although it was winter, Garrison Commander Li Yidao still met Zheng Sirang atop the city wall. Seeing Zheng Sirang, Li Yidao smiled, "Sirang, it's only been a few years, and you're already a Colonel. You've risen fast."

Zheng Sirang completely ignored Li Yidao's teasing. He stepped forward and saluted, "Teacher, this student has always missed your guidance from back then."

Li Yidao sighed. He had taught at the Baoding Military Academy. When Jiang Fangzhen (Jiang Baili) was the principal and attempted suicide to demonstrate his resolve, although Jiang was saved, the faculty of the academy was purged. Li Yidao left the academy and returned to the troops. After drifting for a few years, he managed to land the job of Shanhai Pass Garrison Commissioner. His rank was only Lieutenant Colonel.

Although the Beiyang military ranks became somewhat chaotic after Yuan Shikai's death—and the rank of a Colonel under He Rui like Zheng Sirang wasn't fully recognized by traditional Beiyang officers—seeing his student rise so high following He Rui, Li Yidao felt emotional.

After the greeting, Zheng Sirang stepped forward and extended his hand to Li Yidao. Although Li Yidao didn't really want to shake hands with his student, they were both soldiers in public, so he helplessly took a step forward and extended his hand.

Zheng Sirang's palm was powerful. After grasping Li Yidao's hand, he suddenly exerted force, clamping onto Li Yidao's wrist like an iron pincer. With a sudden turn of his body, he restrained Li Yidao. It happened in a flash. The two guards who had accompanied Zheng Sirang up the wall immediately unslung the submachine guns from their backs and shielded Zheng Sirang.

Li Yidao was both shocked and furious. However, Zheng Sirang didn't just have brute strength; his kung fu was exceptional. Once restrained, Li Yidao couldn't resist at all and was dragged directly by Zheng Sirang to a corner of the city wall. Although Zheng Sirang and his two guards were exposed to the numerous defenders on the wall, Zheng Sirang showed no fear.

The defenders were caught off guard. By the time they realized what was happening and raised their rifles, their commander Li Yidao was already hostage. Zheng Sirang was in a dead angle, a pistol pressed against Li Yidao's back. The two guards held weapons the defenders didn't recognize, blocking any potential angles of fire against Zheng Sirang.

In this moment of panic, Zheng Sirang pulled out a signal pistol and fired twice—*pa, pa*—sending one red and one green signal flare into the air. He then shouted, "Don't be afraid! We are only here to take over Shanhai Pass. As long as you don't make any sudden moves, no one will die."

Only then did Li Yidao understand what Zheng Sirang intended to do. Shock and anger intermingled as he shouted as best he could, "Have you lost your mind, Zheng Sirang?!"

Before his voice faded, soldiers on the wall turned their heads, and someone shouted in surprise, "Enemy troops!"

Even surrounded, Zheng Sirang laughed heartily, "Brothers, Commander He dared to fight even the Russians because of fearless brothers like us! We aren't here to harm you. It is President Feng Guozhang who insists on humiliating Commander He! We had no choice but to take Shanhai Pass first, so President Feng stops pressuring us."

While they were talking, commotion arose from below the wall. The commando teams lying in ambush had approached.

The defenders were clearly overwhelmed by this sudden strike. Finally, an officer shouted, "Engage!"

Before the words landed, the two guards half-crouched, raised their submachine guns, pressed the stocks against their shoulders, and began to sweep the area.

Automatic individual weapons were beginning to be equipped on a small scale in Europe, but not yet in China. The Northeast Arsenal had completed the design of the submachine gun, but ordinary Beiyang soldiers had never seen one. Seeing the weapons in the guards' hands weren't bulky, they assumed they were ordinary rifles. They never imagined such weapons could fire bullets continuously without stopping.

Although the 9x25mm ammunition shared by pistols and submachine guns lacked long-range stopping power, the Beiyang officers and soldiers who made sudden moves were swept down in rows.

Chaos erupted on the city wall. The Northeast Army commando teams had already rushed to the base of the wall. They set up 60mm mortars. Avoiding Zheng Sirang's position, mortar shells rained down on the wall like splashing water. In moments, the defenders on the wall were scattered.

Steel grappling hooks were fired from below, catching the battlements. Soldiers climbed rapidly up the wall and joined the fight.

The Beiyang troops hadn't expected a surprise attack from the Northeast Army to begin with. With their Garrison Commander captured, they had no will to fight and routed down the wall.

The Northeast Army commandos, equipped with submachine guns, pursued fiercely and seized the Shanhai Pass fortifications in one vigorous effort. Only then did Zheng Sirang release Li Yidao. He apologized to the panting Li Yidao, "Teacher, please forgive me."

Li Yidao's sidearm had been disarmed. Although he wanted to beat Zheng Sirang to death with his fists, being surrounded by Northeast troops, he knew he couldn't. He cursed, "You dog, how was I so blind to teach a student like you!"

Zheng Sirang didn't talk back. He simply strode forward to continue commanding the battle. By this time, the gates of Shanhai Pass had been opened. The converging Northeast Army troops rushed into the city shouting, clearing out enemy forces and occupying the city and the pass.

Shanhai Pass, known as the "First Pass Under Heaven," fell into the hands of the Northeast Army in half a day.

After occupying Shanhai Pass, Zheng Sirang immediately sent a telegram to the Ministry of War in Beijing: "This subordinate is a subordinate of General Zhen'an (He Rui). Hearing that Shanhai Pass might be attacked by Russia, I have taken over defense of the pass. The Director-General of the Army can rest assured, this subordinate will defend Shanhai Pass securely and allow no Russian movement."

