Chapter 26: Stormy Weather (13) Flying Kite Net

  Shanghai Du Mei Road (now Donghu Road) Du Yuesheng's mansion. After dinner, Du Yuesheng held a teacup and walked into the garden, sitting on a stone bench in the garden, humming Peking Opera while leisurely drinking tea. Not long after, the butler hurried to Du Yuesheng's side and said: "Master, something has happened."

  Du Yuesheng furrowed his brow and said: "What's going on?! The sky hasn't fallen yet."

  "Yes, yes, yes!" The butler immediately put on a servile expression.

  Du Yuesheng glanced at the butler and asked calmly: "What's going on?"

  The housekeeper replied, "Master, on the 22nd when we were holding a memorial service for Gu Zhenghong, four students were arrested by the police. They said they would release them today, but somehow the Japanese intervened and claimed that they were connected to the serial murder case from before."

  "Bastards!" Du Yuesheng burst out in anger: "These foreign red-haired devils think they can bully us. They actually came up with this trick!" As he spoke, Du Yuesheng slammed the cup in his hand onto the stone table and continued: "Take my card to the Central Police Station and tell them to give them a good meal and drink, if they dare to mistreat them, I'll send someone to deal with them."

  "Ah...!" Du Yuesheng saw the housekeeper's hesitant appearance and coldly said: "What, you're not listening to me either?!"

  "No!" The butler said with a sorrowful face: "Master, those poor students and workers are planning to hold a demonstration on the 30th. They're protesting against the police station's arbitrary arrests."

  Du Yuesheng furrowed his brow and stood up, with one hand on his waist and the other scratching the back of his head, saying: "You take my name card to the police station first, the rest can be discussed later, let me think for a moment."

  Shortly after the butler left, the servant walked up to Du Yuesheng and saluted: "Master! Mr. Ma Junzhao from the Sun Wenism Society has arrived. He wants to see you."

  "What's he doing here?!" Du Yuesheng muttered, then turned to the servant and said: "Invite him into the living room, I'll be right there."

  "Mr. Ma, I've kept you waiting for a long time! I'm really sorry!" Just as the servant was pouring Mr. Ma Jun-chao's second cup of tea, Du Yuesheng walked out from behind.

  Ma Jun-chao smiled and replied: "Boss Du, I'm sorry to disturb you tonight, please forgive me."

  "Please sit down, Mr. Ma!" Du Yuesheng invited Ma Junchao to take a seat and then asked: "I don't know what brings you here today, Mr. Ma?"

  Ma Jun-chao said: "I have consulted with the Shanghai GMD members and have already contacted the gentry, scholars and workers from all walks of life. On May 30th, a mass meeting will be held at Jiuhuadi to publicly protest against Japan. Mr. Du is the person with the most popular support in Shanghai, so I invite Mr. Du to make a call to action."

  Du Yuesheng listened and made a brief calculation in his mind, then said resolutely and generously: "Please rest assured, Mr. Ma! I will do my best to help with this matter."

  "Good! Then thank you, Mr. Du! The sky is not early, I will take my leave!" Ma Jun-chao saw that things had been discussed and did not stay any longer, bid farewell to Du Yue-sheng and left the Du Mansion.

  "Du Ye, this is politics, we are a gang, no need to get involved, right?!" Ma Jun had just walked out, and Yang Deli, Du Yuesheng's trusted subordinate, came out of the next room.

  Du Yuesheng smiled and said, "Although the GMD's power is now temporarily stable in Guangzhou, I can assure you that it won't be long before the whole country belongs to the GMD. Even if our gang is very powerful, we still have to rely on the government. Only with the government's protection can we stand invincible forever. Tell the brothers, I'm going to do something big, let him put down what he's doing and come over for a visit!"

  "Yes!" Yang Deli responded with a single word and quickly left. About half an hour later, all the capable generals under Du Yuesheng had arrived.

  Xing Xingming, sitting to Du Yuesheng's left, spoke up first: "Big brother, the brothers all know what's going on. Are you reconsidering? After all, Shanghai has too many docks and the water is too deep."

  "I know what you mean!" Du Yuesheng put down his teacup and interrupted Xing Xingming's words, continuing: "This matter has already been decided in my heart, so there's no need for you to persuade me. Rest assured, I, Du Yuesheng, still have a sense of propriety when doing things. Tell the brothers that they only need to do four things!"

  "Oh?! What are those four things, Big Brother?!" The subordinates sitting on either side of Du Yuesheng asked in unison.

  Du Yuesheng smiled and said: "First, send as many people as possible to attend the nine-acre land people's congress; second, protect Mr. Ma and GMD personnel from harm; third, maintain order at the meeting venue; fourth, unanimously agree with all opinions put forward by the GMD."

  When Du Yuesheng finished giving instructions, Yang Deli said: "Big brother, sending people to protect Mr. Ma and the others is not a problem, but the other two things are probably not that easy. From what I know, because the police station arrested four students in the past two days, the emotions of Shanghai's students and workers are extremely unstable, like two barrels of explosives, just waiting for a spark to explode. It's very easy for us to maintain order on the scene and conflict with them."

