Chapter 37: Cloud Movement (2)

  Almost at the same time, Chiang Kai-shek's mansion in San Yuan Alley, Nanjing was also discussing the same topic. The mansion in San Yuan Alley was too small, so that vehicles had to be parked on the outside street, and now a new mansion, Xi Lu, is being built urgently and will not be completed until the end of the year.

  Zhang Zhizhong and Lin Wei sent a telegram to Nanjing in the morning of New Year's Day, informing them of their itinerary, and then set off with Shang Zhen's motorcade. They rushed all the way and arrived in Beiping at 3 pm that day. The two men didn't even enter the city, bid farewell to Shang Zhen, and rushed straight to Nanyuan Airport, where they took a plane back to Nanjing. As soon as they got off the plane at Nanjing Airport, they were brought to see Chiang Kai-shek by the guards from the Imperial Guard Regiment who had been waiting at the airport.

  When the two arrived at the Chairman's study, Chiang Kai-shek was already waiting there. As the Chairman greeted them, the two almost simultaneously took out 10 gold bars from their bags and placed them on the desk in front of Chiang Kai-shek. Seeing the Chairman's puzzled expression, they looked at each other, and finally Lin Wei spoke up: "Chairman, this is what Song Wenke gave us as a hardship allowance for our trip last night. He said: 'This is absolutely not a bribe. If it were a bribe, I would have given them separately.' We had no choice but to bring it back, please punish us."

  Chiang Kai-shek nodded slightly, his face expressionless, and said: "Since the gold was given to you by Song Wenke, you can take it." The two were taken aback, and Zhang Zhong's face turned red as he said: "Chairman Chiang, after chasing me for so many years, don't you understand me? Lin Weican and I are not those kinds of greedy people!" Chiang Kai-shek smiled and raised his hand to stop Lin Weican from speaking up in defense, saying: "Weican, don't be anxious, how could I not understand your character? Put the gold bars back for now, and I'll talk to you later." Seeing that the two were unmoving, Chiang Kai-shek looked at them with a smile and said: "You know it's been a long time since I've handled these things. Do you want me to put them back for you?" The two reluctantly hesitated before finally putting the gold bars back in the package.

  After the two sat down, Chiang Kai-shek leaned back in his chair: "Wen Bai, Wei Wen, tell me about your trip to Taiyuan." Zhang Zhong looked at Lin Wei and Lin Wei motioned for Zhang Zhong to speak first.

  Zhang Zhizhong reported to Chiang Kai-shek in detail about the situation at Liyuan, including not only what he had seen and heard but also his own views. Among them was the squad he brought to Liyuan, which clashed with Song Zhiwu's troops. The squad consisted of handpicked members from the army school's instructional team. After Zhang finished reporting, Lin Wei continued to report on his meeting with Shang Zhen in Beiping, Shang Zhen's attitude towards the central government's recruitment of Song Zhiwu, and the detailed situation of the Spring Festival evening party. Then he took out a stack of manuscripts from his leather bag and handed them over to Chiang Kai-shek. These were the program sheets for the Spring Festival evening party, including song lyrics and scores, with all the lyrics written by Song Zhiwu marked out. Even the speech about Mongolian cavalry that Song Zhiwu gave on stage was included. The speech had been compiled by Lin Wei the night before.

  Chiang Kai-shek carefully and slowly turned the pages, sometimes humming a few sentences in a low voice. Zhang Zhizhong knew that Chiang was reading sheet music.

  After finishing, Chiang Kai-shek remained silent for a while before slowly saying: "Wen Bai, Wei Wen, I believe that others are corrupt, after all, gold has no cracks and people have no perfection. As long as it's not excessive, I can still tolerate it. The phrase 'clear water has no fish' is something I understand. But if you say that the two of you embezzled behind my back, I absolutely do not believe it! I am very clear about your character, and you are both gentlemen. This time, Song Zhiwu giving you gold bars was clearly an attempt to win you over. Although this can also be said to be bribery, he did it openly, especially since he gave it to both of you at the same time. This is also a way of telling me that he didn't hide his intentions from me."

  Chiang Kai-shek said, standing up and walking slowly to the center of the room with his hands behind his back: "This time, Song Wenge not only gave you a heavy gift, but also gave me a big gift. To be precise, it's a great favor. He knows that after you return, you will all hand over the gold bars to me, and I will definitely not confiscate these gold bars. This is his way of using my hands to give them to you. In this way, you will thank me, and you will also thank him. And I owe him a favor for these 200 taels of gold. This Song Wenge is young, but he has such means, not simple at all."

  Lin Yu stood up and said, "Chairman, these 10 gold bars are worth several hundred thousand dollars, this is too much, I still can't accept it." Chiang Kai-shek walked over, patted Lin Yu's shoulder, and gestured for him to sit down. Smiling, he said, "He wants me, the President of the Republic of China and Chairman of the Military Affairs Commission, to give gifts on his behalf. If he doesn't have enough, naturally he can't take it out. Alright, that's settled, don't say anything more."