When they first received the telegram, the Beiyang officers at the Ministry of War thought someone was playing a prank.

***

At this time, He Rui had arrived at Shanhai Pass. Zheng Sirang finished recounting the operation, looking forward with some excitement to He Rui's praise. However, he saw no praise in He Rui's expression. Instead, He Rui sighed, "I have no desire to praise you for this battle plan. If there had been the slightest slip-up, you would likely have perished here!"

Zheng Sirang felt a bit aggrieved and couldn't help defending himself, "If we had attacked by force, we could have taken it, but we would have lost many more men..."

He Rui shook his head, interrupting him, "It's not about that. In my heart, the gain or loss of Shanhai Pass is truly not worth mentioning compared to you."

Zheng Sirang felt a violent tremor in his heart, and his nose soured. Having been with He Rui for nearly two years, Zheng Sirang felt he completely understood He Rui's personality; these words truly came from He Rui's heart. Although Zheng Sirang always believed one shouldn't fear death on the battlefield, having his life valued so highly by He Rui—whom he completely identified with—made it impossible not to be moved.

After a moment, afraid he might cry, Zheng Sirang quickly found a topic to distract himself. "Chairman, if you see my teacher, please put in a good word for me."

"Why not go yourself?" He Rui smiled.

"I feel I've wronged my teacher," Zheng Sirang sighed.

He Rui didn't answer but called a guard and whispered a few instructions. Not long after, Shanhai Pass Garrison Commander Li Yidao was invited in. Seeing Zheng Sirang, Li Yidao turned his face away, refusing to look at him.

He Rui invited Li Yidao to sit and said, "Brother Li, what I'm about to say comes from the heart. I heard from Brother Zhou Yinshan that you are a brave man. If we had sent troops to attack by force, you would certainly have fought to the death. Let me ask you, Brother Li, how many people would have died then?"

Hearing this, Li Yidao felt a surge of anger. But knowing he was He Rui's captive and that acting tough would yield no good result, he spoke as politely as possible, "How does Commander He wish to instruct me?"

"I am speaking on Sirang's behalf. In this change of hands at Shanhai Pass, over a dozen died and thirty-some were wounded. Although Sirang's actions were risky, they drastically reduced casualties. I believe that disregarding his own safety showed a truly benevolent heart."

Even knowing he couldn't speak too harshly, hearing this, Li Yidao snorted coldly, "So I should thank him then!"

He Rui knew Li Yidao could not possibly understand Zheng Sirang's feelings right now, so he replied, "Brother Li, having suffered this, you are naturally unhappy. I won't say more, I just wanted to say this in front of you and Sirang. After all, there probably won't be fighting like this in the future."

Hearing this, Li Yidao asked, "Does Commander He intend to march into Beijing?"

"I have no such plan. But whatever I say now, you won't believe it. In my view, the matter should be resolved in four or five days, or six or seven at the latest. Please wait a few days, Brother Li." With that, he had Li Yidao led away.

Zheng Sirang was grateful and asked, "Chairman, you didn't need to come personally."

"I came to Shanhai Pass to wait for someone."

"Who?"

"Someone who can talk things out."

***

On the third day, a train stopped at Shanhai Pass, and Zhang Xiluan was invited off. Watching the soldiers coming and going at the station, the old man felt deeply moved. Having been in the military for decades, just looking at how these soldiers stood and walked, he knew they had undergone excellent training. Moreover, their equipment was superb, showing that He Rui had spent heavily to equip his troops.

Before long, Zhang Xiluan saw He Rui in a smart military uniform appear on the platform. Approaching Zhang Xiluan, He Rui saluted first, "Duke Zhang, I trust you have been well since we parted. I feel truly apologetic for disturbing your peace with this matter."

Seeing He Rui looking even more vigorous and youthful than before, Zhang Xiluan replied heartily, "Haha, Brother He, you've made such a big scene, I couldn't *not* come. There's no need for useless words between us. Brother He, just say directly what you want."

He Rui didn't waste words either. "President Feng confiscated my *Northeast Daily*. I find this inappropriate. Once the *Northeast Daily* resumes business, I will withdraw from Shanhai Pass. What do you think, Duke Zhang?"

Zhang Xiluan frowned. For a moment, he thought He Rui was talking nonsense. To seize Shanhai Pass just for a *Northeast Daily*? If he went back and said that, no one would believe it. If the Beiyang high command *did* believe it, things might be even worse. It would imply He Rui was treating the Beiyang leadership with utter arrogance.

"Brother He, are you speaking the truth?"

"I have no need to lie to you, Duke Zhang."

"If Brother He is truly doing this for that reason, why not listen to this old man? You withdraw from Shanhai Pass first, and leave the rest to me to mediate. How about that?"

After speaking, Zhang Xiluan stared at He Rui. He still didn't believe He Rui's goal was just a newspaper. Feng Guozhang merely wanted to teach He Rui a small lesson; as long as He Rui said a few soft words, the matter would likely pass. At worst, He Rui could just start another paper called *Fengtian Daily* or *Northeast News*. But with such a violent reaction from He Rui, the nature of the matter changed completely.

Then, Zhang Xiluan heard He Rui say, "Since Duke Zhang guarantees it, I will naturally comply. Duke Zhang, I will lead the troops to withdraw from Shanhai Pass now. But before withdrawing, I must send a telegram to the Ministry of War. I am handing Shanhai Pass over to you, Duke Zhang."

In the past, Zhang Xiluan probably wouldn't have carried this pot for He Rui. But now that he was a retired elder, he had nothing to fear. He replied, "Since Brother He is giving this old man such face, I naturally must accept it."