Chapter V Peace Movement
The night was getting darker. In addition to Chen Bin in Chen Mansion on Columbia Road and tossing and unable to fall asleep, there was also a group of people who had just arrived in Shanghai and were in a depressed mood. They talked at night in the Japanese and overseas Chinese settlement area in Hongkou to discuss where they should go in the future.
This is a small garden villa. The brick walls more than two meters high are wrapped in the shape of duck eggs. Because the wide end of the duck eggs faces the road, the door is opened here. On the bluestone slab at the top of the door, there are three large characters one foot and two inches high - "Plum Blossom Hall". The couplets carved on the bluestone door frames on both sides are embedded in the words "Plum Blossom" to "raising plums and raising nature and raising flowers and virtues, and raising them in a wide range of plants."
However, as long as the well-informed old Shanghai knows that both the old owners of the Meihua Hall and the new owners are greedy and domineering people, and there is no "deepness" or "leniency". This couplet is engraved on the lintel and is just a reflection of their hypocritical mentality.
The yard is large. In addition to a three-story Western-style villa, there are many attached bungalows, including kitchens, miscellaneous houses, bathhouses, garages and stables, as well as the residences of servants, bodyguards, butlers and accountants. More than 20 flowers and plants were planted in the backyard, and more than ten plum trees were planted, among which the tallest four blossomed late. Now is the season when plums are ripe. Many yellow fruits have fallen on the ground and many plum blossoms are hung on the branches.
With such a large courtyard, there are not many people living in it, and it seems empty and quiet. When I am in the scene, I feel like I am in a deep ancient temple in the mountains. Even Chu Minyi, who has seen the world and served as a key member of the National Government, feels creepy.
The situation is born from the heart. Chu Minyi is not afraid of the owner of the plum blossom hall, but the guests who have just settled in today. In fact, it is not just a guest, but also his relatives, old friends, and even benefactors who have the kindness of supporting him.
"Chu Sang, Mr. Matsumoto and his wife are upstairs."
The Japanese military policeman Nakasa named Keiyo Haruki, who was the assistant of Kenji Doihara, the famous Japanese spy leader. However, although his old boss was in the Northeast, North China and even on the battlefield, he was at a loss in Shanghai, which was known as the Ten Miles foreign market, and had to give way to the rising star of the Chinese class of the Japanese General Staff Headquarters, and even he became a subordinate of the artillery colonel.
The "Mr. Matsumoto" that Haruki mentioned was not a Japanese, but his brother-in-law, who had become Wang Jingwei, who was called by everyone in the street.
It is easy to get off the boat and it is difficult to get off the boat. Once you get in, you can't get out!
Chu Minyi hesitated a little and was about to say something when he saw a man in his forties running over. While pulling his arm in, he complained: "Brother Chongxing, why are you still standing there? Mr. Wang has been waiting for you for a long time."
"Bing...bing...bingru (Chen Bijun's nickname) is also on it?"
"Now I know you're scared?"
The man looked back at him and said meaningfully: "Brother Chongxing (the word Chu Minyi), why are you so confused? The gentleman endured humiliation and carried out 'harmony', not for this country full of holes. In order to save millions of people from the fire, it would be fine if outsiders took advantage of the situation. Even you don't understand, and you are still waiting for those messy articles in the newspaper. It's really disappointing."
I don’t know if it’s because of being timid or the anti-Japanese voice in Shanghai is too high. After Wang Jingwei published "Yan Diary" in Hanoi last year, Chu Minyi was worried that he would be "misunderstood" and was afraid that he would be regarded as a conspiracy with Wang and would suffer an accident. So he hurriedly published notices in various newspapers in Shanghai, declaring that he was not aware of everything about Wang.
In fact, he was indeed unaware of it. From the time he escaped in Chongqing until this afternoon, Wang Jingwei sent him a letter with lead type mimeographed "Yan Die", so that Wang Manyun, a member of the Shanghai Party Committee who was left on an isolated island, did not know the contact information of the Wang couple.
I never thought that an unsuccessful assassination would completely push Wang Jingwei and his wife to Japan, and even secretly came to Shanghai. Now I even asked him to come over to have "heyun" together. The relationship with Wang and his wife was there, both relatives, classmates, "comrades", and subordinates. In other words, it was impossible not to go with Wang.
