July 1937.
The temperature in Nanjing is getting higher and higher. The sultry weather is oppressing the mouth and nose. It seems that you can smell the burning smell when you breathe in.
Even locals who have lived in Nanjing since childhood have been complaining about the weather.
This is just the beginning. Once August enters, the whole city will turn into a real big furnace.
Bad news came from Peiping.
The north, east and south sides have been controlled by the Japanese army.
The only external channel in Peiping is the last one left:
Marco Polo Bridge!
At this time, the Japanese army continued to conduct military exercises near Marco Polo Bridge.
Will there be a war?
Maybe... not?
Japan promises but doesn’t really want to fight?
There are still many people who are lucky.
The only person who never had any illusions about this was one person:
Meng Shaoyuan!
If you don't fight, you will fight, and once a fight breaks out, it will be a big fight.
A war that lasted for several years!
His men are ready.
They didn't know when the war would break out, but they trusted Meng Shaoyuan.
After entering July, Meng Shaoyuan began to dispatch spies to Shanghai under various excuses.
Pieces of information from Peiping also continued to fly to Dai Li's desk.
Dai Li also became noticeably more reticent.
July 7, 1937, the last day of the second month of the Ding Chou year of the lunar calendar.
When the eyes of the morning spread across the earth, no one realized what this day means to China.
Meng Shaoyuan entered the second office at 7:30 in the morning.
He was holding two buns and a fried dough stick in his hand.
As soon as he entered the office, he first filled himself with two hot pots of water and made tea. Then he took out a newspaper and read the newspaper while eating breakfast.
Leisurely and contented.
However, if you look carefully, you will find that his right hand is holding the newspaper so hard that the edge of the newspaper has been deformed by him.
After breakfast, he held a small meeting to review the work of the past few days.
During lunch, his appetite was better than usual, and he seemed to be in a good mood. He even made some jokes with Xiang Shounong.
When it was almost 12 o'clock, Dai Li also came to the cafeteria to eat.
He called Meng Shaoyuan, who had just finished eating, to sit next to him, asked about his recent work, and then asked: "Is there anything you want to do today?"
Meng Shaoyuan's answer was a bit strange: "Today...it's peaceful..."
Dai Li looked at him strangely.
"Ah, nothing's wrong, Mr. Dai." Meng Shaoyuan finally came back to his senses.
"Oh, then you can help me with a personal matter."
Dai Li lowered his voice: "Director of the Supervisory Yuan, I have a batch of personal supplies to be sent to Hong Kong, but I encountered some trouble at the airport. Please go and help me solve it. Director of the Supervisory Yuan did me a favor. Let’s return the favor to him this time.”
"OK."
Meng Shaoyuan agreed without thinking...
The matter entrusted by the director is not difficult for Meng Shaoyuan. Went to the airport and it was resolved in about 20 minutes.
When we went back, it was Song Deng who drove the car.
Meng Shaoyuan kept his eyes slightly closed. After a while, he suddenly asked: "Song Deng, do you know what our director transported to Hong Kong?"
"I don't know." Song Deng answered honestly.
"Cultural relics and antiques." Meng Shaoyuan opened his eyes: "Our director of management has collected a lot of antiques, calligraphy and paintings by celebrities over the years. As for him, he had a little wife before, and he didn't dare to let the eldest wife know. It just so happened that my little wife had another baby in her belly, so Director Guan simply sent her to Hong Kong. Tsk tsk, you are enjoying all the blessings of the whole family, don’t you envy me?"
"What's there to envy?" Song Deng smiled: "That's his ability."
"Ability? Your ability is nothing." Meng Shaoyuan also sneered: "These officials must have the ability to make money and marry a young wife, what else? I think he asked you to be the director of the department, you must be better than him It’s all good.”
Song Deng also had no interface.
He just felt that Section Chief Meng's words were a little strange today.
But he couldn't tell what was strange...
"Boss Meng."
Returning to the second office, I reported to Dai Li. As soon as I entered the office, I saw Ren Yinghao waiting there.
As soon as he saw Meng Shaoyuan come in, Ren Yinghao immediately called out "Boss Meng" respectfully: "We have already dealt with the property in the west of the city. It was bought by Boss Zhao from Huamao Trading Company. There are also several other properties, too. They have all found buyers. When Xu Deshan was in charge of Hang Lung, he bought a lot of properties, but in the past six months we have sold almost all of them one after another."
"We should speed up the rest. It doesn't matter if the price is lower." Meng Shaoyuan said immediately: "By the way, where is the two-story building we have in Pukou?"
"Following your instructions, we contacted the Qianye Club. President Akihara was very interested in that small building, but the price was very low. It was only two-thirds of our asking price."
"Damn it, why did Xu Deshan buy so much real estate when he has nothing to do?" Meng Shaoyuan couldn't help but cursed: "Sell it, sell it, let alone two-thirds, sell it for half the price, you will go find Qiuyuan Xi in a moment Jiang, just say... Why are you so eager to sell anyway? You can make up your own excuse."
