Macheng.
This city has a long history and is famous for Magu, the "Shou Fairy".
It was already night when Meng Shaoyuan collapsed.
Four cars drove into Macheng, which still attracted a lot of attention.
This is unscientific and too compelling.
This is also what Meng Shaoyuan is most worried about.
But things are already like this, what else can be done?
The person in charge of handling the situation in Macheng was Jian Maojian, the person in charge of the military command here.
Thirty-eight years old, his position is equivalent to that of a squadron leader.
At this age, it is no longer possible to climb up.
Jian Maojian is quite satisfied with his life. Although he is not a high-ranking official, Macheng has the final say, so he can be considered at ease.
Hearing that "Mr. Wang" who came this time was an important figure, and his superiors personally ordered him to receive him attentively, Jian Maojian did not dare to delay and made arrangements early in the morning.
"Mr. Wang, this is the best hotel in Macheng." Jian Maojian looked apologetic: "Macheng is a small place and cannot be compared with Wuhan. I can only ask you to make do with it."
"It's okay, it's fine." Meng Shaoyuan didn't particularly care.
As soon as Meng Shaoyuan and the others were brought to the room, they saw two young men coming out of the room next door and saying hello to Jian Maojian: "Old Jian, are there guests?"
"Yes, yes, relative." Jian Maojian said with a smile, "Be careful if you go out so late."
"Don't worry, Old Jane."
"Why not cover the entire floor?" Gan Ning was a little unhappy: "Mr. Wang's safety is very important, and nothing can go wrong."
"Sir." Jian Maojian whispered: "Some guests have been living here for a long time. I can't drive them away, can I?"
Seeing that Gan Ning was still talking, Meng Shaoyuan waved his hand: "It's okay, don't disturb the other guests, it's not good."
After arranging the luggage, Jian Maojian had dinner brought and had a meal in the hotel. Jian Maojian kept saying that the food was simple and would invite them to have breakfast tomorrow morning.
Eat breakfast? What could be delicious? Gan Ning and Xu Zhu looked disdainful.
However, Yu Zidun knew that a special agent like Jian Maojian had limited funds at hand, and Macheng County was not big, so the superiors did not pay much attention to it. Only one squadron leader level was assigned to be in charge here, and there were many delays in reimbursing funds.
After all, Macheng is close to Wuhan, which is pretty good. I heard that in some small border towns, military agents there are often short of funds, so the agents there find other jobs to support themselves.
Agents are far less glamorous than imagined.
After all, China is too big, and the military commander simply cannot take care of every place. In some towns, one or two people are only deployed symbolically.
Maybe, tomorrow's breakfast will be paid for by Jian Maojian himself...
…
Early in the morning, Jian Maojian came to the hotel and waited.
He didn't know if "Mr. Wang" was up, and he didn't dare to disturb him easily. It wasn't until almost 8 o'clock that he knocked on the door cautiously.
It was Xu Zhu who opened the door.
When he saw Jian Maojian, he asked directly: "Why is it so late?"
"Oh, sir." Jian Maojian replied humbly: "I have been here a long time ago, but I was afraid that Mr. Wang was resting and waiting outside all the time. If Mr. Wang gets up, can I take you to have breakfast?"
"I know, go down and wait."
Xu Zhu closed the door, turned to Meng Shaoyuan and said, "Mr. Wang, you can go out now."
"I say Xu Zhu, don't make things difficult for them." Meng Shaoyuan picked up his coat and put it on: "These people are all low-level agents. It's very difficult. When people come from above, they have to wait carefully for fear of making a mistake. , Ruining your own future. You are used to living in Shanghai, you never have to consider financial issues, and you don’t understand the hardships of these low-level agents."
"I understand, Mr. Wang."
Xu Zhu responded respectfully.
…
The place where Jian Maojian had breakfast was quite clean, and the breakfast was quite generous.
What was prepared was river fish noodles, meat cakes, peeled chestnuts, and a jar of Dongshan old rice wine was specially prepared.
"It's so early in the morning, what kind of drink do you want to drink?"
Gan Ning was a little unhappy.
"Ah, please have a taste, have a taste."
Jian Maojian said with a smile: "This is a very famous rice wine."
"Taste it, taste it."
Meng Shaoyuan actually said: "Many places in Wuhan have the habit of drinking morning wine, isn't it, Old Jian?"
"Exactly, exactly." Jian Maojian said hurriedly: "It's not just in Wuhan, but also in Macheng. I didn't expect Mr. Wang to know so much."
He stood up and filled several bowls with wine.
Meng Shaoyuan smiled but did not point it out.
Jian Maojian did not drink morning wine as a habit, but did so deliberately. You know, when people come from above, the local people must be responsible for receiving them.
No matter what, a meal is indispensable.
For example, breakfast, with so many noodles and cakes, is already very rich, but when it comes to lunch, you have to find a decent restaurant and prepare a table of dishes, right?
That would cost a lot of money.
This is probably beyond what Jian Maojian can afford, after all, there are about ten people.
