"Reporting that Zou Yaowei, the plenipotentiary special envoy of the Commander-in-Chief of the Second War Zone Yan Xishan, has arrived in Shanghai. Director Dai ordered him to be personally received by Meng Shaoyuan, director of the Military Command Shanghai Special Office."
Yan Xishan?
What are his people doing here in Shanghai?
Traveling?
Meng Shaoyuan held up the tea cup: "What did you say?"
"No."
Wu Jingyi shook her head: "I told you to receive him personally. I have already sent someone to pick him up and arranged for him to be placed at the International Hotel. He will be there in about half an hour."
"The people from Yan Xishan are coming to Shanghai." Meng Shaoyuan took a sip of tea and said, "It's lively. Shanghai is such a great place. Anyone can come. Come on, since Mr. Dai personally gave the order, we have to obey it. Yes. Okay, Assistant Wu, let me see, we can’t put everyone in the International Hotel in the future, otherwise, sooner or later, people will notice there.”
"I know, the car is arranged outside."
"Special Envoy Yan Xishan." Meng Shaoyuan stood up and smiled: "I heard that this officer is the famous Yan Laoji. I don't know if he will bring me the famous Shanxi mature vinegar."
…
Meng Shaoyuan was still disappointed. The special envoy of Chief Yan did not even bring a bottle of old vinegar. He only brought hypocritical greetings:
"This is Director Meng, right? I've admired you for a long time."
"You're welcome." Meng Shaoyuan said with a fake smile: "Chief Yan holds the important position of Commander-in-Chief of the Second War Zone. When the Anti-Japanese War broke out, he made outstanding achievements. First, he cooperated with the Eighth Route Army to achieve the great victory at Pingxingguan, and then he personally led the The Jinsui Army and the Central Army fought together, fought bloody battles for twenty-three days and nights, and inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese army. My brothers really admire them."
"Those are the duties that revolutionary soldiers should perform." Zou Yaowei spoke with a strong Shanxi accent: "I am in Shanxi, and I have long heard of the illustrious reputation of Master Meng from Shanghai. We and other soldiers fight the enemy head-on. Director Meng lives in Shanghai, which makes him The Japanese invaders were frightened by the news and provided great cooperation on the frontal battlefield. Whenever your name is mentioned, we all admire you."
Damn it, it's just a business exchange.
If we continue to praise each other like this, can you believe that we can praise each other until tomorrow morning?
The doorbell of the room rang, which was the meal being delivered to the room according to Meng Shaoyuan's instructions.
A total of four dishes, one soup, and a bottle of wine.
"Mr. Zou, I'm so sorry."
Meng Shaoyuan cupped his hands and said, "I was supposed to be a good receptionist for Mr. Zou, but I thought that since Mr. Zou, as the special envoy of Chief Yan, would take the risk to come to Shanghai, he must have an important responsibility. To be careful, the wall has ears, so I had the food delivered here."
"It's so good, so good." Zou Yaowei didn't seem particularly concerned about it: "This is my first time in Shanghai. I will be grateful to Director Meng for taking care of me in the next few days."
"Easy to say, easy to say, please."
Meng Shaoyuan poured wine into two glasses: "Mr. Zou, this glass is dedicated to Commander Yan and the brothers of the Shanxi-Sui Army who are fighting bloody battles on the front line."
"please."
"Please eat some food and try some Shanghainese food."
Zou Yaowei picked up his chopsticks, ate a piece of winter bamboo shoots, and frowned: "Sorry, wait a moment."
He stood up, took out a stainless steel bottle from his luggage, and walked back: "We Shanxi people only like this. Without this, nothing we eat tastes good."
As he spoke, he poured half the bowl.
A strong smell of vinegar soon spread.
"Come on, come on, Director Meng, have a taste, have a taste, this is good stuff." Zou Yaowei enthusiastically poured half a bowl of mature vinegar into Meng Shaoyuan's bowl.
Then he picked up his bowl and took a big sip, enjoying it as much as possible.
Damn it, Meng Shaoyuan felt sour in his mouth after looking at it.
"We Shanxi people can't live without a meal." Zou Yaowei said with satisfaction: "In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, when the Qin State was rising, the wine that the old Qin people drank was this vinegar. It has been passed down for thousands of years. It can be done without food for a day. I’m so jealous.”
This is just like Sichuan and Hunan people are very spicy, while Cantonese people are very light. The customs in different places are just different.
After drinking and chatting there for a while, Meng Shaoyuan turned to the topic: "Mr. Zou comes to Shanghai this time. I wonder what his mission is? Director Dai has an order, and I will fully cooperate with you."
"Director Lao Meng is here." Zou Yaowei said seriously: "This is Chief Yan personally asking Director Dai for help. I came to Shanghai this time because of a Shandong man."
"Shandong people?"
You are from Shanxi, and you went to Shanghai for a Shandong person? Are you talking about tongue twisters?
"Exactly, this person is famous in Shandong." Zou Yaowei said slowly: "In many places in Shandong, people use his name to curse people. This person is the Shandong gangster Liu Heiqi!"
Liu Heiqi? It sounds a bit impressive.
"His nickname is Liu Guitang. Because he is ranked seventh and has dark skin, he is called Liu Heiqi. People in Shandong gave him another nickname, 'The Devil in the World'." Zou Yaowei looked serious: "In the fourth year of the Republic of China, , he gathered a group of brothers to become bandits. They were repeatedly suppressed by officers and soldiers, but the more they were beaten, the more they were beaten, and they actually had more than ten thousand subordinates.
