20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 774 People’s Mind Changes
At dusk, at Jiang’s house in the north of the city.

The family was having dinner in the restaurant. Li Zhengxi and Guyu were also there. It should have been a lively scene, but the atmosphere seemed a bit dull.

The dishes on the table were extremely monotonous and really unappetizing.

This is not surprising. Since Guo’s army captured Jinzhou, the Fengtian Army had urgently destroyed the railway in order to slow down the advance of Guo’s army. This caused the Beijing-Fengtian Line to be completely shut down, and connections between the interior and the exterior of the Great Wall were completely cut off. Supplies in the provincial capital were in short supply, and the situation had become quite serious.

There is definitely no fresh meat left.

All the slaughterhouses are located in the suburbs, and the military has priority in everything now. Food is in short supply, so how can we talk about meat and eggs?

The Jiang family's situation was not bad. After all, they were rich and powerful, so they would never starve. It was just that their side dishes were becoming increasingly scarce.

Every day it’s either stir-fried sauerkraut with pickled meat, or stewed sauerkraut with pickled meat. It’s always the same old thing, with no variation.

If it were an ordinary family, they might not be able to eat it during the New Year, but in the Jiang family, it is enough to make people sigh - is this still the life for human beings?

Jiang Ya was tired of eating and didn't move her chopsticks for a long time. She glanced at her father from time to time, as if she had something to say.

"dad--"

"If you have something to say, just say it!"

Jiang Lianheng had no appetite either, not because the food was not hard, but because he had a toothache recently and his cheeks were swollen, and he also had a headache and fever. He only dared to eat some soup.

Jiang Ya knew that she shouldn't say this, but she couldn't help but make a request.

"Dad, I want to eat mutton hotpot."

Everyone was stunned, looked at each other, and shook their heads in silence.

We all have been through hard times. Although it is easy to go from frugality to luxury and difficult to go from luxury to frugality, at least we can understand the time situation clearly.

Who doesn’t want to eat mutton hotpot, but are there conditions for that now?

Jiang Lianheng put down his chopsticks and asked impatiently, "Do I look like mutton to you?"

Jiang Ya curled her lips and muttered softly: "Donkey meat dumplings are also fine!"

"Hiss, donkey meat dumplings? Where can I buy you a whole donkey?" Jiang Lianheng was stunned for a moment, then realized, "No, who did you learn this from? You can curse without using any dirty words. How can you talk to your father?"

"I didn't scold you," Jiang Ya defended, "Dad, I really want to eat donkey meat dumplings."

"Snapped!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Hu Xiaoyan suddenly slammed the table and scolded: "These are the dishes. If you can eat them, eat them. If you don't want to eat them, get out of here!"

Jiang Ya was stunned, and seemed a little scared, but she refused to give in. She argued even though she was wrong, and quickly asked, "What are you doing?"

"Why are you asking me?"

Hu Xiaoyan didn't give him a good look and immediately scolded him, "Go and look at every household outside. How many families can afford meat and rice every day? You are still being picky. I've spoiled you!"

"Is it not okay for me to just ask?"

"no!"

"Then I won't eat."

"If you don't want to eat, go back to the house and stop being an eyesore!"

Hu Xiaoyan found that Jiang Ya was becoming more and more willful and capricious, and was no longer as cute as she was when she was a child. She had always wanted to teach her a lesson, so she took this opportunity to give her a good scolding.

"Song Ma, save Jiang Ya's leftover rice first. When she finishes this bowl of rice, give her something else to eat."

Jiang Ya still refused to give in after hearing this. She immediately stood up angrily, left the restaurant and walked upstairs.

Dongfeng wanted to follow her when he saw her, but when he glanced at her, he saw that her face was ashen. He thought about it and just sat down obediently.

Jiang Lianheng didn't tolerate her and cursed, "Little girl, she has never suffered. If you starve her for two days, she will eat everything!"

