Chapter 20: Leave Something Behind (Part 1) (Urgent Need for Votes)

  Nanjing, Presidential Palace.

  The sky had already darkened, and when Mrs. Chiang entered the study, she found that the lights inside were not turned on at all.

  Principal Chiang sat quietly behind his desk, seemingly deep in thought. When he saw Mrs. Chiang enter, he immediately asked again, "My dear, what do you think he wants to refuse? Why does he want to refuse? I just can't understand it."

  Madam Chiang was silent, and Principal Chiang's words were nonsensical, but she knew what he meant.

  For the past two days, Principal Chiang has asked her the same question over a dozen times, but she can't give him an answer. The high-ranking officials from the National Government's Servants' Office, Administrative Yuan, and General Staff Headquarters also can't provide an answer. No one knows why Yue Weihan and the Bao Shan Regiment refused to retreat. Maybe it's true what Yue Weihan said in his "Farewell Speech", that as a soldier, surrendering is a shame, so they would rather die in battle.

  "Alas." Principal Jiang suddenly let out a long sigh again and said, "It would be great if they could come back, alas..."

  Chiang's tone contained an inexpressible sense of regret. If Yue Weihan could come back, wouldn't his future be boundless? A general like Yue Weihan who dared to fight and sacrifice, rich in strategy and tactics, a graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy, and from Fenghua, would undoubtedly become the most dazzling star among the National Army's generals!

  Madam Chiang's heart was also filled with regret, and no one could understand Principal Chiang better than her. Yue Weihan and the Baoshan Garrison were probably doomed this time. This matter would inevitably make Principal Chiang hold a lifelong grudge. Since marrying Principal Chiang, Madam Chiang had never seen him attach such importance to any National Army general.

  However, Madame Chiang also knew that Principal Chiang was just feeling regretful.

  As the leader of the party and state, Chiang Kai-shek would never misjudge the international and domestic situation due to his appreciation for a certain general. At this critical juncture, it is impossible for Chiang Kai-shek to openly support the Baoshan Garrison, let alone pressure the concession authorities to change their decision to release the Baoshan Garrison.

  Compared with the rise and fall of the whole party-state, Yue Weihan's life and death seem insignificant.

  …………

  Shanghai French Concession, Du Yuesheng's Mansion.

  A slender, refined-looking man with a shaved head was reclining in a rocking chair, deep in thought. Behind him stood over a dozen robust men dressed in black, their sleeves rolled up, and the two burly men at the front even had two gleaming pistols holstered at their waists. This slender man was none other than Du Yuesheng, the notorious Green Gang boss of Shanghai.

  On the small tea table in front of Du Yuesheng was a copy of Shen Bao, which was an extra edition that had just been reprinted this afternoon.

  "Master!" A burly man suddenly said with a scowl, "Watching the National Army brothers fighting the Japanese at the Sihang Warehouse, we can only stand here and watch, it's really not a good feeling."

  Another burly man also said: "Yes, Master, shouldn't we do something?"

  "Hmm!" Du Yuesheng's eyes, narrowed to slits, suddenly flashed with a fierce glint. He sprang up and said, "Da Xiong, Xiao Hu, you two immediately go to the market to purchase cigarettes, towels, and foreign liquor as comfort items - the more the better! Also, try your best to get some ammunition, we'll figure out a way to send it over to our National Army brothers on the other side."

  The big fellow who just spoke said: "Master, cigarettes, towels and foreign wine are easy to handle. With a few more silver dollars, we can fool the foreigners guarding the bridge, but I'm afraid it's not possible with ammunition. The British are very strict."

  "Hmph, wolves have their ways and snakes have their paths! There are countless roads under the sky, can the British really block all of them? Du Yuesheng said coldly, "You just go and collect, whether it's useful or not, more is better. As for how to transport it across the river, I'll think of a way myself."

  "Yes!"

  "Yes!"

  Two burly men responded in unison and each led a group of people away.

  As he watched his subordinates' figures disappear into the distance, Du Yuesheng suddenly turned his head towards the Zhabei direction and said calmly: "Commander Yue, and also the National Army brothers from Baoshan Camp, this is all that Du can do..."

