Chapter 15: The Storm of Wu Zhe (2) Flying Library Web

  Qiqi Road (now Yueyang Road), Soong Ching-ling's former residence.

  Soong Tzu-wen, who had just returned to Shanghai the day before, hastened to greet Cheng Jincheng as he alighted from his carriage and said: "Mr. Cheng, it has been many years since we last met; I hope you have been keeping well?"

  Cheng Jincheng smiled and said: "I'm still the same. I don't know how Mr. Sun Yat-sen's body is now? It has been three or four years since we parted in Guangzhou last time."

  "Soong Tse-ven sighed and said, 'Since the Zhongshan warship incident, my brother-in-law's health has been deteriorating day by day.' Soong Tse-ven led Cheng Jincheng into the villa. After the servant presented tea, Soong Tse-ven said, 'Mr. Jincheng, you are also very clear about the current situation in the country. I don't need to say more. I came to Shanghai for two reasons: one is to take a vacation and the other is to raise funds. Because all aspects need money, but the country is not yet fully unified, and local taxes are being intercepted by local warlords. Moreover, before I arrived, Mr. Sun had already ordered Chiang Kai-shek to train new troops.'"

  Cheng Jincheng held his teacup, pondering: "For now, the Western powers are still manageable, but the Japanese are constantly plotting against our nation's capital in Shanghai and Jiangsu. We're also finding it hard to take a step forward!"

  "Is there really no way at all?!" Song Ziwen asked with a frown.

  Cheng Jincheng sighed and gritted his teeth, asking: "How much funding are you planning to raise this time?!"

  "Of course, the more the better. But the situation is so difficult now..." Soong Tse-ven hesitated for a moment and continued: "I think at least 200 million."

  "Two hundred million, two hundred million," Cheng Jincheng muttered to himself and said: "I'm not very clear about the situation in Shanghai, but I can still guarantee to help you raise five hundred million in Zhejiang. The rest is up to you."

  "Five million?!" Song Ziwen picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea, hastily asking: "Can't it be a bit more?!"

  Cheng Jincheng replied, "It's not that we're unwilling to spend more money. Last time, we raised 10 million for Mr. Sun Yat-sen, and us Zhejiang merchants are still recovering from that. This time, I promised you 5 million, of which at least 3 million will have to come out of my own pocket. And don't forget, Sun Chuanfang is currently in power in Zhejiang, he's always looking for opportunities to get money from us." Suddenly, Cheng Jincheng thought of Song Ziwen's relationship with Western countries and his eyes lit up as he smiled and said, "Ziwen, aren't you on good terms with the businessmen of England and America? Why not try to get some ideas from them?"

  "Soong Tse-ven smiled wryly and said, 'Jin Chenggong, you don't know this! The Western powers are eyeing China's resources. If we let them invest their money, they won't say much, but they will definitely ask us to use our mineral deposits as collateral for the loan.'"

  "That's also true." Cheng Jincheng nodded thoughtfully, just as he was about to say something, Song Ziwen's attendant walked in and whispered in his ear: "Sakura Toshihito has arrived, he wants to see you."

  Soong Tse-ven furrowed his brow and looked at Cheng Jincheng. Cheng Jincheng immediately reacted, saying: "Then I'll step aside for now, we can discuss whatever it is later!"

  "So then please invite Mr. Jin, to take a short rest in my study!" After Song Ziwen personally escorted Cheng Jincheng into the study, he said to his attendant: "Go and invite Sakura Toshihito to come in!"

  "Yes!" The attendant responded and walked out. Not long after, Sakura Toshiichi walked in with a smile and shook hands with Song Ziwen, saying: "Mr. Song, I came to visit you today without any prior arrangement, I'm sure you know the purpose very well."

  "Soong Tzu-wen sneered, 'Mr. Sakura, you overestimate me Soong Tzu-wen. You are the director of the International Settlement and also the representative of Japanese businessmen in Shanghai, while I am just a small merchant. Moreover, we have never had any dealings with each other before, so how would I know what brings you here today?!'"

  Sakaki Toshikazu heard Soong's words, although he was not very happy in his heart, but still maintained a smile on his face and said: "Mr. Song, everyone is a wise man, so I won't speak in riddles. You are the god of wealth for the National Government in Guangzhou. The purpose of your visit to Shanghai this time, I am very clear about it. As long as you agree to our requirements, I can now represent Mitsui Bank to provide a loan of 20 million yen to the National Government in Guangzhou, and another 2 million yen will be given to you as travel expenses."

  "Soong Tse-ven took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and sneered: 'Two million yen. Mr. Sakuragi, you're really generous! I think your country's demands won't be low, will they?!'"

  "Go west!" Sakaki Toshikazu said with a smile: "Mr. Song, you're overthinking this. When Mr. Sun Yat-sen's GMD was first established, we Japanese provided him with selfless assistance. Now that Mr. Sun's GMD has become a force to be reckoned with, we're simply taking back our investment step by step. Don't the Chinese have a saying 'business is business'? I'm a businessman, and when you pay out, you need to get something in return."

  "What a great return on investment!" Song Ziwen muttered to himself, then looked at Sakuragi Toshihito with an expressionless face and said: "Mr. Sakuragi, we are indeed short of money, but it's not as severe as you think. And you misunderstood me, I came to Shanghai this time for a vacation, not for the money. Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Sakuragi, I appreciate it. I believe we will have opportunities to cooperate in the future!"

