Down with Japanese imperialism! "
"Unite and fight against Japan!"
As soon as we entered Shanghai, parades could be seen everywhere, and high-pitched slogans could be heard one after another.
The gunfire at Marco Polo Bridge shocked the whole of China.
The sound of Wanping's cannons awakened the people across the country.
The day after the incident, the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party sent a nationwide message:
"Compatriots across China, Peking and Tianjin are in danger! North China is in danger! The Chinese nation is in danger! Only the whole nation's resistance war is our way out! Don't let Japanese imperialism occupy an inch of China! Shed the last drop of blood to defend the country!"
The Chairman of the Generalissimo put forward the slogan "If you don't surrender, don't expand; if you don't ask for war, you must fight!"
The whole nation is united!
As the "imperial envoy", Meng Shaoyuan immediately met with Shanghai District Mayor Zhou Weilong and Secretary Cheng Yiming as soon as he arrived in Shanghai.
At this time, the two people looked solemn.
Especially Zhou Weilong, who was smoking one cigarette after another.
"Here's what Director Dai means." Meng Shaoyuan didn't waste any time and explained Dai Li's arrangements for Shanghai in detail one by one:
"At the same time, in order to prevent the Japanese army from carrying out military operations in Shanghai, Director Dai decided to set up latent groups in Hongkou, Zhabei, Wusong, Jiangwan and other places. Each group has ten members and is equipped with a radio station to closely monitor the movements of the Japanese. .”
"I think Shenzui and the others can do it." Zhou Weilong said upon hearing this.
"This." Cheng Yiming immediately objected: "It seems inappropriate to let Shen Zui take on the latent mission. I think I'd better consider it carefully."
Meng Shaoyuan could only smile bitterly.
As soon as he arrived in Shanghai, he was forced to face the contradiction between the mayor and the secretary of Shanghai District.
Among the senior military cadres, Cheng Yiming had a relatively low academic qualification. He first came to Shanghai and worked as an apprentice at the "Guangdong Automobile Company" and was from the lowest level.
He is where he is today because he climbed up step by step on his own.
And he is also the boss behind the "Hongkou School".
Shen Zui was not loved by Zhou Weilong, but was treated as a treasure by Cheng Yiming.
Once Japan decides to expand its war effort and start a war in Shanghai, the lurking group will be very dangerous.
Of course, Cheng Yiming couldn't bear to risk being intoxicated with himself in the same trench.
"District Chief Zhou, Secretary Cheng." Meng Shaoyuan kept in mind the tasks assigned to him by Dai Li: "The establishment of the latent team was personally formulated by Director Dai, and there is absolutely no room for negotiation on this point. Appoint a team leader, team members, and radio stations The operators will be selected by the team leader. All latent teams must be formed before August without any mistakes.
I suggest that District Chief Zhou appoints the leader of the latent teams in Hongkou and Zhabei. Secretary Cheng appointed team leaders for Wu Song and Jiang Wan. The team leader must be senior and experienced. Hongkou is a Japanese garrison base and is relatively dangerous, so two lurking groups will be dispatched. And this second Hongkou lurking group was lurked by my people. I wonder what you two think? "
Zhou Weilong and Cheng Yiming no longer had any objections.
Meng Shaoyuan had just arrived in Shanghai and was carrying out such a major and dangerous task as lurking. He could completely stand by and watch, and for good reasons.
But now that he has taken the initiative to assume the task of a sleeper team, what else can the district chief secretary in Shanghai say more?
"Director Meng, thank you for your hard work. Then I will do as you said."
Zhou Weilong and Meng Shaoyuan were "old acquaintances". Knowing that Meng Shaoyuan came this time with Shang Fang's sword, and knowing that this was his arrangement to bring his brother Dai Li, he made the decision immediately and stood firmly with Meng Shaoyuan no matter what. This side.
Cheng Yiming naturally had nothing to say.
Meng Shao was originally Dai Li's agent in Shanghai and took the lead, so what else can be said?
"The situation is urgent." Meng Shaoyuan checked the time and said, "District Chief Zhou, Secretary Cheng, I won't keep you here. There must be no mistakes in the work in Shanghai."
When Zhou Weilong and Cheng Yiming went out, they were making their own plans in their hearts.
How to draw this young imperial minister into his camp.
Zhou Weilong believed that he was a veteran and an ally of Dai Li, and Meng Shaoyuan was also a close confidant of Dai Li. Naturally, it would be much more convenient for the two parties to communicate and cooperate.
Cheng Yiming does not have as strong a backer as Zhou Weilong.
He once joined the Workers' and Peasants' Party and went to Moscow to study, but was later expelled from Moscow's "Red Workers International".
It was precisely because of his experience that he was favored by the secret service and was directly given the rank of major unit member. Then he relied on his own efforts to reach his current position.
This is both his advantage and his "stain", and he has been attacked by many political opponents.
The Japanese army's brazen attack on Marco Polo Bridge was a critical moment for the country's survival, but it was also an opportunity for the individual.
How could he tie Meng Shaoyuan and himself into the same boat?
Chen Rongyang!
Yes, it's this young man.
He was Meng Shaoyuan's classmate in the crash course at Hangzhou Police Academy, and the two had a good relationship.
Moreover, after Chen Rongyang returned from his studies, he deliberately cultivated him and used him as his confidant.