Since he is here, he will definitely be scolded. Thinking of Chen Bijun's tigressive appearance, Chu Minyi couldn't help but shudder.
"Do you still have the face to come?" As expected, as soon as he stepped into the room, a fat woman wearing glasses pointed at his nose and cursed.
Nonsense! Do you think I am willing to come? If you don’t let the Japanese find me, can I come? Of course, when the mouse saw the cat, Chu Minyi could only think about these words, and he would never dare to say them.
"...Not to mention that the kindness of a drop of water should be repaid with a spring, even if you raise a dog, you will know how to shake your tail when you see the owner. Chu Chongxing, Chu Chongxing, you are so good, you have learned to be a person who is hurt! I only hate that I was blind at that time and actually asked Shunzhen to marry you, a wolf-hearted thing..."
The more he scolded, the more he heard, even Wang Jingwei, who was talking to the Japanese translator Zhou Longyang in the study, couldn't listen. When he walked into the living room, he saw Chu Minyi hanging his head and not saying a word, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly and persuaded, "Bingru, forget it, even if there are thousands of ways to move again, he has come after you say something?"
"Yes, yes," Chu Minyi glanced at Wang Jingwei with gratitude and explained hurriedly: "Bingru, am I not here to apologize for the crime? Besides, Shanghai is not as good as Hanoi, so I have to do it."
"As a last resort, a last resort, what does it mean to be a last resort?"
Even Wang Jingwei spoke, and Mei Siping, who brought him up, had to help smooth things over. He pointed to the Japanese military police guarding in the yard and said, "Madam, just forgive Brother Chongxing this time. Besides, this is not No. 570 Fululi Road (Wang's private residence). You must not let the Japanese laugh at us.
Wang Jingwei nodded with satisfaction, and while greeting Chu Minyi to sit down, he whispered: "Yes, yes, if you have anything to say, sit down and say it."
Chen Bijun finally calmed down, but she glared at the uneasy "brother-in-law" with a fierce look, then turned around and entered the bedroom angrily.
The men sat down and talked about how to "clean up" the current situation. These "national affairs" are known as "Doctor of Rabbit Eye", who sings big flower faces, practices Tai Chi, pulls carriages, kicks shuttlecocks, and flys kites, is like playing the piano against a cow.
But I have to talk about it. After all, when I first arrived, I was just the time to use people. If I didn’t talk about “national affairs”, it seemed that I didn’t pay attention to this brother-in-law.
Moreover, the activities of the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Central Commission for Discipline Agency are very rampant in Shanghai. They threw bombs yesterday and fired cold guns today. For Wang Jingwei, who was still scared of being shot in Hanoi and his nephew Shen Cigao was assassinated in Macau, he really needed to show up in Shanghai, otherwise he would not be able to do anything.
"...Is it too much to let Ding Mocun and Li Shiqun be in charge of your safety? The lessons of the fourth brother, Tang Zhaoyi and Chen Lu (the Foreign Minister of the Nanjing pseudo-reforming government) are there, should we consider it again?"
There is no doubt that Wang Jingwei's safety in Shanghai is the first priority.
It was indeed a foolish thing. Chu Minyi, who wanted to show off, looked worried and stared at Wang Jingwei, who looked solemn and slightly haggard, and then said: "The Central Commission for Administration, the Military Commission, the gang, and those young students who were bewitched, rely on the protection of the concession to be domineering and doing everything. Isn't this... The "Shanghai Citizen Association" (a traitor organization pieced together by the Japanese), which had previously shown his power, was assassinated several leaders one after another. Haven't they all disappeared now?
Fan Gang, President of the Special Administrative Region Court, Fan Qisheng, Director of the Inspection Office of the Municipal Supervision Office, and Chang Yuqing of the Zodiac. Even Chen Mingxuan, the owner of Jishitang Pharmacy, was killed a few days ago. It is said that it was done by the Military Affairs Bureau spies, and the culprit has not been caught until now."
At this time, Wang Jingwei was in a state of fear, depression and disheartened.
The situation after the publication of "Yan Dian" was completely beyond his expectations, and no one with strength and influence at home and abroad responded. On the contrary, it attracted a lot of condemnation and condemnation, and the Kuomintang also took extremely severe measures to deal with it, such as expelling the party, and even sending Chen Gongshu to assassinate in Hanoi, etc.