  As a Chinese expert, Sakaki Toshikazu understood the meaning behind Song Ziwen's words and coldly snorted, his face displeased. "In that case, Mr. Song, I bid you farewell! However, please reconsider carefully." Having said this, Sakaki Toshikazu bowed to Song Ziwen and turned around to leave.

  After Touko Junichi left, Cheng Jincheng walked out of Song Ziwen's study and said, "The Japanese are up to no good this time!"

  "Soong Tse-ven said calmly: 'A weak country is bullied by others. Now we can only take it one step at a time.'"

  Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and before he knew it, it was already the Spring Festival of 1925. The streets were filled with the sound of firecrackers, and the festive atmosphere was thick. On New Year's Day morning, Lin Ao Feng first paid his respects to his grandparents and parents, then made up an excuse to leave home.

  At this time, Lin Ao Feng, walking on the snowy street, looked very bewildered. As a traverser, he wasn't unwilling to change, but history made him somewhat helpless.

  Suddenly, two clear and crisp car horn sounds rang out behind Lin Ao Feng. Lin Ao Feng, who was lost in thought, came back to his senses, stopped in his tracks, and looked back. Seeing Xi Jun Mai getting out of the car, he couldn't help but smile: "Old Xi, it's New Year's Day, why aren't you staying at home? What are you doing out here?"

  Xue Junmai smiled and said: "Still coming out to find you."

  "Looking for me?!" Lin Ao Feng was stunned, looking at Xi Jun Mai with a puzzled face.

  Xie Junmai smiled and said, "Alan came back yesterday, today he wants to find us a few together. Just now I went to your house to find you, Auntie said you went out, so I can only drive around the street to find you, didn't expect you to be here. What are you still dazed about? Get in the car!"

  "Hmm!" Lin Aofeng let out a sigh, smiled wryly and opened the passenger door to get in. As soon as the car started moving, Lin Aofeng was about to speak when Xi Junmai seemed to know what he wanted to ask and said ahead of time: "Today's gathering is all men, Yuyan doesn't qualify as a female comrade. Just put your heart at ease!"

  Lin Ao Feng nodded and was silent for a moment before asking, "Old Xue, you're very clear about the situation between me and Ke Qing. How do you think I should bring up the topic of dissolving the engagement with Yu Yan?"

  "Don't ask me this, I have no way to answer you!" Before Xi Junmai finished speaking, Lin Aofeng suddenly saw a group of Japanese rascals teasing two Chinese girls by the roadside, and hastily shouted: "Stop the car!" At the same time, he pushed open the car door and sprang out of the sedan in one swift motion.

  "Hey, pretty Chinese girls! Let's have some fun!" Eight Japanese hoodlums blocked the way of two Chinese girls, four in front and four behind, while stretching out their dirty hands to grope them.

  It is said that extreme joy begets sorrow. When the two girls were dragged into a nearby alley by eight Japanese rascals during the commotion, Lin Ao Feng arrived just in time and kicked down two of the Japanese rascals with consecutive kicks. The Japanese rascals, who had been suddenly attacked, were stunned at first and looked at each other for a moment. The two girls took advantage of the fact that the Japanese hadn't reacted yet and quickly hid behind Lin Ao Feng's back.

  A burly Japanese ronin, resembling a sow, narrowed his eyes and said to Lin Ao Feng: "Chinaman, you shouldn't interfere in other people's business! However, since today is your Chinese New Year, I'll give you a chance to reform. You just quietly slip past the eight of us, then say that you're the 'Sick Man of East Asia', and hand over the two women behind you to us. We'll let bygones be bygones!"

  Lin Aofeng coldly laughed and said to the two girls behind him without turning his head, "There's a sedan parked outside the alley, you two go first, I'll be right there!"

  When Lin Ao Feng's words were heard, the two girls, although they had just been frightened, did not hesitate at all and quickly turned around to run out of the alley. The eight Japanese ronin saw the two girls running out of the alley and immediately felt deceived. Like a mother pig, the Japanese ronin let out a loud roar: "Hacha!" Then, with a fierce killing intent, they charged towards Lin Ao Feng.

  "Hmph... Hmph..." Lin Ao Feng's fists were clenched tightly, his eyes slowly narrowing. When the eight Japanese ronin were less than fifty centimeters away from him, Lin Ao Feng also made a move. He kicked one of the Japanese ronin flying with his foot, and then followed up by using his hand as a knife to slash at another Japanese ronin's throat. In the blink of an eye, two Japanese ronin had lost their combat strength, lying on the ground wailing loudly.

  The remaining six Japanese ronin exchanged a glance, and instead of continuing their blind attack on Lin Ao Feng, they formed a fan-shaped encirclement around him in perfect tacit understanding.

  Lin Ao Feng glanced around at the Japanese ronin surrounding him, let out a cold laugh and said in Japanese: "The Sun Goddess is calling for you, she thinks the Spring Festival is too lonely, so she's letting you go accompany her!"

  "Hah!" The Japanese ronin, resembling a mother pig, let out a loud roar and charged at Lin Ao Feng first. Lin Ao Feng grabbed the left fist that the mother-pig-like Japanese ronin swung at him, using force to squeeze and pull. The mother-pig-like Japanese ronin immediately lost his balance and stumbled past Lin Ao Feng's right side. As he did so, Lin Ao Feng took the opportunity to heavily strike the Japanese ronin's back with his elbow. The mother-pig-like Japanese ronin could not withstand Lin Ao Feng's heavy blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he fell to the ground like a dog eating feces.