Chapter 39: Stormy Weather in Shanghai

  "Got it! I'll go down first!" Zhang Lieyang said with a smile as he left. As soon as he walked out of Old Man Zhang's study, his original smile disappeared, and at the same time, he thought to himself: "Grandfather, I know you have a way to spread this news! Now I can only remind you all!"

  After Zhang Lieyang left, Old Man Zhang thought for a moment and picked up the phone. After a while, the phone was connected, and he heard from the other end: "Hello! Who are you looking for?"

  "I am Zhang Jingzai, I'm looking for Jiang Guangnai and Cai Tingkai!" Old Master Zhang said expressionlessly.

  After a while, Jiang Guangnai picked up the phone and laughed: "Zhang Weng! How's your body recently? Why did you think of calling me today?"

  "Listen, I heard some news that the Little Japan is planning to stir up a 9.18 incident in Shanghai these two days! You must be careful!" Old Man Zhang said seriously.

  "Mr. Zhang, don't worry! You must take good care of your body!" Jiang Guangnai said with a smile.

  "I'll take care of it!" said Old Man Zhang as he hung up the phone.

  As soon as the phone hung up, Jiang Guangnai immediately dialed the phone and immediately convened an emergency meeting at the regimental level!

  On the way to school from Zhang's house, Zhang Lieyang smiled and turned the car towards Chou Tianbao Silver Building. When Zhang Lieyang stopped the car steadily in front of the silver building, the shop assistant called out to the boss: "Boss Wu! Young Master Zhang is here!"

  Hearing his friend's shout, Wu Zhanggui smiled and opened the door to welcome him, saying: "What wind brought you here today?"

  "I heard that your store has received a batch of high-quality jade diamond brooches! So I came to take a look!" Zhang Lieyang said with a smile.

  "Then, Master Zhang Xiaoshao, please follow me!" Wu Zhuanggui said, leading Zhang Lieyang into the house. He then told his assistant, "Bring tea!" and took Zhang Lieyang to a side room. Meanwhile, he himself went to the safe in the back and retrieved a tray covered with red cloth, walked into the side room and said: "Master Zhang Xiaoshao, I've kept you waiting for a long time! Take a look at these things, is there anything that meets your requirements?"

  Zhang Lieyang took over the tray, lifted up the red cloth and looked at it with a smile, saying: "Wrap this leaf brooch for me!"

  Upon hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, Wu Zhuanggui quickly wrapped the item and handed it to Zhang Lieyang, saying: "Young Master Zhang, will you be paying in silver or...?" Before Wu Zhuanggui could finish asking, Zhang Lieyang smiled and said: "Wu Zhuanggui, have you forgotten my habit? Of course I'll pay in US dollars!"

  "Sorry, Young Master Zhang, I forgot! It's a total of $170!" said Wu Laoban with a smile. Zhang Lieyang took out the money from his wallet and handed it to Wu Zhuanggui with one hand, while taking the goods from Wu Zhuanggui's hand with the other, smiling and saying: "Wu Zhuanggui, don't forget to notify me if you have any good stuff in the future!" After that, Zhang Lieyang put the goods into his pocket, stood up, patted his clothes, and left.

  Arriving at school, Zhang Lieyang found Xiao Yajie and Tang Yuanyue and said: "Today is Grandma's birthday, come to my house for dinner today!" As he spoke, Zhang Lieyang looked around with a sly expression and whispered: "I'll find an opportunity to eat you guys up!"

  Upon hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, Xiao Yajie and Tang Yuanyue both blushed and said in unison: "You're so bad!" Then the two of them covered their faces and left.

  In the evening, Zhang Lieyang took Xiao Yajie and Tang Wanyue back home to pay their respects to Old Master Zhang. Then, he brought Xiao Yajie and Tang Wanyue to the backyard where Old Madam Zhang was. As they entered the yard, Zhang Lieyang smiled and called out: "Grandma, happy birthday!" He then took out a brooch that he had bought earlier in the morning and said: "Grandma, this is what the three of us bought for you. Do you like it?"

  Mrs. Zhang smiled and looked at Zhang Lieyang, "You child, grandma is happy to see you young people doing well, why did you buy this?" As she spoke, Mrs. Zhang opened the box, took out the brooch, and examined it, saying, "This thing must have been bought by Lieyang! If it were Xiao and Tang who bought it, they wouldn't have chosen this style!"

  Xiao Yajie smiled and said: "Grandma, why are you saying that? If I and Wanyue buy it, we will definitely choose a better one than this!"

  Upon hearing Xiao Yajie's words, Zhang Lieyang laughed and said, "Grandma, you're really something! With just one try, you got Yajie to spill the truth!"