"hiss--"

As he spoke, his back teeth suddenly started to hurt again.

Jiang Lianheng couldn't stand it anymore, so he stood up and said hello to Xu Ruqing: "Aunt, you eat first, I'll go upstairs and lie down for a while."

After a cup of tea, dinner was finally over and everyone went to the living room to chat for a while.

Hu Xiaoyan asked Song Ma to take her directly upstairs. When she reached the bedroom, she opened the door and saw that Jiang Lianheng was not in the room. So she went to the study to look for him, and this time he was there.

Jiang Lianheng was sitting at his desk and had just hung up the phone. When he saw Hu Xiaoyan come in, he seemed a little confused.

"What are you doing in the study?" he asked. "The family business is about to close, and there are no accounts to take care of. You should go back and rest!"

This year, the business of the Jiang family's counters was already slow. As the year was coming to an end, the war broke out. Entertainment venues such as gambling dens, brothels, and theaters had very few customers and were almost forced to close. Naturally, there were no accounts that needed to be checked.

Hu Xiaoyan pushed the wheelchair over and saw through Jiang Lianheng's thoughts at a glance.

"Did you ask someone to get mutton for Jiang Ya?"

"Well, I'm just asking casually. I happen to be craving for it."

"Tsk, with your bad teeth, you still have a glutton in your stomach?" Hu Xiaoyan snorted coldly, "Just spoil her, she will be spoiled sooner or later!"

Jiang Lianheng simply stopped pretending and said frankly: "That's my daughter. If I don't spoil her, who will?"

"How much can you get?" Hu Xiaoyan asked.

"It's hard to say," Jiang Lianheng was not sure, "The situation is too tense right now, but I guess... at least we can get three to five kilograms, right?"

Hu Xiaoyan nodded: "It's enough to give the two children some special meals."

"Alas, I don't know how long this battle will end!"

Jiang Lianheng lit a cigarette and threw the cigarette box on the pile of newspapers on the corner of the table without even looking at it.

Nowadays, newspapers in the provincial capital are nothing but gathering places for rumors.

The news in the newspapers was simply unbearable to read, it was all good news. After winning yesterday, they won today, and after winning today, they won tomorrow. They kept winning, but the result was that there were more and more refugees in the city, and the battle line was getting closer and closer to Fengtian.

No one believed the news in the newspapers anymore, because the current situation was the best evidence that the war situation was unfavorable.

The Feng-Zhang Group is creating public opinion, and articles criticizing Guo Guizi can be seen everywhere in the newspapers.

In terms of fame, profit, power and influence, the Zhang family has never let you down. You and your wife have been completely unfaithful, unfilial, unkind and unjust!
This sentence has now become the mainstream argument among the people of Fengtian, but it cannot hinder the progress of Guo Jun.

As refugees from western Liaoning continued to pour in, the original order in the provincial capital was gradually collapsing.

Officials were overstaffed and the administration of the office was almost at a standstill. Seeing that the building was about to collapse, everyone was no longer paying attention to anything.

Theft, robbery, conflicts between merchants and civilians, all kinds of cases emerged one after another, but Lao Chai just sat back and watched, not even bothering to ask a question. Naturally, no one came to ask the Jiang family to mediate.

Under Hu Xiaoyan's admonition, Jiang Lianheng was no longer strict. He just muddled through everything and maintained a moderate degree of relaxation and tension. He tacitly allowed the online gang to act recklessly in case he pushed them to a corner and they took advantage of the chaos to harm the Jiang family.

People's minds are changing, and it's not just the underworld and the gangs that are changing.
"Ding-ling-ling--" The phone rang suddenly. Jiang Lianheng picked up the receiver and replied incoherently, "Hello, talk."

A deep voice came from the receiver: "Hello, is this you, brother? I'm Meng Duo."

Jiang Lianheng was a little surprised, thinking it was about the mutton. He quickly winked at Hu Xiaoyan, got up and closed the door, and then the two of them answered the phone together.