There were three tables in total. Yu Zidun looked at it and said, "Hey, Old Jian, your Dabie Mountain black goat meat in Macheng is very famous. Why don't you get some for Mr. Wang to try?"
Jian Maojian said calmly: "I originally thought about it, but firstly, the black goat meat is difficult to get now, and secondly, I thought it would be too greasy to eat it early in the morning."
"Not bad, not bad, that's good, that's good. Come on, let's raise a glass and thank Old Jane for the reception."
Meng Shaoyuan raised his cup very considerately and helped Jian Maojian out of trouble.
Jian Maojian also guessed that "Mr. Wang" had seen through his little thoughts, and he couldn't help but feel embarrassed and grateful at the same time. It was rare for a superior to care for his subordinates like this.
The taste of old rice wine is still good, but Meng Shaoyuan is really not used to drinking it early in the morning, so he only tasted it briefly.
"Down with Japanese imperialism!"
Suddenly, such a call came from outside.
Meng Shaoyuan's position was right opposite the gate, so he could see clearly.
Several young people were handing out leaflets there.
Another young man raised his arms and shouted.
Wasn't he one of the two young men I saw in the hotel last night?
Seeing that more and more people were gathering, the young man said loudly: "The Japanese imperialists are occupying our Peking, occupying our Shanghai, occupying our Nanjing, and are trying to destroy our country..."
The general meaning of what he said was that Japan was determined to destroy China and called on the entire nation to unite.
There was nothing surprising at first, but the young man mentioned the "Workers and Peasants' Party" many times in his speech.
Yu Zidun's face darkened: "Old Jane, what's going on? Huh?"
Isn't this looking for trouble?
When is it bad to give a speech at this time?
"Mr. Wang" is a big shot, and he can kill your head with just one look.
Xu Zhu was also unhappy: "Are these people from the Workers' and Peasants' Party?"
"Yes, yes." Jian Maojian was also frightened: "Sir... No, sir, you don't know that Macheng is an important part of the Workers' and Peasants' Party in Hubei, Henan, and Anhui. Their development here far exceeds ours. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, they Intensive activities were carried out in the southeast, northwest and four parts of Macheng, and an anti-Japanese democratic government was established..."
"Jian Maojian, I think you don't want to lose your head." Yu Zidun reprimanded in a low voice: "Knowing that the other party is from over there, you still greeted them last night, and you even arranged Mr. Wang's room next to theirs. They called you? What’s your relationship with them? How many heads do you have? You bastard!”
He still sympathized with Jian Maojian and other low-level spies. He scolded him in front of "Mr. Wang" because he wanted to try to save Jian Maojian.
Otherwise, he didn't know whether he would lose his head, but there was no way Jian Maojian could keep his position as squadron leader.
"The two parties cooperate and fight against Japan. This is the government's decision." Meng Shaoyuan said calmly: "There is nothing to make a fuss about. This time, the National Government's Provisional National Congress will also send people to participate. Don't make it so mobilizing. Let's fight. The Japanese are also fighting, and their guns are aimed at the outside world. Things at home are not as important as dealing with the bandits outside."
Jian Maojian's heart was pounding.
I don’t know if what this “Mr. Wang” said is true or false. Don't do it to someone else's face and you'll be arrested after you leave.
"Old Jane, thank you for this breakfast." Meng Shaoyuan took another sip of wine: "I can see your difficulty. I don't know if anyone will report what happened today, but I can I didn’t see anything. What is the responsibility of our military commander? Fighting the Japanese, other things are beyond our control."
After finishing speaking, he said to Yu Zidun: "Don't say good things to Old Jian. People are too talkative. If the people you brought here are not protected, they will report the matter. Old Jian, do you want to keep your position?"
"Think, think." Jian Maojian said hurriedly.
"I'll teach you a way." Meng Shaoyuan said in a low voice: "After a while, you go find paper and pen, write down exactly what happened just now, say they were giving a speech at a rally, and so on, and then give it to Yu Zidun, waiting for him Come back and ask him to take it back. If someone investigates it in the future, just say that you have already reported it."
The gratitude in Jian Maojian's heart cannot be described in words.
Meng Shaoyuan glanced at Yu Zidun again: "This matter has nothing to do with me. If you want to help Lao Jian, just help. If you don't want to help, forget it."
"Sir, please help me." Jian Maojian begged in a low voice.
Yu Zidun sighed: "You can write a report later. Hey, it's not easy, not easy at all. Remember from now on, Mr. Wang gave you this head."
"Yes, yes." Jian Maojian hurriedly found paper and pen.
"Mr. Wang, I thank you on behalf of these agents." Yu Zidun said seriously: "I have also worked at the bottom and know their hard work. To be honest, I can't bear to see them lose their heads. For a commander like you, I I really haven’t encountered it before.”
Gan Ning and Xu Zhu looked at each other, both of them had the same thought:
What is this trivial matter? There is nothing in the world that Master Meng dare not do!
