Chapter 29: The Shanghai Matter

  Late summer and early autumn, torrential rains often visit Shanghai unexpectedly.

  Looking out from the third floor window of the French concession, there are many fewer pedestrians on the main street. The bread vendors have mostly taken shelter from the rain at the corner of the street. A few rickshaw pullers whistle at two female students handing out flyers, while an Indian policeman wrapped in a thick scarf ignores them.

  As China's most modern city, Shanghai shines brightly even in the entire Far East. HSBC, Standard Chartered, Citibank, and Banque de l'Indochine, among other world-renowned banks, have made this place their first stop for entering the Chinese market. The vast population and chaotic environment have thrilled bankers from all over the world and the powerful nations backing them, earning Shanghai a reputation as an oriental adventure paradise that has attracted too much attention.

  This is a country that must change!

  Song Jiaoren's hand on the windowsill had already shown a green vein, there were too many blood-sucking tubes inserted into this country, if it still can't be changed, then one day even the bone marrow will be drained.

  However, after returning from Sichuan, there is always a kind of inexplicable anxiety. The four questions that Yang Qiu asked with a gun to his head have been lingering around him all the time. The Beiyang warlords hold heavy troops, and even Yuan Shikai's idleness at home makes people uneasy. The concessions scattered throughout the country, the foreign capital that has penetrated deep into the blood vessels, and the ominous shadow of the country falling into civil war in case the revolution fails.

  Which way should I go on this road?

  "Mr. Song, Mr. Huang and Mr. Chen have both arrived."

  Song Jiaoren turned his head and saw that Miao Yuan was already standing behind him. He sighed, "Your sister...".

  "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Song." Miao Yuan's eyebrows furrowed with worry as he said, "You have important matters to attend to, I will notify the brothers in the gang to search for Miao Luo myself."

  "Alright." Song Jiaoren said, and then, fearing Miao Yuan would act rashly, he cautioned: "Yang Qiu could have taken our lives that day, but he didn't. This shows that this person is probably not a true running dog of the Qing government, so unless necessary..."

  "Don't worry, sir, Miao Yuan knows what to do."

  Upon hearing this, Song Jiaoren felt slightly relieved and walked out of the bedroom to see Chen Qimei, wearing a top hat and holding a cigarette, enthusiastically whispering something to Huang Xing, who had come to Shanghai for medical treatment. The latter was still disheartened due to the Huanghuagang incident and had been hiding in Hong Kong under the pretext of recuperating and sorting out his emotions. Seeing Song Jiaoren, he seemed to be still in no mood to speak first.

  Chen Qimei also saw Song Jiaoren, but he didn't throw away his cigarette. He knew many people looked down on him for consorting with the Green Gang, going in and out of bathhouses and brothels, saying that he smoked opium and whored around without any revolutionary spirit. But if he didn't do these things, how could he rally a group of sworn brothers? Without his brothers, how could he have achieved his current status?

  So he sneered coldly in his heart and put on a smiling face, saying: "Brother Fisherman is in a good mood today."

  Song Jiaoren's face didn't have a hint of smile, yet this guy said he was in a good mood. Isn't that deliberately making things difficult? Miao Yuan, who was following behind, suddenly turned dark-faced. Huang Xing quickly changed the subject and said: "Fisherman, I'm going back to Hong Kong tomorrow. Today is about discussing Sun Wu's proposal for an uprising in Wuchang."

  "What? Is Sun Wu really going to start an uprising in Wuchang?" Song Jiaoren didn't want to argue with Chen Qimei, so he turned to Huang Xing and asked: "Wuchang has a large number of troops stationed there. Although they say they have mobilized many soldiers, the total number is still less than one battalion. If they act rashly, I'm afraid..."

  Song Jiaoren didn't continue to speak, but everyone knew what he meant. The Huanghuagang Uprising had lost all the domestic and foreign elites accumulated by the Tongmenghui over the years, and Mr. Sun Yat-sen was also forced into exile overseas. Many comrades were already disheartened, so more people turned their attention to Sichuan, trying to use the Railway Protection Movement to achieve the first uprising. At this time, Sun Wu proposed to start an uprising in Wuchang, which was really unsettling.

