The people Cai Xuefei invited to this dinner were all the leading figures in Shanghai's business community.
Li Ge, the old president of the Shanghai Business Federation, Qiang Cangyuan, the new president, Dong Kuozhao, the secretary-general, and so on.
There are also the chairman of this company and the general manager of that trading house.
Some people have been setting up industries in Shanghai since the Qing Dynasty. Several generations have gone through all the historical processes of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the fall of the Qing Dynasty, and the founding of the Republic of China before finally reaching the current situation.
Some people were prosperous in the past, but they are crumbling under the impact of more and more foreign goods. Although they are famous in Shanghai, they are just struggling to support themselves there.
There are also some people who are trying their best to sell off their property and want to go to Hong Kong or Nanyang.
If it weren't for Mrs. Qiangwei's dignity, it would be absolutely impossible for so many people to gather together.
The dinner was held in the most fashionable buffet format. This method was brought to Shanghai by American businessman Groote more than 20 years ago, and it quickly became popular.
These people all knew each other. After meeting, they chatted lively, but if anyone mentioned the current situation, they would all sigh and sigh.
When talking about Huang Jingxuan and Lu Jianping who were beaten to death, everyone frowned.
"Although the factory run by Lu Jianping is indeed Japanese, he is also..."
"Shh, stop talking, stop talking." As soon as the words were spoken, someone immediately interrupted: "Walls have ears. Those people in the military command have great powers, but don't let it reach their ears..."
The person who spoke first shuddered and quickly fell silent.
"Actually, military control is not that scary."
At this moment, someone happened to talk about the military commander. However, when this person spoke, not only did no one stop him, but everyone put a smile on their face.
Cai Xuefei.
Except for Mrs. Qiangwei, who in the audience has such dignity?
"The military commander did kill a lot of people." Cai Xuefei said slowly: "But as far as I know, most of the people they killed were Japanese and traitors. Japan occupied Shanghai, and the military commander fought against traitors with iron and blood. It didn't matter. wrong."
"Madam, what you said is absolutely correct." Qiang Cangyuan, president of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "The Japanese can kill, the traitors can kill, but killing Lu Jianping is open to question. Lu Jianping was confused for a moment, but he will not die for his crime. He also did bad things. And Huang Jingxuan, of course he deserved it, but in a short period of time, two people from our Shanghai Association of Industry and Commerce died, and they all died at the hands of the military commander, which will inevitably make me wait for the public Panic."
These are the worries of everyone present. There is another meaning in Qiang Cangyuan's words. Who knows whether the next bullet from the military commander will be aimed at his head.
"I understand your concerns." Cai Xuefei smiled: "So I specially invited an important guest today to answer these questions for you."
Special guest?
The dinner was held in the garden of Rose Mansion, and everyone saw a person slowly appear.
Wearing a gray gown, he has gray hair, black-rimmed round glasses, and a long beard, most of which is also gray.
It seems that he is in his early sixties, but he is still personable and has an air of elegance about him.
As soon as she saw this person, a smile appeared on Cai Xuefei's lips.
Is this what he looked like when he was old?
Meng Shaoyuan!
It took Meng Shaoyuan more than two hours to put on this look.
Although Meng Shao is famous all over Shanghai, not many people have seen his true face.
"Who is this?" Secretary General Dong Kuozhao couldn't help but ask.
"My surname is Meng." Meng Shaoyuan had already introduced himself there: "You may have heard of my name, Meng Shaoyuan."
Meng Shaoyuan?
Dong Kuozhao was startled: "You are the one..."
Of course Meng Shaoyuan knew what he wanted to ask: "Exactly, I am the military commander Meng Shaoyuan."
Military commander Meng Shaoyuan!
For a moment, the whole place fell silent.
Oh my God, Meng Shaoyuan actually appeared here.
Everyone began to have some fear in their hearts.
Who is he here to kill today?
Who will be the unlucky guy today?
There are still many people who are curious.
Is this Meng Shaoyuan?
According to legend, Meng Shaoyuan was a murderer and had a ferocious appearance. Why does he now look like a professor teaching at a university?
"Don't be afraid. I'm not here today to cause trouble for you." Meng Shaoyuan seemed to know what these people were thinking: "Today, I'm here just to chat with you. I know that you are all business elites. Time is very tight, and I am a hideous and disgusting person, so I will tell you a few things. If you have any questions, you can ask me. When the time comes, I will leave immediately to avoid delays. I hope you are in a good mood for drinking."
As soon as these words were said, many people had smiles on their faces.
Meng Shaoyuan understood the mentality of these people very well. They were all afraid of themselves and fearful, fearing that it would not be effective. The most important thing was to let them relax.
Sure enough, after these words came out, many people felt that Meng Shaoyuan was not as scary as the rumors said.