In particular, he regarded it as the most important force in the "peace movement" in China. Long Yun not only expressed any support for "Yan Dian" as a contract, but even issued a telegram on his way from Hanoi to Shanghai: "Mengshou gave a reply letter on March 30, with a Hong Kong report to give an example. The recitation was filled with shock. He gave an example of the secrets of state were leaked from both China and abroad, and the enemy was published. This was the people who did not allow the initial morality of the country. When they gave the letter, they wanted to deviate from the party and the country, destroy the unity, destroy the cost of the sacrifice of the whole nation, and decide the national policy. What is this? It not only ruins the future of our country and nation, but also makes countless soldiers and people in a state of doom. This is not the foundation of peaceful saving the country, but it is to destroy the fate of the enemy."
It seems to be righteous, but he didn't say that before!
I remember that when I passed Yunnan last year, he said with confidence, "Mr. Wang is a veteran of the Party and the country, and has a very high reputation at home and abroad. As long as you climb a high place, those who respond will gather under the banner. Jiang J.S. has always been insidious and treacherous and eliminated dissidents, so it is natural for Mr. Wang to launch a peace movement and establish a new government. In addition to a few people such as GCD and Feng Yixiang, they will support Mr. Wang to advocate the cause of peace, and will also receive support from many countries internationally..."
It can be said that without Long Yun's dose of ** medicine, Wang Jingwei would not have fallen into such a field.
In addition, the secret instigation of senior generals such as Zhang Fakui, Deng Longguang, Xue Yue, and Wu Qiwei were also rejected by them one by one. What is most frustrating is that Fumikoto, who has always been regarded as a strong supporter of the "Peace Movement", also resigned from his position as prime minister in January. He will not be able to figure out the future policy direction of Hiranuma's new cabinet.
The advance and retreat were lost, and even personal safety was not guaranteed. Chu Minyi's words made him feel heavier. However, he was a Kuomintang boss. Wang Jingwei didn't want to get involved in this issue anymore, nor did he want to shake the morale of the army because of this. He immediately changed the subject and asked absent-mindedly: "Who is that Chen Mingxuan? It sounds familiar."
Chu Minyi subconsciously glanced at Chen Bijun's bedroom where he was resting, and then replied in a low voice: "It's really related to Bingru. They are both Penang Huaqiao and the head of Chen's Yingchuan Hall."
In the Chen family Yingchuan Hall, Wang Jingwei is well-known.
In fact, as long as you have been in Penang, you can't even know that the five major surname companies are not. But this is not Chen, and Chen, among the five major surname companies in Penang, are all descendants of Fujian or Fujianese. They have nothing to do with Chen Bijun and Chen Yaozu, who are from Xinhui, Guangdong.
"What a joke?" Wang Jingwei rolled his eyes and said angrily: "One Fu Gang and the other Guang Gang were incompatible. The situation was not right before. Now the water of Jingshui does not interfere with him. What does Bingru have to do with him?"
It is said that a Chinese is a dragon, and a group of Chinese are a insect.
Although there are so many Chinese in Penang, in fact, they have never been united for more than a hundred years. Fujianese, mainly composed of five major surname companies, have been fighting openly and secretly due to interests, and even caused several riots due to intensification of conflicts.
Penang is the base of the Tongmenghui and the Revolutionary Party in Southeast Asia. In addition to founding the Guanghua Daily, early revolutionaries also organized the "Penang Reading Newspaper" in Penang to promote the revolution. The "Three and Two Ninth" uprising in 1911 (i.e. the Huanghuagang Uprising) was an important backbone of the Tongmenghui, including Mr. Sun, Zhao Sheng, Huang Xing, Hu Hanmin, Deng Zeru, etc., and decided and planned in Penang on November 13, 1910. Even 4 of the 72 martyrs in Huanghuagang came from Penang!