  Huang Xing also knew it was difficult. If Sun Wu failed again, the last elite of the Nationalist Party on Chinese soil would be annihilated. These people might have to go abroad and live in exile. So he took out the telegram sent by Sun Wu and introduced the preparation situation: "Sun Wu's intention is that his comrades are all ready to take on the heavy responsibility of being the vanguard, and there are many of our people in the army. The biggest problem now is ammunition and explosives. Zhang Biao and Rui Cun may not be on good terms, but they are very strict on this matter. We only have some pistols on our side, and basically no rifles. Recently, the management of Chu Wang Tai has become even stricter, so it's likely to be difficult to get enough guns before the uprising."

  "We still have some ammunition in the hands of the Green Gang, and if we look for a way to contact the Japanese, we should be able to buy a little more, but not too much. And if the Wuchang Uprising happens, other places will definitely follow suit, so I'm afraid it's hard to get that many out." Chen Qimei bit his cigarette, shaking his finger: "In my opinion, Keqiang, you should send a telegram and tell Sun Wu and others not to mess around. Sichuan is the most important place right now."

  After the failure in Guangzhou, Huang Xing had been waiting for an opportunity to clear his name. He also thought about starting a uprising in Wuchang, but it was really too difficult. Hearing that Chen Qimei did not agree with him and not wanting to dampen the enthusiasm of those below, he said: "Wuchang is not impossible to do, but the danger is really too great. If there were more guns, perhaps it would be better."

  Wuchang's three towns are separated, the Yangtze River and the Han River are isolated, and troop movements are not so fast. As long as a batch of firearms can be concentrated, the governor's mansion and the commander-in-chief's mansion can be quickly knocked down, and the arsenal can be seized... there is still hope. However, I am more inclined to strengthen Sichuan and try to open up the situation there." Huang Xing also dared not guarantee it, his tone becoming lower and lower as he spoke, as if all his energy had been exhausted at Yellow Flower Hill, causing Song Jiaoren to sigh secretly and ask: "By the way, have they contacted the new commander of Chuwangtai?"

  "That man is Xiao Anguo, a fellow accomplice of Yang Qiu. Sun Wu and the others didn't dare to make contact with him." As soon as Huang Xing finished speaking, Chen Qi Mei became displeased, took out his second cigarette and lit it up, pointing at Huang Xing: "What's there to be afraid of? If he wants money, give him money; if he wants women, send him women. If he wants to smoke opium, I'll get the brothers from the gang to send him some more. If none of these work, then just tie up Yang Qiu's uncle and go negotiate again."

  "English, we're discussing serious business here." Song Jiaoren listened and felt it wasn't right, interrupting: "Don't bring that gang's nonsense in here."

  Chen Qimei's expression turned gloomy as soon as he heard this, and he glared at him, saying: "What's wrong with the gang? How many people in Shanghai are from gangs? If it weren't for the gang backing you up, could you fishermen be so carefree in Shanghai?"

  "Alright, alright, don't quarrel anymore. We are all comrades and our goal is to overthrow the Qing dynasty. Different methods don't matter as long as we have the same target." Huang Xing also knew that Chen Qimei and Song Jiaoren had never gotten along well, so he hastily mediated: "Fisherman, don't get angry. Although Ying Shi's words were rough, they weren't unreasonable either. Corrupting Qing military officers and officials is a tactic too."

  When Huang Xing saw that everyone was defending Chen Qimei, Song Jiaoren also did not want to tear his face and said: "I don't have any other meaning, I just need to be careful when dealing with this person. If we can't buy him over and he informs on us instead, the Wuhan Uprising will be in danger."

  "If you're afraid of being exposed, why do you want to let everyone temporarily spare Yang Qiu, that red rascal and his cohorts?" Chen Qi Mei said with a huff: "In my opinion, sending someone to kill that red rascal directly is the best way to settle this once and for all."

  Song Jiaoren did not expect Chen Qimei to bring up this matter, but temporarily not moving Yang Qiu was indeed his intention. He suddenly became angry and his eyebrows twitched with rage, just as he was about to retort, Huang Xing had already said: "Yingshi, Yang Qiu is now the commander of the 42nd Division. The unauthorized actions of Jiang Yiwu and others a few days ago have caused a huge stir, and even Miao Niang's life or death is unknown. Fortunately, it didn't affect our comrades in the military. Now that Sun Wu has decided to take action, I think it's right not to move him for the time being, so as not to alarm the enemy."