This man was so rampant that in rural areas of Pingyi and Feixian counties, one of the most vicious curse words was "You are Liu Heiqi, you are Liu Bingjun." He also likes women. It is said that there are as many as eighty-one women around him. Of course, this must be an exaggeration. After the Japanese entered Shandong, in order to ensure the safety of the rear, they also attracted them. "
Zou Yaowei was chatting there, and Meng Shaoyuan slowly remembered.
Yes, the fierce bandit Liu Guitang later defected to the national army, and then rebelled again and defected to the Japanese. Is that probably what happened?
"In the seventeenth year of the Republic of China, he was recruited and his unit was reorganized into the New Fourth Division of the National Revolutionary Army. He served as the division commander. It was during this period that he met Commander Yan." Zou Yaowei continued: "Because of his new The Fourth Division's military discipline was lax, which had a serious impact on the local people. They were scolded by their superiors, so they simply went to the northeast to join the Japanese and served as the commander-in-chief of the Puppet Manchukuo Third Route Army.
After his so-called Third Route Army was defeated by Han Fuqu, he ran to Tianjin and hid. In the 24th year of the Republic of China, he came out again, wooed his old subordinates, and captured strong men everywhere. Before long, he had nearly ten thousand more subordinates. After the Japanese invaded Shandong, they tried to win over him, but conflicts arose between him and the Japanese, so they decided to resist Japan anyway. "
Anti-Japanese anyway?
This kind of bandit behaves over and over again. If you have breasts, you will be a mother. If you join the national army today, you can join the Japanese tomorrow. They have no sense of nationality and no sense of shame.
However, during the Anti-Japanese War, whether they were bandits or local anti-Japanese armed forces, they were all forces actively fought for by the National Government. Generally, those who fought bandits like Liu Guitang were given the title of division commander, and they were not required to actively resist Japan, as long as they did not cause trouble.
This is also a kind of sad helplessness.
"Liu Guitang has taken refuge with the Japanese, so he is worried that the Shandong National Army will not believe him this time. He had a relationship with Chief Yan before, so he secretly contacted Chief Yan. What does Chief Yan mean? At this critical moment of the War of Resistance, everything All the armed forces that can be contacted must unite. Of the 105 counties in Shanxi, 70 county magistrates are served by special commissioners of the Sacrifice League. Shanxi has therefore become a model area for comprehensive cooperation between the national workers and the persistence of the war of resistance. Therefore, Liu Guitang is also a target that can be fought for. within the range.
Liu Guitang wanted to put things right anyway, but he was worried that since he had defected to the Japanese, the Nationalist government would not let him go easily. Therefore, he proposed that each side send a plenipotentiary representative to negotiate in Shanghai. Commander Yan sent me here. "
What does it have to do with me if you talk about yours?
Meng Shaoyuan disagreed.
What's more, a bandit is a repeating bandit who rebels today and betrays tomorrow. He has no loyalty at all. Why should he be so fond of him and send a plenipotentiary?
Meng Shaoyuan had no interest in recruiting bandits, but since it was a task given by Dai Li himself, he just perfunctoryly asked them to finish talking about leaving Shanghai quickly, and his task was considered completed.
Anyway, it won't be long before Liu Guitang will rebel again, and he will have to be beaten when the time comes.
"Mr. Zou has a heavy responsibility, and I will definitely help him." Meng Shaoyuan said with a false face: "I wonder who Liu Guitang sent?"
"There were a total of eight of them who sworn sworn brothers. Liu Guitang was the seventh. The first six died one after another. Only his cousin Liu Mancai, the eighth, was left, known as Liu Baye and Abacus Liu." Zou Yaowei immediately replied: " Liu Mancai didn't know how to fight, but he was good at calculating. Liu Guitang's money was taken care of by him, and he was a close confidant among his confidants.
In this Shanghai negotiation, the two sides will inevitably bargain. Liu Guitang must strive for the greatest benefits, so he sent Liu Mancai. What I mean is that I want to ask Director Meng to help us arrange a place where we can negotiate safely. At the same time, in order to prevent the information from leaking and being grasped by the Japanese, I also want Director Meng to be responsible for our security in Shanghai. "
This is not difficult.
Meng Shaoyuan had only one thought in his mind, you guys should finish talking and get out of here. The struggle situation in Shanghai is so complicated, and now I have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting you. How can I have so much free time?
But after all, he was sent by the Commander-in-Chief of the Second War Zone, so he had to do everything possible to save face: "Don't worry, Mr. Zou, I dare not say anything about other places, but in Shanghai, I, Meng Shaoyuan, want to protect People, nothing will happen. So, Mr. Zou, when are you going to meet Liu Mancai?"
"Tomorrow." Zou Yaowei pondered for a while: "According to the agreement, Liu Mancai will stay at Xingwang Hotel. I would like to ask Director Meng to send two people to protect him. Like me, he is coming to Shanghai for the first time. He lives in a distant place. If the sun falls, It won’t be good if it’s in the hands of the special agency.”
"Sure, I'll send someone to find him now."
Meng Shaoyuan was about to stand up and say goodbye, but Zou Yaowei hesitated and felt a little embarrassed: "Director Meng, the Anti-Japanese War is in full swing, and Shanxi's funds are limited. I'm afraid it won't be enough for me to stay in such a high-end hotel."
Holy shit!
Yan Xishan is Yan Lao stingy, this guy is no less stingy, right?
Meng Shaoyuan couldn't laugh or cry: "Mr. Zou, don't worry. All your expenses in Shanghai will be borne by the military commander. You, Mr. Zou, just live here with peace of mind. You don't have to worry about all the other expenses."