To get close to Meng Shaoyuan, you have to go through this road.
In fact, at this time, Meng Shaoyuan also knew what Zhou Weilong and Cheng Yiming were thinking.
How to strike a balance between two people?
How to suppress conflicts as much as possible?
There's a lot to do.
"Director, Xu Chengbo is here."
Suddenly being called "director" from "section chief", Meng Shaoyuan still felt a little uncomfortable and was startled: "Ah, let him come in."
The person who came in to report was his assistant at the Shanghai Supervision Office, Wu Jingyi.
Wu Jingyi, female, 33 years old, native of Shanghai, joined Lixingshe in the 22nd year of the Republic of China, and became a lieutenant. She is married, her husband is a bank worker, and they have a son and a daughter.
Her husband still does not know his true identity.
This was the first batch of assistants that Yuan Zhonghe, who came to Shanghai, personally selected for Meng Shaoyuan.
First, she has relatively senior qualifications and is a native of Shanghai, so she is familiar with the situation in Shanghai. Secondly, she is a woman and works more carefully and carefully.
And the most important thing is that she did not join any faction.
The office address of the Shanghai Military Supervision Office was provided to them by Mrs. Qiangwei.
When she heard that Meng Shaoyuan was coming to Shanghai and would stay here for a long time, Cai Xuefei lent one of her private houses to Meng Shaoyuan.
Also located at No. 892, Albert Road, very close to the Rose Mansion, it is a French-style two-story building with a large area, six rooms on the first floor, and a large living room. Eight rooms on the second floor, with attic and basement.
It was originally leased by an American company, but after the Americans returned to China, it was left idle.
This office location can save Meng Shaoyuan a lot of effort.
The public name of the Inspector's Office is "Shanghai Litong Company", which was the name of Dai Li's company when he first started preparing for smuggling business.
Meng Shaoyuan's identity is the general manager of "Shanghai Litong Company".
"Boss Meng."
This was the first time Meng Shaoyuan met Xu Chengbo, the professional manager hired by Lu Yixuan.
He is about forty years old, wearing a well-fitted suit and gold-rimmed glasses. His hair is slicked with a lot of hair wax and combed back. His gentleness reveals a certain shrewdness unique to Shanghainese.
"Manager Xu, please sit down."
Meng Shaoyuan asked him to sit down, Wu Jingyi poured him tea, and went out without closing the door.
"Manager Xu." Meng Shaoyuan said, "Lu Yixuan has hired you for a while. Logically speaking, I should have come to see you a long time ago. It's just that I'm busy with things, so I haven't been able to see you until now."
"It doesn't matter, Boss Meng is a big shot, and big shots always have things to be busy with." Xu Chengbo said with a smile: "Now that Boss Meng is here, I will report the situation to you."
Xu Chengbo's identity is the manager of "Nanyang Fortune Company Shanghai Branch". The Shanghai company currently has twelve employees. It claims to be engaged in trading business, but in fact it is engaged in smuggling.
Relying on Meng Shaoyuan's full support in Nanjing, Xu Chengbo and several international firms in Shanghai have laid a good foundation for cooperation, and their financial resources are rolling in.
In May and June alone, the Shanghai company's net profit reached US$380,000, not including uncollected accounts.
not enough.
The human heart is not enough for a snake to swallow an elephant.
It was still far from the scale of the huge smuggling empire that Meng Shaoyuan was familiar with.
But there's no rush.
patience.
Once the war fully begins, it will bring sacrifices and bloodshed, but at the same time, it will also bring huge opportunities.
The war will push the smuggling industry to a peak.
"Manager Xu, you've worked hard." Meng Shaoyuan praised him: "But it's not enough. By the way, do you know who I am?"
"I know, but I don't know." Xu Chengbo said calmly: "The identity of Boss Meng has nothing to do with me or business."
Meng Shaoyuan smiled. He was a smart man: "Well, I can tell you some information. China and Japan have started a war in Peiping, and the war will soon spread to Shanghai."
Unexpectedly, when Xu Chengbo heard that Shanghai was about to start, not only did he not panic, but there was a hint of surprise in his eyes.
That's right, war equals opportunity.
"Boss Meng, I am not particularly patriotic, but I am definitely not a traitor." Xu Chengbo's voice was low: "I just think about the problem from a businessman's perspective. I need Boss Meng to give me an accurate answer. Let’s face it, can I do business with the Japanese?”
Meng Shaoyuan asked him a crucial question: "You are not a traitor, but will you be a traitor?"
Xu Chengbo thought carefully for a while: "I don't think I will. I said I am not particularly patriotic, but I also have a bottom line. At least I am Chinese."
"Then just go ahead and do it." Meng Shaoyuan said calmly: "You can only make gains, not suffer losses."
Xu Chengbo smiled, and then said: "By the way, Lu Yixuan specifically told me that this is what Boss Meng has repeatedly told me to do, to stockpile medicines in large quantities. I rented a warehouse specifically for stacking medicines. Now that there is a real war, we can rely on Make huge profits from this batch of medicines."
"Manager Xu, it seems that Lu Yixuan still has something he hasn't said to you." Meng Shaoyuan sighed softly: "These medicines are not used to make a fortune, otherwise I would really become a black-hearted businessman!"
Xu Chengbo was startled. If medicines are not used to make money, what are they used for?