  "Ah!" Just then, Zhang Lao's wife, who was doting on Xiao Yajie and Tang Wanyue, said: "What's the difference between you buying and them buying? After a while, I think you should get married soon!"

  Upon hearing Old Lady Zhang's words, Zhang Lieyang smiled and said: "I agree, but what if others don't?" As he spoke, Zhang Lieyang looked towards Xiao Yajie and Tang Yuanyue.

  Xiao Yajie and Tang Yuanyue suddenly became shy when they heard Zhang Lieyang's words.

  After dinner, Zhang Lieyang drove to send Xiao Yajie home first, and then took Tang Wanyue to the Tang family. As soon as they arrived at the gate of the Tang's house, Zhang Lieyang saw Tang Wanyue's younger brother Tang Lijie waiting outside and said: "Sister, we are waiting for you to go to Shanghai with Grandma!" Hearing Tang Lijie's words, Zhang Lieyang quickly pulled Tang Wanyue in and smiled at Tang Wanyue's father, Tang Haohan, saying: "Uncle, look at the time today! You can go tomorrow!"

  "No way! I have to rush over tonight! The day after tomorrow is their grandmother's birthday!" Tang Haohan said with a smile, "Leyang, why don't you go tomorrow too? It just so happens that I can introduce you to them!" As he spoke, Tang Haohan handed the address to Zhang Leyang. After taking the address, Zhang Leyang took a look and was suddenly shocked, hastily saying: "Uncle, I won't hide it from you either! My sources in Japan indicate that they are planning to create a second 9/18 incident in Shanghai! So I'm worried about your safety!"

  "Don't worry! You can rest assured! Besides, the various forces in Shanghai are all there! Little Japan won't dare to offend the whole world by doing such a foolish thing!" With that, Tang Haohan left.

  Watching the Tang family leave, Zhang Lieyang could only helplessly pray for their safety!

  Zhang Lieyang, who had been tossing and turning at home, put on two bulletproof vests, wore a combat dagger and two 92-style handguns, got in the car and left the house, heading to Lishan Warehouse.

  That night, Zhang Lieyang arrived at the warehouse and met Zhang Xiangwu who was on patrol. Zhang Lieyang looked at Zhang Xiangwu with a serious face and said: "No need to patrol tonight, let all the brothers have a good rest! Tomorrow everyone from the base will set out, we have a mission!"

  Upon hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, Zhang Xiangwu seriously said: "Yes, young master!"

  After Zhang Wu and the others left, Zhang Lieyang looked at his watch and said lightly: "Time is almost up! In a while, the January 28th Shanghai War will erupt! I still can't change the wheels of war! So I'll join this war to reduce losses!"

  At 23:30 on January 28, 1932, the Japanese Navy's 2300-strong landing force, under the cover of tanks, moved westward along each branch road on the west side of North Sichuan Road (a boundary road in the northern part of the International Settlement that had been repeatedly designated as a Japanese defense zone), including roads such as Tazi Road, Wusong Road, and Xianggang Road. They occupied the Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway defensive line, encountering fierce resistance from the Chinese 19th Route Army at Tianwaitian Station. The January 28 Incident broke out.

  Early in the morning, the phone at Lishan Warehouse rang. Old Master Zhang said to Zhang Lieyang over the phone, "Lieyang, last night those little Japanese devils launched a surprise attack on Shanghai. Now your Uncle Tang's whole family is trapped in Shanghai! Are you going to think of a way to rescue them or not?!"

  "Grandpa, don't worry! I'll set out with people right away! However, the people I'm bringing are fully armed, and I'm afraid that by the time we arrive in Shanghai, we might already be detained!" Zhang Lieyang said seriously.

  "Don't worry and go! I'll take care of everything. You be careful too!" said Old Man Zhang as he hung up the phone.

  Xiao Shixiong called Lishan's warehouse as soon as Zhang Laotaiye hung up the phone, and directly found Zhang Liyang saying: "I knew you were in the warehouse now! Old Man Zhang just called me earlier. Don't worry, I've already made arrangements. In a while, I'll have Haixia send some military uniforms from my troops over to you. When the time comes, you'll enter Shanghai with the number of my guard unit! Once you're in Shanghai, you'll have to rely on yourself to figure things out!"

  "Uncle, don't worry! These more than 300 family guards of mine can withstand a regiment of devils and still have some to spare!" Zhang Lieyang said confidently.

  "Good! Let me see the results of your training troops! If it's good, I'll give you another regiment for free! Train them well!" Xiao Shixiong said excitedly.

  "Alright! Uncle, just wait and watch the good show!" Zhang Lieyang hung up the phone. After hanging up the phone, Zhang Lieyang immediately gave a stern order: "All personnel to the armory to prepare! Be ready to depart at any time!"