"After the Japanese occupied Shanghai, our military commander was ordered to continue the war of resistance and killed many people." Meng Shaoyuan struck while the iron was hot: "There are Japanese and there are Chinese. More than 90% of them have conclusive evidence and they are more than innocent. Is there any wrongful killing? Of? Frankly speaking, yes, a lot? Very little."
"Mr. Meng." The speaker was Li Ge, the old president of the Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce: "I am old and have nothing to fear. If anything I say offends Mr. Meng and the military commander, then you can kill me, but I We still have to ask the doubts in our hearts."
"President Li, right? Please tell me."
"Huang Jingxuan agreed to serve as the president of the China-Japan Friendship Association, which is despised by the Shanghai industrial and commercial community. If he is killed well, it can be regarded as eliminating harm for Shanghai. We have no objection to this point. But Lu Jianping's death is a bit unjust. "Li Ge seemed really not afraid at all:
"In the past, members of the Lu family participated in the Sino-British Cotton Yarn War, the Sino-American Flour War, and the Sino-Japanese Gray Cloth War. They were fought vigorously in Greater Shanghai, especially the Sino-Japanese Gray Cloth War. Lu Jianping was the leader. We spent all our money to help, and although we won in the end, it was only a miserable victory. But this victory preserved the dignity of us Chinese businessmen.
The Japanese occupy our Shanghai, and all our people should rise up and resist. We all know this. But in the final analysis, we are nothing more than businessmen who cannot carry a gun or go to the battlefield. Being cautious is nothing more than protecting factories and companies and doing what we can to fight the war. None of these factories and companies is our hard work.
The Japanese approached Lu Jianping and threatened him that if he did not cooperate, they would be the first to attack his factory. Six generations of the Lu family had worked hard to run it, so how could he bear to give up? He was forced to cooperate with the Japanese, just to protect the factory. But I believe that his heart is always towards China. "
Meng Shaoyuan listened patiently: "What President Li means is that we killed him by mistake?"
"That's exactly what I mean." For the future of Shanghai's business community, Li Ge seemed to be risking his life: "It would be chilling to kill such a meritorious official."
"I admit that the Lu family has indeed contributed to the national industry." Meng Shaoyuan said lightly: "But have you ever thought about this question? Why did Lu Jianping help the Sino-Japanese gray cloth war even if he lost all his money? Because he knew that even if he really If he goes bankrupt, the Shanghai industrial and commercial community will not just watch. You will all raise funds to help him make a comeback. Firstly, he has no worries, and secondly, he has gained a very good reputation, so why not?"
This was the first time everyone present had heard this statement.
Just to gain fame?
Meng Shaoyuan continued: "What about this time? Let's think about it the other way around. If we don't cooperate with the Japanese, the worst result is bankruptcy. Lu Jianping wasn't afraid last time, but is he afraid this time? Because he is very smart and knows this The environment of the Sino-Japanese Gray Cloth War is different from the last one. The Japanese have occupied Shanghai and you are too busy to protect yourself. How can you have time to take care of him? If he goes bankrupt this time, he is truly bankrupt. There will never be another day to turn around.”
Thinking about it carefully, it seems that this is really the case.
"His patriotism depends on the environment." Meng Shaoyuan smiled: "You can imagine, from the Sino-British Cotton Yarn War, to the Sino-American Flour War, to the Sino-Japanese Gray Cloth War, which battle later, the Lu It’s not just that the family has made a lot of profits, but later on, after making money and gaining fame, it doesn’t hurt to do such a ‘patriotic’ act a few more times.”
At this point, he paused briefly and asked someone to bring a dossier and handed it to Li Ge: "President Li, you might as well take a look at it. This is the cooperation signed between Lu Jianping and the Japanese. All their gauze will be provided." For the Japanese, you can't buy even an inch in Shanghai. Where will these gauze be shipped to? To the Japanese!
He was doing things for the Japanese and providing supplies to the Japanese. Helping the Japanese fight the war with China, occupying our land, and killing our people. It seems that he still has some patriotism, but it is just hidden deeper. This man is no different from a traitor. If I don’t kill him, it is against the law of heaven! "
Li Ge opened the file cautiously, took a brief look at it, his expression changed slightly, and then handed the file to Qiang Cangyuan beside him and asked him to pass it on one by one.
Meng Shaoyuan sneered: "If killing such people chills the Shanghai industrial and commercial community, then I will accept it. In the future, I will not only continue to kill such scum, but also kill more. Most of you gentlemen here are patriots. , there are very few traitors. When the country is in danger, it is time for you to join hands and advance and retreat with the country, rather than withdrawing.
I know that many of you want to sell your assets and leave Shanghai, but I just want to ask, where can you go? Did you leave so easily? Will the Japanese let you go? The Ministry of Industry and Commerce will let you leave so easily? Our military commander welcomes everyone to go to Chongqing, but you are worried and hesitant. "
The scene fell silent again.
Yes, it is not that easy to leave Shanghai.