  ……

  Public Concession, Shanghai Office of the Eighth Route Army.

  Under the dim light, seven or eight people were having a meeting around two eight-immortal tables joined together to form a long table, presided over by Yang Shaocheng, director of the Eighth Route Army Shanghai Office and secretary of the Shanghai Party Branch.

  Comrade Yang Shaosheng swept his gentle gaze over the seated party members and said, "Comrades, the heroic resistance of the Baoshan Regiment at the Sihang Warehouse has greatly boosted the confidence and morale of the nation's military and civilians. We should support them, especially during this period of cooperation between the Nationalists and Communists. We should not be limited by our previous political views, but rather provide assistance to the Baoshan Regiment as much as possible. Not only should we transport urgently needed ammunition, medicine, and food to the Baoshan Regiment, but also mobilize progressive young people to join and reinforce the regiment."

  The middle-aged man sitting on the left side of Yang Shaocheng said: "Baoshan Camp openly defied Chiang Kai-shek's telegram order, and even Song Ziwen's face-to-face persuasion had no effect. The National Government may not be able to provide them with any support. At this critical moment for the nation, our Eighth Route Army Shanghai Office cannot sit idly by. I fully support Secretary Yang's opinion."

  The rest of the party members also expressed their support, and Yang Shaoceng nodded immediately: "Well, since all comrades have no objection, then this resolution is considered to be formed. From now on, comrades must work hard to complete this resolution. Now let's discuss the specific division of labor..."

  A young party member sitting on the right suddenly raised his hand and asked, "Secretary Yang, even if we collect medicines, ammunition, and soldiers, how can we transport these personnel and materials to the Sihang Warehouse on the other side of the Suzhou River? Not to mention that the British troops guarding the New Garbage Bridge will not let us pass, the Japanese gunboats on the Suzhou River will definitely intercept us."

  "Oh, that's not a problem." Yang Shaoceng smiled and said, "I've already contacted Mr. Du Yuesheng, the big boss of the Green Gang, they'll also have a batch of supplies transported over there, when the time comes we'll hand over the collected supplies and reserve soldiers to them, they'll figure out a way to smooth things over."

  The young party member said: "Since it's like this, then there's no problem."

  The meeting immediately discussed specific division of labor, until the middle-aged man at the far left finally asked: "Old Yang, what's your division of labor?"

  Yang Shaosheng smiled, took off his glasses and slowly wiped them clean before saying calmly: "I will enter the Fourth Warehouse as a photographer to take pictures and record audio for the National Army brothers of Baoshan Camp. Of course, my main purpose is still to persuade Yue Weihan to lead the Baoshan Camp to retreat into the International Settlement and then disperse and leave Shanghai under the cover of the organization."

  "No way, it's too dangerous."

  "Yes, Secretary Yang, you can't go."

  As soon as he finished speaking, an overwhelming majority of party members expressed their opposition.

  Yang Shaosheng waved his hand and said solemnly, "Comrades, at this time of national crisis and the autumn of our nation's survival, where can we still consider personal safety? Alright, there's no need to say more. The higher organization has already approved my request. After I leave, Old Chen will be in charge of the work of the Shanghai office and the party branch."

  Yang Shaosheng declared the meeting adjourned as no one raised any objection.

  As everyone left one by one, Zhao Xinyi, who had just joined the party, stayed behind.

  "Comrade Zhao Xinyi?" Yang Shaocheng said, "Is there anything else you want to talk to me about?"

  Zhao Xinyi said, "That's right, Secretary Yang. I have a university classmate who is the confidential secretary of the Baoshan Garrison Commander. A few days ago, she sent me a secret telegram asking me to tailor more than 200 sets of military uniforms for the devils, saying it was an urgent matter. Now that these uniforms are ready, I'd like to ask Secretary Yang to hand them over to Mr. Du Yuesheng and have him take them across the river."

  "It's all right," said Yang Shaocheng. "Have someone send the military uniforms to the office tonight."