Wang Jingwei, who had been engaged in revolutionary activities in Penang and met Chen Bijun there, was obviously not ignorant of the conflict between the Fu Gang and the Guang Gang. Seeing him showing a puzzled expression, Chu Minyi quickly explained: "The Chen family in Yingchuantang does not have any relationship with his father-in-law, but Chen Mingxuan's wife is surnamed Wei. If you count it carefully, she is still the cousin of her mother-in-law. Several students fell ill before the New Year. I bought scarce Western medicine from him through this relationship."
The Guangbang and the Fubang have been fighting openly and secretly, and they never interact with each other, let alone marriage. However, there are not so many taboos in the Wei family living by the bridge of the Zao family. As long as they are not "Baba" or "Nyonya", they can marry as long as their family background is reasonable.
"It really matters," Wang Jingwei suddenly realized. After thinking about it, he suddenly murmured to himself: "Since he can be elected as the head of Chen Company, Chen Mingxuan's family background is naturally not much different."
“More than just about where to go!”
Speaking of this, Chu Minyi, who has been staying in Shanghai after the fall and has not evacuated with other important officials of the government, is very polite. "Before August 13, the Chen family had only one second-story old building on Yunnan Road in Shanghai, with a store below and a home on the upper floor. The business scale is not large, just a Wuyang grocery store and a Western Pharmacy called Jishitang.
As the war broke out, many overseas Chinese who distribute Western medicine, especially those Chen clans who were also from Penang to do business, wanted to leave Shanghai and return to Nanyang. So they dumped the stored medicines and Wuyang groceries to Chen Mingxuan at the lowest price. I remember that the largest transactions were 900 boxes of kuining pills (kinchina cream) and more than 300 boxes of Bailangduoxi (sulfonamide drugs), and countless other drugs such as Rendan were.
As the head of the Chen Yingchuan Hall in Penang, Chen Mingxuan was unwilling to accept the whole order. More than a dozen foreign companies were willing to make a credit and did not collect payments for the time being. They had to count and find a warehouse in the concession where every inch of land was worth, which made Chen Mingxuan very busy. At a meeting of the Western Medicine Guild, he even complained in public that 'so many goods will take decades to sell'. I never thought that this battle would not stop. There was a shortage of Western medicine outside, and his family's unique goods were awesome, and he could be said to be the only one."
Wang Jingwei was not interested in the history of the Chen family's fortune, but asked curiously: "Since he is a businessman, why is he on the military commander's blacklist to be killed?"
"It's not because of the breaking rules of the 'Three Generations for Ba'..."
Chu Minyi obviously knew a lot about the Chen family's experience and explained the whole story in detail.
"The murder of innocent people is too unscrupulous!"
Chen Bijun, who entered the room alone, walked out again at some point, slapped the table with a "splash" and called injustice for Chen Mingxuan's cousin who had never lived for life. Unfortunately, the noise was a little louder and scared everyone.
"Who said no?" Chu Minyi was most afraid of her. He quickly stood up and agreed, "I think Chen Mingxuan is also a well-known character in Penang, but now he dies in Shanghai in a confused manner and is even slandered as a traitor. It's so sad, alaspy, and even more pitiful!"
The Central Party Committee of the Kuomintang has branches in Penang, and even a large part of the donations from overseas anti-Japanese war come from Penang. Now, they have completely broken their faces with Chongqing and have started singing a drama against Taiwan. They have always been unable to stand the Song sisters and have always wanted to get a "first lady" Chen Bijun. Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration and said loudly:
"Since we are cousins, we can't sit idly by! Fourth brother... In my opinion, this may be a good opportunity to open up the situation. After all, Chen's Yingchuan Hall is rich, has people and has influence in Penang. If they can also support the "Heyun", then the children of Nanyang will definitely follow suit, not to mention that they can solve some funds for us, they can even take the initiative in politics."
Since the war started, overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia have been excited, with rich people paying money and powerful people giving their strength. Thinking of the attacks from the overseas Chinese leaders of Chen Jiageng, Hu Wenhu and others after the release of "Yan Dian", Wang Jingwei nodded slightly and said thoughtfully: "Bing Ru said so much. The more we are in this difficult time, the more we must unite all the forces that are conducive to the "peace movement" and do it again... Since you are so familiar with his family, then this matter will be left to you."
Chen Bijun obviously had not yet regained his anger, so he glared at Chu Minyi again and added anger: "It's a chance to atone for you to make merits and atone for your sins!"
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Chapter completed!