Headache.
It has been more than half a year, but Xu Deshan and Henglong's original properties have still not been sold off.
Now Meng Shaoyuan doesn't want a house, but a white ocean.
"Xiao Ren, close the door."
Ren Yinghao obediently closed the door.
Meng Shaoyuan pondered there for a while: "Xiao Ren, these words today can only be said in this room. There is going to be a war, and it will be a big fight, and Nanjing may not be able to save it. Finish your affairs in Nanjing as soon as possible , Originally, I wanted to transfer you to Shanghai, but Xu Chengbo, a professional manager hired by Lu Yixuan, is in charge of Shanghai. But the problem is that to ensure that our smuggling routes are smooth, Nanjing also needs to retain a capable person. Moreover, I will need information from here in the future."
Ren Yinghao said calmly: "Boss Meng, I will stay in Nanjing."
"You don't understand what I mean." Meng Shaoyuan couldn't elaborate on many things: "I said, Nanjing may not be able to be saved. It will be very, very dangerous for you to stay here."
"Boss Meng, I understand." Ren Yinghao didn't look afraid at all: "I'm an orphan, I have nothing to worry about, and don't worry, if something happens to you, I have a solution."
Meng Shaoyuan looked at him and after a while said: "Ren Yinghao, please."
"You are the boss, I am your guy, these are what I should do." Ren Yinghao still had no expression on his face: "But, if that day comes, maybe I will do a lot of extraordinary things. "
"No matter what you do, gambling, smoking opium, playing with women, buying and selling by force, I don't care." Meng Shaoyuan stared at him: "But I only have one request, don't be a traitor!"
"Ren Yinghao will never become a traitor to his death."
"Okay, by the way, how is the evacuation going?" Meng Shaoyuan thought of this important event.
"We have evacuated more than a dozen groups of people before and after. Most of them went to Chongqing. There are still some who are unwilling to leave no matter how much we persuade them."
Meng Shaoyuan's expression was a little gloomy: "Forget it, if you really don't want to leave, just let them go. Hero, in a while, there will be a large-scale retreat from Nanjing. Remember, you must be fully prepared before that. At that time, The scene will be very chaotic.”
Ren Yinghao nodded.
He positioned himself as a clerk who helped Boss Meng do things. Therefore, no matter what request Boss Meng made, he just had to do his best to complete it.
He just really doesn't understand. According to Boss Meng, Nanjing will definitely lose.
That's our capital. With so many troops, can't they even defend the capital?
"Okay, let's go." Meng Shaoyuan looked a little tired: "Don't make too much noise about these things, do them quietly."
"Then I'm leaving, Boss Meng."
Ren Yinghao left the office calmly.
Meng Shaoyuan sat down and stayed there for a while, then opened the drawer and took out a pistol.
He played with the pistol crazily and looked at it, motionless.
There was a knock on the door outside.
He put away his pistol: "Come in."
The person who came in was Zhu Yanni: "Master, Xiang Shounong said that we would go to Ma Xiangxing for dinner tonight, and asked if you would go."
"I'm on duty today." Meng Shaoyuan made an excuse: "Fuck, I have to be on duty until tomorrow morning. You go ahead."
"That works."
"By the way, Xiao Zhu, tell the canteen before you get off work to send my food to the office. By the way, open a small stove for me, cook more delicious food, and get a bottle of wine."
"Ouch, you didn't eat Ma Xiangxing's food, so prepare to compensate yourself."
Meng Shaoyuan smiled...
July 7, 1937, 9 p.m.
The Japanese exercises have already begun, right?
Meng Shaoyuan took a sip of wine and ate a bite of food.
The pistol was within his reach.
It seemed as if the Japanese would rush in at the next moment.
10 O'Clock.
Already drank half a bottle of wine.
It’s almost gone, no more drink.
He picked up his rice bowl and ate heartily.
He was actually full from the food, but he still forced himself to eat a bowl of rice.
Only when you are full can you have strength.
10:15.
Meng Shaoyuan stood up, took two stools, set up a wooden board, lay down on it and closed his eyes.
Late, 11:55.
The phone on the desk rang rapidly.
Meng Shaoyuan got up and took the call:
"Report, an urgent telegram came from Peiping. At 7:30 p.m., the Japanese army in Peiping began an exercise. At 22:40, the Japanese army claimed that gunshots were heard from the exercise area and that Japanese soldier Shimura Kikujiro was missing, and they forced their way into Wanping City, where the Chinese garrison was stationed. Our 29th Army Regiment sternly refused the search. The Japanese army began to deploy for battle, and there were signs of attacking Wanping."
"I know." Meng Shaoyuan's answer was so calm: "Notify Director Dai immediately."
"Yes."
The call was just hung up.
here we go?
here we go!
In one minute, a new day is about to begin.
This is July 7th, 1937!