  Chiang Kai-shek walked away from the two, continuing to pace slowly. "And these lyrics, you both heard them with your own ears. Let's not talk about the melody, but just the lyrics themselves are very thought-provoking. From these lyrics and his speech about Outer Mongolia, it can be determined that Song Wenge has a strong sense of national identity. He compares China to a home, a home he wants to accompany forever, bless and pray for. There are only two kinds of people like this: one is the kind who worries about the country's danger and rejoices at the people's prosperity; they are willing to shed blood and sweat for the nation, even willing to sacrifice their lives for it - national heroes. The other kind is greedy and ambitious, wanting to turn the country into their own home. Which kind of person Song Wenge is, it's hard to say now, we need to wait and see what he will do."

  As for Chiang Kai-shek's words, Zhang Zhizhong and Lin Wei were both shocked and admired. They were shocked that these lyrics actually contained so much astonishing information, yet they had overlooked it. They admired that the Chairman had only read it once, yet was able to grasp every detail and understand Song Wenke's mind.

  Chiang Kai-shek continued: "Especially the tune he composed for 'Linjiang Xian' is magnificent and majestic, listening to it makes one's spirits soar, just this tune alone can determine that this person's ambition is not small."

  After a few more rounds, the topic turned back to the gold bars: "Not only should you take these gold bars, but from now on, any money Song Wenke gives you, don't need to ask for my approval, just take it. If anyone mentions it, just say I approved it." Chiang Kai-shek raised his hand to stop the two men who were about to speak, and continued: "You two have never been corrupt, your families have little extra wealth. Unlike some people, not only do they own properties all over the country, but also deposit money in foreign banks. Everything in this country has rules and regulations, I don't want to give you too many benefits, so use the money Song Wenke gives you to supplement your family expenses."

  Chiang Kai-shek paused for a moment, then said to Lin Wei: "That song 'Rolling Yangtze River Eastward Flowing Water' sung by Song Wenguo is not written by him. It must be someone's mistake. This is the opening verse of the third section 'Talking about Qin and Han' in Yang Shen's 'Twenty-one Histories Ballad', which was placed at the beginning of the volume when Mao Zonggang father and son annotated 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. You go to the newspapers tomorrow and give them a heads up, remove the author's name, and ask them to only write the composer Song Wenguo when publishing. Otherwise, this Song Wenguo will be accused of plagiarism. Find an opportunity to tactfully remind him about it. You all have worked hard for a day, take a rest now."

  Song Zhe Wu would be eternally grateful if he knew that Chiang Kai-shek thought of him and made arrangements in this way, but he really didn't know it was an ancient phrase, he always thought it was created specifically for the TV series "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

  Zhang Zhizhong and Lin Wei knew Chiang Kai-shek's temper, once he had made up his mind, it was hard for others to change. Although the two were clean and incorruptible, they were not foolish; since these gold bars were something the Chairman had agreed to accept, why not take pleasure in them? Zhang Zhizhong stood up to bid farewell.

  After taking Zhang Zhizhong out, Lin Wei again detailed the content of his conversation with Song Zhiwu last night to Chiang Kai-shek. Chiang listened very carefully. Finally, Lin said: "Regarding the chairman's promise to give him a provincial governorship in one of the northern provinces in the future, I think he is very interested." Chiang asked lightly: "Where does he want?" "Shanxi." Lin's answer made Chiang obviously stunned for a moment: "Shanxi, does he think he can drive out Yan Xishan?" Thinking that there might be an opportunity to get rid of this most stubborn and cunning Shanxi warlord, Chiang was very excited, and his face, which rarely showed a smile, even revealed a smile. However, soon after, he asked Lin seriously: "What method does he have to drive out Yan Xishan?" Lin replied cautiously: "He didn't say specifically, but he thinks that after the central government solves the Guangxi Clique, the next target should be the Northwestern Army. At that time, Yan Xishan will come to his senses and definitely won't wait for the chairman to clean up the Northwestern Army before coming to clean him up. He will definitely unite with the Northwestern Army to resist the central government. In this way, a big war is inevitable, and it will be a life-and-death struggle for all parties!"

  Chiang Kai-shek thought for a moment, then calmly said: "I'd like to see if Yan Baichuan has the guts! You can agree to it, but tell him that those people may seem invincible, but in my eyes, they're just a mob." Lin Wei knew this was a warning to Song Zhiwu not to play tricks. Lin Wei nodded and said: "Without the Chairman's consent, I took the initiative to ask him to make some moves soon." After finishing, he carefully looked at Chiang Kai-shek's expression. Chiang Kai-shek thought for a moment, then nodded: "You did well, this is a good plan. Firstly, it can shift everyone's attention and create conditions for solving the Hebei problem with Bai Chongxi; secondly, we can see if Song Wengu listens to orders. What did he say?" "He didn't express his opinion at the time, but the next day when sending us off, in front of me and Wenbai, he asked Shang Zhen for permission to go to the southern foot of the Taihang Mountains to suppress bandits."

  Chiang Kai-shek nodded: "It seems that he wants to have a showdown with Han Fuju of the Northwestern Army..."

  Wishing all friends who care about this book good luck always!