"Okay, tell me!" Jiang Lianheng asked, "Is there any new situation at the office?"

"Brother, wait a moment."

Meng Duo seemed to be using a public phone, and there was some idle chatter coming from the receiver, as if his colleagues who were working overtime were saying goodbye to him.

After waiting for a while, the receiver gradually became quiet.

Meng Duo then lowered his voice and asked, "Brother, can you hear me?"

"Hurry up and tell me!" Jiang Lianheng urged.

"It seems that the Guo Guizi will attack soon. It will probably take two or three days. The family should hurry up and prepare!"

Jiang Lianheng immediately became nervous upon hearing this and asked hurriedly, "Where did you hear this news from? Are you sure?"

"Not sure," Meng Duo explained, "but there's something wrong with the office's recent movements. This afternoon, the Marshal's Mansion issued an urgent order, asking the official bank to immediately prepare 8 million in cash and send someone to get it tomorrow. Now the official bank and the Commercial Port Bureau are rushing to prepare!"

"Eight million in cash?"

I’m afraid that the official bank’s reserve funds have been emptied!
Jiang Lianheng and Hu Xiaoyan understood as soon as they heard it, Marshal Zhang was preparing to run away!

That means that the time for Guo’s army to attack the provincial capital is just around the corner.

Lao Zhang is likely to abandon the provincial capital and move his troops to southern Liaoning to continue resisting; or he may announce his resignation, and the Fengtian crisis will be resolved.

As for which one to go between the two, I'm afraid only Lao Zhang's confidants know.

"Doesn't the office have any other more accurate information?" Jiang Lianheng asked anxiously.

"there is none left……"

Meng Duo's tone was a little depressed, and he continued, "It can't be said that there are none, but everyone is not working. In the past two days, many people have asked for leave at any time. There is no one in charge. The Security Command doesn't ask about it. All the notices issued by the office are prepared in advance, and..."

"And what?"

Meng Duo lowered his voice even more: "Brother, I went out to help the director with a private matter this afternoon..."

"Tsk, what's the matter? Tell me quickly!" Jiang Lianheng urged, enduring the toothache.

"Our leader sent me to send a telegram to General Guo, expressing... expressing our respect for the royal army entering the city and our willingness to serve General Guo and improve Fengtian."

"He's going to rebel?" Jiang Lianheng asked in surprise, "What's your leader's name?"

Meng Duo said, "Brother, don't ask. It's not just our boss. Now all the departments of the Municipal Government are a little shaken. I heard that Wang Tiekan has already drafted the documents for the transfer of power. Just think about it, even Wang Tiekan is ready to give up."

It seems that the situation is already quite urgent.

Meng Duo continued, "Brother, I suggest that you and your sister-in-law hurry up and find a place to stay in the South Railway Affiliated Area. You can make plans after the war subsides."

"Has Xiao Dongyang expressed his stance?" Jiang Lianheng asked.

"Well, the telegram was just delivered today. It came from both the Guo Army and the Feng Army. The Japanese demanded that both sides not engage in battle within 20 kilometers along the South Manchuria Railway. If anyone crosses the border and uses military force, they will be disarmed immediately!"

Then, Meng Duo reminded him, "Brother, don't even think about taking the train south. The railway is not allowed to go there now. If you have a family with you, it will be even more difficult if you stop halfway."

Jiang Lianheng and Hu Xiaoyan looked at each other, and without any nonsense, they immediately went their separate ways.

Hu Xiaoyan pushed her wheelchair to the door of the study and shouted into the corridor: "Dongfeng!"

As soon as he finished speaking, before Dongfeng could go upstairs, Xifeng ran over and asked hurriedly, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"

"Go find Nanfeng now. He has many connections in the affiliated area," Hu Xiaoyan instructed. "You two go find a hotel over there and book a few rooms. The sooner the better. The more rooms the better."

