The reversal of the situation in Shanghai was not within Meng Shaoyuan's consideration before.
But now it is a real problem that he must face.
Although it seemed like an understatement in front of Wu Jingyi, Meng Shaoyuan actually took it very seriously.
There will be a long time to fight against the Japanese in the public settlement, and the attitude of the Ministry of Industry will become crucial.
Any carelessness will cause irreparable losses.
The request to meet with Klaas was actually agreed to by the other party immediately.
In order to ensure safety, in addition to Moyes, the president of the branch's Industrial Bureau, and Sinclair, the police commissioner, Wu Jingyi also invited Joey Freemont, the general manager of Angus International Bank, and Thomas and Meng Shaoyuan, the general managers of Citibank Shanghai Branch. Walk together. With them here, Meng Shaoyuan's safety cannot be protected to the greatest extent.
The day of the meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m.
The Spring Festival of 1940 is getting closer and closer.
"I am a person who particularly likes the Spring Festival." When he got out of the car, Meng Shaoyuan said this: "Whoever doesn't let me have a comfortable Spring Festival, I will make him sad for a year!"
Joey shrugged: "It's really a headache. When will peace be restored in Shanghai?"
As a customer of this bank, Thomas would never allow Meng Shaoyuan to have any problems, so after receiving Wu Jingyi's invitation, he agreed immediately:
"My dear Meng, despite our company, I think you should pay more attention to your safety."
"Safe? This is Shanghai." Meng Shaoyuan's words still revealed his confidence: "At least for now, I still have the final say in Shanghai!"
Joey and Thomas looked at each other.
They like Meng Shaoyuan's confident look.
…
Moyes and Sinclair were already waiting there.
Small talk in the hat is essential.
Moyes specially walked in front with Meng Shaoyuan: "Hey, you have to be careful. Sir Claes is not easy to deal with. I think I will step down from the position of president soon."
"I love having you here."
Meng Shaoyuan said easily: "I prefer the feeling of working with friends. If someone wants to attack my friend, I will find ways to protect him."
Moyes has no idea where his confidence comes from.
The situation is already so bad.
…
Meng Shaoyuan met Klas for the first time.
This knight from the British Empire was in his fifties, with a beautiful beard and well-dressed. However, when he saw Meng Shaoyuan, he did not even move his noble ass from the chair.
Moyes introduced both sides.
Claes held his beautiful handmade pipe in his mouth and said in English with a Cockney accent: "Tell me, I am very busy at work. I can only give you three minutes."
This attitude is probably the legendary arrogance.
"It doesn't take three minutes." Meng Shaoyuan smiled and said also in English: "I ask you to release Song Deng immediately."
What?
Klass wondered if there was something wrong with his hearing: "You asked me?"
"Yes, I ask you."
Meng Shaoyuan still smiled and said: "You detained an employee of Shanghai Litong Company without reason. We are extremely angry about this. If Song Deng cannot be released, all the consequences will be recognized by you. Farewell!"
"stop!"
Seeing that Meng Shaoyuan was really about to leave, Klaas was like an enraged tiger: "Mr. Meng Shaoyuan, please don't forget that this is a public concession, and I am the general director of the public concession board. In accordance with the laws of the concession, I arrested one person." A prisoner, you actually came to threaten me now? Litong Company? Although I have just come to Shanghai, I also know that the so-called Litong Company is nothing more than the external name of the Shanghai District of the Military Command Bureau, and you are all a group of spies!"
"Please be careful with your words, Mr. General Manager."
Meng Shaoyuan said calmly: "Litong Company is Litong Company, and we have no connection with the military. We live and operate law-abidingly in Shanghai in accordance with the laws of the public concession, but now we are being treated unfairly.
The purpose of electing you as general director is to maintain order in the Shanghai Public Concession, not to favor any party. I'm afraid you've violated your oath by shielding Japan in this way, right? "
Originally, it seemed to Klaas that Meng Shaoyuan took the initiative to ask to meet him because he came to beg for mercy under strong pressure.
But I never expected that he would have this attitude?
You can imagine Klas’s anger: “Everything I do is the right given to me by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. I don’t need to ask for your opinion on any decision I make.
Mr. Meng Shaoyuan, I have heard your name many times, King of Shanghai? Do you really think you have the final say in Shanghai? This is a public concession, and any small issue will be decided by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau.
In my eyes, you are just a spy chief, you are a gangster leader, others are afraid of you, but I, Claes Parkhouse Lerdo, knighted by His Majesty the King of the British Empire, will never condone you. hooliganism! "
Meng Shaoyuan was still laughing:
"Claas Parkhouse Lerdo, knighted by His Majesty the King of the British Empire, you are right about one thing, King of Shanghai. This is Shanghai. The British say no, and the French say no. Count it, you? You can really count it!"
Even a fool can hear the strong sarcasm and stern warning:
Shanghai, it’s up to me!
Klaas's anger was completely difficult to express in words.
Moyes is used to it.
Why bother?
When he first became president, he treated Meng Shaoyuan with the same bad attitude, but what was the result?
Yes, everyone knows that Meng Shaoyuan was a great spy, a young master of the Qing Gang, and a real gangster leader.
But so what?
If you want to truly maintain the security of the public concession, you absolutely cannot avoid this person.
"Treating everyone equally is the most basic requirement of the highest officer." Meng Shaoyuan said slowly: "But what you are doing now is not like this. I don't need to tell you everything. Mr. Sir, who was personally conferred by His Majesty the King of the British Empire?"
Klass's face turned livid at his sarcasm: "I want to arrest you, Mr. Meng Shaoyuan. Arrest him immediately!"
"Hey, Sir, please calm down." Joey said hurriedly: "Today, you are negotiating, you cannot arrest him. We are the certifiers of the safety of both parties in this negotiation, and we never want our reputation to be damaged."
"No, he not only violated the laws of the public settlement, but also insulted me!" Klass said angrily: "Mr. Sinclair, I now order you to arrest him!"
"Arrest me?" Meng Shaoyuan didn't seem to care at all:
"Sir, knighted by His Majesty the King of the British Empire, do you really want to arrest me?"