  "Second brother, you're always so hesitant. Since big brother has already given the orders, we can just follow them. If you don't want to do it, no one is forcing you, why not just stay home and accompany second sister?" Xing Xingming said with a smile.

  Du Yuesheng snorted, glared at Xing Xingming and said: "Old Fourth, it's not me saying this! If you had half of Old Second's ability, and used your brain a bit more when doing things, I would have handed over the turf on Jessfield Road to you long ago."

  "Big brother, I didn't..." Before Xing Xingming could finish speaking, Du Yuesheng's butler rushed in from outside, took a glance at Xing Xingming and Yang Deli, then walked to Du Yuesheng's side and said: "Master, the matter has been taken care of. However, this time there are Japanese and British involved, so there may still be some changes."

  Du Yuesheng nodded slightly and said, "I know! You don't have to worry about the rest of the things! By the way, go and help me check if there's any movement from Huang Jinrong and Zhang Shoulin!"

  Lin Aofeng had a free dinner at Qin Keqing's house and was about to leave when there was a knock on the door. Qin Keqing's mother frowned upon hearing the knock, muttering, "Who could it be so late?!" She then responded, "Coming!" When Qin Keqing's mother opened the door, she saw Jiang Baili standing at the entrance and asked with a smile, "So late, what brings you here?"

  Jiang Baili smiled and said: "Sister-in-law, I have something to discuss with Brother Zichen, is he at home?"

  Qin Keqing's mother made way for her and said with a smile: "You're home! Even your student Lin Aofeng is here!"

  "Oh? This kid is here too! What a coincidence!" Jiang Baili said as he walked in the door.

  "Zi Chen, look who's here!" Qin Keqin's mother closed the door and walked in quickly with a smile. Qin Guozhong heard his wife's call and came out: "Baili?! It's so late, how did you come?!"

  Jiang Baili let out a bitter laugh and said: "Brother Zichen, I had no choice but to come tonight."

  "What's wrong?!" Qin Guozhong was stunned, looked around and said: "This is not a place to talk, let's go in and talk."

  "Teacher!" Just as Jiang Baili walked into the Qin family living room, Lin Aofeng and Qin Keqing came out of the kitchen.

  Jiang Baili nodded and said to Qin Guozhong, "Brother Zichen, are the students and workers in Shanghai preparing to hold a procession and rally on the 30th?"

  Qin Guo Zhong nodded and said: "Yes, there is such a thing. What?! Bai Li, you came so late just for this matter?!"

  Chiang Baili said: "Japanese Consul-General Shigemitsu Mamoru came forward today and stirred up Sun Chuanfang, who will send troops to suppress the procession on the 30th."

  "What?!" Qin Keqing couldn't help but exclaim before Qin Guozhong could even open his mouth. Lin Aofeng, standing beside Qin Keqing, however, didn't seem as flustered as her and instead appeared very calm, like a bystander, continuing to add: "The Japanese not only stirred up Sun Chuanfang, but also the British. And they've even bribed the British police at the Central Patrol Station, planning to take action against students and workers on the 30th."

  "What?! How is this possible?!" This time, Qin Guozhong couldn't remain calm anymore, staring intently at Lin Ao Feng, asking: "Is everything you said true?!"

  "Of course it's true!" Lin Aofeng replied with conviction, well-versed in history.

  Qin Guozhong took a deep breath, sat down on one side and fell into a silent daze. After about half an hour, Qin Guozhong came back to his senses, looked at Jiang Baili and asked: "Baili, do you have any good countermeasures?"

  "Chiang replied: 'The best way, and the only way, is to stop all actions of No. 30.'"

  Qin GuoZhong sighed and said: "Things have reached the point where the arrow is on the string and can't be stopped. With my ability, I basically can't stop it."

  "Teacher, the Chinese nation has been asleep for too long. To wake him up from his dream, we can only use the blood of our Yellow Emperor's descendants." Lin Ao Feng's words had not finished, when Jiang Baili angrily shouted: "Nonsense! Can human life be taken as a joke?!"

  "Wait until I finish speaking!" Lin Ao Feng comforted Jiang Baili, took the teacup from Qin Keqin's mother and handed it to Jiang Baili, asking: "Teacher, there will be a war between China and Japan sooner or later. Given the current situation in China, can we defeat Japan?"

  Chiang Kai-shek shook his head and said: "As long as the warlords are fighting each other, China cannot unite against foreign enemies. In theory, it is impossible to defeat Japan."

  "Afeng, just say what you want to say, don't be mysterious!" Qin Keqin glared at Lin Aofeng unhappily.

  Lin Aofeng shrugged helplessly and continued, "Even if the warlords' infighting ends and the Guangzhou GM government takes charge, the people's consciousness remains as it was during the late Qing dynasty. You all know what China was like during the late Qing dynasty, no need for me to say more." Lin Aofeng paused briefly, observing Qin Guozhong and Jiang Baili's reactions before continuing, "This time we've discovered the Japanese plot, but we have no choice. Even if they use machine guns to mow us down on the 30th, we must act; otherwise, everything will be lost. If we want to find another opportunity to awaken the people's consciousness, it'll be difficult."