Sifengkou has never questioned the decision of the elder sister-in-law.

After hearing this, Li Zhengxi turned around and ran down the stairs without even asking the reason.

At this time, Zhang Zhengdong also rushed over, leaned over and asked, "Sister-in-law, what do you want?"

"You go call Fangyan. He can speak foreign languages ​​and knows a lot of people. Ask him to find a way to book a few rooms."

Hu Xiaoyan repeatedly reminded, "Also, don't forget to call Shopkeeper Xue and ask her to prepare in advance. Finally, call Guo Yan back. And Hai Xinnian, don't go to the scene yet. Inform the managers of various businesses and ask them to collect the cash on the counters. From tomorrow on, business will be suspended first. Only two 'Xiangzi' will be left in each store to watch the house. I don't know anything about guns, so you can think of it. Give everyone an extra gun. If you want foreign goods, you can leave a few more 'helpers' to help..."

Zhang Zhengdong listened carefully, remembering every word, and only turned around and left at last.

As soon as Dongfeng left, Hu Xiaoyan hurriedly called Sister Hua, Mother Song, and Yingzi, and told them to prepare in advance and put all the frequently used clothes and daily necessities in the wicker box. Don't be greedy and put too much, so that they can be picked up and taken away anytime and anywhere. Other things can be packed up slowly.

Although everyone didn't understand what he meant, they didn't dare to ask more questions and just did as he was told.

Finally, Hu Xiaoyan reminded again: "Don't be too nervous. When you pack your things, be quiet and don't scare the old lady. If she asks, just say you might have been out recently. If she asks too much, just let her come to me directly."

Sister Hua and the others nodded, having already guessed what was going on.

On this side, Jiang Lianheng was not idle either, and was always on the phone with Meng Duo.

Everyone knows that in the battle between Guo and Feng, Xiao Dongyang's attitude will directly determine the direction of the war.

Marshal Zhang has always been regarded as a puppet of the Japanese, but up to now, the little Japanese still has not made a clear statement about which side he is prepared to support.

So far, the Kwantung Army has always maintained a neutral and wait-and-see attitude.

The prohibition on both sides from using troops along the railway can hardly be regarded as evidence in support of Lao Zhang. After all, Lao Zhang's request to use the South Railway to transport troops was also rejected by the South Railway.

As a result, Marshal Zhang naturally had no chance of winning and could only watch Guo Guizi lead the elite Fengtian Army to defect.

In this critical moment of survival, people's minds changed, and everyone began to secretly prepare to cling to the new king in order to preserve their own wealth and glory.

Meng Duo said on the phone: "Brother, now all the senior officials of the office are secretly working together to establish connections with Guo Guizi. The gentry and landlords in western Liaoning, whether voluntarily or forced, have also declared their support for Guo's army. Do you think we should..."

"Send a telegram to Guo Guizi, saying that you support him in turning against Feng?"

"Yes, you are a prominent figure in Fengtian's business community and have influence in both the business and industrial circles. Although Guo Guizi is arrogant and looks down on others, if he wants to govern Fengtian in the future, he still needs the support of the wealthy and powerful. If you and your sister-in-law want to make some efforts with them, I can help you think of a way."

Jiang Lianheng hesitated a little and didn't speak for a long time.

Meng Duo added: "Brother, the quickest ones can get there first. The sooner we start, the better the effect. If we wait until Guo Jun attacks, it will be too late to try to climb up the ladder, and we will be worthless in the eyes of others."

He doesn't need to explain this.

The reason why Jiang Lianheng is where he is today is because when he attached himself to Marshal Zhang, the other party was just a small leader of the patrol battalion. He was able to follow the same trend, so it was not considered as fawning on the powerful. Otherwise, he would not have had the chance to meet Old Zhang.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Lianheng finally did not agree.

"You don't have to worry about this. I will go to the Marshal's Mansion tomorrow to inquire about the situation."

(End of this chapter)