  Huang Xing finished speaking and saw that the two were no longer arguing, so he asked: "By the way, I heard that Yang Qiu grew up in Shanghai. Have you investigated his background?"

  "The brothers in the gang have already investigated." Chen Qimei said with hatred: "Yang Qiu's parents came to Shanghai ten years ago and had been doing coal oil business with Italian Marsent Company. After they passed away five years ago, the business was transferred to his sworn brother, who is now Yang Qiu's uncle. Yang Qiu himself has also been taken care of by him. His uncle originally let him go to France for further study, but he went back to Hubei alone after finishing school in the German concession and joined the army. This matter was only known to his uncle recently."

  "It's strange, since he studied Western learning, why would he want to be a running dog for the Qing court?" Huang Xing looked at Chen Qimei with some surprise. The latter sneered and said: "A traitor is a traitor, what's there to understand? Just because he studied Western learning doesn't mean he can become our comrade! Look at him now, rising rapidly, with wealth and power in his grasp, you can see his true nature!"

  "Huang Xing slammed his hand on the table and said: 'No matter what, this person has now become our stumbling block. Once the situation is settled, Sun Wu and others must think of a way to get rid of him. Besides, Wu Yuzhang has already sent me a telegram, and the Chengdu side has been stabilized. They are preparing to start again. This fire will have to be burned after all.'"

  "I think it's not just about burning, but also about scorching the prairie. Chen Qimei said with a smile: "Don't bother with Wuchang and Wenxueshe, those mud-legged literary society people can't do anything. It's fundamentally a pointless thing, we should focus all our efforts on supporting Sichuan, only then can we shake the foundation of the Qing dynasty."

  Song Jiaoren rolled his eyes at Chen Qimei and said, "It's not that simple. Sichuan is just a remote area in the northwest, and all the roads into Sichuan are controlled by the Manchu troops. Unless Sichuan establishes an independent government first, otherwise..."

  "The fisherman is right. I have already wired Wu Yuzhang to think of ways to create chaos and then strive for independence! As long as the great flag of independence is raised, it will be easy to stir up the whole country."

  "Keqiang, you immediately return to Hong Kong and deploy Guangzhou. If Sichuan can be independent first, your side must start immediately. I will go back to find someone to send some explosives to Sun Wu." After everyone made some arrangements for the uprising, Chen Qimei didn't want to see Song Jiaoren again, so he bid farewell and was about to leave when he opened the door and saw a person rush into the room.

  Chen Qimei recognized the man, he was a reporter for Minzhu Bao and one of Song Jiaoren's liaison officers. Seeing him in such a hurry, Chen temporarily put aside his intention to leave immediately and asked: "What happened?"

  "Mr. Song, the editor-in-chief asked me to inform you that our reporter in Sichuan has sent a telegram saying that Zhao Erfeng, that old dog, has arrested Pu Dianjun and others from the Railway Protection League, and even slaughtered dozens of protesting civilians on the streets. The whole city of Chengdu is now in chaos, and the Elder Brother Society has already surrounded the city and is attacking!"

  "Too wonderful!" Huang Xing excitedly jumped up like a child, never expecting that this time he came to Shanghai for a re-examination of his injured hand, he would receive such big news from Sichuan! As long as Sichuan takes the lead in independence, it will definitely drive the whole country!

  Song Jiaoren was also very pleased and immediately said: "Keqiang, Yingshi, you quickly contact all places, explosives and guns must be transported as soon as possible. Also think of a way to tell Sun Wu that during this period our focus is on Sichuan, we can only try to get some guns and explosives for him first, let them be careful..."

  Chen Qimei pouted, why did he get to be in charge and act like he was superior, while she had to run around all day and still not please him? So, without a word, she slammed the door and walked out.

  The loud gate made Song Jiaoren secretly scratch his head, looking at the enthusiastic Huang Xing, and suddenly thought of those four questions again. Would Yang Qiu's words come true? Would the revolution be incomplete, leading to warlords carving up the country and frequent civil wars?